The future of cities is built on collaboration.
That is the thread that ran through a symposium on Tuesday hosted by University of Toronto's School of Cities at the Toronto Reference Library.
The multidisciplinary school is nearing its one-year anniversary with a portfolio of accomplishments including the launch of new research and student-focused initiatives, and over 50 events organized with partners at the university and around the city.
Tuesday's event, Governing Cities in the 21st Century, brought together experts from the GTA and beyond to discuss the changing role of governments in advancing municipal goals and aspirations.
Watch a video of the School of Cities event
"It's now clear that governance extends well beyond the walls of city hall," said Matti Siemiatycki, the School of Cities' interim director and an associate professor in the department of geography and planning in the Faculty of Arts & Science. "No organization today is governing the city on its own. They're working in deep collaboration across disciplines and across organizations in order to impact the type of cities that we're experiencing."
The symposium featured two panel discussions, a keynote address by Michelynn Laflèche, vice president of strategy, research and policy at the United Way Greater Toronto, and a fireside chat with University Professor Richard Florida, the director of cities at the Martin Prosperity Institute, and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.
