Just as white flight was rooted in xenophobia and racism, gentrification relies on displacement and neglect of marginalized people. At the heart of both is the suppression of alternative narratives.
urban
Michael Kluckner's new book examines a vanishing Vancouver
Vanishing Vancouver: The Last 25 Years
(Whitecap Books,
2012;
$35.00)
I’m amazed by how much change I’ve witnessed in the short time I’ve lived in this city. The Vancouver I know is one of unceding growth, all glass towers and a headlong rush toward the new, new, new. The art deco buildings I remember seeing on visits to the city just 10 years ago are already gone, replaced by mixed-use condos and a Vancouverism that aggressively pushes upwards.
In Vanishing Vancouver: The Last 25 Years, author Michael Kluckner pushes back, back in time and back against the disappearing city he clearly fell in love with. It’s a follow-up to his award-winning 1990 book by the same name that examined the changing city in the wake of Expo ’86.
It's time for a National Transit Strategy
Canadians spend an average of 32 days going to and from work every year. Eighty-five per cent of all employees are unhappy with their commutes - that's a lot of people.
Being stuck in traffic or waiting for overcrowded buses is daily routine for millions of Canadians. It's high time we have federal leadership to cut commute times and seriously invest in public transit.
Congestion and long commutes are not just about the loss in quality of life; our mobility woes also mean billions in economic damages.
And what do the Conservatives do? Essentially nothing. As the new budget shows, they refuse any active role in getting Canadians the rapid, accessible transit that we need.
The Urban Worker Forum
Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010 - 11:00am - 4:00pm
Location
Gladstone Library
1101 Bloor St. West
Toronto, ON
Canada
Phone:
416-539-8660
43° 39' 36.432" N, 79° 26' 2.7636" W
See map: Google Maps
What do a writer, roofer, retail worker, shop owner, office cleaner and web designer all have in common? We are all Urban Workers.
Urban workers are contract workers, freelancers, part time workers and the self-employed. What we share in common is we have no pension, no benefits, no fall back.
Let's change that. The Urban Worker Forum is the first step. Come on out to discuss our experiences, strengths and struggles, and to look for solutions that will lead to change.
Hosted by Andrew Cash, musician/journalist/urban worker.
Lunch, coffee and tea provided. Social to follow. To RSVP, please email: cash@cashfortoronto.ca or call 416-539-8660