TORONTO, January 14, 2002 -- With problems of sprawl, congestion, pollution, loss of natural habitats, and prime farmland all reflecting the limited role of planning in protecting the public interest, citizens groups have begun to publicly question the role of planners and the interests they represent.
To examine planning and its role in shaping the quality of life in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), York University is presenting Planning Transformations, a public forum for citizens, planners, environmentalists and scholars to share experiences about the role of planning in the GTA and its future, October 2001 through to March 2002.
The series, which is sponsored by York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES), with support from the Urban Studies Program in the Division of Social Science, is held Wednesdays 12:30-2 p.m., Room 306, Lumbers Building, York University, 4700 Keele Street. The winter line-up follows:
January 16 -- Sell Out: Politics and Planning in the Regional City
David Lewis Stein, former Toronto Star columnist, discusses the close relationship between developers and planners in the "905 " region surrounding Toronto.
February 6 -- Planning Responses in an Environment of Global Conflict Post-9/11
Discussion on how to work towards environmental and social justice post-September 11 in an environment where security dominates the agenda.
•Prof. Gerda Wekerle, FES, York U. -- political opportunities and local activism, shifting strategies and tactics
•Pablo Bose, PhD student, FES, York U. -- challenges facing environmental activists in an environment where anti-terrorist legislation dampens activist responses
•Prof. David Bell, director, York U. Centre for Applied Sustainability -- expanding the concept of sustainability to include peace and conflict
February 20 -- Transforming Planning Education
Addresses how planning education is responding to new demands on the planning profession and the increasing diversity of students.
•Prof. Barbara Rahder, coordinator, Planning Program, FES, York U.
•Prof. Joseph Springer, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson U.
•Prof. Katharine Rankin, Program in Planning, Dept. of Geography, UofT
March 13 -- Transforming Planning: Views from Practice
Four planners (FES planning program alumni from the 1970s,1980s,1990s, 2000) reflect on shifting trends in the planning profession: the privatization of planning, the role of planning in the non-profit sector, planners as advocates, and planning with marginalized communities.
•Pearl Grundland, Executive Director, Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University
•Dave Hardy, Principal, Hardy Stevenson and Associates
•Pino Di Mascio, Associate, Urban Strategies
•Iain De Jong, Policy Development Officer, Shelter, Housing and Support Division, City of Toronto
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