PRE FORUM - WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23 2024 Open to all!
7:00 – 9:00 pm
FBM Architects Office Open House
101-5560 Cunard St., Kjipukuk / Halifax, NS, B3K 1C4
DAY 1 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 24th 2024
VENUE
Pier 21 (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
8:00 – 9:00 am
Registration
9:00 – 9:30 am
T1 Welcome and Opening Session
9:30– 11:00 am
Session Sponsored by
T2 Panel Discussion - Halifax Evolution: Divergence at its core
Halifax/Kjipuktuk has been a changing urban place. Can its divergence be tied to forward thinking urbanism policy? The panel discussion will walk the audience through the early Form Based Code Planning with Halifax By Design, the transition to Centre Plan Package A, then Package B and the evolving nature of the plan as it attempts to address Population Growth, both Provincial and Federal Policy...and ultimately leading to a changed Municipality and downtown.
Moderator: Eric Lucic
Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon
Eric Lucic is the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon and a Registered Professional Planner. Before his role with Caledon, Eric held roles as the Director of Strategic Projects and Director of Regional Planning With Halifax Regional Municipality. Eric has also held leadership or planning roles previously with the City of Mississauga and City of Brampton. In addition to leading planning in one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Eric sits as a Board of Director with the Council for Canadian Urbanism. Eric describes himself as “a geek...mixed use and walkable community fan...parkland lover...cycling, kayaking and sports enthusiast...in my planning career, I focus on strategic thinking, city building and relationship development."
* Eric is the Board Member of Council for Canadian Urbanism.
Jacqueline Hamilton
Executive Director, Planning and Development, Halifax Regional Municipality
Jacqueline Hamilton is the Executive Director, Planning and Development at the Halifax Regional Municipality where she leads a multi-disciplinary team to advance bold plans and programs aimed at driving smart growth outcomes. Jacqueline is an accomplished urban planner with a career spanning thirty years in the municipal sector leading transformational community-building projects. She rejoined the municipality in 2023 following a long career at the City of Saint John, New Brunswick where she served as the City’s Commissioner of Growth and Community Services. In this role she was responsible for urban planning and development approvals, heritage conservation, economic development, and community services. She’s previously held senior positions at Halifax Regional Municipality where she led foundational urban planning and downtown projects, shaping the first Regional Plan and the launch of Halifax’s urban design and streetscape programs that continue to transform the region’s growth. Originally from Halifax, she holds a Master of Urban and Rural Planning from Dalhousie University, is a Licensed Professional Planner and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Kasia Tota
Community Planning Manager, Halifax Regional Municipality
Kasia Tota is a Manager of Community Planning with the Halifax Regional Municipality. Over her 20 years with the Municipality, she worked on a wide range of policy projects that were successful in achieving a clear framework for more housing options, compact development, and people-oriented design. This included the Regional Plan, the Centre Plan, and more recently a sweeping package of planning changes related to the Housing Accelerator Fund. Kasia’s current focus is on a new plan for HRM’s Suburban Area.
Harold Madi, BURPl, MArch, MRAIC, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning & Building, Town of Grimsby
Principal, Urbanism by Design
Harold has been an award-winning planner and urban designer for nearly 30-years, with experience gained in both private and public sectors, and in every Canadian province and territory, as well as abroad. Harold is currently Planning & Buildings Director for the Town of Grimsby and was the former Director of Urban Design for the City of Toronto. He had held senior positions in several prominent Canadian firms and is currently Principal of Urbanism by Design (UxD), which he started in 2018. Harold is respected as a thought leader in urban design, advancing its cause through teaching, speaking invitations, publications, podcasts, and film. Key contributions include a chapter in Suburban Remix: Creating the Next Generation of Urban Places; a decade of teaching urban design at TMU’s planning school; and, serving as urban design awards juror and design review panelist for numerous cities across Canada – currently in his 8th term on Mississauga’s Urban Design Advisory Panel.
