Spacing Radio

In this episode, we discuss the problems with policing in Toronto. Alok Mukherjee was Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board from 2005-2015. In that time, he wrestled with reforming the police, and struggled to navigate the complicated politics behind the force. He has written a book: "Excessive Force: Toronto's Fight to Reform City Policing." And we talk to Gabriel Eidleman of the University of Toronto's Urban Policy Lab about a new online treasure trove for urban researchers, and anyone curious about Toronto's history. Special guest: actor and writer Gavin Bowerman (yes, relation).

Election day is fast approaching, advanced polls are already open, so let's talk Ontario. We're joined by TV Ontario's John Michael McGrath (provincial affairs columnist and host of The Agenda on Politics podcast), who helps break down what the election means for Ontario's cities, large and small, and gives us a sense of each of the three main parties' urban platforms.

If you can read this, the 2018 Toronto election has begun! Toronto City Council has a problem when it comes to gender parity and diversity. Women Win Toronto is hoping to change that. We speak to co-chair Hema Vyas about the organization, and how to help women succeed in Toronto politics. And we speak to municipal candidates Chiara Padovani and Amber Morley, and provincial candidate Suze Morrison. And we give you a little preview of Spacing's latest book "25 Toronto Transit Secrets."

In this episode, we talk about imaging what we want our city to be. We speak to Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development for the City of Hamilton, about a proposed plan for development, as well as recent anxiety about gentrification and affordability. We speak to Graham Haines, research manager at Ryerson University's City Building Institute, about a new report called "Getting Intense," which offers strategy for intensification and development in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. And we speak with Myseum of Toronto Executive Director Karen Carter about the push for a Toronto museum inside Old City Hall.

We're celebrating Black History Month with a special episode. Author and Place-maker Jay Pitter is our special guest host, and she introduces us to a number of exceptional Black urbanists in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Habon Ali is an urban planner with urban strategies. Tura Cousins Wilson is an architect with Diamond Schmitt Architects. Stephanie Allen is a not-for-profit real estate developer. Anthonia Ogundele is a facility and environmental sustainability manager. Matthew Progress is a hip hop and electronic artist. Will Prosper is a journalist and documentarian involved with Hoodstock. Each person has knowledge to share, and a story to tell, from grassroots organizing, to architecture and development. "Pride & Place" was made possible with the generous support of OCAD University.

This episode, we follow up on some stories from last year. We follow up on what became of the Ten Year Tent City in Vacouver with Ethel Whitty, director of homelessness services for the City. We talk to Careers Eductation Empowerment Centre for Young Black Professionals Executive Director Kofi Hope, one of the 2017 Jane Jacobs Prize recipients. And we have our full conversation with Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, who tells us about the challenges of urbanism in a mid-sized Saskatchewan city.

In this episode, we speak to Toronto councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam about the desperate call to provide more shelter space this winter. Park People's Jake Tobin Garrett about a new park space opening in the new year. We speak to Anne Gloger and Zahra Ebrahim, about Anne's work with the East Scarborough Storefront, for which she recently earned the 2017 Jane Jacobs Prize. And Senior Editor Dylan Reid tells us about Spacing's book series.

In this special episode, we devote our entire time to an issue that's plagued Winnipeg for nearly 40 years: pedestrians are not allowed to cross the major, iconic intersection of Portage and Main St. To help tell this story, we have special guest co-host Oliver Moore, urban transportation reporter for the Globe & Mail. As well, you'll hear the voices of urbanist/architect Brent Bellamy, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, and Winnipeg city councillors Jeff Browaty and Janice Lukes, and Glyn's granny. For real. Thank you to The Weakerthans for the use of their song "One Great City!" off of their album Reconstruction Site.

Bringing you the highlights from the Council for Canadian Urbanism's annual summit, held this year in Winnipeg. We speak to CanU founding president Brent Toderian, Winnipeg architect and Free Press columnist Brent Bellamy, SVN's Barbara Myers, Halifax's Urban Design Program Manager Jacob Ritchie, and newly-named CanU Vice President Kalen Anderson, Edmonton's director of planning coordination.

