Habitat in Towns 2020 Resolution
September 1 & 2, 2020
We, the participants, gathered virtually in the Town of Collingwood and the broader Southern Georgian Bay area, including Meaford, Grey Highlands, Clearview, the Town of the Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach and the Counties of Simcoe and Grey, Canada on the occasion of the First Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit, and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of United Nations, to realize sustainable urban development at the scale of towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities on September 1st and 2nd 2020, express our commitment to the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and the Sustainable Development Goals and thank the Government of Canada, provincial Government of Ontario, and the Town of Collingwood for organising the Summit in cooperation with Urban Economy Forum and UN-Habitat.
While the event was held virtually, we acknowledge we are working on traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples throughout Ontario, Canada, and the World, and in particular the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe People, where the Town of Collingwood resides. We are thankful to be able to share in this rich and diverse culture on the global stage as we work together in the spirit of collaboration for a more positive and sustainable future.
Habitat in Towns hosted participants from various sectors, including town, small city, and Indigenous community leaders, private sector, developers, United Nation agencies, academics, municipal associations, community organizations, economic developers, youth and civil society. The joining together of all these sectors at Habitat in Towns is the beginning of an important dialogue that is a critical catalyst in driving the success of our endeavors towards achieving urban sustainability.
We recognize with appreciation the important contribution made by local & Indigenous authorities around the world, and towns and small cities in particular, in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) as an integral part of achieving the SDGs, including the effective partnerships established between UN-Habitat, Member States and local governments in the design, adoption, and implementation of local plans. We acknowledge that towns and small cities, in partnership with Indigenous communities require a dynamic and effective platform to bolster their own voices to work toward sustainable development. We are convinced that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities also have the capacity to lead global initiatives and be proactive enabling spaces to find solutions to our shared challenges.
We recognize with appreciation UN-Habitat’s work globally on the application of City Prosperity Index and creation of data repositories to assist local governments in analyzing, planning and monitoring urban policies geared towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The World Summit further acknowledges that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities display considerable heterogeneity within the political and administrative structures of the countries to which they belong.
At Habitat in Towns, we are establishing an international network for town, small city, and Indigenous community Leaders known as the Town Leaders Global Network to work toward achieving SDGs at the scale of towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities, and advancing goals and priorities specific to towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities; we expect that they will subsequently receive more attention and feature more prominently in the economic, social, and environmental agendas of developed and developing countries alike.
We recognize the role Habitat in Towns plays in facilitating the exchange of ideas, lessons learned and current initiatives of towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities seeking to achieve sustainable urban development and SDGs. There are numerous best practice examples that were shared during this Habitat in Towns Summit and are highlighted in this document.
We recognize the Summit as an important global gathering that serves to strengthen the dialogue and exchange of experiences between local town and small city leaders, Indigenous communities, civil society and the general public from all over the world involved in the implementation of the SDGs.
We call upon organizations representing towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to contribute to and work toward the Habitat in Towns’ Resolution. These organizations have resources, tools, and best practices to help realize these Resolution.
We also recognize the urgent need to accelerate local, regional, national, and international progress in the adoption of sustainability-orientated policy measures aimed at strengthening cooperation between central and local governments, and via transnational mechanisms.
The World Summit acknowledges that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities are drivers for urbanised development in every country and represent an opportunity to collaboratively consolidate and disseminate best practices and knowledge globally while being effective at the local level.
The Town of Collingwood, as host of the annual gathering of Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit, encourages town and small city leaders, Indigenous leaders, civil society, the general public, and other relevant stakeholders to participate in this ongoing global dialogue.
The participants of the World Summit are in general and non-binding agreement to the following:
On Assessment Tools
1. Urban Assessment: towns and small cities require the capacity to harvest and process data. Assessment tools are important in this regard. We underscore the importance of a commonly accepted towns assessment index, supportive tools and practical approaches to enable towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to make contextually appropriate decisions on policy adoption, and assist in tracking changes, whilst systematically documenting and measuring performance. This is fundamental for achieving higher levels of prosperity of place and economic and environmentally sustainable development for all.
2. Urban Data: we recognize that an important driver to achieve sustainability is availability of rich local data, both quantitative and qualitative. We can measure progress only with the collection of reliable data.
3. Assessment Tools and Collaboration: seek accurate knowledge about the well-being of the residents in towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities and assess their vulnerabilities including those resulting from climate change and pandemics; on the occasion of this summit we recommend UEF to initiate collaboration between UN-Habitat and the Canadian government as well as other governments, non-profit partners, private sector and universities in order to encourage replication.
4. Economic Recovery to be Expanded to Recognize an Integrated Economy, which Includes Business, Not-for-profits, Government, and Philanthropy: acknowledge that economic recovery should be planned through a holistic lens, which includes not only economic outcomes, but also environmental, social, and cultural impacts in towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities; incorporating appropriate tools and mechanisms into policies and programs which capture important decision-making criteria such as community engagement, local procurement, social benefit, gender equality, local health and environmental assessment.
5. Global Monitoring Platform to address Acute Urban Crisis: support the call for UEF, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, to establish a Global Monitoring Platform to bring together, assess and communicate towns’, small cities’, and Indigenous communities’ CPI results or place standards, including how they can be better prepared to address acute crises and provide best practices in general.
6. City Prosperity Index: urge national governments and local authorities to dedicate resources to towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to calculate their place standards or City Prosperity Index assessments and dashboards to measure their overall achievements in relation to the components of sustainable development.
7. Decision-makers: help decision-makers steer towns and small cities towards being inclusive, safe, resilient, welcoming, just, equitable and sustainable.
8. Role of Towns During Crisis & Vulnerability Index: highlight that while towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities face crises at different scales, and of different magnitudes, their inherent characteristics can also make them the location and/or foundation for remedies to various regional and global crises; the Vulnerability Index is a key tool that can be applied in this context.
9. Role of Technology: emphasise the need to incorporate contextually appropriate technology in sustainable town, small city, and Indigenous community development; while understanding the important role technology plays, it is important to ensure the appropriate and safe use of these technologies; ultimately communities' and people's control of technology must be secured; towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities thrive on shared knowledge and connections, within the town, small city, and Indigenous community and between networks of towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities; in particular, efforts to provide internet for all should be prioritised as a community’s access to internet plays a fundamental role in sustainable and resilient development; it is necessary for towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to establish best-practice e-governance, to understand residents' needs and provide accessible services. We support a knowledge architecture with open systems operating seamlessly across regional or area boundaries. For example, SDG Dashboards [not only digital] should be accessible to communities and available on a real time basis.
On Economic Development, Municipal Finance, and Investment Opportunities
10. Ability to mobilize local resources: emphasise that local governments need the powers and capabilities to effectively mobilize local resources, including fair and well-balanced tax systems, ability to leverage community wealth creation, ability to better facilitate asset based community development, systems to bolster community cohesion and communication, support mechanisms for the evolution of resilience of local economies, and prevent capital flight.
a. We recognize that there are now 4 key public infrastructure responsibilities municipalities need to manage - water, waste, electricity, and internet/broadband; we encourage provision of systems to help municipalities respond quickly to innovation opportunities; with the dramatic increase in connectivity provoked by COVID19, innovation opportunities will arise quickly requiring rapid responses by public organizations in order to keep pace with business decisions.
11. Resource Transfers from other levels of Government: express the need for developing and maintaining robust, resilient, and adaptive resource networks and supply chains geographically, and across other levels of government to deal with externalities and emergencies.
12. Global Fund to mobilize investment: recommend the establishment of a global fund under UEF and UN Habitat in collaboration with the Government of Canada and the private sector for strengthening towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities which could serve as levers to mobilize investments, including social finance in pilots, best practices, and boost solidarity between towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities globally.
On Local Resource Development for a Sustainable Future
13. Important Local Resources: agree that local Governments and private and non-profit sectors should value, monitor and sustain all resources such as water, biodiversity, green spaces, trees, land, knowledge, data and culture (including oral traditions and intangible heritage). It should be remembered that citizens are also a resource, including those typically not included such as youth.
14. Local Authority Accountability: affirm that local governments should be responsive to their citizens and current contexts, transparent in their deliberations, and accountable for their actions including through regular meetings and reporting; also through building of public trust via meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and accountable governance within their functional and financial systems and local government autonomy.
15. Civic Economy: call for towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to support collaborative, emerging, social and circular economies, and economic activities that create diverse local and indigenous employment opportunities that appropriately support well-being across people's life courses and are inclusive of all community members – and, in developing countries, to support the transition from informal to formal economy; in addition, local authorities can introduce policy incentives to support a just transition to clean energy, while building urban resilience to climate change.
16. Rural and Urban Linkages: emphasise that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities play a key role in connecting urban settlement areas and rural spaces, as these are inextricably linked economically, socially and environmentally and cannot be adequately dealt with in isolation from one another; recognition of this urban-rural continuum also highlights how partnerships, collaboration and unity in action can yield dividends for all people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background or whether or not they live in urban or rural areas.
17. Cultural Diversity & Heritage: emphasise that cultural heritage and local knowledge must be preserved and integrated in urban planning activities, and town, small city, and Indigenous community strategies for social cohesion and equitable local development; recognize the benefits from collaboration and partnership with local and Indigenous communities and residents, whilst also considering the impact of gentrification including displacement of inhabitants, discriminatory behaviour by people in power, and focus on spaces that exclude low-income individuals and marginalized communities.
18. A Proactive approach to Environmental Challenges and Climate Mitigation and Adaptation: national governments in partnership with local authorities, Indigenous Peoples, private sector investors and international organizations should drive policies that incentivize individuals, not-for-profits, households and businesses to invest in fossil-free climate mitigation and in strategies and policies that promote climate adaptation and resilience;
a. recommend that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities invest in climate resilient infrastructure and adjustments to our built environment, including transportation systems, which can withstand climate-related impacts and shocks;
b. recommend provision of new resources through an intermediary financing institution that can leverage a concessional loan from the World Bank Group, or a concessional fund;
c. recommend that local authorities introduce policies to ensure that their lower income communities have access to modern energy services, including clean energy, to help tackle energy poverty; international cooperation can help towns bring energy access to their communities by providing them with financial resources, policy incentives, capacity building assistance and institutional support;
d. ensure local access to clean and efficient household cooking solutions, as more than three billion of the world’s poorest people depend on firewood and other biomass for cooking; towns, small cities, and indigenous communities would then be able to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women and protect the environment:
e. Towns in low- and middle-income countries will be home to increasing numbers of climate migrants and refugees who will be in need of not only short-term humanitarian assistance, but also infrastructure, skills training for employment, and services like housing and healthcare; local authorities can partner with international humanitarian organizations with the goal to provide for the short-term needs of climate migrants and refugees, and to empower them to move towards self-reliance;
f. recommend that governments provide incentives to landlords so renters who typically are lower income earners are not paying for higher energy costs due to their buildings not being retrofitted; attention should be paid to all housing stock and all buildings regarding ways to make them more affordable, more comfortable and with lower carbon emissions.