While founding Partner at Office for Urbanism, Harold was the principal author of HRM by Design (2008), the award-winning Downtown Halifax Plan (2008), and Dartmouth Cove Master Plan (2012). Harold has been a long-time member of CanU, and an original signature of “The Halifax Charter” (2013).
Rachelle Dillon, RPP, MCIP, MPlan
Principal, Senior Planner, O2 Planning and Design
Rachelle is an urban planner with over 15 years of extensive experience leading and crafting plans and strategies across Canada and in Australia. Rachelle is interested in how the different facets of city building interact to create welcoming, healthy, dynamic, and resilient communities. This interest is anchored in her experience in across planning disciplines, including mobility, open space, urban design, flood resiliency, heritage protection, land use and strategic growth planning.
Rachelle holds a Master of Planning degree (Dalhousie University), a Bachelor of Arts in Art History degree (University of Calgary) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree (University of Calgary). Rachelle has completed additional training in real estate development at the University of Calgary, graphic design at the Alberta University of the Arts, Indigenous history at the University of Alberta and public engagement through the International Association of Public Participation.
11:15 – 12:30 pm
T3 Panel Discussion - The Aesthetics and Science of Net Zero Development
The design of density in Canada will change as jurisdictions across the country begin to adopt step codes to get to Net Zero Ready construction. The panel will discuss the challenges in applying the Net Zero framework with popular deisgn details and materials, with a focus on what the future of resiliency looks like and what impact that may have on the look and feel of our cities.
Andrew Carruthers
Principal, Lydon Lynch Architects.
Andrew Carruthers started his career as an architectural technologist before achieving his M.Arch at Dal, doing his internship and getting Passive House Certified at a large firm in Vancouver and returning to Halifax as a registered Architect. Andrew brings a wide array of experience in design, programming, project management, city-building, master-planning, and sustainable design on a variety of institutional, commercial, and residential projects.
Currently in design or construction, he is responsible for over 2000 residential units in a range of building typologies ranging from triplexes to multi-tower master plans spread across Atlantic Canada, which include affordable housing, market-rental, retirement living, and short-term housing (Ronald McDonald House Atlantic). Andrew strives to serve his clients’ needs through efficient, pragmatic solutions while taking special care to design socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable buildings.
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Anne Lombardi
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Jacob Ritchie MCIP, LPP – President, United Gulf Developments & Board Member, Downtown Halifax Business Commission
12:30 -1:30 pm
T4 Lunch Presentation - CanU Caucuses Update
Dan Leeming, BA, Dip CP, MES, FCIP, RPP
Special Advisor, Urban Design, The Planning Partnership, Toronto, ON
1:30 -2:45 pm
T5 Round Table - Urban Design for Sea Level Rise
Sea-level rise is prompting a major recalibration of Canadian coastal cities. This manifests across various scales of intervention; from regional growth planning, to urban design, to public space design. Showcasing recent, award-winning research and projects, our panelists will make the case that foresight, adaptation, and a good dose of creativity are required if we are to transition to a more climate-resilient urbanism.
Moderator: Jean Trottier, CSLA / MALA, CIP /MPPI, RPP
Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Manitoba
Jean Trottier is Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, where he has taught urban design seminars and studios for more than twenty years. Jean is Past-Chair of the Editorial Board of Landscapes | Paysages Magazine and currently serves on the Board of the Council for Canadian Urbanism.
Devin Segal, MLArch, BEnvD, OALA, APALA, CSLA
Partner Director of Landscape Architecture Fathom, Halifax
Devin is a Partner and Director of Landscape Architecture at Fathom Studio, an interdisciplinary firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Devin is known for his expertise in public space design including the creation and enhancement of parks, waterfronts, streetscapes, educational campuses, and urban mixed-use developments. He has overseen many of Atlantic Canada’s most celebrated downtown redevelopment projects, including Halifax’s Argyle & Grafton Shared Streetscapes, and Queen’s Marque waterfront district. Devin's numerous project awards, including the National Urban Design Awards (2022), Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Award of Excellence (2018), International Downtown Association Downtown Achievement Awards (2018), and several excellence awards from the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects, Halifax Urban Design Awards, and the Atlantic Planners Institute.
