Gabriella Christopher

My name is Gabriella Christopher and I am a third-year health sciences student at McMaster University. Taking park in the CityLAB semester in Residence has been an extraordinary and eye-opening experience. As an interdisciplinary program, I have had the opportunity to learn from the diverse academic and experiential backgrounds of my peers and instructors while at CityLAB. I have been challenged to think critically about both current systems as well as my own position within society while also feeling empowered to act on my passions and become a more engaged citizen.

While I have gained unique skills from each of the four main components of CityLAB learning: design, dialogue, project work and city operations, have taught me unique skills, I have been able to apply them across the board in different contexts. This demonstrates the interconnections of these different disciplines while emphasizing the value of diverse learning experiences. Firstly, in design, assignments have allowed us to conduct preliminary re-designs and retrofits of underused spaces across the city such as the Main and Longwood Intersection. This has helped me get in touch with my creative side and pushed me to think outside the box while also forcing me to think logically and practically. Learning to balance practicality with imagination is an important skill that applies to all project work. Secondly, in dialogue, we have reflected on systems of privilege and oppression. This not only applies to community engagement work but has also pushed me to be more reflexive in how I act in my daily life. Exercises like PhotoVoice (which uses pictures taken by community members to visually represent their priorities) also taught me dialogue facilitation skills. This has helped me learn how to direct dialogue in a way that balances staying on topic with a natural progression of ideas. Thirdly, in my project, which focused on the City’s cycling infrastructure as it builds towards a Minimum Grid, we learned about how designing for all ages and abilities can improve transportation equity while supporting more sustainable mobility. Lastly, in working with the City of Hamilton, I have learned about the city’s strengths and weaknesses in working towards a set of community identified strategic priorities. For example, in the cycling master plan, prioritization of infrastructure development follows objective scoring based on community need, however, in reality development rarely follows this order. While unfortunate, this often reflects inefficiencies, communication challenges and financial constraints that often create barriers for the city.

Participating in the semester in residence program at CityLAB didn’t just change my perspective on certain city-related topics, it changed how I think entirely. This has broadened my perspective and allowed me to critically reflect on various social, cultural, political and economic challenges applicable in our world right now. CityLAB is a great opportunity to apply your learning while having an impact on the incredible communities we are a part of in Hamilton.

Hannah Lobb

Throughout the semester, I have been struggling to describe the CityLAB Semester in Residence experience to other people. My go-to is something along the lines of calling it an interdisciplinary project-based semester where you’re next to City Hall from 9:30 - 4:30 every day, but that really doesn’t even begin to sum up the experience and the entire semester. I applied to CityLAB while in Australia on exchange and freaking out about my future; I love having two majors (French and Peace Studies), but it also means that I could follow two very different, but equally fulfilling, careers. When I got the email explaining CityLAB and asking for applications, I viewed it as an opportunity to have experience in what a career following my Peace Studies major into municipal government could look like, but it has become so much more than that. Everyday I learn something new, whether it is in one of our dialogue and design courses, in our project meetings, or just in conversation with other students. We have the opportunity to critically think about issues facing Hamilton and actually do something about it. We have unwavering support from each other and from our instructors who have helped us not only with assignments and projects, but with things we are passionate about. Things like, creating a workshop on police discrimination to creating a podcast for the Semester in Residence students - and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We have so many incredible opportunities throughout the semester to apply our learning and make connections throughout the City that I cannot possibly try to summarize. It has been so amazing to meet everyone involved with the CityLAB Semester in Residence. Before the semester started, I was looking forward to meeting other passionate and driven people, but I could not imagine the reality of the complex, thoughtful, and intelligent people I was able to work with. The semester has had its ups and downs, its frustrations and its successes, but the students’ policy of “work hard play hard” was the perfect counterbalance to all of the work we accomplished. When I think of CityLAB, I think of our projects and assignments, but I also think of all the hacky sack, bonfires, laughter and great memories.

Saadiya Pathan

Semester in Residence Bio

The question I always get when I tell others that I am spending the semester in CityLAB is, “What do you do there?” I reply with the following five things: 1. Learn project management skills, 2. Get involved with the different communities of our city, Hamilton, 3. Gain new sets of skills, 4. Work hard and 5. Play hard.

