Our project aimed to revamp programming provided in collaboration with Brighter Futures at Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing Corporation. This program supports low-income, single parent, families by offering a variety of activities to children under 6.
Reaction All Years
Submitted before (Exploration of Volunteering: Understanding the Motivations, Challenges and Expectations of Young Adults)
This study investigates long-term family engagement with the Sentiers Wakefield Trails (SWT) in Wakefield, Quebec, a community-managed, not-for-profit trail organization. Engagement with nature trails has shown numerous benefits for families, including their reinforcement of physical activity, environmental awareness, and emotional well-being. Many parents view outdoor education as essential for children, believing that experiences in nature support cognitive and social development. Research highlights that parental influence is crucial in encouraging children’s connection to nature, fostering a lifelong appreciation and sustained use of trails.
Upon this premise, we formulated our research’s problem statement: What factors influence long-term family engagement with trails?
The study’s main objective is to understand both the factors that encourage and those that limit family participation on SWT trails. Focusing on families with children between 0 to 14 years old, the research aims to identify strategies to encourage ongoing engagement, supporting SWT’s goal of creating a multi-generational relationship between the community and the natural environment.
A mixed-methods approach was used to gather data through surveys and interviews with local families and subject matter experts. The combination of qualitative and quantitative methods provided a comprehensive understanding of family interactions with trails, highlighting key areas for improvement in trail accessibility and family-friendly facilities.
The purpose of these findings is to inform SWT on how to improve trail experience for families. Enhancing family engagement could support SWT’s long-term sustainability and contribute to broader community benefits, including public health, environmental stewardship, and economic development.
By focusing on family-centred strategies, this research aims to help SWT enhance its appeal to families, ensuring that trails remain an essential community resource for future generations. This study emphasizes the importance of accessible and family-oriented trails in fostering a sustained community connection to nature.
The ultimate playground we developed in VM is to inspire hackers and cybersecurity pros to sharpen their skills, crack the challenges, and capture the flags.
This project is a research study conducted by ‘Trailbenders’, a team of four student researchers with the Human-Centered Design Lab at Algonquin College, in collaboration with Sentiers Wakefield Trails (SWT). This research addresses the experiences and motivations of recent immigrants in the Ottawa/Gatineau and Wakefield regions regarding the use of local trails. As a not-for-profit organization, SWT faces hurdles related to resource limitations and inclusivity in trail use, providing a unique opportunity to understand how trails can better serve diverse communities.
Through extensive mixed-method research, including a survey and interviews with relevant participants and subject matter experts, we explored insights into how newcomers perceive and experience trails, their motivations for exploring these spaces, and their expectations for improvement. The project seeks to answer the key question: How do recent immigrants residing in the Ottawa-Gatineau and Wakefield region view and experience trails, and what can be done to make these trails more inclusive?
Our research focused on developing solutions that enhance trail inclusivity by addressing the unique needs of new immigrant users. By understanding the barriers they face, we aim to foster stronger connections between newcomers and the local community through outdoor recreation, ultimately making trails more accessible and enjoyable for all.
The long-term vision for this project is to support SWT in creating more inclusive recreational practices that cater to the needs of diverse populations. This will not only help build a stronger sense of belonging for immigrants but also benefit the broader community by enhancing trail experiences for everyone.
Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights into collaborative design and research work, utilizing tools such as Google Docs, Zcal, Google Forms, and Zoom for effective teamwork and communication. The project emphasized attention to detail, empathy, inclusion, responsiveness to participant feedback, and the importance of maintaining clear communication channels within the team.
In collaboration with Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Center (PQCHC), we aimed to address Adverse Childhood Experiences and their impact on children’s development. Our project emerged from the recognition of a knowledge gap in the community about ACEs. Consequently, we focused on the specific programs offered by PQCHC that empowered parents with effective strategies and resources. Our goal was to promote these programs so families could access support and reduce the effects of ACEs.
This project investigates the integration of AI within Les Promenades Gatineau shopping center to enhance customer interactions, reduce operational costs, and improve security. By collecting primary data through surveys and discussions with mall visitors and stakeholders, our research aims to provide actionable insights into the benefits and challenges of AI in retail environments. The outcomes are expected to support the mall in its competitive positioning and customer service goals within the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of marketing and promotions at shopping centres by examining their impact on foot traffic, consumer interest, sales, and length of stay. We will be conducting our research through surveys, discussion groups, and previous data collected.
Feedback and information will be provided back to our client following our completion.
This project aims to investigate consumer preferences regarding shopping malls by analyzing factors that influence their choice of malls to visit. Through a structured survey, we will gather data on various aspects such as location, store variety, promotions, dining options, and entertainment facilities. The insights gained will help identify key trends and preferences among shoppers, ultimately providing valuable recommendations for mall management and retailers to enhance customer experience and increase foot traffic.
We are enhancing Radha and Jay Jayaraman’s wellness website by improving user experience, adding administrative tools, and managing sign-ups for yoga and spiritual healing programs, with a focus on promoting health and wellness.