On Sunday I went to Almonte to play some street hockey for the first time in years and to watch the Grey Cup game. I have to say I love the small town, community feel of that area; it's a good escape from the city.
In watching the Grey Cup and seeing shots of the Vancouver skyline I asked my friends from Saskatchewan whether they would ever live in that city. They responded it was too big and that Ottawa was just the right size for them. Being from Toronto I didn't really understand because I'm used to and love big cities.
The conversation eventually switched to life in the country. My friend's father told us stories of walking down the street and being yards away from a group of deer, elk, and some other animal with antlers. If I were that close to them I would've wet my pants. I could never imagine being so comfortable.
When I left Almonte just after halftime I was told to watch out for deer and wild turkey on the roads. What?! One of my phobias is critters on the roads. I drove at 40km per hour until I left Almonte and was leaning forward in my seat, hugging the wheel. It was then that I realized that the same discomfort I have with being in the country is the same discomfort that some people have with being in big cities. Rural folks are used to deer and wild turkey like I'm used to tall buildings and suspect behaviour.
Looking at the Vancouver skyline on the TV that night, dense buildings shining and glimmering in the night, I couldn't help but want more for Ottawa as an urban centre. I asked myself, "Why can't Ottawa be a dense metropolis? Or does it even need to be one? Perhaps I'm wrong for wanting Ottawa to be something it's not?"
Today I got some answers looking over the staff report for the proposed development at 335 Roosevelt Avenue in Westboro. This project was recommended for approval by City staff along with Lamb Development's SoBa project.
Showing posts with label City-Building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City-Building. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
What makeover shows teach us about city-building
First let me say that I'm thankful for the discussion the Ottawa Citizen initiated last week on building a better Ottawa. I learned so much about city-building. I hope the Citizen keeps up the discussion.
Friday afternoon the Citizen published articles by former mayor, Jim Durrell, and Kate Heartfield that brought a different spin to the discussion. It's good to hear from experienced people who can bring sobriety to emotional discussions.
The message I got from the articles is that we need to respect the natural and organic attributes of our city, whether geography, climate or culture, when building cities and that it's these things that make cities great.
This brings an analogy to mind- city-building is like a makeover. I used to be a big fan of the show What Not to Wear on TLC. There was something about watching someone being transformed and finding themselves.
Those kinds of shows aren't as much about making a woman into a beautiful person; they were already beautiful. It's about taking their natural features and making them, "pop!", or stand out, for the individual and the world to see.
A few weeks ago I said that Rideau Street east of King Edward would make a good International Village. I wrote about the number of ethnic businesses in the area already. Taking that organic and natural attribute and packaging it properly into an International Village through aesthetic improvement, or beautification, is the exact same thing that they do on the makeover shows. Taking a natural attribute and making it pop.
Friday afternoon the Citizen published articles by former mayor, Jim Durrell, and Kate Heartfield that brought a different spin to the discussion. It's good to hear from experienced people who can bring sobriety to emotional discussions.
This brings an analogy to mind- city-building is like a makeover. I used to be a big fan of the show What Not to Wear on TLC. There was something about watching someone being transformed and finding themselves.
Those kinds of shows aren't as much about making a woman into a beautiful person; they were already beautiful. It's about taking their natural features and making them, "pop!", or stand out, for the individual and the world to see.
A few weeks ago I said that Rideau Street east of King Edward would make a good International Village. I wrote about the number of ethnic businesses in the area already. Taking that organic and natural attribute and packaging it properly into an International Village through aesthetic improvement, or beautification, is the exact same thing that they do on the makeover shows. Taking a natural attribute and making it pop.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Being optimistic in a pessimistic Ottawa
Over the past few days the Ottawa Citizen has been running a thought provoking series on building a better Ottawa. As a result concerned residents, constructive critics and all-out untactful naysayers have joined the debate. What we can all agree on is that there are a number of issues holding this city back and that Ottawa can do much better than in its doing.
I sometimes have my frustrations with Ottawa like everyone else. The NCC needs a complete change of mentality when it comes to development, land use and building the capital. There's a need for more visionary, city-building leadership at City Hall and in the private sector. We need better architecural design. Our waterfront lands are extremely underused. We need to get rid of the mentality of mediocrity and we need to embrace the fact that Ottawa isn't a small town. We flat need a little pep in our step; it's takes too long to get things done if they get done at all. These are things that we've all heard repeatedly over the past week.
On the other side of the coin, I'm still optimistic about the future of Ottawa and there are a number of reasons why:
Ottawa has some very capable people working in different sectors; all we need is a little vision, ambition and excellence as we've heard over the past week.
As a former Torontonian that only moved to Ottawa two years ago I haven't had the opportunity to know in depth the mistakes that Ottawa has made in the past; I can only go on what I'm seeing today and we have great prospects for the future.
Having spent most of my life in Toronto, a city that does city-building extremely well, I can say that Ottawa needs a lot of help, but the potential is there and there are enough projects in the works to drastically change the city over the next seven years.
