Our Work

The power of community, with its ability to open minds and hearts, reminds us why most of us choose (despite the deepening issues) to live together in cities. In this final of four CityTalk episodes recorded at CUI’s State of Canada’s Cities Summit in Ottawa on November 30th, host Mary Rowe presents highlights from afternoon conversations around innovative, uplifting solutions that build community.

Whatever the scale and scope of the tough issues being discussed in a single day, solutions often seem to be within reach after lunch. In the third of four CityTalk episodes recorded at CUI’s State of Canada’s Cities Summit in Ottawa on November 30th, host Mary Rowe presents highlights from afternoon sessions featuring local and national experts offering practical, street-tested solutions.

When wanting to find solutions to urban issues, it’s always best to talk to those professionals directly involved. Better yet, invite them to talk to each other. In the second of four City Talk episodes recorded at CUI’s State of Canada’s Cities Summit in Ottawa on November 30th, host Mary Rowe presents more highlights from morning sessions focussed on the key challenges and opportunities faced by every sector of urban life, and where collaboration can make all the difference.

Sometimes great things happen when you bring the right people together to talk. In this first of four CityTalk episodes recorded at CUI’s State of Canada’s Cities Summit in Ottawa on November 30th, host Mary Rowe presents highlights from morning panel conversations exploring both the global context for Canadian urban issues, and challenges shared with American cities.

CUI has framed every conversation it has convened since March 2020 as what is working, what’s not, and what’s next for Canada’s cities and urban regions. These final two sessions bring together participants to highlight their solutions but also identify the key obstacles to further success, and the levers governments have and must exercise for Canada to succeed in this poly-crisis environment.

CUI has framed every conversation it has convened since March 2020 as what is working, what’s not, and what’s next for Canada’s cities and urban regions.  These final two sessions bring together participants to highlight their solutions but also identify the key obstacles to further success, and the levers governments have and must exercise for Canada to succeed in this poly-crisis environment.

Canada has many institutions and organizations, community organizations and businesses, committed to working with each other and governments to develop and implement the best solutions. What are the most effective ways to create transformational change, at a policy making policy level and then in translating policy to practical action on the ground?

Building on the challenges set out in the morning sessions, what are the tangible approaches being taken in local communities to strengthen social, economic and environmental resilience, and make our cities more productive and equitable. What must each sector do to contribute to the new urban agenda?

In this session, US scholar Seth Kaplan and Canadian community-economy builder Zita Cobb grapple with reimagining neighborhoods as the most critical unit of organization in North America. This challenges classic perspectives on the nation-state, amplifying the local.

Local solutions are being incubated constantly in Canadian communities, but we lack the kinds of connective tissue we need to effectively plan and implement across municipal boundaries and sometimes competing jurisdictions. How can we pursue place-based policy and program strategies that better serve our urban communities and regions and therefore the country– more effectively?

Every challenge facing Canada manifests most acutely where most Canadian residents live: food security, adapting to climate change, creating job and wealth building opportunities, settling newcomers, decarbonizing our economy, providing mental health and housing support. Almost every metric of success is dependent on the capacity of Canada’s urban regions to harness innovation, social and financial capital. How do we harness our potential, and what happens if we can’t?

The challenges that cities face in Canada and the United States have many similarities. But our federal governments are responding quite differently. Hear from Marion Mollegen McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development at HUD, and Bruce Katz, CEO at The New Localism who bring the American perspective, joined by former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi on the Canadian perspective, to discuss our Shared Challenges.

Canada is one of the most urbanized countries in the world, with over 80% of the population living and/or working in an urban community of more than 5000 people. However, policy and investment decision-making by both the public and private sectors is challenged by fiscal and governance arrangements constructed almost two centuries ago. In Canada, the federal government has all the money, the provinces all the power, and the municipalities all the problems. How can we fix this?

Shorefast CEO Zita Cobb and Evergreen CEO Jen Angel came together at the Evergreen Conference for a dynamic and entertaining fire-side chat with the Canadians Urban Institute’s Chief City Talker Mary W Rowe. This session highlights key points from the day’s discussions, synthesizes the most salient insights, and challenges listeners to leave with a clear sense of collective purpose in Making the Case for Place.

An urban neighbourhood can be many things to its residents beyond a shared place to live. It can be where to find and/or offer support to community members, join others in working for better public services and resources, and where residents can lead flourishing lives. However, it can also be a fragile place.

In the first in a special series leading up to the Canadian Urban Institute’s upcoming ‘At the Crossroads’ conference, CityTalk host Mary Rowe resumes her ongoing conversation with Zita Cobb, co-founder of Shorefast (Fogo Island, Newfoundland & Labrador) on the growing importance and value of nurturing local economies to serve and sustain everyone in the community, urban or rural.

Panellists joined live from the Art of City Building Conference in Dartmouth, NS to discuss the crucial roles of libraries, business improvement associations, municipal service providers and others in creating safe and accessible spaces and places for commercial, cultural and civic life.

Panellists discussed the National Housing Accord and the concrete actions it lays out for the federal government to get affordable housing options built across the country. If implemented, the ten actionable items could address housing affordability, meet the needs of our growing population, create jobs and play a significant role in ending homelessness.

