Archives /// February, 2012
March 2nd, 2009
Spacing Radio is now on the air
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
Spacing Radio is now on the air
Plug in, download, and pop in the headphones.
Spacing Radio is your bi-weekly podcast about the joys, obstacles, and politics of the urban landscape. We sit down with compelling and provocative civic leaders from Toronto, Montreal and cities around the world to discuss the plethora of issues affecting our daily lives in city environments: public transit, sustainability, architecture, and urban design. Our host David Michael Lamb and our cast of contributors will take you right into ...
001: The pilot show with Ken Livingstone
By Spacing Radio // 11 Comments
[powerpress]
Welcome to Spacing Radio's pilot show. In our first podcast our host David Michael Lamb jumps right into the thick of things with a sit-down interview with former London mayor Ken Livingstone. In early 2003, Red Ken ushered in a congestion charge for anyone driving into the core of London. It was a radical idea but something London needed to implement to remain a globally competitive city. What can Toronto and other cities learn from London's experience? Livingstone gives us his insight.
You'll also hear the opinions of regular Torontonians on road pricing. Spacing publisher ...
March 16th, 2009
002: What does a new NDP leader mean for cities?
By Spacing Radio // 7 Comments
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Spacing Radio headed to Hamilton last week for the Ontario NDP leadership convention to find out if a new leader will have any affect on how politicians tackle city issues at Queen's Park. Host David Michael Lamb sits down with Spacing senior editor Dylan Reid, who blogged and Tweeted from the floor of the convention, and publisher Matthew Blackett who talked to the candidates -- including eventual winner Andrea Horwath -- about their platforms.
You’ll also hear from Spacing Radio reporter Megan Hall who chats with contributing editor John Lorinc about his ...
March 30th, 2009
003: The grey spaces of the city
By Spacing Radio // 2 Comments
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The next issue of Spacing, due out in mid-April, will focus on Toronto's "grey spaces" -- those places that feel public but aren't, and as such, come with strings attached that can limit one's ability to explore, use, or develop them. We explore these areas further in the third episode of Spacing Radio.
First, Spacing senior editor Shawn Micallef takes host David Michael Lamb to Yonge-Dundas Square for an examination of the rules of engagement for Toronto's grey spaces.
Then, DML and Wavelength co-founder Jonny Dovercourt discuss the cultural importance of independent book and record shops ...
April 13th, 2009
004: Toronto’s green dreams
By Spacing Radio // 3 Comments
As Earth Day approaches, Spacing Radio sent host David Michael Lamb to sit down down and discuss Toronto's sustainability ambitions with Mayor David Miller. While the mayor is hopeful that his eco agenda is working for Toronto, city hall observers like Katrina Miller of the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) worry about the bureaucratic gridlock that is delaying much needed projects and initiatives. Spacing Radio reporter Megan Hall learns how the iconic wind turbine on the CNE grounds operates. All this, plus music by Final Fantasy.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 004
The Eco Agenda: Toronto's ...
April 27th, 2009
005: Bikes!
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New York City Commissioner of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan came to Toronto on Earth Day to speak at an event organized by Walk and Bike for Life. She spoke extensively about cycling (calling it not an alternative mode of transit, but something mainstream and ideally suited to the flat terrain of New York), but she also went much, much further. We feature almost her entire speech in this episode, and you've got to hear it to believe it.
Sadik-Khan outlines her plan to transform her city's grid into a network of shared spaces that favour people ...
May 11th, 2009
006: Jane’s Walk
By Spacing Radio // 3 Comments
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NOTE: This edition of Spacing Radio represents the finale of our first season. We're going to take a bit of a break. Look for another podcast in a couple of months.
Join us as we listen in on a handful of the 117 walks Torontonians led and attended as part of this year's Jane's Walk.
In this podcast, we'll travel to Bloor and Lansdowne, Kipling and Steeles, the Lower Don Lands, and the Geary Avenue hydro corridor. Also, host David Michael Lamb talks to organizer Jane Farrow about how this year's Jane's Walk events played their ...
September 14th, 2009
007: Season 2 kicks off with Richard Florida
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
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Spacing Radio is back for Season 2! Host David Michael Lamb and the cast of Spacing Radio have emerged from a summer slumber to bring you another season of bi-weekly podcasts.
This episode takes it's inspiration from topics examined in Spacing's current issue of the magazine (get it on newsstands or subscribe). Listen to Spacing's Edward Keenan discuss creative city issues with acclaimed urbanist Richard Florida (read the full interview in the magazine). Our new producer, Mieke Anderson, talks to Jane Farrow (Executive Director of the Centre for City Ecology and Jane's Walk) ...
September 28th, 2009
008: The haphazard city
By Matthew Blackett // 1 Comment
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Episode 008 of Spacing Radio examines the idea of haphazardness in a city. Spacing magazine contributing editor Amy Lavender Harris takes producer Mieke Anderson and listeners on a literary tour of Toronto's Kensington Market that explores the neighbourhood's unique character. Spacing's Todd Harrison sits down with Davy Rothbart, the creator of Found magazine and books, to discuss the world of lost objects found in the public realm of our cities. And we eavesdrop on urban designer Joe Berridge during a recent panel discussion at the IPAC conference here in Toronto. The music of ...
October 13th, 2009
009: City election outlook 2010
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The 2010 city election -- only one year away -- will have a tremendous impact on the future of Toronto. Mayor David Miller recently announced he won't face the electorate again, so who will replace him? Spacing Radio host David Michael Lamb sat down with Glen Murray, one of the outsiders who many believe is already assembling a campaign team. DML also hosts a roundtable with Ed Keenan of Eye Weekly, Rob Granatstein of the Toronto Sun (editorial page editor) and Spacing publisher Matthew Blackett to discuss potential mayoral candidates from the left, centre ...
October 26th, 2009
010: Walking, ‘Burbs, and East Coast Canada
By Spacing Radio // 4 Comments
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Spacing Radio's 10th episode takes listeners into the suburbs of Toronto and across the east coast of North America. Host David Michael Lamb discusses the recent Walk21 pedestrian conference in New York City with Spacing's publisher Matthew Blackett. Spacing Radio's newest correspondent, Monika Warzecha, sits down with the editors of Spacing's newest blog, Spacing Atlantic (which officially launches October 28th in Halifax). Producer Mieke Anderson wanders the Toronto suburb of Willowdale where an amazing art installation on Leona Drive is challenging local residents to think critically about the neighbourhood's disappearing bungalows. And John Sewell, ...
November 9th, 2009
011: Thinking differently about public spaces
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
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This episode of Spacing Radio challenges listeners to think about public spaces in a different light. The first place we want you to reconsider is under your feet and under the roads – the sewer system. Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson goes exploring underground in Montreal. At the 4 Days conference in Halifax, the Spacing Atlantic crew got to chat with John Thackara, the former director of the Netherlands Design Institute and a globe-trotting booster of social innovation. And we discuss a unique project in Vancouver that converts roundabouts and curbside boulevards into blooming ...
November 23rd, 2009
012: Food, Ghosts, Bikes, and Ottawa
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This episode of Spacing Radio takes our listeners on a trip of North American cities: learn about how food has shaped the history of Toronto; discover ghosts on a tour of Halifax; and understand why Portland, Oregon has become the continent's leader city on cycling issues. We also sit down with Evan Thornton, the editor of Spacing's newest blog, Spacing Ottawa. This week's musical guest is The Balconies.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 012
Food in Toronto: Victory Gardens and Chris Hardwicke's Urbanism.org
Halifax: Tattle Tour's Ghost Walks
Portland: City of Portland's ...
December 7th, 2009
013: Albino Squirrels, Paul Goldberger, and Transit Investment
By Spacing Radio // No Comments
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To coincide with the release of Spacing magazine’s new issue on urban animals, Spacing Radio sent our producer Mieke Anderson on a quest to find Toronto’s elusive albino squirrel (who is also the star of the magazine’s cover) with Jane Farrow (an albino squirrel know-it-all). Spacing’s contributing editor John Lorinc sat down with noted architecture critic Paul Goldberger to discuss the outlook on building cities in a difficult economic climate. We also sent our new contributor Sarah Bridge to an international transit conference to find out the different ways in which public transit literally ...