My wish is that this city-wide discussion will lead to meaningful change in our city, whether on the part of residents, the NCC, the City, developers, or planners. Ottawa deserves better.
I sometimes have my frustrations with Ottawa like everyone else. The NCC needs a complete change of mentality when it comes to development, land use and building the capital. There's a need for more visionary, city-building leadership at City Hall and in the private sector. We need better architecural design. Our waterfront lands are extremely underused. We need to get rid of the mentality of mediocrity and we need to embrace the fact that Ottawa isn't a small town. We flat need a little pep in our step; it's takes too long to get things done if they get done at all. These are things that we've all heard repeatedly over the past week.On the other side of the coin, I'm still optimistic about the future of Ottawa and there are a number of reasons why:
- The revitalization of Lansdowne Park (including CFL football, NASL soccer, and retail brands new to Ottawa)
- LRT/subway project (including underground retail near the Rideau Centre)
- Ottawa Art Gallery/Arts Court expansion
- Rideau Centre expansion
- Ottawa's first five-star hotel -Re Hotel & Residences (Toronto just got their first one in 2007)
- Public square at Rideau-Sussex intersection (Lord Stanley Plaza)
- St. Laurent Centre expansion (will be the 10th largest mall in Canada)
- Significant condo development downtown
- The growth of mainstreets like Westboro
- Ottawa Convention Centre and the CE Centre
- Art Wall LED screen at OCC
- Rink of Dreams at City Hall
- New 500-room downtown hotel
- World class attractions like Calypso Park
- 2017 Sesquicentennial celebrations
- Growing events like Bluesfest, Ottawa Fashion Week and OIFF
- Streetscape work on Rideau Street from Sussex Drive to Charlotte Street
Ottawa has some very capable people working in different sectors; all we need is a little vision, ambition and excellence as we've heard over the past week.
As a former Torontonian that only moved to Ottawa two years ago I haven't had the opportunity to know in depth the mistakes that Ottawa has made in the past; I can only go on what I'm seeing today and we have great prospects for the future.
Having spent most of my life in Toronto, a city that does city-building extremely well, I can say that Ottawa needs a lot of help, but the potential is there and there are enough projects in the works to drastically change the city over the next seven years.
My wish is that this city-wide discussion will lead to meaningful change in our city, whether on the part of residents, the NCC, the City, developers, or planners. Ottawa deserves better.
Kevin Bourne
reinventingottawa.blogspot.comWednesday, March 16, 2011
Should cities function more like countries?
In the 21st century, cities are becoming increasingly powerful. Man once lived in the age of city-states, then the age of empires, then the age of nations, and now we are back into an age of cities. Sixty-percent of the world's population will be living in urban areas by 2030, up from fifty-percent at the moment.
There are some cities like Mumbai and Beijing that have more residents and economic capacity than many countries, regions and continents. It's almost like we are going back to the days of Rome, Troy and Sparta where cities operated like countries.
So here's the question. Should cities function more like countries in order to stimulate growth?
We are starting to see more countries forming joint chambers of commerce with other countries, for example the Nigeria/Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce. As cities become more powerful would it be worthwhile to form joint chambers of commerce with other cities, for example the Ottawa-Beijing Chamber of Commerce? Perhaps even a three way chamber spanning multiple continents- the Ottawa-Mumbai-Melbourne (OMM) Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps there could be chambers for specific purposes- the San Francisco-Ottawa-Seoul (SOS) Chamber of Technology or the Ottawa-Sydney Chamber for the Arts. These kinds of networks would provide an international platform for local artists, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Another way in which countries interact is through diplomatic relations. Should cities appoint ambassasors to other cities? Should cities have embassies or high commissions in other cities in order to promote diplomatic and economic relations on a municipal level the same way countries do on a national level? If your city took $5 million of your tax dollars to have a full-time representative in Beijing, New York, or Prague would you think that was good use of your money?
Of course there would be huge legalities and technicalities involved. For example, would the City of Ottawa's embassy in Mumbai be Ottawa, Canadian or Indian soil? To avoid the legalities, a city like Ottawa could appoint an ambassador to Mumbai who is originally from Mumbai or India and is living here in the city, and task them with creating diplomatic and economic ties with the City of Mumbai. With some cities having the capacity of countries, whether in population, talent or economics, it's not that far out there. Again, this would bring us back to the days of Rome, Sparta and Troy.
Cities are becoming increasingly interesting. I regret that cities in Canada aren't as respected by the provinces and federal government as they are in other countries. With the exception of Toronto, our mayor and cities don't have the same powers they have in other countries. We don't get as much investment from high levels of government as cities in other countries. Urban infrastructure, like high speed rail, light rail, and airports, aren't given the same level of funding. As a result, our cities are constantly in need of cash and handouts.
As time unfolds countries will have to alter how they relate to their major urban centres and in turn these urban centres will have to alter how they relate to other urban centres around the world. It will be interesting to see how the future unfolds.
There are some cities like Mumbai and Beijing that have more residents and economic capacity than many countries, regions and continents. It's almost like we are going back to the days of Rome, Troy and Sparta where cities operated like countries.