Panellists discussed gaps in transportation networks and what models can better serve collective goals around transportation equity, climate change, and municipal fiscal responsibility. Findings from CUI and AECOM’s joint report, “Mobility as a Service: A Feasibility Study on Implementing MaaS in the Greater Toronto Area,” were also highlighted to explore the conversation around MaaS acceptance and implementation and how, if directed intentionally, the model can support better mobility access.

As the price of entry into many neighborhood housing markets continues to sky-rocket, we need more models for both renting or owning a home. President and CEO of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Romy Bowers discusses the need for government policies and support, and the crucial role for everyone in Canada’s housing ‘system’ must play to create a more diverse mix of housing choices that meet our collective needs.

Mental Health and Homelessness are inextricably linked crises affecting Canada’s urban communities. Medical Director at Inner-City Health Associates, Dr. Andrew Bond speaks about his on-the-ground experience in providing coordinated supports, and how essential local models of practice are the best solution to not only rebuilding coordinated systems across jurisdictions, but also restoring the levels of civic trust so crucial to healthy, diverse downtowns and main street neighborhoods.

Millions of square feet of office space sit empty across Canada and fewer workers are coming downtown. What opportunity do these vacant and underutilized office spaces present for increasing housing supply while making downtown districts across Canada vibrant, equitable, livable, and resilient?

The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic revealed many possibilities for how urban design could create better public places to serve the public good. This episode discusses new models for how neighborhoods and districts function, what progress looks like, and how public infrastructure such as public libraries can be leveraged in new ways.

A look back at the lessons learned from pandemic response efforts surrounding public safety, placemaking, social inequities, the financialization of the housing sector and what changes are possible through community and government collaboration.

Panellists discussed how the on-going failure to provide widespread and adequate mental health services impacts housing and social service systems in addition to affecting Canada’s downtowns, main streets, public spaces, and transit. How are cities addressing the crisis? what are the proven best practices? and what other initiatives need to be considered to offer support systems for all?

As we strive to highlight the challenges and opportunities at hand to make Canada’s cities and regions better – socially, environmentally, economically – CUI relies on the creativity and imagination of people working to prod, provoke, and promote the best approaches to building better cities. We have recently gathered a range of commentary about The Way Forward for Canada, as you will read below.

Panellists discussed conversion projects that are underway, what makes them feasible, how stakeholders are leveraging office space conversions to create a balance of uses in downtowns, and what other initiatives need to be considered to revitalize urban cores.

The Way Forward for Canada is a new 2023 commentary series that will provide a venue for policymakers, urban professionals, civic and business leaders, community activists, and academics to learn, share, and dialogue with one another — from coast to coast to coast.

As we strive to highlight the challenges and opportunities at hand to make Canada’s cities and regions better – socially, environmentally, economically – CUI relies on the creativity and imagination of people working to prod, provoke, and promote the best approaches to building better cities. Here’s a note from our President and CEO Mary Rowe about The Way Forward for Canada.

Panellists, including representatives from ReStart Ukraine, spoke about how Ukrainian cities and municipalities are laying the foundation for a strong and sustainable recovery.

With:

• Zahra Ebrahim—CEO, Monumental, Toronto
• Jean-Noé Landry—Canadian Urban Institute Fellow, Montreal
• Jennifer Moore Rattray—Chief Operating Officer, Southern Chiefs’ Organization, Winnipeg
• Carolyn Whitzman—Adjunct Professor and Housing Researcher, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

With:

• The Honourable Carolyn Bennett—Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
• Mary W. Rowe—President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute, Toronto

With:

• Rosanne Haggerty—President and Chief Executive Officer, Community Solutions, New York City
• Dan Hill—Director, Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne

With:

• Jennifer Angel—Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen, Toronto
• Åsa Kachan—Chief Librarian and CEO, Halifax Public Libraries, Halifax
• Dorian Moore—Vice President, Archive Design Studio, Windsor
• Amina Yasin—Chair and Commissioner, Vancouver City Planning Commission, City of Vancouver

With:

• Marcy Burchfield—Incoming Vice President, Transit Planning, Metrolinx, Toronto

• Kate Graham—Senior Advisor, Colliers, London

• Alicia John-Baptiste—President and CEO, SPUR, San Francisco

• Bruce Katz—Director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University, Washington D.C.

