MES Major Papers

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https://hdl.handle.net/10315/28142

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Open Access
Black Movement and Freedom: Questions of Cyclescapes, Cycling Planning, and Minstrelsy
(2025-04-30) Ismail, Sabat; Ali, Muna-Udbi
This paper investigates the following central question: What are the outcomes of the historical and ongoing restrictions placed upon the Black diaspora's physical movement? Related to my research question, I consider what the literature and archives have to say about Black experiences with movement and I engage with cycling-related scholarship on class and race, particularly as it relates to Black communities. I explore this in this paper to sufficiently contextualize the subject-matter I am engaging with. I argue that the historical and ongoing restrictions of the movement of the Black diaspora is subjectivity-producing and provides an alternative lens to better understanding anti-Blackness, and liberatory ways of understanding and engaging with movement. Additionally, to contribute to advancing an underexplored research topic in Black Geographies and further the growing scholarship on cycling and racism. Additionally, I explore the experiences of cycling and Black communities and conduct a research analysis on late nineteenth-century minstrel and other anti-Black imagery featuring bicycles. This paper focuses on Canada and the United States, bringing cycling and transportation research into conversation with Black studies and Black geographies. I draw on archival materials from the late 1800s to early 1900s, alongside a counter-archival and discourse analysis. My sources include journalism, transportation planning data, and academic literature in social geography, anthropology, and history—all centred on cycling in North America.
Open Access
Queer Publics: Planning for POPS in Queer Communities
(2024-12-31) Simoneau, Paul; Gilbert, Liette
This paper aims to understand the role of Privately owned publicly accessible spaces (POPS) in the context of the historically queer neighbourhood of the Village in Toronto. Maintaining the framework of socially produced spaces, this paper examines the development and redevelopment of the public realm in the Village to determine how queer communities experience space in the city and the role of the built form in facilitating inclusive and safe spaces for queer expression. To do this, I engage with the privatization of urban infrastructure and its role in influencing planning-related institutions and policy. I examine the relationship queer communities have with informal spaces such as bars in comparison to public and publicly accessible space. Importantly, not all queer people experience space in the same ways, and queer inclusive planning accounts for intersectionality and the safety and inclusivity of all users of space.
Open Access
Integrating Conservation and Sustainability: Strategies for Species Protection and Collaborative Action
(2024-12-31) Matthews, Amanda; Fraser, Gail
Globally, species face significant challenges due to human activities, including habitat loss and climate change. These challenges require species to compete for diminishing resources or relocate to less suitable habitats, often at a high energetic cost. Humans are the primary drivers of these challenges and are responsible for mitigating their impacts. This requires a collaborative effort involving all sectors of society, including businesses, to implement sustainable practices and support conservation initiatives. This portfolio investigates human-led conservation efforts, focusing on artificial nesting to support Common Terns at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario. It aims to evaluate nesting productivity and the influence of threats such as predation and predator presence on fledging success. By assessing the effectiveness of these conservation measures, the study contributes to understanding how targeted interventions can enhance species survival. The portfolio also examines the evolving landscape of sustainable business practices by reflecting on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) roles and partnerships with NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs). It explores how voluntary frameworks like ISO 14001 have influenced corporate self-regulation, emphasizing their limitations in achieving meaningful environmental impact without robust regulatory support. The analysis highlights the potential of NGO-business collaborations to bridge resource gaps and drive sustainability efforts while addressing the ethical and practical challenges these partnerships face. Ultimately, the paper underscores the urgent need for systemic change, regulatory reinforcement, and a shift toward long-term ecological resilience to address the complexities of sustainability. Finally, the portfolio concludes with a proposed business pitch for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Based on insights from the literature on effective pitches, the proposal seeks to secure funding to support conservation and sustainability initiatives. This integrated approach underscores the importance of aligning conservation science with practical, collaborative efforts to address environmental challenges.
Open Access
Working Toward Spatial Justice Through Planning
(2024-08-31) Walker, Arthur; Abbruzzese, Teresa
This paper explores the development of Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) and Community Benefit Frameworks (CBFs) in Toronto through the examination of four local case studies⎯Rexdale-Casino Woodbine Community Benefit Agreement; Jane⎯Finch Metrolinx Community Hub; Parkdale Community Benefits Framework; and the City of Toronto Community Benefits Framework. CBAs are legally binding agreements between developers and community groups which aim to ensure that local communities can receive benefits from urban development projects. The study sheds light on the role of CBAs in promoting social justice and community empowerment, highlighting their potential significance in marginalized neighborhoods by providing decent work, affordable housing, and spaces for community use. This paper views these case studies through a spatial justice perspective which critically examines the formation, regulation, and the use of urban space with an emphasis on the use-value of space by acknowledging the attachments individuals have to their neighbourhoods. This paper argues that through CBAs⎯which seek greater community inclusion in the planning and development process⎯the alienation and displacement of community members can be resisted against. This study contributes to the emerging discussion of CBAs as a planning tool, in addition to the broader scholarly and planning discussions on urban development and social equity, offering insights for policymakers, community advocates, and urban planners. In addition, this paper makes the case for continued expansion of resources dedicated to CBAs as they can serve as a planning tool which can aid in fostering community resilience, reducing the displacement and alienation of people within their own communities, and promoting more equitable development within cities.
Open Access
Community Land Trusts in Ontario: Opportunities to Preserve Affordable Housing
(2024-08-31) Su, Pauline; Abbruzzese, Teresa
Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are a type of shared equity model, offering an innovative alternative in the housing system that is accessible for low-to-moderate income households to access housing ownership, build wealth and equity over time, and contribute to community-wide benefits. This Major Paper intends to explore and discuss the potential of community land trusts in providing and preserving affordable housing stock for Canadian cities, focusing on Toronto specifically. Therefore, this paper will provide an overview of the history of Canadian housing policies, the evolution of CLTs, its advantages and limitations, and opportunities to apply objectives or learnings of land trusts in the process of providing affordable housing. The purpose of this paper is not to suggest community land trusts as the only solution to addressing affordable housing challenges; rather it seeks to amplify information and draw awareness to CLTs as a relevant and emerging topic in housing discourse.
Open Access
The Production of Smart Cities: An Analysis of Barcelona and Toronto
(2024-08-31) Tadesse, Marisabel; Abbruzzese, Teresa
The paper examines the discursive, governance, and territorial strategies of smart city initiatives, focusing on the comparative analysis of Barcelona and Toronto. By analyzing the narratives, systems of governance, and geographical consequences of these technological changes, the research uncovers the intricate and difficult aspects of the idealistic concept of smart cities. Barcelona's citizen-centric strategy, which prioritizes participation and municipal control, stands in contrast to Toronto's corporate-driven approach, underscoring notable disparities in social equity and stakeholder engagement. The results emphasize the significance of inclusive and participatory governance structures in guaranteeing that smart city projects contribute to equitable and sustainable urban development. Furthermore, the study explores the profound implications for urban planners, who are required to include innovative technology, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and tackle challenges related to digital exclusion, privacy, and community cohesion. This research proposes a balanced approach to smart city development that combines technology developments with social justice and environmental sustainability. By drawing lessons from Barcelona and Toronto, the aim is to create urban futures that are more democratic and resilient urban futures.
Open Access
The Sustainable City, Myth or Possibility, as seen through the eyes of the citizens and the lens of wellbeing
(2024-08-31) Stratton, Anna; Brand-Correa, Lina
This paper addresses the question of barriers and enablers to community-based climate action as seen through the eyes of residents in the community. The sample community is Stratford, Ontario. 32 persons in Stratford were interviewed in individual, private conversations and were asked to answer 10 questions. The responses of the participants revealed concerns analogous to those found in various wellbeing frameworks. To provide background for the feedback from community interviewees the paper explores the context of wellbeing, following its historical and theoretical roots to its applications today. The wellbeing story begins with a critique of GDP as a single metric to reflect the condition of society and argues for the application of a wellbeing lens as a tool to better tell us how society is doing overall, including environmental, ecological and social justice issues. The author provides a brief history of the evolution of the concept of wellbeing including the origins and application of hedonic and eudaimonic conceptions of wellbeing as related to sustainability. The position taken is that the eudaimonic aspect is more suited to addressing long term environmental and ecological concerns. Following on from the declaration of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord and the creation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the paper charts the development and application of wellbeing frameworks and concepts in cities, communities and countries around the world, including the Wellbeing Economy Alliance founded in 2018. Wellbeing practices in communities in Canada are surveyed and Canada's wellbeing framework created in 2021, Measuring What Matters: Toward a Quality of Life Strategy for Canada, is introduced. With a focus on wellbeing in cities, the governance structures and challenges in tackling climate action at the municipal level are examined. The application of wellbeing metrics is suggested to give municipalities a picture of how their society and their environs are doing overall, beyond emissions reporting and the silo of GDP-driven economic reporting. Transition practices for cities provide references and tools for the application of wellbeing metrics. The embedded and particular relationship which cities have to Indigenous Peoples is presented with examples from cities in Canada in the light of Indigenous knowledges and practices in the care of people and planet. Cities are reminded of their obligations under the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the requirements for care of lands and waters and cultural traditions under UNDRIP. Methods and summary data are presented in section 3, followed by findings from the 10 questions. The responses are analysed applying wellbeing metrics.
Open Access
Evaluating Federal Climate Policies for Freshwater Ecosystem Protection in North America
(2024-08-31) Salam, Shazreh; Thiemann, Gregory
Climate change poses a significant threat to freshwater ecosystems, which are vital for maintaining biodiversity, supporting human livelihoods, and providing essential ecosystems services. This paper evaluated the potential effectiveness of federal climate policies of Canada and the United States in protecting freshwater ecosystems amid a changing climate. By examining the National Adaptation Strategy Plan of Canada and the Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan of the United States, this paper employed a formative evaluation approach to assess policy integration with current scientific knowledge and their potential effectiveness in managing freshwater ecosystems. The methodology included a selection of policies based on their relevance to climate change and freshwater ecosystems, followed by a rapid systematic literature review to gather data on climate impacts and scientific recommendations for climate policies. The analysis applied a formative evaluation approach to assess, a) the integration of current scientific knowledge in policy objectives, and b) to evaluate their potential effectiveness in protecting freshwater ecosystems. Key evaluation criteria included biodiversity conservation and protection, habitat management, stakeholder collaboration, and research and monitoring. The findings revealed that while both policies incorporated significant elements of climate adaptation and mitigation, there were notable gaps in some objectives from the Canadian and American policies regarding stakeholder collaboration. Additionally, the integration of scientific knowledge in policy objectives was fairly consistent, however there were other climate impacts that have not been acknowledged in the policies and could have possibly led to potential inefficiencies in addressing the multifaceted impacts of climate change on freshwater systems. This paper offered recommendations to enhance policy frameworks, emphasize the needs for stronger scientific integration, increased stakeholder involvement and adaptive management strategies that focus on freshwater ecosystems. By addressing these gaps, federal climate policies can be better equipped to ensure the resilience and protection of freshwater ecosystems in North America.
Open Access
Understanding Graffiti and Street Art within Urban environments (Toronto)
(2024-08-31) Rampersad, Vidyawatti; Perkins, Patricia Elaine
Graffiti and street art in urban environments serve as platforms for expressions of social justice, documentation of historical events, and promoting sustainability values linked to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. Graffiti and street art, often regarded as forms of rebellious expression, have evolved into powerful tools for social and political commentary. Many artists such as Banksy, Toronto’s own Jessy Pacho (aka PHADE) and Nick Sweetman (aka the Bee Guy) use these visual art forms to raise awareness about various issues of social justice and climate change not only aligns with the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development but offers valuable teachable moments. Graffiti and street art, through their ubiquitous and accessible nature play a significant role in highlighting social issues linked to these goals while engaging communities, prompting dialogue and inspiring action towards change.
