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Original insight, analysis and stories on how local government and communities across Canada are responding to the new urban reality under COVID-19. If you would like to contribute a piece, contact us at covidresponse@canurb.org.

What’s next on the urban agenda for Canadian youth?

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?

Indigenous Practitioner Perspectives on City Building
Featuring Eladia Smoke, Principal Architect, Smoke Architecture, Master Lecturer at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture; Tonii Lerat, Community Planner with Urban Systems, and a Board Member, Canadian Institute of Planners; Lorna Crowshoe, Aboriginal Issues Strategist with the City of Calgary and Board Member of National Trust of Canada; Danilo Caron, EIT, and Indigenous Student Engagement Coordinator at UBC Engineering Student Services; and Naomi Ratte, Landscape Architecture student, University of Manitoba, and co-editor of Voices of the Land: Indigenous Design and Planning from the Prairies.  Moderated by Hunter Cardinal, Co-Founder and Director of Story, Naheyawin. Based in Edmonton, AB, Hunter is a member of the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation.

Economic Recovery: What does the path forward look like for Canada’s urban regions?
Join CUI’s Mary W. Rowe, along with Jennifer Angel, President and CEO of Develop Nova Scotia, Malcolm Bruce, CEO of Edmonton Global, Marcy Burchfield, Vice President of the Economic Blueprint Institute at the Toronto Region Board of Trade; Frances Delsol, Executive Director of the Black Business and Professional Association, and Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO of Montréal International, for a conversation on what economic recovery looks like for Canada’s urban regions.

Solitude and the City: Building Connections in Urban Canada
While our urban centres continue to grow in population, more and more city-dwellers are expressing feelings of disconnection and isolation. As we emerge from COVID-19, how will we contend with the social, cultural, and mental health ramifications for our cities? How can we make Canada’s big cities feel less lonely? Join us for a timely discussion on urban loneliness, and how to build connection and community inside Canada’s bustling city centres. This CityTalk touches on the themes explored in the GOETHE FILMS @ digital TIFF screenings of “Loneliness in the City,” a series on urban absence and aspiration.

How can placemaking in cities around the world contribute to our global recovery?
Join CUI’s President and CEO Mary W. Rowe, along with Ethan Kent, Executive Director, PlacemakingX; Ramon Marrades, Director, Placemaking Europe; Lhazin Nedup, Planning Consultant, Urban Platform; and Ayanda Roji, General Manager: Corporate Research, Policy and Knowledge Management, Johannesburg City Parks, for an exploration how placemaking will contribute towards a global recovery, while creating a thriving, more equitable, and sustainable world.

Alternative City Futures: Lessons from Around the World
Join CUI’s Mary W. Rowe, Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary-General at the European Association for Local Democracy, Jean Pierre Mbassi, Secretary-General at United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, and Rudi Borrmann, Deputy Director at Open Government Partnership Local, as they discuss how municipalities across the world are driving reform in governance and citizen engagement to help reimagine alternative possible futures for Canadian cities.

How are Community Leaders Inspiring Change in Mohkínstsis (Calgary)?

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

How can COVID-19 push governments to provide adequate housing?

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.

Saving Downtowns: How do we #RestoreTheCore?

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.

How have visit patterns changed on main streets?

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.

Main Street Action Week: Planning and Urban Design for Pandemic Recovery

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.

Main Street Action Week: Rapid Placemaking for Main Streets

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.

Main Street Action Week: Small Business-Friendly Policy for Main Streets

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.

Main Street Action Week: Operational Trends and Actions for Retail Recovery

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.

What is the Role of Architecture in the Urban Recovery?

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.

COVID Signpost 200 Days: How Do We Realize the Right to Home in the Next 100 Days?

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.

 

How can the right to housing equip local governments 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 – 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.

Different futures: How do we (re)imagine housing in a pandemic world?

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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Homeless during a pandemic: What are the challenges and looming threats?

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. 

What is the right to housing and why does it matter? Lessons from around the world

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.

How is the pandemic transforming the way we move?

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.

How can we leverage the power of design and engagement to make better main streets?

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.

How are restaurants and nightlife adapting to the pandemic?

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. 

MOVING TO ACTION: How Do We Respond to Anti-Black Racism in Urbanist Practices and Conversations?

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

Urban Society and Democracy During COVID-19, A Translatlantic Dialogue

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