I have begun to take an inventory of the area in and around the catchment of the Convent Glen Orleans Wood Community Association. I want to explore the inequal distribution of services and stores and shops that are a large part of making nice places to live. Since I live in Convent Glen North, that’s where I’ll be focusing (see map below).
My ‘methodology’ for this test is described in more detail here: The Village Test: Auditing the Place Deficiency in Convent Glen North, and this page also has links to my full analysis so far.
As we go through each category, I’ll be awarding points on a scale from 0 to 5 based on the number and quality of the amenities in that category nearby (within a 10-15 minute walk). A true village will have multiple places in nearly all categories within that distance, so let’s see how we do in Convent Glen North.
Today, we’re covering Schools, Parks, Libraries, Community Centres, and (upcoming) LRT Stations.
So in the end, I’ve split the ‘Village Test into a total of 4 parts, and today we’re going to be looking at Part 3 (see Part 1 and Part 2 here). Today, the ‘theme’ of the categories we’ll be looking at is ‘public amenities’, and as you’ll see, the availability of these types of places vary widely.
Let’s take a look at the visuals first.
Here’s the Situation in Convent Glen North
Overall Score(s)
Schools: I give schools a 3/5 in CG North. It’s less the schools that are the issue, it’s having 4 school boards.
Libraries: Of course, I give this category a 0/5 for CG North.
LRT Stations: If the LRT opens and runs well, I give a 3.5/5 for LRT stations (make it easier to get to them please!)
Community Centres: I give community centres a 1/5 in CG North.
Parks: CG North gets its first 5/5 for Parks!
My Urbanist Take
A neighbourhood can have world-class greenspace (5/5 for parks is a dream) but it will still feel incomplete if the indoor social infrastructure isn’t there to keep up, especially when it’s raining, or winter. The services we’re talking about here are the backbone of a healthy community:
Public places like libraries and community centres are incredibly important third places—somewhere that isn’t home (the first place) or work (the second place). If between libraries and community centres you’re getting a 1/10, it means the neighbourhood is woefully incomplete from a village perspective. These spots are vital because they are some of the only indoor places with public ownership, where you aren’t expected to spend money to exist. They can provide a safe, warm space for seniors to socialize, students to study, and neighbours to cross paths. With a loneliness epidemic ravaging our weak social ties with our communities, we all need more of this kind of thing nearby in our lives.
The high score for parks and “hopeful” score for the LRT are absolutely positives about being here. Parks are the “green lungs” of Convent Glen North; they are essential for mental health and giving people a free way to stay active. However, a park and schools with almost no other nearby amenities leaves people walking in circles with nowhere to go. That’s where the LRT and transit stations will eventually come in. Good transit shouldn’t just be about commuting to work; it’s about freedom to get where you need to go conveniently and affordably. If a station is hard to reach or is missing connections to preferred destinations, it creates a barrier that keeps people trapped deciding between driving everywhere or just staying home.
Schools are the most stable anchors in this community. Having grown up in Calgary with 2 school boards, having 4 separate boards certainly makes things feel even more fragmented. The school buildings should ideally serve as more than just places the kids on weekdays. They are playgrounds, polling stations, and evening meeting spots, and this public space could be used far more efficiently. When public services are well-funded and easy to access, they create a social network that really makes a community feel whole. This helps to ensure that every resident, regardless of their income, has access to interesting activities and room for casual social interaction. This makes a neighbourhood more resilient and, frankly, a much more pleasant place to live.
What Does Convent Glen North Look Like So Far?
Even adding 5 new categories, including some important public services, not much has changed. Other than a whole bunch of great parks and greenspace, plus a few schools, there are a still only a couple of dentists, and one restaurant (with no seating) in CG North. Then on the periphery (walkable if you live close), there are more restaurants (still no seating), a pharmacy, grocery store, and a gas station. A quick way to get to St Joseph (like buses doing a regular, frequent loop, would unlock a whole bunch more things that are convenient to access without driving.
What do public amenities like libraries and community centres look like in your area? We’d love to hear from you in the forum (comments below) or on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky about your experience. Also, come to our next Urbanism Club meeting, over lunch on Tuesdays:
During Urbanism Club on Tuesday March 24th, I’ll be sharing my experience with this test in Convent Glen North, and going into even more categories, so sign up to get the invite!
The Eastern Ottawa Urbanism Club meets regularly. Learn more:
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