Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
5 Key Takeaways
A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation
1. Ukraine’s cities have diverse and distinct recovery needs.
Alexander Shevchenko, urban planner and founder of ReStart Ukraine, presented an overview on the needs of Ukraine’s metropolitan regions before, during, and after the invasion. Ukraine has 461 cities across 603,700 square kilometers, with a strong economic divide between the eastern and western regions. While much attention has been rightfully paid to devastated cities such as Mariupol, Shevchenko noted that cities in the so-called “safe zone” are still under immense pressure. He cited the city of Lviv, which in two weeks received a 30% increase in its population as one quarter of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes.2. Recovery efforts must be led by Ukrainians.
ReStart Ukraine is an open-source collective of researchers and practitioners who are collaborating on strategies for the post-war recovery of Ukrainian cities. The group is actively seeking collaborations with international partners, however, they spoke to the challenges that can arise when supporters outside of the country seek to impose solutions upon communities with which they lack familiarity. “I am allergic to the ‘starchitects’ that come to do something without ever being here, without ever hearing of Ukraine, or without involving anyone on the ground,” said Daria Borovyk, Аrchitect and Urban Planner with ReStart Ukraine. “Our very existence is about being ready to hold the resources which will come and try to put them on the right path as local, community professionals.”3. After experiencing decades of crisis, Ukraine cities must factor disaster into their planning.
Shevchenko noted that Ukraine has experienced a major crisis roughly every five years, starting with the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and followed by the fall of the Soviet Union, the policies of privatizations which created extreme poverty for Ukraine’s low and middle class, the Orange Revolution, COVID, and now the Russian invasion. Predicting upcoming global crises in food security, climate change, and immigration, Shevchenko spoke of the need for Ukraine’s cities to be proactively prepared with response strategies. “We need something that will shape our cities for decades, so we are not always behind the crisis.”4. Attracting Ukrainians back to their homeland requires a nuanced understanding of safety and a commitment to systems change.
Instead of drafting recovery plans on a city-by-city basis, ReStart Ukraine focuses its efforts on spurring nation-wide system change and removing the bottlenecks that prevent progress—such as the lack of coordinated and synchronized data—through the creation of its open-source platform. Borovyk spoke of the complex nature of attracting Ukrainians to return to their country, citing the subjective nature of personal safety and access to job opportunities as key barriers. Rather than focusing on recruitment strategies, she sees value in “creat[ing] a place that people would like to live in.”5. Collaboration is key for this “project of a lifetime.”
Shevchenko and Borovyk have presented to thousands of urban planning professionals and policymakers around the world, and they consider such outreach as key to their operations. “We believe not only in asking for support, but in suggesting an opportunity to co-operate and work together,” said Shevchenko. “For us, it’s the project of a lifetime, but we believe that there’s such a huge level of flexibility within the country—considering the challenges and the ongoing problems—that so many countries can learn from the innovations whether they work in this context or not.” Are you interested in engaging with this issue on an ongoing basis? Email ukrainesupport@canurb.org.Full Panel Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. 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/citytalk
11:59:04 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Welcome everyone! We invite you to say hello in the chat before we get started. Where are you watching from? Please change your chat settings to “everyone” so that everyone can read your comments. 12:02:31 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: HOUSEKEEPING: We are recording today’s session and will share it online at canurb.org/citytalk-canada/ We hope this session is as interactive as possible, so please feel free to share comments, references, links or questions in the chat Please change your chat settings to “everyone” so that everyone can read your comments. Do you have specific questions for the panellists? Post them in the chat, and we’ll try to answer as many as possible. 12:05:04 From Holly Simon To Everyone: Have u tried this yet? 12:05:09 From Holly Simon To Everyone: ttps://zoom.beulr.com/ 12:05:10 From Holly Simon To Everyone: Automatically records any meeting and takes notes with AI. 12:05:23 From Blaire Prima To Everyone: Добрий день! Good Day from Saskatoon! 12:05:51 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: This is the link to the survey Mary is speaking about: https://covidsignpost.ca/covid-1000-survey 12:09:08 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Bob Onyschuk is the President and CEO of Onyschuk Strategic Advisory Services and Quadrant Developments Ltd. 12:09:10 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Over his 40 plus years in business and land development, Bob has advised governments on urban issues facing Canada’s major municipalities and contributed to policy think tanks, such as the Canadian Urban Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Toronto Board of Trade. 