Our Work

Events

Forums and events that link city builders to the most effective solutions and ideas.

May 13, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: 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
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May 14, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How Can Cities Advance Climate Change Priorities in the COVID Recovery?

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
#ClimateChange&Resilience #COVID19
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June 4, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How Will Arts & Culture Survive Physical Distancing?

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
#COVID19
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June 10, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How do we respond 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.
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June 22, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: What Have We Learned from the First 100 Days of COVID?

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.
#COVID19
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July 7, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: 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. 
#COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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July 9, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: 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.
#Architecture&UrbanDesign #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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July 14, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How is the pandemic transforming the way we work?

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.
#COVID19
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July 21, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting ageing populations?

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. 

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#AgeFriendlyCommunities #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities
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July 23, 2020

Cities in the Time of COVID-19: How is the COVID-19 pandemic transforming young people’s lives and experiences?

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. 
#AgeFriendlyCommunities #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities
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July 27, 2020

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.
#COVID19 #Housing&Homelessness
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July 28, 2020

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. 
#COVID19 #Housing&Homelessness
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July 28, 2020

Right To Home
COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities in Canada’s housing and shelter systems.
As we rebuild our urban futures, we cannot risk going back to the way things were—our systems are on the brink of collapse. But they are also on the cusp of transformative change.
CUI, The Shift, and 14 coast-to-coast partners hosted week of virtual film screenings and live panel discussions from coast to coast about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next, as we (re)imagine the right to home.
Revisit the week

July 29, 2020

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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#COVID19 #Housing&Homelessness
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July 30, 2020

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.
#COVID19 #Housing&Homelessness
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September 10, 2020

CityTalk Leadership Lecture: From Making the City to Using the City

To mark CUI’s 30th anniversary, the Canadian Urban Institute and its Board of Directors are proud to present the first annual CityTalk Leadership Lecture. Please join 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.
#Infrastructure&Development
Revisit the lecture

September 29, 2020

COVID Signpost 200 Days: What is the State of Our Cities at Day 200?

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.
#Business #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #Infrastructure&Development #MainStreets
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September 30, 2020

COVID Signpost 200 Days: How Should Our Cities Prepare for Winter?

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 Managerat 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.
#Business #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #Infrastructure&Development #MainStreets
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October 1, 2020

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.

 
#Business #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #Infrastructure&Development #MainStreets
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October 8, 2020

Cities in the time of COVID-19: 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.
#Architecture&UrbanDesign #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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October 13, 2020

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.
#COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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October 14, 2020

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.
#COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #Infrastructure&Development #MainStreets
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October 15, 2020

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.
#COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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October 16, 2020

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.

#Architecture&UrbanDesign #COVID19 #Downtowns&MainStreets #Infrastructure&Development #MainStreets
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October 28, 2020

Cities in the time of COVID-19: 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.
#Business #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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October 30, 2020

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.
#Business #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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November 4, 2020

Cities in the time of COVID-19: Why do local governments matter now more than ever?

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.
#Business #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #Downtowns&MainStreets #MainStreets
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November 10, 2020

Cities in the time of COVID-19: What is the future of our shared civic places as we cope with and emerge from COVID?

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe for our next 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.
#Business #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #MainStreets
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November 24, 2020

Can COVID-19 push governments to provide adequate housing?

Presented by the Housing Research Collaborative is our next session “Can COVID-19 push governments to provide adequate housing?” 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.

 

 
#Business #COVID19 #Density&CompleteCommunities #MainStreets
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December 11, 2020

CityTalk In Residence: How are Community Leaders Inspiring Change in Mohkínstsis (Calgary)?

Joining CUI host Mary Rowe for our next session “CityTalk In Residence: How are Community Leaders Inspiring Change in Mohkínstsis (Calgary)?” are Tim Fox, Calgary Foundation’s Vice President of Indigenous Relations & Equity Strategy; Beth Gignac, Chief Operating Officer of Calgary and Area United Way; Karen Gosbee, Co-Chair of Community Action on Mental Health and Addiction Stewardship Group; Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development; and Jason Ribeiro, Director of Strategy of Calgary Economic Development.
#CUIxLocal
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February 9, 2021

Transforming public spaces to respond to COVID-19

Join Mary W. Rowe and a set of fantastic panelists, including Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore, for a candid conversation on public spaces and COVID-19. From equity-based placemaking and public safety, to community development and resilience, you’ll hear from leading placemakers, activists, and thinkers, who will explore what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next for community-led solutions across Canada. It will also be an opportunity to learn more about the forthcoming Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, a new $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to support communities as they adapt public spaces for the new realities of the pandemic.
#COVID19
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February 12, 2021

Simple Ways To Create Vibrant Safe Spaces or Adapt Public Places and Programming During a Pandemic

Applications are now open for the Healthy Communities Initiative. Join this webinar to learn about simple actions that communities are taking to adapt public places to create vibrant and safe/accessible spaces. Get some inspiring ideas for adapting programming in community parks and other spaces. The session will highlight actual project examples that can inspire your application.
#HealthyCommunities
Register here

February 16, 2021

Coming Together: Maintaining a Healthy Sense of Community in Indigenous Communities During a Pandemic

Indigenous communities have experienced the devastating effects of pandemics in the past, and through the resiliency of our communities and people, we are still here. Discover some innovative and positive responses to COVID in Indigenous communities, on-reserve and off, urban and rural, with a specific focus on the work of Friendship Centres in providing community services and safe spaces for community members.
#HealthyCommunities
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February 19, 2021

How to Write a Successful Funding Application: Tips for First Time Applicants

Applications are now open for the Healthy Communities Initiative. Are you a first-time applicant looking to improve your funding proposal skills? Learn how to turn an idea into a project proposal, how to build a project outline and think through the steps from beginning to end. Find out about some of the common hurdles and pitfalls in proposal writing and the best approaches for success.
#HealthyCommunities
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February 22, 2021

Digital Solutions 101: Community digital solutions ideas to support people during a pandemic

Applications are now open for the Healthy Communities Initiative. Find out how communities can use digital solutions to keep people safe and healthy, connect people and strengthen participation, encourage citizen engagement. Learn how communities are supporting people through the use of data, improving digital connectivity, extending public WiFi and using other digital technologies.
#HealthyCommunities
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February 23, 2021

Understanding the New Excess Soil Regulation – Get the Dirt on Updating Bylaws

Join us on Tuesday, February 23rd to get the latest on updating municipal Site Alteration and Fill By-Laws to include Ontario Regulation 406/19 – On-site and Excess Soil Management. During this free two-hour webinar, you will hear from policy and environmental experts and practitioners involved in the regulation of excess soils. We’ll also share the latest updates to Canadian Urban Institute’s Excess Soil web tool, which provides guidance for Ontario municipalities in updating their soil bylaws.
#Infrastructure&Development
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March 22, 2021

Launch: Engaging Black People and Power

Presented in partnership with York University and Jay Pitter Placemaking, join Jay Pitter, award-winning Placemaker and Author; Anthony Taylor, Minneapolis-based Metropolitan Parks and Open Space commissioner and cycling advocate; and Mitchell Silver, New York City Parks Department commissioner and award-winning urban planner. The event will also feature opening remarks from Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament and a musical interlude from Sam Carter-Shamai, Toronto-based urban planner and music enthusiast.
Register Here