Shawnee Evergreen Chairs

Shawnee Evergreen brought a simple but impactful idea to life by purchasing 60 brightly coloured chairs and placing them throughout the community—in parks, along pathways, beside Little Free Libraries, on a public condo patio, by tennis courts, and in a temporary dog park.

The chairs were stenciled with #SECAchairs and numbered, and 18 community volunteers acted as “Chair Observers,” tracking how the chairs were used and moved throughout September. Some chairs stayed put, while others traveled frequently, providing insights into how residents interact with public spaces and informing future placemaking work. The project even sparked requests for chairs from local residents and people from neighbouring communities. The initiative was widely appreciated, with no negative feedback, and highlighted how small, thoughtful changes can foster connection and conversation.

As one resident noted, sitting in the chairs encouraged interaction: “I would never sit next to a stranger on a bench, but I did sit next to a stranger in the chairs and we talked. Chairs are different.”