Talking with Jane’s Walk

Our Horizon and York Pioneer & Historical Society keeping things historically accurate

Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee

Fair trade chocolate from social enterprise Chocosol

People Plan Toronto asks “What planning issues are important to you?”

We are so thrilled with how the YIMBY Festival went last Saturday! We had an astounding 56 groups from across Toronto participating, thrilling presentations all day long, and the room was constantly buzzing with conversation!

This year’s Festival was hosted in the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library, a perfectly central location and a beautiful space that was large enough to host the YIMBY Festival, which had already outgrown its previous locations at the Gladstone Hotel and 401 Richmond!

It was such a privilege to have the opportunity to showcase some of the best community work Toronto has to offer. We have heard such great feedback already:

“one of the best forums for meeting those involved in improving their community in the city”

“facilitating stimulating conversations & new connections”

“Great orgs making Toronto a great place!”

“Thanks for organizing a great event – wonderful for the public to have a place to come out learn so much about great things…”

“Feeling so energized after spending the day at YIMBY. Congrats to the organizers and all the community groups who came out.”

Check out our Flickr set of photos from YIMBY!

We want to hear from you!

Were you at the YIMBY Festival? We’d like to hear your thoughts! What did you find most valuable? How can we improve? Take our 5-minute survey!

Throughout the day, we encouraged people to vote for the YIMBY People’s Choice Award and to give us their feedback about the YIMBY Festival on the back of their ballots. Here is what we heard:

4.33 stars! (85 reviews)

We asked people to rate the YIMBY Festival out of 5 and they gave us an average of 4.33 stars! Thank you!

How you heard about YIMBY

People heard about the YIMBY Festival from a variety of sources, but most people heard in 3 main ways:

Senator Art Eggleton speaks with Lorraine Kirlew of More Than A Haircut

Some beautiful work from Ecoartworx

Word of mouth

Including colleagues, friends, and 3 people who reported hearing about YIMBY from their mom! Thanks for spreading the word, moms!

Online

Our email blasts, the YIMBY website, and some fantastic Twitter/Facebook promotion from our volunteers at the University of Toronto!

From YIMBY participants

With 56 organizations across Toronto participating in this event, many people heard about YIMBY from the community groups they already know and trust.

Didn’t get a chance to fill out a ballot at YIMBY and tell us what you think?

Take our 5-minute survey!

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!

YIMBY volunteers Zainab Al-Rawi and Dania Ansari running the kids’ table

CCE intern Nishi Kumar with YIMBY volunteers Zainab Al-Rawi, Grace Babington, and Kevin Ayala-Diaz

At the registration desk with YIMBY volunteers Maya Borgenicht, Molly Leathem, Heather Ann Kaldeway (CCE), and Zainab Al-Rawi

We are very thankful to our many volunteers who helped us put YIMBY together this year.

Particular thanks goes to our intern Nishi Kumar, who was the coordinator for this year’s festival, and our core YIMBY team of Bita Mahjoubi, Dania Ansari, Mary-Anne Cooper, and the members of the University of Toronto’s INI235 Service Learning class. We are also thankful to Julia Padvoiskis, Mary Ambrose, Linda Theron, Molly Leathem, Jake Schabas, Maya Borgenicht, and Annabel Vaughan who helped us with the many small details on the day of YIMBY. Professor Melissa Tanti’s ACS 103 Introduction to the Humanities class at Ryerson University assisted us in the fall as we began preparing for YIMBY.

You all put in so many hours in the weeks leading up to YIMBY helping us with graphic design, organizing the kids table, contacting large and small media, running our Facebook and Twitter streams, inviting politicians, and assisting participants. We could not have done it without you!

If you would like to volunteer at the next YIMBY Festival, email us at info@yimbytoronto.org!

Volunteers Mary Ambrose and Linda Theron welcome you to YIMBY!

Join us on Twitter at @TOCityEcology!

Last night we tried a new experiment: live-tweeting our own event.

We have been very lucky to have live-tweeters in our audiences before but we’ve never tried it ourselves. It’s a lot of work, especially when trying to listen and type on a cellphone at the same time! We’ll try it with a laptop next time. And yes, there will be a next time because live-tweeting led us into new conversations with people at the event and those who were listening in via Twitter. CCE loves expanding the conversation!

Many thanks to those who live-tweeted along with us, especially Orla Hegarty of @LettuceConnect who managed to live-tweet and ask a fabulous question at the end!