In 2023, Devin's firm was honored with the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada’s Emerging Practice Award. This prestigious recognition was specifically attributed to the studio's distinctive, inclusive, and interdisciplinary design approach that emphasizes the critical interconnectedness and interdependence between the design of buildings and outdoor spaces.
Devin earned his Master of Landscape Architecture degree and Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba. Currently, he holds the position of Past-President at the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects, actively contributing to the organization since 2017. Devin is deeply committed to elevating practice standards and advancing the professional profile of Landscape Architecture.
Derek Lee, MBCSLA, CSLA, LEED® AP
Partner PWL, Vancouver
Since 2004 Derek has worked with PWL clients and communities around the world to create vibrant places. As a landscape architect and urban designer with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from UBC, Derek brings expertise from years of work across North America, Asia, the UK, and the Middle East.
Whether planning a new mountainside community, designing a downtown revitalization plan, or imagining an innovative waterfront, Derek’s goal is to improve people’s overall health and quality of life. His drive for innovation and commitment to the research process are evident in his work, be it large-scale master plans or custom details that celebrate a site’s unique character.
When he’s not dreaming up ways to make the world a better place, you’ll find him traveling to unexpected places throughout the world with his family.
Gordon Smith
Coastal Adaptation Generalist pLAnsmith, Halifax
Hope Parham, APALA, CSLA, RPP, MLA, BEnvD, BSc
CSLA Advocacy and Strategic Affairs, PEI
Hope Parnham is a landscape architect and planner from Charlottetown, PEI. Hope is no stranger to the CSLA. She has been involved with the Association for over 15 years in various roles. As a student, she assisted with the administration of the Awards of Excellence program (2007-2010), was subsequently a founding member of the CSLA Committee on Climate Adaptation (2015-present), was the APALA representative to the Board of Directors (2017-19), and most recently served on the Executive Council (2019-2022), serving as President in 2020-21. Hope has also contributed as a juror to the LACF Annual Grants Program (2017-2022) and for the Governor General’s Award in 2021. In PEI and Atlantic Canada, Hope’s career has included work in private practice as well as municipal and provincial government roles, with a focus on climate change adaptation, education and outreach. Her work in research, policy development, and advocacy for improved standards in planning and design practice has led to numerous keynote and international speaking engagements, as well as participation in various Federal government and national-level NGO committees and working groups. While she has not had a traditional LA practice in PEI, she recognizes the value of landscape architecture and believes that landscape architects have the opportunity to be changemakers in the 21st century.
2:45 – 4:45 pm
T6 Walking Tours
T6-1 Halifax Waterfront
Walking tour will depart from Pier 21 at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:45pm ADT at Purdy’s Wharf.
The waterfront has always been the historical core of commercial and naval Halifax: a bustling working harbour in a growing city. The post-WWI downturn in traditional waterfront activity was followed by containerized shipping growth, which led to property deterioration as businesses moved elsewhere in the harbour. Over this same period, Halifax declined as a fishing port. In 1960, a Harbourfront Highway proposal was replaced by a community that was looking for a more progressive strategy for their waterfront.
Since 1976, the stewards of the waterfront have worked with partners on a number of key development projects, including the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and the award-winning Bishop’s Landing in Halifax. The current portfolio includes the landmark Queen’s Marque development and the newly opened Cunard Block on the boardwalk.
This tour will take folks from the south to the north of the waterfront and highlight the social, commercial, and marine infrastructure that makes the waterfront an incredibly special place.
Tour Lead:
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Kyle Miller MCIP, LPP – Senior Planner, Build Nova Scotia
T6-2 Linking the Water to the Land
Walking tour will depart from Pier 21 at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:45pm ADT at the Central Library.
