Buildings│Cities│Life: Eb Zeidler’s Autobiography in Architecture

Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A new two-volume, 1,635-page autobiography explores the life, architecture, and philosophy of Eberhard (Eb) Zeidler, from his early life and studies at the Bauhaus to the present—an exceptional career that established him as one of the world's most influential architects.

Growth and Development in Rural Counties Surrounding Separated Cities: What are the Implications for City-County Separation?

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 208N, Toronto, ON, Canada

A number of cities in Ontario are separated cities that are not politically connected to the counties in which they are geographically located. Although the original intention was that urban growth would be directed toward the separated city and the county would remain rural, many counties that surround separated cities have also been growing. What are the implications of city-county separation?

Big City, Big Ideas: Why Creativity Is the New Economy

Rotman School of Management 95 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada

Dr. Richard Florida presents his insights into how creativity and the Creative Class are revolutionizing the global economy during a time of “Great Reset.” Looking toward the future, Florida identifies the patterns that will drive the next Great Reset and transform virtually every aspect of our lives-from how and where we live, to how we work, to how we invest in individuals and infrastructure, to how we shape our cities and regions.

London’s Crossrail: A Case Study in Transit Investment

George Ignatieff Theatre 15 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON, Canada

The Crossrail is a transformative transit investment that will traverse London. It was planned through a rigorous process that focused on supporting the region’s economic growth and reducing congestion by shifting travel patterns, connecting employment areas, and capturing the resulting increase in land values. How did they get there?

Canada as an Investment Safe Haven: Assessing the Implications for Municipal Credit

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

In recent years, we have seen a sharp increase in foreign demand for Canadian assets, including bonds issued by Canadian municipalities and provinces. IMFG Post-Doctoral Fellow Kyle Hanniman discusses the factors driving foreign investment in Canada's subnational bond market; the implications of these developments for municipal borrowing costs and credit spreads; and what, if anything, municipalities are doing to manage the risks and opportunities involved.

The Role of Local Governments in a Unitary Welfare State: The Case of Norway

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

Lars-Erik Borge presents a talk at IMFG entitled, The Role of Local Governments in a Unitary Welfare State: The Case of Norway. Borge is Professor of Economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Borge is a former IMFG visiting scholar.

Ensuring Toronto’s Fiscal Health While Investing for the Future

Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In the second annual Toronto City Manager's Address, City Manager Joe Pennachetti discusses the City's fiscal position and the strategic directions the City must weigh in building an economically vibrant, functional, and inclusive Toronto.

Local Special Purpose Bodies in Ontario: Explaining Two Centuries of Institutional Change in Education, Public Health, and Hydro

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

This presentation describes the structural history of school boards, boards of health, and hydro commissions in Ontario. The goal is to understand how and why these institutions have changed over the long term, focusing on how ideas, organized interests, and political opportunities can explain the long-term patterns, timing, and pace of institutional change.

Big City, Big Ideas: The Millennials in Cities

Innis Town Hall Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Millennials are changing the face of cities. Educated, diverse and tech-savvy, this highly urbanized generation of ‘teens to thirty-somethings’ is expressing a new set of values about how they want to live, work, and play. Yet, their influx into North America’s cities is also surfacing difficult questions about housing affordability, access to employment, gentrification, and race. As urban demographics and civic values shift, what will the implications be for North America’s cities?

The City and its People: Civic Engagement Strategies for Residents

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

Discussions about urban governance often overlook the role of city residents, concentrating instead on developers, politicians and municipalities. This presentation focuses on the case of a neighbourhood civic movement in Toronto and its residents’ strategies to influence local governance and development.