19. Sustainable Affordable Housing: acknowledges that sustainable and affordable housing for all plays a crucial role in community well-being, and sustainable economies; encourage all levels of government to work together to establish clear plans for ensuring the delivery of sustainable affordable housing, including a diversity of built forms, have zero carbon or negative carbon footprint, and tenures that appropriately address the housing needs of all their residents throughout their life courses;
a. UEF in collaboration with UN Habitat and Summit participants will work toward establishing a clearinghouse of best practices, housing strategies and successful innovation; the Urban Land Institute could be considered as a potential collaborator to help in this regard;
b. Identify the bottlenecks and/or barriers within our towns and small cities regarding the housing crisis and develop the resources, tools, policies and construction practices along with technologies that need to be developed in order to help support and fast track scalable approaches for attainable housing for a low carbon future.
20. Connecting Innovative Towns and Innovation Districts: acknowledges Innovation districts as catalysts for sustainable economic development that integrate environmental and social considerations in the urban context; recognizes the need for research and dissemination of findings between Innovative Towns and Innovation Districts in larger urban centres; encourages the strengthening of initiatives to establish geographic areas for knowledge-intensive innovation in cities and towns and support ‘Collaborative Leadership Networks’ that can respond more nimbly than centralised authorities.
21. Interaction between Local Authorities, Business, Not-for-Profits and Community: emphasise the importance of local authority support for local businesses and communities, which can help towns and small cities build resources, capacity and resilience, through appropriate support for local initiatives, and vice versa, including sharing of challenges so business, not-for profits and community members can also help find solutions.
22. Public and Private Sector Interaction: emphasise that interactions ultimately need to lead to decisions; in this time of contradictory economic sustainability, finding a balance that brings together and binds the private and public communities will be critical; this balance needs to be defined on a local level with policies that encourage citizen participation and ensure that the effectiveness of communication channels and messages reflects the styles and systems familiar to both private and public sector organizations; creating policies that encourage citizen participation in major decisions will become increasingly important as the complexity of these decisions grows; municipalities need to define ways that work for their citizens in terms of getting their voices heard and having them "sit down at the table" to help find a balanced approach to these complex issues at the local level.
23. Gender and Sustainable Development: ensure gender sensitive planning for sustainable urban development and support from local governments for female leadership and entrepreneurship; this is especially important during times of economic hardships, but gender mainstreaming should become the norm.
24. Role of Business to help grow a Caring Community: develop practices and systems that challenge local private businesses and business organizations and networks, such as Chambers of Commerce, to play their part in the sustainable development of towns, small cities and Indigenous communities, celebrating successes, and fostering a culture of caring and working toward a resilient and sustainable community.
On Community Engagement for Sustainable Development
25. Citizen Diversity and Creativity: highlight that elected officials in towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities are more closely connected to their residents than central government representatives, and can therefore acknowledge, develop, promote, and invest in citizens’ creativity while respecting the cultural diversity of their identities, and build on the added value this represents for local cohesion; opportunities for inter-cultural dialogue and exchanges should also be provided.
26. Importance of Diversity for Decision Making: emphasise the importance of creating welcoming communities and empowering opportunities for all people regardless of income level, ability, gender identity, race, age, ethnicity, religion, or sexual identity, to play an active role in the local community, through appropriate community driven engagement practices; collaboration between government, business and not-for profit organizations is key.
27. United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People: towns and small cities acknowledge and respect the dispositions of United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People in their consultations and decision making process, in particular for development projects related to land use.
28. Women and Youth: recognise that equitable, inclusive and prosperous towns, small cities and Indigenous communities need to harness the full potential of all citizens – including all genders and non-binary people, children and youth; this is especially important as the world grapples with the effects of the global economic and financial crisis that has resulted in climate change, food insecurity and widespread unemployment among women and youth; education and lifelong learning are key to empowerment and active participation, and the role of educators in both formal and informal education is crucial.
29. Women Representation and Leadership: call for policies to enhance gender equality, equity, prosperity, and representation of women in towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities, including initiatives to support women’s leadership, noting that towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities of the future will comprise a majority female component, especially among people older than 60 and even more so among those older than 80 years.
30. Education and Training Systems and Youth Leadership: call for better alignment of educational and training systems, including easily accessible safe spaces, to take account of the current and future needs of young people, promoting transferable skills including digital and media literacy, creative thinking and problem-solving, in order to empower children and young people to become active citizens and take a lead in the development of sustainable solutions; this also requires genuine open and inclusive dialogue between youth and town, small city, and Indigenous community leaders, policy makers, and decision-makers.
On Urban Resilience and Building Back Better
31. Economic development in the Energy Sectors: agree economic development and innovation should promote new business opportunities in sectors including renewable energy, conservation, climate resilient infrastructure, electric mobility, public transportation and low carbon initiatives; this should emphasise that post COVID19 development strategies should focus on reducing environmental footprints, promoting low-carbon and climate resilient infrastructures and services, meaningful access to nature, renewable energy, conservation, electric mobility, and affordable and clean public transportation for town residents.
32. Create Regional Task Group and Learning Platform to Explore Social Finance and New Approaches to Social Investment: create Social Investment Strategy templates or other resources to support socially responsible businesses with triple bottom lines (i.e. B-Corps and social enterprises), community bond development, a community foundation, and social infrastructure in the not-for-profit sector; there are natural area community boundaries that allow towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to work regionally to achieve scale.
33. Community Foundation and Investment Fund for Local Business: recommend establishing community foundation and investment funds for local governments to utilise in order to support local businesses and social enterprises during times of economic hardships so they can pivot to become sustainable local engines of prosperity, including the sharing of templates and best practices.
34. Community Health: recognise that a healthy community supports quality of life and well-being, nourished and nurtured by an interrelationship between the built environment and nature that can facilitate social, psychological, physical, spiritual and cultural development for all individuals and the community alike; we therefore, encourage all towns, small cities, and Indigenous communities to adopt systemic approaches to support a sustainable and healthy future.
35. Performance-based and Participatory Budgeting for Town Self-reliance: highlight that forms of performance-based and participatory budgeting that acknowledges equity and equality are effective tools to help towns and small cities to become more self-reliant; create a regional platform to support learning, knowledge exchange, and include concerned citizens, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations; identify common data points that reflect a healthy, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
The Town of Collingwood
36. Support of Government: recognizing that the Town of Collingwood exhibits the characteristics to be an international pioneer in sustainable town development initiatives; we encourage the Ontario Provincial Government, regional governments and Canadian Federal Government to support the Town of Collingwood as an SDG Town Pioneer; we believe the Town of Collingwood is a world-class destination that can pioneer and share sustainable town development initiatives based upon global best practices; Collingwood will engage surrounding towns, communities, and local Indigenous peoples in southern Georgian Bay.
37. International Network for Town Leaders: express the desire to promote further collaboration with groups such as Scotland’s Towns Partnerships, and commit to establishing the Town Leader Global Network to work toward achieving SDGs at the scale of towns, small cities, in partnership with Indigenous communities and advance goals and priorities specific to them; expects that towns, small cities, and Indigenous Peoples’ communities will subsequently receive more attention and feature more prominently in the economic, social, and environmental agendas of developed and developing countries alike.
38. Town of Collingwood as an SDG Town Pioneer: emphasise that the Town of Collingwood should identify 10 key collaborative projects with the Provincial and Federal government, civil society and other relevant sectors and organizations for sustainable town development; we therefore welcome national and international advice, expertise and investment in the Town of Collingwood to create practical local examples for a sustainable and replicable approach to sustainable urbanisation.
* Town of Collingwood and other organizations in this summit promise that all Summit participants will receive links to relevant information arising from the Summit and maintain links and collaboration with these and future participants. We agree to call on these and more to meet 2 years from now, Sept 1, 2022, for an update on steps taken, and progress made by all. One year virtual and one year in-person.
** This resolution was drafted and discussed with Habitat in Towns participants and is a main output of the forum. The participants of the summit are in general in support of the above non-binding agreement.
*** We encourage towns throughout the world to join Habitat in Towns and organize sessions throughout the year for Habitat in Towns to establish an international scale of town leadership in every continent and country.
