Every academic year, the HUBBUB Exhibition brings together the CityStudio Ottawa partnership with the City of Ottawa, community leaders, students and faculty from the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College and Collège La Cité. It is a chance to see how learners turn local challenges into ideas that support a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable future for Ottawa.
On May 1, the CityStudio Ottawa community gathered to explore student work created for the City of Ottawa. Each project responded to priorities in the City’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and the Strategic Plan 2023 to 2026.
Algonquin College’s President and CEO, Claude Brulé, Dr. Ian Zinck, Director of Applied Research, and Mary Grammatikakis, Director of Experiential Learning & Entrepreneurship, were in attendance, joining students, faculty, staff and community partners in celebrating the impact of this work. Their presence highlighted the importance of collaboration and the role Applied Research plays in strengthening our city.
Algonquin College’s newly appointed Director of Applied Research, Dr. Ian Zinck, reflected on the event, noting, “What stood out at HUBBUB is how quickly collaboration can move from concept to impact. It reinforces that Applied Research isn’t just about generating ideas. It’s about connecting talent, partners, and real problems to deliver solutions that matter to our communities.”
After the showcase, attendees gathered for the awards ceremony, recognizing teams whose work stood out for creativity, clarity and community impact.
Algonquin College’s Raising the Bar project earned the People’s Choice Award, presented by Mark Sutcliffe. Visitors cast their votes by placing marbles in jars at each exhibit while touring the HUBBUB showcase, making this recognition a true reflection of community engagement.
Raising the Bar tackles a familiar challenge with a creative lens: how to make public health messaging more engaging in social settings such as bars and restaurants. The team’s approach invites patrons to connect with Ottawa Public Health’s Party Safer resources in a way that feels natural, accessible, and low-pressure.
Their solution transforms everyday bar items, including coasters, napkins, and placemats, into subtle touchpoints for safety messaging. By incorporating playful, game-like elements, these materials encourage hydration and safer choices without disrupting the social experience. They meet people where they are and influence behaviour in a thoughtful, unobtrusive way.
Raising the Bar team member Kate Drohan shared that her biggest takeaway was that “it was eye-opening working with an actual client because you get to experience a project that benefits many people. You have to remain humble, be able to iterate, and do things you wouldn’t think to do for yourself but that truly benefit the people it’s for.”
Congratulations to AC learners Kate Drohan, Bing Bai, Hiruth Kariyawasam, Cysron Bugingo, and Evan Snider, and to their professor, Jed Looker, with the Human‑Centred Design Lab at Applied Research.
This was followed by an interactive panel titled “How Does Community–Campus Engagement Enhance Our Communities? Lessons from CityStudio Ottawa and Thunder Bay.” Panellists, including Algonquin College’s Institutional Champion CityStudio Ottawa, Kevin Holmes, reflected on three years of shared learning across both cities and spoke about how community and campus partnerships can advance safety, well-being and long-term sustainability.
HUBBUB once again showed the power of bringing the community together. By connecting students with real challenges facing the City of Ottawa, the event continues to inspire new ideas and strengthen the relationship between local post‑secondary institutions and the community they serve.
Faculty, Get Involved!
Want to take part in groundbreaking projects? Discover more about the groundbreaking work achieved at CityStudio Ottawa by students and explore project opportunities to advance research opportunities in the upcoming academic year.
To learn more about CityStudio and explore collaboration opportunities, please contact Matthew Jerabek, Associate Manager, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at jerabem@algonquincollege.com.
