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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

Spacing Saturday: Walk 21, Local Food Systems and YIMBYism

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Spacing Saturday highlights posts from across Spacing’s blog network in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and the Atlantic region.

At the closure of nominations for Vancouver’s upcoming municipal election, Brian Gould takes a look at the early candidates and issues; asking if there is Rob Ford equivilant, who will back streetcars or bike lanes and providing a glimpse into Vancouver’s interesting electoral system.

Brian Gould used the In Depth feature to highlight some of his experiences from the Walk 21 Conference. Themed around “Transforming the Auto City” the conference placed a heavy emphasis on public health and attracted a wide range of professionals and ideas.

An estimated 700 people took part in a tribute ride along Ottawa’s Queen Street this week in memory of Danielle Naçu who was tragically killed while cycling on the street; Spacing shows a video of the procession.

Having been involved in local food systems in both Ottawa and her current residence of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kathleen Courtney is able to provide a fascinating comparison of food systems between ‘advanced’ Canadian cities and the highly traditional systems in Ethiopia.

Guillaume St-Jean’s Montage du Jour feature takes a look at the changing retail face of St Catherine Street as well as long vanished theaters and the former site of the Marché St-Laurent.

John Lorinc used his column this week to pick apart Rob Ford’s assertions about the cost of the municipal civil service in response to the Mayor’s escalating posturing ahead of upcoming contract negotiations.

Spacing profiles this weekend’s YIMBY – Yes in My Backyard Festival which aims to turn the tables of the relationship between developers, politicians and community groups in order to build momentum for positive change.

Abad Khan profiles two significant projects that are taking two very different approaches to revitalization in the urban heart of Saint John, both offering their own set of challenges and opportunities.

The Atlantic Snapshots feature continues to provide fascinating looks at maritime cities and their history.

Photograph by: Michigan Municipal League

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