Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
Olivier Legault
Project Manager at Rues principales and Co-founder, Winterlab
Mitchell Reardon
Senior Urban Planner & Designer, Happy Cities
Elora Wilkinson
Project Manager, Cogswell District Project, Halifax Regional Municipality
Ebrahim Varachia
Co-Founder and Director of Operations, Patronicity
Andrew Nazakawa
Director of Strategic Planning, MASSIVart
5 Key
Takeaways
A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation
1. Winter holiday transformations on main streets
According to Elora Wilkinson, bringing holiday joy and decorating to main streets that are COVID-safe could provide a sensory experience of aesthetic visuals, holiday smells, and music. Beautifying the space with multicultural and inclusive activities and greenery is crucial for an encouraging public realm. Wilkinson urges the importance of intention among a collective input and emphasizes the need to build connections and develop relationships within the public sphere in a time when people are becoming more isolated.
2. Small-scale local projects fostering community
Olivier Legault proposes a prototype idea of sculptural wire light displays that create abstract shapes throughout downtown Quebec. His idea to place these small elements in hidden pockets of spaces strive to create surprise and delight within the city, contributing to an enlightened and interactive landscape that people can play with. When people take ownership for the space through small-scale projects, it creates an atmosphere of community and encourages local businesses. Said Legault, “If you feel good in the space and it is interactive, it will eventually become something to experience on your daily route.”
3. Bringing holidays to the public realm
Ebrahim Varachia poses the idea of vacation on main streets. COVID-19 has significantly imposed travel restrictions; thus, Varachia explores another reason for people to go on to their main streets as well as for businesses to create and encourage new clientele. He suggests partitioning portions of the street throughout the winter to give businesses kiosks to rebrand and expand public spaces. Said Varachia, “City officials need to touch base to accommodate the rapid changing of these streets,” to encourage people to change their mindset about winter by creating a mental state of warmth.
4. A COVID lens of street enhancements
According to Andrew Nakazawa, long-term ideas involving pedestrianized streets and streetscape enhancements offer a win-win situation for businesses and the community as the street becomes a destination. He suggests that COVID-19 has made it abundantly evident how critical a public space is and that getting feedback from citizens who actually use the space is a non-negotiable part in organizing agency, enhancing place identity, and creating inclusive placemaking.
5. “Main Street is only as powerful as its community”
Happy City co-hosts Emma Jones and Mitchell Reardon agree that while community is essential to recovery, it becomes a tough challenge to navigate how to keep people active and the economy moving during the pandemic. Jones and Reardon prompt a discussion around how the upcoming winter makes this discrepancy even more apparent. The Happy City framework partners urban cities and design thinkers together to address and combat societal inequities laid bare, through stages that overlap: inspiration, ideation, implementation, engagement, iteration, and assessment.
Additional Resources
Bring Back Main Street
Happy City by Charles Montgomery
Bench Consulting Winter Design Competition
Rethinking COVID-safe festivals
Full Panel
Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. Manual editing was undertaken in an effort to improve readability and clarity. Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.
Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript
Note to reader: Chat comments have been edited for ease of readability. The text has not been edited for spelling or grammar. For questions or concerns, please contact events@canurb.org with “Chat Comments” in the subject lin
From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk12:01:29 From Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome! Folks, please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:01:44 From Canadian Urban Institute: https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/rapid-placemaking
12:02:46 From Canadian Urban Institute: CUI extends a big thank you to our partner for today’s session The Happy City https://thehappycity.com/
12:03:20 From paul mackinnon to All panelists: Hi from Halifax!
12:03:30 From paul mackinnon: Hi from Halifax!
12:03:32 From Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going #BringBackMainStreet #citytalk @canurb
12:03:50 From Canadian Urban Institute: Friday, October 16, 12:00 – 1:00pm EDT
Main Street Action Week: Planning and Urban Design for Pandemic Recovery
Co-presented with Fathom Studio
12:03:50 From Barb McDougall: Hello from Sudbury, Ontario
12:04:07 From Ayusha Hanif: Hello from Penetanguishene, Ontario
12:04:10 From Chelsea Whity: Hi from Edmonton, AB
12:04:13 From Brian Buchardt: Hello from the City of Peterborough Ontario!