While Halifax has benefited from the work of Build NS in creating the best, most accessible, and lively waterfront in Canada the efforts to build corollary activity through public & private spaces through the steep inclines leading to the Halifax Citadel has proved more challenging. The support for private redevelopment of sites throughout the downtown over the past 20 years has led to Halifax having the fastest growing residential Downtown in the country. This walking tour will explore how developments have taken advantage of North-South respites and public spaces to enhance the experience of all visitors to Downtown, whether here for a visit or locally resident in the region. Exploring parks, streetscaping projects, privately owned open spaces, and institutional settings the tour will show how walkable, beautiful, and accessible communities can be built in any environment.
Tour Lead:
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Jacob Ritchie MCIP, LPP – President, United Gulf Developments & Board Member, Downtown Halifax Business Commission
T6-3 Learning from our Mistake (The Cogswell District)
Walking tour will depart from the Corner of Lower Water Street & Duke Street at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:30pm ADT at the corner of Gottingen Street and Cogswell Street.
The Cogswell Interchange, a piece of road infrastructure in downtown Halifax, was originally constructed as part of the Harbour Drive Transportation Plan. However, the plan was abruptly halted in 1971, leaving the interchange as a remnant of an incomplete expressway.
The Cogswell District project is a multi-year, multi-phase initiative aimed at correcting this and reconnecting downtown Halifax with the north end and waterfront, fostering a stronger and more inclusive network of communities. The project will transform 16 acres of road infrastructure into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood, expanding the northern entrance to downtown and reuniting areas previously divided by the interchange. The reinstatement of the urban street grid will create development blocks for new residential and commercial spaces, eventually housing 2,500 people. The area will also feature dedicated cycling lanes, multi-use trails, new parks, open spaces, a redesigned transit hub, and a central urban square, transforming the traffic-heavy site into a pedestrian-friendly community where people can live, work, and relax.
Currently, 70% of the project is complete, with most of the major interchange structures removed, and the layout of the new road network becoming visible. This walking tour will explore the significant infrastructure changes and the new connections being formed with surrounding communities.
Tour Lead:
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Elora Wilkinson MCIP, PMP - Project Manager - Cogswell District Project
T6-4 North End Halifax – From Boom to Bust to Boom Again
Walking Tour will depart from Halifax City Hall at 1841 Argyle St. in Halifax at 3:15 pm ADT and conclude at 5:00 pm ADT at the corner of Gottingen Street and Rainie Drive.
(Note that this walking tour will involve more than 6 kms of walking, not including travel to and from start and finishing spots)
Halifax as one of Canada’s oldest cities has seen significant changes as it has developed from the original port and military locale to a bustling City. Similarly, North End Halifax has seen a rapid change. This tour will take CanU Forum attendees through the historic and changing North End. The tour will briefly touch on the Cogswell Redevelopment (for a detailed tour, please choose the other tour), then explore Gottingen and Brunswick Streets, discussing the changing fortunes of each street, architecture, planning and urban design elements, the displacement of existing communities, concerns of current African Nova Scotian (ANS) communities. The tour will move by Uniacke Square and speak about the association with Africville and the displacement of ANS residents. Moving north, the tour will discuss infill developments occurring, historic redevelopments and the Hydrostone Market and Hydrostone Community that sprung up following the Halifax Explosion in 1917. A quick visit to Fort Needham Park to visit the memorial to the Halifax Explosion and to see the redevelopment of the Park. Moving west, the tour will continue through Hydrostone residential community, exploring some clever infill development with the Stanley Street Homes, before moving south on Agricola Street and towards the future Uptown Community and the discussion about redevelopment of Strawberry Hill, the Halifax Forum and areas along Kempt Road. The Midtown North Development will be explored and then Agricola Street as a changing mixed use commercial and residential street will be toured, before finally wrapping up at the Municipally led Downtown Gateway redevelopment, where public land is being re-examined for its future potential.
Tour Lead:
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Aaron Murnaghan – Halifax Regional Municipality – Manager of Housing Accelerator Fund
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Luc Ouellet – Halifax Regional Municipality – Principal Planner, Strategic Projects Division
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Leen Romaneh – Halifax Regional Municipality – Project Manager, Strategic Infrastructure and Transportation Planning
Dali Salih
Halifax Regional Municipality – Planner III, Strategic Projects Division
Dalal (Dali) Salih, LPP, MCIP, is a Senior Planner with the Planned Growth and Strategic Projects division in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq People. She is a Licensed Professional Planner (LPP) and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) with experience in urban and regional planning projects, plan review processes, complex comprehensive neighbourhood planning projects, community engagement, and passion for community development. Dali is a member of the PSB’s newly formed Standards Advisory Committee (SAC), and a Director with the Licensed Professional Planners Association of Nova Scotia (LPPANS).
