Building Equitable Cities Speaker Series
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this five-part speaker series in 2022/2023. Together, we explored topics related to how we can make city infrastructure and services more equitable and accessible for all residents. The speaker series has now concluded. If you have any questions, please contact the Planning division at planning@kitchener.ca
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing socioeconomic inequities. Nowhere has this been clearer than in our cities.
Throughout 2022, we, along our community partners, hosted quarterly talks related to addressing inequities and disrupting systemic bias in the establishment and development of cities, including how we can build back differently as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This series continues in 2023 with the City coordinating more talks.
This speaker series is a part of our ongoing work to share diverse perspectives on issues of equity, inclusion and development. This is also an opportunity for imagining new social possibilities and new ways of thinking through the old challenges of access, sustainability and social justice.
We will share the topics for future sessions closer to the session dates. We also share regular content on this page related to the equity and city-building. To get updates on this speaker series, add your email to the Stay Informed box and click the “Subscribe” button.
Community Partners
The 2022 Building Equitable Cities Speaker Series events were presented in partnership with the Feminist Shift, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, YWCA Cambridge, and Women's College Hospital.
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Now that we’ve heard from Cathy Bailey on what improving water equity looks like in Cincinnati, we want to hear from you.
Staff will review these ideas as they plan for future water service delivery in our community.
You can help by telling us:
- What did you take away from Cathy’s talk that you’d like to see in our community? What might water equity look like in Kitchener?
- As we heard from Cathy, water inequities come in many forms. What stories or examples are you hearing about water vulnerabilities in Kitchener?
Share your ideas and heart the ones you like or agree with.
To protect your privacy, please do not include your last name in your username.
Closes: April 21, 2023
View All Ideasabout 1 year ago
Establish strategic partnerships with stakeholders that help customers overcome barriers to participating in water equity initiatives
E.g. Utility discount programs can help advance water equity but there are often barriers such as a lack of awareness or the application process. Establishing partnerships with departments and organizations that already engage with low-income customers, such as affordable housing authorities and the food bank, can help overcome the barriers.
about 1 year ago
Assessments of water rates and designs
Water conservation rates can discriminate against low-income, multigenerational households, and large families. Investigate alternative rate designs, such as block rates, that support affordability and conservation, or investigate complementary discount programs that can offset the water rates.
about 1 year ago
Investigate installation of green infrastructure in socially vulnerable neighbourhoods to mitigate flooding and urban heat island impacts.
Green Infrastructure
about 1 year ago
Supporting water equity for communities starts with leadership and intention from within the organization.
E.g. incorporating an equity assessment as part of the planning process of corporate policies, programs and capital projects. This can help initiate discussions on how to address disparities while identifying root causes of inequities in the community.
about 1 year ago
Water equity may look like increased capital funding in more socially vulnerable neighbourhoods to mitigate service failures and flooding.
Equitable Infrastructure
Videos
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This 1-hour discussion includes a talk by Luke Anderson, co-founder of the StopGap Foundation, an organization whose mission is to help communities discover the benefit of barrier free spaces and provide support to create them. Following his presentation, Luke is joined by Paula Saunders, chair of the Built Environment subcommittee of the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee. Hosted by the City of Kitchener, this talk explored city design through an accessibility lens to build awareness of barriers to navigating everyday life from the routine of going to work to a spontaneous coffee with a friend. This event took place on June 1, 2023.
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Who's Listening
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Manager Customer Experience & Project Management (Development Services)
City of Kitchener
Phone 519-741-2200 x7076 Email Janine.Oosterveld@kitchener.ca -
Phone 519-741-2200 x7058 Email sue.weare@kitchener.ca