The Mayor of Calgary has headed east to tout the virtues of living in Calgary. In his speech in Toronto Tuesday night, Nenshi discussed a host of promising cultural projects and investments into artistic spaces in Calgary, including the construction of Canada’s National Music Centre, a new downtown branch for the city’s public library and [...]
Toronto
The Game
The Toronto Star had a fascinating piece from 2006 about gang life in Toronto. One successful drug dealer said the teens he sees are uncontrollable. "It’s going to be very hard to reach them," he said. "Somebody has got to create more programs for kids. They’ve got to keep them busy. They’ve got to teach [...]
When social housing was paradise
An interesting look at the Chicago housing projects during the 1950-70s by Joy Connelly The communities created by the Chicago Housing Authority were all, by current wisdom, destined to fail. The new-built estates were large and isolated – Regent Park-style low-rises punctuated with high-rise towers. They were overwhelmingly black communities, drawn from the tenements on [...]
The Worst of Saskatoon
When we moved to Saskatoon in the mid-80s, there was a magazine called Western Living that we received and it listed the Sturdy Stone Centre as one of the ugliest buildings in Western Canada (Moose Jaw’s crushed can was also on that list). I am not a big fan of brutalist architecture either downtown or [...]
Allen Lambert Galleria at Brookfield Place
Allen Lambert Galleria at Brookfield Place, a photo by Jordon on Flickr. The Allen Lambert Galleria, sometimes described as the “crystal cathedral of commerce”, is an atrium designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava which connects Bay Street with Heritage Square. The six storey high pedestrian thoroughfare is structured by eight freestanding supports on each side [...]
The Grind of Poverty
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." Nelson Mandela This is the third in a series on poverty, homelessness, and a concentration of services in Saskatoon’s inner city. You can find part 1 and part 2 in the [...]
Indoors isn’t safer: Former prostitutes
From the Toronto Sun Katarina MacLeod, who has been out of the sex trade business for the last two years but spent 17 years working in a bawdy house, disagrees with the premise. “Indoors isn’t safer,” MacLeod said. “It is complete hell inside and the customer is always right. They can beat you and take [...]
Snow Cleanup
I have been enjoying this discussion over snow removal with some enjoyment. As all of Saskatoon knows, we got hit by a massive snow storm earlier this month. We called it a storm but anywhere else it would be a blizzard (although in Cincinnati it was once called a giant lizard). Within three days, the [...]
Theology Pub in Toronto
For those of you in the Greater Toronto Area and are looking for a place to discuss theology in a casual setting, you will want to check out Toronto’s Theology Pub. Theology Pub is a monthly gathering of Christians in Toronto. We gather for fellowship and to discuss theology with a desire to grow in [...]
