Engagement & Facilitation - InterGroup Consultants

Engagement and Facilitation

InterGroup provides expert engagement and facilitation support to complex multi-stakeholder processes. This includes the implementation of engagement activities, strategic planning, and project coordination. Our clients include the private sector, government agencies, First Nations, and non-government organizations.

Public Engagement & Indigenous Engagement

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Facilitation

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Public Engagement and Indigenous Engagement

InterGroup provides the following services related to Public and Indigenous Engagement:

Coordination and implementation of workshops, open houses, focus groups, and other public-facing events (including online events)
Key person interviews
Surveys

Related Projects

Map bio - Sav, Clayton, Jenn, Gary, Jaylene (3)

Kivalliq Hydro Fibre Link Project

Client: Kivalliq Inuit Association
Dates: 2019 – Present

Kivalliq Hydro Fibre Link Project

Client: Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA)

Dates: 2019 – Present

The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link is an infrastructure project designed to deliver renewable energy and broadband internet to the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. The Kivalliq Inuit Association, though Nukik Corporation, is working to advance development of 1,200 km of high voltage transmission lines connected to the hydro-electric grid in northern Manitoba near Gillam, and 370 km of medium voltage feeder lines to link five communities and two mines in the region. The InterGroup team provides advice on the strategic development, regulatory and licensing considerations for the Project, along with planning and implementation of engagement efforts, socio-economics, and archaeology and heritage for the future impact assessment.

For more info contact: John Osler, Christina Blouw

Natural Resource Opt. Program & Growth Options – Commercial Fishing

Client: Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF)
Dates: 2019 – 2020

Client: Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF)

Dates: 2019 – 2020

The Look North Task Force Report and Action Plan identified the optimal use of northern mineral and resource potential as one of the things that matter most to residents of northern Manitoba. InterGroup facilitated stakeholder engagement with individual fishers, local fisher organization leadership, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) representatives and other suitable buyers and marketers, community leadership, provincial and federal organizations, and non-government organizations actively involved in the sustainability and success of the commercial fishery. A strategy and implementation plan was developed based on stakeholder and community engagement.

For more info contact: John Osler, Christina Blouw

Walk Bike Active Transportation and Engagement

Client: City of Winnipeg
Dates: 2016 – 2020

Walk Bike Active Transportation and Engagement

Client: City of Winnipeg

Dates: 2016 – 2020

In 2016, the City of Winnipeg Public Works Department initiated the Wolseley to West Alexander Corridor Project to identify options to improve travel choices, accessibility, and connectivity as a part of the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies Action Plan. InterGroup supported this project as well as subsequent City of Winnipeg Walk Bike initiatives including the West Alexander to East Exchange Corridor Project in 2017 and the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project in 2018. InterGroup, working with Urban Systems, designed and led the public engagement process for these projects. The engagement program, consistent with IAP2 principles, maximized participation and collected input from stakeholders and residents through key person interviews, online surveys, and in-person events. The valuable information gathered from participants refined project designs and resulted in adjustable protected bike lanes on McDermot Avenue and Bannatyne Avenue, the creation of a neighborhood greenway along Ruby Street and Banning Street to link to the Wolseley and West Alexander neighborhoods, and a bidirectional bike path that connects the West Broadway neighbourhood to downtown.

For more info contact: John Osler, Christina Blouw

Socio-Economic Impacts for the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Client: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Dates: 2017 – 2018

Client: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Dates: 2017 – 2018

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is the federal entity that safeguards Canada’s waters and manages Canada’s fisheries, oceans, and freshwater resources. InterGroup completed a study documenting the economic and social impact of commercial freshwater fisheries in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. The study identified current issues and challenges for the inland fishery. The impact of future Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation operations under potential transformation options being considered by DFO was also assessed.