Did you know…

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Toronto’s Nestlé plant: Mike Williams’ pro-tip for trick or treating! “A whole handful!” #UrbanFactory

Some help for those new to Twitter

When referring to people (users) on Twitter, we put an ‘@’ before their name so our tweet links to their account and they can see that they are being mentioned. This is especially useful when replying to each other so the whole conversation is easily found.

When referring to a shared subject, we often create a hashtag by putting a ‘#’ before a term. Similar to the @, this creates a link to all tweets using this hashtag. Our hashtag for this event was #urbanfactory, which made it easier for people to find each other on Twitter when tweeting about it.

Live-tweets from our Vertical Urban Factory event

Before the event

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

I will be livetweeting Vertical #urbanfactory session tonight hosted by @TOCityEcology with a food lens on

Samantha Strong @SamtasticStrong

Sorry to miss the #urbanfactory event tonight with @TOcityecology but excited to read all about it via @LettuceConnect live-tweeting!

Event kick-off with Margie Zeidler

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Almost ready to start our Vertical #UrbanFactory event at @401Richmond!

About to start! Only a few seats left! #UrbanFactory

Margie Zeidler introducing the speakers #UrbanFactory

“If you care about our urban future, manufacturing must come back to this continent” #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport, Curator of Vertical Urban Factory exhibit

Sarah Brown ‏@sb_cd

From NY live at the 401 Vertical Urban Factory exibit & talk on bringing manufacturing back to our cities #citybuilding

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Nina Rappaport who curated the #urbanfactory exhibition currently on site at 401 Richmond is starting us off.

The exhibition is all about how we bring manufacturing back into the city. Are you listening #TOPoli? #urbanfactory

Mankind are makers not sapiens. Art is made only by the wealthy. Factories are the centerpiece of humans as makers philosophy. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

“Humankind is a maker… one way to understand us is to examine our factories” Nina’s inspiration for her research on #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Two different vertical factories are on the screen. Issues of types of production flow in a vertical space is key. #urbanfactory

Land use policy needs to be reevaluated if we start to look at #urbanfactory.

Different approaches of production (Ford production vs just in time) affect design of #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Describing fluid vertical factory buildings as machines themselves, car is built as it climbs floors, test track on roof. #UrbanFactory

Car factory was a Fiat factory, Italian futurists saw it as forward-thinking. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Integrated #urbanfactory: raw material goes to top first and then gets produced going downwards. Older designs reflected this.

Processing could also go upwards. Fiat #urbanfactory exemplified this. Lots of historical examples of this.

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Showing photos of urban factories with conveyor belts crossing streets between 2 factories several stories up. #UrbanFactory

Vertical #UrbanFactory began to disappear after WWII.

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Could have multi Multiple #urbanfactory ‘s layered on top of each other, was common in NYC. Garment district in NYC had patents for them!

Buckminster Fuller designed a cotton mill that had a tube in the middle that pushed raw cotton up the middle & down thru grid #urbanfactory

Bonita Lee @BonitaaaLee

can we bring back and integrate the industrial sector to the city through vertical #urbanfactory check out the exhibition at 401 Richmond st

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

What we have instead is “spectacular globalism”. Container shipping and digital supply chains took over. #UrbanFactory

Comparing today’s Chinese labour conditions to conditions in early industrial America. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Labour wages and conditions have not improved with globalism.#urbanfactory

Beautiful early 20th Dresden factory that made Turkish cigarettes illustrates how design was used to model product. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Form of factory can imitate product, often beautiful eg in Dresden car factory, part of cityscape. #UrbanFactory

Showing factory in NYC turned like @401Richmond into nonprofit with lots of small shops within, workshops. #UrbanFactory

Geospatial shift from massive factories to cottage industries. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Modern factory feels the need to block the public from seeing what is going on inside. #urbanfactory

There are some great ex of #urbanfactory from around the world. Re-occupation of larger buildings. Flexible space key. #urbanfactory

Work live buildings are also happening with older buildings. Sustainable modern #urbanfactory has started being built around the world.

Industrial symbiosis is being developed in Europe. Completely closed loop sustainability. She doesn’t know of any #urbanfactory like this.

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Small niche manufacturing that needs brain power is surviving here. #UrbanFactory

Flexible factories that can be taken apart, sustainable developments. Reusing waste products in cycle. Biomass to fuel. #UrbanFactory

David Fitzpatrick @reurbanist

At the #UrbanFactory @401Richmond panel learning about factories within cities. Why not high rise manufacturing?