12:04:32 From Vallari Patel: Hello from Toronto, ON
12:04:39 From Canadian Urban Institute:
Ebrahim Varachia, Bench Placemaking
linkedin.com/in/ebrahimvarachia
@patronicity
Andrew Nakazawa, Downtown Vancouver BIA
linkedin.com/in/andrew-nakazawa-70075b34
@acity4people
Olivier Legault, WinterLab
https://www.facebook.com/labhiver
Elora Wilkinson, Halifax Regional Municipality
linkedin.com/in/elora-wilkinson-004aa752
@elorawilk
12:04:55 From Carol Hamill: Thank you, from Victoria area
12:07:10 From Diego Almaraz: Hi from what is known as Waterloo, ON. Traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
12:09:56 From paul mackinnon: Canadian BIAs may do some sort of joint funding submission to the new $31m Canadian Healthy Communities fund. Placemaking initiatives are eligible. Any funding ideas for something that could be rolled out in just about any town/city?
12:10:02 From C.J. Opperthauser to All panelists: In highlighting some of these types of projects around my town, I’ve been using the hashtag #spaceforpeople. Is anyone else using the same or a different hashtag for similar highlighting?
12:10:39 From C.J. Opperthauser: In highlighting some of these types of projects around my town, I’ve been using the hashtag #spaceforpeople. Is anyone else using the same or a different hashtag for similar highlighting?
12:10:58 From Canadian Urban Institute to C.J. Opperthauser and all panelists: Thanks for your question, CJ! Can you change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” and re-post? That way people in the chat can weigh in too. Thanks!
12:12:02 From C.J. Opperthauser to All panelists: Saw my error and did just that — thanks for the heads-up!
12:12:44 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Link to Bring Back Main Street Happy City Toolkit & other tools: https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/rapid-placemaking
12:13:36 From Meredith Plant: Hello from Hamilton, Ontario!
12:14:34 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Hi CJ, we’ve been using #bringbackmainstreet, but will check out #spaceforpeople
12:17:06 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Check out Olivier’s Winter lab facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/labhiver
12:19:07 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Ebrahim’s group has launched a winter design competition. Check it out: https://benchconsulting.co/winter-places/
12:22:18 From Ralph Cipolla: hello from councillor Ralph cipolla from
12:22:51 From Elizabeth Jassem, Y(i)DOME ID Ltd., (YC SSC) York Centre Seniors Steering to All panelists: Hello Everyone, from Toronto young seniors
12:24:10 From Elizabeth Jassem, Y(i)DOME ID Ltd., (YC SSC) York Centre Seniors Steering to All panelists: love Montreal and Halifax ideas for decoration streets. AMAZING!! We’re working with 2 great BIAs here..
12:24:20 From Ralph Cipolla: hello from councillor Ralph Cipolla from Orillia Ontario the sunshine city..
12:25:09 From Elizabeth Jassem, Y(i)DOME ID Ltd., (YC SSC) York Centre Seniors Steering to All panelists: creating warm sitting a must
12:26:16 From Kae Elgie: Challenging to think how one would manage the tree setup and decoration. Would people bring their own decorations? their own trees?
12:26:38 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Mandaworks is a Swedish firm — https://www.mandaworks.com/
12:26:54 From paula gallo: sorry just coming in. will a recording of this be shared after?
12:27:41 From Jonathan Giggs: from Port Credit in Mississauga
12:27:43 From Canadian Urban Institute to C.J. Opperthauser and all panelists: Hi, Paula! Yes, you can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our sessions at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:27:55 From Canadian Urban Institute: Hi, Paula! Yes, you can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our sessions at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:27:59 From Sean Columbus to All panelists: Who pays for these trees? Is it the municipality or the BIA?
12:28:14 From paula gallo: thank you.
12:29:26 From Savanah Sewell: Sanitizer stations!
12:29:35 From sue uteck: What has been your experience in dealing with the city, ie extending patio season, cost of street closures etc?
12:29:49 From Andrew Struthers to All panelists: Winter events in Edmonton will require indoor/outdoor space. You need to move through the indoor space though, like a gallery. No hanging out. Thanks for this.
12:30:09 From Andrea Betty: We thought of doing the trees a couple of years ago, and Public Works had a number of concerns with maintenance around them. Also vandalism, securing them to the ground and liability.