In this episode, we speak to Toronto Dreams Project founder Adam Bunch, who took a tour this summer of Toronto's problematic landmarks. We also ask him about his latest work, the "Toronto Book of the Dead." And we talk about cities' responsibilities towards Truth and Reconciliation with Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark. Finally, we talk to Dr. Afua Cooper, associate professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and James Robinson Johnston chair of Black Canadian Studies, about the legacy of slavery and anti-black racism in this country. Opening samples "Canada: a Centennial Song" by Bobby Gimby. [Editor's note: Winnipeg is 2,222 kilometres from Toronto, not miles. Regret the error.]

We speak to Globe & Mail architecture critic Alex Bozikovic about Toronto Architecture: a city guide, a series of guided walking tours through Toronto's varied built landscape. And we speak to Jane Farrow and Ed Jackson, two of the editors of Any Other Way: how Toronto got queer, in which a series of essays paints a broad picture of Toronto's LGBTQ2S community.

After speaking to Robin Leblanc and Jordan St. John, co-authors of the "Ontario Craft Beer Guide," our co-producers decide to take a tasting tour of some of Toronto's indie beer offerings.

Part One of our Summer Reading Series! We speak to Toronto journalist Jackie Burns about her children's book "The Condo Kids: adventures with Bob the Barbary sheep," and about raising a family in the dense urban core. And we speak to beer experts Robin Leblanc and Jordan St. John about the "Ontario Craft Beer Guide," and how Toronto can become a global leader in craft beer.

It's the one-year anniversary of the relaunch! Last year, we took you to the celebration party for the approval of the Bloor bike lanes pilot. Now, we speak to Cycle Toronto Executive Director Jared Kolb about how to make the lanes permanent. We speak to Jason Loo, creator of Toronto's own comic book superhero, The Pitiful Human-Lizard. And we speak to ERA Architects' Michael McClelland about how to preserve Toronto's heritage. Also, Engineer Neil speaks!

In this episode, we take you to the Ten Year Tent City in Vancouver, where residents are protesting the lack of affordable housing in that city. Andrew Walsh reports. And we speak to recent Ryerson planning grad Cheryll Case and her mentor, planner/consultant Sean Galbraith, about a report Case co-authored which examines the declining household size of the inner suburbs and its impact. Finally, we speak to Toronto City Councillor Joe Cressy, about how to balance priorities between the need for new greenspace in the downtown, with the sorry state of Toronto's community housing stock.

In this episode, we speak to musician/composer David Buchbinder about The Ward Musical. How a Toronto history book became a new work of musical theatre. We ask FLAP executive director Michael Mesure, and the City planner Kelly Snow about the millions of migratory birds that die each year in Toronto, and what we can do to prevent these deaths. And we speak to Ryerson associate proffessor Graham Hudson, who co-authored a report on how Toronto fares as a "Sanctuary City." Are we really protecting non-status residents, or do we have work to do?

Spacing Radio partners with Pressgang Theatre to bring you an evening of live storytelling. Co-hosted by Glyn Bowerman and Graham Isador (Vice/Hard Times), and featuring stories from Shawn Hogan (comedian, JFL 42), Siva Vijenthira (Spacing's cycling columnist), Perry King (The Ethnic Aisle), and DM St. Bernard (two-time Governor General's Award nominee). City Stories was recorded live at The Garrison, in Toronto.

In this episode, we make the most of the winter months. Janice Lukes is a Winnipeg city councillor, and cycling advocate, who tells us about plans to expand the cycling network in that city. Susan Holdsworth is the program coordinator for Edmonton's WinterCity Strategy. She tells us about how good design, and the right attitude, can help bring out the best cities have to offer in winter. And we check in with Spacing Publisher Matt Blackett about the new issue of the magazine, and a project a few years in the making.

In this episode, we talk about the changing face of the city, about what we preserve, and what gets left behind. We talk to Kaitlin Wainwright, director of programming for Heritage Toronto. We talk to Toronto For Everyone's Hima Batavia and Negin Sairafi, co-producers of the Honest Ed's farewell celebration. And we speak to the Storefront Theatre's Benjamin Blais, and Claire Burns, about the value of community arts hubs, and the challenges threatening their existence.

In part two, of our PopCanCrit special, we look at the role of the architecture critic, in a changing media landscape. Our experts discuss who gets to be an architect critics, in a world where everyone has the ability to publish their opinions, and traditional media is on the decline. We examine the opportunities, and the challenges presented by social media for publications publishing stories about urban architecture, and the built environment. What began as a discussion about popular architecture becomes a broader discussion about new media, and new opportunities for civic engagement.