**** The wording “Indigenous communities” in the dispositions of the Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit Resolution aim to promote partnership and collaboration between local authorities and local Indigenous governments; and does not intend in any way to present these communities at the same jurisdiction level as towns and cities; and it is recognized that these Indigenous communities evolve & exist in the broader demographic & legal context of “Peoples” as recognized by the signatories of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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🌍✨ Join us at The 6th Urban Economy Forum for an insightful session on "Tourism, Culture, Heritage, and Infrastructure Development." Dive into how we can harmonize modern infrastructure with historical preservation. Our expert panel, will share strategies for sustainable tourism that respects cultural and historical assets. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to balance development with preservation. You can still register with the link in our bio and use code UEF6KITCHENER to attend Day 1 of UEF6 in City of Kitchener for free! #UrbanEconomyForum #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #CulturalHeritage #InfrastructureButton -
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🌍 New Neighbourhoods: A Global Tour 🌍 Yesterday, the World Urban Pavilion launched its new exhibition, accompanied by a dynamic session featuring top Canadian developers and planners, organized by Naama Blonder of Smart Density. 🇨🇦 Reza Pourvaziry, Chair of Urban Economy Forum, opened the session: "At the World Urban Pavilion, we’re exchanging innovative views on urban development. Our global initiative program focuses on SDG 11 and its intersection with the other 17 goals, bringing experts together to share knowledge and best practices in sustainable development." The exhibition, in collaboration with the School of Cities, University of Toronto, and supported by the Global Platform for Urban Finance and the Global Smart Nexus, showcased urban innovations, including: 🏙 London: Canary Wharf 🏞 Toronto: Regent Park 🌆 Copenhagen: Inner Nordhavn …highlighting how cities are tackling the housing crisis, environmental goals, and local economic opportunities to meet urban priorities. 🏡 Check out the virtual exhibition here: https://www.worldurbanpavilion.org/virtual-pavilion/new-neighbourhoods/ Speakers shared insights from key projects like: 🔑 Tsering Yangki on Zibi 🏗 Michael Wolfe on West Don Lands 🌱 Puja Sharma on Cloverdale Mall ✨ Melissa Bruzzese on Scarborough Centre ✈️ Kristy Shortell on Downsview Airport These developments show how housing can act as a vector for solving urban challenges, helping cities achieve long-term goals. Globally, examples from Vienna, Freiburg, and Seoul offer innovative pathways to sustainable urban development, directly contributing to the SDGs. Together, we are shaping the future of cities. 🌟 #UrbanInnovation #HousingSolutions #GlobalCities #CanadaLeads #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #SmartDensity #WorldUrbanPavilion #SDGs #FutureCitiesButton -
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🌍 Join us for the first session of UEF 6 in City of Toronto : Financing Models for Sustainable Urban Tourism, Economic Growth, and Business Development on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at York University This session will delve into innovative financial strategies like public-private partnerships, impact investing, and green financing, designed to foster economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Learn how these models are shaping the future of urban tourism, driving business development while prioritizing sustainability. 💡 Hear from experts in finance, urban planning, and tourism as they present case studies and best practices, offering actionable insights to help cities enhance their urban tourism infrastructure sustainably. There’s still time to register! Use the link in our bio! You can still join Day 1 in the City of Kitchener with the complimentary ticket code: UEF6KITCHENER For more information on other sessions please visit our website: www.ueforum.org/uef-6 #SustainableTourism #UrbanDevelopment #ImpactInvesting #GreenFinance #UEF6 #TorontoEvent #FinancingSustainability #EconomicGrowthButton -
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🌍 Excited for #UEF6! Dyfed Aubrey, Chief of Office at unhabitat and Steering Committee Member, can’t wait for insightful sessions on sustainable tourism—from empowering Indigenous communities to exploring how smart cities can manage tourism sustainably. Want to join us? Use code UEF6KITCHENER for a free ticket to Day 1 in Kitchener on Sept 25th! Registration still open for Day 2 and 3 in Toronto! 🎟️ #UrbanEconomyForum #Sustainability #SmartCities #Tourism #QualityofLifeButton -
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📢 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 𝐔𝐄𝐅𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫:📢 We are excited to offer exclusive, complimentary tickets to the full Day 1 UEF6 program in Kitchener including 3 high level roundtable sessions with key leaders. This is your chance to engage directly with global experts and contribute to the conversation on shaping a sustainable future. 🌎 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐄𝐅𝟔: 𝐀 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬! 🌎 Join us at the upcoming Urban Economy Forum 6 #UEF6, where Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), will open the forum and deliver an inspiring keynote address. This prestigious three-day event kicks off in the City of Kitchener at City Hall and continues at York University in the City of Toronto, focusing on sustainable tourism, urban development, and the future of cities. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭: Register now to claim your complimentary ticket for Day1 in Kitchener. Register with the link in our bio and use code: UEF6KITCHENER to be part of this transformative experience. Act quickly—limited spots are available! #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableCities #UrbanInnovation #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #Qualityoflife #NetworkingButton -
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🌍 The Urban Economy Forum is excited to announce Richmond Hill as the first Frontrunner City in Canada! 🇨🇦 Through our partnership, Richmond Hill will lead the way in advocating for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, setting a new standard for sustainable urban development. This collaboration is a key part of our Canada Frontrunner Program, aimed at showcasing cities that are pioneering innovative and sustainable solutions. We look forward to working closely with Richmond Hill to create a more resilient and sustainable future. Read more on our website here: https://lnkd.in/gASZv9g6 Thank you to our speakers at todays announcement Reza Pourvaziry - UEF Chair, Mayor of Richmond Hill David West and Rafael Tuts Director of Global Solutions, UN-Habitat #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableDevelopment #RichmondHill #UNSDGs #GreenCityButton -
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🌍 3rd UEF6 Steering Committee Meeting Recap The final Steering Committee Meeting for the 6th Urban Economy Forum (UEF6) took place this week, ironing out the last details for this global event focused on sustainable urban development and tourism. The forum, set for September 25-27th, will bring together leaders to discuss ways to enhance urban quality of life through sustainable tourism initiatives. With these final touches in place, UEF is set to deliver a transformative event. Read more about it on our website! There is still time to register with the link in our bio! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #UrbanDevelopment #QualityofLifeButton -
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All starts at home. A video photo by @eduardomorenosocialphoto (1.3”), co-Director of the World Urban Pavilion, at the occasion of WUF 12, in which he invites us to tear down walls and island geographies, and to learn to build new maps of proximity, density and closeness, and with it a new pedagogy of the social. A personal reflection about the need to build a different ‘I’, one that projects, reflects, and radiates a different ‘me’. One that includes what is ours, but also what is from the others.Button -
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🌍 Exciting News! 🌍 We are honored to announce that Uğur İbrahim Altay, President of UCLG and Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality (Turkey), will be joining us for the opening of UEF6 in Kitchener on September 25! Mayor Altay’s leadership in sustainable urban development and global cooperation will bring valuable insights as we explore the theme of “Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life.” Join us as we kick off this important forum with voices from around the world! For more information and to register, visit the link in our bio! or click here: https://www.ueforum.org/uef-6-registration. #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #GlobalLeadership #UCLG #Konya #KitchenerButton -
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🌍 Mayoral Roundtable at UEF6: Financing Sustainable Tourism Including Green Financing, Advancing Quality of Life – The Experience from Global South 🌍 Join us on September 25th in Kitchener as mayors from the Global South discuss innovative financing strategies, with a focus on green financing, to support sustainable tourism. Discover how cities are integrating financial tools to boost local economies while preserving cultural and natural resources. Learn from case studies that highlight the impact of green financing on community well-being and environmental sustainability. This roundtable promises to inspire actionable solutions and foster global collaboration in sustainable tourism financing. Don’t miss out! For more information and to register, visit the link in our bio! or click here: https://www.ueforum.org/uef-6-registration. u_ibrahim_altay @utkucanercaykara @jouniehmunicipality @bnossjounieh @mayorkawempe @hkilca #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #GreenFinancing #GlobalSouthButton -
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A Path Toward Equitable Housing: Reimagining Ontario's Rental Market 🏠 📅 Join us on September 17th from 11am-12:30pm at the World Urban Pavilion for an insightful discussion on housing and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! In collaboration with @bhutilakarpoche , @torontorenter , & High Park Tenant's Association. 🏘 Event Highlights: 🔹 Sustainable Renting Models 🔹 Rental Challenges 🔹 Strengthening Renters’ Rights 💪 🌍 Let’s shape a more inclusive and fair housing landscape for all. Register now via the link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-path-toward-equitable-housing-reimagining-ontarios-rental-market-tickets-949020805777?aff=oddtdtcreator #HousingEquity #UrbanSDGs #OntarioHousing #RentControl #AffordableHousing #InclusiveHousing #UrbanDevelopmentButton -
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📣 Exciting news! The @glocalplatformforurbanfinance Platform for Urban Finance - GPUF Platform for urban finance and the Glocal Smart Network (GSN), two entities of the Urban Economy Forum, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on: Urban Finance: Collaborating on initiatives and projects related to municipal finance, such as revenue enhancement, land value finance, and property tax reform. Urban Economy: Working together on projects and initiatives that promote sustainable urban development, stimulating local economies, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. Urban Development: Partnering on projects that focus on resilient and equitable urban development, including smart city development, cultural heritage, and sustainable urban planning. This collaboration aims to leverage each entity's strengths to drive progress in urban finance, economy, and development, promoting sustainable and equitable urban growth.Button -
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🚀 Exciting Announcement! 🌍 We are thrilled to welcome @carlosmorenofr to the 6th Urban Economy Forum as our keynote speaker at the 6th Urban Economy Forum on September 27th at 9 am! Carlos Moreno is a renowned researcher known for his pioneering work and unique approach to urban issues. His concepts, such as the ‘Human Smart City’, the ’15-Minute City’, and the ’30-Minute Territory’, have traveled the world, offering innovative solutions to the challenges faced by cities, metropolises, and territories in the 21st century. In 2022, Carlos led the launch of the Global Observatory of Proximities at the World Urban Forum, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, C40 Cities, UCLG, and other partners. We are honored to have him share his insights and visionary ideas with us. Join us to gain invaluable perspectives on creating sustainable, livable urban environments. 🌟 Register here: https://www.ueforum.org/uef-6-registration 📅 Date: September 27th 🕘 Time: 9 am 📍 Event: 6th Urban Economy Forum #UrbanEconomyForum #15MinuteCity #SustainableCities #UrbanInnovationButton -
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🚀 Exciting News from Richmond Hill! 🚀 We’re thrilled to share that @davidwestrh and Reza Pourvaziry, Chair of UEF, recently met in the City of Richmond Hill to review our action plan for the Richmond Hill “FrontRunner City” initiative on Urban SDGs. 🌍✨ The meeting was highly productive, with innovative and creative solutions for urban transformation being at the forefront of our discussions. We’re enthusiastic about the progress and the impactful results this initiative promises. Stay tuned as we prepare to announce the date for the launch of this joint program with the World Urban Pavilion. This collaboration is set to bring groundbreaking advancements in urban development and sustainability.Button -
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It was great to connect again with Steffan Jones and Bespoke Social Profit Solutions Inc. Steffan was one of the minds who helped establish the World Urban Pavilion! During our meeting with Steffan, Reza Pourvaziry, eduardo moreno, and Alex Venuto explored collaboration opportunities with Bespoke for creative housing solutions to build more homes across Canadian cities. Together, we are are opening more doors to work with cities across Canada to accelerate different models of housing construction.Button -
