Photographs are powerful storytellers. Photovoice captures people’s experiences and gives them a voice by having them photograph things that are important to them, and then tell the stories of why these things are important.

In this project, 27 residents and visitors used Photovoice to create understanding and share messages about how the social and physical characteristics of the St. James Town neighbourhood are affecting the health and well-being of its residents. Participants chose three of their photographs and wrote about them, creating 77 stories in all.

The photos are grouped in five categories based on the major theme from each photo’s story. In consultation with the photographers, captions were created for each picture that capture the essence of the photographer’s message. The full stories can be read by clicking on the ‘Behind the Photo’ link below each photo.

Service Delivery Photos describing the state of services in St. James Town – what services are good, what needs improvement, and what services the community is lacking

Service Needs Photos voicing specific service needs in St. James Town.

Economic Factors Photos exploring issues around money, including the cost of living, income and employment.

Physical Environment Photos about the state of buildings and objects, such as garbage bins. Included are photos that speak about how the built environment impacts neighbourhood image and community pride.

Social Factors A range of social issues are explored, including many specific to newcomers: social inclusion, strengths of the St. James Town community, the feelings of residents, and community responsibility.

Visual Voices Gallery A gallery of all the photos displayed at the Community Voices Forum & Expo.