what makes a
5 PROJECTS HELPING CANADIAN CITIES FLOURISH BY GEOFF CAPE, EVERGREEN Canada is a great city builder. Our cities are home to people from around the world, viewed by residents and newcomers as a place of tradition, refuge, opportunity and connection to nature. But with increasing polarization in cities, densification and environmental disruption caused by climate change, it’s more important than ever to build communities that create space for innovation, a sense of identity, and connection to people. These are complex challenges, but we can face them — together. Creating a great city is more than just sustainable design. It’s about the act of ‘placemaking’ — where diverse people come together to plan, design, manage and program shared-use spaces. It’s a process that evolves and adapts with the city and its residents. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) recognizes the central role of urbanization in sustainable development to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Fortunately, communities across Canada are doing just that…adapting and evolving to better serve the needs of residents, and becoming more inclusive and sustainable at their core. Finding these solutions requires innovation and experimentation. If we harness the great ideas already happening, learn from and become inspired by them, we can create thriving places that accelerate the creation of regenerative, inclusive cities. Here are five projects that highlight sustainability, place-making, inclusivity and innovation…all key ingredients that make a great city.
Geoff Cape is CEO of Evergreen and a founding partner of Future Cities Canada. For more information on Future Cities Canada Summit, visit www.futurecitiescanada.ca
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