Eric Lucic
Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon
Eric Lucic is the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon and a Registered Professional Planner. Before his role with Caledon, Eric held roles as the Director of Strategic Projects and Director of Regional Planning With Halifax Regional Municipality. Eric has also held leadership or planning roles previously with the City of Mississauga and City of Brampton. In addition to leading planning in one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Eric sits as a Board of Director with the Council for Canadian Urbanism. Eric describes himself as “a geek...mixed use and walkable community fan...parkland lover...cycling, kayaking and sports enthusiast...in my planning career, I focus on strategic thinking, city building and relationship development."
* Eric is the Board Member of Council for Canadian Urbanism.
6:00 -8:30 pm
Session Sponsored by
T7 Pecha Kucha - Canadian Urbanism Coast to Coast (C2C) and Night at the Museum
A presentation of the latest examples of good urban design from Coast to Coast, presented in Pecha Kucha style. Six leading urbanists will present best practices and award-winning projects from BC, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Join us for this perennial favorite!
Following the C2C presentation join us for a private tour of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to learn of the ongoing story of immigration to Canada.
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Moderator: Jana Kelemen
Manager, Heritage and Urban Design, City of Hamilton
Jana Kelemen holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Slovak University of Technology as well as a Master of Urban Design Studies from University of Toronto. In her 25 years of progressive experience in both Europe and Canada she worked primarily as an architect, senior planner, strategic leader and urban designer. Focused on facilitating multi-disciplinary conversations, Jana has led comprehensive visionary projects.
* Jana is the vice president on the Board of Directors of the Council for Canadian Urbanism.
Ontario West - Megan Torza
Partner, DTAH
Megan is an architect and urban designer passionate about community-based projects and meaningful public engagement. She joined DTAH in 2006 and became a partner in 2012. She was fortunate early in her career to play a key role in the Artscape Wychwood Barns and Evergreen Brick Works projects, and since then her socially-minded, contextually-sensitive portfolio has grown to include the award-winning entrance pavilion to Tommy Thompson Park, the revitalization of the northwest corner of Dufferin Grove Park, the St. Andrew and Dane Avenue Child Care projects, the Niagara Falls Exchange: Farmers’ Market and Cultural Hub, and the Baker District One Planet Living Redevelopment in Guelph. With a background in art and architectural history, Megan has taught the history of Contemporary Architecture at the University of Toronto, and is a frequent guest lecturer and design critic at the University of Waterloo and Toronto Metropolitan University. She is former chair of the City of Vaughan Urban Design Review Panel and the Toronto Society of Architects.
Atlantic - Sarah Anderson RPP, MCIP
Manager of Development Planning for the City of Moncton
Sarah Anderson, RPP, MCIP, is the Manager of Development Planning for the City of Moncton, New Brunswick, currently one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Canada. Sarah has more than 19 years of experience as an Urban Planner, having worked in rural Nova Scotia, Toronto, Ontario, and Moncton, New Brunswick. Her breadth of experiences ranges from planning and place-making in a rural municipal context, conservation planning and regional policy analysis at the provincial level, and development planning at the municipal level in a rapidly urbanizing city.
* Sarah currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Council for Canadian Urbanism.
Ontario East - Eric Turcotte, FCIP, RPP, OAA, OAQ, MRAIC, LEED AP BD + C
Partner, Urban Strategies Inc.
Eric is an Urban Designer, a Planner and an Architect. He is a Partner at Urban Strategies Inc. and has over 27 years of experience in Canada, the United States and Europe. Eric has extensive redevelopment experience in in Canada – notably in the GTA, Ottawa, the United States and Europe. As a partner, he has led numerous award-winning downtown revitalization plans, community design plans, transit oriented developments and large scale master plans. He has recently completed the award-winning University of Ottawa Master Plan and is currently working on new mixed-use development of mall properties including, Dufferin Mall, CF Sherway Garden and CF Fairview. He is also leading the urban design and approval of a number of hospital projects including Toronto SickKids, CAMH and Mount Sinai.
Eric is an Urban Design industry leader and the past President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism (CanU). He is a member of the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel and the chair of the Brampton Design Review Panel Project.
Prairies - Chris Hardwicke
Quebec - Eadeh Attarzadeh
British Columbia - Sirous Ghanbarzadeh
Principal, Urban Strategies Inc.
Sirous is a Principal Urban Designer with a background in architecture and 15 years of experience, specializing in master planning for campuses, waterfronts, downtowns, and new communities across North America, the UK, and Asia. His current focus is on major master planning projects in British Columbia, where he collaborates closely with First Nation communities. He is leading the master plan for the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the ʔəy̓alməxʷ/Iy̓álmexw/Jericho Lands development for the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver.
His notable projects include award-winning Campus Master Plan for the University of Ottawa, the Simon Fraser University Campus Plan, and Tewin, a development partnership with the Algonquins of Ontario. Additionally, Sirous has contributed to various urban design projects, such as the Niagara Complete Streets initiative and several Community Design Plans and Master Plans in Toronto and Ottawa. His international portfolio includes projects like the Kam Sheung Road Development in Hong Kong, the Bidadari Master Plan in Singapore, and the Cardiff Waterfront Master Plan.
Sirous is also committed to academia, currently teaching at the University of Toronto and Vancouver Island University.
DAY 2 - FRIDAY OCTOBER 25th 2024
VENUE
Morning Sessions:
Pier 21 (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
Evening Session:
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie University
Ralph M. Medjuck Building, basement level, Lecture hall
(5410 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6)
Campus Code(X), Building Code(J301) Room number(B015)
9:00 – 10:15 am
Session Sponsored by
T8 Panel Discussion – Partnerships for Better Design
The complexities inherent to the growth of our cities create significant challenges and require a wide range of knowledge and resources. In this conversation, we will examine how meaningful partnerships help create beautiful and resilient developments. The session will explore partnership’s strengths and lessons learned in a series of case studies as we seek to continue to manage growth and build communities in the face of climate change, dwindling budgets and exponential growth.
10:30 – 11:45 am
T9 Panel Discussion – Mid Size Cities: Joys and Pains of Growing Big
Cities across the country are changing faster than they ever have before, and this is especially true of the country’s mid-sized cities. More people working remotely, changing demographics, housing affordability, and other factors have led to many citizens leaving large urban centres and moving to smaller and mid-size cities.
Mid-sized cities are seeking to maximize the potential upside of a new era of growth, such as greater diversity, new investment, creative entrepreneurialism, and increased demand that could support local businesses and enable new public services such as enhanced public transit.
This panel session will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s mid-sized cities, and how they are responding to this critical moment. The panel will feature speakers from across the country including municipal planners and urban designers, developers, and civic leaders, who will share their thoughts and perspectives on what lies ahead, and how mid-sized cities should be prepared to respond.
11:45 -1:00 pm
Lunch Break
1:30 – 3:00 pm
T10 Walking Tours
T10-1 Wanderers Grounds
Join us as we take a stroll through, in and around the “Wanderers Block”. This area represents an integral part of the City’s public space network situated at the confluence of Halifax Commons, Museum of Natural History, Victoria Public Gardens, and the historic Citadel. The Wanderers Block has a rich history dating back to the 1880s and a truly unique collection of tenants that include the Wanderers FC Soccer, Halifax Lancers Equestrian, Halifax Lawn Bowls, HRM Horticulture and HRM Parks Depot. Plans are currently underway to develop a Functional Plan for the future of the Wanderers Block that includes accommodating expansion, retention and attraction of tenants, most prominent of which is a potential new 8,000 seat permanent downtown stadium for Halifax Wanderers FC.
