The CityTalk Podcast is back...and ready to recruit your attendance at the Canadian Urban Institute's State of Canada's Cities Summit on December 5-6 ,2024. In its second year, this gathering will again take place in Ottawa and convene city builders and placemakers from across Canada and beyond.  To set the stage, host and CUI president/CEO Mary Rowe has invited some thought-leaders appearing in Ottawa to preview some of the core topics on the aganda...all coming back to why infrastructure matters - for innovation, equity, resilience, and more. For this episode, Tracy Hadden Loh, a fellow in the Brookings Institution (Washington, DC) Metro program, joins Mary in conversation on what turned out to be a very consequential day for urban advocates on both sides of the border.  Learn more about The State of Canada's Cities Summit here.    

Kevin McHale, Executive Director of Sparks Street Community Improvement Association, discusses revitalizing Ottawa's downtown core with bold urban planning initiatives, community engagement, and the importance of flexible spaces. The podcast explores Ottawa's unique essence, urban development challenges, and the role of Business Improvement Areas in creating a vibrant city atmosphere.

Jessie Duffy, owner of Arlington 5 in Centretown, discusses the future of local businesses in Ottawa and how they benefit the community. The podcast explores community hospitality, supportive landlords for small businesses, business pivots, and the vital role of community engagement in urban spaces.

The podcast discusses the revitalization of Ottawa's downtown core through design and collaboration, addressing urban challenges and proposing a bold action plan. Topics include homelessness and housing crises, community-driven initiatives, and the importance of urban development and community engagement post-pandemic.

The podcast features Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the National Capital Commission, and Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, discussing the future of downtown Ottawa. Topics include urban revitalization, historical preservation, building vibrant public spaces, post-pandemic city development, and collaboration between sectors for city growth.

In this final episode of a four-part series, host Mary Rowe presents highlights from conversations around innovative solutions to build community. Topics include the housing crisis and indigenous communities, challenges and innovations in Calgary's arts community, the potential of middle housing and inclusion of the elderly population, opportunities for innovation and solutions in addressing housing crises and equity, acquiring the vacant Hudson Bay Building for reconciliation, and inspiration, empowerment, and collaboration in addressing challenges in Canada's cities.

In this podcast, the afternoon sessions of the State of Canada's Cities Summit are discussed. Topics include the role of the private sector in affordable housing, the contributions of colleges and universities to communities, collaboration during the pandemic, innovative solutions for the housing crisis, infrastructure challenges in Toronto, provincial government intervention in Quebec, and the benefits of setting clear rules for progress.

Experts discuss challenges and opportunities in metropolitan regions, including climate issues and public health. The importance of energy efficiency and collaboration in cities is emphasized. Investment in early child development and community-driven safety strategies are explored. The need for partnerships and coordination in utilizing government funds is highlighted. Strategies for understanding and influencing municipal decisions are discussed.

Highlights from the CityTalk Canada podcast include discussions on challenges faced by Canadian cities, systemic racism and municipal services, economic strategy and the role of the private sector, panelists' experiences and challenges in cities, the economic strategy of the United States and its impact on Canada, and redefining geography for industrial and energy transitions.

For a final preview of the leading voices and topics on the agenda at the upcoming State of Canada's Cities Summit on November 30th,  host Mary Rowe chats with Patti Pon, president and CEO of Calgary Arts Development about how arts & culture are increasingly vital tools for city building. Read more about Patti's work here.