Urban Minds June Newsletter

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I created my own job as an urban planner:?Here are 5 lessons I learned along the way

Our?Co-Executive Director, Ryan Lo, reflects on his journey to carve out a unique professional space in planning - and finding alignment with his purpose.?

"Earlier this year, I made?the decision?to quit my daytime job in the public sector and?dedicate full-time hours to?Urban Minds...If you are thinking about what to study or what’s next in your career, perhaps even contemplating starting your own initiative or organization, I’d like to share with you some lessons I learned up until this point and hope you will find them useful on your journey."

Check out our Blog to read the full article!

Rethinking Ontario Place with Grade 9s

We recently wrapped up our longest consecutive school workshop to date with Bloor Collegiate Institute in Toronto. Between May 28th and June 5th, The Urban Minds team -?Ryan Lo, Lindsay Klysen, Sariah Hurd, Chanel Chin and Catherine Caetano-MacDonnell?-?engaged?two grade nine geography classes in thinking?critically about livable and sustainable communities by creating redesigns for Ontario Place.?

The 6-day workshop allowed students to think deeply about creating accessible infrastructure, multimode transport, and engaging spaces while also prompting creative ideas such as the addition of Canada’s biggest waterslide or Toronto’s newest underwater aquarium!

Talking Youth Engagement with OPPI

Ryan presented to OPPI's District Leadership Team Spring Summit earlier this month about the importance of Ontario planners supporting youth engagement. He also facilitated a mini-workshop to help everyone brainstorm community outreach ideas for World Town Planning Day in November this year.

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