12:30:45 From Abby S: There was a wonderful winter park in Detroit last year
12:30:48 From Canadian Urban Institute: We love your comments and questions in the chat! Share them with everyone by changing your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees”. Thanks!
12:31:11 From Abby S: Is it that kind of installation you are considering @ebrahim?
12:32:31 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Edmonton has done great work around changing behaviour to embrace winter. Check out: https://www.wintercityedmonton.ca/
12:34:04 From Andrew Struthers: Maybe. Despite the cheery headline this is not a good news story. Edmonton Journal: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-extending-temporary-patio-program-until-april-2021-to-provide-more-room-for-businesses-during-the-covid-19-winter
12:35:15 From DeeDee Nelson: Speaking of art, creativity and appreciation of nature, it would be great for every placemaking effort to invite input from the local Indigenous Peoples. Great opportunity to work together!
12:35:16 From Alanna Morton: Unfortunately Edmontonians still struggle to embrace the “winter mindset”
12:36:27 From Andrew Struthers: Flying Canoe begs to differ.
12:37:41 From Alanna Morton: Absolutely, winter festivals are one thing. But in terms of the day to day experience of a mainstreet I think there’s still some hesitation to fully embrace winter.
12:38:13 From DeeDee Nelson: I love the idea of involving all people using the spaces. Great to include young people as well, maybe in particular the skateboard community.
12:38:55 From Andrew Struthers: Correct about day to day vs festival. Gotta think smaller, local.
12:39:31 From Andrew Struthers: People are more comfortable in their neighbourhoods generally now, I think. Take it to their strip mall.
12:39:36 From Rebekah Noseworthy to All panelists: COVID-19 has made people so hyper aware of supporting local. I think now more than ever, non-placemaking people are observing what healthy, happy public spaces look like and their importance in the broader community
12:39:38 From Brynn Nheiley to All panelists: definitely agree that there is growing effort to think about “Winter Cities”. I think there’s a collective gap in thinking also about “Shoulder-season Cities”. Here in Burlington ON I think we have many more chilly-damp days than snowy winter days
12:41:26 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Great point about shoulder season!
12:41:49 From Canadian Urban Institute to Brynn Nheiley and all panelists: Can you change your chat settings? Your comment only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:41:52 From Jason Syvixay: How do we reconcile the desire to focus on recovery, which has largely been from a business and economic lens, with continued necessity to shelter those who are underhoused? Our placemaking initiatives create great vibrancy; but they don’t welcome everyone.
12:42:07 From Abby S: @Andrew I agree. If they are too big or too crowded and “centralized” it is not only less safe, but less community is generated.
12:42:37 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Also rethinking how we might do festivals to be COVID-safe. For instance Niagara’s Icewine Festival: https://niagarawinefestival.com and https://www.discovermuskoka.ca/events/bracebridge-fire-and-ice-festival/
12:43:10 From Brynn Nheiley: definitely agree that there is growing effort to think about “Winter Cities”. I think there’s a collective gap in thinking also about “Shoulder-season Cities”. Here in Burlington ON I think we have many more chilly-damp days than snowy winter days
12:43:23 From Andrew Struthers: And neighbourhood specific by amplifying your local biz community.
12:44:19 From Crystal Chan to All panelists: On shared spaces – City could also have you consider various kinds of crowds the installation would be drawing in to the setting. Unique, hyperlocal aspects to be considered:)
12:45:01 From Canadian Urban Institute to Crystal Chan and all panelists: Can you change your chat settings? Your comment only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:45:23 From Savanah Sewell: The pandemic has also shown us the disparity for the vulnerable folks in our communities. With the lack of foot traffic / connection to our main streets. Which in some ways has created more of an issue. How we include EVERYONE and take care of each other has never been more important. But if can be difficult for people to want to be apart of those solutions. Programming is one part but the other is supporting on the social services side
12:46:45 From Andrew Struthers: It would be great if CoE had heaters to rent, other infrastructure too. Thick sided tents for performances.
12:47:12 From Crystal Chan: On shared spaces and helping to enhance city life – City also tends to have you consider various kinds of crowds the installation would be drawing in to the setting. Unique, hyperlocal aspects to be considered:)
12:49:34 From Jason Syvixay: Governments have shown how they can govern differently, whether that it is converting streets into places; but have we seen that same shift in their internal processes and ways of doing things? How do we, as creative placemakers, reduce the fear of risk?
