Halifax Common Master Plan

Context
The Halifax Common is one of Canada’s oldest urban parks and an essential gathering place for communities across the city. With Halifax experiencing rapid population growth and shifting public needs, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) launched a comprehensive master planning process to guide the future of this historic and well-loved green space. The process needed to balance heritage with renewal, and ensure that the park continues to serve as a place of connection, equity, and belonging for generations to come.

Our Role
In partnership with UPLAND and HTFC, Colab led the public engagement for this year-long initiative. We designed and facilitated a multi-phase engagement process that put residents’ voices at the centre of the planning. Through large-scale public events, targeted stakeholder meetings, and interactive online tools, we engaged more than 2,000 residents. Using storytelling, mapping, visioning, and idea generation activities, we created opportunities for both long-time community members and first-time park users to share their perspectives and shape a shared vision.

Outcome
The engagement process surfaced common values of accessibility, equity, sustainability, and community connection, which became the foundation of the final Halifax Common Master Plan. The plan reflects the priorities and dreams of the people it serves and provides a clear roadmap for investment, renewal, and stewardship. By grounding the master plan in community voice, HRM is equipped with a vision that honours the park’s history while charting a future that is inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable.