As part of the planning process, community safety and well-being plans should take into consideration, at a minimum, the following elements of diversity, as well as how these elements intersect and shape the experiences of individuals/groups (e.g., increasing risks to harm, victimization and crime):

• Ethnicity (e.g., racialized communities, Indigenous communities);
• Gender identity and sexual orientation (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, 2 spirited, intersex, queer and questioning);
• Religion;
• Socioeconomic status;
• Education;
• Age (e.g., seniors, youth);
• Living with a disability;
• Citizenship status (e.g., newcomers, immigrants, refugees); and/or
• Regional location (e.g., living in northern, rural, remote areas).

Communities should tailor programs and strategies to the unique needs and strengths of different groups, as well as to address the distinct risk factors they face. Planners should strive towards inclusion in their communities by proactively removing barriers to participation and engaging diverse groups in meaningful ways.

See Appendix B for Engaging Youth, Appendix C for Engaging Seniors, and Appendix D for Engaging Indigenous Partners.

Conclusion

Municipalities, First Nations and their partners should be considering the critical success factors throughout the process of developing, implementing, reviewing, evaluating and updating the plan. The next section will connect the community safety and well-being planning framework and critical success factors to practical advice and guidance when undergoing this planning process.