School of Cities and Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) hosted this occasional series of spirited discussion about how women’s participation in the economy affects the vibrancy and livability of our cities and Canada’s path towards a green and equitable recovery.
- Feminist City 3.0: How can we apply a gender and equity lens to economic recovery in our cities?
February 1, 2022
Rotman School of Management
Since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, women have been disproportionately affected, represented in job losses and in the proportion of women working on the front lines, as essential service providers and primary caregivers to children and the elderly. Experts have called for a Feminist economic recovery plan specifically aimed dismantling systemic barriers and improving economic security for women.
2. Towards a Feminist City (II): Gender and Diversity in the City Building Industry
January 30, 2020
Rotman School of Management
This panel brought together urban leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to explore questions of gender and diversity in the city building industry. City building is a broad field made up of the developers, planners, policymakers, professional services consultants and civic organizations that together shape the fabric of cities. The panel examined the experiences of women working in this notoriously white and male-dominated field, approaches to increase diversity in the sector, and the ways in which women in leadership roles are reshaping industry practices and project outcomes.
Speakers included Abigail Moriah, Co-Founder, The Mentoring Initiative for Indigenous and Planners of Colour | The Black Planning Project | Introductory Remarks: Sarah Kaplan, Distinguished Professor and Director – Institute for Gender and the Economy, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto | Moderator: Matti Siemiatycki, Associate Professor and Director – School of Cities, University of Toronto | Shirley Hoy, Senior Advisor, StrategyCorp; former City Manager for the City of Toronto; past Chair, Governing Council, University of Toronto (2017) | Taya Cook, Development Director, Urban Capital Property Group.
3. What could a feminist city look like?
March 27, 2019
Rotman School of Management
To address the issue of access and gender equity in the city and imagine what a feminist city could look like, this event gathered esteemed local urbanists, activists, and writers. This discussion featured Kofi Hope, Senior Policy Advisor, Wellesley Institute; Bousfield Distinguished Visitor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto; Olivia Nuamah, Executive Director, Pride Toronto; Rosemarie Powell, Executive Director, Toronto Community Benefits Network; Brigitte Shim, Professor, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto; Principal, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects; and will be moderated by Sarah Kaplan, Director and Professor – Institute for Gender and the Economy, Rotman School of Management and Matti Siemiatycki, Interim Director, School of Cities and Associate Professor, Geography & Planning, University of Toronto.
The conversation explored public policy, decision-making processes, community engagement, and the urban built form, and discuss potential paths forward to creating a more inclusive city.
