ULI BC: Wherefore Urban Education

When

Friday, September 13th, 2019
11:00am - 1:30pm PDT

Where

Asia Pacific Hall Sfu Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 CANADA

Contact

britishcolumbia@uli.org

604-761-8060

This event is complimentary to all members of the public.

However, pre-registration is required.

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Cities have been described as “humanity’s greatest achievement.” It is beyond question that cities are responsible for the bulk of the world’s worries and are the fount of solutions to the world’s great challenges. Cities represent the lion’s share of wealth, population, power, infrastructure, research, technology, crime, greenhouse gas emissions, corruption and scandal alike. They are variously seen as a misrepresentation and as a reason for optimism for the future, depending on one’s mood and outlook. What is clear, however, is that cities matter, greatly, to our collective future.

This recognition of the significance of cities and their management to the future of humanity is markedly different from our worldview of even fifty years ago. How can people in British Columbia come to terms with what it means to face a significantly urban future? In this lunchtime dialogue, we will tackle this question from the perspective of the growing group of people aiming to equip themselves with the skills and education to lead the charge in this new urban reckoning. What would our education system look like if we take the urban challenge seriously, with both its opportunities and its constraints?

ULI BC, along with SFU Urban Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue are pleased to offer a lunchtime dialogue with Honorable Rob Fleming, Minister of Education on the question of what urban education means today in BC. Moderated by Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies Ken Cameron, we will hear from learners and teachers from highschool to graduate school and beyond, as well as from the Minister of Education, about what urban education adds up to – and where its potential contribution lies. All members of the public are invited to attend.

All members of the public are invited to join us for this engaging dialogue on what "understanding city building" means to the leaders of tomorrow.

We hope you will join us and SFU Urban Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences along with the Centre for Dialogue for this event, part of SFU Vancouver’s 30th Anniversary.

Agenda:

11:00am Registration Opens & Standing Buffet Lunch

11:45am Welcome Remarks

12:00pm Minister of Education

12:20pm Moderated Discussion with Minister of Education and Panel

1:30pm Conclusion

Asia Pacific Hall Sfu Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 CANADA

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Speakers

Speaker

Stephen Wilkinson

Stephen Wilkinson is a practicing landscape architect and urban designer with over 15 years of experience designing and implementing urban public realm and public park spaces in major cities throughout North America. Stephen's design approach is founded on a passion for public space and an awareness of the political and social complexities affected by and created by public space design. This passion lead Stephen to the Urban Studies program at SFU where he is gaining a sociological and theoretical perspective to inform his approach to design.

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Speaker

Rebecca Hamilton

Rebecca Hamilton is a twelfth grade student living in Vancouver. Stemming from her climate justice work with Sustainabiliteens Vancouver and Climate Strike Canada, her interest in urban education revolves around shaping cities into environmentally and socially sustainable communities.

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Speaker

Bruce Ford

Metro Vancouver School Programs,

Bruce is a proud husband, father, teacher and Metro Vancouver resident. He lives, works, plays and learns on the shared traditional territories of the Coast Salish First Nations. Bruce grew up in Vancouver, Ethiopia and Malaysia. He recognized at an early age the quality of life enjoyed in our region and how it is often taken for granted. Bruce was inspired to be a teacher. He completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Victoria and began his career teaching in the Victoria School District. He subsequently completed a Master’s Degree in Science and Sustainability Education at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Bruce brings his passion for sustainability, education, collaboration and leadership to his work with Metro Vancouver’s School and Youth Leadership Programs. These programs aim to inspire and equip K-12 teachers and students to make sustainability personal, local, action-oriented, and fun. This is done through engaging and curriculum-connected field trips, water and waste management facility tours, teaching and learning resources, teacher professional development, and youth leadership programs. Bruce is actively involved in teacher education and in sustainability education networks which aim to advance place-based sustainability education in the region and beyond. He is a Regional Advisor for the Classrooms to Communities BC Education Network (C2C-BC) and the Environmental Education Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA). Bruce is a Director and Past-Chair of the Canadian Network for Environmental Education (EECOM). Bruce provides instructional support and mentorship to practicing teachers, teacher educators and graduate and undergraduate students through UBC and Simon Fraser Universities.

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Speaker

Naia Lee

Naia Lee is a twelfth grade students living in Vancouver. Stemming from her climate justice work with Sustainabiliteens Vancouver and Climate Strike Canada, her interest in urban education revolves around shaping cities into environmentally and socially sustainable communities.

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Speaker

Blair Bellerose

Development Manager , Lu’ma Development Management

Blair Bellerose has been working and studying in urban Indigenous communities for approximately 20 years. He is Aboriginal and identifies as having both Métis and First Nations ancestry. In 2017, Blair completed the Master of Urban Studies program at SFU where his research focused on the impacts of government funding on urban Indigenous organizations in the non-profit sector. Blair currently works as a Development Manager with Lu’ma Development Management, an Aboriginal social purpose real estate development company.

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Speaker

Afua Poku

Afua Poku is a fourth year student at the Simon Fraser University. Pursing a Bachelors of Environment in Global Environmental Systems with the aspiration of becoming a planner in her home country Ghana. She is currently the President of the Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry, a group at SFU that seeks to maintain fellowship between students of the African Diaspora.

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Speaker

Rob Fleming

Minister of Education, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Prior to his election as an MLA, Rob served two terms as a Victoria city councillor. He chaired the city’s finance committee and represented Victoria at the Capital Regional District, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, the Capital Region Housing Corporation and Tourism Victoria. As a city councillor, Rob was a leading advocate for public transit and affordable housing. He was instrumental in the creation of the Capital Region’s Affordable Housing Trust and the region’s transportation plan. Rob has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Victoria. He worked in research and communications, and was a research and policy analyst for the Ministry of Advanced Education. He was involved in many community organizations and travelled to El Salvador to monitor elections there. Rob lives in Victoria with his wife Maura, daughter Rory and son Jack. He is a dedicated soccer fan and player, and is now helping coach his son’s team.

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Speaker

Ana Mendez

SFU Urban Studies Program

Ana Mendez is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Geography with a certificate in Urban Studies and a minor in Sustainable Development. Ana is passionate about cities; their complexities, their environmental and social impacts, and their interconnectedness in people’s lives. She hopes to continue her education in the field of urban studies as she pursues a masters in urban planning in the future.

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Speaker

Ken Cameron

Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University

Ken Cameron has 26 years of experience in senior planning and management positions in local government in the Greater Vancouver area, most recently as manager of policy and planning with the Greater Vancouver Regional District. He played a key role in the adoption of the Livable Region Strategic Plan in 1996 with the formal support of the region's 21 municipalities, an accomplishment that was recognized in 2002 by the UN Habitat Program's Dubai awards for outstanding contributions to the human environment. Between 2004 and 2009, Ken served as chief executive officer of the Homeowner Protection Office, a provincially owned corporation that licensed residential builders, oversaw the operation of the privately provided home warranty insurance system and provided financial assistance to owners of homes subject to premature building envelope failure. Since 2009, Ken has served as a consultant on regional planning and governance for a number of public sector clients. He is an adjunct professor of Urban Studies at Simon Fraser University and of community and regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. Ken is past chair of the International Centre for Sustainable Cities. He is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners. With former Premier Mike Harcourt and local writer Sean Rossiter, Ken authored City-Making in Paradise: Nine Decisions that Saved Vancouver, which was published by Douglas & McIntyre in 2007.

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Speaker

Wes Regan

Population Health Policy and Projects Lead, City of Vancouver-Community & Economic Development Dept.

Wes Regan is Population Health Policy and Projects Lead with Vancouver Coastal Health. Wes holds a Masters in Urban Studies from SFU where he also completed a BA specializing in Urban Geography. Working for the past decade in social policy and community economic development, before joining VCH he was a Social Planner at the City of Vancouver working on poverty reduction, economic inclusion and capacity building in communities.

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