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Industrial Zones are zoned as low rise, could be upzoned to allow new building types. #UrbanFactory

Zoning created because manufacturing was noisy, dirty. As processes evolve, should reintegrate. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Closed loop industrial symbiosis is perfect model for an #UrbanAg#urbanfactory. #TOPoli? Zoning needs addressing for industrial networking.

A nimble network with flexible zoning will allow industrial symbiosis to flourish between #urbanfactory.

Mike Williams, General Manager of Economic Development & Culture for the City of Toronto

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Mike Williams beginning with a handout and a pop quiz: who is the largest manufacturer in Toronto? #UrbanFactory

1. Bombardier, 2x the size of any other. 2. Celestica. #UrbanFactory

2 major furniture manufacturers with 1000+ employees in Toronto. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Bombardier is the largest employer in Toronto. Celestica is 2nd with only 1500 employees. #urbanfactory

The third largest manufacturing operation is Kraft and they are about to open a 5 th facility. #urbanfactory

Manufacturing and Warehousing jobs have steadily declined in Toronto since 1983 [he gave us a paper chart to prove this]. #urbanfactory

1986 had 266K manufacturing jobs in Toronto. In 2011 there were 127K. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

We have stopped decline, manufacturing moving from 905 to 416. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

NYC only has 70K manufacturing jobs. Toronto still has a lot of these jobs relative to population. #urbanfactory #TOPoli

#TOPoli has a very attractive tax rate for manufacturing#urbanfactory compared to GTA competitors.

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

We have narrowed tax difference between 905 and 416, increased slower to attract factories back. #UrbanFactory

Manufacturing jobs have 3-10 spinoff jobs. #UrbanFactory

Manufacturing doesn’t have the same barriers for ESL. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Much better employment ladders in #urbanfactory. Language issues aren’t as critical. #urbanfactory

Good manufacturing also provides good exposure worldwide. Re-shoring is now in vogue as opposed to off shoring. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Some jobs returning to US as Obama pushes “reshoring” including from Canada. #UrbanFactory

Transportation costs lower here, closer to designers and customers when local. #UrbanFactory

Testing, repair are more remunerative and need less space.#UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Jeff Rubin talks about the high cost of travel in manufacturing. This is pushing manufacturing back home. #urbanfactory

High end tech manufacturing require little space and provide lucrative high end jobs. #urbanfactory

There is a donut maker in North York that makes all the Dunkin donuts for the Eastern US! #urbanfactory #foodTO

Howard Tam @htamTO

Enjoying a great talk on vertical #urbanfactory at centre for city ecology. Didn’t know that #TO is still a major manufacturing hub!

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Toronto has huge skillset, audience. Bakery here creates all dunkin donuts for Eastern US! #UrbanFactory

Land pressure: condo developers bid higher prices, also factories in inner suburbs leaving vacant land. #UrbanFactory

High value from condos drives assessed value of downtown factories (like Redpath) up. Redpath up 1600% in 13 years. Damaging. #UrbanFactory

New condo residents sometimes try to chase existing factories out. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Redpath’s property valuation has gone up 1600% percent in 15 years due to condo development and MPAC rules. #urbanfactory #TOPoli

GE has been processing uranium at Dupont and Landsdowne for 50 yrs. Local new condo owners upset. Weston neighbours don’t. #urbanfactory

Green roofs only work in heated facilities. Warehouses not so much. #urbanfactory

Ironically, infrastructure problems in Toronto have actually prevented moves by #urbanfactory.

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

In Toronto, starting to wake up to infrastructure problems. People need to get to work, receive deliveries. #UrbanFactory

Only have 2 power lines into Toronto, most cities have several, becoming a liability problem. #UrbanFactory

Positives: superb, diverse workforce draws many employers. Companies moving to 905 lose many employees. #UrbanFactory

Ontario compels us to keep employment lands as employment uses. If we convert, they’re gone forever. #UrbanFactory

Feeling Congested? @CongestedTO

#congestion impacts Toronto’s manufacturing sector.. Key component of our economy #urbanfactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

We only have two power lines into the city (100 years since last 1 added). A 2 second blip at the Irving Tissue #urbanfactory costs them $80K

There is a great role for manufacturing in Toronto. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Need to realise that manufacturing is not gone, has important role in this city. #UrbanFactory

Jason Rehel, National Post

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Jason Rehel begins his talk. Grew up as GM kid in St Catherine’s, worked in factories during university. #UrbanFactory

Reading from Rivethead book by Ben Hamper. #UrbanFactory

Labour does matter. Employees matter. #UrbanFactory design matters to labour movement.