• Peter Sloly—Canadian Urban Institute Fellow, Ottawa

• Graham Singh—CEO, Trinity Centres Foundation, Montreal

• Tim Tompkins—Principal, ShareCitySharedSpace, New York

With:

• Betty Lepps—Director of Urban Relationships, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Vancouver
• Donnie Rosa—General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Vancouver

With:

• Ahmed El-Geneidy—Professor, School of Urban Planning, McGill University, Montreal

• Howaida Hassan—Director Urban Growth and Open Space, City of Edmonton, Edmonton

• Benjamin de la Peña—CEO, Shared-Use Mobility Center, Chicago

With:

• Alexandra Cropp—Senior Operations Manager, Mokwateh, Winnipeg
• Steve DeRoy—Director, The Firelight Group, Vancouver

With:

• Ana Bailão—Canadian Urban Institute Fellow, Toronto
• Zahra Ebrahim—CEO, Monumental, Toronto
• Michael Emory—Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Allied Properties REIT, Toronto
• Michel Leblanc—Président et chef de la direction de la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain, Montreal
• Dale McFee—Chief of Police, Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton

• Lacey Jones—Program Director, QomQem Coastal Connections, Victoria

• Sarah Murray—Executive Director, North Park Neighbourhood Association, Victoria

• Rachel Phillips—Executive Director, Peers Victoria Resource Society, Victoria

• Janine Theobald—Director of Collaborative Engagement, Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region, Victoria

Panellists discussed the tension between “slow” and “fast” climate solutions, the need to centre Indigenous knowledge, and the role that cities can play as climate convenors.

Panellists discussed the changing nature of emergency management in a “multi-crisis century,” the concept of community resilience and vulnerability, and the importance of moving from cost-benefit to social benefit analysis.

Panellists discussed strategies for unlocking diverse housing development, and how community voices can be centred in the planning and design process.

Panellists discussed the barriers to seeking elected office, the importance of local government, and ideas for boosting civic engagement.

Panellists discussed the possibilities for office-to-residential conversions to rebuild Canada’s downtowns into more complete neighbourhoods where we can live, work and play.

Panellists discussed the critical housing issues for Indigenous Peoples, shared urgent interventions for immediate action, and offered long-term proposals for housing equity, affordability, and accessibility that are for Indigenous, by Indigenous.

Panellists took part in an in-depth conversation about the ongoing challenges facing Canada’s urban main streets, and the abundant opportunities for regeneration.

Panellists took part in an in-depth conversation about housing precarity, policy gaps, and possible solutions for improving the National Housing Strategy.

Panellists discussed ways that municipalities can balance their responsibility to steward parks and civic spaces, respect the legal and human rights of unhoused individuals, and manage the social and economic needs of neighbourhoods.

In this candid conversation, panellists with differing perspectives discussed the perceived benefits and potential implications of supply-side solutions to housing affordability.

In this vibrant conversation, leaders from Victoria and Halifax discuss the challenges and creative approaches taken by these two coastal cities to implement post-pandemic recovery plans that address structural inequalities and imagine a more inclusive society.

March 31, 2022

In this session, we talked about Black influence in urban planning and heard from community leaders working across Canada to make our cities more just and equitable for all.

Day 2 | Policy and Investment Leadership Implications

Day 2 | What Can be Done on the Ground to Recover our Downtowns?

Day 2 | Challenges and Opportunities for Anchor Institutions to Rebuild Downtowns: Post-Secondaries

Day 2 | Downtown Dynamism: Rebuilding Hospitality and Culture

Day 2 | Everyone’s Responsibility: Canada’s Challenge with Street Issues

Day 2 | Fuelling the Economic Recovery of Canada: the Role of Business to Lead

Day 2 | Local Government Approaches to Downtown Recovery

Day 2 | Day 1 Recap and Political Leadership for Downtown Recovery

Day 1 | Policy and Investment Leadership Implications

Day 1 | Challenges and Opportunities for Anchor Institutions to Rebuild Downtowns: Libraries

Day 1 | Challenges and Opportunities for Anchor Institutions to Rebuild Downtowns: Churches

Day 1 | Bringing People Back: Transit

Day 1 | Bringing People Back: Housing

Day 1 | Digging into the Data: the Impact of COVID-19 on Business Areas and Tourism

Day 1 | How Canada’s Downtowns Compare With Cities in North America

Day 1 | Opening: Setting the Stage and Why Downtowns Matter to the Canadian Economy

In this session, we discussed how we can support “missing middle” housing, such as duplexes, triplexes, and walk-up apartments across low-rise residential neighbourhoods.

Cycling organizations from across Canada are coming together in 2021 to participate in The Joy Ride Project and address the equity gap in cycling.

Deep lake water cooling (DLWC) provides cooling to more than 180 buildings in downtown Toronto through an extensive network of pipes and heat transfer facilities controlled by Enwave Energy Corporation. DLWC is now celebrated internationally and widely touted as “Toronto’s Green Calling Card” for its ongoing contribution to helping the City meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent by 2030.

In this session, climate leaders heading to Glasgow explored how cities can advance climate action through COP26.

In this session, we discussed the importance of main streets to support resilient communities, and the work ahead to restore them to be more inclusive and vibrant places.

In this CityTalk, we explored why downtowns matter, and what their possible futures are in light of recent trends and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this CityTalk, we explored what’s next for cities across Canada post election.

Our second Annual Leadership Lecture featured Rosanne Haggerty, President of Community Solutions and an internationally recognized leader in developing innovative strategies to end homelessness and strengthen communities.

With support from the Shift, this session discussed different approaches to home and housing, with a focus on lived experience, human rights, and systems change.

