Copy
Your monthly roundup of news, tools, and events from the world of 8 80 Cities.
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Instagram

Assessment Report On Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis

The contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) addresses the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science, and combining multiple lines of evidence from paleoclimate, observations, process understanding, and global and regional climate simulations. 

Read the Report...
 

Ontario Community Changemakers: A New Generation of Leaders Transforming Communities

Over two weekends in August 2021, 8 80 Cities brought 20 young community builders from Ashburn, Brampton, Hamilton, Lincoln, Markham, Ottawa, St. Thomas, Sudbury, Toronto and Windsor to a Virtual Studio to kick-off the first edition of Ontario Community Changemakers. For 8 80 Cities, it was a privilege and honour to bring these young leaders together. From pollinator pathways and community-based art projects and workshops to advancing food security, transit access and many more, the changemakers are focused on diverse topics in different parts of Ontario.   

Continue reading...
 

The Elements That Make a Perfect Playground

According to various researchers, improving motor skills, resolving conflict, social development, and even learning the physics of our world can all happen on the playground. But many of these spaces don’t actually provide a good environment for facilitating meaningful play. In this article, Lauren Leffer, explains the impacts of well-designed playgrounds for the ultimate playground experience. According to science, there are six critical components to consider - add a washroom, use creativity to maximize the experience, add challenges and risk, take advantage of nature, provide solo space, incorporate diversity. 

Continue reading...

Reconnecting Children with Nature
The Children & Nature Movement seeks to transform childhood play by doing something ever so simple: reconnecting children back with the outdoors. The power and simplicity of nature allow children to enjoy the freedom of play, while helping them learn, grow, and explore their curious mindsets. 


Watch the video.
Parks & Recreation Ontario Collects Feedback About Parks in Ontario
Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) is collecting data on how Ontarians feel about parks and recreation in their community. Take this short survey to help shape the discourse on public spaces in Ontario and build better communities. 

If you live in Ontario and want to share your thoughts about parks in the province, fill out the survey here.

Design for the Elderly Shouldn't Be Boring

Ten thousand people are turning 65 every day in the United States, and all boomers will be 65 by 2030. Cultural stereotypes have influenced the way we think about life after 65: a grey and sad picture. Older adults are living longer, and they have dynamic goals and aspirations. To serve this demographic better, product and service designers (and city planners) should look beyond and involve them in the process. According to Riley Gibson, author of the article, the big question should be “how we can design for richer, more connected, and more purposeful lives—not just longer ones”. Let’s reflect. 

Continue reading...

Grey to Green - Tuesday, September 7
11:00 am - 11:45 am EST

In our fourth session of A Walk in the Park, Gil will take us to Melbourne and its amazing transformation from an ordinary, declining city, three decades ago, into one of the world’s best cities to live, work and play, according to multiple rankings. What Melbourne has done is achievable in many cities through a process of low-cost incremental improvements over time. This talk will illustrate how Melbourne made this happen, under the leadership of City Architect, prof. Rob Adams.

Register here to attend the webinar.

Upcoming Sessions

  • September 21: Ruth Lin Wong Holmes, London, UK. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. When People come together: Client, Designer and Management.
  • October 5: Denise Ora, Chief Executive, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain. Greater Sydney, Australia. More than Just Green Space.
  • October 19: Chris Glaisek, Chief Planning and Design Officer. Waterfront Toronto. Port Lands Flood Protection project, creating significant amounts of parkland around the newly naturalized river mouth.
  • November 2: Jayne Miller, chair of World Urban Parks. Former Head of Parks & Rec. in Minneapolis & Pittsburgh. Creating an Equitable Citywide Park System.
To watch the last session with Enrique Penalosa, Parks Are Ever More Important, please go to Gil's YouTube channel, click on 'Playlists' and select 'A Walk in the Park with Gil’.

Will Open Streets Remain After the Pandemic?

Imagine if everyday streets could turn into a paradise of pop-up activities, people coming out for coffee breaks, free yoga and Zumba classes, and people walking and biking freely without being worried about traffic and cars. The pandemic pushed New York and other cities to close streets for exercise and to allow physical distancing while socializing but this 'urgent measure' has reinforced a broader movement to repurpose streets. In this article, Winnie Hu for the New Yorker covers the pros and cons of the case of 34th Avenue in Queens, which has become the "gold standard" for what an open street for people (and not for cars) should look like. 

Continue reading...

What Art Can Bring to Cities

Art is not only reserved for art galleries and museums. Street art, like murals, is progressively gaining more space in cities all over the world. Alleys, parks and streets can become more attractive and interesting when displaying pieces that reflect the neighbourhood identity. 
 
In this great piece for the Conversation, Rhiannon Cobb, one of our 20 Ontario Community Changemakers, discusses the benefits of street art, and City of Toronto’s plan to use street art to enhance different areas of the city. 

Continue reading...

Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
Share Share

Copyright © 2021. 8 80 Cities. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
364 - 401 Richmond Street West
Toronto, M5V 3A8
Canada

View this email in your browser

Questions? Contact Us:  info@880cities.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list