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🔍 Join us for an exciting event on August 6th, 3pm at the World Urban Pavilion: The Legacy of Parse in Modern Architecture You can register online here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/953966859557?aff=oddtdtcreator Join us for an insightful session titled "Building on History: The Legacy of Parse in Contemporary Architecture" at the World Urban Pavilion. This discussion will delve into the rich historical and architectural significance of Parse (Persepolis). Renowned architect and researcher Sayyet Mehdi Mojabi will lead the conversation, exploring how the grand structures of Persepolis, such as the Apadana Palace and Throne Hall, can inspire modern urban design. Discover how historical wisdom and contemporary needs can merge to create innovative architecture. This session is a part of our Pavilion Talks series, bringing together experts to discuss pressing urban issues and solutions.Button -
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Exciting News! We are thrilled to announce that the 6th Urban Economy Forum (UEF6) will be held at the New Student Centre, York University, on September 26-27! Join us for two days of insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative sessions focusing on Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life. 🌆✨ 📅 Dates: September 25, 2024 in City Hall of Kitchener September 26-27, 2024 in Toronto 📍 Venue: New Student Centre, York University, Toronto Stay tuned for more updates and register now to secure your spot! #UEF6 #UrbanEconomyForum #Financing SustainableTourism #QualityOfLife #YorkUniversity #GlobalLeadershipButton -
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We have exciting news! On Sept. 25th Kitchener City Hall will be hosting the 6th annual Urban Economy Forum (UEF6). This event will feature Mayoral Roundtables and a High-Level Roundtable, providing an invaluable opportunity to engage in vital discussions on financing sustainable tourism and enhancing the quality of life in our cities. 🏛️ Event Highlights: • 2 Mayoral Roundtables: Connect with mayors from across the nation and around the global North and South as they share innovative strategies for urban development, sustainable tourism, economic growth, and improving quality of life. • 1 High-Level Roundtable: Gain insights from top leaders and experts on sustainable tourism and strategies for enhancing quality of life. 📅 Date: September 25, 2024 📍 Location: Kitchener City Hall Mark your calendars and join us for an enriching day of dialogue and collaboration! #UEF6 #KitchenerEvents #UEF #WorldUrbanPavilion #UrbanDevelopment #Tourism #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #ConferenceButton -
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🚶♂️ Urban Innovation Highlight - Scaling Down: Reimagining Urban Living 🏙️ Smart Density introduces an innovative approach to high-density neighborhoods, prioritizing walkability, sustainability, and community over cars. By "Scaling Down" streets, open spaces, and buildings, it creates transit-oriented communities that truly put people first. 🚴♀️ Urban Challenge: Cities are facing unprecedented housing shortages and car-centric designs that hinder walkability and sustainability. Smart Density's approach tackles these challenges by optimizing land use and prioritizing pedestrian-friendly environments. 💡 Urban Innovation: The innovation in "Scaling Down" lies in its simplicity. By reintroducing the human scale, it transforms transit-oriented communities into exemplary urban developments that balance high density with quality of life. 🔑 Key Takeaways: ◾ People-Centric Streets: Narrower, safer streets enhance walkability and cycling. ◾ Accessible Open Spaces: Diverse green spaces foster social cohesion and outdoor activities. ◾ Human-Scaled Buildings: Lower, narrower buildings create welcoming public realms. This approach not only improves urban living but also sets a new standard in urban planning, promoting sustainable and vibrant communities. 🔗 You can learn more about Smart Density and Scaling down and the rest of the Canadian Urban Innovation in the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gqyNVkzf Naama Blonder, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), Urban Land Institute, ULI Toronto, School of Cities, University of Toronto, 8 80 Cities #UrbanInnovation #SustainableCities #WalkableCommunities #UrbanPlanning #SmartDensityButton -
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🌟 Join us at the 6th Urban Economy Forum! 🌟 📅 Date: September 25-27, 2024 📍 Location: Kitchener, Canada & Toronto, Canada We're thrilled to host the first Mayoral Roundtable at this year's forum in Kitchener, Canada! This special event brings together mayors, policymakers, and experts from the Global North to discuss innovative ways to fund sustainable tourism initiatives, benefiting both residents and visitors. Key topics include: 💡 Innovative financing mechanisms 🤝 Public-private partnerships 🌍 Community engagement strategies Discover best practices and successful models from cities that balance tourism growth with preserving natural resources and cultural heritage. Our goal is to provide actionable recommendations and foster collaboration among cities globally. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the global dialogue on sustainable urban tourism and its role in enhancing urban well-being. For more information and to register, visit the link in our bio! or click here: https://www.ueforum.org/uef-6-registration Tagging: @berryonline @mayormcdougall @davidwestrh @johntaylornewmarket @matsiscoe @yvonne.hamlin , Daniel P. Rourke, Jan Liggett @uclgaspac @fcmgram #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableTourism #MayoralRoundtable #UrbanInnovation #GlobalDialogue #Sustainability #UrbanDevelopmentButton -
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🌍✨ Toronto Western Hospital: Pioneering Wastewater Energy ✨🏥 #SustainableEnergy | #ClimateAction | #Toronto | #Innovation In 2024, Toronto Western Hospital will unveil the world’s largest raw wastewater energy system, thanks to a partnership between the University Health Network, Noventa Energy, and the City of Toronto. This innovative system will meet up to 90% of the hospital's heating and cooling needs, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Key Features: ♻️ Sustainable Energy: Harnesses renewable energy from wastewater using existing sewer infrastructure. 💰 Financial Savings: Redirects financial resources to patient care and improvements. 🌳 Environmental Benefits: Reduces carbon emissions by 250,000 tonnes, equivalent to removing over 1,800 cars from Toronto’s streets annually. 👷 Job Creation: Generates new green jobs in Canada. Overcoming Challenges: Navigating uncharted territory, the project team established new review processes and set precedents for future wastewater energy systems, requiring collaboration and innovative problem-solving. Impact: 🌍 Supplies 1.8 billion KWh of energy, meeting 90% of the hospital’s needs. 🚗 Reduces carbon dioxide emissions significantly. 🌱 Saves over 141 million KWh of electricity, 130 million m³ of natural gas, and 1.3 billion liters of cooling water. Collaboration: The City of Toronto hosts the sewer connection, Noventa Energy operates the system, and the University Health Network benefits from reduced energy costs and enhanced resilience. The Toronto Western Hospital Wastewater Energy System showcases the power of innovative public-private partnerships in driving sustainable urban development. 📸 #GreenEnergy #WastewaterEnergy #Sustainability #Toronto #HospitalInnovation #NetZeroButton -
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Productive meeting at the Urban Economy Forum! Chair Reza Pourvaziry and Carlos Sousa, UEF Senior Advisory Board, had a great discussion with Ana Luisa Riquito, Consul-General of Portugal in Toronto. We're excited to share that UEF 6 this year will focus on "Financing Sustainable Tourism" and we're honored to invite Consul-General Riquito as a speaker! But that's not all - we're looking forward to collaborating in the World Urban Pavilion to form a global initiative for transforming cities. Stay tuned for more updates! Register online here: https://www.ueforum.org/uef-6-registration #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableTourism #globalinitiativeButton -
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🌟 Celebrating Regent Park's Transformation! 🌟 From 2005 to 2035, Regent Park is being transformed into a vibrant, mixed-income, mixed-use neighbourhood in downtown east Toronto. 💪 Overcoming urban challenges with innovative partnerships, this project is setting new standards in urban revitalization. 🚀 Urban Challenges - Before the transformation, Regent Park was an isolated area with only social housing units, lacking facilities and economic opportunities. 💡 Urban Development - Through partnerships with private developers, the community now enjoys mixed housing, new social services, parks, and sustainable design practices. TCHC worked with multiple levels of government and private developers to secure funding for new affordable units. Partnerships with The Daniels Corporation and Tridel offset housing replacement costs through land and market housing sales. This collaborative approach ensured comprehensive urban revitalization, investing in open spaces, community, and commercial infrastructure. 🌍 Supporting SDG11, SDG7, SDG8, SDG10, and SDG17, Regent Park is creating a safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable community. 🏆 Key Achievements: - Mixed-income, mixed-tenure, mixed-use neighbourhood - Innovative funding strategies - Community cohesion and engagement - Economic and educational opportunities 📚 Learn more about this transformation in our 100+ 'Made in Canada' Urban Innovations and Transformations report. 📖 Read the full report with the link in our bio #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableCities #RegentPark #Innovation #CommunityBuilding #UrbanRevitalizationButton -
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📢 We are delighted to announce that Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, of Kitchener and Co-chair of the UEF 6 Steering Committee, will inaugurate the 6th forum, “Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life,” from September 25-27, 2024, in City of Kitchener and City of Toronto, Canada. In partnership with the City of Kitchener and UEF, this event will underscore the vital role of sustainable tourism in urban centers both in Canada and worldwide. The forum will address key financial mechanisms, innovative approaches, and collaborative strategies to advance sustainable tourism initiatives that improve urban quality of life. Join us for this crucial dialogue and support the promotion of SDGs globally! Register with the QR code or the link in our bio! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #UCLG #UrbanAreas #Forum #Speaker #Networking #Toronto #KitchnerButton -
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🌟 Showcasing Innovative Urban Development: East Village Transformation! 🌟 The World Urban Pavilion is excited to share an exemplary case of urban redevelopment: the transformation of East Village in City of Calgary. Led by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and approved by Calgary City Council in 2009, the East Village Master Plan has turned 49 acres into a vibrant, mixed-use, creative city neighbourhood. Over the past 15 years, CMLC's infrastructure investment of over $396 million has attracted nearly $3 billion in planned private investment. This transformation has introduced award-winning public spaces, major civic amenities, a robust public arts program, and 1,500 new homes. By 2029, East Village will boast 3,500 homes, housing 11,500 residents, and over 300,000 sq ft of commercial space. In 2007, CMLC was formed by the City of Calgary and equipped with a funding mechanism established between The City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta – known as the Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). This funding mechanism, the first of its kind in Canada, has been crucial in enabling CMLC's work in East Village. By capturing property tax revenue increases in the Rivers District, the CRL provides self-sustaining funding to support infrastructure improvements and development without relying on The City’s operating or capital budgets and general tax increases. Strategic partnerships and community engagement, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been pivotal to this success. Goals such as Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) have been central to our strategy. We invite urban planners, developers, and community leaders to explore and learn from this transformative project. To delve deeper into the East Village journey, read the full report on our website with the link in our bioButton -
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🌟 Celebrating 2 Years of the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park! 🌟 On June 25th, 2024, we gathered at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park - Powered by Daniels, to celebrate two impactful years of fostering sustainable urban development! 🎉 We proudly launched our SDG Cities Report Series, highlighting exemplary achievements in implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in urban contexts. 🌍🏙️ The evening was filled with: ✨ Insightful discussions ✨ Captivating exhibitions ✨ Unparalleled networking opportunities Special thanks to our inspiring speakers: • Honourable Bob Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations • Reza Pourvaziry, Chair, Urban Economy Forum • David West, Mayor of Richmond Hill • Mitchell Cohen, President & CEO, The Daniels Corporation • Eduardo Lopez Moreno, Co-Director, World Urban Pavilion Thank you to everyone who supported us over the past year and joined us to celebrate this milestone. This marks the start of another fantastic year of global collaboration to achieve the SDGs. 🌟 #WorldUrbanPavilion #RegentPark #SustainableCities #UrbanDevelopment #SDG #Networking #GlobalCommunities #AnniversaryCelebration #UrbanInnovation #CollectiveActionButton -
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📢 Exciting News! 📢 The World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park - Powered by Daniels, a collaboration between UEF, UN-Habitat, CMHC, and supported by the Daniels Corporation, is launching our SDG Cities Report Series! 🌍🏙️ These reports include: 1️⃣ Impact Report 2023/24: Highlights of our major achievements this year. 2️⃣ SDG Cities Canada Report: How Canadian cities are localizing the SDGs. 3️⃣ 100+ 'Made in Canada' Urban Innovations and Transformations: Inspiring practices from cities, universities, private sector, and communities. Both impact report and 100+ graphic design by @haniehriahi Join us in celebrating how Canadians are leading urban transformation. Check out these reports to get involved and learn more! 🌟🏢 #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableCities #SDGs #Canada #UrbanInnovation #GlobalImpact #worldurbanpavilionButton -