Building off of the Urban Youth Impact COVID-19 Report that analyzes data from six of the largest Canadian cities and relevant census metropolitan areas including, Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Toronto and Vancouver, we’ll explore how current issues such as race and discrimination, health, employment, cost of living and civic engagement affect youth and hear about their priorities and hopes for the future as we begin the journey to recovery. What do we need to change? And how can we leverage the experience and expertise that youth bring to the table to build more inclusive cities?

What are the big ideas and specific policy actions that will be needed to close Canada’s gender gap? This event provides a summary of what advocates, experts and policy makers in Canada are currently doing to improve the wellbeing of women and girls – and showcases efforts emerging out of COVID towards achieving gender equity.

CUIxWindsor: Is this the mid-size city’s moment? A conversation with Windsor’s new CAO Jason Reynar

CUI x Windsor: The Windsor diaspora discusses the city they love (but left)

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe for our session “CityTalk In Residence: How are Community Leaders Inspiring Change in Mohkínstsis (Calgary)?” are Beth Gignac, Chief Operating Office of Calgary and Area United Way; Jason Ribeiro, Director of Strategy of Calgary Economic Development; Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development, Karen Gosbee, Co-Chair of Community Action on Mental Health and Addiction Stewardship Group; and Tim Fox, Calgary Foundation’s Vice President of Indigenous Relations & Equity Strategy. #CUIxLocal

Presented by the Housing Research Collaborative, with Carolyn Whitzman, Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and Housing Policy Consultant; Penny Gurstein, Professor and Director of the Housing Research Collaborative, University of British Columbia; Andrés Peñaloza, Research Assistant at the Housing Research Collaborative; and Julie Lawson, Honorary Associate Professor at the Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne.

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe our session “What is the future of our shared civic places as we cope with and emerge from COVID?” are Graham Singh, Executive Director of Trinity Centres Foundation; Carol Coletta, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership; Natalie Voland, President and Chief Vision Officer of GI Quo Vadis Inc.; and Tim Jones, CEO of Artscape.

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe for our next session “Cities in the time of COVID-19: Why do local governments matter now more than ever?” are Mayor of Calgary Naheed Nenshi; Nigel Jacob, co-founder of New Urban Mechanics; and Andrea Reimer, Adjunct Professor of Practice and Practitioner Lead, Global Policy Project, UBC School of Public Policy & Global Affairs.

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe for our next session in our ongoing series: How can we revitalize downtowns and #RestoreTheCore?  – are Susie Grynol, President of the Hotel Association of Canada; Carl Weisbrod, Senior Advisor at HR&A Advisors in New York City; Kate Fenske, CEO of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ; Stephen Willis, General Manager of Planning, Infrastructure & Economic Development at the City of Ottawa; Andrea Jung, Planner of Homeless Services and Arts, Culture and Community Services at the City of Vancouver; and  Thom Mahler, Manager of Urban Strategy at The City of Calgary.

Municipalities across Canada have been faced with some of the most challenging governance issues in the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the decisions most directly affecting the daily lives of Canadians have been made by municipalities.

By Anneke Smit, Hana Syed, Aucha Stewart, Terra Duchene, and Michael Fazzari

Joining CUI host Ariana Holt for our next session in our ongoing series: How have visit patterns changed on main streets? – are presenter Rupen Seoni, Senior Vice President and Practice Leader at Environics Analytics; Kevin Narraway, Marketing Manager at the Municipality of Port Hope; Graziella Grbac, the Executive Director of the Village on Main in Dartmouth Nova Scotia; and David Pensato, the Executive Director of the Exchange District in Winnipeg. This session is co-presented with Environics Analytics.

Joining CUI host Ariana Holt for our final session of Main Street Action Week: Planning and Urban Design for Pandemic Recovery – are presenter, Rob Leblanc President of Fathom Studio; Jill Robertson, Principal of Landscape Architecture at Dialog Design; Hazel Borys, President of PlaceMakers; Jason Syvixay Principal Planner at the City of Edmonton; and Eric Lucic, Divisional Lead of Regional Planning for City of Halifax. This event is co-presented with Fathom Studio.

Joining Happy City co-hosts Emma Jones and Mitchell Reardon for our next session of Main Street Action Week: Rapid Placemaking for Main Streets – are Ebrahim Varachia, Principal at Bench Placemaking in Detroit; Andrew Nakazawa, Manager of Placemaking and Public Spaces at the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association; Olivier Legault, Co-founder of WinterLab in Montréal; and Elora Wilkinson, Planner at the Halifax Regional Municipality. This event is co-presented with The Happy City.

Joining CUI host Andre Cote for our next session of Main Street Action Week: Small Business-Friendly Policy for Main Streets – are presenters John Archer, Chief Development Officer at 360 Collective and Judy Morgan, Principal at 360 Collective; Dr. Alexandra Flynn, University of British Columbia;  Judy Lam, Manager of Commercial Districts and Small Business for the City of Hamilton; Chris Rickett, Director of Municipal and Stakeholder Relations at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation; and Antoinette Rodrigue, Chargée de projet, Développement et innovation, Association des sociétés de développement commercial de Montréal. This event is co-presented with 360 Collective.