Rivethead by Ben Hamper

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Rivethead by Ben Hamper is a pivotal influence to Michael Moore and Jason. Two word summary: Employees Matter -> #urbanfactory design affects

The reading from this book (a nonfiction book) reminds me of a fiction book I read recently: The Scheme for Full Employment #urbanfactory

Cindy Tan @cindywt

Manufacturing as part of our present and future: Great speaker Mike Williams and now Jason Rehel reading from Rivethead #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Need to pay attention to how employees move through spaces, innovate. #UrbanFactory

Casement windows saved money for owners and greatly improved quality of life for workers. #UrbanFactory

Now quoting from a conversation with Henry Ford and union leader on robot assembly lines. #UrbanFactory

“How will you get union dues from them?” “How will you get them to buy your cars?” #UrbanFactory

Question Period

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Question period. #UrbanFactory

Do we need to focus on certain industries to grow manufacturing? #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: that’s the colloquial wisdom, I think you make a great business environment and it will grow naturally. #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: tend the flower bed, don’t choose tulips over other flowers. #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: auto factory moved back to Bronx because of location, couldn’t have predicted. Huge surprise. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Do we need targeted industries? Clusters and sector focus not necessary Mike says. It’s dangerous. We need diverse #urbanfactory.

‘Economic gardening’ focuses on creating the garden bed not the flowers we’ll plant (or food!). #urbanfactory #TOPoli #UrbanAg #foodTO

Cities could be self sufficient again. #urbanfactory is the answer.

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Audience question: How do Canada/US compare? Policy at 3 levels: how could they be most effective? #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: 64 cent dollar affected in 90s, parity affecting now. Employment higher now in TO than 10 years ago. #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: exchange rate important. Focus on skillsets, training, ability to retrain quickly. Jobs follow people. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Very well attended #urbanfactory event…here is the panel: http://ow.ly/i/1tEB9

Jobs follow people. The influx of people downtown Toronto is demonstrating this. Jobs are increasing downtown. #urbanfactory

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Audience question: Craig Applegath asks about dotcoms, digital printers, vertical small space seems perfect. #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: that’s exactly what I’m talking about, neo-cottage industries. #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: robotic printing at home or in shared spaces like hacker spaces. #UrbanFactory

Audience question: Urban farming?

Mike Williams: Montreal has hydroponic gardening on flat roofs in city, looking to come to Toronto, need flat roofs. #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: trying to free up zoning to allow urban farming in front lawns. #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: don’t think its viable as a building itself, but roofs absolutely, it’s great. Should stay small scale. #UrbanFactory

Lettuce Connect @LettuceConnect

Nina doesn’t think large scale #UrbanAg #urbanfactory is viable. Competition for solar, wind turbines and roof top gardening is happening!

CentreforCityEcology @TOcityecology

Audience q: How do you encourage developers to build mixed structures? Would be nice to have farms on top of malls. #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: one challenge is load capacity of roofs, structure can’t support soil. Also don’t like forcing. Encourage! #UrbanFactory

Mike Williams: No reason we can’t add manufacturing to mixed use, employment use. #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: Need to think more creatively how to incentivize manufacturing. What if air rights could be exchanged? #UrbanFactory

Nina Rappaport: how can we make it so manufacturing doesn’t downgrade a neighbourhood but is the new sustainability? #UrbanFactory

And we’re done! Look for Nina Rappaport’s new book for more. #UrbanFactory

Post-event discussions

juvarya8 ‏@juvarya8

@TOcityecology Sounds like some excellent discussions today at #urbanfactory – where and when can we learn more? @Vaneconomic @greenestcity

CentreforCityEcology ‏@TOcityecology

@juvarya8@VanEconomic@greenestcity Info on Nina Rappaport’s Vertical Urban Factory research/exhibit: http://www.verticalurbanfactory.org/ Bring it to Van!

Cindy Tan ‏@cindywt

Helpful article on insourcing from the Atlantic for tonight’s #urbanfactory discussion http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-insourcing-boom/309166/ …

Green in our back yards!

There are some big challenges facing the world when it comes to the environment. Cities and the people who live in them have a big part to play in finding solutions. This year there are many exciting groups showcasing what they are doing to make Toronto a greener and more sustainable city!

Not Far From The Tree puts Toronto’s fruit to good use by picking and sharing the bounty. When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree, Not Far From The Tree mobilizes volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is split three ways: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood so that Toronto’s local fresh fruit is put to good use. It’s a win-win-win situation! Follow Not Far From The Tree on Facebook and Twitter!

