The Institute of Urban Studies

With voting day in the 2008 federal election only a week away, the University of Winnipeg is hosting an all-candidates' forum on Thursday October 9th at noon, hosted by IUS Director Jino Distasio. The focus of the session will be on inner city issues. While the event is still a few days away, the forum has already gained some national attention as the Conservatives are apparently not sending a candidate. In a CBC radio interview, Distasio stressed that the invitation remains open, and there will be a chair and name card waiting for whomever the Conservative party chooses to send.

Since 1986, the first Monday of every October has been designated by the United Nations as 'World Habitat Day' to raise awareness of the basic human right to adequate housing for all and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. This year's Habitat Day theme was how to create 'Harmonious Cities' and that are inclusive to all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or income. The need for inclusive cities is urgent as diverse urban populations are rapidly growing in all areas of the world and in turn placing significant pressures on shelter agencies, and basic infrastructure services such as water, sanitation, electricity, health care and on the environment and climate change.

While the main proceedings were held in the Luanda, the capital city of Angola, a much smaller event was held in Winnipeg on behalf of the University of Winnipeg, Neighbourhoods Alive and the Winnipeg Branch of the United Nations. A number of speakers from a number of community non-profit organizations and academic institutions including the IUS' Michael Dudley, contributed to the event by addressing three broad issues that Winnipeg and surrounding areas are facing. These topics included discussing the possibility of articulating urban planning practices with new regional approaches to planning, how can urban development agendas integrate economic development and enhance societal relations and is there a possibility to design and implement cost-effective environmental solutions that support the growth of urban areas and preserve the natural environment? Speakers shared their experiences with projects such as the West Broadway neighbourhood's Good Food Club which has developed an extensive plot of urban agriculture in the heart of Winnipeg's inner city; the Edge Artist Village and Gallery on Main Street, which has brought creativity and renewed purpose to what was once one of the bleakest stretches of Winnipeg's downtown; and Climate Change Connection, which is seeking ways to "harmonize" ecological and local economic development.

With the federal election just a week away, constituents are looking closely at the candidates for indications of how they'll address key priorities. In Winnipeg's North End, one of the most important is housing, as Bartley Kives reports in the Winnipeg Free Press:

"A shortage of affordable housing is one of the key issues in Winnipeg North, a wedge-shaped riding that contains some of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods.

Conservative candidate Ray Larkin, however, says there's only one issue that matters in Winnipeg North: crime, and the need for more effective deterrence....Even the Green Party candidate, accountant Catharine Johannson, cites crime as the chief worry".

For a counterpoint on this, Kives turned to IUS Director Jino Distasio:

"But academics say it's impossible to talk about crime without addressing poverty and basic living conditions. And that brings the Winnipeg North discussion back to a housing shortage all parties played a role in creating.

'The writing on the wall is pretty clear,' said housing expert Jino Distasio, director of the University of Winnipeg's Institute of Urban Studies. 'What federal minister has promoted the need for social housing in this country? It hasn't happened.'"

With less than a week until the federal election, the University of Winnipeg and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg hosted an all-candidates' debate focusing on issues affecting the inner city. Moderated by Jino Distasio, the debate featured Dan Hurley of the Liberal Party; Lyle Morrisseau of the First Peoples National Party; Catharine Johannson of the Green Party; Darrell Rankin of the Communist Party; and Rachel Heinrichs of the New Democratic Party.Topics included what the candidates would do, if elected, about energy poverty, education, aboriginal issues, climate change and poverty.

On Thursday October 16th, IUS staff were in Portage la Prairie Manitoba for a public consultation for a social planning process. This project is aimed at supporting community based revitalization work of Neighbourhoods Alive!; the City of Portage la Prairie's strategic plan; and the Regional Health Authority of Central Manitoba's community health planning. Twenty community members and local media were on hand to discuss poverty, food security, housing and homelessness, transportation, crime prevention and community development.

On Thursday November 13th 2008, IUS Director Jino Distasio will be moderating a panel discussion at the University of Winnipeg on Creative Cities. Organized by the U of W's Gallery 1C03, the event will explore

"To what extent do perspectives on the nature of urban life acknowledge the role of artists and other creative thinkers in the organic versus constructed evolution of city dynamics? How can a local arts policy help a city move toward intelligent and sustainable incorporations of creativity that embrace challenging practices and empowering critique as part of a healthy social and political process and framework for equitable development?

A response will be offered by Tricia Wasney, Manager - Public Art, Winnipeg Arts Council."

Details:
Thursday, November 13, 2008
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Eckhart Grammate Hall, Centennial Hall, University of Winnipeg
515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB

Admission is Free

The Institute's work with the Town of Churchill on its sustainability planning was given a boost yesterday with the announcement that University of Winnipeg President Dr. Lloyd Axworthy has been named as a Commissioner on the Aspen Institute’s Dialogue and Commission on Arctic Climate Change. According to the Free Press:

"The commission is composed of scientists, policy experts, oil company executives, native and environmental leaders, including David Suzuki, Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Prince Albert of Monaco and Gro Brundtland of Norway.

In August, the U of W and the Town of Churchill signed a Memorandum of Understanding to identify ways to improve the ecological, economic, and social conditions of Churchill, made possible by a donation of $100,000 from OmniTRAX, Inc."