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📢 We are excited to announce that Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), will be the opening keynote speaker at UEF6, “Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life,” taking place from September 25-27, 2024, in Kitchener and Toronto, Canada. Organized in partnership with the City of Kitchener and UCLG, this event will emphasize the crucial role of sustainable tourism in urban centres in Canada and worldwide. The forum will delve into key financial mechanisms, innovative approaches, and collaborative strategies to support sustainable tourism initiatives that improve the quality of life in urban areas. Join us for this significant dialogue and contribute to shaping actionable solutions! Register with the link in our bio! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #UCLG #UrbanAreas #Forum #KeynoteButton -
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🌟 Join Us for the World Urban Pavilion’s 2nd Year Fundraising Networking Celebration! 🌟 📅 Date: June 25th, 2024 🕕 Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm 📍 Location: World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park - Powered by Daniels Get ready for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate two transformative years of the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park - Powered by The Daniels Corporation! 🌍✨ At our exclusive networking soirée, we are thrilled to unveil the World Urban Pavilion’s SDG Cities Report Series, a groundbreaking initiative to highlight and advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within urban settings. Over the past two years, we’ve partnered with vibrant communities across Canada and around the world, spotlighting extraordinary achievements in SDG implementation and urban innovation. 🌆🏙️ This event is also a fundraising opportunity to build the capacity of the Canada Frontrunner program as we look toward the next steps of this program. We are excited to involve all of Canada as we strengthen urbanization in Canada from coast to coast to coast Join us as we embark on another year of making a global impact, working hand-in-hand with cities, communities, urban experts, and the private sector to drive meaningful change and collective action toward achieving the SDGs. Let’s celebrate, connect, and continue our journey towards a sustainable urban future! 🎉🌟 🔗 RSVP now and be part of the movement with the link in our bio! #WUP2ndAnniversary #SDGCities #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableCities #RegentPark #NetworkingSoiree #WorldUrbanPavilion #GlobalImpact #UNSDGs #CommunityCelebrationButton -
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🌟 Big News from the World Urban Pavilion! 🌟 Yesterday, our Steering Committee gathered to discuss our progress and share upcoming opportunities with new partners, projects, and initiatives. 🌍✨ The Committee has been crucial in guiding our strategy, ensuring that our global goals and local actions are driven by knowledge, innovation, and transformation. Our mission? To improve the quality of life for people and communities everywhere. Lots of exciting updates were discussed, and we can’t wait to share them with you soon! Stay tuned! #UrbanDevelopment #Innovation #Community #Sustainability #WorldUrbanPavilion #ExcitingTimes #StayTunedButton -
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📢 UTC 9.0 Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems Day 1 Recap Our first day focused on the critical housing challenges faced by women and gender-diverse individuals. A distinguished panel of speakers highlighted the urgency of the issue and explored actionable solutions. 💡 Key Takeaways and Solutions: 1. Knowledge Exchange: Robust collaboration among individuals with lived experiences, service providers, researchers, and policymakers is essential. This exchange ensures that all perspectives are considered, leading to comprehensive and effective solutions. 2. Amplifying Voices: Housing solutions must be led by those with lived experiences. Their insights are invaluable in creating inclusive and just societies, ensuring that policies are rooted in real-world needs. 3. Intersectional Gender Lens: Applying an intersectional gender lens is crucial. Solutions must address overlapping social categories like race, class, and gender to ensure inclusivity and that no group is left behind. 4. Inclusive Urban Environments: Building inclusive and equitable urban environments is essential. Strengthening partnerships between community organizations, governments, and the private sector fosters inclusive housing developments where everyone feels safe and supported. Together, we can create a future where everyone has access to safe, affordable housing. Let’s continue to drive innovative solutions and advocate for policies that ensure housing for all. 🏡✨ #UTC9 #HousingMatters #GenderEquality #AffordableHousing #CommunitySolutionsButton -
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🏘 Looking forward to the upcoming event “Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems,” hosted at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park powered by The Daniels Corporation on June 11, 12, 13th. Stay tuned for more updates and register with the link below! https://tr.ee/aZLcYU8AKbButton -
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🎥✨ Watch this inspiring recap from the 5th Urban Economy Forum, where innovative ideas and impactful discussions took center stage! Held with ISOCARP’s 59th World Planning Congress, it was all about driving sustainable urban economies and smart municipal finance. Get ready for the 6th Urban Economy Forum in September 2024! This year, we’re focusing on financing sustainable urban tourism. Let’s create vibrant, resilient cities together! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uef6-financing-sustainable-tourism-advancing-quality-of-life-tickets-773811961407?aff=oddtdtcreator #UrbanEconomyForum #UEF2024 #SustainableCities #UrbanTourism #Innovation #ISOCARPButton -
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📢 Exciting Agenda Announcement for Day 1 and Day 2 of our UTC 9.0 "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems" on June 11, 12 & 13 2024! Just a few days away 🏠✨ Here's a sneak peek at what we have in store for you! 📅 Date: June 11, 2024 📍 Location: World Urban Pavilion, Toronto & Virtual Don't miss out on these insightful discussions, amazing speakers and networking opportunity. Register now to join us with the link in our bio! #HousingMatters #UrbanThinkersCampus #GenderEquality #SustainableCities #EndHomelessnessButton -
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We are pleased to share that UEF Chair Reza Pourvaziry and Hanieh Riahi recently met with the Honorable Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to United Nations in New York. The discussions were insightful, and we are hopeful to welcome the Honorable Bob Rae to the Pavilion soon to learn how we are mobilizing Canadian urban innovations to urban transformation and solutions. Stay tuned for more updates on this promising development! #UEF #Collaboration #Leadership #NetworkingButton -
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📢 Did you know that women are disproportionately affected by homelessness? Let's talk about it 🏠 Join us at the World Urban Pavilion for UTC 9.0 for our 3 half day events, "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems" where we'll dive deep into this critical issue and more. 📅 When: June 11-13, 2024 📍 Where: World Urban Pavilion, Toronto & Virtual Let's work together to find sustainable solutions and support systems that address the housing challenges faced by women and gender-diverse people. Register now to be part of this vital conversation with the link in our bio #HousingMatters #UrbanThinkersCampus #EndHomelessness #GenderEquality #SustainableCitiesButton -
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📢 Join us June 11, 12, & 13th at the World Urban Pavilion powered by Daniels for an in-depth exploration of critical housing issues affecting women and gender-diverse people! 🏡 Our event, Urban Thinkers Campus 9.0 "Housing Challenges for Women: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems," will cover a range of vital topics: 1. Women/Gender-Diverse People and Housing Rights: Discover the essential rights and protections needed to ensure safe, secure housing for all. 2. Economic Disparities and Housing: Examine how economic inequality impacts access to affordable housing and explore strategies to bridge the gap. 3. Gender-Based Violence and Housing: Learn about the intersection of housing insecurity and gender-based violence and how we can provide safe havens for survivors. 4. Intersectionality and Housing: Understand the complex layers of identity and their influence on housing experiences, from race and gender to economic status. 5. Indigenous Women/Gender-Diverse People and Homelessness: Delve into the unique challenges faced by homeless women and gender-diverse individuals and the support systems that can make a difference. 6. Housing Challenges for At-Risk Populations: Address the specific housing needs of vulnerable groups, including lone parent families, immigrant women, gender minorities, and senior women. 7. Financial Aspects of Housing for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Explore the financial barriers and opportunities in securing housing for women and gender-diverse communities. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of meaningful conversations and solutions. Register now to secure your spot with the link in our bio! #HousingMatters #UrbanThinkersCampus #GenderEquality #SustainableCities #IndigenousHousing #CMHCButton -
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🏘 Introducing the UEF organizing team for the upcoming event "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems," hosted at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park powered by Daniels on June 11, 12, 13th. These 3 half day events aims to address the significant housing challenges faced by women and gender-diverse individuals, particularly focusing on homelessness. It will create a platform for meaningful conversations and the exploration of innovative solutions to these pressing issues. The inclusion of women and gender-diverse voices is crucial, as their unique perspectives, needs, and experiences are essential for crafting effective and inclusive housing strategies. We invite everyone to join us for this important event to engage in dialogue, share insights, and contribute to the development of sustainable housing solutions for all. Meet Our Organizing Team: 🌟 Ilda Cordeiro - Director of Programs / UEF 🌟 Fazileh Dadvar - Chief of Research & Development 🌟 Hanieh Riahi - Senior Graphic Designer 🌟 Alyssa Martschenko - Program & Communication Manager Stay tuned for more updates and register with the link in our bio! #HousingForAll #UEF2024 #WUP #WNHHN #NIWHN #CMHC #GenderDiverseHousing #InnovativeSolutions #CommunityEngagement #HousingMattersButton -
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🏘 We are thrilled to introduce part of the organizing team for the upcoming event "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems," hosted at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park powered by Daniels. This event aims to raise awareness about the housing issues faced by women and gender-diverse people, including homelessness. It will provide a platform for meaningful conversations to explore innovative solutions to address these challenges. Recognizing the importance of including the unique perspectives, needs, and experiences of women and gender-diverse individuals, this forum seeks to engage and empower them in these crucial discussions. This significant event will take place over three half-day sessions on June 11, 12, and 13, 2024. Meet Our Organizing Team: 🌟 Khulud Baig - Director of Policy and Community Engagement 🌟 Stefania Seccia - Director of Advocacy and Strategic Communications 🌟 Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat - Chair, National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network & Co-Chair, WNHHN 🌟 Arlene Hache, CM - Co-Chair, WNHHN Stay tuned for more updates and register with the link in our bio. #HousingForAll #UEF2024 #WUP #WNHHN #NIWHN #CMHC #GenderDiverseHousing #InnovativeSolutions #CommunityEngagementButton -
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🌟Last night the World Urban Pavilion hosted the Moving Towards Opportunity (MTO) program’s employer mock-interview event!🌟 MTO a joint effort between Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation, City of Toronto, Dixon Hall, and Pathways to Education has empowered over 171 youth in Regent Park, providing essential job skills, paid work opportunities, and professional networking. This initiative aligns with the Pavilions mission to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work, economic growth, and reducing inequalities. 🌍✨ Join us in celebrating this milestone and empowering youth for a brighter future! 🌟 #YouthEmpowerment #EmploymentOpportunities #SDGs #RegentPark #MovingTowardsOpportunity #MTO #CommunityImpact #FutureLeadersButton -
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🌏 The World Urban Pavilion was pleased to host Toronto Community Housing and the delegation from Bangladesh to exchange knowledge and innovations on urban revitalization. Toronto Community Housing shared with the Bangladeshi delegation the successes and challenges of the Regent Park Revitalization. We look forward to connecting with the delegation in the future to better understand their innovations in urban development and the transformation of communities. #GovernmentofBangladesh #toronto #community #housing #knowledgehubButton -
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📢 We are excited to announce World Urban Pavilion: Global Initiatives | Transforming Cities, with strategic interventions in Canada, United States, Mexico, and Qatar that are coming soon. The Pavilion is a global hub for exchange of knowledge and innovation, dedicated to introduce progressive and innovative alternative projects around the globe. Through existing collaborative arrangements with Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Toronto and other International organizations and world class international consultation firms, we have the necessary technical expertise to deliver transformative projects. #UrbanTransformation #SDGs #GlobalInitiatives #CollaborationButton -