The CityLAB Semester in Residence (SIR) experience is all about immersing yourself in the communities around you, learning about their challenges, achievements, general thoughts, and doing something about it. It challenges you to take leadership roles, engage with the community, and work with the city to innovate and produce a change.

What made CityLAB as amazing as it was, was the people that were a part of it. From the instructors to the management staff; they have all played a large role in making the experience as informative and enjoyable as possible. The SIR students were perhaps the biggest factor in building the diligent and safe environment of CityLAB. The relationships formed during my time in CityLAB will last a lifetime. The students helped each other through the assignments and projects, applying their own skills to collaboratively produce astounding work.

My personal favorite lessons learned included deep skills and dialogue taught by Brian Baetz and Anna Marie Pietranton. Deep skills explored the skill sets required to work efficiently without burning out in the process. As Brian would often say: “You are like racehorses. If you don’t feed the racehorse, get it some exercise, and let it rest, how will it compete in the race?”

This was an important lesson for many of us to learn. As university students, we are used to pushing our minds and bodies to the max to do well. However, we don’t realize how quickly we burn out as a result. Such a lesson is to be kept in mind throughout our lives and I already see many of the SIR students applying it during stressful times in their lives.

Meanwhile, Anna-Marie taught us the different aspects of dialogue required when being involved in community engagement. The discussions the class engaged in on these different topics are something I will always cherish. It provided us with the opportunity to view issues from several perspectives rather than just our own. To say the least, it was an eye opening experience.

Overall, the CityLAB SIR experience has been the highlight of my university career. It has been such a great way to gain hand-on experience working with communities as well as with the City of Hamilton. I would highly recommend the CityLAB Semester in Residence to anyone that is up for the challenge!

Eleni McGowens

The two themes for CityLAB this year were ‘Community Engagement’ and ‘Climate Change’. Part of our role as CityLAB Semester in Residence (SIR) students, was learning about the different facets to community engagement, and how to ethically employ the skills developed this semester, when interacting with local communities. As SIR students, we worked on various mitigation projects that have both an environmental and humanistic focus. Both aim to provide solutions to local issues caused by the fallout from climate change by engaging with the community to discover their needs and develop strategies that they can utilize to promote self-sustenance. 

Twice a week we were under instruction by Anna-Marie Pietrantonio, to learn how to effectively engage in dialogue. One of the most profound takeaways I’ve had from her lessons, was the difference between discussion and dialogue. In my opinion, understanding the difference is one of the most important skills to employ when interacting with others. Dialogue is a framework that focuses on understanding all opinions and perspectives rather than engaging in discussion which emphasize our own opinions. Another skill, appreciative inquiry, provided a mindset and strategy for not only approaching community projects but any collaborative project.  Appreciative inquiry helped us to recognize and utilize the strengths already present in a project and use them to their fullest extent through valuing and encouraging those strengths.  

As an environmental science major, I have been able to learn a lot of skills from both my peers that come from different professional backgrounds, as well as from the community we’ve engaged with, which has helped me to be more well-rounded in my own discipline. I am extremely grateful for the experience CityLAB has provided me with, the friendships gained and the opportunity to work alongside city partners as well as other stakeholders within the community.

Deepak Palanichami

I am a 5th year Hons. Biochemistry student. CityLAB Semester in Residence has been a very enjoyable course for me due to its unique structure and the smaller class size relative to my regular classes. It was very congenial to spend my working hours everyday in a friendly environment where I could build good relationships with my colleagues. Moreover, working on one project for the entire semester and producing tangible results was a welcome change compared to the hustle during my previous undergraduate years. At the beginning of the semester, I was very doubtful about my potential contribution to the CityLAB SIR project since I did not have much of a background in climate change and sustainability. As I started working on my project, I grew confident that my transferable skills would be of use, and I was also convinced that having a beginner's view on the topics we covered helped bring a rather unconventional voice and creativity, one that is unbiased, to the discussions.

My primary motivation towards Community Engagement was the climate change protest in Gage Park. I was really impressed by the diversity of people, of all ages and experiences, participating in the protest with a strong will to raise awareness about climate change. After this strike, I felt fortunate to be part of CityLAB; since I am working directly with the City, Environment Hamilton staff and community members, I can bring quantitative solutions to the climate change issue. The current project I am working on is Climate Ready Hamilton, where we are improving the Beasley neighborhood's resiliency to extreme weather. I feel proud of my work since it will exist even after I move on in my life, and the outputs from my project will be of help to a lot of people during times of need.