12:09:21 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Bob has had an extensive practice in the strategic growth of cities and was retained by the Province of Ontario to advise on urban economic development tools to stimulate urban economic redevelopment and infrastructure financing for Ontario municipalities. In 2005 – 2006, he was retained as counsel to the Province in the development of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which plan subsequently won several international awards. 12:09:32 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: He is a past chairman of the Canadian Urban Institute, was a founding director of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and is a past director of the International Council of Shopping Centers. 12:11:19 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: On the topic of land acknowledgements, CUI board member Steve DeRoy has encouraged organizations to also consider the following actions needed to achieve authentic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples: 1. Give land back to indigenous peoples 2. Implement the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 3. Implement the 46 articles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples 4. Implement the 440 recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples 5. Invest in and support Indigenous communities and economies 12:13:53 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Alexander Shevchenko is the founder of Zvidsy Agency and of ReStart Ukraine. As an urban practitioner since 2013, and as a leader of ReStart Ukraine, Alexander ensures the complexity of the various thematic layers preparing the analysis and further steps on the postwar rebuilding. Prior to working for the ReStart Ukraine, Alexander used to work and study in Ukraine, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Malaysia with various international stakeholders such as UN-Habitat (WUF 9), GIZ, USAIN, UNDP. Alexander has a multi-sectorial background in civil engineering, spatial planning, and urbanism. 12:14:03 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Daria Borovyk is an architect and urban designer with five years of professional experience in Ukrainian, Danish, and Dutch architectural practices. Her work has ranged from building and urban design through design research and concept development to project management, and she is an active participant in ReStart Ukraine. 12:16:11 From Sarah Woodgate To Everyone: This is such an important topic thanks so much for being here today! 12:17:46 From Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC To Everyone: where are you tuning in from today? 12:18:16 From Karen Landman To All Panelists: From University of Guelph 12:18:20 From katya pereyaslavska To Everyone: London, Ontario – affiliated with Western University 12:18:48 From Kristin Sainsbury To Everyone: Hello from the City of Waterloo 12:18:58 From Constance Carr To Everyone: Hi from, the Dept. Geography & Spatial Planning, Uni Luxembourg 12:19:00 From Trina Gust To Everyone: Hello from Saskatoon Public Library 12:19:06 From Meaghan Davis To All Panelists: Hello from the City of Toronto 12:19:09 From InGi Kim To Everyone: Good morning from Vancouver 12:19:44 From Adam Harrison To All Panelists: Listening from Calgary 12:19:47 From Alice Okumura To Everyone: Hello from Los Angeles 12:19:56 From Andrew Filarski To Everyone: Hello from rainy Toronto 12:20:28 From Louis Conway To All Panelists: Vancouver calling 12:20:43 From Austin Weleschuk To All Panelists: Hello from Calgary. 12:21:29 From Larissa Stefurak To Everyone: Hi I’m Larissa from Toronto – 3&4 gen Ukrainian- Canadian; Civil Systems Design Engineer (non-practising) 12:24:55 From Sarah Woodgate To Everyone: Hi Sarah from Calgary Alberta Mokinstis 12:27:47 From Michael Fenn To All Panelists: Good to see Bob contributing to this CUI effort! Michael Fenn, Burlington Ontario Canada 12:28:07 From Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC To Michael Fenn and All Panelists: thanks mike – 12:28:52 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Do you have specific questions for the panellists? Post them in the chat, and we’ll try to answer as many as possible. 12:29:59 From Misha Bereznyak To Everyone: Hi, Misha from Toronto. Born in Kyiv. 12:32:25 From Michael Fenn To All Panelists: How important would joining the EU be in a rebuilding effort? Would it be like East Germany? 12:32:49 From Yurij Pelech To Everyone: Greetings from Bessant Pelech Associates Inc Development Planning Consultants (Mississauga, ON) 12:33:18 From Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC To Michael Fenn and All Panelists: can you change your settings to Everyone? 12:33:27 From Yurij Pelech To Everyone: Family from Koltiv and Pidlissya 12:34:16 From Michael Fenn To Everyone: How important would joining the EU be in a rebuilding effort? Would it be like East Germany? 12:34:28 From katya pereyaslavska To All Panelists: You mentioned people being the power and critical in the recovery efforts you are envisioning, what can the Ukrainian government do to incentivize people to return back to Ukraine (those who are currently spread throughout Europe) or those who fled to other oblasts. 12:35:17 From Michael Fenn To Everyone: Good to see Bob contributing to this CUI effort! Michael Fenn, Burlington Ontario Canada 12:35:56 From Kosta Derbish To Everyone: Urban Designer / Planner from Toronto w/ Ukrainian background. 