Four Conversations (in September & October) will explore how we can more deliberately and creatively support community resilience in Canadian city-building, especially focused on equity and inclusion. Join guest urbanists as they offer personal perspectives and insights on the ‘big ideas’ they believe will provide better access for all to the services, amenities and benefits of urban living. (Note: Step Up events will be assigned to sponsors on a first-come, first-serve basis).

The four conversations are:

#1: Access to Nature: Wed Sept 30 (12-1:30pm EST):

Connecting natural systems and smaller urban landscapes across cities and neighborhoods can provide for a deeper, ecologically resilient public realm that facilitates placemaking, honours culture, and serves the innate human need for access to nature. Moderator: Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability, City of Saskatoon

#2 Access to Housing: Wed Oct 7 (12-1:30pm EST):

This session examines housing issues and the inability of many Canadians to access decent shelter in our very wealthy country, particularly those hit hardest by the pandemic - the disenfranchised and the racialized. Drawing on the deep housing expertise of our Conversation guests, focused presentations will set the stage for a dynamic dialogue that seeks to clarify what is currently happening, and what should be happening in the near and less near future. Moderator: Mark Guslits, Munk Centre for Dialogue, CanU Board

#3 Access to Mobility: Wed Oct 14 (12-1:30pm EST):

Join our guests from across the country to provide critical views on how we move around our urban communities to access our daily needs and how we can do better. Learn about the range of solutions and experimental strategies these communities are exploring and testing to make communities more resilient pre, post and during the COVID-19 experience. Listen in as they explore creative ways to improve our choices to move around. Moderator: Brent Toderian, UrbanWorks, former Director of Planning, City of Vancouver

#4 Access to Daily needs: Wed Oct 21 (12-1:30pm EST):

Join three Canadians living in, working with and influencing the urban communities around them. Learn how these communities have supported or hindered their access to the essentials of daily living - not only goods and services but also amenities and recreation - through the pandemic experience. And listen in as they explore with three members of the design community how design can open up creative ways to better satisfy essential daily needs. Moderator: Aftab Erfan, Chief Equity Officer, City of Vancouver

• Recognition as “Presenting Sponsor” of selected Step Up Conversation

• Acknowledgement via CanU Social Media during the Conversation and Forum timeline (1 tweet)

• 2 Complementary Forum Registrations

• Inclusion of your Logo in all event online communications to include invitational email blasts to more than 5,000 industry leaders

• Inclusion of corporate logo at each Forum and Step Up Conversations and Forum Events digital sessions

• Inclusion of corporate logo on CanU event/registration page

• Recognition as a “Corporate Supporter“ for a year on the CanU Website