Suffia Malik

My name is Suffia Malik and I am a third year health sciences student in the CityLAB Hamilton Semester in Residence program. This program brings together a group of students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds to learn about community engagement, design, and dialogue. We spend our entire semester together at CityLAB, where we learn about the diverse issues and initiatives that are shaping Hamilton. As a part of the residency, students work with community partners to help make Hamilton a healthier place to live.

As a health sciences student, I bring my interests in global health, the social determinants of health, and equity to this program. I was interested in joining CityLAB because I wanted to engage with community building and learn about how people tackle issues on a local level. Through the program, I have been able to learn about climate justice and personally engage with the experiences of marginalized communities facing climate change.

One of my favorite parts of the average CityLAB week is when we explore new parts of Hamilton and learn about how design impacts our connections to our communities. Our instructor Brian Baetz takes us through different areas of the city to help us understand the physical spaces that shape people’s lives. I have loved our explorations of the different green spaces in Hamilton such as Jackson Park and the Dundas EcoPark Gateway. I have also loved SOBI biking precariously around Locke St construction on a day that I missed a bus stop and I was now tasked with catching up to my CityLAB peers several blocks away.

Because of CityLAB, I have also gained the confidence to engage with local politics. I attended my first ever general issues committee in order to support a community hub for diverse and marginalized populations in Ward 3. I am also currently planning a workshop for my CityLAB peers to discuss the issue of Bill 21 in Quebec (on which I am conducting a thesis project). Our involvement with community partners in Hamilton have created opportunities to connect with the issues facing Hamilton residents and the solutions different groups are working towards.

I will finish by saying that the friendships I have developed through CityLAB are among the most valuable things I have gained from this residency. Learning from, debating, and working with a group of passionate, creative, and inspiring students and instructors has made coming to CityLAB a daily adventure. I am incredibly grateful for the laughter and explorations we have shared and I know I am privileged to be in the presence of so many current and future leaders.

Daniella Mikanovsky

One thing I am incredibly thankful for at CityLAB is the opportunity to shape our own learning. If we identify something in the community or municipality that is particularly interesting to us, students are empowered to take the lead in creating learning spaces surrounding this. Some examples of this is how students are currently taking the lead in creating workshops surrounding the themes of affordable housing and hate in Hamilton. This type of opportunity manifested for me in the form of Emergency Preparedness.

In CityLAB, a major portion of our time goes towards our ‘project’ portion, in which we work with City and community partners to work on an issue that impacts communities in Hamilton. Since the beginning of the semester, my project involves assisting Environment Hamilton in establishing resiliency to extreme weather caused by climate change in the Beasley Neighborhood. As we began working with Environment Hamilton, our partners there introduced me to Connie Verhaeghe, the Senior Emergency Manager at the City of Hamilton. One thing lead to another, and I was given the opportunity to organize a field trip with Connie for CityLAB students to visit Hamilton’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC).

On October 24th, thirteen other CityLAB students and I commuted to Hamilton’s EOC. This center is the city’s hub for emergency management: if and when an emergency takes place, this is where everything happens. The EOC has protocols to manage any and all emergencies, from tornadoes to chemical spills or extreme heat. The EOC manages emergency aid, city responses, allocating resources, and media updates.  At the center, we had the opportunity to see the physical facilities from which emergencies are handed, and learn more about the policies and systems in place to protect Hamilton’s residents. At the end of the hour, we walked away with our own Hamilton Emergency Preparedness Guides, which we can use to create personalized preparedness plans.

I am incredibly thankful to Connie at the EOC for welcoming and teaching us all about the city’s emergency preparedness. Furthermore, I am thankful that CityLAB gives us the opportunities to take our learning in our own unique paths, and empowered me to make this field trip happen. Our professors and staff have created a wonderful learning space in which we are given the tools to shape our education. I hope that more students have the opportunity to experience learning in this self-directed manner.

Gurvir Chana

My name is Gurvir a.k.a GV and I am a third year honours Life Sciences student at McMaster University. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was applying to at first since it was a new course and no one really told me about it. I got an email about the course 2 hours before the deadline and just applied because it seemed cool and I can officially confirm that it is. CityLAB Semester In Residence (SIR) has been the best experience I’ve had at university by far. One aspect of the overall experience are the weekly field trips where we would go to a different part of Hamilton and think of ways to improve that specific area. For example, we went to an intersection in the heart of Dundas and we worked together to come up with a way to future proof the area and better utilize the parking lot in that area. In addition to the field trips, we do various assignments and reflections. The background learning that we get from our esteemed professors is actually amazing. The knowledge we gain and the discussions we have are all implementable. Everything we learn is action-oriented. We then take the new knowledge, mix it with our existing knowledge then apply it to real problems in the city. The coolest part is that we get to see our plans go into action and make real impact. Personally, I have learned so much about so many different things. This course is like one of those movies where they get individuals from a different field and expertise, and put them all in a room to solve the life and death types of problems. That’s what this course is, well minus the life and death part. I’ll walk in and think I’m Iron Man sometimes. I didn’t just learn tangible skills but personal skills that I’ll have for the rest of my life. I think the best part of CityLAB SIR is definitely the people. Having students from different faculties work on the same problems leads to bringing out comprehensive solutions that are just simply amazing. Learning from each and every one of them gives me a reason to wake up in the morning. Each person involved in CityLAB has a unique skill or quality that just makes them amazing and having the opportunity to be in the presence of such elite people is an experience on it’s own. I look forward to the lifetime relationships that were made during this experience with everyone at CityLAB. Honestly, I could write so much more about this experience but I’m going to sign off by saying that I’m so glad I decided to apply to this course and if you’re looking to apply, just do it because it’s worth it.

Elizabeth Marr

I can divide my semester up into two segments: (1) my time spent at CityLAB, (2) the time I spend explaining what CityLAB is to outsiders. So far, I can say that I am a professional at one of the two. CityLAB Hamilton is an innovation hub that brings together student, academic, and civic leaders to co-create a better Hamilton for all. CityLAB students are a mix of McMaster, Mohawk and Redeemer students who want to learn, explore, and help the City of Hamilton.

My project this semester has been working towards creating a pedestrian and cyclist friendly trail way around the perimeter of the Cootes-Paradise region, also known as a Greenway. This idea of a Greenway fits into CityLAB’s overall theme this year of climate change and the fact that this project is still in its early phase means that there’s space for creativity and making it our own. This semester has given me the time and opportunity to ride through trail systems that are already in Hamilton, such as the Bayfront trail and the Hamilton-Brantford trail. While these trail segments in the vicinity of Cootes Paradise exist, developing my own appreciation of them motivates me to work on providing a better trail system that connects existing segments. We’ve also been able to collaborate with a group from the SUSTAIN 4S06 class at McMaster, who will be doing the community engagement part on the project.

With the interdisciplinary nature of the group, there are parts that apply for everyone. One member is designated to GIS mapping, another to design, another to marketing the idea of the Greenway, and with my quasi-background in Political Science, I can work on policy recommendations. I would say this is my favorite part about CityLAB -- it provides an opportunity to collaborate with students from other disciplines on a level that you would have never got the chance to otherwise. While I have pride for my own program, you gain respect from and insight into all of the other faculties involved.

             When you first begin the program, the instructors will tell you that CityLAB students are expected to lead. Contrary to other leadership courses that I have been a part of, our project is entirely our responsibility. This gives students the opportunity to develop our project management skills; as we are responsible for developing and sending agendas out to city partners before meetings as well as designing and orchestrating workshops that contribute towards our projects end goal.

             CityLAB’s Semester in Residence has been the best part of my undergrad and I would highly recommend the program for anyone who is up for the challenge.  In a time when climate change activism is more apparent than ever, it can feel overwhelming as to what tangible outcomes a single individual can contribute. Thinking that my work could help build a Greenway, which will ultimately make sustainable transportation more accessible and safe, I realize that CityLAB has provided me with a special opportunity to catalyze the climate conversation.

Deborah Quist

In her third year of Honours Life Sciences at McMaster University, Deborah was born in Toronto but grew up in Mississauga and Thornhill. She has a wide interested in a variety of sports, travelling, yoga and helping the community in any way she can. When not doing those things, Deborah loves to bury her nose in a great novel while commuting. She decided to join CityLAB as a way to get to know the lovely city of Hamilton and connect with the members of the community. She is excited to embark on this wonderful journey of engaging with the Hamilton community alongside her peers.

Salo Rodríguez Solarte

Day in the Life of a CityLAB Student

Since the beginning of the semester, all the students clicked as a large 30 person family. Our vibe was immediately like that of elementary school kids joking around with one another. In the first few weeks, we focused on bonding with one another and with our staff and instructors. We did yoga, got to know Hamilton and toured different important cultural sites. It was a great place to start the semester and provided a smooth transition into group work because we already knew each other and had built friendships and trust. Our projects have taken on many phases, and have given us an inside look into how City Councillors and Staff, and NGOs move through the steps of a project. We all come from different academic backgrounds and have obviously worked in group projects before, but the interdisciplinary component to CityLAB truly gave us a wide range of perspectives to pull from. This was, however, the first time for many of us where a group project had real-life consequences and where our work would impact a larger community, and not just stay on paper. Through this, CityLAB has provided us with many opportunities to make connections with City staff, councilors, and different NGOs. Bringing people and processes that seem so far removed from the average citizen has given us an inside look at how projects get done by professionals. It turns out, they get done the same way the rest of us work through projects - there are many bumps in the road and you get creative in how to solve them! The academic component with our instructors has taken an approach to personal development and growth in my experience. The focus has been on how to improve how we approach people and projects; on how to see and act from a different point of view; how to have a more dynamic and flexible mind. The workload is small and mainly used as a tool to keep us thinking and being creative. On top of that, the instructors and the rest of our staff very much fostered the environment of familiarity, unity, and cohesion between them and students, making CityLAB a low-pressure but high-expectation environment. It’s a good place, filled with good people, and students get to work on meaningful, fulfilling projects. I have worked on many community sustainability projects this semester, and it is exciting and challenging to work alongside peers and City partners that have the same compassion for the environment and people of Hamilton as the rest of us at CityLAB.

Claire De Souza

My name is Claire de Souza, I am a fourth year Geography and Environmental Studies student at McMaster University. CityLAB Semester in Residence has exceeded all my expectations and has been one of the most valuable experiences in my undergraduate degree. CityLAB has introduced me to new ideas surrounding community engagement, designing cities, and project management. As an interdisciplinary program, students in CityLAB have given me new perspectives, changed my opinions, and have made me think more critically about the social systems in places across Hamilton and Canada. CityLAB SIR prepares students for professional careers by implementing experiential and problem-based learning. The program is designed to give students the skills and knowledge necessary to engage with the public, re-imagine city designs, and work with multiple stakeholders and organizations. The instructors and professors have developed my professional networking and team building skills immensely. Through the City projects I am working on, I am able to put the skills I learn in class to work and carry out meaningful projects in Hamilton. CityLAB semester in residence has grown my confidence by challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone, speak in front of large groups, and share ideas without fear of being ridiculed or criticized. This program has also introduced me to so many students from various backgrounds, who have turned out to be some of the best people I have met in my time here at McMaster. The relationships and bonds I have formed throughout the semesters are like none other, and would not be possible without a program like CityLAB SIR. Through our City Hall 101 sessions, the class has been exposed to Hamilton’s City Hall operations and the varying committee’s that work for the city. We have also had the opportunity to meet Mayor Fred Eisenberger, City Manager Jannet Smith, and General Manager of City Planning and Economic Development Jason Throne. Meeting with these city staff has built our networks, taught us important meeting skills including facilitation, how to take meeting minutes, creating agendas, and much more. CityLAB SIR prepares students for professional careers by developing our project management, organization, communication, and design skills. This program also develops personal characteristics that we will be able to carry with us for the rest of our lives.

Nicole Graziano

Currently in my third year at McMaster University, pursuing a Combined Honours Bachelor’s in Political Science and Society, Culture and Religion. Studying both Political Science and Society, Culture and Religion has exposed me to a variety of academic writing, deepened my understanding of diversity in contemporary Canada, and helped me develop a comprehensive recognition of how policy is determined. Although I enjoy both my programs, CityLAB has challenged me through enriching experiential learning and community engagement. Unlike typical university programs, that tend to focus on research and theories, CityLAB encourages students to pursue meaningful solutions, to real, tangible issues facing contemporary Canada.

