community of practice

Some people have been doing this work for decades. Others are just arriving at the questions. Both belong here.

The Community of Practice is a gathering of people who believe a more just, equitable world is possible and are willing to show up for it. We come from different sectors, different lived experiences, and different ways of moving through the world. Some of us have titles. Some of us have scars. Most of us have both. What we share is a desire to see a world where everyone belongs and everyone can contribute in their own meaningful way.

You do not need to leave any part of yourself at the door. Bring all of it.

we invite you into a brave space

A place where you can ask the questions you have been carrying, sit with ideas that challenge you, and learn alongside people who will meet your curiosity with their own. We question with respect. We make room for discomfort. We trust that hard conversations, held with care, are how real understanding grows.

This is a developmental space. Nothing here is finished. We are building knowledge together, learning as we go, and working on the kind of complex social change that does not come with a map. Curiosity is the only requirement.

We gather in community: in libraries, at the Chamber of Commerce, in Georgian College lab spaces, and virtually for those joining from a distance. Our gatherings are shaped by what the community needs. There is no fixed schedule, only an open invitation to show up as you are.

ways to

connect

The Community of Practice is a network of practitioners. Once you create an account, you can connect with Fellows and practitioners from across the Community Innovation Network, join active discussion boards, explore learning rooms, and access a growing library of digital tools and resources.

In-person spaces include Georgian College labs, local libraries, and the Chamber of Commerce. More partner spaces are being developed across the region.

Community innovation
council

Building Governance Together

The Community Innovation Council is being built from the ground up, and that is intentional.

Rather than adopting a ready-made structure, this council is being co-designed with the community it will serve. Its purpose is to steward collective knowledge, support long-term planning, and ensure that the insights gathered across the Network translate into real opportunity for communities.

Over the coming year, co-design sessions will shape the council's structure and mandate. These sessions are open to community members who want a voice in how this kind of governance can look different.

If that interests you, we want to hear from you.

community
of
fellows

Fellows are practitioners who have completed the full Community Innovation MicroCert and chosen to take on a more active role within the Network. They bring tested knowledge, practical experience, and a commitment to supporting others doing similar work.

Fellows contribute in different ways depending on where their skills are most useful: mentoring organizations working through complex challenges, facilitating innovation sessions, contributing to the Research Repository, and supporting lab experiences across the region. When a community group or organisation needs guidance, the Network connects them with a Fellow whose background fits the context.

Becoming a Fellow is not about reaching the end of the learning. It is about choosing to deepen it by bringing others along.