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Message from the Director

Hello Urban Studies Program community,  

I wanted to welcome you to this academic year. While recognizing that in many ways COVID-19 is still with us, we are excited to be moving towards more in-person activities within the program while monitoring the public health situation and taking appropriate measures. To that end, it was amazing to see many of you at our welcome back pizza social. Keep your eye out for upcoming events – such as the conversation about applying to graduate school – in the near future. 

In addition to community building events, there are some other exciting things happening in the program. Some highlights: 

We have taken over as one of the coordinating partners, along with the School of Cities, of the Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project course. The Multidisciplinary Capstone Project (MUCP) is a unique, full academic year capstone course offered by the University of Toronto. All projects are sourced from cities, community groups and non-governmental organizations for whom the project addresses a real urban need, and requires a multidisciplinary approach to solve.  

We have also launched a new program website: urban.innis.utoronto.ca 

Professor Aditi Mehta officially started her permanent track position as an assistant professor in the teaching stream this summer. Professor Mehta has been with the Urban Studies Program in a contract limited term appointment for a number of years. We are extremely happy to have her on a permanent basis. 

I am cautiously excited for what the year ahead will bring and look forward to seeing you all in our classes and at various events. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there are things we can do to facilitate a successful and enjoyable year – or if you have suggestions for how to improve the program. 
 

David J. Roberts  

Director 

Urban Studies Program  

(Rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.)

What’s new in construction and renovations across U of T’s three campuses?


This autumn, students, professors, staff, and librarians will notice big improvements to enhance their experience and boost sustainability. They include the Landmark Project to rebuild St. George's historic core, a new housing building at Scarborough, and an interdisciplinary centre at Mississauga.

Click here to read more about the three campuses' construction and renovation projects.
(Photo by Matthew Dochstader)

‘We’re here for you’: How U of T is supporting students’ mental health – now and in the future


Students at the University of Toronto have access to enhanced mental health services and supports this fall to help them effectively navigate post-secondary and equip them with important life skills.

The sweeping changes come as U of T implements a stepped-care model of mental health service delivery that helps students get the help they need sooner and in a way that's tailored to their needs.

Click here to read more about mental health resources available to you across all three campuses.

USP Winter Course Offerings
 

View the 2022 Arts and Science Timetable here.
URB234H1-S   Cities in Popular Culture
This course explores popular culture phenomena such as hip-hop in the Bronx, Batman's Gotham, and Nollywood to study the role of popular culture in changing our understandings of cities (and presenting different perspectives on the city and urban experience than scholarly/academic literature). Investigate urban life and representation via popular culture.

URB236H1-S   A Multidisciplinary Introduction to Urban Studies II: Urban Challenges and Theoretical Application
Cities are hubs of innovation and creativity, yet they face major problems. This course examines urban issues such as inequality, crumbling infrastructure, and globalisation, as well as how municipal governments and urban inhabitants are addressing them.

URB337H1-S   Housing and Homelessness
This seminar will investigate the paradox and activism behind the federal government's goal: "By 2030, everyone in Canada has an affordable, suitable home." This course traces the links between housing, homelessness, and urban politics through readings, discussions, guest speakers, and activities; exploring municipal, provincial/territorial, and national policies and trends, and connecting with urban movements to fight displacement.

URB339H1-S   Divided City / United City
This course examines how economic inequality and polarisation are redefining Canada's metropolitan areas, changing neighbourhoods, and influencing our varied urban population. Using Toronto as an example, students will investigate these patterns' public policy ramifications.

URB342H1-S   Qualitative Research in Urban Studies
This course helps students create an Urban Studies capstone project. Students will learn qualitative research methodologies include interviews, focus groups, and observational analysis. Each student's urban research question is the focus of seminars and projects.

A One Week Course for Urban Activists and Policy Makers


In collaboration with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, ActionAid India is accepting applications for the Urban Action School 2022. From November 21 to 27, 2022, KILA will organise the UAS'22 in Thrissur, Kerala, India, with the theme "Towards Climate Just Cities."

The one-week course will focus on cities in the Global South while covering a variety of issues of urban climate justice activism.

Venue: Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Thrissur, Kerala, India

Applications are due 10th October 2022.

Register here.

Job Posting: Research Associate
Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity

 

The Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity (CCYP) is a national, nonprofit organisation that supports the development of the youth labour force in Canada. To guarantee that adolescents develop, contribute, and flourish, they help tackle on the difficulties of youth employment.

The CCYP is currently looking for a candidate for a Research Associate position. This person would work with the team at CCYP to conduct research on a variety of topics, including Canadian labour policies, geographic and regional patterns and disparities in socioeconomic development, labour market analytics, and educational and technological policies, all with a focus on issues relating to youth. Topics are not limited to the above.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample to hr@ccyp-ccpj.org no later than Friday October 14th, 2022.

View the full job posting here.

URSSU Peer Support Group

 
The Urban Studies peer support program is an opportunity for students in different levels of the program to connect and grow with each other through their shared interest in the city and urban related issues. This program is intended for students to support each other and help navigate their transition into university.

This program will create social connections with events planned throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. Applications are due October 23rd, 2022. If you have any questions about the form or program, please send an email to rebecca.sacco@mail.utoronto.ca

Register here.

USP Monthly Profile:
Urban Studies Student Union Co-Presidents:
Shameel Mohammed and Wana Saiful

Tell us a bit about your role as co-president of the URSSU.


As one of the co-presidents for URSSU, I am very excited to finally have an in-person year for events and programming! Whether that be through events like our pizza night earlier this semester as a collab with Professor Roberts, Professor Mehta and the URSSU admin or our upcoming coffee chats and city walks, seeing everyone network and bond in-person is something that I’m most excited about! After all, URSSU is here to ensure that the students are given a voice but at the same time we are also here to support and ensure that they all are having fun and are making friends within the faculty! Also look out for our collaborations with other UofT clubs! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the program, courses to take or any ideas about events to have! 

 

What drew you to the Urban Studies Program?


Honestly, in my first year I took GGR124 and then GGR217 for summer and then I was like yes, Urban Studies it is. And since then, I’ve only grown to enjoy and appreciate cities especially when I started taking more Urban Studies specific courses within the program.  As well, the Urban Studies Program (USP) complements my second major, Human Geography! 
 

What has been your favorite course or aspect of the program so far?


To give you an actual answer, I would say everything. From all my courses to all my professors who have thought me so far, the experience is quite amazing! Honestly, the togetherness of the program is something that I really enjoy. And let me tell you, the Professors within Urban Studies always makes the time for us students! The way the courses are designed, you would only want to learn more and more. From the admin staff to the faculty, the students and the USP colleagues, everyone puts in the effort to make sure our experience is a fantastic one! Also, something that has stood out for me is the ability the USP courses give to you to write about case studies from out of Canada. As someone who’s from Trinidad and Tobago, I have always enjoyed relating my home country back to what I learn within the program! So, I encourage you all to enroll into the Urban Studies Program. You will always enjoy your experience! 
 

What's an urban issue you think people should pay more attention to?
 

I would definitely have to say gentrification. The displacement of people from neighborhoods by members of the upper class continue to be one of the most alarming urban issues today. As future urban planners and geographers, it is very important to pay attention to the type of planning policies that are being designed so that we can protect the marginalized populations of societies and to preserve the cultures of neighborhoods. Yes, it is important to recognize the mix of cultures being brought into areas, but we must also make the effort to ensure that residents are not displaced and that their sense of belonging within their community is well preserved and nourished for future generations!
- Shameel Mohammed

Tell us a bit about your role as co-president of the URSSU. 


Our goal with URSSU is to provide opportunities for students to connect with their peers. This year we’re rebranding the previous mentorship program into a peer support group where any interested or current students, no matter what level of the program they’re in, can help support each other and navigate their transition into university. My first few friends in the Urban Studies program were from this peer group, and they are still the same people I go to for advice and support, and we wish to replicate those lasting connections for others!  
 

What drew you to the urban studies program?


I have always loved how multidisciplinary the program is and how I can apply a lot of what I learnt to my other studies in Human Geography and GIS. I also think the content is super relevant to us as the issues we study directly affect us and how we interact with cities. I think it is a perfect mix of urban geography, and just has something for everyone! Whether you like the political or economic or environment aspects of cities, there is always something for you…   
 

What has been your favorite course or aspect of the program so far?


My favourite course from the program is URB234 with Professor Mehta because it examines cities from a popular culture lens, and it is a fresh perspective of the urban experience that we are usually used to seeing in scholarly literature. I enjoyed analyzing the urban representations of some of my favourite movies such as the Truman Show, Godzilla and the Dark Knight, and how it has shaped my understandings of those cities. A definite recommended course for all!  

What's an urban issue you think people should pay more attention to?
 

The intersection between climate change and urban planning is something that we need to focus on with the threat of climate change, but specifically resiliency planning. I think it is important to prioritize communities that are disproportionately affected from climate change and start thinking how we can help these communities build resilience and incorporate urban resiliency into community development.
- Wana Saiful





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An Evening with Toronto's Mayors


October 11 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm (EDT)
Join in person or virtually via Zoom

Join a dynamic panel discussion with five former mayors of Toronto, presented by the School of Cities in collaboration with CBC Toronto. This panel will talk about the recently introduced Strong Mayor Legislation and how it will affect our city and its citizens in light of the impending election.

Register here.

Fallen Statues - A Conversation About Public Space and History


October 18 | 12:00 - 2:00 pm (EDT)
Join virtually via Zoom

As part of the Creative Communities Commons Series, the School of Cities is hosting a seminar with Gail Lord. Gail discusses her most recent "toppled monuments" op-ed for the Globe and Mail. She will talk about whose artwork, cultures, and histories are preserved in public space in the style of a fishbowl discussion.

Register here.
 

Material Struggles: A Symposium on Histories of Infrastructure in the U.S.


October 19 | 10:30 am - 6:00 pm (EDT)
Join in person


This event will explore the origins and growth of American infrastructure and its influence on the formation of American society, including persisting racial and ethnic imbalances, by drawing on issues from the fields of history, sociology, economics, and media studies.

Register here.

Indoor air quality, public health and COVID-19: a new guide for community spaces 


October 19 | 12 - 1:30 pm (EDT)
Join virtually via Zoom

Come to the School of Cities' inaugural Knowledge Café Speaker Series in 2022–2033, which will feature a special presentation on indoor air quality and public health.

The topic of the virtual debate will be how improving indoor air quality can help stop the spread of COVID-19 in public areas. Unity Health Network, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Queen's University, and Toronto Metropolitan University collaborated on the teams' multidisciplinary work.

Register here.


Strong(er) Mayors: What Difference Will They Make?


October 19 | 4:30 - 6:00 pm (EDT)
In person or virtually via zoom

Join the Institute on Municipal Finance & Governance's expert panel, which includes Karen Chapple, Matt Elliott, Gabriel Eidelman, and Alison Smith, as they discuss what the new "Strong Mayors" policy truly entails.

Register here.
 
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Copyright © 2022 University of Toronto,
Urban Studies Program

Room 302W, Innis College, University of Toronto
2 Sussex Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 1J5
Prepared by Eman Ali, Urban Studies Communications Assistant
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[P] 416-946-7107

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Urban Studies Newsletter · 2 Sussex Avenue · Toronto, ON M5S 1J5 · Canada

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