Talent

TeachingCity Oshawa

TeachingCity Oshawa brings together the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners—the Canadian Urban Institute (C.U.I.), Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA, and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. The City and its partners focus on addressing Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning.

City Idea Lab City Idea Lab is an innovative, coursebased project within TeachingCity Oshawa. The City collaborates with instructors at Durham College, Ontario Tech University and Trent Durham to pose a city challenge question to students. Students work throughout the semester to co-design possible solutions. City Idea Lab courses have taken place at the TeachingCity Oshawa Hub in Oshawa’s downtown, and more recently through virtual methods. To date, approximate 1300 students have been engaged in this unique experiential learning opportunities through City Idea Lab. Downtown Oshawa Air Quality and

Traffic Monitoring Project The City has recently completed a one-year study with the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research at the University of Toronto, A.U.G. Signals and North Line Canada. The study monitored air quality and traffic movements in Oshawa’s downtown. The study also provided an unprecedented opportunity to assess the impacts of changes in traffic volume on air quality in the downtown Oshawa core during the public health restrictions due to COVID-19 in 2020. These findings will help identify options and opportunities for improving the pedestrian experience. Augmented Reality Project in Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens Durham College students, under the supervision of faculty member Linda Cheng, recently designed new augmented reality technology to enhance visitor experience at one of Oshawa’s exceptional parks, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens (OVBG). QR codes are present at six points of interest in OVBG and allow community members to learn about the gardens, identify points of interest and launch a navigation guide between landmarks. The City is excited to see this pilot project expanded in other locations throughout the City in future years.

Downtown

47 Simcoe Street South Atria Development continues to play a key role in Oshawa’s downtown revitalization, with the acquisition of 47 Simcoe Street South, a former Canada Post building. Atria’s new development is expected to be a mixed-use, mid-rise building that preserves the original building façade and unique architecture that have made 47 Simcoe Street South a significant landmark in Oshawa’s downtown.

Joyce Hancock Designs After serving the Oshawa custom clothing market for more than eight years, Joyce Hancock Designs has a new home at 18 King Street East in downtown Oshawa. Owner Joyce Hancock opened her new retail location in early March and brings 30-plus years of experience in the sewing industry. URBN MRKT Picks The former RBC Building located at the southeast corner of Simcoe Street North and Bond Street East in downtown Oshawa is home to a brand new farmers market. Located in Oshawa’s downtown core, URBN MRKT Picks & Social Hall features over 40 local vendors and a 2nd level mezzanine.

Priority Submetering Solutions The City of Oshawa recently welcomed Priority Submetering Solution’s new head office location at 21 Simcoe Street South. Priority Submetering Solutions offers suite metering and billing services for utilities including electricity, water, gas and thermal on a fully customized basis. Biltmore Theatre Having originally opened in 1940 at 39 King Street East, the Biltmore Theatre will open its doors once again, 81 years later. The newly re-established performance and event venue will be hosting an open house later this year.