The Wanderers Block is unlike any other public/community use venue in North America, where many of the uses similar to those assembled over many years on the Wanderers Grounds are typically found scattered or on the outskirts of an urban environment with more prominent parking needs. However, in Halifax, the Wanderers Grounds are intertwined as part of the compact downtown urban fabric. Yet, as publicly owned lands they require ongoing consideration for how the public realm and rich history is protected and enhanced for the tenants, as well as those who use the space as part of the city’s mobility network and leisure space.
Tour guide:
Kieron Hunt
T10-2 Building neighbourhoods that invite the participation & creativity of everyone
Walking tour will depart from the Corner of Gottingen Street & Cogswell Street at 1:30pm ADT and conclude at 3:30pm ADT at the same corner.
Halifax’s North End is a unique and vibrant community, home to a diverse mix of people with different languages, cultures, talents, and interests. As the area undergoes significant transformation with new development replacing long-vacant lots and older buildings, the team at Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk is collaborating with local residents to create a new model of neighborhood participation. This initiative aims to reshape the way we live, learn, and connect with one another on a daily basis.
This walking tour will introduce you to their space and showcase the outcomes of various community projects, where residents have come together to create meaningful contributions. They envision a neighborhood where people gather to cook, play, share, learn, bake, craft, repair, and chat. The tour highlights how cultural knowledge and traditions have been exchanged, along with hands-on activities like making, building, and mending, all of which help the community stay strong amidst the changes happening around them.
Ted Morris
Neighbourhood Project Designer / Community Build Trailer Coordinator,
Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk
Ted Morris (he/him) is a community development practitioner, musician, and land steward in the North End of Halifax. As a Neighbourhood Project Designer and the Community Build Trailer Coordinator with Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk, he brings Halifax's North End residents together to vision, design, and build placemaking projects, to shape the identity of their neighbourhood. Ted facilitates urban design with a focus on relationship building and decolonization through the unique approach to neighbourhood reconciliation at Every One Every Day.
T10-3 Breathing New Life Into Forgotten Treasures – Redevelopment by Sidewalk RED in Downtown Halifax and Downtown Dartmouth
This Walking Tour will begin at the Agency Art Lofts Building at 1660 Hollis St. in Halifax at 1:30 pm ADT and conclude at 3:30 pm ADT at the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal.
The sidewalk is where every development’s true value is tested, because it’s where we interact and connect with our community, tenants, and friends. Sidewalk RED is a creative and innovative real estate development firm based in Halifax, with a deeply ingrained commitment to rethinking the way buildings are renovated and designed throughout downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. We believe that each individual development in the streetscape has a role to play in shaping and fostering a neighbourhood’s long-term energy and appeal. As one of Halifax’s leading adaptive reuse developers, we are currently converting a downtown Halifax office tower into over 141 units of residential housing, while drastically improving its energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint. We helped save one of Canada’s top ten most at-risk historical buildings from the wrecking ball and have been instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Dartmouth, carefully forging a vibrant community bursting with culture and an exciting culinary and beverage scene. Dartmouth is now a sought-after neighbourhood, often described as “New Brooklyn”. And our goal is equally lofty with every development project we take on
The tour will explore some of the important redevelopment projects that Elliot and Joe have undertaken in Halifax and Dartmouth and they can answer questions about the details of complexity of each development as the sites are toured. Projects - Sidewalk Real Estate Development (sidewalkred.ca)
Elliot MacNeil
President Sidewalk RED and Bruno Group of Companies
The Bruno Group of Companies was founded by Elliot MacNeil, a consummate builder and creative leader from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. From constructing his first tree-house as a young ‘un to developing his first property at the age of 22, Elliot has forged a reputation for creating unique homes, multi-family units, and commercial spaces. His team blends historic and contemporary architecture with total commitment to quality workmanship. Elliot currently serves on the Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization.
