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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

Spacing Saturday: Blaming Pedestrians, Arthur Erickson and Happy City

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

Alanah Heffez reports on the disturbing new public ad campaign in the Montreal Metro which highlights the dangers pedestrian face in Quebec. While trying to promote safety the ads end up blaming the victim and encouraging the notion that walking is dangerous.

Emile Thomas looks back at the troubled mood in Montreal during the 1995 referendum and speculates on the role that increasing urban and city based identity has had on reducing the importance of the sovereignty question.

Steve Bedard reports from Halifax on the crosstown connector bike route initiative which has gained approval to move on to the stage of public consultation

Andrew Harvey reports on the latest initiative of the Happy City organization in St John’s, a unique event in which participants were invited to say whatever they thought was important to the city.

In a post that generated almost a hundred and twenty comments, Spacing attempted to make sense of election results through transit riding, non-driver Rick McGinnis who explains why he chose for Rob Ford.

Eric Mutrie continues the Street Stories with a look at Jameson Ave that profiles the history of a street that has been called a landing strip for immigrants into the city.

Peter Raaymakers reports on how the attempts to implement a U-Pass for University of Ottawa students has turned into a divisive and controversial issue and how this is largely an issue of misinformation.

The 1980’s Bank of Canada extension remains today one of the most successful public building in Ottawa. Evan Thornton looks back at Architect Arthur Erickson’s thinking behind the design.

Photo by Kevin Guerton

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