Join us for an engaging evening during Ottawa Architecture Week, as we delve into the exciting world of urban design, architecture and play at our panel discussion event titled "City of Play: FUN in the Capital?"
Get your free ticket here.
Here are ten thought-provoking questions that will guide our discussion:
1. How can we use innovative design strategies to infuse playfulness into the development of urban spaces, not just in Ottawa but in cities worldwide?
2. What approaches can be taken to ensure that playful spaces in Ottawa cater to the diverse needs and interests of people from different age groups and cultural backgrounds?
3. How might Ottawa draw inspiration from its rich cultural heritage and history to craft urban spaces that celebrate its identity as the capital city, while also inviting playful interactions?
4. What insights can we gain from Canadian cities that have successfully woven playful elements into their urban landscapes, and how can Ottawa stand out in this regard?
5. In what ways can technology enhance the interactivity and playfulness of urban spaces right here in Ottawa?
6. How can the concept of play be seamlessly integrated into the planning and design of transportation infrastructure and public transit systems within our city?
7. What economic advantages could Ottawa gain from investing in playful urban spaces, such as increased tourism, stronger community bonds, and business growth?
8. How can we foster partnerships between the public sector, private organizations, and community groups to collaboratively design and maintain playful spaces across Ottawa?
9. What educational and awareness initiatives can we implement to encourage Ottawa's citizens to embrace and actively engage with the city's playful spaces?
10. How can this festival become a thriving platform for architects, designers, urban planners, and community members to share knowledge and collaborate in envisioning and creating vibrant, playful urban environments throughout Ottawa?
These questions will ignite a lively discussion about incorporating play into placemaking, the availability of playful spaces in Ottawa, the distinctiveness of our city's urban landscapes, and how our citizens can actively engage with these spaces. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation on shaping Ottawa as a true "City of Play."
Moderator: Penny Lee COLBOURNE
Penny Lee Colbourne has had a long and colourful career in documentary and TV production, media and communications. From filming polar bears in the Arctic and fighter jets in the Middle East, to working as Communications Advisor for the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Chair of the Apt613 Board, Penny is all about constant learning and telling a good story.
In her travels, for work and fun, she has seen playful cities in action, and the opposite kind of town. She grew up in Montreal, the city that invented play (the writer of this bio may be biased) and discovered first hand that a city with joie de vivre is an inspiring place to be.
Penny is excited to moderate the City in Play panel, not just because she is a sucker for anything with play in the title, but more because she loves exploring how we can design the built environment to nourish those who share it. How do we create playful accessible spaces that inspire and challenge? Ones that celebrate diverse and founding cultures, that bring us together, and add some ease to our day?
Let’s explore all this and more together at City in Play.
To connect:
Panelists:
Dr. Sarah Gelbard recently completed her Ph.D. in Urban Planning at McGill University and is a graduate of the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa working on the relationship between criminalization and housing insecurity from an abolitionist and feminist perspective. This work draws on her doctoral research in spatial justice, radical community-based planning and storytelling. Sarah is also a contract instructor at Carleton in architecture history and sociology. She was part of the former urban art collective Impromptu Playground and she is the lead singer and bass player in local Ottawa punk band Bad Missionary.
Graeme Hussey is the co-chair of the Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Taskforce. He is also the Director of Housing Development for the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corp (CCOC) and President of CAHDCO, CCOC's non-profit real estate development corporation.
Dominic Laporte is a Canada-based muralist and illustrator whose work combines traditional painting and mixed-media techniques. His work largely focuses on themes embodying the natural world and most recently exploring symbiotic relationships found in nature and using those to carry out more in-depth concepts and narratives. Over the past decade, he has expanded his mural practice on an international level and developed a distinct style that’s become a familiar feature of Ottawa’s urban environment. His work has always been inspired by his direct surroundings and the murals allow him to reach audiences who may not frequent art galleries. Laporte has produced large-scale murals commissioned by Canada’s Museum of Science & Technology, Live Nation Canada, Street Art Toronto, The Royal Canadian Navy, Bank of Montreal, Adidas, The Canadian Medical Association, the City of Ottawa Light Rail Transit, and the Nelson International Mural Festival, among others.
Laporte’s passion for community-based and accessible art forms compliments his background in traditional painting. He has exhibited artwork and installed mural projects throughout Ontario, Quebec, British Colombia, The United States, Mexico and Romania. Dominic and his partner Anaϊs Labrèque are founders of DRIFT, a mural production and public art company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The focus at DRIFT Mural Co. is to beautify communities and celebrate the local identities they encounter through public art initiatives.
Court Curry is the Manager of Right of Way, Heritage and Urban Design Services at the City of Ottawa, a position he has held since 2016. This team is passionate about all things public space and leads the development and implementation of public realm plans for Ottawa’s neighbourhoods, pursues discrete placemaking projects, and pushes a progressive urban design agenda through the critique and refinement of both City capital projects and private development. Court sits on the board of the newly founded ByWard Market District Authority and is Chair of the Sparks Street Mall Authority.
Laura Mueller
As Chief of Planning and Engagement for the Building LeBreton project with the National Capital Commission, Laura Mueller coordinated large-scale public engagement processes and oversaw development of the 2021 LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan. She now facilitates implementation of the plan, which will bring a 29-hectare brownfield site minutes from Parliament Hill back to life.
Prior to the NCC, Laura was an advisor on planning, transportation, infrastructure and heritage matters for a municipal councillor at the City of Ottawa. For the councillor’s office, she also designed and facilitated public engagement plans and managed communications with constituents.
Building on her past career as a journalist, Laura understands the importance of communicating and engaging people in the process of designing inclusive, sustainable, active-mobility focused communities. Laura is also chair of the organizing committee for Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau and has been involved in the event as a walk leader and organizer since 2012.