I am presently working alongside community stakeholders and City employees to develop a Sustainable Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) in the North End neighborhood of Hamilton. This pilot project requires significant planning, research and community outreach. I work closely with project partners to develop local, community-level strategies aimed at climate mitigation and adaption. Currently, I am helping to organize a workshop for community stakeholders that will identify strategies for combating climate change at a local level. Throughout this process it is important to remember that this is not a detached, theoretical project, it is an ongoing conversation that directly involves people’s lives. This is just one reason why it is crucial to have transparent and honest communication with community members.

Projects at CityLAB do not solely serve as a means of achieving a particular mark, like other university projects tend to do; instead, CityLAB activities are intended to improve and strengthen local communities within Hamilton. CityLAB allows us to build meaningful relationships with community members and explore diverse and vibrant neighborhoods.

Beyond project work, CityLAB presents a variety of lessons, including a design class led by Dr. Brian Baetz. Design class pushes me to pursue logistic problems that greatly differ from the theory I usually study. Although this class is challenging, especially considering that my university career focuses on social science courses, it allows me to develop new ways of approaching and analyzing problems.

CityLAB has been an amazing experience that has strengthened my understanding of community engagement. I would strongly recommend this program to any student  and I hope to carry the lessons learned in CityLAB throughout my life.

Hannah Stoesz

My name is Hannah and I am in my 3rd year of Commerce at McMaster. As a future business leader, I have come to realize how crucial it is to explore how each member of society, especially corporations can work together to combat social and environmental issues. 

An Average Week at CityLAB: The mornings are composed of professor led classes. Two are design classes where we reimagine and design the City physically in an effective, ethical and beautiful manner and two dialogue classes, where we use empathy and deep listening to unpack social, cultural, environmental and political issues. This material is learned in an interactive and experiential manner, through walkabouts and community engagement. The afternoons are full of project work, field work and guest speakers.

My Experience: This CityLAB experience has challenged me to look introspectively, to see my own prejudices and weaknesses as well to analyze the structures and systems around me and ask why they exist the way they do. We work directly with City Staff and Community Partners on projects to mitigate Climate Change. I am working on a Minimum Grid for Hamilton's Cycling Infrastructure and I have found myself critiquing current bike lanes and then questioning all of my critiques. Cycling infrastructure, this is more controversial topic than I ever expected.

Why Should You Do It: I have learned more in my daily experience at CityLAB than any other class in University so far. You have the opportunity to learn how decisions and projects are implemented in the city and by nonprofits across the city. If you want to grow as a person, learn from a variety of passionate students and staff and make some amazing friends, this is for you.

Albert Mac

Day in the Life of a CityLAB student: “Barn Roof is Burning” Design Exercise with Brian Baetz

Twice a week we meet with Brian Baetz for our design studies. Our usual design assignment from Brian is a five-page design report due every other week – and in one class, Brian decided to share the “Barn Roof is Burning” design exercise with us. The concept was the exact same as the assignments – re-imagine and re-envision a space for its future uses and needs. However, some fun context is added:

 “The barn roof is burning down! However, you still have to finish your design – you only have fifteen minutes to get your design done then run out of the burning barn.”

It was challenging but eye-opening having only 15 minutes and a sense of urgency to come up with and sketch out a full idea. I didn’t have time to worry about having a “good” idea, and had to fully commit to an idea and let my pencil draw the first things that came to mind. I don’t usually view myself as creative or artistic, but at the end of the fifteen minutes I had a full sketch of an idea that I was actually proud of.

The experience was so rewarding that I’ve made it a goal to perform the “Barn Roof is Burning” exercise every day. Practice makes perfect, so I’ve decided to use this fun, low-stakes exercise to keep me energized on my bus ride to class or during some free time to give myself a creative outlet that I didn’t realize I could use. Sometimes I don’t end the fifteen minutes with a complete design, but that’s always a part of the process. It also makes travelling around more fun as I’m always keeping an eye out for new spaces I want to re-imagine and challenge myself with.

Abigail Laulman

My name is Abigail, I am a 4th-year student at McMaster majoring in  Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior. My interests include people, animals and the great outdoors! I decided to apply to the CityLAB program because I was searching for a fully immersive learning opportunity, something that would switch gears and give me a different perspective on education than what I had received thus far. It was way out of my program’s scope and meant that I would need to spend an additional semester catching up on mandatory courses but more and more each day I realize how worth it this decision has been. I never knew where the leap would take me and that it would band me together with different kinds of people from diverse disciplines to create meaningful change.

There are many aspects of the program that truly set it apart, for one you really feel as though you are working together with people for the greater good of the community as well as for each other. I have always wrestled with how competitive the school system is, and how the environment can become toxic really quickly with students feeling threatened by each other's success, as though they have to prove themselves all on their own. CityLAB is different in that you feel like you are a unit, dare I say a family, that cares about something each of us has in common and mobilizes towards protecting it.

This year our focus has been climate change, and we have been using various methods of inquiry to study its effects, and mitigate them. We have prioritized neighborhood-level analysis and action. I believe that the local community, as well as City staff benefit from the partnership with McMaster students because the brilliant young people we see today are inspiring and creative, but most of all, they care about the future that they know will be their own tomorrow.

CityLAB’s capacity for innovation, in a cost-effective manner, is commendable, and every semester there is improvement in the program structure, as each instructor's priority remains to constantly make progress towards a better and more useful program for both students, and their learning objectives, as well as meaningful initiatives that impact the local community.

It has been a privilege to be a part of something as cool as the CityLAB program, where students are encouraged to think outside of the box. The people I have met and worked with have been so genuine and each lesson taught has inspired my thinking and world-view. Like any program, it is only as good as one makes it and the personal efforts that each person puts in can make all difference. I recommend the experience to anyone who is yearning for more out of their university experience.

Najima Paerhati

What I have experienced in the past two months in CityLAB is completely beyond what I ever would have expected. The first day of CityLAB, when Brian took us out to the McNab street and started to explain the histories and the cultures of the buildings in Hamilton and why buildings are built a certain way. I remember feeling totally amazed! That day has totally changed my opinion about this city.

Throughout the past two months at CityLAB, while attending Anna Maries’s classes on dialogue and communities, I’ve learned that trust is the critical element for community engagement. In Brian’s classes about living design, I learned how you can design a building according to 15 rules to make it a living design and how to let the building bring out the human in people. From doing our project with City staff on our SNAP project, I’ve learned so much about the north end, what are people’s priorities are and how we can implement these into SNAP climate change initiative.

Something that affected me the most is learning how to manage relationships between people and to validate our own feelings. This is something that I have ignored in the past, and I have learned that we should take our feelings from personal interactions as a clue to making that relationship work better to go from a low place to a high.

I have also learned so much about climate change! Students in CityLAB are so passionate about climate change. Pieces of knowledge from everyone piles together into something that can really make an impact. I am impressed how much the Semester in Residence at CityLAB has taught me in the past two months and I am looking forward to what the next month holds.

Taylor Decoste

CityLAB has offered me an opportunity that no other class has ever been able to offer. It has allowed me the chance to learn the ins and outs of the City of Hamilton, recognize design problems and solutions such as open flood plains all the way down the spectrum to improving City Hall, and enhance my ability to understand and navigate dialogue of all different topics. It has also given me the ability to meet and learn from students across a variety of programs and gain perspectives that I would never have had before. While having business, social science, life science and health science students all working closely together may seem like some fantasy land when you think about the stereotypes thrown at one another, it has truly turned into the best learning environment I have been a part of, while also building bonds and friendships that feel like they could last a lifetime. Alongside the personal friendships built, CityLAB partners students with different city staff members and organizations that partner with the city in order to enhance our professional network.

The first half of our semester has focused on three separate sections – City Hall 101, design, and dialogue – and then one large project. City Hall 101 gives us the chance to dive into what municipal politics looks like and how it functions. We have had amazing opportunities to meet and engage in Q&As with city staff such as Jason Thorne, the general manager of Planning and Economic Development, the City Manager Janette Smith, and Mayor Fred Eisenberger. Design is split into a standard lecture one morning of the week, and a three-hour walkabout and redesign of difference spaces all across Hamilton. We have looked at better uses for the roof of Jackson Square, how to better use a flood plain in Dundas, and what we could do to make Westdale more inviting. Dialogue has taught us that respectful and open-minded conversation can be had with any topic. Two mornings a week we have lectures about navigating dialogue with vulnerable communities, participating in exercises that helps us better understand the challenges poor dialogue creates, and then we have open dialogue with the class about a variety of topics.

While the hours can be long, and it can feel like there is always something to catch up on, I would highly recommend a Semester in Residence at CityLAB for any third or fourth year student. This break away from your standard academic semester launches you into the professional world, but rather than being by yourself, you are surrounded by unconditional supports. The professors and CityLAB staff always ensure that our best interest is at hand, and if we need a hand editing an email, learning about problems in the city that aren’t covered in the semester, or even just a day extension on an assignment, they are more than understanding and attempting to go the extra mile. This experience has opened my eyes to opportunities and interests that I never knew existed. For that, along with the bonds, supports and networks built, I will forever be grateful for such an opportunity.

Jeremy Sewnauth

My name is Jeremy and I am a 4th year honors Life Science Student minoring in Psychology. I decided to apply for CityLAB because it was something that I had heard about throughout various classes I had taken at McMaster and always thought “wow, that is something that I would love to do, but there’s no way I am good enough to get into that”. Weeks later an email came across my inbox and I decided to shoot my shot and apply because the worst that could happen is they say no. To my welcomed surprise I was accepted into the program!

Before coming into CityLAB I really did not know what to expect and taking that first step into the CityLAB space came with so much unknown but so much potential for good. As the weeks have come to a close at CityLAB I have learned more and more that this was one of the best choices I have made during my university journey so far.

The program is like nothing else I have ever experienced in university and without a doubt there is nothing else like it around. CityLAB Semester in Residence has taught me so many things that I would never have had the opportunity to learn otherwise. The program has allowed me the opportunity to make real impact and real change within community and the individuals who reside there.

Beyond this, the program has given me a tight knit community that has grown to become like a big family. People that I care for and people that care for and support me whether it’s making jokes during our off-time in the group chat or it’s engaging in enlightening conversations during class. Each person at CityLAB is unique, coming from a range of different fields of studies, which has put me in touch with absolutely amazing people that I would not have otherwise met, but also acting to teach me a more holistic way of thinking.

Both the classes and instructors here at CityLAB encourage personal growth and learning while making emphasis upon self-care and taking time to reflect and really think about where we are at. For example, we have design sessions during the morning half-day of both Tuesday and Wednesday with the amazing Brian Baetz. Learning about the principles behind design was never something that I thought I would learn and learning about the principles of design from an engineer was even more mind blowing to me. Regardless of this, everything that I look at now is influenced by this and I consider “who designed this and why did they do it this way?”

As a whole CityLAB has been an amazing experience and the fact that we work to improve the community that we live in makes it all the more amazing to be a part of. To make a longstanding impact and be a part of something so much bigger than myself is truly an inspiring experience and should be something that everyone strives to be a part of.

Ada Zhu

Hi, I am Ada. I am a student in CityLAB Semester in Residence 2019. I am currently in my fourth and last year of the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program at McMaster University. I entered university as a Life Science student in my first year and chose to specialize in PNB in my second year due to my interest in the first-year introductory psychology classes. My first three years of university followed a very traditional style of learning. Like many other students, I attended many hours of lectures, participated in numerous tutorials, and studied for tests and examinations. I enjoyed the content that was taught in many of the classes I have taken; however, the traditional classroom lacked an opportunity for me to apply what I have learned in class to real life scenarios. When I found out about the CityLAB program at McMaster, I was immediately drawn towards the hands-on problem solving project component. I applied right away to be part of the program, and now I can proudly say I am a student in CityLAB 2019.           

The program has been everything I expected and more. There have been many opportunities for me to apply the skills and knowledge I have accumulated to solve real life problems in the City of Hamilton alongside other like-minded CityLAB students, professors, and City staff members. I have also gained valuable skills in project management, teamwork, organization, time management, meeting preparation/facilitation, general professionalism, communication, and public speaking. The best part of the program are the people I have met. My classmates and professors come from such different areas of expertise. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows me to work with a diverse group of people in project work, which mimics real life scenarios in the workplace. Everyone comes with their own unique strengths, and we synergize together to reach a common goal. Each person holds an integral role, and our parts all fit together like clockwork to reach the completion of projects. I enjoy working with different people and learning from others’ experiences to better my own working and communication styles.

To current and future students who may be contemplating taking a semester at CityLAB, I strongly recommend it. I am loving my experience, and it is definitely fulfilling to be a part of such a wonderful family at CityLAB.