Community Engagement
We help communities lead better conversations.
Whether you're activating a new space, building a strategy, or shaping a vision for the future, the path forward should be informed by the people who are most impacted. We design and lead community engagement initiatives that are imaginative, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.
We work with municipalities, non-profits, cultural institutions, and other consultants to shape and deliver engagement that connects across difference and builds something meaningful, together.
What makes our approach different?
We meet people where they are.
Our methods don’t rely on a single town hall or online survey. We take the time to understand the rhythms of a place and the people who live there, and we adapt our approach accordingly.
We make it human.
We see engagement as an opportunity for connection, creativity, and care, rather than a formality. We create environments where people feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and excited to imagine what’s possible. That means using plain language, active listening, and creative tools that spark curiosity and deeper thought.
We design for inclusion.
Inclusive engagement isn’t just about who’s invited—it’s about how the process is shaped. We work closely with partners to identify bridge-builders and underrepresented voices, co-create pathways to participation, and offer multiple modes of contribution so people can show up in ways that work for them.
Our community engagement services include:
Engagement strategy and planning
Designing creative, inclusive engagement plans tailored to your project and community context.
Workshop and facilitation design
Leading in-person and virtual sessions that invite conversation, reflection, and bold ideas.
Pop-up and on-the-ground activation
Bringing engagement to the people—wherever they are—with creative, accessible, and meaningful interactions.
Co-design and participatory methods
Structuring processes that empower community members as collaborators, not just contributors.
Partnership and outreach support
Identifying local connectors, building trust, and working with community organizations to extend your reach.
Reporting and storytelling
Synthesizing what we’ve heard into honest, engaging, and useful summaries that respect and reflect the community voice.
Our work
City of Yellowknife
As the City of Yellowknife works to update its Community Plan, tante - alongside partners Ethnomad and Talking Circle - have led two phases of community engagement, with one more to come in Spring 2026. Phase 1 included creative pop-ups and online engagement to understand the community’s vision for Yellowknife in 2050. Phase 2 delved deeper into policy-specific areas, including land use, housing, workforce accommodation, environment & climate, and transportation & infrastructure. A report was compiled for each phase of engagement, and findings are now being considered in the City’s work on the latest Community Plan Update.
City of Pickering
In Spring 2024, tante was engaged to lead a workshop series for the City of Pickering, engaging internal and external parties to inform the vision for the new Seaton Recreation Complex and Library (SRCL). By taking a creative approach to the sessions, the team engaged more than 100 people across six workshops. From there, we dissected key takeaways and presented the City with a Summary of Findings, including a Vision & Guiding Principles, to inform the next steps in developing the SRCL. This was tante’s second time working with Pickering, having supported a similar project as it related to Pickering’s new Heritage & Community Centre (PHCC) in 2023.
Town of Caledon
The Town of Caledon sought out the services of tante consulting inc. for support in establishing a direction for near-term tourism activities. In an effort to define a plan based on the needs of local tourism businesses, two workshops were hosted with unique groups of participants, A report summarizing key takeaways from the workshops, and further providing high-level recommendations was provided as a final deliverable.
Let’s talk.
We host a free 30-minute discovery call, and build a customized proposal that directly addresses your needs and objectives.