So here's the question. Should cities function more like countries in order to stimulate growth?
We are starting to see more countries forming joint chambers of commerce with other countries, for example the Nigeria/Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce. As cities become more powerful would it be worthwhile to form joint chambers of commerce with other cities, for example the Ottawa-Beijing Chamber of Commerce? Perhaps even a three way chamber spanning multiple continents- the Ottawa-Mumbai-Melbourne (OMM) Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps there could be chambers for specific purposes- the San Francisco-Ottawa-Seoul (SOS) Chamber of Technology or the Ottawa-Sydney Chamber for the Arts. These kinds of networks would provide an international platform for local artists, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Another way in which countries interact is through diplomatic relations. Should cities appoint ambassasors to other cities? Should cities have embassies or high commissions in other cities in order to promote diplomatic and economic relations on a municipal level the same way countries do on a national level? If your city took $5 million of your tax dollars to have a full-time representative in Beijing, New York, or Prague would you think that was good use of your money?
Of course there would be huge legalities and technicalities involved. For example, would the City of Ottawa's embassy in Mumbai be Ottawa, Canadian or Indian soil? To avoid the legalities, a city like Ottawa could appoint an ambassador to Mumbai who is originally from Mumbai or India and is living here in the city, and task them with creating diplomatic and economic ties with the City of Mumbai. With some cities having the capacity of countries, whether in population, talent or economics, it's not that far out there. Again, this would bring us back to the days of Rome, Sparta and Troy.
Cities are becoming increasingly interesting. I regret that cities in Canada aren't as respected by the provinces and federal government as they are in other countries. With the exception of Toronto, our mayor and cities don't have the same powers they have in other countries. We don't get as much investment from high levels of government as cities in other countries. Urban infrastructure, like high speed rail, light rail, and airports, aren't given the same level of funding. As a result, our cities are constantly in need of cash and handouts.
As time unfolds countries will have to alter how they relate to their major urban centres and in turn these urban centres will have to alter how they relate to other urban centres around the world. It will be interesting to see how the future unfolds.
Kevin Bourne
reinventingottawa.blogspot.com
Friday, March 4, 2011
The capital belongs to the people
Recent events with the National Capital Commission have me thinking about the idea of a capital. What is its role? Who should determine what it looks like?
In Greco-Roman society where democracy was born, the capital was a gathering place for the people, aside from being the place from which the Emperor ruled. When democracy was born it was different than what we see today; in those days there was no representative government. When it was time to vote on legislation the people, specifically men, would gather in the public square of the city-state and vote in laws. As cities expanded it became harder for people to travel to the public square to vote on legislation so representative government was born.
As a result of the evolution of democracy, citizens aren’t as engaged as they were in Greco-Roman society. Representative government is needed with the size of our cities, provinces and countries, but the fact still remains that the capital and its seat of government should be a gathering place for the people. Let me say it differently- the capital belongs to the people, not the Federal Government.
When I hear that the NCC’s mandate is to preserve the historical character of the capital, the truth is this mandate was not given by the people but by the Federal Government. When you think about who has set the vision for what the capital is supposed to be, the vision did not come from the people but from the Federal Government via Gréber and Laurier. Now don’t get me wrong, I used to work for the Federal Government so I don’t hate the institution, but I’m not comfortable with how the capital in managed.
There were questions raised by Marie Lemay, CEO of the NCC, in a new interview with the Ottawa Citizen. “We’ve been talking about a vibrant capital and how you can make it liveable and exciting, and is a digital screen part of that strategy? Is this a sign of the times? And is it something we have to move to? Is a digital screen compatible with the character of this particular location? Is it a good thing but maybe not in that location?” She goes on to say that she doesn’t know if they will even recommend the Art Wall proposal to the board. The answers to these questions concerning our capital should not come from people in a board room alone; the people should be allowed to have a strong say. But the truth is if professionals like Jim Durrell can’t be trusted to answer these questions, why would the average Ottawan or Canadian be trusted?
You may not agree, but in today’s society the NCC should take their cues from the people when it comes to the vision and identity of the capital. Organizations all over the world are moving away from the top-down approach to development to a participatory, resident-led approach, whether it’s in international development or waterfront development. Leaders then become facilitators of disussion. In other words they are returning to the true sense of democracy. Leaders are starting to realize that if you allow the people to set the vision, or at least partner in developing the vision, you are more like to ensure buy-in and success.
Thousands of dollars can be saved in trying to sell the capital to Canadians by giving them a say in the vision and identity. Frustration by local residents could be avoided by allowing us to participate in creating a vision and identity for the capital that we call home.
Though it’s a small issue, in the case of the Art Wall, an invisible board or team of executives shouldn’t determine the outcome in isolation. This is about more than just an LED screen; it’s about the direction and identity of the capital. What the events in the Middle East show us is that people want a say in how they and their homeland are governed. Let the people weigh in, whether for or against, and the NCC can facilitate the discussion; it’s our gathering place. The capital belongs to the people.
