OUR WORK
What We Do
Our Work
Synapcity is Ottawa’s community broker and leading organization for civic education and neighbourhood engagement.
We energize and activate people and institutions to converse, open mindsets, understand viewpoints and work together as citymakers. We do so through dialogue, events and education that address the challenges and opportunity we face as a city.
Facilitation & Conversations
We create opportunities for Synapcity friends and alumni to exchange ideas, reflections and good practices to expand individual and collective knowledge, while also making space for decision-makers, organizations and institutions to join the conversation and share their perspectives.
Training & Education
We develop programs for people of all ages and backgrounds who wish to get involved and be of service to their community.
Through guided sessions, hands-on and experiential learning, workshops and panel discussions featuring fellow citizens, elected officials, public servants and other subject-matter experts, aspiring changemakers learn the mechanisms and intrincacies of impactful citymaking and community development.
Events & Conferences
We organize and collaborate in virtual and in-person community events, speaker series and conferences on topics that matter to our communities and impact our city and feature diverse voices, initiatives and success stories from Ottawa and around the world for residents at large.
Theory of Change
People
Unsure how to work with the system to achieve their goals
EMPOWERED
NEW CONNECTIONS
KNOWLEDGE & RESOURCES
lEADERSHIP
Social TRust
Inclusive culture of participation and civic purpose
institutions
Unsure how to engage people to achieve impactful outcomes
ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE
NEW CONNECTIONS
INTEGRATE PERSPECTIVES
Social TRust
Inclusive culture of participation and civic purpose
Past and Current Initiatives
The Hosting Network
A peer-to-peer training circle for facilitators, developing Ottawa’s collective capacity for hosting better conversations.
Community Conversations
Civics Boot Camp
Our original program for civic literacy, giving citizens real-life Ottawa case studies to take from problem to solution.
CityTalks Speaker Series
Featuring voices from Ottawa and around the world discussing crucial issues faced by cities.
Synapcity Ward Talks
Want to find out more?
Community Impact Report
2014-2015
Community Impact Report
2016-2017
Strengthening Ottawa’s Social
Fabric 2021
The Synapcity Impact
It is with Synapcity that I was inspired to start an initiative, Y2Y! where the youth help one another find jobs. People now compliment me on what I do, and I realize it is very important to have an organization like Synapcity that would remind me that I too can make a difference.
GOWOON LEE
The GottaGo! campaign grew out of a Civics Boot Camp practicum in late November 2013. Challenged to engage with a hypothetical issue, a few of us seized on the opportunity to strategize about getting a network of public toilets in Ottawa.
We presented our pitch and strategy to a wildly enthusiastic panel of civic experts who told us to “go for it”. We have not turned back.
JOAN KUYEK
Whether you are authoring a handwritten letter to your local councillor or starting a new social media campaign with like-minded advocates, the Synapcity’s diverse and whole-of- community approach to collaborative engagement has brought city and citizen closer than ever before.
MITCHELL KUTNEY
Synapcity has developed an engaging and immensely valuable program. The Boot Camp and CA’s ongoing events equip the
people of Ottawa with the knowledge and tools they need to get involved and help make our city better
MARK BLEVIS
Alumni of Synapcity return with Increased confidence and ability to do advocacy, to use their voice, to influence decision-makers either at City committee meetings, during elections or within our Safe People Advocacy group. One has also begun
reaching out to involve other people
TAMMY CORNER
Synapcity continues to make a huge impact in Ottawa. Through its people training, consultation facilitation and civic leadership, Synapcity is generating increasing enthusiasm about, and
engagement in, our city. Ottawa is an even better place as a result of this important contribution.
TOBI NUSSBAUM
Over 400 Civics Boot Camp Alumni
%
feel more confident and empowered *
%
of participants plan to start a new initiative *
*Civics Boot Camp Participant Survey
Spotlight on our Alumni
Many amazing Ottawa social innovation initiatives started right here.
Synapcity Sessions
Earlier this year we launched the Synapcity Sessions, a series of in person events aimed to spotlight key issues in Ottawa.