This discussion was created in partnership with CUI’s valued partner, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

Carly Connor emphasized that true progress in urban circularity requires dismantling silos between professions, sectors, and projects. Drawing from her experience bridging heritage building practices with new embodied carbon policies, Connor highlighted the need for greater collaboration across the design ecosystem. “We started to look in the industry: how could we do this more efficiently?…

Faith buildings across Canada are more than places of worship—they are vital community anchors. Yet, according to the National Trust for Canada, one-third of the country’s 27,000 faith buildings are at risk of permanent closure by the end of the decade. These closures represent a looming civic crisis: many nonprofit organizations depend on these spaces…

Priya Mohan, founder of sariKNOTsari in Hamilton, exemplifies how small businesses can be powerful engines of community and connection. What began as a modest operation in the basement of another shop has grown into a vibrant storefront on James Street North—thanks in part to support from the My Main Street program. Her boutique transforms upcycled…

Small communities across Canada are on the front lines of climate change, facing mounting infrastructure pressures amid limited resources, minimal technical capacity, and overstretched staff. These municipalities are expected to manage increasingly complex challenges—from aging assets to extreme weather events—without sufficient personnel or funding to respond effectively. The Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS) program directly…

Former Jane’s Walk Co-Chair Celia Beketa emphasized that the initiative serves as a powerful vehicle for fostering empathy, and understanding urban life through shared, lived experiences. Having discovered the initiative after moving to Toronto, she became deeply involved, later researching its impacts through a master’s thesis on belonging. Her findings showed how Jane’s Walk enables…

A common thread among all panellists was that local innovation thrives in times of disruption. From pandemic-era buying programs to procurement shifts triggered by tariffs, these efforts show how communities respond with creativity and determination. Gwen Patrick noted, “It’s not a coincidence that this work was incubated in an environment of scarcity.” Mary Pattison echoed…

Olivier Legault of Rues Principales highlighted that the communities which emerged strongest from past crises—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—were those with a strong local customer base. He cautioned that trends like “buy local” often surge in response to crises but tend to fade without sustained policy support. Legault advocated for long-term strategies centered on densifying…

Alkarim Devani stressed the importance of public education in addressing Canada’s housing crisis, particularly around the misunderstood concept of “missing middle” housing. His company, mddl, has engaged with over 700 participants through intensive training to demystify the development process. Devani argued that enabling homeowners—especially older Canadians—to become small-scale developers could catalyze a transformation of underused…