For more info contact: John Osler

Ministerial Advisory Panel on the Transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Client: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Dates: 2018 – 2019

Client: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Dates: 2018 – 2019

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the federal entity that safeguards Canada’s waters and manages Canada’s fisheries, oceans, and freshwater resources. The Department established a Ministerial Advisory Panel to examine alternative governance and ownership models for the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation that were intended to better reflect the changing environment and market conditions in the industry. InterGroup acted as secretariat to the Panel as they explored organizational models that could support collaboration and co-operation amongst commercial fishers and assessed partnership opportunities with organizations that could play a role in the inland fishery.

For more info contact: John Osler

Facilitation

InterGroup provides the following services related to Facilitation:

Project Planning Workshops
Community Workshops
Priority Planning Meetings
Online Surveys

Related Projects

Priority Planning

Client: Volunteer Manitoba
Dates: 2020 – 2022

Client: Volunteer Manitoba

Dates: 2020 – 2022

Volunteer Manitoba is a non-profit agency supporting groups and individuals in the volunteer sector. In early 2020, InterGroup “Adopted a Non-Profit” and began supporting Volunteer Manitoba to develop a study to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting the volunteer sector. Three desktop research memos were produced highlighting various aspects of pandemic impact on the volunteer sector globally. Additionally, several workshops were held virtually with volunteer managers to collect feedback. A survey was distributed to volunteers around the province to gather their perspective on impacts of the pandemic. Workshops were conducted via Zoom and utilized Mural, a virtual platform for documenting real time feedback and discussion. Findings were shared with Volunteer Manitoba to help guide their support for the volunteer sector.

In fall of 2020, InterGroup facilitated a priority planning workshop with the Volunteer Manitoba Board. This workshop helped Volunteer Manitoba identify three topics to focus on over the following six months to a year. Planning workshop notes and overall conclusions were share with the Volunteer Manitoba Board through a final report.

As a repeat service, InterGroup recently facilitated the Volunteer Manitoba Board winter 2022 priority planning workshop.

For more info contact: Christina Blouw

Ignace Visioning Workshop Support

Client: Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)
Dates: 2020

Client: Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)

Dates: 2020

As a part of the NWMO’s adaptive phased management approach to siting a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel, the NWMO has worked collaboratively with municipalities and Indigenous communities across Canada to site the facility. Among the communities involved in the siting process is the Township of Ignace in north-western Ontario. InterGroup facilitated a process with the NWMO, the Township and residents of Ignace to arrive at a Project vision for the community. The Project vision identified the community’s priorities relative to people (e.g., managed growth), economics and finance, infrastructure, community and culture, and the natural environment. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the approach included multiple methods to collect community perspectives and feedback including multiple online workshops, engagement with youth, the distribution of workbooks within the community to gather feedback, and direct engagement with interested parties.

For more info contact: Kristin Kent Drewes

KCA CPAC May 28 Graphic illustration 1 (003)

Seamless Cancer Care Journey for Kenora Area First Nations

Client: Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA)
Dates: 2019 – 2021

Client: Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA)

Dates: 2019 – 2021

Kenora Chiefs Advisory is a partnership between independent First Nations in northwest Ontario that provides health, education and social programs and services to member communities. In 2019, Kenora Chiefs Advisory received a grant from the Canadian Partnership to Address Cancer for a multi-year project to advance care and outcomes for First Nations cancer patients and their families in the Kenora area. InterGroup provided project coordination and research support.

For more info contact: Kristin Kent Drewes, Christina Blouw

Engagement with Indigenous Communities

Client: Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
Dates: 2018

Client: Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

Dates: 2018

The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) looks to support engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations affected by the FCSAP Program. The FCSAP Secretariat coordinates a contaminated site assessment and remediation program which began in 2005. InterGroup was approached to facilitate meetings in Edmonton and Vancouver which included representatives from the Prairies and Pacific regions. Facilitated discussions were conducted to understand communities’ experiences with contamination sites and remediation efforts along with gaining perspectives on FCSAP program issues. Key findings and a summary of information shared was provided to the FCSAP Secretariat at the end of the engagement program.

For more info contact: Kristin Kent Drewes