12:35:56 From Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC To katya pereyaslavska and All Panelists: hi- can you change your settings to Everyone so they can see your question? thx 12:36:53 From Paula Gallo To Everyone: Paula Gallo from Toronto. Child-friendly participatory design www.recreateplace.ca 12:40:27 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: To learn more about ReStart Ukriane, visit https://restartukraine.io/ 12:41:59 From Irena Nikolova To Everyone: Hello from Sofia, Bulgaria. 12:42:38 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Are you interested in engaging with this issue on an ongoing basis? Email ukrainesupport@canurb.org 12:42:49 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Bohdan Wynnycky is a Registered Professional Planner who has worked for over 30 years in municipal, regional and provincial governments. For over 10 years, Wynnycky worked with the Canadian International Development Agency on various projects in Ukraine aimed at building local government capacity and accountability. Working with Kyiv and 7 Ukrainian partner cities, Bohdan supported the development of the country’s first data-driven performance measurement system for cities. Wynnycky is an active member of Ukrainian Canadian Congress, serving on its Board Member since 2014, and was elected president of its Provincial Council in 2018. 12:46:18 From katya pereyaslavska To Everyone: I wonder if building cities up with communities in mind might address post traumatic issues as well as unite the community improving capacity where family members might be missing etc. A sustainable and accessible co-up housing model of sorts? 12:47:50 From Andrew Filarski To All Panelists: My grandparents, and your great grandparents, were faced with a similar effort in 1945…but at least everyone knew that the war was over. Now, with the high level of current unpredictability for the future, how do you decide when it is safe to start the next phase of recovery? 12:49:07 From Sophia Ilyniak To All Panelists: How does ReStart interact or fit within Ukraine’s decentralization policy (reorganization of territorial governance, amalgamations, ‘self-management’)? What are the opportunities and challenges for civil society rebuilding efforts within this policy environment? 12:49:08 From Yuri Artibise To All Panelists: Дякую (Djákuju) Thank-you for your insights. They add several dimensions that I hadn’t thought about. Юрій (Yuri) Artibise, Vancouver (the occupied Indigenous territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sʔəl̀ilwətaʔɬ, (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples.) 12:50:37 From Sophia Ilyniak To All Panelists: And for Bob & Bohdan – does Canada plan to continue playing a role in Ukraine’s decentralization process and specifically urban planning? 12:51:03 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Sophia Ilyniak and All Panelists: Hello Sophia, could you please change your settings to “everyone” so all can read your question? 12:51:25 From Sophia Ilyniak To All Panelists: Oh yes, sorry! 12:52:37 From Yuri Artibise To All Panelists: Vancouver and Odessa have been sister cities since 1944. 12:52:40 From Sophia Ilyniak To Everyone: How does ReStart interact or fit within Ukraine’s decentralization policy (reorganization of territorial governance, amalgamations, ‘self-management’)? What are the opportunities and challenges for civil society rebuilding efforts within this policy environment? 12:53:04 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Are you interested in engaging with this issue on an ongoing basis? Email ukrainesupport@canurb.org 12:54:48 From Sophia Ilyniak To Everyone: And for Bob & Bohdan – does Canada plan to continue playing a role in Ukraine’s decentralization process and specifically urban planning? 12:56:10 From robert plitt To Everyone: anyone have any insight into structuring a recovery economy? presumably millions of people will need to be put to work rebuilding. 12:57:32 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: Thank you for joining us! We have recorded today’s session and will share it online at canurb.org/citytalk-canada/ 12:57:33 From Michael Fenn To All Panelists: Newly-appointed Toronto City Manager Paul Johnson has been playing a leadership role in managing the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA) reception for Ukrainians coming to Canada. Michael Fenn 12:57:46 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: To learn more about ReStart Ukriane, visit https://restartukraine.io/ 12:58:51 From Constance Carr To Everyone: Hi there, I am a Research Scientist at the Dept. of Geography & Spatial Planning, and I supervise a post-doc project looking at reconstruction in in Kyiv and the role of the digital economy RE-DIGICITY. (We should get in touch because there is a lot in common!!! Thank you for this presentation!!). Question: Something we struggle with is the continual shifting of actors and institutions in Kyiv that is one of the effects of the war. It is extremely difficult to identify actors in charge, let alone identify a trajectory of recovery. How do you deal with this? Or, how do you expect this will change in the future? 12:59:16 From Constance Carr To Everyone: (We’re in Luxembourg) 13:01:27 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: https://www.instagram.com/restart.ukraine/ 13:01:35 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: https://www.facebook.com/restartUkraine2022 13:01:50 From Kate Fane, Canadian Urban Institute To Everyone: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restart-ukraine/ 13:02:25 From Tom Yarmon To All Panelists: thank you also, Mary! 13:02:44 From Anna Maria Levytska To Everyone: Thank you for the insightful presentation and discussion!
