CityLAB began as a pilot project in 2017, but transitioned into a permanent program with support from Hamilton City Council. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton.
CityLAB Hamilton and Mohawk College were recently awarded the Gold Medal in Program Excellence by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
CICan is the national association for publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics, and announced the award during their national conference in Calgary, Alberta.
CityLAB is a collaborative program between the City of Hamilton, Mohawk College, McMaster University, and Redeemer University in which students and faculty work with civic leaders on research projects and reports.
CityLAB began as a pilot project in 2017, but transitioned into a permanent program with support from Hamilton City Council.
Some examples of projects include research into the rental market, creating a best practice guide for CityHousing Hamilton to launch a furniture bank for tenants, and developing a marketing plan to increase the number of Engage Hamilton users.
The partnership sees students gain experience gathering insights and data while the City of Hamilton is able to use that work to achieve their Strategic Priorities.
As of 2022, 60,000 hours had been contributed by 2,531 students, in partnership with 88 City of Hamilton staff and 68 faculty members from the three post-secondary institutions.
Since 2017, Mohawk College has been involved in 44 experiential learning projects, involving 1,449 students and 30 faculty members.
Students gain skills and employment opportunities after graduation; schools are able to provide experiential learning and city staff are exposed to new ideas and research that is able to be used for the benefit of residents without the need for high-priced consultants.
CityLAB students conveniently work out of the former Canadian Football Hall of Fame building right beside Hamilton City Hall.
McMaster University students even have the opportunity to take part in an entire “semester in residence” at CityLAB.
Following the award, Dr. Cebert Adamson, VP Academic at Mohawk College commented, “We are delighted that CityLAB Hamilton has received this national recognition.”
“We are proud that Mohawk College students and staff are involved in the innovative projects being done through CityLAB, and we are proud to share the story of our collective success with other Canadian colleges by way of our nomination,” he continued.
“One of the criteria for this award is a program’s ability to be replicated in other regions. This recognition shines the spotlight on another innovative Hamilton collaboration that may be replicated across the country.”
Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie also commented, “This award highlights the strength of our CityLAB partnerships and celebrates our commitment to innovation and student engagement.”
“It’s a proud moment for all involved, showcasing how collaboration can address real-world challenges and strengthen our community.”
Two Mohawk College employees, Tara-Lyn Dinyer and Greg Gagnon, were also awarded CICan Award of Excellence Gold Medals in their respective fields.
Dinyer is a professor in the college’s School of Health and Community Services, while Gagnon is a technician with Accessible Learning Services.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