Branding Ottawa:
Canada’s Technology Capital that Fun Forgot
Economic development around the world is changing. As globalization increases so does the sense of competition between cities as well as countries. It’s for this reason that Andrew Stevens of CityMayors.com says that city branding and identity of place are becoming so important in economic development and urban leadership.
The City of Portland aims to be the Green Capital of the World in five years, creating 10,000 jobs. Vancouver aims to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. Barbados aims to be the #1 entrepreneurial hub in the world by 2020 by being the first country in the world to be completely covered in Wi-Fi as of November 11, 2011. These are very bold, almost lofty ambitions, but they attract people and investment, and inspire growth.
These three locations have already made significant strides in these respective areas. Portland is already an international centre for sustainable transportation. Vancouver is already known as the most liveable city in the world. Barbados already has the most internet users per capita in the world. For some reason they aren’t satisfied with just being A player, they want to be THE player or at least a MAJOR player. These three jurisdictions are taking their strengths to the next level by setting clear goals and objectives which will make them competitive and will help to strengthen their brand.
Where is Ottawa?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The monopoly known as the NCC
A few months after moving to Ottawa one of the first events I attended was Doors Open where over 100 buildings in the city were opened to the public. It was a great way to get to know and feel a part of the city.
The organization that I was most impressed with was the National Capital Commission. My wife and I were looking for a place to volunteer and their events looked like a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, after a year and a half in the capital my fondness for the NCC has turned to frustration. On one side of the coin they coordinate good events, but on the other side it feels like they represent everything that’s wrong with Ottawa.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Envisioning the Rideau-Sussex intersection
On January 9th, 2011 the Ottawa media confirmed that a site had been chosen for the Stanley Cup monument. The Stanley Cup will have a permanent home at the future public square at the Rideau-Sussex intersection.
Personally, I’m still torn on this announcement. Commemorating such an important event and place in hockey and Canadian history is important and great for tourism, but I’m not sure if it should anchor what will be our main downtown public square at what is arguably the most important intersection in the city.
The NCC is expected to have the public square and monument built for 2017 in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday and the 125th anniversary of the donation of the cup by Lord Stanley.
I’m excited about what the Rideau-Sussex intersection will look like in six years if it’s done correctly. But although I’m a big fan of public squares, I don’t think creating a vibrant public square is as easy as putting down concrete tiles, trees and benches.
Will this square really be a vibrant gathering place? Especially in Ottawa where we don’t seem to like adding a commercial component to our public spaces? With a population of 2.5 million, Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square is often empty partly due to a lack of seating and a lack of consistent programming.
I believe the game-changer for the Rideau-Sussex intersection will be the lot at 41-45 Rideau Street on the north-east corner. The current building houses a CIBC branch, Holtz Spa, and office space. In my opinion it is currently the weakest link at the intersection, although most people would say it's the underpass, but it has great potential. According to my research this building is not a heritage building and it lacks character compared to its neighbour at the south-east corner.
Here’s what I think would make this intersection the destination that it should be.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Self-preservation in the Capital, Canada & Caribbean
Self-preservation- it's a basic human reaction. When we humans feel threatened we go into self-preservation mode. This reaction, rooted in fear, is a reality from the family to the international community.
Three places that are very important to me are my city, my country, and the Caribbean. Every day I try to stay informed on what's happening in those three places. What I noticed is that self-preservation can be seen everyday in Ottawa, Canadian, and Caribbean news.
Commitment
At the regional or supranational level we talk about "Integration". At the national level we talk about "Confederation". At the municipal level we talk about "Amalgamation". At the family level we talk about "Marriage". At their core they all mean the same thing; they are the bringing together of individual or single units to make a whole or bigger unit.
Whether you're talking about Integration, Confederation, Amalgamation, or Marriage there is sometimes a tendency to go into self-preservation mode where any one of the members doesn't fully commit to the union out of a fear, whether legitimate or illegitimate, of losing their identity and individuality.
As we speak Caribbean integration is being held back by fear that some CARICOM members have of losing their indentity and individuality. Quebec leaders haven't fully committed to Confederation because of this same fear. At the family level, the same can be said in marriages. I could be wrong, but I think that's why so many women hyphenate their names or keep their maiden names (for some people it's culture and for others they want their old friends to find them on Facebook), and some men hold onto their old black books or pictures of their ex. Again, these fears can be legitimate or illegitimate.
Three places that are very important to me are my city, my country, and the Caribbean. Every day I try to stay informed on what's happening in those three places. What I noticed is that self-preservation can be seen everyday in Ottawa, Canadian, and Caribbean news.
Commitment
At the regional or supranational level we talk about "Integration". At the national level we talk about "Confederation". At the municipal level we talk about "Amalgamation". At the family level we talk about "Marriage". At their core they all mean the same thing; they are the bringing together of individual or single units to make a whole or bigger unit.
Whether you're talking about Integration, Confederation, Amalgamation, or Marriage there is sometimes a tendency to go into self-preservation mode where any one of the members doesn't fully commit to the union out of a fear, whether legitimate or illegitimate, of losing their identity and individuality.