January 19th, 2010
014: Atom Egoyan, Will Alsop, and honey bees
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Welcome to Season Three of Spacing Radio! Kicking things off this week is Marc Glassman's interview with critically acclaimed filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who discusses his decision to cast the oft-overlooked Toronto as itself in his latest film, Chloe. Will Alsop, the renowned British architect whose work (including the Ontario College of Art and Design's Sharp Centre for Design) dots urban landscapes the world over, speaks with Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson about the role architecture plays in shaping public space. Next, we visit Montreal where a movement is afoot to reclaim ...
February 2nd, 2010
015: Safe streets, buildings on the brink, and urban exploration
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In this podcast we tackle the obstacles facing pedestrians and explore the forgotten, abandoned places in our midst. We begin with Spacing Magazine senior editor and co-chair of Toronto's Pedestrian Committee Dylan Reid, who joins host David Michael Lamb in conversation. The pair take to a busy downtown street corner to discuss the recent spate of pedestrian deaths in and around Toronto and the ways we can make the streets safer for all. Next, we get a quick primer on the life and would-be death of the old military hangers at ...
February 16th, 2010
016: Snow removal, skating, and ciclovia
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In this podcast we embrace the winter (well, for at least half of the episode): Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson gets to the bottom of how the city moves and removes snow, while reporter Sarah Bridge goes to Nathan Phillips Square and Mel Lastman Square to see who takes to these iconic Toronto outdoor rinks. We listen to the man behind Vancouver's Chinatown gates. And our newest contributor, Pattie Phillips, sits down at the 8-80 Cities conference with urban thinkers Gil Penalosa, Cheryl Brinkman, and Elena Santogade to discuss car-free streets in North American ...
March 2nd, 2010
017: City budgets, ferry rides and Olympic legacies
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It's budget-time in Toronto and while City Hall is busy at work approving the final numbers, host David Michael Lamb sits down with Spacing contributing editor John Lorinc to talk about the pitfalls of having to pay the bills. Producer Mieke Anderson stows away with the crew of the Toronto Island Ferry Ongiara to discuss the realities of operating the ferry throughout the winter months and, in the process, discovers one of the city's best-kept secrets. Meanwhile, nearly 3,500 km away in Vancouver, reporter Pattie Phillips visits the Olympics and takes ...
March 16th, 2010
018: Rules, rules, rules!
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This episode of Spacing Radio is all about rules. In support of Spacing magazine's upcoming issue, our contributors examine the dos and don'ts of the city. Host David Michael Lamb talks to publisher Matthew Blackett about how millions of Canadians were given permission to break all traffic laws when Sidney Crosby scored the overtime winner at the Winter Olympics. Monika Warzecha examines the drinking laws of Halifax and why the city is afraid to close downtown streets. And producer Mieke Anderson visits the Toronto Police Services to get to the bottom ...
March 30th, 2010
019: Permits, transit hubs, and homeless outreach
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This episode of Spacing Radio continues with our look at the Rules of the city (to complement the release of our new magazine issue) as producer Mieke Anderson examines the arcane permit process in Toronto. Reporter Sarah Bridge sits down with internationally renown architect Jack Diamond to discuss the success and failures of renovating Toronto's Union Station. And Montreal correspondent Adam Bemma explores the Berri Square, one of the city's most socially challenged neighbourhoods.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 019
Rules of the city: Look up any bylaw in Toronto
Union Station: ...
April 13th, 2010
020: Empty Storefronts, street vendors, and cultural mapping
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
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On this episode of Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson takes you on a walk with Cindy Rozeboom through the east end of Toronto, along the Danforth, to explore the potential of empty storefronts. In other cities, street food is a major component of public life, but in Toronto food vendors don't seem to get any respect from city hall, BIAs, and urban designers — reporter Pattie Phillips talks to Marianne Moroney of Toronto's Street Food Vendors Association. The release of the new book "Rediscovering the Wealth of Places" examines cultural mapping and how it ...
April 27th, 2010
021: Jane’s Walk, Cleveland’s Public Square, and Mount Pleasant Cemetery
By Pattie Phillips // No Comments
We begin this episode of Spacing Radio in Toronto’s Alexandra Park, where Spacing producer Todd Harrison speaks with Jane’s Walk executive director Jane Farrow about this weekend’s upcoming Jane’s Walks and how the event — and the discussions it inspires — has evolved both at home and abroad. Up next, Spacing producer Mieke Anderson takes us to Cleveland, Ohio where she meets up with local newspaper critic Steven Litt, to discuss the drawbacks of the city’s Public Square and what one group is proposing to do to reinvent the space. In ...