Joining CUI host Lisa Cavicchia for our first session of Main Street Action Week: Operational Trends and Actions for Retail Recovery – are presenter Lisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner at J.C. Williams Group along with Louroz Mercader, Manager at York-Eglinton BIA in Toronto; Dane Williams, Co-founder of Black Urbanism TO in Toronto; Darryl Julott, Managing Lead at Digital Main Street; and Judith Veresuk, Executive Director of the Downtown Regina BIA. This event is co-presented with JC Williams Group.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our next session in our ongoing series: What is the Role of Architecture in the Urban Recovery?- are Shirley Blumberg, Partner at KPMB; Ryan Gorrie, Senior Associate at Brooke McIlroy; Sam Oboh, Principal and Vice President of Design Intelligence & Client Design at Ensight + Architecture and past President of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada; and Daniel Pearl, Founding Partner at L’Oeuf Architects and Professeur titulaire, School of Architecture at Université de Montréal.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our second series of COVID Signpost, 200 Days: How Do We Realize the Right to Home in the Next 100 Days?- are Micheal Vonn, CEO of PHS Community Services in Vancouver; Nakuset, Director at the Native Women’s Shelter in Montreal; Martin Blake, Vice-President at Daniels Corporation in Toronto; Derek Ballantyne, Partner at New Market Funds and Chair of CMHC in Toronto; and Catherine McKenney, City Councillor of Somerset Ward, Ottawa.

Joining our guest host Catherine Craig-St-Louis of CUI and Rues Principales for our second series of COVID Signpost, 200 Days: How Should Our Cities Prepare for Winter? – are Olivier Legault, Project Manager at Rues principales and Co-founder, Winterlab; Isla Tanaka, Wintercity Planner at the City of Edmonton; Sheena Jardine-Olade, CoFounder of Night Lab; and Rami Bebawi, CoFounder and Partner at KANVA.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our second series of COVID Signpost, 200 Days: What is the State of Our Cities at Day 200? – are Sadhu Johnston, the City Manager at the City of Vancouver; Jay Pitter, an Equity-Based Place-maker in Toronto; Andre Cote, the Acting Director of Research at the Canadian Urban Institute; and Ken Bautista, Partner Makespace Group and Co-Founder of Startup Edmonton.

As part of the Art of City Building 2020 conference, we invited Åsa Kachan, Mary W. Rowe, and Jennifer Angel to have a conversation with Eric Klinenburg on social infrastructure.

As part of the Art of City Building 2020 conference, we invited Andy Fillmore, Paul MacKinnon, Rodney Small, Jay Pitter, Albus Brooks, Uytae Lee, and Kimberly Driggins to discuss inclusive placemaking and development.

As part of the Art of City Building 2020 conference, we invited Mayor Lisa Helps from Victoria, BC, and Mayor Mike Savage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to discuss coastal cities.

As part of the Art of City Building 2020 conference, we invited Mayor Mike Savage, Tara Wickwire, Alex Bozicovic, Katherine Peinhardt, Jeff Goodell, Julian Agyeman, and Tamika Butler to discuss Justice, Sustainability, and Climate Resilient Cities.

To mark CUI’s 30th anniversary, the Canadian Urban Institute and its Board of Directors are proud to have presented the first annual CityTalk Leadership Lecture featuring internationally renowned designer and urbanist Dan Hill for a provocative presentation on how cities can change, and a panel of Canada’s leading urbanists: Cynthia Dorrington and Zahra Ebrahim.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our  series about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next, as we (re)imagine the right to home – How can the right to housing equip local governments to end homelessness? – are Rebecca Alty, Mayor of Yellowknife, NWT; Ana Bailão, Ward 9 Councillor and Deputy Mayor for the south area of the city, Toronto, ON; Lisa Helps, Mayor of Victoria, BC; Scott McKeen, Ward 6 Councillor, Edmonton, AB; and Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener, ON.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our  series about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next, as we (re)imagine the right to home – Different futures: How do we (re)imagine housing in a pandemic world? – are Leilani Farha, Global Director of The Shift; Ruth Goba, Executive Director at the Black Legal Action Centre; Jeff Morrison, Executive Director at the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association; Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association; and Michel Tremblay, Senior Vice-President, Policy and Innovation, at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 

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Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our  series about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next, as we (re)imagine the right to home – Homeless during a pandemic: What are the challenges and looming threats? are Stephanie Allen, Associate Vice-President of  Strategic Business Operations and Performance, BC Housing; Eddie Golko, Participant, Us and Them; Krista Loughton, Filmmaker, Us and Them; Karen Montgrand, Participant, Us and Them; and Tim Richter, President and CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. 

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our  series about  what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next, as we (re)imagine the right to home – What is the right to housing and why does it matter? Lessons from around the world – are Shivani Chaudhry, Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network (India); Leilani Farha, Global Director, The Shift (Canada); Paula C. Marques, Councilor, Local Development and Housing, City of Lisbon (Portugal); Brennan Rigby, The Shift Aoetearoa Project Lead, Community Housing Aotearoa (New Zealand); and Michel Tremblay, Senior Vice-President, Policy and Innovation, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – How is the COVID-19 pandemic transforming young people’s lives and experiences? – are Josh Fullan, Maximum City; Joe Salmon, UBC Class of 2024;  Zoë Bennett, Youth Advocate; Jordan Bighorn, Community Education Development Association (CEDA); and Miatta Dukuly, Youth Advocate. 