As we speak Caribbean integration is being held back by fear that some CARICOM members have of losing their indentity and individuality. Quebec leaders haven't fully committed to Confederation because of this same fear. At the family level, the same can be said in marriages. I could be wrong, but I think that's why so many women hyphenate their names or keep their maiden names (for some people it's culture and for others they want their old friends to find them on Facebook), and some men hold onto their old black books or pictures of their ex. Again, these fears can be legitimate or illegitimate.
Monday, February 14, 2011
New waterfront development model needed in Ottawa?
If you’ve read my blog long enough you would know that the state of Ottawa’s waterfront is an important issue for me.
One of favourite areas to visit in a city is its waterfront; it’s a basic amenity that almost every city provides its residents and visitors. Cities all over the world are in the midst of either creating comprehensive waterfront development plans or have begun resident led visioning processes for their waterfront. Not so in Ottawa.
In my humble opinion, one thing that distinguishes a big city from a small town is its focus on urban and economic development. Having lived and worked in south western and eastern Ontario, I can say that urban development is more of a priority in the prior than the latter.
A month ago I opened a file on Open File Ottawa about the development of the Chaudière Falls-Victoria Island area. The assigned reporter recently wrote that the NCC has no immediate intention to develop the land due to cost which was estimated at $100 million.
Having lived in Toronto I think I took for granted that we had a developed waterfront. It bothers me that Ottawa residents don’t have access to such a basic amenity. Perhaps the snail’s pace at which our waterfront is being developed can be attributed to the development model.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The future is friendly for Ottawa
As I said a few articles ago, when I first came to this city I spent hours in the Ottawa Room to learn about the city’s past and present. One of my favourite things to do is to look at old pictures of cities. I try to imagine myself living in those times. I probably love history as much as I love the future. As the saying goes, “If you don’t know where you’ve come from you won’t know where you’re going.”
I like Ottawa’s history- the theatres, the buildings, and the evolution from a lumber town to a political Capital. It’s a beautiful rags to riches story. It’s a story of the overlooked underdog becoming somebody.
Ottawa seemed like a happening and exciting place decades ago. Big theatre openings attended by celebrities from south of the border, visits by the Royal Family, and legendary concerts by Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. With the help of entrepreneurs like Thomas Aheard Ottawa was on the cutting edge of electric technology.
Charting Ottawa’s Development
Human beings go through three broad phases of development- childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. I believe it’s the same for cities.
Last year I asked a question on Twitter. “Lumber town, political capital...What will be the third phase of Ottawa’s development?”
I believe as a lumber town Ottawa was in childhood, currently as a political capital we are in adolescence, and that there is still adulthood awaiting our city. In my last post I spoke about adolescence being a time where there is inner conflict about identity. Ottawa seems to be in this phase now. There seems to be constant debates that revolve around the fact that people have different ideas of what Ottawa is supposed to be. Small town? Big city? Political capital? Technology centre? Cosmopolitan city?
Mature cities like Toronto and Montreal don’t have these kinds of debates about what their city is. Their identities are clear and they’ve moved on to branding the city in line with their identity.
I don’t believe that “political capital” is the last phase of Ottawa’s development. I believe that Ottawa as political capital is in a transition period on the way to its true identity. Just as our city evolved from lumber town to political capital, it will evolve again. The same amount of vision, leadership and investment it took to evolve from lumber town to political capital is the same amount vision, leadership and investment it will take for Ottawa to move on to adulthood. What will Ottawa look like as an adult?
“When I grow up I want to be like Toronto” Part 2
In my last past I spoke about the intangibles that Toronto has that Ottawa can learn from- vision, identity, and morale. I explained that it’s the lack of these intangibles, the little foxes that spoil the vine, which can hinder city-building efforts.There are also practical, tangible things that Toronto does well that we can learn from- Development/design, branding, economics, and city-building.
Design/Development
Looking at designs for new developments in Toronto, like Tridel’s Hullmark Centre, sometimes makes me salivate and leaves me envious. Residents of any city deserve to have buildings and developments that they can proudly show off to visitors from out of town. Ottawa’s new convention centre is definitely one of those buildings, but these kinds of masterpieces are rare in this city.
When I went back to Toronto for Christmas my wife and I noticed buildings by developers who also develop properties in Ottawa. We noticed that the calibre of their work in Toronto was higher than that of their work in Ottawa. I don’t know about you, but that bothers me. There’s a competitiveness in me that says that we deserve the same calibre of design as any other city.
I would go as far as to say that there are condos in downtown Ottawa that you would probably never see in downtown Toronto. There are materials used in downtown developments in Ottawa that you would hardly see in downtown Toronto. There is a higher standard of design. We have to start wanting more for ourselves as a city. We deserve it as much as any other city does.
