Urban Scientist. Community Builder. Keynote Speaker.
In the last few weeks, people have been discussing the issue of diversity in urbanism. At the recent CanU conference, there was an all-white all-male panel that got people talking. What happened at CanU isn't uncommon; many urbanist conferences often have a lack of gender and racial diversity in their speaker and panel rosters. So, … Continue reading A City That Works For Everyone: Reflections on the Necessity of an Intersectional Urbanism
A few weeks ago, while biking to the University of Waterloo (as I do every day), I had a jarring altercation with a motorist. I use the Spurline Trail, which is a lovely bike path that connects Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo. The path is well taken care of. It is beautifully lit, which recognizes … Continue reading Unsafe at the intersection: Racism, road rage and the role of urban design
Last winter I had an experience that changed the way I saw urban design. It was mid-February. It was one of those days that was so cold that the city seemed to be blanketed in a mist of ice. Certainly not a day one wanted to spend outside for too long. I was on my … Continue reading Design Thinking and the City: Dignity Lies in the Details
I've always been acutely aware of the colour of my skin - save for a few childhood trips to India, where I "blended in". Even then, I was contemplating my identity as a Canadian Indian kid and I knew that I still had not found my place of belonging. As a child, I can remember … Continue reading Towards an Inclusive Edmonton: How can we go about having a meaningful and productive conversation about racism?