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting ageing populations? – are Meghan Winters, Simon Fraser University; Rob Miyashiro, Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO); Brenda Vrkljan, McMaster University; Laura Tamblyn-Watts, CanAge; and Vanessa Campisi, City of Toronto. 

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – How is the pandemic transforming the way we move? – are Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey South, Surrey BC; Eddie Robar, Branch Manager at Edmonton Transit Service; Amina Yasin, Planning Commissioner at the City of Vancouver; Vancouver City Planning Commission; and Armi de Francia, Active Transportation Coordinator at the Town of Ajax and Founder of Transportation Equity Toronto.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations –How is the pandemic transforming the way we work? – are Armine Yalnizyan, Economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers; Vicki Saunders, Founder of SheEO; Elizabeth Ha, Equity Vice-President at the Ontario Federation of Labour; Anila Lee Yuen, President & CEO at the Centre for Newcomers; and Gretchen Gscheidle, Founder and CEO at GM Gscheidle R+D.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our continuing one-on-one conversation series is Drew Dilkens, Mayor of the City of Windsor, ON. 

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – How can we leverage the power of design and engagement to make better main streets? – are Anjuli Solanki, Program Director of The STEPS Initiative; Jason Robbins, Principal Architect at JC Robbins Architecture and 1st Vice President of the RAIC Board; Devin Segal, Director of Landscape Architecture at Fathom Studio; Mitchell Reardon, Experiments, Urban Planning & Design Lead at The Happy City; and Mark Lakeman, Founder of City Repair.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – How are restaurants and nightlife adapting to the pandemic? – are Alicia Scholer, Vice President of the Responsible Hospitality Institute; Matt Webber, owner of Berkeley North; Patrick Watt, Senior Partner, Foodservice and Strategy Expert at J.C. Williams Group; Chef Vikram Vij, owner at Vij’s Restaurants group; and Wendy Nicolay, co-owner of Cascade Restaurant Group. 

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our continuing one-on-one conversation series is Patrick Brown, Mayor of the City of Brampton, ON.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our continuing one-on-one conversation series is LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of the City of New Orleans, LA.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – What do our cities need to lead the recovery? – are Don Iveson, Mayor of the City of Edmonton, AB and Chair of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus; and Carole Saab, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Joining CUI Senior Fellow Jay Pitter for the second session in a two-part series – Moving to Action: How do we respond to anti-black racism in urbanist practices and conversations? – are Orlando Bailey; Tamika Butler; Anthonia Ogundele; and Will Prosper. This is the second session in a two-part series. During the session, Jay will unpack recommendations from her A Call to Courage open letter and the panelists will present practice case studies applying equity-based placemaking principles. The second half of the session will be dedicated to Q+A for urbanists ready to take tangible actions to integrate more equitable approaches in their practice. It is recommended that participants watch the first event in this series and read the Call to Courage before attending the session. Image by Reza Nik

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for our ongoing series of candid conversations – What have we learned from the first 100 days of COVID? – are Kate Graham, CUI Director of Research; Allison Ashcroft, CUI Regional Lead, Victoria; Michael Redhead Champagne, CUI Regional Lead, Winnipeg; Catherine Craig-St-Louis, CUI Regional Lead, Gatineau; Robert Plitt, CUI Regional Lead, Calgary; and Kourosh Rad, CUI Regional Lead, Halifax.

Hosted by Kourosh Rad, Rad Consulting, CUI Regional Lead, Halifax, NS. Welcome by Debbie Eisan, Community Planner, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Friendship Centre. Featuring Cynthia Dorrington, President, Vale & Associates Human Resource Management & Consulting, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, and Elora Wilkinson, Urban Planner, Halifax Regional Municipality

Animé par Catherine Craig-St-Louis, Rues principales, Responsable régionale pour l’IUC, Gatineau, QC. Panélistes: Josée Chiasson, Directrice de la mise en valeur des pôles économiques, Ville de Montréal, Dimitri Espérance, Membre fondateur, Collectif La DAL, Nakuset, Director, Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, et Violaine Ouellette, Directrice générale adjointe, Association des groupes de ressources techniques du Québec

Hosted by Arielle Kayabaga, Ward 13 Councillor, London, ON. Featuring Rino Bortolin, Ward 3 Councillor, Windsor, Shelley Carroll, Ward 17 Councillor, Toronto, Shelby Ch’ng, Northwood Ward Councillor, Thunder Bay, and Kemi Akapo, Ward 3 Councillor, Peterborough.

Hosted by Michael Redhead Champagne, Public Speaker & Youth Mentor, CUI Regional Lead, Winnipeg, MB. Featuring Rebecca Alty, Mayor, Yellowknife, Markus Chambers, Deputy Mayor, Winnipeg, Mark Head & Christopher Clacio, Inter Civics Commons, Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management Service, City of Saskatoon.