I would go as far as to say that there are condos in downtown Ottawa that you would probably never see in downtown Toronto. There are materials used in downtown developments in Ottawa that you would hardly see in downtown Toronto. There is a higher standard of design. We have to start wanting more for ourselves as a city. We deserve it as much as any other city does.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
When I grow up I want to be like Toronto, Part 1
As former Torontonians, my wife and I were reflecting yesterday on our time in the GTA. Although we don't miss much to be honest, except the shopping malls, downtown, and Yorkville, we agreed that Toronto just does things well. There's an attitude of wanting to be the best and being progressive that I miss. Larry O'Brien called in "swagger". People criticized that comment, but I understood what he meant. Maybe if he unpacked that comment a bit and explained himself it may have been better received.
The sad thing about human nature is that we tend to hate the thing that we're not, and secretly want to be, and Toronto is one of those things. You can't blame cities who know who they are and have begun to progessively move in that direction. Some people would call that "Convergence".
For the two years before I moved to Ottawa I spent time reading about the city, its plans, the whose who, and its history. When I got here I spent hours in the Ottawa Room at the downtown library looking at old pictures and reading more about the capital. I'd say for someone who wasn't born here I have a pretty good grasp on what's been happening here. At the same time because I didn't grow up here, Ottawa is an open canvass to me with lots of potential and I don't have a lot of preconceived notions.
In my opinion there are some things that Toronto can learn Ottawa, like how to be more family and community oriented, and there are things Ottawa needs to learn from Toronto. Here are my thoughts.
What Ottawa can learn from Toronto- The Intangibles
There's a Biblical lesson that has helped me to understand organization. "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine" (Song of Solomon 2:15). What spoils a farmer's crop isn't the big things, it's the little foxes that weisel their way into your harvest, and then soon enough it's hard to get them out. From growing up in Toronto and now living in Ottawa I can see that there are little foxes that hinder city-building that Toronto has mastered and Ottawa is still in the process of mastering- Lack of identity, lack of vision, and lack of morale.
Friday, January 21, 2011
What Ottawa can learn from Cardiff, Wales about public spaces
Recently a local newspaper has been doing interviews with Ottawa city councillors and one of the questions got me thinking, "What is my favourite city outside of Ottawa and Toronto?" I'm not well travelled so I started reminiscing about my most recent trip which I really enjoyed. I'd say it's my favourite city of the ones I've been to so far.
It was two years ago at this same time that I travelled to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, for my grandmother's funeral. I hadn't been to Wales since I was three years old so I welcomed the trip although it was not under the best circumstances.
In hindsight, what I enjoyed most about Cardiff, aside from family, was its public spaces; its pedestrian mall, market, public square, and arcades (which before my trip I thought was a place where you played video games). Also, the shopping was enticing.
As I look back I can't help but see Cardiff as an example of what Ottawa can be. We have similar architecture due to our British roots. We have the market. We have the pedestrian mall, and there's talk of a public square at the Rideau-Sussex intersection. Both cities have a canal. Both cities are completely bilingual with signage in both official languages. Both cities come across as small towns because they are overshowed by nearby economic hubs- Toronto and London. What Cardiff seems to have grasped is that you need to invest in your public spaces and they need to flow together into one big space. In Cardiff the pedestrian mall leads you to the arcades and public square, which lead you to the market and St. David's (voted International Shopping Centre of the Year 2010 by Global Retail Leisure International).
One of the moments I remembered most was being in St. David's Square with a soccer (or football) match playing on a large video screen. People stood around and talked to each other watching the game. Looking back I wonder why CBC, who had the rights to World Cup 2010, didn't have a video screen up on Sparks Street where passers by could watch World Cup games for free. What a great way to gather people. How vibrant would Sparks Street have been? I guess it's not in the culture.
I'm not knocking Ottawa; it just so happens that Europeans and North Americans build cities differently. Europeans seem to build around social interaction while we build for the hustle and bustle. There are some things we can learn from our friends across the Atlantic and there are some things they can learn from us.
I'm not knocking Ottawa; it just so happens that Europeans and North Americans build cities differently. Europeans seem to build around social interaction while we build for the hustle and bustle. There are some things we can learn from our friends across the Atlantic and there are some things they can learn from us.
Ottawa is a good city and it has the right ingredients to be great. Below you'll find pictures of Cardiff's public spaces and buildings. Note the similarities between the two cities. Enjoy!
Kevin Bourne
reinventingottawa.blogspot.com
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Shifts in Ottawa media in 2010
With the bankruptcy on Canwest, 2010 marked a year of significant shifts in national media which were felt in Ottawa. Aside from national ownership changes, there were also local ownership and format changes in the capital. If access to information is an indicator of quality of life you can say that quality of life has increased with these shifts in our local media market.
We may not see such large changes in the Ottawa media market in 2011, but with the approaching expansion of the CTV Ottawa facilities and growth in digital and online media at the Ottawa Citizen and Open File Ottawa, the future is friendly.
