Urban Scientist. Community Builder. Keynote Speaker.
This past January, I finished my first year on the City of Kitchener's Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee. And I was considering quitting. Like many volunteers on city committees everywhere, I had a full plate of other responsibilities and commitments. Time was a precious commodity, and I was unsure as to whether my presence on … Continue reading Aiming for Bare Minimum: Why Cycletrack Networks Are the Only Way Forward
About a year ago, I wrote a post about how urban design can impact a person's sense of dignity. The issue has been on my mind regularly since. I think about it every day, actually. My research involves understanding how people perceive urban environments. A study I wrapped up this semester examined how being in the presence … Continue reading Put Yourself In Our Shoes: Using Empathy to Build Walkable Cities
So, yesterday was pretty much a write off for me, as I suspect it was for many. Our neighbours to the south voted in a fascist for president, and the reality of what that truly meant was quickly setting in. I reflected about what this victory meant for women, people of colour, people with disabilities, Muslims, the LGBTQ … Continue reading On Multiculturalism in Canada: It’s Time To Practice What We Preach
It's occupational therapy month and I've been trying to figure out what I should write my annual OT blog post about. I got the idea for the post this morning on my bus ride home from the grocery store. It came to me as I contemplated punting a cantaloupe that escaped a grocery bag while I tried exiting the bus … Continue reading OT and HNPP: Some Thoughts on the Value of Occupational Therapy
I recently returned from the trip journey of a lifetime. I crossed off a bucket list item and went to Burning Man. It’s been a few days since my return and the dust has settled enough (both figuratively and literally) for me to gather my thoughts on what it was that I experienced on that … Continue reading Learning from Burning Man: Lessons in cultivating community and building happy cities
OK. A few things before I get into it. It's been 7 months since I left Edmonton. In an attempt to try to settle into my new home of Kitchener, I've increasingly tried not to get too involved in #yeg happenings. I also recognize that as someone that doesn't live there anymore, that I should be … Continue reading Make Something Edmonton: Is The Writing On The Wall?
If you couldn’t tell from my social media channels, I was in Edmonton last week. I was in town to facilitate a workshop on lean community building for the Alberta Council For Disability Services. I was particularly excited to facilitate that workshop because of the time I spent on a community mental health team working … Continue reading A few things I miss about #YEG
Almost exactly two years ago I launched #lightbrightyeg . The project was simple: using a $1000 microgrant from the Edmonton Awesome Foundation, I purchased 3 light therapy lamps to be placed in the Stanley Milner Public Library in downtown Edmonton. The idea came to me when I was looking at purchasing a light therapy lamp for myself. … Continue reading A personal account of mental health and the importance of place
So... I've got some news. In January, I'll be starting my PhD at the University of Waterloo. I'll be doing it in Psychology, specializing in Cognitive Neuroscience. I never thought I would be a neuroscientist... I'll be studying how urban design influences mental health and will be working with an amazing professor named Colin Ellard in … Continue reading Update: I’m Going Back To School
It's Occupational Therapy Month again and I'm reflecting on how my training in OT is reflected in my life. Over the past few years, I've become more and more involved in issues and initiatives related to the city of Edmonton. I've sat on the boards of Make Something Edmonton, an organization dedicated to improving the city's … Continue reading Attention Occupational Therapists: Your Cities Need You