12:50:00 From Abby S: The ability for restaurants to rent heaters is a great idea. Unfortunately, they are almost universally sold out. But a rental program would be much more helpful than requiring small establi
12:50:25 From paul mackinnon: Jason – what are you doing now? Haven’t seen you since your days with DT Winnipeg.
12:50:29 From Abby S: oops…small establishments to lay out the cash, which they are unlike to have.
12:51:05 From DeeDee Nelson: Great to involve/hire different groups e.g. universities to create observational data about the success/or not, of any trial ideas.
12:51:27 From Abby S: Full rental programs for outdoor winter patio equipment in general would be a wonderful thing for cities or BIA’s to offer…
12:51:30 From Jason Syvixay: @Paul – So great to hear from you (saw your name in the pandemic response doc!). Working at the City of Edmonton now on infill policy.
12:51:49 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Paul — Jason will be a panelist on tomorrow’s webinar!
12:53:37 From Jonathan Berk: One thing we’ve tried to encourage communities in the Northeast is, “the pilot is the process” is a great methodology during this time but you HAVE to ensure you’re properly collecting some constructive community feedback to inform changes and eventually making these spaces permanent.
12:54:28 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: Good point Jonathan. Makes monitoring & evaluation a critical part of the process. make sure you’re budgeting for that.
12:55:22 From Andrew Struthers: I see the academic/biz requirement for the data but sometimes, in my event experience, it’s about doing a thing repeatedly, regularly etc. that will establish an area. People come to expect something…
12:55:31 From Jason Syvixay: You got it!
12:56:22 From Canadian Urban Institute: Find the toolkit here: Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Street
A Pandemic Recovery Toolkit for Local Communities https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/rapid-placemaking
To read this and other solutions briefs, visit:
https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/solution-briefs
https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/action-report
Register for our last Action Week session tomorrow at: https://bringbackmainstreet.ca/action-week
You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our sessions at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
Keep the conversation going #BringBackMainStreet #citytalk @canurb
What did you think of today’s conversation? Help us improve our programming with a short post-webinar survey – https://bit.ly/3k85BlW
To support CityTalk and the Canadian Urban Institute’s other city building initiatives, please donate at www.canurb.org/donate.
CUI extends a big thank you to our partner for today’s session The Happy City https://thehappycity.com/
12:56:24 From Andrew Struthers: Hence why these one-time NRC grants aren’t always useful
12:57:13 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: You can sign up for the Winter Guide from Bench here: https://benchconsulting.co/winter-places/
12:57:28 From Cyrus Miceli: I think it is very interesting to think about the priority of light and lighting during winter placemaking ~ as Ebrahim mentioned, color and light is what brings warmth to a space, more so than the temperature itself. I wonder if others share this opinion
12:57:54 From Andrew Struthers: And urban spaces with lots of reflective surfaces for light and heat
12:58:16 From Lisa Cavicchia CUI: I heard Isla Tanaka from Edmonton talk about how it’s important to manage the darkness
12:59:01 From paul mackinnon: Thanks everyone!
12:59:03 From Savanah Sewell: Montreal / Ottawa have always done a great job of encouraging outdoor winter activities! Lots to learn from
12:59:24 From Abby S: Thank you all…wonderful to see real concrete ideas that are going to be implemented.
12:59:53 From C.J. Opperthauser: Yes to senses! Love your thoughts on including that classic pine scent, too.
13:00:20 From Abby S: As they say on Game of Thrones…
13:00:27 From Abby S: Winter is Coming….
13:00:41 From C.J. Opperthauser: Thanks all! This was great!
13:00:55 From Carol Hamill: Thank you for this, great ideas, best wishes.
13:00:56 From Scott Cluney: Thanks from Downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland
13:01:04 From Meredith Plant: thank you!
13:01:05 From Lindsey Sexton to All panelists: thank you all, from Boulder, Colorado
13:01:06 From Dawn Alan to All panelists: From Charlottetown PEI, Great Session! thanks you contributors.
13:01:07 From Andrew Struthers: Always good to see where you have existing rain cover – maybe that’s your spot for an event
13:01:16 From Wilma Wotten: Thanks from Port Perry Ontario
