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Recent Discussions

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.

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