May 11th, 2010
022: Jane’s Walk, Micallef’s Stroll & Vancouver’s transit
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In this episode of Spacing Radio — the last of season 3 — our cast of contributors explore the theme of how we get around cities. First up are a handful of clips from Jane's Walk, the yearly festival of walking tours in Toronto and over 60 other cities across North America. Then Spacing magazine's senior editor Shawn Micallef takes listeners to Yorkville to discuss the ethos behind his new book Stroll. Our new reporter Katie Harris examines the impact the Winter Olympics had on Vancouver's transportation network. And Spacing Radio producer Mieke Anderson ...
June 7th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 001: Let’s go for a walk
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Spacing Radio is back! For the summer we are changing things up a bit and so over the next few months we're going to give you a lot more to listen to, but in shorter doses. Every time we have a story to tell, we'll post it at the blog and put it out on iTunes. Sometimes you'll get one a day, or a few a week. It's a reflection of the season, when most of us are following a less structured life. Full-length programs will be back in the fall. To kick off ...
June 8th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 002: Neighbourhoods and roosters
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To celebrate the launch of our new SUMMER SHORTS series, all this week we're bringing you the sounds of this year's Jane's Walks. Today we ask: what does a wandering rooster say about a neighbourhood? And what exactly does the term 'neighbourhood' refer to anyway? Spacing reporter Andrew Walsh went along on the Neighbourhoods 101 walk, led by social activist Diane Dyson, through Toronto's Greenwood Park community.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 002
Jane's Walk: Neighbourhoods 101 walk
Diane Dyson's Blog: Belonging Community
photo by Kevin Steele
June 9th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 003: What’s in a name?
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SUMMER SHORTS is on the air! To launch our summer season, all this week we're featuring Jane's Walks. In this SHORT, reporter Sarah Bridge takes us to Jane/Finch to explore the Toronto neighbourhood through the eyes of some of the women trying to get us to look beyond the street names. One particularly well-known pedestrian, Mayor David Miller, also tagged along.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 003
Jane's Walk: Jane and Finch walk - From Young Women's Eyes
Guided by Women's Leadership Conference group: WORC IT (Women of Race Climbing It ...
June 10th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 004: A former summer hotspot
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Toronto's Exhibition Place used to be one of the top spots to be, and to be seen, in the summer. Its reputation as a hotspot may have suffered over the years but its heritage buildings have withstood the test of time. Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone led a tour of the grounds for this year's Jane's Walks. Spacing contributor Laura-Louise Tobin tagged along.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio’s Summer Shorts 002
Jane's Walk: Exhibition Place - Heritage Buildings
City of Toronto: Deputy Mayor/Councillor Joe Pantalone
June 11th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 005: Pajama-clad gardeners, shortcuts, and dog racing
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We're wrapping up the week-long launch of our new SUMMER SHORTS series by giving the last word to the executive director of Jane's Walk, Jane Farrow. Spacing contributor Laura-Louise Tobin tagged along on Jane's tour of the east-end Toronto neighbourhood she calls home. A pajama-clad gardener and dog racing were just a couple of the topics of conversation.... Starting next week, every time we have a story to tell we'll continue to post it at the blog and put it out on iTunes. Sometimes you'll get one a day or a few a ...
June 15th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 006: How to complete our streets
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Ask a bunch of people their definitions of a 'complete street' and you're bound to get a whole bunch of different answers. In today's SUMMER SHORT, reporter Andrew Walsh explores what it means to share our roads. He attended the 2010 Complete Streets Forum this past April and spoke with Barbara McCann, credited with coining the phrase, and New York City's Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Sustainability Andy Wiley-Schwartz.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 006
Barbara McCann: National Complete Streets Coalition
Andy Wiley-Schwartz: New York City Department of Transportation
June 17th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 007: Planning history with Richard White
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What do Toronto’s older buildings tell us about the intentions of the city’s earlier planners? Historian, author and University of Toronto professor Richard White takes Spacing Radio reporter Sarah Bridge to Grange Park to reflects on how past planning decisions about its surrounding buildings, and plans for the city as a whole, have affected how Toronto works and feels today.
