Recently students in our 3rd year Ottawa Urban Geography Field Course met in downtown Ottawa where they explored questions around housing and neighbourhood change.
Students met at McNabb Park in downtown Ottawa.
Associate Professor Jennifer Ridgley who teaches the course explains that, “this year’s course is designed to provide an opportunity to collectively explore, examine, and reflect on the complex and diverse urban geographies of Ottawa. It is rooted in principles of experiential learning and creative experimentation. Over the course of the term, students will be exposed to and engage in a variety of field research activities, creative projects, discussion and analysis designed to achieve a better understanding of how urban space is produced and experienced, and how geographers conduct research in urban environments.”
Students travel on foot to explore neighbourhood change and housing developments.
Assistant Professor David Hugill introduces PhD students Monika Imeri and Sneha Sumanth who are researching with community partners Somerset West Community Health Centre and Ottawa Community Housing on how rapid housing developments are changing the Ottawa urban neighbourhood. More specifically, these graduate students discussed the research they are doing, asking questions around who these new housing developments are for? Looking at issues around affordable housing and profit driven housing as well as exploring the types of community mobilization efforts that are happening in the Ottawa urban community.
From Left to Right: PhD Student Sneha Sumanth, Associate Professor Jen Ridgley, Assistant Professor David Hugill, PhD Student Monika Imeri
Students discuss what they are exploring in front of one of the buildings being built by Ottawa Community Housing.