Strengthening community engagement with the power of photography
Recent Master of Environmental Studies graduate Beth Grant has published new research on the use of photo‑elicitation to support Hamilton Harbour’s Remedial Action Plan.
Community engagement is a critical component of advancing local environmental issues. While low engagement has often been attributed to a lack of knowledge or understanding, research increasingly shows that opportunities for people to interact with an issue in sensory and emotional ways can foster curiosity, interest, and empathy. One method that encourages this deeper connection is photo‑elicitation, where participants submit photographs and engage in dialogue around a topic, including environmental concerns.
Beth Grant is a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Studies program in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. As a graduate of the school’s undergraduate program, Grant had strong ties to the faculty members and school community. When she saw an advertisement from Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Barbeau for graduate research opportunities studying emotions and environmental education, it aligned with her interests and future career goals.
Following her master’s work, Grant completed a one-year research contract working with Dr. Rob de Loe and Dr. Brendon Larson, examining how photo-elicitation can improve public perception and engagement, using Hamilton Harbour as their study area.
Hamilton Harbour, located on Lake Ontario, has been the dumping ground for municipal and industrial waste for decades. Community groups, organizations and other stakeholders have formed a network of concerned citizens, and a remediation action plan for the area was published in 1992. Community stakeholder collaboration has been an important factor in executing the action plan since its inception. While meaningful progress has been made, continued efforts are needed to restore the harbour to healthy ecological conditions.
Grant’s research involved 19 Hamilton residents from a variety of backgrounds. Participants completed an initial interview and were then asked to take part in an independent creative photography activity. Each participant submitted two photographs with accompanying captions describing how they feel about Hamilton Harbour and what they hope for its future. After the photographs and written reflections were submitted, focus groups and closing interviews were conducted. Transcripts were analyzed to code emotions and identify themes.
Shinny at Sunset by Steve Hardill
Resting Place at Grindstone Marsh by Janet Jardine
Harbouring Diversity by Lisa Connor
The results showed that participants viewed Hamilton Harbour as a valued community asset. The harbour was seen as a source of recreation, ecological significance, and economic opportunity. Looking ahead, participants expressed hope for continued ecological improvements, increased public engagement, improved equitable access, and sustainable, equitable development.
Beyond the initial goals of the research, participants expressed interest in sharing their photography with a wider audience. In partnership with Conservation Halton, Grant organized a public photography exhibit at the Hamilton Farmer’s Market that showcased participants’ work and included information about the research project. The exhibit was visited by 100 community members on opening day and remained accessible to the public for a month.
Beth Grant (MES, 2024)
“The public photography exhibit was a highlight of this research project! It was a gift to be able to share the participants’ passion, love, and connection to place with the greater community and give them a broader stage to showcase their work.”
Grant now works as a Project Coordinator, Waste Management, at the Region of Waterloo. “I apply the research and writing skills I learned in my master's degree daily when conducting municipal scans of other waste programs and drafting policy updates and program summaries. The communication, presentation and people skills that were needed to conduct the many interviews and focus groups that my research required are used every day when educating the public on waste diversion and sustainable practice.”
The research, Picturing Place: Using creative photography to explore community perception and connection to Hamilton Harbour, authored by Grant and others, was recently published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