Transition Toronto is part of the global initiative Transition Towns and aims to make Toronto more resilient and prepared for the effects of peak oil and climate change. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

Taking a more creative approach to creating a more eco-friendly Toronto, Ecoartworx up-cycles would-be junk into beautiful jewelry and accessories, while supporting low income, refugee and immigrant women gain greater independence and empowerment. Learn more about Ecoartworx on Facebook and Twitter!

Toronto Green Community connects Torontonians with the natural world around them and promotes a greener city through a diverse range of programs focused on green spaces, clean water, and local food. Their community garden workshops teach residents the importance of local food production, and their Lost River walks get community members engaged in the ecological history of the city. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter!

Toronto Park People is a catalyst for better parks in Toronto. They facilitate community engagement in local parks and provide resources for local park groups to improve their neighbourhood. Park People connects with local residents, park staff and private enterprise to create networks between park people throughout Toronto. They’re on Facebook and Twitter!

Healthy Toronto!

The Wellesley Institute is a non-profit research organization. Their main focus is to advance the population’s health by mobilizing the community and engaging themselves
with relatable researches and policies. They conduct their work through four main approaches: housing, health care, economics and immigrant health. Over the next few years the Wellesley Institute plans on growing its services so that health care can now be delivered to the population when needed. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is a “greener” approach to Toronto’s healthy living. Their main mission is to motivate the population to choose a healthier, plant based food diet lifestyle. They achieve this goal through a series of vegetarian food festivals, drop-in information centres to educate the public and their own vegetarian directory that provides profound information on their plants and why choosing this lifestyle is healthy for you and the planet. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities is working to identify and address health and wellness needs in Scarborough. They provide residents with comprehensive health and social support including medical services, seniors’ support, food and clothing banks, wellness education, and youth engagement programs. Learn more about SCHC on their Facebook and Twitter.

Supporting Toronto’s Youth

More than a Haircut: The Barbershop Project from the Macaulay Child Development Centre facilitates conversations between Afro-Caribbean fathers and father-figures in the Eglington-Oakwood neighbourhood. These conversations take place in local barbershops and provide dads with an opportunity to discuss the challenges and joys of parenting, with the goal of increasing positive involvement in childrens’ lives. Check them out on Twitter and Facebook.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto facilitates life-changing relationships by connecting teens and youth with positive adult role-models in the community. Their mentoring program, along with group programs and leadership programs, empower children and youth to reach their full potential as individuals and citizens. See what they’ve been up to on Twitter and Facebook.

Youth Employment Services (YES) provides disadvantaged and vulnerable youth with the resources they need to find a meaningful career. When young people are employed and empowered, the entire community benefits. YES provides career counselling, job training, and connects with community employers to help young people become self-sufficient and contributing members of their community. Connect with them on Facebook or Twitter!

These are just a few of the great organizations that will be strutting their stuff at YIMBY this year! Don’t miss it!

This post was written with the assistance of Nishi Kumar and the University of Toronto’s INI235 Service Learning class.

The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library

The Centre for City Ecology is presenting the 6th annual YIMBY Festival on Saturday, February 16th from 11am to 4pm. This year, the festival will be held in the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library, easily accessible from Yonge and Bloor. We would like to invite you to take part in this year’s festival!

Our city has a rich history of civic engagement. At YIMBY, community groups from across Toronto turn the table on politicians and policy makers, and educate them and each other about the unique issues that face Toronto communities. YIMBY provides a social space for community groups, politicians and neighbours to meet each other in the spirit of people coming together for positive change.

YIMBY provides community organizations, politicians and Torontonians the opportunity to gather, exchange ideas, and imagine their future city. It’s a chance to celebrate achievements and identify new challenges and opportunities. Your group can make a difference and we look forward to having you participate this year.

Why is the YIMBY Festival important?

Local residents know the most about the needs and challenges of their neighborhoods. It’s time to recognize the importance of cooperation and collaboration in the planning process.

The festival was founded by Christina Zeidler in 2006 as a result of her work with neighbourhood groups who were responding to widespread unchecked development. She realized that many neighbourhood groups were presumed to engage in antagonistic relationships that pit local communities against city policy makers, and were being unfairly labeled as part of a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) movement. YIMBY recognizes that neighbourhood groups are often the force behind positive neighbourhood change. This festival is about celebrating the diverse range of city-builders that we have here in Toronto, and providing a space where gaps can be bridged and relationships can be formed.