Here are the shifts that we saw in Ottawa media:
Radio de la communauté francophone d’Ottawa received permission from the CRTC to operate a francophone radio station on the 94.5 MHz radio frequency on February 4, 2010. Also known as CJFO FM, the station was officially launched on November 15, 2010 at 6am.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-55.htm
With the bankruptcy of Canwest Global Communications, the newspaper publishing arm, including the Ottawa Citizen, was sold to a new ownership group, Postmedia Network, on July 13, 2010 for $1.1 billion dollars. Postmedia has promised to transition to a "digital-first strategy" which will affect how the Ottawa Citizen will deliver its product in the future.
http://www.financialpost.com/Postmedia+Network+opens+newspaper+chain/3271976/story.html
After losing its original studio in a fire, CTV announced on July 14, 2010 that it would make the Byward Market its permanent home. They hinted at a possible expansion of their facilities including possibly moving their National Bureau from the World Exchange Plaza to the George Street building. These plans were reiterated in early December and are slated to include office space, 13 edit suites, five production edit suites, three TV studios and two control rooms. The expansion will accomodate staff from the Merivale and World Exchange Plaza sites.
Founder and former publisher, Mark Sutcliffe, along with current publisher, Michael Curran, and former executive Donna Neil acquired the Ottawa Business Journal from Montreal-based Transcontinental, Inc. Also included in the deal were its spin-off publications and events including Ottawa Technology Magazine, Meeting in the Capital, Ottawa at Home magazine, Forty Under 40, and CEO of the Year. This transaction will add OBJ to Great River Media's existing portfolio which includes The Kitchissippi Times, their national magazine iRun, and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce magazine The Voice. The deal was made final on August 18, 2010.
http://www.obj.ca/Local/2010-08-12/article-1671337/OBJ-acquired-by-local-group/1
On October 18, 2010 Ottawa became the latest city, after Calgary, Vancouver, Moncton, St. John, Halifax, Kitchener, and Toronto, to receive a Rogers all-news radio station when 1310 Oldies underwent a format change to become 1310 News.
According to Wikipedia, with this format change Ottawa is now the largest Canadian market with no AM music stations.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/more+Oldies+1310+station+switches+news+format/3659346/story.html
We may not see such large changes in the Ottawa media market in 2011, but with the approaching expansion of the CTV Ottawa facilities and growth in digital and online media at the Ottawa Citizen and Open File Ottawa, the future is friendly.
Here are the shifts that we saw in Ottawa media:
1. Ottawa receives a new francophone radio station
Radio de la communauté francophone d’Ottawa received permission from the CRTC to operate a francophone radio station on the 94.5 MHz radio frequency on February 4, 2010. Also known as CJFO FM, the station was officially launched on November 15, 2010 at 6am.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-55.htm
2. Ottawa Citizen undergoes change in ownership
With the bankruptcy of Canwest Global Communications, the newspaper publishing arm, including the Ottawa Citizen, was sold to a new ownership group, Postmedia Network, on July 13, 2010 for $1.1 billion dollars. Postmedia has promised to transition to a "digital-first strategy" which will affect how the Ottawa Citizen will deliver its product in the future.
http://www.financialpost.com/Postmedia+Network+opens+newspaper+chain/3271976/story.html
3. CTV makes Byward Market its permanent home
After losing its original studio in a fire, CTV announced on July 14, 2010 that it would make the Byward Market its permanent home. They hinted at a possible expansion of their facilities including possibly moving their National Bureau from the World Exchange Plaza to the George Street building. These plans were reiterated in early December and are slated to include office space, 13 edit suites, five production edit suites, three TV studios and two control rooms. The expansion will accomodate staff from the Merivale and World Exchange Plaza sites.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/plans+major+expansion+ByWard+Market+broadcast+facility/3941759/story.html
4. Ottawa Business Journal returns to local ownership
Founder and former publisher, Mark Sutcliffe, along with current publisher, Michael Curran, and former executive Donna Neil acquired the Ottawa Business Journal from Montreal-based Transcontinental, Inc. Also included in the deal were its spin-off publications and events including Ottawa Technology Magazine, Meeting in the Capital, Ottawa at Home magazine, Forty Under 40, and CEO of the Year. This transaction will add OBJ to Great River Media's existing portfolio which includes The Kitchissippi Times, their national magazine iRun, and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce magazine The Voice. The deal was made final on August 18, 2010.
http://www.obj.ca/Local/2010-08-12/article-1671337/OBJ-acquired-by-local-group/1
5. 1310 Oldies becomes 1310 News
On October 18, 2010 Ottawa became the latest city, after Calgary, Vancouver, Moncton, St. John, Halifax, Kitchener, and Toronto, to receive a Rogers all-news radio station when 1310 Oldies underwent a format change to become 1310 News.
According to Wikipedia, with this format change Ottawa is now the largest Canadian market with no AM music stations.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/more+Oldies+1310+station+switches+news+format/3659346/story.html
6. Open File brings open and participatory journalism to Ottawa
In November Open File brought its open and participatory model of journalism to the capital. This model allows participants to open a news file which is then assigned to an experienced reporter. With the growing popularity of open and participatory websites like YouTube people want to participate in how information is shared. This has led to a growing concern about the truth and integrity of information sharing and new reporting. Open File bridges that gap.
