Community engagement is supposed to give residents a voice in shaping their cities, but too often, the process becomes a cycle of endless consultation, unrealistic wish lists, and glossy reports that never lead to action. That’s the argument made in a video by Creative Communities International, which critiques the way cities handle public input and offers a radically different approach: the 7-Day Makeover—a model that prioritizes doing over talking.
The video’s creator, who has spent 30 years running community engagement processes, describes the typical pattern:
- The city budgets for a plan but not implementation.
- Consultants collect ideas without knowing what’s affordable.
- The result is an ambitious report filled with ideas that will never happen.
- The public watches as their vision gets watered down or abandoned.
- Frustrated, residents disengage, leaving only the most vocal activists or those who enjoy the process itself.
Instead of this cycle, the 7-Day Makeover model focuses on fast, hands-on community projects where all funding goes into implementation rather than reports.
Could This Work in Sarnia?
Sarnia has seen its fair share of ambitious plans that struggle to move beyond the consultation phase. The multi-use indoor recreation centre has been discussed for years, with various feasibility studies and location proposals, but no clear path to breaking ground. The Centennial Park waterfront revitalization has been underway for over a decade, yet elements like the amphitheatre and play structures have faced delays, budget issues, and shifting priorities.
What if, instead of another round of consultations and reports, the city committed to a hands-on, rapid-action approach? Could a community-driven, seven-day initiative create visible improvements to Sarnia’s public spaces while re-engaging residents who have lost faith in the process?
The 7-Day Makeover isn’t about bypassing planning but about ensuring that planning leads to something tangible. By shifting focus from endless discussions to real-world improvements, Sarnia could turn its community vision into reality—without waiting for the next report.
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