Over the past 6 years, the YIMBY Festival has featured groups working on civic engagement in urban planning and development, residents associations, food security issues, secure housing, mental health, arts and culture, local economic development, and much more!

Watch our video from the previous YIMBY Festival:

This year’s participants will include:

• Art Spin
• Centre for City Ecology (of course!)
• ChocoSol
• Collaborative for an URban RENewable Toronto through Sustainability (CURRENTS)
• Ecoartworx
• Fair Vote Canada: Toronto Chapter
• More Than A Haircut: Macaulay Child Development Centre
• Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre
• Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT)
• Ryerson Association of Planning Students
• Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities
• Swansea Area Ratepayers Association
• Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee
• Toronto Historical Association
• Toronto Park People
• Toronto Vegetarian Association
• Transition Toronto
• Wellesley Institute
• Urban Studies Student Union of University of Toronto
• York Pioneer and Historical Society
• Youth Employment Services (YES)
• and more!

Showcase your work by hosting a table!

Craft Divas of Mount Dennis’s table at YIMBY 2011

Are you a community group who is working to enhance the quality of life in your own neighbourhood? Do you have unique ideas that meet local needs? If the answer is yes, you should have a table at the YIMBY Festival!

Last year YIMBY included over 45 associations and hundreds of visitors including policymakers and politicians who came to listen to YOU. Your participation in YIMBY will:

• Create a broader awareness of your work—the event will be attended by policy-makers, politicians, and community members from around Toronto
• Allow you to share strategies with other community, neighbourhood and advocacy groups and associations
• Offer a relaxed, fun atmosphere to showcase your group
• Build new connections with potential volunteers and participants

Apply today to host a table at YIMBY 2013! The cost to register for a display table is $25 + HST per organization.

Attend the YIMBY Festival!

No RSVP necessary! Anyone is welcome to drop by between 11am and 4pm. We’ll have a kids’ table available for our youngest Torontonians. Find directions to the Toronto Reference Library.

Want more information?

We would love to hear from you and chat about how you can become involved in the YIMBY Festival.

• Visit our website at www.yimbytoronto.org
• Send us an email at info@yimbytoronto.org
• Check us out on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter at @YIMBYtoronto

Esel Panlaqui asks a question at our event about Section 37 of the Planning Act

Discussion at our MobiliTO event

We see your strong appetite for a deeper understanding of urbanism and civic engagement as almost every event we host on these topics sells out. At those events, we see your local knowledge on display in the rich and nuanced questions you ask our speakers. We see your desire to contribute to this city when you ask for opportunities to volunteer. We hear deep pride in your neighbourhoods when you tell us about your projects and initiatives and residents groups. We know you are inspired when we see so many students committed to pursuing deeper knowledge of urbanism, architecture, urban planning, environmental studies, and urban studies.

This enthusiasm is infectious. It also leads us to a question:

Are you being consulted about the future of your neighbourhood?

On a tour of Mount Dennis with Rick Ciccarelli and Marabelle McTavish of Mount Dennis Weston Network

At the end of the day, very few of us want to be spectators. We want to have a measurable result when we invest our time and energy into something. We want to have an impact on the city we live in.

Right now, the City must consult you when a developer applies to change the zoning of property in your neighbourhood. You can see on the City of Toronto’s website that Community Consultation is a key step in the planning process. In the 1970s, we fought for and won the right to have local input taken into consideration when the City receives these applications.

Many of us have attended these public consultations. Some of us are working to make them easier to find out about in the first place, and here at CCE we have been thinking more about the kinds of conversations that are and aren’t had at these consultations.

Why is the input of locals important?

The people who live or work on a street know things about that street that others do not. An example:

On my walk to work, I pass through a small section of one block where there is always glass on the ground from smashed car windows.

‘Broken Glass’ by Flickr user ‘mayhem’

There is a developer who wants to build on this corner, and he held a consultation with the community before drawing up his plans. We mentioned this and said that it would be important to have windows facing onto this street and good lighting so it would be safer to leave a car there overnight. The developer has an opportunity to make this part of the street safer for everyone.

This is the kind of knowledge that does not come from urban professionals, City staff, nor developers. This is the kind of knowledge that comes only from daily observation.

What else do you know about your neighbourhood? Is there a tree or a nook that you particularly enjoy and want to protect? Is there a corner that could be safer with some small changes? Is the bus stop unbearably hot in the summer sun with no trees to shade you? Is there a fence in the way of a route that could easily become a great short-cut? What is working in your neighbourhood? What would you miss if it was gone?