Watch for an article by Richard White in the upcoming summer 2010 issue of Spacing magazine on the history of Toronto’s jog eliminations — a crucial but often unheralded element of city planning and revitalization.
Links ...
June 22nd, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 008: Birds of Tommy Thompson Park
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What’s the name of the bird that wakes you up every morning with its high pitched call? What species make up Toronto’s feathered population? Spacing Radio reporter Andrew Walsh was curious, so he enlisted the finely tuned ears of bird song expert Ralph Toninger in avian-dense Tommy Thompson Park.
Toninger, senior project manager of restoration and environmental monitoring projects at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, provides insights on what we can learn about our city by the kinds of birds that live here. And because many birds are more often heard ...
June 24th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 009: Transport Revolutions
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Spacing Radio reporter Monika Warzecha sat down recently with writers Richard Gilbert and Anthony Perl.
The second edition of Gilbert and Perl’s book, Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight without Oil, itemizes five major changes in transportation that have altered its course and development. And the rate of change is about to increase rapidly.
“We feel that environment and energy considerations are leading us to a threshold where change will again be concentrated,” Perl told Spacing. “That’s why we need to refamiliarize ourselves with transport revolutions.”
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 009:
website about the ...
June 30th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 010: Opening doors to Regent Park
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Nothing like closed doors, locked gates and sky-high cement walls to keep us out of some of our city's most interesting public spaces. Doors Open — a celebration held annually in cities around the globe — is all about letting us into these spaces, both public and private (and everywhere in between). Spacing reporter Andrew Walsh checked out two events that last weekend of May. In this SUMMER SHORT we get a sneak peak into the Toronto Transit Commission's Greenwood Maintenance Shop and then tag along on a ...
July 7th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 011: Cyclist Bikelist
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Lights? Check. Pumped tires? Check. Helmet? Check.
Okay, so many of us don't need to literally make a checklist every time we head off on our bicycles, but knowing how to dress appropriately, how to select a two-wheeler, as well as, some fun facts about the history of cycling can be key to a successful ride. And the younger we are when we learn these lessons the better.
Reporter Andrew Walsh met up with author Laura Robinson to discuss her new children's book Cyclist Bikelist, featured in the Public Goods section ...
July 9th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 012: Mapping London’s quiet spaces
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Finding a quiet space within our cities can be a challenge. One might even wonder if such a spot exists.
London-based artist Simon Elvins decided to find out more about these overlooked urban spaces by mapping them in his project Silent London. Spacing producer Mieke Anderson caught up with Simon at one of his favorite quiet spots in the UK's capital, which turned out not to be so quiet.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 012:
Arkinet Blog: Silent London article
Simon Elvins' homepage
July 13th, 2010
G20 SPECIAL: Everyone has a story to tell
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
Ever since the G20, Toronto's public spaces have felt different. Something has changed.
All this week, Spacing Radio will be taking a closer look at the G20 Summit and its impact on the public realm. But we're not just looking back on that weekend, we're looking forward. Each day we'll be focusing on a particular debate: from the role of the police; to the extent of our civil liberties; to how much power the federal government should wield over our cities.
Today, a few stories to get you thinking (and all riled up)! Stay tuned.
July 14th, 2010
G20 SPECIAL: Toronto the colony
By Spacing Radio // 3 Comments
All this week, Spacing Radio is taking a closer look at the impact of the G20 Summit on our public spaces. But before going any further, we try and figure out what happened leading up to the G20. Today we talk to Toronto Councillor Adam Vaughan - one of the first Torontonians to find out we’d be hosting - about how and why our city was chosen as the venue.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's G20 Special, pt. II:
City of Toronto: Councillor Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity - Spadina)
July 15th, 2010
G20 SPECIAL: The spectacle and social media
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Spacing Radio is taking a closer look at the impact of the G20 Summit this week. One incident that stands out for many took place on Sunday, June 27th at the intersection of Queen and Spadina. Globe and Mail columnist Lisan Jutras was there and detained for hours in the pouring rain. Jutras spoke to Spacing Radio reporter Andrew Walsh about the experience.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's G20 Special, pt. III:
The Globe & Mail: Lisan Jutras column
YouTube: Footage from Sunday June 27th at Queen & Spadina
photo of Queen & Spadina siege ...