Open File Ottawa has already created awareness on issues such as intensification, retail in the downtown core, and the environment.
Kevin Bourne
reinventingottawa.blogspot.com
Thursday, December 23, 2010
What Ottawa can learn from portfolio managers
There's a lot that city-builders can learn from portfolio managers. Portfolio managers, or investment managers, decide in what securities (i.e. shares, bonds) and assets (i.e. real estate) they should invest on behalf their clients. From this discipline we can learn some lessons about how to make our cities grow faster.
Now before I begin, let me admit that I'm not a professional investor. But lately my wife and I have been on a journey of learning more about wealth and these lessons on city-building leaped out at me. Let's begin.
There are certain things that portfolio managers can do to stimulate small, medium or aggressive growth in a portfolio that have related levels of risk. There is more risk in aggressive growth than in a smaller amounts of growth. Within their portfolios investors typically use stocks to create growth and bonds to create stability. Even within stocks there are some that are more stable than others. "Blue chip" companies are those who show high levels of reliability and profitability during good and bad times. Examples are CIBC, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald's, and Hewlett Packard. Investors and portfolio managers will also use Blue Chip stocks to stabilize their portfolio.
On the other hand, investors and portfolio managers will invest in start-ups, or new ventures, to drive growth. There's more risk in investing in these companies but they provide the highest return.
So how does this relate to cities?
Now before I begin, let me admit that I'm not a professional investor. But lately my wife and I have been on a journey of learning more about wealth and these lessons on city-building leaped out at me. Let's begin.
There are certain things that portfolio managers can do to stimulate small, medium or aggressive growth in a portfolio that have related levels of risk. There is more risk in aggressive growth than in a smaller amounts of growth. Within their portfolios investors typically use stocks to create growth and bonds to create stability. Even within stocks there are some that are more stable than others. "Blue chip" companies are those who show high levels of reliability and profitability during good and bad times. Examples are CIBC, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald's, and Hewlett Packard. Investors and portfolio managers will also use Blue Chip stocks to stabilize their portfolio.
On the other hand, investors and portfolio managers will invest in start-ups, or new ventures, to drive growth. There's more risk in investing in these companies but they provide the highest return.
So how does this relate to cities?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Is Ottawa a "Carlton" or a "Jennifer Lopez"?
So here's the question, "Is Ottawa a 'Carlton' or a 'Jennifer Lopez'?" You may ask what could these two figures have in common with Ottawa. Well they symbolize what our city is and what it has the potential of becoming.
Lately I've been asking myself an interesting question. After evolving from a lumber town to a political capital, what is the third phase of Ottawa's evolution? What will it evolve into next?
Lately I've been asking myself an interesting question. After evolving from a lumber town to a political capital, what is the third phase of Ottawa's evolution? What will it evolve into next?
Over the past few months I've been reading about capital cities around the world, their financial and administrative systems, to understand how Ottawa can better organize itself for the future. I've looked at the monuments and buildings of capital cities and how the concept of the capital city evolved. I've even spent hours in the Ottawa Room at the central library to learn more about the humble beginnings of our capital.
I've had my frustrations with our city, mainly how much residents oppose growth and how much further behind we are than the other G8 capitals. Then it struck me just how young our city is. You have Rome, Paris and London that have ties to Ancient Rome. You have Moscow, Tokyo and Berlin that can be traced back to the monarchy in their respective countries. Then you have Washington DC and Ottawa that are the two youngest siblings. The other cities in the G8 have had centuries to discover their identity and blossom into what we see today, whereas we're just getting started.
So what's hindering us from moving forward as a city? Aside from rampant NIMBYism, like Alphonso Ribeiro (aka "Carlton") we've been typecasted. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who could be seen as a founding father of the capital, envisioned Ottawa to be a "Washington of the North". He was a great visionary. His vision for Ottawa was for a grand place with great national monuments and buildings, a national centre for thought and education. Organizations like the NCC and NRC have taken this mandate and ran with it. Today the powers that be in the capital still seem to have Washington envy like a little brother who wants to be just like his older brother when he grows up. "When I grow up I wanna be just like you Washington!"
Well, this may not be news to you, but Ottawa's just about grown up and we're still not like Washington which provides us with a great opportunity to reinvent ourselves. The original vision which provided our leaders with focus and discipline in the beginning has now typecasted us into a national role that we can't shake.
Well, this may not be news to you, but Ottawa's just about grown up and we're still not like Washington which provides us with a great opportunity to reinvent ourselves. The original vision which provided our leaders with focus and discipline in the beginning has now typecasted us into a national role that we can't shake.
The problem with being typecasted is that externally people never want you to leave that role, and internally you either end up having to go to the other extreme to change your image or just simply reinventing yourself like Jennifer Lopez. She started out as a fly girl on In Living Colour, but she is now an actress, recording artist, model, entrepreneur, wife and mother. So here's the question again, "Is Ottawa a 'Carlton' or a 'Jennifer Lopez'?"
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