This is the kind of knowledge that is supposed to come out of community consultation. It can greatly improve the decisions made if it is given and taken into account. Your input is incredibly valuable!

Conflicts in community consultation

Perhaps that sounds naive. Haven’t we seen how these things go?

“Not in my backyard” by Flickr user ‘Kotare1718′

Yes, we hear the same complaints you have heard: Residents cry Not In My Back Yard at every change! Developers don’t care about the neighbourhood and just want to make money on the smallest units in the tallest towers! City staff are indifferent or unreachable!

These stereotypes are tricky. We do have different motivations when discussing the future of our neighbourhoods and we have different constraints: Residents are trying to defend neighbourhoods that they love and cherish, and protest often seems like the most effective route. The developers have complex calculations to run on every project, and many stakeholders to consider. City departments have tight deadlines and are often short-staffed and facing cuts despite our city’s yearly growth.

Everyone’s playing defense. No wonder these meetings are so fraught.

We think there is a better way.

Let’s have a different conversation

These conversations usually start with a development application, to which the community can say “yes” or “no” or “yes, but”. Many times, the community is riled up by the developer’s application before the meeting even starts.

What if we started the conversation earlier?

What if the community got together to talk about the future(s) it sees for the neighbourhood, to identify common goals and common values? What if there was a venue for community knowledge to be curated and updated and owned by the community, accessible to City staff, developers, and other partners in this conversation?

‘City-in-the-Box’ by Flickr user Yau Hoong Tang

What if the developers knew your neighbourhood wishlist(s) and could build that into their developments? What if your day-to-day knowledge of your neighbourhood was taken into account, leading to better planning?

What if we were on the same team before the fight? What if we didn’t even need to fight?

A pilot project

We’ve started to explore an approach to this conversation in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park, a neighbourhood in East Scarborough. In partnership with East Scarborough Storefront, we have been working with the community to create a 3D digital model of the current neighbourhood, to draw out local knowledge of the community and their hopes for the neighbourhood, and to partner community members with urban professionals so that the community is well-informed and able to articulate their visions.

A new conversation begins in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park

Over the next few months, we will be sharing our reflections on our progress so far and share stories, photos, videos, and data with you so you can join in this conversation with us about how community consultation could be transformed in Toronto.

Julian Smith, Executive Director of Willowbank and one of Canada’s leading conservation architects, delivered a fascinating lecture titled “Exploring Cultural Landscapes” at the Urbanspace Gallery on Wednesday November 14. The lecture asked “What gives a physical place meaning?” and “How do we decide which historic sites are culturally significant?” Using cultural landscape theory, Julian answered these questions and revealed how we create cultural landscapes in our communities.

Julian began by outlining the periods of heritage conservation, starting in the mid 1700-1800s. The first period was known as the Antiquarian era in which archaeologists were mainly concerned with the pure preservation and documentation of ruin sites in-situ. This was followed by the Commemorative era, starting in the mid-1800s, wherein architecture was mainly preserved to commemorate important events or time periods. This model has been replicated across the United States and much of North America. The Preservation movement began in the 1960s, and while it recognized the value of cultural heritage, “culture” was defined narrowly as anything built between 1800 and 1900. Architecture outside the pre-defined definition of “heritage” was not considered relevant and was ignored. Under this framework, buildings and landscapes are preserved according to strict guidelines that are encoded in legislature. The Ecological era (beginning in 2000) ushered in a new definition of cultural heritage landscapes as a patchwork of different cultural experiences over time. In this era, mixed-use buildings blur the line between private and public land-use and represent a more dynamic understanding of culture and heritage.

Following the presentation, a lively conversation was moderated by Gillian Mason, which centred around how the newest generation of heritage conservationists is focusing on “transition zones” rather than static historic sites. This new generation as well as indigenous groups have not adopted the conventional set of definitions used in Euro-centric legislation such as the Provincial Policy Statement, the Heritage Act and UNESCO heritage guidelines. Instead, they are focusing on areas such as Ottawa’s Dalhousie St., old immigrant communities, bars, and chaotic pedestrian and car traffic zone – the events and places that define the culture of our everyday lives.

For example, students of Heritage Resource Management in Montreal are more interested in mapping transition zones such as the centre of Montreal where immigrant communities and nightlife intersect, rather than the Anglo and Franco heritage sites in more static neighbourhoods. Furthermore, indigenous Japanese heritage committees and Canadian groups have rejected UNESCO’s criterion that cultural heritage landscapes must be older than 20 years in order to recognize the Japanese tradition of rebuilding a particular sacred temple every 20 years. Under this criterion, the temple does not qualify as a cultural heritage landscape even though the tradition dates back thousands of years. This example illustrates the need to recognize sites that are in constant transition, as well as static historical sites.