July 16th, 2010
G20 SPECIAL: Protecting our civil liberties
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Discussion in the leadup to the G20 Summit took a far more serious and ominous turn on Friday, June 25, when the Toronto Star ran a front-page story about an amendment to the virtually unknown Public Works Protection Act. The change to the law, the Star reported, was passed quietly by the Provincial government, and gave the police broad powers.
The amendment was brought to the Star’s attention by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), a group that distinguished itself as a steady and sober voice for the rights of ...
July 17th, 2010
G20 SPECIAL: Protesting free speech zones
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Today is the final installment in our week-long G20 Special. A lot remains up for debate but we couldn't wrap up this particular discussion without drawing attention to the ways our public spaces were divided and designated into zones in order to control protesters (and residents), peaceful and otherwise.
Tor Sandberg is the program director for Rabble TV and was in charge of coordinating their video coverage during the Summit. Sandberg met up with Spacing producer Mieke Anderson at Queen's Park, which only a few weeks ago was Toronto's only official ...
July 20th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 013: Riding “the Clockwork Orange”
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Sometimes exploring a city means just shutting your eyes and listening. In this soundscape, Spacing producer Mieke Anderson takes you underground into the Glasgow subway system.
Affectionately known as "the Clockwork Orange" because of its orange subway cars and circular route, Glasgow's underground dates back to 1896 making it the third oldest in the world. Recently, the city was considering shutting down parts of the system if they couldn't come up with the money for a massive modernization plan (the route itself hasn't changed in over a century). In April, an ...
July 22nd, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 014: Catching some public Zzzzz’s
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Have you ever taken a nap in public? Or have you only ever dreamed of it?
Z's by the C is a public napping project - created by Calgary-based artists Eric Moschopedis and Mia Rushton - that strives to legitimize taking a snooze in public. The project is a reaction to the increasing privatization of our public spaces, including the implementation of by-laws banning loitering and curtailing who, how, and when we are allowed to use our spaces.
Since its inception in 2008, Moschopedis and Rushton have been encouraging people to nap in Zürich, New York ...
SPACING VOTES: Smitherman talks walking, while walking
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George Smitherman loves to walk. Earlier this week, in fact, he walked along Eglinton — all the way across Toronto.
Spacing's Todd Harrison caught up with him yesterday in Leaside, and they walked and talked until just west of Victoria Park. Todd asked how Smitherman’s vision for Toronto applied to walkability, and what he as mayor would do to improve walking conditions in suburban communities.
Smitherman, however, does not see walking as an issue-in-itself. Integration is his buzzword, and as such, he thinks of walking primarily as a means to connect people ...
July 29th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 015: Gentrification, the game!
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
Think of your favorite board game. Maybe it's chess? Or Clue? Or Hungry Hungry Hippos? Now imagine it brought to life. No more fighting over who gets to be the battleship or the dog - in the case of Monopoly - because you and your friends are the pieces. And it's your city's public spaces that form the board.
Gentrification: The Game! - created by the artist collective Atmosphere Industries - recently took over Toronto's Kensington Market as part of Pedestrian Sundays. For this SUMMER SHORT, reporter ...
August 3rd, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 016: Buried among highways
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
If you live in and around Toronto, or have ever visited the city, you've most likely passed by Etobicoke's Richview Cemetery. Most likely in a car and traveling at a high velocity. Awkwardly situated amidst the onramps at the intersection of Highways 401 and 427, the Richview Cemetery is not your average resting place for the dead. Reporter Andrew Walsh explores this historic geographic oddity.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio's Summer Shorts 016:
A brief history of the village of Richview
photo by Sean Galbraith
August 5th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 017: St Mary-le-Bow’s bells
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You know when you're exploring a city for the first time and you turn a corner only to stumble upon something completely unexpected?
This is what happened to Spacing producer Mieke Anderson on a recent trip to London, England. Initially, it was only a faint sound barely within earshot. Then suddenly she was face-to-face with the St Mary-le-Bow Church and consumed by the ringing of its famous bells. Wandering the streets of London you'll still hear people say that you're only a true Londoner or Cockney if you're born within the sound of the ...
