A Research Junction project from the University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon will dig deep into the issue of public safety in the downtown core, including a look back at the history of declining downtowns in many cities.
Co-director of USask’s Community University Institute for Social Research, Dr. Isobel Findlay, says they will look at what, for some, may be a perception of being unsafe and what the reality may or may not be, because they are not always the same.
She notes that perception matters, because if someone considers themself unsafe, it needs to be taken seriously.
The research team will engage with as many diverse stakeholders as possible and there will be community consultations.
The objective is to be able to identify systemic and structural impediments to safety, to understand the barriers to equitable access to services and supports.
When the project is complete, in the summer of next year, the report will list best practices to make the area safe and will include policy and programming recommendations.