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Exciting news! 🎉 We’re extending our Urban Thinkers Campus 9.0 “Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems” with an additional action-packed half day hosted with Fred Victor as well as Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network and the National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network! Add to your calendars June 13th as we delve into their impactful programs tackling homelessness in Toronto. Secure your spot for all 3 half days June 11-13th now using the link in our bio! #UTC #WomenandHousing #CommunityAction #CMHCButton -
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We are thrilled to be attending The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) in Cincinnati this week! The energy and innovation here are exciting as we engage with leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners dedicated to creating vibrant, sustainable urban spaces. #CNU #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableCities #UrbanDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #FutureOfCitiesButton -
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🚨 Submission Deadline Alert! 🚨 Call for Abstracts/ Contributions: UEF6 Conference Due July 15th 2024! Join the Urban Economy Forum for UEF6: "Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life". This global conference welcomes academics, practitioners, city leaders, and more to explore sustainable tourism's potential in cities worldwide. 📆 Conference Dates: September 25 - 27, 2024 📍 Location: Kitchner & Toronto, Canada Submit your abstract or contribution to UEF6@ueforum.org before the deadline. Don't miss out on this opportunity to contribute to the dialogue on urban economy and sustainable tourism! 🔗 Register and Learn More with the link in our bio! #UEF6 #CallForAbstracts #SustainableTourismButton -
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🌆 Dive into the heart of urban transformation with us at our Urban Thinkers Campus 9.0! 🌟 Join us as we explore innovative solutions to housing challenges for women. The Urban Thinkers Campus is a catalyst for change, bringing together urban stakeholders and decision-makers to tackle the pressing issues of our time. Our event, “Housing Challenges for Women and Gender-Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems” aligns perfectly with the World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat’s mission by addressing the unique housing needs of women and girls. By participating in our event on June 11-12, 2024, you’ll be contributing to the global conversation on sustainable urban development and gender equality. Let’s work together to create cities that are inclusive, safe, and supportive for all residents. Join us at the forefront of urban innovation—register now with the link in our bio! #UrbanThinkersCampus #SustainableCities #GenderEqualityButton -
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📢Join us at UEF6: Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life, to delve into the critical Topic 5 of Sustainable Tourism and Businesses. Explore financing models and the role of the private sector in enhancing the positive impact of tourism on host communities while ensuring a high-quality experience for tourists. Learn how collaboration between sectors and services can foster innovative business and financing models, maximizing tourism benefits and minimizing negative impacts on local communities. See how the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Partnership with Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance (GISD) (2021) SDG Investor Platform is driving sustainable development in the hospitality and recreation sector, aligning with UEF6 topic 5. Discover how sustainable tourism intersects with urban development, shaping thriving communities and improved well-being. Be part of the conversation to uncover innovative strategies and practices for a sustainable future! For more information and registration, use the QR Code or link in our bio. #UrbanEconomy #SustainableTourism #QualityOfLife #Topic5Button -
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🚨 Registration Now Open! 🚨 Join us for UTC 9.0 "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender - Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems" event hosted by Urban Economy Forum, World Urban Pavilion, Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network, and the National Indigenous Women's Housing Network. 🏠 Don't miss this opportunity to be part of vital discussions on women and and gender - diverse people's housing issues and innovative solutions. #RegisterNow #HousingForAll 📅 Event Dates: June 11-12, 2024 📍 Location: World Urban Pavilion, Toronto & Virtual 🌐 Secure your spot today and register now with the link in our bio! Let's come together to make a difference in women and gender - diverse people's lives and shape the future of urban housing. #WomenEmpowerment #UrbanDevelopment #UrbanThinkersCampus #SDGs #GenderEqualityButton -
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🌟 Important Update! 📢 We’re shifting gears and moving our UEF6 Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life conference to September 25-27th! Plus, we’re offering discounted prices for groups of 3 or more! Gather your group and join us for insightful discussions on advancing quality of life through sustainable tourism. Act fast – the abstract submission deadline is July 15th! Register now and visit our website for more details. 🗓️🌍 #UEF6 #Conference #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #GroupDiscounts #AbstractDeadlineButton -
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NEWS FLASH 📢 It was a pleasure having Joseph Chaung President of the The Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) - Toronto and CEO of C4P Inc. join us at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by Daniels to discuss future collaboration. 🤝 We are excited about the potential to strengthening the relationship between Canada and Hong Kong in the process of realizing the Urban SDGs and creating alternative innovative projects on the urban SDG’s with an approach to sustainable housing! Stay tuned for more updates. #SDGs #Urban #Housing #Global #Inovation#KnoweldgeHubButton -
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NEWS FLASH 📢 It was a pleasure having Joseph Chaung President of the The Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) - Toronto and CEO of C4P Inc. join us at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by Daniels to discuss future collaboration. 🤝 We are excited about the potential to strengthening the relationship between Canada and Hong Kong in the process of realizing the Urban SDGs and creating alternative innovative projects on the urban SDG’s with an approach to sustainable housing! Stay tuned for more updates. #SDGs #Urban #Housing #Global #Inovation#KnoweldgeHubButton -
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Calling all Spanish speakers! 📢 On May 3rd hear Co-Chair of the World Urban Pavilion Eduardo Lopez Moreno’s Keynote Lecture about “Cities and Territories: Faced with Diffuse Horizons and Ideals” 🗣️During the session they will address the fundamental aspects of the complex dynamics of cities and territories, with some emphasis on the most important processes of the present. They will expose and discuss cities, their socio-spatial formation and the occupation of the territory, public space; discuss the factors that influence speculation-gentrification, inequality, environmental impact; reflect on the complex circuits that make up the reality resulting from territorial urban planning. Examine ideas for the construction of the imaginary of a future marked today by globalized uncertainty. 🏫Brough to you by the University Center of Art, Architecture and Design, through the Institute for Research and Study of Cities / IN-Cities, the Doctorate in City Territory and Sustainability and the Master’s Degree in Processes and Expression in Urban Architectural Projection. Use the link in our bio to join the session #conference #Spanish #urbanplaning #citiesButton -
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Save the Date! 📅 Join us at our UTC 9.0 for a crucial discussion on "Housing Challenges for Women and Gender - Diverse People: Exploring Solutions and Support Systems" hosted by Urban Economy Forum, World Urban Pavilion powered by The Daniels Corporation, Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network, and the National Indigenous Women's Housing Network. 📅 When: June 11 & 12, 2024 📍 Where: World Urban Pavilion, Toronto & Virtual 🌐 Register now to be part of the conversation with the link in our Bio! 🏠 Let's raise awareness and find innovative solutions for women and gender - diverse people facing housing insecurity and homelessness. #HousingMatters #WomenEmpowerment Together, let's create inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban spaces for all! #UrbanThinkersCampus #SDGs #GenderEqualityButton -
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📢 🌎 NEWS FLASH - We are pleased to have had Mr. Jafar Javan, Director of the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), come from Italy to visit the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by The Daniels Corporation to join us in collaboration to continue moving forward the #SGDs. Stay tuned for our work to come! #SDGs #UnitedNations #GlobalCollaboration #SustainableDevelopment #UNSSC #WorldUrbanPavilionButton -
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📢 🌎 NEWS FLASH - We are pleased to have had Mr. Jafar Javan, Director of the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), come from Italy to visit the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by Daniels to join us in collaboration to continue moving forward the #SGDs. Stay tuned for our work to come! #SDGs #UnitedNations #GlobalCollaboration #SustainableDevelopment #UNSSC #WorldUrbanPavilionButton -
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🌟 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Pavilion Talks - Creating a Toronto for Everyone: 10 Doable Actions a conversation with Gil Penalosa at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by The Daniels Corporation! It was an enlightening discussion drawing from Gil’s wealth of experience in over 350 cities worldwide. Throughout the event, we explored actionable steps towards building equitable and sustainable communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Gil’s insights inspired us to think creatively and inclusively about the future of our cities. A special thank you to Gil for his engaging presentation and invaluable contributions to the conversation. Let’s continue working together to make Toronto a city that truly belongs to everyone. Stay tuned for more events and initiatives focused on urban innovation and community empowerment! #ThankYou #GilPenalosa #EquitableCities #SustainableCommunities #UrbanInnovationButton -
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Don't forget to register for tomorrow's Pavilion Talk - Creating a Toronto for Everyone: 10 Double Actions with Gil Penalosa! Join us as we dive into the topic of creating equitable and sustainable communities. Learn from Gil's vast experience in over 350 cities worldwide. Don't miss this opportunity to shape the future of our cities together! Use the QR Code or link in bio! #EquitableCities #SustainableCommunities #PavilionTalksButton -
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Join us at UEF6: Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life, to explore how sustainable tourism intersects with urban development, shaping thriving communities and improved well-being. Discover innovative strategies and practices for a sustainable future! See how the 2023 report "Achieving the SDGs through Tourism; Toolkit of Indicators for Projects (TIPS)" relates to UEF6 topic 4! Use the QR Code or link in bio for more information and registration #UrbanEconomy #SustainableTourism #QualityOfLifeButton -
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🌍🇨🇦 News Flash: Hear from Urban Economy Forum’s Chair Reza Pourvaziry on how UEF continues to advocate for Canada as an emerging frontrunner in urban Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thanks to the pioneering initiative of the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by Daniels and the Urban Economy Forum. Stay tuned as we prepare to release our inaugural report and unveil the Canada Front Runner Club, a platform for collaboration and advocacy towards national cohesion and global sustainability. #SDGs #CanadaFrontRunner #UrbanEconomyButton -
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UEF6: Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life, October 7-9th 2024 Topic 3: Tourism and Environment! 🌍 Join us to explore sustainable travel practices and the preservation of natural landscapes! 🌿 Our forum delves into the critical nexus between tourism and the environment, showcasing strategies to safeguard our planet's ecological heritage. See how the United Nations Environment Programme's report "Transforming Tourism through Sustainable Procurement" (2019) relates to UEF6 Topic 3. Check out the link in our bio or use the QR Code for more information and registration. #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #EnvironmentalStewardshipButton -
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Hear from UEF6 steering committee, member Giuseppe Tesoriere of UNECA on the pivotal role of sustainable tourism in advancing quality of life! Excited to join the conversation at the 6th Urban Economy Forum on Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life this October in Toronto & Kitchener, Canada. Use the link in our bio to learn more and register or visit our website www.ueforum.org/uef-6 🌍✨ #UrbanEconomyForum #SustainableTourism #QualityofLifeButton -
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📢 We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Virtual Pavilion! A groundbreaking initiative developed by Harvard University Graduate School of Design under the leadership of Professor Diane E. Davis. A worldwide database with contextual and proven solutions to complex urban challenges. We extend our deepest appreciation to the Government of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), The Daniels Corporation, Global Solution Nexus (GSN), and Glocal Platform for Urban Finance (GPUF) for their invaluable contribution in bringing this project to fruition. The Virtual Pavilion stands as one of the main global virtual halls, dedicated to sharing knowledge and innovation on sustainable urban development from around the world. Stay tuned for upcoming news and updates about this transformative platform! 🌍💡 #VirtualPavilion #Innovation #KnowledgeSharing #GlobalImpactButton -
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Have you registered for our next Pavilion Talk - Creating a Toronto for Everyone: 10 Doable Actions a conversation with Gil Penalosa on April 18th? Join us at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by The Daniels Corporation as we delve into creating cities for everyone, exploring experiences from over 350 cities across the globe. The Greater City of Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) presents a unique landscape for urban development, with its rapidly growing population and immense potential for positive change. With insights from Gil Penalosa, we'll explore actionable steps to shape a future where cities are inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant for generations to come. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of "Conversations with Gil," and becoming advocates for Equitable & Sustainable Communities. Let's transform our cities together! Register for FREE with the link link our bio or the QR Code #Urbanization #Sustainability #CommunityBuilding #Equity #PavilionTalksButton -
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🌍 Join Us at UEF6: Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life! City leaders, financial organizations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, academia, private sector representatives, and local communities - You're all invited to participate in UEF6! Date: October 7-9 2024 Location: Kitchener & Toronto At UEF6, we're bringing together experts and stakeholders in sustainable tourism, urbanization, and the economy. Whether you're interested in attending as an audience member or contributing as a speaker or presenter, we welcome your participation. Share your insights, innovations, and research findings on Urban sustainable tourism practices. This is your chance to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from leading experts, and contribute to meaningful discussions. Register now with the link in our bio to secure your spot at UEF6! Don't miss this unique opportunity to share, learn, and connect. See you there! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityOfLife 🌍🌟Button -
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Uniting public & private sectors for sustainable cities! 💼🌍 At the World Summit on SDG Cities and Urban Finance, Douglas Ragan emphasized the importance of collaboration to bridge the $3.4 trillion gap for fully sustainable urban development. Let’s pool our resources for a healthier future! #SDGs #UrbanFinance #sustainabilityButton -
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🌍 Explore UEF6 Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life, Topic 2: Tourism and Infrastructure Development! 💼💫 Explore sustainable tourism infrastructure, smart solutions, and public-private partnerships driving growth. Dive into resilience strategies, community engagement, and empowerment in tourism. Dive deeper into the discussion with "Discover Guide 6. Managing the Development of Tourism Infrastructure" published by UNESCO. 📈 See how it connects to our second UEF6 topic. Find out more and register via the link in our bio or scan the QR Code! Get involved today!🌟 #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #InfrastructureDevelopment #ConferenceReadyButton -
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Join us for our next Pavilion Talk speaker series with Gil Penalosa on April 18th at 1:00pm at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park Powered by Daniels. Register now to save your seat with the link in our bio or use the QR code! Gil, having had the privilege to work in over 350 cities across all continents, wants to share experiences of actions to undertake and avoid when creating cities for everyone. The GTHA is a fascinating place, with one of the fastest growing populations of any urban area in the ‘developed countries.’ Within the next 25 years, it’ll grow by over 50%; huge opportunity, and enormous responsibility, as whatever we do or don’t will create the place where many millions will live over many centuries. Unfortunately, over the past 25 years, much of the GTHA’s urbanization has not been adequately done. It’s bad for climate change, as well as for mental & physical health, sustainable mobility, happiness, and more. We need to do things radically different. Unfortunately, the province and most municipalities are doing more of the same. Many are doing the right talk, but not following with the right actions. In response, Gil Penalosa offers "Conversations with Gil" to raise awareness and guide individuals from a sense of hopelessness to hopefulness, inspiring them to become passionate advocates for Equitable & Sustainable Communities. #PavilionTalk #SpeakerSeries #UrbanPlanning #EquitableCities #SustainableCommunities #CitiesForEveryoneButton -
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📢 Introducing one of our first UEF6 Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life steering committee members, Dr. Fabio Carbone! Hear why he thinks advancing quality of life, one of our main themes, is so important at a time when the world needs to come together to collaborate and advance sustainable solutions for each and everyone one of us. Register and get more information with the link in our bio to our website! #UEF6 #QualityofLife #conference #globalsolutions #globalcollaborationButton -
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🌍 Excited for UEF6 Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life, Theme 1: Sustainable Urban Tourism, Economic Growth and Prosperity! 💼💫 Dive deeper into the discussion with the IMF’s latest document on Unlocking Tourism Potential in Dominica. 📈 See how it connects to our theme and find out more and register via the link in our bio! Get involved today!🌟 #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #IMF #Dominica #conferenceready👌Button -
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Excited to join forces in fostering sustainable tourism and enhancing the quality of life? 🌍💼 Look no further! Dive into UEF6, 'Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life'. Your expertise and passion are key ingredients to our shared success. Ready to make a difference? Submit your invaluable contributions through the straightforward instructions outlined on our website. Let's shape a brighter, more sustainable future together! #UEF6 #QualityofLife #SustainableTourism #JoinTheMovementButton -
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We were honoured to have Mr. FRANK STRONACH, founder of Magna International, join us at the World Summit for SDG Cities & Urban Finance. We were delighted to hear a passionate speech in which he shared his 7 principles with us: 𝟏. 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Stronach established a corporate constitution with a key principle of distributing 10% of profits to employees after wages. This approach resulted in a remarkable increase in profits over three years, demonstrating the power of employee participation in profit sharing. 𝟐. 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. Stronach shares an example of a 3-year struggle to get a farmer's market permit, stating bureaucracy has overgrown in the West hampering business. He proposes gradually reducing bureaucracy by 50% over 20 years. 𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬. Stronach critiques a convoluted tax system with loopholes serving special groups, not society. He calls for simplifying taxes into a clear, fair system of charge distribution. 𝟒. 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Stronach differentiates small businesses, under 300 employees, from large ones and proposes freeing them from bureaucracy to drive innovation, while enforcing workplace safety and environmental rules. 𝟓. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭-𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 For larger businesses with over 300 employees, Stronach proposes mandating profit-sharing between 10-20% to drive engagement and productivity as proven in Magna International. 𝟔. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 Stronach recommends exposing students to trades in high schools, before university, to expand horizons and supply skilled tradespeople that society needs. 𝟕. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 He proposes serving breakfast and lunch with organic food to all Canadian schoolchildren by law to address hunger issues.Button -
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We are honoured to have the support of Hon. Marci Ien Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada at the World Urban Pavilion. Her words capture the essence of our mission: to create an incredible space where impactful work, shared knowledge, and community thrive through sustainable innovation for sustainable and urban development. Thank you Minister for recognizing the life-changing potential of our efforts. #WorldUrbanPavilion #SDGs #CommunityImpact #IWD2024Button -
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The City of Richmond Hill is a diverse city that is growing rapidly and has immense potential in becoming a Global Frontrunner City on Urban SDGs under the Pavilion. Richmond Hill has a opportunity for urban transformation and urban investment. Listen to what Mayor David West of Richmond Hill has to say about his intervention at the opening of the World Summit on SDG Cities & Urban Finance. During his address Mayor West highlighted several critical challenges facing his city and how they continue to work towards implementing sustainable solutions: 1. Funding Limitations: Richmond Hill needs $8.6 billion by 2050 for sustainability initiatives, requiring support from higher levels of government due to limitations in property taxes. 2. Housing Pressures:Rapid population growth demands construction of affordable housing, with an expected increase from 210,000 to 320,000 residents by 2051. 3. Balancing Growth & Sustainability: Shifting to urban development requires sustainable practices, despite resistance from traditional suburban residents. 4. Climate Change Mitigation: Richmond Hill aims for net-zero emissions by 2051, necessitating major infrastructure overhauls in transportation, energy, and buildings. 5. Protecting Natural Resources: Preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine and its water sources is crucial for Richmond Hill’s ecosystem and drinking water supply. 6. Stormwater Management & Flood Mitigation: Investments in flood control, like the rumble pond project, are vital as the city faces increasing flood risks due to climate change. 7. Invasive Species Management: Despite challenges from invasive species, Richmond Hill is committed to expanding its urban canopy while preserving its natural environment. #SDGs #Sustainablefuture #sustainablecitiesButton -
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🌍 Flashback to the World Summit on SDG Cities and Urban Finance! 🌟 Relive the highlights and key takeaways. Join us as we recap the insights, innovations, and calls to action that are shaping the future of sustainable cities. The Urban Economy Forum, in collaboration with UN-Habitat’s SDG Cities Initiative and Glocal Platform for Urban Finance, explored vital urban development and finance topics over two dynamic days.Here’s a quick recap: Day 1: Empowering Sustainable Urban Growth ➡ Commitment to Sustainability: Financial institutions and the UN-Habitats SDG Cities Initiative emphasized the need for robust resources and innovative approaches. ➡ Best Practices: Canadian cities showcased projects, highlighting the policy relevance of SDG Cities and fostering future connections. ➡ Inclusive Dialogue: Inclusive conversations translated complex concepts into actionable plans, emphasizing the importance of transformative data. ➡ Financial Innovation: GPUF presented investment opportunities and stressed the necessity of innovative financial solutions for pressing urban issues. Day 2: Urban Development & Climate Action ➡ Comprehensive Measurement: Discussions focused on measuring urban well-being for a nuanced understanding of city functionality. ➡ Innovative Solutions: Technology like concrete monitoring platform showcased advancements in construction safety and environmental sustainability. ➡ Urban Resilience: Emphasis was placed on holistic approaches to urban well-being for resilient and livable cities. The World Summit on SDG Cities & Urban Finance brought together diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to pave the way for sustainable urban development and resilience. Let’s continue this momentum towards building inclusive, thriving cities for all. 🏙️🌱 🎥 @matt_milliere_productionsButton -
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We were honoured to host and organise International Woman’s Day at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park powered by Daniels, where we welcomed, Honourable, Marci Ien and many other incredible Women and panels. We had a day filled with very transparent, open and progressive conversation regarding roles of women in todays transforming changing world. Stay tuned as we continue this discussion and important conversation #IWD2024 #womenpower #womenLeaders #SDG5Button -
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Join us tomorrow for International Women’s Day with Multicultural Action Group for Orphans (MAGO), Dr. Zahra Hojati and Roya Sharifzad for their session: ‘Empowering International Racialized Women in Sistan & Baloochestan.’ 🌍 Let’s shine a light on the resilience of women and their incredible journeys. Together, we’ll celebrate their strength and empower them to thrive! #IWD2024 #Empowerment #Resilience Still time to register with the link in our bio for in person or join us online!Button -
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Excited to celebrate International Women’s Day with a session from the Toronto Centre of Learning & Development from #RegentPark! Join us for a powerful session on ‘The Power of Community Engagement: A Conversation Between Women Creating Change.’ 🌟 They will spotlight female residents excelling in community initiatives, empowering immigrant and newcomer women. Let’s amplify their voices and celebrate their impact! #IWD2024 #CommunityEngagement #WomenLeadership Register with the link in our bio!Button -
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💼On International Women’s Day 2024, let’s come together for an empowering session: ‘Empowering Women: Navigating the Financial Landscape’! 🌟 Join us as we delve into the fundamental basics of budgeting and other essential financial keys, equipping women with the tools they need to thrive in finance. Featuring insights from Rosemary Torelli, Regional Vice President at BMO Toronto Central Market. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower yourself financially! #IWD2024 #FinancialEmpowerment #WomenInFinance Register with the link in our bio!Button -
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🎉 We are delighted to announce Hon. Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, as our esteemed keynote speaker for International Women’s Day! 🌟 Her invaluable insights will deepen our understanding of women’s pivotal role in advancing equity and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs. Hosted by the Urban Economy Forum (UEF) in collaboration with the World Urban Pavilion (WUP), this event promises a dynamic platform for diverse voices and perspectives. 🌍 The reception kicks off at 8 AM (EDT), paving the way for an inspiring day ahead. Opening remarks begin at 8:45 AM (EDT), followed by a series of engaging sessions touching on empowering international racialized women, intergenerational mentoring, community engagement, financial empowerment, legal leadership, and self-care. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be part of a meaningful dialogue celebrating, empowering, and accelerating progress for women worldwide. 🚀 About Hon. Marci Ien: Hon. Marci Ien serves as Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, representing Toronto Centre since 2020. With a distinguished career in journalism and television spanning three decades, she’s a passionate advocate for underserved communities both in Canada and globally. As Minister, her focus remains on improving the lives of women, girls, youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities across the nation. 🇨🇦 #IWD2024 #WomenLeadership #GenderEquality Register with link in BioButton -
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🌱 Secure your spot at UEF6, where early birds pave the way for sustainable urban transformation. Register now to join the conversation on partnerships, cultural preservation, where we’re paving the path for a greener, more inclusive future. Join us in redefining tourism’s role in sustainable urban transformation. Don’t wait—register early and be a catalyst for positive change! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #EarlyBird Use the link in our profile bio!Button -
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📢 With just one week away make sure you have registered with the link in our bio for our IWD2024 at the World Urban Pavilion! You don’t want to miss @scaba_0102 Kim Singh‘s session - The Value of Intergenerational Mentoring. She will share how she aims to empower the next generation of women leaders by fostering mentorship and self-education, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and experience across generations. 💪🏼👭 #InternationalWomensDay #Womensempowerment #mentorship #womensleadersButton -
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We are proud to have Deqa Nur member of UEF’s senior advisor board meeting with the H.E Speaker of the House of Commons Parliament of Canada Greg Fergus when they welcomed Somali Federal Government Delegates to Ottawa 🇨🇦👏🏼Button -
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Hear what His Excellency Gline Arley Clarke, High Commissioner of Barbados has to say about the importance of our conference and financing for cities. UEF5 started the conversation and UEF6 Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life plans to continue the momentum. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, introduced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley to be co-chairs of the Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group Register now with link in our profile Bio! #UEF6 #tourisim #sustainability #SDG #globalconversation 🎥 @matt_milliere_productionsButton -
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🌍 Join us on International Women’s Day 2024 at the World Urban Pavilion for a vital discussion on Women’s Health and the Environment! 🌿💪 Let’s raise awareness about the critical link between our environment and health, shedding light on how women and vulnerable populations bear disproportionate burdens. Featuring insightful talks from Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN) Executive Director Honour Stahl and Law Reform Specialist Kanisha Acharya-Patel. Don’t miss this opportunity to advocate for a healthier future for all! #IWD2024 #WomensHealth #EnvironmentalJusticeButton -
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📚 Don’t miss our insightful panel discussion on Women in Law! 🌟 Join us for a dynamic conversation covering private, public, and NGO sectors, moderated by Janet Bobechko, Partner & Certified Specialist in Environmental Law. Featuring esteemed speakers Sandra Shime and Ramani Nadarajah, we’ll explore diverse perspectives shaping the legal landscape. Register with the link in our profile Bio #IWD2024 #WomenInLaw #LegalEquality #EmpowermentButton -
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NEWS FLASH from the World Urban Pavilion Co-Director Eduardo Lopez Moreno with an update on the year to come! We are excited to continue our collaborations and partnerships advancing Urban Economy and Sustainable Development!Button -
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🌟 Join us at the World Urban Pavilion for a transformative speaker session from Slim Center for Mental Health on March 8th for #IWD2024! 🌍💫 Dive into ‘Radical Self-Care: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others’ with renowned Psychologist, Dr. Taslim Alani-Verjee and colleagues. Let’s nurture our mental health together and embrace the power of radical self-care. Link in Profile Bio to register! #InternationalWomensDay #RadicalSelfCare #MentalHealthMatters”Button -
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🌍 Day 2 Recap of the World Summit on SDG Cities & Urban Finance The second day of the summit in partnership with @glocalplatformforurbanfinance delved deep into crucial aspects of urban development, resilience, and climate action Takeaways: 1️⃣ Comprehensive Urban Measurement: A fundamental discussion centered around the concept of measuring urban well-being. This approach, encompassing basic necessities, human-centric elements, and sustainable practices, offers a nuanced understanding of a city’s functionality, transcending mere economic metrics. 2️⃣ Innovative Risk Mitigation in Construction: Highlighting innovative solutions, such as the Rubicon concrete monitoring platform and tailored water application bundles, underscored the importance of integrating technology for ensuring construction safety and addressing environmental risks. 3️⃣ Interconnected Global Challenges: The conversations underscored the interconnectedness of global challenges, particularly in the realm of climate change. The ozone layer restoration initiative exemplified the power of international collaboration in tackling pressing environmental issues and the efforts to reduce GHG emissions to eliminate carbon-based solutions, increasing performance measurements for environmental sustainability. 4️⃣ Urban Resilience and Well-being: The discussions emphasized the need for a holistic approach to urban well-being, integrating diverse aspects to create resilient and livable cities for all residents. Highlights: ⭐ Innovative Solutions in Construction:Innovative tools showcased during the summit highlighted the role of technology in enhancing construction safety and environmental sustainability, setting new benchmarks for the industry. ⭐ Call for Global Collaboration: The summit echoed a resounding call for international collaboration, recognizing that addressing complex challenges like climate change requires unified efforts and shared learnings from across the globe.Button -
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Exciting news! 🌟 UEF is thrilled to announce our partnership with Territoria who has become a member of UEF until 2030 to spearhead cutting-edge, innovative, and sustainable urban development. 🏙️ We are also pleased to have them as a Gold Sponsor of the upcoming #UEF6 in Oct 2024. We’re committed to forging ahead with private sector collaborations for a greener urban future. Let’s build tomorrow, together! #SustainableCities #Partnership 🌱🏗️Button -
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🌍 Day 1 Recap of the World Summit on SDG Cities & Urban Finance These sessions articulated in strategic manner urbanization, global agendas & finance with the participation of local authorities, research & data experts, investors and financial organizations & UN agencies representatives. Takeaways: 1️⃣ Sustainable urbanization requires a strong commitment & the participation of financial institutions with the adequate resources & systems. UN-Habitat SDG Cities Initiative has created an innovative ‘value chain’ articulation with data, knowledge, policy making & creative solutions. 2️⃣ Canadian cities recognize the policy relevance of SDG Cities & presented best practices projects as part of the Canada Frontrunner Initiative emphasizing possible future connections. 3️⃣ Conversations made through inclusive dialogue translated complex concepts into practical actions stressing the importance of ‘good and transformative data’ with various examples of innovative data systems. 4️⃣ The Glocal Platform for Urban Finance - GPUF presented investment opportunities & emphasized the need for innovative financial solutions & new strategic partnerships for pressing issues such as the climate agenda & extreme inequalities. 5️⃣ The importance of community involvement for a sustainable future was stressed by the @cityofto representative, particularly for the creation of subjective measures for quality of life outcomes. 6️⃣ Capacity building programmes & citizen education activities will help to develop & propose new metrics & disaggregation techniques with the necessary investment in capacity development & dashboard creation, as proposed by the Cities Investment Facility. Highlight: ⭐ Having Mr. Frank Stronach founder of Magna International speak & advocate for a balanced economic system, emphasizing tax simplification, reduced income inequality, & streamlined government processes, with a focus on profit-sharing & skill development for societal benefit.Button -
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Have you registered for UEF’s International Women’s Day on March 8th 2024?🌍 Check out the incredible line up of sessions happening throughout the day! 🌸 Join us for as many sessions as you want! Use the link in our bio to register now!!Button -
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Looking to participate in a global conference on Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life? Just like last years forum, UEF6 will bring conversation and participation from around the world. 🌎 Visit our website with the link in our bio for more information #UEF6 #sustainabletourism #qualityoflife 🎥 @matt_milliere_productionsButton -
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🌍👩💼 Sneak peek alert! Get ready for a powerhouse lineup at the World Urban Pavilion on March 8th, 2024, for International Women’s Day! 💫 Join us for as many sessions as you want! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more updates! Register with the link in our bio #InternationalWomensDay #WomenEmpowerment #WorldUrbanPavilion #UEFButton -
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EXPLORE UEF6 THEME 'Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life' UEF6 is leading the way towards sustainable urban transformation 🏙️🌱 Embracing UN-SDGs 11 & 17, UEF6 pioneers partnerships for holistic development, blending Indigenous values, gender equality, and eco-conscious solutions. Join the conversation on infrastructure, and community empowerment as we pave the path for a greener, more inclusive future! Register and find out more with the link in our bio! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #SDGs #PartnershipsForChangeButton -
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We were delighted to host Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Urban & Regional Planning with the Daniels Corporation for a lecture on the SDGs and Urban Sustainability at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park! The World Urban Pavilion is a hub for Urban SDGs collaboration and solutions. Interested in collaborating? Learn more with the link in our bio.Button -
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🌍 Exciting News! Be part of UEF6 “Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life.” 🌆 submission and registration are open! Explore groundbreaking insights and connect with experts in academia, governance, and more. Submit your research papers, case studies, or proposals for special sessions by July 15th! 📚🌐 Let’s shape the future together at UEF6 in Kitchener and Toronto, Canada, from October 7-9, 2024. 🇨🇦✨ #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #UrbanEconomyForum #GlobalConference 🗓️✨Button -
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Registration is open for UEF’s IWD 2024 at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park powered by Daniels! Join us March 8th as we celebrate and empower women during multiple sessions through out the day! Registration in the link in our bio! Don’t forget Feb 5th is the deadline for collaboration applications #IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay #NetworkingEvent #WomenandurbanSDGs #WomenEmpowerment #WomenLeadersButton -
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Exciting collaboration is underway! 🌍 UEF team meets with the vibrant city of Kitchener to pave the way for UEF6. 🤝🏙️ Kitchener is leading the charge in localizing the SDGs, ready to inspire cities worldwide. 🌐 #UEF6 #KitchenerInAction #SDGs #GlobalCollaborationButton -
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We successfully convened the First Steering Committee (SC) meeting for the upcoming 6th Urban Economy Forum (UEF6) on January 25. Grateful for the active participation of our esteemed SC members, we engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the concept and structure of the 6th forum. Mark your calendars for October 7-9, as UEF6, themed ‘Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life,’ unfolds in Kitchener & Toronto, Canada. Stay tuned for innovative dialogues and insights! #UEF6 #UrbanEconomy #SustainableTourism #QualityOfLifeButton -
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📢Exciting News: UEF 6 - Financing Sustainable Tourism, Advancing Quality of Life is live 🌿 🌍 Mark your calendars and join the global discourse on October 7-9th, 2024 in Toronto and Kitchener, Canada. Explore the potential of tourism for economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange while ensuring sustainability. Let’s shape a future of inclusive urban development! Visit the link in our bio for registration and more information! #UEF6 #SustainableTourism #QualityofLife #SDGs Poster by: Hanieh Riahi @hanri_82Button
