ABOUT THE MEMBERS AND APPLICATION PROCESS

The Community Advisory Assembly consists of 36 members selected based on demographic characteristics such as the area of New West where they live, their age group, gender identity, housing tenure (renter or owner), visible minority, Indigenous identity, and a diversity of lived experiences.

To select the Assembly members, City staff will first compile all application information into a spreadsheet, assign a unique number to each applicant, and remove all applicants' names and other identifying information such as email addresses.

Staff from a separate department will then be provided with the de-identified data. Staff will apply a variety of filters in the spreadsheet to first identify the demographic groups where there are the fewest number of applicants, if any. Then staff will select applicants who may have a number of typically under-represented characteristics, such as renters, visible minorities, low-income, and those experiencing disabilities.

The group will then be rounded out with selections based on age group, geographic area of the city, and gender identity in order to meet the overall community profile, as per the 2021 Census, as closely as possible. Selected applicants will then be contacted and asked to confirm their participation in the Assembly.

Applicants are given an option to serve for one or two years on the Assembly. However, each year at least half of the group would be new members. Whether an applicant is chosen as a member for the second year depends on the demographic makeup of the rest of the group.