August 11th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 018: Transforming John Street
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Many people agree that Toronto's John Street corridor has the potential to be a great "connecting spine" for the area. How best to go about achieving this is now up for debate as the City and Entertainment District BIA prepare to supposedly transform the district with their Master Plan.
Spacing's senior editor, Dylan Reid, recently weighed in on the discussion. From Reid's perspective, the City would be shying away from truly transforming the strip by not opting to turn it into a shared street where cars, bikes and pedestrians share the ...
August 19th, 2010
SUMMER SHORTS 019: The Junction stock yards
By Spacing Radio // 3 Comments
Today we're hearing stories about Toronto's Junction neighbourhood and its former stock yards. We're shining the spotlight on interviews Spacing producer Mieke Anderson recorded for [murmur] when the digital storytelling and place-making project collaborated with the Junction Arts Festival to celebrate the area's centennial.
In this episode of SUMMER SHORTS we introduce you to James Christie and Ian Wheal. Back in the 1950's, James Christie was just a boy. He grew up around the corner from the abattoir, often helping out at his family's restaurant that catered to slaughterhouse employees. Meanwhile, Ian ...
October 5th, 2010
023: Counting down to voting day!
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Spacing Radio is back for Season Four and we’re jumping right into Toronto’s election debate!
This election has been zany, to say the least. We go to Toronto Star columnist Christopher Hume for his take on why candidates have strayed so far off topic. And leading up to voting day, reporter Daniel Guillemette is on the campaign trail looking at how the front-runners are using our public spaces.
Also in this episode, all the election talk about the so-called "war on the car" got producer Mieke Anderson thinking about the traffic lights ...
October 19th, 2010
024: Buffalo, Detroit, and the T.O. campaign trail
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As election day nears in Toronto, we hunt down mayoral candidates Joe Pantalone and Rob Ford. And our reporter Daniel Guillemette discovers that neither one is doing much campaigning in our public spaces these days. We also talk to Councillor Joe Mihevc - who recently put his support behind George Smitherman (we featured Smitherman last episode) - about what the next mayor needs to do on his first day on the job.
And we take you to the American Rust Belt. Contributor Edward Birnbaum recently visited Buffalo and Detroit to ...
November 2nd, 2010
025: Post-election, post-Katrina, and winter island living
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The votes have been counted and Toronto has a new mayor. But what now? We sit down with Alan Broadbent, chairman of the Maytree Foundation, for his take on what lies ahead.
As residents of News Orleans can tell you, the importance of strong leadership becomes particularly apparent when disaster strikes. Five years after Hurricane Katrina, producer Mieke Anderson asks what role public spaces are playing in the city's rebuilding when she catches up with New Orleans-based journalist Jordan Flaherty.
And we travel along with reporter Monika Warzecha to the Toronto Island in ...
November 16th, 2010
026: Saving BIXI, Bronson Avenue, and our parks
By Spacing Radio // 1 Comment
While some parks are jam-packed with kids, dog walkers and seniors practicing Tai Chi, others are deserted and neglected. Producer Mieke Anderson speaks to David Harvey about his recent study on improving parks.
Also, Spacing Ottawa's Evan Thornton discusses his city's plans to turn back the clock to a time when car was king. And reporter Andrew Walsh addresses the pros and cons of the public bike network, BIXI, with Spacing Montreal's Alanah Heffez.
Links to stuff from Spacing Radio 026:
The Metcalf Foundation report, Fertile Ground for New Thinking: Improving ...
December 1st, 2010
027: Elimination episode: jogs, quick fixes and cash fares
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In this episode of Spacing Radio we explore the topic of elimination - eliminating jogs, reducing unsustainable quick fixes, and phasing out cash fares.
Spacing contributor Andrew Walsh tours Toronto's newly re-aligned Queen & Dufferin intersection with Councillor Gord Perks to find out how 'jogs' play into a city's street grid. Spacing Atlantic's Veronica Simmonds takes us to Dalhousie University for a discussion on sustainable growth featuring David Donnelly and Bruce Lourie. And, Spacing's Luca de Franco looks into the future of the Presto electronic fare-card system ...
December 14th, 2010
028: Behind-the-scenes: Mayor Miller, cabbie hangouts, and streetcars
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This episode we take you behind-the-scenes.