Joe Nickerson
Vice President Sidewalk RED
Joe Nickerson is a leader with a proven history of success managing a variety of real estate portfolios for high-net-worth families in Toronto, Alberta, and British Columbia. Joe has worked at RBC Capital Markets and for both private and public real estate holding companies ranging from $100M to $11B in AUM. Joe holds an MBA with a specialization in Real Estate & Infrastructure from Schulich School of Business and studied Private Equity & Finance at SDA Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
Eric Lucic
Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon
Eric Lucic is the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development and Chief Planner for the Town of Caledon and a Registered Professional Planner. Before his role with Caledon, Eric held roles as the Director of Strategic Projects and Director of Regional Planning With Halifax Regional Municipality. Eric has also held leadership or planning roles previously with the City of Mississauga and City of Brampton. In addition to leading planning in one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Eric sits as a Board of Director with the Council for Canadian Urbanism. Eric describes himself as “a geek...mixed use and walkable community fan...parkland lover...cycling, kayaking and sports enthusiast...in my planning career, I focus on strategic thinking, city building and relationship development."
* Eric is the Board Member of Council for Canadian Urbanism.
5:30 -6:30 pm
T11 – Keynote and Closing Remarks
* Venue: Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie UniversityRalph M. Medjuck Building, basement level, Lecture hall (5410 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6)
Speaker:
Mallory Baches - Congress for the New Urbanism(CNU) President
Mallory B.E. Baches, AICP LEED-AP CNU-A is the President of the Congress for the New Urbanism. Celebrated for her previous practice as an urban designer, Mallory brings twenty-five years of international work in urban planning and community development to her role, as well as a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, having served as a staff member, a special advisor, and on the governing boards of organizations making an impact through urban change.
Mallory is accredited with the American Planning Association (AICP), the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED), and the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU-A). Her knowledge of urbanism was first developed at the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture, including a year spent at the Rome Studies Program. She earned an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford, which is delivered in partnership with the Prince's Foundation for Building Community. Her original research dissertation on the intersection of historic preservation and social sustainability received honorable distinction and was included in CNU’s New Urban Research selection in 2019.
Mallory served as the inaugural CNU-A Fellow at the University of Miami School of Architecture. She was named a member of the 2013 Next Urban Vanguard class by Next City, and is a former board member and President of the Association for Community Design, is the interim Vice Chair of the PLACE Initiative, and is a member the Urban Guild. She has been profiled on the Design Feast series Designer Quest(ionnaire) and on Next City. She is a contributing author to Smart Cities Policies and Financing: Approaches and Solutions (Elsevier). Her urban design work has been featured by Next City, and she speaks and writes on architecture, planning, and urban sustainability.
DAY 3 - SATURDAY OCTOBER 26th 2024
VENUE
Pier 21 Departure Point (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
8:45 am - 4:00 pm
T12 Bus Tour - Peggy’s Cove and surroundings
The community of Peggy’s Cove embarked on a bold new vision for its future, which involved a complex, multi-faceted project with numerous interconnected elements. A draft Master Plan was created to guide this initiative, and through further community engagement, technical studies, and design refinements, several aspects of the plan were adjusted—some of them significantly. The plan is now being implemented, with many key physical enhancements already completed.
These major improvements have opened up access to the iconic lighthouse and unique landscape by creating elevated, protected areas that welcome a wider and more diverse group of visitors. Notable contributions from Omar Ghandi Architects, Harbourside Engineering, Englobe, Trim Landscaping, EDM Planning Services, Thompson Conn Limited, Gemtech Consulting Engineers & Scientists, Tate Engineering, Boreas Heritage, Greytop Construction, and CBCL Engineering have gained international recognition for their thoughtful approach to transforming a high-traffic tourist destination.
Seating has been added to accommodate those who move at a different pace or wish to take in the stunning views at length. Green spaces have also been expanded, with planters and landscaped areas featuring native plant species that support the local ecosystem and educate visitors about the unique coastal barrens' biosphere.
This tour will highlight the stunning beauty of the Atlantic Ocean at Peggy’s Cove, with special attention to the award-winning design interventions that have garnered the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, a Gold rating from the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, and numerous other accolades in design and engineering.