Sessions

The Opening Session introduces the First Summit between the City of Toronto and nine partner Higher Education Institutions with home bases in the City.

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This session explores how together we

can build economic resiliency not only

for the larger economy, but also for

those specific sectors, communities, and groups who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Municipalities have traditionally been

left out of the national cultural policy conversation. This, in part, stems from the limited resources available to cities for

policy research and analysis and the

need to strengthen partnerships with

HEIs on actionable research. 

The pandemic has had disproportionate effects on our most vulnerable citizens. How can research collaborations with higher education institutions prepare public health officials to better understand the needs of these communities and design interventions that address inequity?

George Brown Presents Time and Adapt Alter Modify. Two dance performances choreographed by Lindsay Aquin.

This panel focuses on the gaps in the

youth justice system and impacts on Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving communities in Toronto.

The closing session of the inaugural CivicLabTO Academic Summit was an opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved and highlight where we're going.

Showcasing two videos Centennial shares a compilation of various dance styles, and a documentary called Homesick; a series of interviews with immigrants in Canada, as they reflect about culture shock and the challenges of moving to a different country.

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Humber Gallery's Nuit Blanche Fellowship students present A Way Closer, a 10-minute interactive digital art piece that invites participating audiences to take on the role of an unnamed character as they try to escape the commotions caused by everyday life.

OCAD presents OCAD U LiVE a 24/7 digital streaming video channel that speaks to OCAD U’s commitment to building a strong online community, supporting our students, and providing opportunities for creative expression

An invigorating discussion on how the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing challenges in Toronto's housing and

homeless systems, and ideas on solutions

that promote a more equitable and sustainable recovery, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized people.

This panel discussed how transit and transportation factor into the City's recovery, based on lessons learned from the City's pandemic actions and analysis of mobility trends and issues during the pandemic.

A discussion about what inclusive

public space means and how equity

plays out in their planning and design, be

it urban or suburban, physical or digital.

Bringing together key representatives from the City of Toronto, from academic institutions and civil society, this plenary is conceived of as a keynote to this summit that itself embodies the interdisciplinarity and partnership-building that is at the core of CivicLabTO.   

A discussion about how academia, government, and industry can work together to understand and address the barriers faced by equity-deserving groups in accessing and benefiting from technology and innovation.

This session opens Day 2 of the CivicLabTO: Academic Summit with welcome addresses

by representatives from the City of Toronto and the City Institute at York University.

A net zero future for the city means a radical transformation in buildings, transportation and waste requiring labour and education training to match this ambition. This discussion explores the advantages and pitfalls of collaboration between the City and HEIs.

The University of Toronto presents

Afro-Turf: The Future of Food Communities, a documentary about historical and contemporary barriers in farming and food production faced by Black, Caribbean, and African communities in Canada.

Ryerson University presents two short films Bloordale Beach and Flag Bearer.