First, we go to Toronto City Hall where Mayor David Miller has packed his bags to make way for Mayor Rob Ford. Spacing publisher Matthew Blackett and contributor John Lorinc spoke to Miller on one of his last days on the job. Then we stay up into the wee hours with Edward Birnbaum and Maia Filar. The mission? To explore the late-night restaurant scene that caters to cab drivers.
And finally, streetcars are an iconic part of the Toronto streetscape, but ever wonder who is tasked ...
December 16th, 2010
028, part II: David Miller exit interview with Spacing
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In this special dispatch, we’re bringing you PART TWO of our conversation with Toronto’s former mayor, David Miller. Spacing caught up with Miller on one of his last days in office. There was lots to talk about. Way too much to squeeze into our latest episode... and so we’re posting the rest, in chunks, all this week. Spacing’s publisher Matthew Blackett and contributor John Lorinc led the discussion.
Also, a big thanks to Diamond Rings - the solo project of John O’Regan - for letting us showcase music off the latest album Special Affections!
December 17th, 2010
028, part III: David Miller exit interview with Spacing
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In this special edition of Spacing Radio, we bring you the final installment - PART THREE - of our conversation with Toronto’s former mayor, David Miller. Spacing caught up with Miller on one of his last days in office. And there was so much to talk about that we couldn’t squeeze it all into our latest episode... so we’ve been posting the rest, in chunks, all this week.
A big thanks to Diamond Rings — the solo project of John O’Regan — for letting us showcase music off the latest album Special Affections!
May 11th, 2011
SPACING SHORTS 001: Highrises & vertical suburbs
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Spacing Radio is back — just in smaller doses! We're calling our new format Spacing Shorts. This means that whenever we have a story to tell we'll simply post it on the website and deliver it to you through iTunes. There will be audio postcards, urban snapshots, interviews, soundscapes, dispatches, and more... So stay tuned!
To start off our new season we're talking about highrise apartment buildings. Earlier this year, a United Way report called many of Toronto's highrises "sites of concentrated poverty." So how do our highrises compare to those ...
July 13th, 2011
SPACING SHORTS 002: STEPS ft. David Anderson (Clay and Paper Theatre)
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Spacing Radio is very pleased to announce a partnership with The STEPS Initiative!
STEPS (Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space) is a national organization promoting the use of art to connect people with places, especially public spaces. STEPS is committed to enabling the use of art to challenge the ways in which public spaces are used, how citizens communicate on environmental issues, and the role of the artist in community development....
August 10th, 2011
SPACING SHORTS 003: Transit announcements
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In this edition of Spacing Radio, we're talking about public transit announcements.
Matthew Kupfer started the VoxTranspo project to collect stories about Canada’s transit soundscape, focused on the stop announcement. The crowd-sourced, nationwide project aims to collect all kinds of stories — from small, personal anecdotes to those concerning larger issues like planning and accessibility. In this podcast, Matthew shares the first stories and sounds he's collected — from Ottawa, Toronto and Edmonton.
Have a story or recording to share? E-mail: matthew-dot-kupfer-at-gmail-dot-com.
Links from Spacing Shorts 003:
VoxTranspo
August 12th, 2011
SPACING SHORTS 004: STEPS ft. Emily Rose Michaud (Sprout Out Loud!)
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There are few urban advocates standing up for the vacant lot — an increasingly endangered species in many cities, as condos and other new developments spring up at a breakneck pace.
In this post, Spacing Radio — in partnership with The STEPS Initiative — brings you an interview with Montreal-based artist Emily Rose Michaud. Emily is a founding member of the gardening collective Sprout Out Loud! (a.k.a. Le Pouvoir Aux Pousses!), which created the site-specific project on a vacant lot in Montreal's Mile End. The city-owned green space is one of the last undeveloped spots in ...
February 3rd, 2012
Spacing Radio Special: Q&A with Vancouer Mayor Gregor Roberston
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Spacing Radio podcast is back and we have an interview with Vancouver's Mayor Gregor Robertson. This Q&A was also used in the new national edition of the magazine (out Feb. 6, 2012).
Freshly re-elected, the mayor of Canada's largest west coast city explains to Spacing Vancouver editor Erick Villagomez why he and his team at Vision Vancouver are going to make the city the greenest in all of North America.
photo by Mischa Bartkow; music by New Pornographers