Hosted by Robert Plitt, Executive Lead, Evergreen, CUI Regional Lead, Calgary, AB. Featuring Erin Chrusch, Senior Strategist, Office of the Mayor, City of Calgary, William Ghali, Vice-President, Research, University of Calgary, Nneka Otogbolu, Director of Communications and Equity Strategy, Edmonton Community Foundation, and Jason Ribeiro, Director of Strategy, Calgary Economic Development.

Hosted by Allison Ashcroft, Managing Director, CUSP, CUI Regional Lead, Victoria, BC. Featuring Janine Theobald, Inclusion & Collaboration Manager, Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Karen Ward, Drug Policy Advisor, City of Vancouver, Sarah Blyth, Executive Director, Overdose Prevention Society and Leilani Farha, Global Director, The Shift.

In this candid conversation with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, find out how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

Featuring Dave Harvey, Executive Director, Park People; Carlos Moreno, Scientific Director, Chair ETI (Entrepreneurship – Territory – Innovation), Panthéon – Sorbonne University; Rena Soutar, Reconciliation Planner, City of Vancouver Parks & Recreation; and Cheyenne Sundance, Founder & Farmer, Sundance Harvest Farm.

Jay Pitter, award-winning placemaker and CUI Senior Fellow, Equity-Based Placemaking, releases A Call to Courage: An Open Letter to Canadian Urbanists, with a toolkit of resources for responding to anti-Black racism in urbanist practices and conversations.

Moderated by Jay Pitter, award-winning placemaker and CUI Senior Fellow of Equity-Based Placemaking. Featuring Orlando Bailey, Director of Engagement, BridgeDetroit & Detroit Host, Urban Consulate; Tamika Butler, Director of Planning for California & Director of Equity and Inclusion, Toole Design; Anthonia Ogundele, Founder, Ethós Lab; and Will Prosper, Co-founder, Montréal-Nord Républik & Hoodstock.

In this candid conversation with Toronto Mayor John Tory, find out how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like.

A candid conversation with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, on how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

Featuring Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director, The Citadel Theatre; Heather Igloliorte, Concordia University Research Chair, Circumpolar Indigenous Arts and Julie Nagam, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts, Collaboration and Digital Media, Co-Chairs, Indigenous Advisory Circle, Winnipeg Art Gallery; Noémie Lafrance, Artistic Director, Sens Production; and Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Artistic Director, Tapestry Opera

Featuring Sharmarke Dubow, City Councillor, Victoria, BC; Druh Farrell, Councillor, Ward 7, Calgary, AB; Émilie Thuillier, Mairesse, Ahunstic-Cartierville, Montréal, QC; and Kristyn Wong-Tam, City Councillor, Ward 13, Toronto, ON.

A candid conversation with Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, on how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

In partnership with The Bentway. Featuring Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director, The Bentway Conservancy; Guillaume Aniorté, International Development Advisor, Quarter des spectacles; Jing Liu, Co-founder, SO-IL; Charles Blanc and Tristan Surtees, artists, Sans façon

Featuring Ahmed El-Geneidy, Professor, McGill School of Urban Planning; Howaida Hassan, General Supervisor – Urban Growth, City of Edmonton; Timothy Papandreou, Founder & CEO, Emerging Transport Advisors; and Tania Wegwitz, Senior Transportation Planner & Transit Lead, Watt Consulting Group

In this candid conversation with Jeff Lehman, Mayor of the City of Barrie, and Danny Breen, Mayor of St. John’s, find out how their cities are dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts could look like.

Now that we have seen how our cities truly function at their most vulnerable, what possible excuse do we have to not emerge solely committed to fixing them?

Featuring Danny Bridson, Urban Planner & Designer, Mandaworks; Nicole Harper, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Future Society; Marnie McGregor, Urban Affairs Advisor; and Charlotte Mitchell, Infrastructure Planner, Quod

Featuring Charles Montgomery, Founding Principal, Happy City; Michael Shuman, Director of Local Economy Projects, Neighbourhood Associates Corporation; Jake Stacey, Vice President, VanCity Community Investment Bank; and Judith Veresuk, Executive Director, Regina Downtown BID

A candid conversation with Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, on how her city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

In partnership with WSP Canada. Featuring Deborah Harford, Executive Director, Adaption to Climate Change Team at Simon Fraser University; Mel de Jager, Senior Advisor, Climate Change and Resilience, WSP Canada; Shoshanna Saxe, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto; and Chandra Sharma, CAO, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie talks to CUI’s Kate Graham about the challenges of leading one of Canada’s largest and most culturally diverse cities during COVID-19

In conjunction with the University of Toronto Scarborough, The City Institute at York University, and the Goethe-Institut. Featuring Alexandra Flynn, Assistant Professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia; Michael Götting, author, journalist, curator and theatre worker; Markus Kip, Urban Researcher at the Georg-Simmel Centre for Metropolitan Studies, Humboldt University; and Jay Pitter, placemaker, author, speaker and Bousfield Distinguished Visitor in Planning, University of Toronto

