This September, global change agents will gather in Vancouver, B.C., for two major events that will map the future of the placemaking movement. These discussions will take place at a critical moment, as Habitat III and COP21 set the stage for decades of dramatic change for cities. Thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates, the New Urban Agenda already emphasizes that strong public spaces are the foundation of this change. Now we need to make it happen, putting theory into practice through placemaking and place-led development.
Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place (September 12-15)
The premier conference in North America for walking and bicycling professionals from the public and private sectors.
We started with a hundred idealistic cyclists in 1980 and we called ourselves Pro Bike. Then we evolved because we found common cause with walking: streets that are unsafe for biking are also difficult to cross for pedestrians. In 2012, under the stewardship of Project for Public Spaces, we added the final piece: Place. We meet every two years for three days and we have grown over 10-fold in our 30+ year history.
The 19th Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place in Vancouver is expected to draw 1,000 city planners, transportation engineers, public health professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and professional walking and bicycling advocates.
Placemaking Leadership Council (September 14-17)
This gathering takes place just weeks before the
Habitat IIIConference in Quito, which will finalize a
“New Urban Agenda” to guide global urban development over the next two decades. Placemaking—and the holistic lens it brings to urban policy and investment—offers a way for local communities to fulfill the promise of these international agreements.
Future of Places Summit (September 15)
The Future of Places Summit will be the lead event of the Placemaking Leadership Forum and will take place on Thursday, Sept 15. Building upon the first three Future of Places forums—which drew together over 1,500 urban thinkers from 100 countries and 700 organizations—this summit will focus on tangible methods with which international practitioners and policymakers can advance placemaking both locally and globally.
Placemaking: Made in Canada (September 17)
We’re pleased to announce a special meeting for Canadian placemakers, on Saturday, September 17th from 10 am – 5 pm.
Building off the momentum and excitement of PW, Placemaking: Made in Canada is a fabulous opportunity for Canadian placemakers to leverage the ideas and momentum that the week will generate, and advance our work locally, and across the country.
