This evaluation report summarizes the outcomes of the Sustain Beaverbrook project, which aimed to engage residents in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through community-led initiatives focused on food, energy, and transportation. Over three years, the project increased knowledge and skills through workshops and activities, mobilized the community through initiatives involving over 600 participants, and increased assets like community gardens that support sustainability. The evaluation found residents were motivated to grow their own food and build community, while also exploring ideas to tackle transportation challenges. It provides lessons on offering continuity of initiatives after growing seasons end and addressing barriers to active transportation.

1. SUSTAIN
BEAVERBROOK
Sustain Your Community | Sustainable Community Development |
A project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation |
Delivered by EnviroCentre in collaboration with various community partners
| Evaluated by the Social Planning Council of Ottawa

2. The
evaluation
examines outcomes,
aspects of the
implementation process, the
measurable improvements
with respect to the desired
outcomes and lessons
learned.
1
focus of the project
Developcommunity-ledinitiatives
thatengageresidentsand
volunteersinprojectsthatreduce
greenhousegasemissions,
cost-savingsandoverall,citizen
involvementinenvironmental
sustainabilityactions.
The
Beaverbrook
communityenvisioned
threeprioritythemesto
focustheirenvironmental
actions:food,energyand
transportation.
Purpose
Thisevaluationreport
examinesthefindingsforthefirst
periodofthethree-yearproject
(2014-2017)carriedoutbyEnviroCentre
todevelopnewassetsorcontinue
increasingtheexistingonesand
supportenvironmental
sustainabilityatthelocal
level.
How much
did we do?
Increased
knowledge
and skills
Mobilized
community
Increased
assetsfor
sustainability
Reduced
greenhouse
gasemissions
Increased
community
sustainability
How well
did we do it?
Is anyone or anything
better off?
What have we learned that will help
us move forward on GHG reductions
and/or sustainability actions?
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017
Project Timeline
Theory of Change
Adaptation
Long-term
Engagement
Adoption
Public Education Engagement Infrastructure
and resources
OUTPUTS
QUALITY
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
1
2
3
4
Sustain Your Community | Beaverbrook Community
Sustain Beaverbrook | Evaluation Report

3. 2Sustain Your Community | Beaverbrook
Sustain Beaverbrook | Themes: Energy, Transportation and Food
QUALITY
LEARNINGOUTCOMES
1
+19
2
3 4
How much did we do?
#
workshops
and activities
What is working... What could be improved...
participants
51%
No
49%Yes
#
Families
involved 23
6
#
Participants
involved
#
contacts
made
344
Howwelldidwedoit?
OUTPUTS
Isanyoneoranything
betteroff?
Feedbackfor
improvement
591
#
communication
hits#
community
initiatives
+3,000
Increased knowledge
and skills
169
partners
9
families
19
Participants
who reported
increased
knowledge
and awareness
of environmental
sustainability
Networks
and
collaborations
Volunteer
hours
contributed
to the project
100%
Yes
Participants who increased
consumption of veggies
34%
youth
66% other
ages
Youth participation
Resources used / participants getting
involved, raising awareness and taking
action to increase community sustainability
Lessons learned that will help us move
forward on GHG reductions and/or
sustainability actions
Residents are motivated
to grow their own
healthy food and to build
community spirit
Yearroundcontinuityof
initiativessothat
participantmomentumis
notlostoncethegrowing
seasonends
The 10 energy audits conducted in the
community provide a great
starting point to residents
that can save energy and
money while reducing GHGs.
More education and exploration of
successful cases that explain to
residents the problem to
solve and the real savings
associatedtorenovations
Participants are exploring
diverse ideas to tackle the
transportation challenge
and promote active ways of
engagement
The perceived barriers (i.e
safety concerns, distance,
danger) that some residents
findinactivetransportationand
preventthemfromtakingactions
46
#
volunteers
hours of volunteer work
168
Families
who accessed
vegetables
grown and
made available
through
the project
Level of satisfaction reported by participants
who completed surveys.
Positive changes and progression reported
by participants, volunteers and
coordinators