In partnership with WSP Canada. Featuring John Godfrey, former federal Minister for Infrastructure & Communities, and Amarjeet Sohi, Senior Advisor, ALAR Strategy Group

In partnership with ULI Toronto. Featuring Siri Agrell, former Executive Director, OneEleven; Brian Kelcey, Founder, State of the City; John Jung, Chairman and Cofounder, Intelligent Community Forum; Jean-Noé Landry, Executive Director, Open North; and Tara Pham, Cofounder, Numina

A candid conversation with Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, on how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

A new survey of 2,100 Canadians shows that our sense of connection to one another is changing due to COVID-19. And as CUI’s Kate Graham writes, we can expect that these changed relationship dynamics will impact what life post-COVID-19 looks like, and how we settle back in to a new normal

Featuring Queenie Choo, CEO, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.; Lisa Lalande, CEO, Century Initiative; Yasir Naqvi, CEO, Institute for Canadian Citizenship; and Ratna Omidvar, Independent Senator for Ontario

Featuring Leilani Farha, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing; Margaret Pfoh, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Management Association; Tim Richter, CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness; and John van Nostrand, CEO, Parcel Developments

How do we respond to two crises, COVID-19 and climate change? Elliott Cappell provides insights into how cities can adjust the way they fund, design, and implement projects to consider resilience every step of the way – to achieve not only climate objectives, but also build a city’s capacity to respond to a variety of systemic shocks

A candid conversation with Halifax Mayor Mike Savage on how his city is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like

In partnership with the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance. Featuring Noreen Kassam, Director of Finance, City of Burnaby; Kelly Paleczny, General Manager, London Transit; Mary Persson, Deputy City Manager & CFO, City of Edmonton; and Enid Slack, Director, IMFG

Featuring Veronika Bylicki, Executive Director & Co-Founder, CityHive; Michael Redhead Champagne, Public Speaker & Youth Mentor; Ana González Guerrero, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Youth Climate Lab; Aaron Myran, Executive Director, Future Majority; and Linxi Mytkolli, Manager, Youthful Cities

A candid conversation with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps on how the City of Victoria is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and what the short, medium and long-term impacts on the city could look like.

Featuring Gohar Ashoughian, University Librarian, Wilfrid Laurier University; Mary Chevreau, CEO, Kitchener Public Library; Åsa Kachan, Chief Librarian & CEO, Halifax Public Library; Maureen Sawa, CEO, Greater Victoria Public Library; and Paul Takala, CEO & Chief Librarian, Hamilton Public Library

In this analysis, originally appearing in First Policy Response, Selena Zhang and André Côté detail the quick and innovative ways Canadian municipalities have quickly responded to COVID-19 and propose principles that should guide cities in their continued response and recovery planning

Featuring Allison Ashcroft, Managing Director, CUSP Network; Elliott Cappell, Director, Climate Change and Resilience, WSP Canada; Laurian Farrell, Director, North America/Environment Risk Management, Global Resilient Cities Network; and Jeff Hebert, Partner, HR&A Advisors

Featuring Zita Cobb, Founder & CEO, Shorefast Foundation; Ted Howard, President & Co-Founder, The Democracy Collaborative; Colette Murphy, Executive Director, Atkinson Foundation; and Rosemarie Powell, Executive Director, Toronto Community Benefits Network

The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance’s Dr. Enid Slack and Tomas Hachard argue that in the wake of COVID-19, both provinces and municipalities should be preparing for a longer-term conversation about how to strengthen municipal fiscal health and public services going forward

Featuring Mark Garner, CEO and Executive Director, Downtown Yonge BIA; Bruce Katz, Director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University; Mary Moran, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development; Patrick Sullivan, President & CEO, Halifax Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Wong, Co-founder & CEO, TakuLabs

Mayor Rebecca Alty says that Yellowknife has implemented numerous changes at the city level to deal with the impacts COVID-19, just like other Canadian cities. But living north of 60 also presents a unique set of challenges when dealing with a crisis.

Featuring Jane Farrow, Principal, Dept. of Words & Deeds; Nicole Swerhun, Principal, Swerhun Inc; Zahra Ebrahim, Executive Advisor, Doblin; and Amanda Gibbs, Public Engagement Lead, City of Vancouver

CUI’s Kate Graham writes that COVID-19 has seen extraordinary leadership from Canadian city mayors, while also bringing into full focus serious questions about the future of our cities. Chief among them: do mayors and local leaders have the power and resources they need to manage a crisis of this scale?

Featuring Alex Bozikovic, Globe and Mail architecture critic; Franc D’Ambrosio, Principal at D’Ambrosio Architecture and Urbanism; Janna Levitt, Partner at LGA Architectural Partners; and Adam Lubinsky, Managing Principal at WXY Studio.

In a guest column for Spacing Magazine, CUI’s Mary W. Rowe writes that COVID-19 has exposed incredible possibilities in Canadian cities but also surfaces significant missing pieces

CUI’s Mary W. Rowe talks to Municipal World’s Sue Gardner about how local government and communities across Canada are responding to the crisis and highlights important resources to help city builders and residents adapt to a new normal