Open Access
Mixed-use intensification in Planning and Development: Transportation in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
(2024-08-31) Phankiriya, Ittiwat; Sandberg, Anders
Urbanization in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has increasingly focused on intensifying its built environment to promote sustainable urban growth. This approach emphasizes mixed-use development, integrating various land uses to encourage sustainable modes of transportation while promoting social and housing diversity. However, the literature indicates that reducing car dependency is challenging, especially in low-density environments where private transportation is the most convenient option. Additionally, critiques highlight the limitations of mixed-use intensification projects in fostering diversity. This paper examines the practice of mixed-use intensification in the GTA through a mixed-method approach, including a linear regression analysis and interviews with residents of mixed-use projects. The research aims to assess the effectiveness of reducing automobility and creating an inclusive urban environment under the mixed-use scheme. The findings reveal the limitations of mixed-use intensification in addressing suburban car culture and provide insights into residents' perspectives on these projects. The research highlights the importance of studying mixed-use intensification for future planning and development initiatives, offering valuable insights into their effectiveness, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Open Access
Striking from Below: Tenant Organizing as Insurgent Planning
(2024-08-31) Nam, Rudia; Sotomayor, Luisa
This Major Paper examines tenant organizing in Toronto in the context of two overlapping crises: an affordable housing crisis and a crisis in landlord-tenant governance. This research introduces the concept of ‘tenant insurgency', which describes the process by which working class tenants challenge landlords outside of entrenched institutions and laws that govern the landlord-tenant relationship. This research applies theories of insurgent planning, insurgent citizenship, and feminist care ethics to discuss how tenant organizing represents a strategic, bottom-up response to the systemic failures of governmental and legal institutions in safeguarding tenants' rights. Using a mixed-methods qualitative research design consisting of semi-structured interviews and document and media analysis, this research investigates the history, motivations, limitations, and opportunities of tenant organizing in Toronto. Key findings suggest that the insurgent planning practices and strategies undertaken by tenants stem from a distrust in the legal system, prioritize collective action, and create new tenant infrastructures of care beyond the traditional legal system. Findings also reveal the fragmented landscape of tenant organizing, shaped by variegated goals, political motivations, and strategies of tenant organizing groups. This research argues that tenant insurgency not only addresses immediate rental housing struggles but also calls for a re-imagining of landlord-tenant governance and political participation, shifting the scales in power to the end of working class tenants. This research contributes to counter-hegemonic scholarship on insurgent planning and citizenship, landlordtenant governance, and housing justice, offering practical insights to scholars, planning and urban policy practitioners, and social movement organizers in cities of the Global North.
Open Access
Planning for Commuters: An Evaluation of Transit Oriented Developments in the Greater Golden Horseshoe
(2024-08-31) Overholt, William; Sotomayor, Luisa
Urban sprawl has been at the forefront of the planning discussion for a long time, and rightfully so. It is an inefficient way of building out communities that only contribute to the autodependency that Canadians have. Transit-oriented developments (TOD) have been proposed as a way to combat urban sprawl by building communities that are compatible with high-order transit. The province of Ontario has made this way of building one of the key pillars in municipal growth through its Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA). Municipalities must conform to these provincial plans, so every municipality that is situated on a current or future GO rail line needs to build these communities. While there are policies that the province has provided, there are stark variations between municipalities when it comes to building these MTSAs. Furthermore, the province is using a one-type-fits-all approach to MTSAs, resulting in communities that do not complement the overall municipality or transit modes. In this paper, I explore these differences between municipalities for commuter TODs. A comparative case study of four different municipalities that are all building TODs around GO stations and all have high proportions of commuters. Mount Pleasant GO, Kitchener GO, Milton GO, and Whitby GO are used for this analysis. Within these case studies, a policy analysis, development review, and regression analysis using the Transportation Tomorrow Survey were completed to inform an evaluation of the sites. Each site is evaluated on three criteria: if it is a utopian TOD, a commuter TOD, and if it succeeds in the provincial policies. The findings are then used to inform policy recommendations for the future Caledon Station GO within Caledon and the province.
Open Access
Housing Affordability and the Experiences of Racialized Young Adults from Immigrant and Refugee Families
(2024-08-31) Mir, Mujtaba; Sotomayor, Luisa
The housing affordability crisis in Toronto and Canada has gradually made housing out of reach for many residents. With annual labour wages not being able to keep up with the rise of housing costs, many households are dedicating more than 30 percent of their monthly income to housing costs. Many residents in Toronto have been feeling the impact of the housing affordability crisis. However, the severity of the housing affordability crisis becomes evident when examining the housing experiences of first-generation and second-generation racialized young adults at the early stages of their housing careers. First-generation and second-generation racialized young adults are one of the fastest-growing populations in Toronto. Despite having high education attainment, some first- and second-generation Canadians are unable to reach their homeownership or affordable rent housing goals. This Major Paper asks (1) What are the effects of the housing affordability crisis on first-generation and second-generation young adults from low-income immigrant and/or refugee households in Toronto? (2) How can these experiences help inform future housing policy, planning and development processes? I address these questions through data gathered from one-on-one semi-structured interviews with nine first and second-generation young adults from immigrant/refugee families still in the early stages of the housing trajectories. Findings indicate that housing-insecure young adults are caught up in the reality of living for years in their multigenerational households at the expense of their sense of independence. They stay with their families, sometimes to save up for homeownership or to move into a rental unit arrangement later. While they postpone their housing aspirations (and desired household formation), they also see the family home in a positive light as a strategy to save for more desirable housing futures. In fact, this was a strategy learned from their first-generation parents, who were often able to achieve both reasonable rent and homeownership. I argue that housing policies and urban planning and development processes should consider the needs of first- and second-generation young adults who currently stay longer in the family home with the hopes of eventually reaching their homeownership goals or affordable rent. As such, this Major Paper also explores the implications of planning for multi-generational households as well as housing policies to help young adults transition into their desired housing paths.
Open Access
Rethinking Urban Hierarchies: A Polycentric Approach for the Toronto Region
(2024-08-31) Li, Chaoying; Keil, Roger
This portfolio delves into the transformative processes of urban growth and development in the Toronto region, addressing key challenges such as socio-economic disparities, urban resiliency, and democratic governance. At its core, this portfolio is guided by the principles of polycentrism, a paradigm advocating for multiple, interconnected centres of activity and governance within a comprehensive urban environment. This approach fundamentally challenges the traditional, centralized urban hierarchy, promoting a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities across various scales – regional, neighbourhood, and service delivery. By adopting a polycentric perspective, this portfolio rethinks and reimagines strategies to tackle the complex urban challenges facing the Toronto region. The first paper explores polycentrism, advocating for the reorganization of the socio-economic and socio-cultural spheres of the Toronto region into a polycentric structure. This approach fosters a more balanced distribution of growth and enhances economic vitality by rethinking the region's functionality and economic dynamics. Embracing an urban region with multiple centres allows for the decentralization of functions, ensuring a more equitable and democratic urban environment. The second paper focuses on the 15-Minute City (15mC) concept, which aims to reorganize the micro-scale of urban living. Inspired by Carlos Moreno’s vision, this model proposes the creation of self-sufficient neighbourhoods where all essential services and amenities can be accessed within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. By reducing car dependency and promoting densified living, it breaks down the centralized hierarchy of daily life in urban regions, allowing residents to meet their daily needs within a set timeframe. The final paper examines the proposed (but subsequently rescinded) dissolution of Peel Region and the shift from top-down to bottom-up service delivery models. This case study illustrates the benefits of community-led governance, where services are tailored to the specific needs of diverse communities, such as youth, new immigrants, and the homeless. By collaborating with non-profit networks like Metamorphosis, this approach establishes a service delivery system that is polycentric, accessible, decentralized, and firmly rooted in a stronger democratic framework. Collectively, these papers argue for a more democratic, socially equal, and sustainable Toronto region. By breaking down centralized hierarchies and embracing polycentricity, this portfolio outlines a visionary pathway for urban development that meets the needs of its diverse population and ensures a resilient future.
Open Access
Traditional Stereotypes and New Suburbanisms: A Comparative Study of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and East Woodbridge in Vaughan, Ontario
(2024-08-31) Kakaletris, Steven; Keil, Roger
Urbanization is continuing around the world at a rapid rate, necessitating massive investment in developing the core infrastructure of emerging urban societies and overhauling outdated or overloaded systems (Addie, 2016). Residents of traditional suburban neighborhoods continue to experience firsthand the frustrations created by poorly designed suburban infrastructure and transit solutions. To begin, this paper will examine the effects of traditional planning stereotypes on defining the new idea of suburban design and infrastructure. I will examine components such as suburban infrastructure, emerging urban areas, and the role of effective planning as determinants in defining a new suburban life. I will examine how suburban stereotypes, a term first coined by Richard Harris (2018), influence the infrastructure and ultimately the possible transit and movement solutions put in place for an area. In terms of emerging urban areas, Wu and Keil (2022) state that suburban stereotypes also influence the dynamics of how an urban periphery is defined. The authors present a movement away from traditional definitions of urban peripheries and towards diverse peripheries that produce diversified metropolitan landscapes (Wu and Keil, 2022). The role of effective planning is also crucial in diversifying the definition of suburban areas. According to Marcuse (2011), modern planning should involve the use of three different approaches: a technical one, a social reform one, and a social justice one. Planners must therefore be able to move beyond traditional viewpoints to create and accommodate diversification in suburban areas. The goal of this paper is to examine, through the case study analysis of two neighbourhoods in the municipality of Vaughan, whether suburban infrastructure has evolved enough to meet the needs of emerging urban peripheries in comparison to traditional suburban stereotypes. As Addie (2019) has stated, suburban infrastructure is defined as a means of ordering suburban form and providing conditions essential to the life and functioning of a society. There is importance in researching this topic because the implementation of suburban infrastructure in creating new urban peripheries must include discussions involving all supporting players. To Addie (2016), this includes the conceptualization of a city and the nature of social justice within it, not just the infrastructure itself. Investment in infrastructure for the long-term would drive expansion in other interconnected urban factors, such as construction, energy, transportation, and water and waste (Keil, 2013). The paper reveals that suburban growth is not solely about the homes that are built, but also the socio-economic factors that support them, such as transit access, walkability, and work and social opportunities. As such, literature suggests that new urban design must be transitoriented and part of suburban land use planning (Dock and Swenson, 2003). Defining suburban transit, housing, and social infrastructure solutions, and incorporating them into master plans before a community is built or expanded is becoming increasingly important. The paper concludes with a set of ideas on how to minimize the negative physical, mental, and emotional consequences of traditional suburban stereotypes, and provide incentive to implement the new determinants of suburban life instead.
Open Access
Revolutionizing the imaginary: Visions for a degrowth future
(2024-08-31) Howarth, Elaine; Brand Correa, Lina
My research tries to answer the question: Can imagining a degrowth future contribute to unlearning capitalist realism? Degrowth is based on the understanding that the earth’s resources are finite, and that sustaining economic growth, even if under the guise of ‘green growth’ or ‘eco-capitalism,’ will continue to lead to catastrophic consequences. Beyond advocating for the equitable reduction of production and consumption, degrowth challenges the narrative that growth equals progress, or that it is essential for ‘development’ or wellbeing. Nevertheless, one of the biggest challenges the degrowth movement faces, is overcoming capitalist realism, or the pervasive belief that capitalism is the only viable economic and political system. I argue that speculative fiction presents a powerful tool for this purpose. Authors have long used speculative fiction to explore possible futures—whether utopian, dystopian, or somewhere in between. By integrating the degrowth goals and visions with nonWestern perspectives on relational collectivity, pluriversity, and inter-species reciprocity, my research uses speculative fiction as a thought experiment in imaging a degrowth alternative to capitalism.
Open Access
The Role of Business in the Plant-Based Oils Sector – A Socioenvironmental Analysis
(2024-08-31) Gray, Stephen; Sandberg, Anders
Plant-based oils are a family of products widely utilized across the globe, a common staple in both home kitchens and within commercial applications. Despite this, such oils are perhaps scrutinized more for their nutritional qualities than for their socioeconomic and environmental impacts. With demand expected to rise over the coming decades, ensuring that the production of plant-based oils is conducted in a sustainable manner will be paramount to reducing the industry’s environmental impact. My research examines the current state of the plant-based oil industry, and the environmental and social trends present within it, as a means of informing corporate action. Through the use of an intensive literature review, I analyse the GHG emissions, environmental implications, and social impacts which factor into the cultivation and production of four major plant-based oils, palm oil, olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil. Reflecting on the historical evolution of how society perceives the role of business, I conclude that in its current form, the production of plant-based oils is overly reliant on fostering environmental and social inequalities. Although clear opportunities for change exist, businesses will need to take the initiative and factor in the needs of both current and future generations in order to combat the plant-based oil industry’s deep-rooted use of socioenvironmental exploitation.
Open Access
Perceptions of wellbeing in climate-just futures among youth climate activists
(2024-08-31) Gingrich, Kelly; Flicker, Sarah
This paper merges the two fields of degrowth and climate education through reconsidering narratives of wellbeing and what constitutes these ideas of wellbeing in the capitalist present and in envisioned climate-just futures. Wellbeing is a key aspect of ‘degrowth’, an academic field and emerging social movement that advocates reduced production and consumption while shifting ideas of ‘progress’ from economic growth towards wellbeing for all within ecological limits. Yet, climate education discourse skirts around challenging limits to economic growth and falls in line with ‘green growth’ narratives, despite the clear necessity of decreasing overconsumption in the Global North to meet the required climate targets. Formal and non-formal education are key sites for shifting cultural common senses and practices towards those that are both compatible with ecological limits and ensure that basic needs are met for all people. This study uses participatory visual research methods, namely ‘cellphilm’, to explore youth climate activists’ perceptions of wellbeing in the context of the climate emergency and in visions of climate-just futures. Participants identified justice, interconnectedness, collaboration and cooperation, and longtermism as aspects of a holistic understanding of wellbeing needed to imagine and prefigure climate-just futures. Participants identified several themes in their cellphilms that align with ideas in the degrowth discourse. While this study did not have the scope to go beyond this exploration of wellbeing to link to degrowth explicitly, it does begin laying foundations for merging climate change education and education for degrowth.
Open Access
Transit-Oriented Development Surrounding GO Transit’s Stouffville Line Stations in Scarborough: Issues and Prospects
(2024-08-31) David, Michael; Squire, Jeffrey
Transit-oriented development (TOD) policies greatly impact where housing development is focused in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Improvements to enhance southern Ontario’s GO Train system are being made throughout the decade and the 2030s. With this enhancement and the related TOD policies for Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) that encourage density, more housing development is beginning to form. These governmental policies that encourage transit ridership through increased accessibility and mobility work to curb greenhouse gas emissions, reduce commuting times, and utilize existing and proposed infrastructure. However, these outcomes are not sufficiently interconnected with affordable housing provision in the GTA to mitigate gentrification and displacement pressures. As higher-income individuals are attracted to amenity-rich areas like those that surround a train station, lower-income individuals may be financially excluded by not having housing affordable to them. To explore the relationship between TOD policies and the occurrence of gentrification and displacement, this Major Paper focuses on Scarborough’s three Stouffville Line GO Train stations. The Major Paper analyzes whether gentrification and displacement have occurred in the areas surrounding these stations from 2016 to the present.
Open Access
Formal Housing Market and Informal Settlements in Jamaica
(2024-08-31) Clarke, Janielle; Gilbert, Liette
The formation of unplanned settlements is a significant challenge faced by cities worldwide. Unplanned settlements are characterized by their lack of formal planning, limited access to basic services, and inadequate infrastructure. With its rapid urbanization and history marked by colonization, Jamaica is a suitable case study for exploring this phenomenon. My research investigates the limitations of the formal housing market in Jamaica and explores how these limitations contribute to the formation of unplanned settlements. Eight participants, including architects, engineers, real estate agents, government officials, professors, and a social historian, were interviewed to understand the challenges faced by the formal housing market. The findings highlight that high housing prices, low housing supply, limited financing solutions, energy dependence, the absence of manufacturing, and disempowered government officials contribute to the formation of unplanned settlements. The limitations identified act as barriers that hinder individuals from accessing affordable housing. The absence of affordable housing options within the formal housing market drives individuals to construct dwelling units in unauthorized areas, leading to the formation of unplanned settlements. The findings underscore the importance of addressing the limitations within the formal housing market to address the formation of unplanned settlements. By implementing strategies to increase urban and regional planning, policymakers and professionals can alleviate the pressures that drive individuals towards self-build options.