Laurier, City of Brantford to welcome local changemakers at Summit for Creative Community Solutions May 8

April 15, 2025
For Immediate Release

BRANTFORD – Wilfrid Laurier University’s Hub for Community Solutions and the City of Brantford invite local residents, volunteers and representatives from community organizations to the second annual Summit for Creative Community Solutions on Thursday, May 8. 

Hosted on Laurier's Brantford campus, the free public event will highlight a variety of innovative projects in Brantford and the surrounding area, with the goal of promoting community development, honouring changemakers and sharing knowledge.  

“Our inaugural summit in 2024 showed the power of community in inspiring positive change,” said Christina Han, director of the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions. “We are pleased to continue the momentum in 2025 with an event that will leverage creativity to tackle social issues and foster a deeper sense of belonging.” 

“The City of Brantford is pleased to partner with Wilfrid Laurier University to celebrate the innovative spirit that drives our community forward,” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “The Summit for Creative Community Solutions highlights Brantford’s commitment to innovation, inclusion and sustainability. Partnering with the university allows us to bridge ideas and action, connecting community needs with creative solutions that truly make an impact.” 

This year’s theme, Bridging the Gap: Connections, Accessibility and Sustainability for Communities, will explore how to strengthen community integration, address the challenges between academic and real-world applications, and promote sustainability. 

The summit will feature keynote addresses from Lucy Marco, executive director of the Grand River Council on Aging; Rita-Marie Hadley, director of Lansdowne Children’s Centre; and Alexis Buettgen, assistant professor of Psychology at Laurier. A series of workshops, panel discussions and artistic performances will round out the agenda.  

The Summit for Creative Community Solutions takes place May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Wilfrid Laurier University's Research and Academic Centre, 150 Dalhousie St., Brantford. For registration details and a full agenda, visit the Summit for Creative Community Solutions web page.  

The Summit for Creative Community Solutions is presented in partnership by Wilfrid Laurier University and the City of Brantford, and made possible thanks to support from Enterprise Brant, Laurier’s Sustainability Office, Laurier’s Office of Research Services, the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association, Laurier Brantford Grants and Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant.