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A study by U of T researchers is among the first to use anonymous GPS data from smartphones to track how people interact with green spaces (photo by Conservation Halton)
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How do people use public parks? Researchers study cellphone data to understand green space use
Managing public parks can be a balancing act – the more people enjoy them, the more wildlife is naturally damaged.
But researchers at the University of Toronto say anonymous cellphone data could help urban planners strike a better balance between the needs of people and wildlife.
Click here to read more about the study.
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The Lawrence Prospect Campaign by University of Waterloo student Hafeez A.
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Student creates campaign to improve a major Toronto street
One student in Toronto is embarking on a new campaign to create a safer and better Lawrence Avenue East.
The project, developed by University of Waterloo student Hafeez A., is called "The Lawrence Prospect" and seeks to re-imagine some of the issues currently faced by pedestrians, motorists and cyclists along the busy corridor.
Click here to read more about the campaign.
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Canada's largest cities - Toronto and Vancouver - rank among the most unaffordable housing markets in the world. BBC/Getty Images
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A two-year ban on some foreigners buying homes in Canada has come into effect
The ban aims to help ease one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the world.
As of this summer, the average home price in Canada is C$777,200 ($568,000; £473,700) - more than 11 times the median household income after taxes.
Click here to read more about the ban and its implications.
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USP Winter Course Offerings
View the 2022/2023 Arts and Science Timetable here.
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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.
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Apply to Urban Data Science Corps (UDSC) Summer Internships
Are you a senior undergraduate student who's interested in data? UDSC is taking applications for summer internships for organizations with data needs. It will run from May to August 2023 the internship will include “Data Bootcamp” training at the School of Cities, monthly professional development sessions and regular check-ins with faculty mentors. Students work with community organizations on data needs.
Deadline to register: January 31st, 2023.
Learn more and apply here.
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Emerging Mobility Scholars Conference: Call for Abstracts
Positive Zero Transport Futures and Mobility Network will host the Emerging Mobility Scholars Conference June 22-23, 2023 at the University of Toronto. The conference is open to all Canadian graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the fields of mobility, transportation, and climate change.
Deadline to submit: March 10th, 2023.
Learn more and apply here.
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USP Monthly Profile:
Innis College Program Coordinator
Jannie Chien!
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Jannie provides extensive administrative support to the USP, as well as the FYF Innis One, FYF@Innis Seminars, and Writing & Rhetoric programs. She is an alumna of Innis College and graduated in 2017 with a double majors in sociology and human geography. Previously, she worked for two years as the front-line advisor at the Innis Registrar’s Office. She is currently pursuing an MEd in student development and student services in higher education at OISE.
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1. Tell us about yourself and your background.
I was born in Taipei, Taiwan (my favourite city) but grew up in South Surrey, BC. I moved to Toronto in 2013 after high school to attend U of T for undergrad and have been here ever since. I enjoy coffee, sparkling water, noodles, food in general, movies, TV, audiobooks, driving, Haribo Tangfastics gummies, crafting on my Cricut Joy and sleeping.
2. How do you help students at U of T as Innis College Program Coordinator?
I am the first point of contact for students who are interested in or have questions about Innis’s academic programs. Come talk to me if you need help figuring out which courses to take or if you are confused about your progress through the program. Program-related advising aside, I have studied and worked at U of T for several years and am happy to help you navigate this institution’s many services, resources, and systems. After every advising appointment, my goal is for you to have received answers to all your questions, and for you to know that you are more than welcome to reach out again if you have more questions. Student advising is hands down my favourite part of my job because I get to know and support students throughout their undergraduate journey.
3. What are the most common inquiries you receive from USP students?
Most students contact me to ask if courses from other programs can count towards Urban Studies program requirements. I am happy to review these requests along with the director if you feel that these courses contain substantial urban content, but a good rule of thumb is to first review the course yourself and consider whether the course is actually related to urban studies, and if the answer is yes, you should include as much information as you can about the course when you email (e.g. attaching the syllabus to your request). Other students ask for me to go over program requirements with them to make sure they are on track to graduate or they may have questions about Degree Explorer. Degree Explorer can often be confusing but I’m happy to help demystify it for you so you can use it to its full potential for program planning.
4. As a graduate student, what advice do you have for undergrads?
- Figure out a good study strategy that works for you early on and stick to it. Everyone has different study strategies and if you aren’t sure what works, start by thinking about what absolutely does not work for you and narrow it down from there. I used to always tell myself that I studied better in group settings, but I would end up socializing and procrastinating every time. Since I started grad school, this is what has worked for me:
- using a Pomodoro timer to divide my work into manageable chunks,
- noise cancelling earphones (usually with nothing playing, but sometimes, if I’m in the right mindset, my dramatic movie soundtrack Spotify playlist – nothing with vocals otherwise I’ll definitely sing along),
- and a drink like Bubly or tea to keep me hydrated.
- If you need help figuring out a strategy that works for you, book an appointment with your college’s learning strategist. My learning strategist was really helpful in my final year of undergrad, and I wish I had gone to her sooner.
- If you’re ever struggling, reach out to your Registrar’s Office for help. I couldn’t have gotten through my undergrad without the support of my fantastic Registrar’s Office.
- Include your student number when you email U of T offices. You'll likely receive a quicker response!
5. Any final thoughts?
It is a strength to know when to ask for help, and taking the time to rest can also be productive! Also, I’ve recently created a booking system to make it easier for students to book time with me.
Good luck with the semester!
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Making the Case for Regionalism
January 17 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (EST)
Join in person at Campbell Conference Facility, 1 Devonshire Pl, Toronto, ON M5S 3K7 or virtually via Zoom
On January 17, 2023, Don Iveson, former Mayor of Edmonton and Chair of Canada's Big City Mayors’ Caucus, will make the case for regionalism. He will talk about the need for coordinating structures, tools, and resources that cities can use to act regionally, compete with other global city-regions, and improve the social and economic outcomes of citizens.
Don will be joined by two academics – Jen Nelles from the Oxford Brooks Business School and Zack Taylor from Western University – who will discuss ideas around regional coordination, provide case studies from other global city-regions, and highlight some of the findings from their research.
Register here.
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Knowledge Cafe Presents Government Spending and Population Well-being with Dr.Felix Cheung
January 18 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (EST)
Join virtually via Zoom
In this talk, Dr. Cheung will present 2 studies - 1 at the national level and 1 at the city level - examining how government spending across different domains shape subjective well-being.
At the city level, using fiscally standardized expenditure data and well-being data from over 1 million US participants, our results suggest that diverting government spending away from policing is associated with greater self-reported health and better emotional well-being.
At the national level, we examine the effects of reallocating government spending to the military on subjective well-being. By diverting resources from beneficial domains, like education, to the military, nations are imposing a well-being cost on residents.
Register here.
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The Energy Network Mixer Event
January 20 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (EST)
Join virtually
The Energy Network is hosting a virtual networking event on January 20th, 2023 at 3:00 PM EST to connect energy industry professionals with students from the University of Toronto. The event will be hosted on Gatherly, and will last around 1 hour with rotating networking tables and open-floor networking included.
Register here.
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+(plus)2.0: Imagining the future of city-building together through creative mixed-use
January 21 | 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EST)
Join in person at The Bakery 2 Fraser Ave 2 Fraser Avenue Toronto, ON M6K 1Y6
+(plus) 2.0 explores the full breadth of possibilities for community-building that emerge from mixing improbable uses together; questions the current systems that maintain the ‘status quo’ in architecture/urban planning; and encourages us all to reimagine not only what our neighbourhoods look like, but ultimately who our cities are for.
On January 21st at 4pm, join us for an evening of light food and refreshments, and a keynote address, to interact with the exhibit and explore creative mixed-use buildings' role in placemaking and how this model can support sustainable urban development and resilient communities.
Register here.
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The "Other" City presents | Farewell Regent
January 25 | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (EST)
Join in person at Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship, 55 St George St, Toronto, ON M5S 0C9
The Other City is a monthly film series curated by School of Cities and showcasing films on city issues and urban themes.
Farewell Regent is a 90-minute documentary that captures the Regent Park community of downtown Toronto (the place where social housing began in Canada) in the midst of the largest housing redevelopment project in North America. The documentary profiles past and current tenants, city officials, developers and housing advocates to get an inside view of the complex issues, emotions and drama that are involved in such a massive redevelopment. The Regent Park community will be used as an example in an effort to examine the larger issues of the social housing crisis that is plaguing so many urban centers throughout the globe. Housing as a human right is central to the discussion.
Register here.
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Housing Multitudes 2.0: A Bigger Picture for Toronto - Exhibition Opening
January 25 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (EST)
Join in person at World Urban Pavilion, 660 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2C1
Using Toronto as a laboratory, the study and exhibition Housing Multitudes 2.0: A Bigger Picture for Toronto unlocks the DNA of the suburb to create a “big picture” of how the urbanism that characterizes many North American cities can be transformed for the greater benefit of all.
Simultaneously lyrical and policy-conscious, the exhibition’s experimental format includes films/animations, vast panoramas and maps, graphic novel-like stories, and models that have all been conceived to challenge received thinking about the suburbs. The curators have purposely brought a degree of fiction to studies that have, in fact, been drawn from real sites and places as well as their histories, in order to engage new audiences and open questions about what the suburbs are and can become.
The goal of this endeavour is to engage a wide array of individuals and communities in reimagining our suburban landscapes and the shared possibilities these lands represent in order to empower a future that is more socially engaged, equitable, ecologically balanced and beautiful.
Register here.
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