Various groups across the country – from Vancouver to Kensington Market – are demonstrating that the current generation of heritage conservationists are re-defining cultural heritage in ways that preserve original landscapes while accommodating adaptive, reuse buildings. By working with the community, this generation is finding a middle ground between total preservation and total demolition of cultural heritage.

Other coverage

An attendee, Stephanie Calvet, blogged about her thoughts on Julian Smith’s presentation:

Smith highlights Evergreen Brickworks, an innovative multi-use community environmental centre housed in a series of heritage buildings that successfully blur the boundaries between public and private spaces. He argues that architects/planners have been limited by architectural constraints or relied too long on property lines and rights when thinking of how we occupy the city. “Planners are still groping with what it means to lose those distinctions. Our approach has become so aesthetic and commemorative,” says Smith. “You have to maintain cultural landscapes of city layered on top of each other (otherwise you gentrify).” We need creative thinking; a dynamic definition of cultural change; and, to allow the evolution of buildings and places with contemporary layers such that they are in harmony, and not just freeze them in historic settings.

Another attendee, HiMY SYeD, videotaped the event and shared it on Youtube. Watch it here!

As the President and CEO of Renewal Partners, Joel takes a multi-pronged, whole-system approach to social change. Renewal and Renewal2 have provided grants to 121 groups and invested in 70 enterprises in British Columbia to support the long-term sustainability of the local economy.Joel Solomon has been described as a “business guru,” an “unlikely revolutionary” and a “connector” of people and ideas.

Joel has also played an integral role in establishing Tides Canada, a powerhouse of philanthropic activity, and the Hollyhock Institute, an education, networking and retreat centre for the next generation of people making a difference.

Learn more about this event »

• Find more information about this year’s festival at yimbytoronto.org
• Like YIMBY Toronto on Facebook
• Follow @YIMBYtoronto on Twitter

We are gearing up for the next YIMBY Festival, which will happen in February 2013!

We have expanded to a larger venue this year and are currently seeking community groups across the city who would like to represent their neighbourhood’s Yes In My Back Yard initiatives. For more information about how to apply for a table at this year’s festival, please check out the festival website at yimbytoronto.org or contact us at info@yimbytoronto.org.

Staff of the Centre for City Ecology and Creative Urban Projects will blog about the book each week. We will also have guest posts from urbanists, architects, town planners, designers, academics, and city builders of all kinds. On Fridays, members of the mailing list will receive a weekly wrap-up of the posts and discussions about that week’s chapters, as well as a selection of related materials highlighted for us by the Toronto Public Library.

In this book, Jane Jacobs demonstrates the value of the experiences of people who live and work in cities. We welcome you to strengthen our discussion of this book by joining the conversation on our blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Your experience in your own city is a valuable part of this conversation about what makes a city welcoming and vibrant.

If you don’t yet have a copy of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, you can:

• Buy it in Toronto from Swipe Design: Books + Objects
• Borrow it from the Toronto Public Library

We will be reading chapter by chapter rather than page by page, so you will be able to follow along no matter whether you have a crisp new copy of the recently released 50th Anniversary Edition or an older much-loved, creased and highlighted copy!

St James Town

Community Matters and U for Change, two local community groups, recently led CCE on a walking tour in St James Town. At the start of our tour, Chris Coshan of Community Matters showed us the original model of St James Town, now located in Rose Avenue Jr. Public School:

They found the City Builder Camp helped to focus their subsequent community conversations. As the community worked on their presentation to the Camp, they were able to combine the voices that represent both those who focus on social justice issues with those most concerned with development pressures.

Since City Builder Camp, they have developed greater clarity around their priorities, which they have been able to map. With this map of priorities for improvements they have already made some headway. The input provided by practitioners and the exercise of thinking about their community at the Camp has enhanced their capacity to focus their consultations with developers in the neighbourhood.

As we walked around St James Town, we were very impressed with the infrastructure that already exists, and the changes that are being made due to community efforts. The community has successfully added:

• new stop signs at a busy private intersection,
• vibrant murals designed and created by local youth through U for Change’s Graffiti and Murals arts program,
• a widely used soccer field and jungle gym equipment designed specifically for children who live in apartments, in partnership with Manulife Financial.