Noted academic and author Seth Kaplan joins CityTalk Canada to discuss his latest book, Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time. They explore the importance of local institutions in neighborhoods, the impact of the lack of agency on society and individuals, and the need for investing in urban life and restructuring government. They also discuss anchor institutions and the upcoming event in Ottawa where they will be exploring main streets and neighborhoods.

Zita Cobb, co-founder of Shorefast (Fogo Island, Nfld&Lab), discusses the importance of nurturing local economies and the challenges faced by rural communities. The podcast explores the mismatch between institutional constructs and current needs, the consequences of optimization, the significance of Main Streets and local economies, and the importance of attachment to place. It concludes with a focus on fostering local economies and the relevance of the discussions to all communities in Canada.

Romy Bowers, president and CEO of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, discusses the challenges of providing accessible and affordable housing in Canada. They explore the government's responsibility, the need for diverse housing options, and the lack of social housing. They also touch on regulatory review and greater transparency in the housing system.

CityTalk: The Podcast is where the conversation is always focused on what's working, what's not and what's next for Canada's cities. It's brought to you by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). On this episode, the topics of conversation sits at the intersection of mental healthcare and homelessness, with that crossroads now found in the downtown core of communities across Canada and beyond. Host and CUI president Mary Rowe takes a deep dive into this complex topic with Dr. Andrew Bond, Medical Director of Inner-City Health Associates in Toronto and national co-chair of the Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness. Find more details at citytalkcanada.ca.

CityTalk: The Podcast explores what's working, what's not and what's next for Canada's cities... and brought to you by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).  In the evolving post-pandemic economy, topping every city's 'what's next' list is a strategy to revitalize downtown by converting half-empty or vacant office space into multi-use buildings that can include housing. CUI has been researching the challenges and possibilites across Canada, and recently released a comprehensive report and 'toolkit' to support those strategies. In this episode. host Mary Rowe introduces the key findings of The Case for Conversions report, and discussed it with its participants and reviewers, including Steven Paynter (Gensler Architecture, Calgary, AB); Joe Nickerson (Sidewalk Real Estate, Halifax, NS); Melissa Román Burch (EDC, NYC); and Tracey Hadden Loh (Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C). The report is available for free download at the CUI website. Get more details on the podcast at citytalkcanada.ca.

CityTalk:The Podcast explores what's working, what's not and what's next for Canada's cities, and is a production of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). In part two of The COVID Dividend, host Mary Rowe is joined by leading urbanists from across the globe to discuss what was learned during the pandemic about making better shared places and smarter decisions.  Participants include Dorian Moore (Archive Design Studio, Windsor, ON); Åsa Kachan (Halifax Public Libraries, Halifax, NS); Jennifer Angel (Evergreen Brickworks, Toronto, ON); Dan Hill (Melbourne University, Melbourne, AS) and Rosanne Haggerty (Community Solutions, NYC). Find more details at citytalkcanada.ca.

Welcome to a fresh look at our urban future, brought to you by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). CityTalk:The Podcast explores what's working, what's not and what's next for Canada's cities. Hosted by CUI president and 'lead talker' Mary Rowe, this program series begins with two episodes devoted to The COVID Dividend i.e. the core learning gleaned by civic officials, urban planners, community organizations and other key stakeholders during the pandemic; these takeaways offer an essential primer on the best steps forward in addressing the challenges shared by cities across Canada and beyond.  Joining Mary are Kate Graham (Colliers, London, ON), Alicia John-Baptiste (SPUR, San Francisco); Peter Sloly (CUI Fellow, Ottawa); Graham Singh (Trinity Foundation, Montreal) and Bruce Katz (Drexel University, Washington, D.C.).  Find more details at citytalkcanada.ca.