Our Work

Calgary Transforms

Our CUI x Local series shines a spotlight on local responses to some of the most pressing challenges in Canada’s large urban
regions. In collaboration with city leaders, we’re connecting with cities across Canada to seek out the very best ideas that can
inform and be adapted by city builders across the country. And what we’re seeing are solutions that demonstrate creative,
sometimes risky, yet ever-inspiring approaches that haven’t received enough national attention — yet.

Calgary Transforms summarizes what Calgarians told us is happening in their city today. We heard diverse perspectives
on what it’s like to live there, what people are concerned about, how they view the city and its organizations and how many are coping with and driving positive change. People from the arts, academia, business and industry, community agencies and many other sectors told us what they see as their successes, where they think needs more work and what their hopes are for a post-pandemic future.

Join us on our cross-Canada tour for inspiring stories, actions and innovation, as we learn how Canadian cities are addressing local challenges today and planning for a greater urban future.

Details

Type:

Research Report

Date:

June 2021

Calgary Transforms Items

CUI x Calgary

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

Live City Check-In: One-on-one with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi
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

Related

COVID Signpost: Regional Perspectives
As we pass the 200th day of COVID-19, seven Regional Perspectives dive deeper into trends and changes in different parts of the country, and what it means as we look ahead in a time of uncertainty and anxiety, but also of collective purpose in urban Canada.

Bring Back Main Street
A nationally coordinated research and advocacy campaign about finding the best solutions to ensure our main streets recover from COVID-19 and emerge more resilient than ever

Bring Back Main Street: Block Studies
To better understand how COVID-19 has impacted main streets and businesses, Vancouver City Savings credit union (Vancity), Vancity Community Investment Bank, and the Canadian Urban Institute conducted a series of seven Block Studies in British Columbia and Ontario.

Right to Home
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.

Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Streets
The Pandemic Recovery Toolkit for Local Communities provides examples of programming and interventions, as well provides advice on how to use inclusive process for rapid placemaking. It is can be used by residents, community groups, BIAs/BIDs, and city staff working to revive main streets and core spaces in big cities, suburbs and small towns.

COVID Signpost: 200 Days
Research on the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian cities over the first 200 days of the crisis shows that our experiences with the pandemic have depended largely on who we are, and where we live.

Edmonton Activates
Edmonton Activates introduces city builders to the people, place and potential of this city. It reflects some of the best guidance Edmonton can offer to Canadians who are seeking inspiration and new ways of doing things to improve the quality of life in our cities. Here is what we heard.

The Case for a Canadian Urban Policy Observatory
Research calling for the development of a “one-stop-shop” housing the best quantitative and qualitative data on Canada’s cities, as a building block toward greater intergovernmental dialogue on urban priorities.

Main Street Design Challenge Playbook
The Design Challenge Playbook reflects the importance of design in revitalizing our streets and showcases creative and practical interventions to help us build back better than ever.The designs come from architects and students, planners and placemakers, community animators and artists. They range widely, from the highly prescriptive to the more conceptual. In some cases, they serve as blueprints; in other cases, they provide inspiration, with key details to be locally crafted.

COVID Signpost: 300 Days
The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) continues to track the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian cities, with a third Signpost report that signals a growing disconnect between virus-related research and recovery response.