In this new episode of Challenger City TO, we sat down with Aileen Nandy, a former journalist and now expert in digital marketing, customer research, community building, to discuss what makes a city family-friendly and how Toronto measures up. The conversation was full of ideas and insights on the challenges and opportunities for creating a city that supports families.
Aileen's journey from journalism to digital marketing and community building gives her a bit of a unique perspective on urban development. "I originally started out as a journalist because it was the only job I knew where you could learn about new things constantly," she shared. This curiosity-driven approach has carried through to her work in community building, particularly with a focus on parenting and family dynamics.
Defining a Challenger City
When asked to define a Challenger City, Aileen drew parallels to challenger brands in various industries. "A Challenger City is one that thinks about what kind of communities or society they want to build and is not shackled by just building block upon block," she explained. For Toronto, this means considering whether it wants to be a family-friendly city in the first place, and what that entails in terms of housing and community amenities to support the ambition.
The discussion touched on the challenges of balancing the core of the city with its suburbs. Aileen highlighted that the design and policy decisions in Toronto often reflect a suburban mindset, privileging single-family homes over multi-family dwellings. "We end up with a profoundly family-unfriendly city that a lot of people can't afford to live in," she noted. This suburban mindset, according to Aileen, diminishes what a city can be by not prioritising community and multi-family living spaces.
The Housing Dilemma
Housing affordability and availability emerged as central themes in the conversation. Aileen emphasised the need for more three and four-bedroom units in condo developments to accommodate family needs. She also pointed out the necessity of affordable housing for essential workers, such as teachers and early childhood educators, who are crucial for a functional family-friendly city. "You need enough affordable housing that you have teachers who can work in the schools and not have totally ridiculous commutes because they can't afford to live in the city," she stressed.
Aileen also highlighted a troubling trend: "The number of couples with no children went up by 25% in Toronto from 2001 to 2021, while the number of couples with children declined by 2%." This shift underscores the increasing challenge for families to find suitable and affordable housing within the city.
Creating Extroverted Spaces
Aileen introduced the concept of "extroverted spaces", which are designed to be easy to read, understand, and engage with. These spaces encourage community interaction and provide amenities that support families. She stressed the importance of designing for the edges—catering to the needs of children and families can create a more inclusive environment for everyone. "Cities should be designed to be extroverted. They should be designed to be easy to read and easy to understand and easy for lots of different people to engage with.”
This articulation of spaces that are extroverted feels particularly insightful. Cities are places that should be giving us far more energy than they might sap up. While the binary idea of extroverts vs. introverts is somewhat flawed, often extroverted traits mean people gaining energy from being around other people. We must think of our public spaces as places that citizens derive energy, enthusiasm and vitality from. The alternative might be things that look pretty on a rendering, but end up draining energy from a lack of basic things like seating, amenities or community programming.
Enhancing extroverted spaces means incorporating elements like public parks, community centres and flexible gathering areas that foster social interaction. These spaces should be programmed with activities and amenities that attract families, such as playgrounds, cafes, sports facilities, and community events.
Vision Zero and Street Safety
The conversation also delved into Toronto's Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities. Aileen criticised the program for its lack of effectiveness and called for more aggressive measures to make streets safe for children and the elderly. "We need to be more proactive in making streets safe from cars," she stated emphatically. She shared a tragic example, "Only in the face of abject tragedy does it seem like we get any meaningful progress on Toronto's Vision Zero."
Aileen also pointed out the negative impact of Toronto's car-centric culture on children's ability to walk and bike to school. "There's really no good reason for us to be as car-centric as we are in Toronto," she said. The reliance on cars not only contributes to traffic congestion but also inhibits the development of safe, walkable, and bike-friendly routes for children.
The Role of Community Programming
Community programming and services were identified as critical components for a family-friendly city. Aileen recounted a friend's emphatic plea for more spaces and programs for children between the end of the school day and the end of the workday. "It's these wraparound services that the City of Toronto could be supporting directly," she explained, emphasising the need for more city-funded programs to support families.
Towards the end of the conversation, Aileen shared her vision for a family-friendly Toronto, which includes drastic redesigns of housing, increased affordable housing, and inclusive community spaces. "Let's stop being so accommodating to a lifestyle that prioritises private fiefdoms over community interaction," she urged. Her passion for inclusive urban planning was evident when she said, "If we could make sure that we have safe places for everyone in Toronto and whatever that looks like for them, we could create a city that works for families and builds a stronger community."
Can you be a Challenger City without families?
Aileen’s insights underscore the complexities and possibilities of designing a city that truly supports families. By focusing on housing, community programming, and creating extroverted spaces, Toronto can become a more inclusive and vibrant city for all its residents. As Aileen aptly put it, "If we can make sure that we have safe places for everyone in Toronto, we can create a city that works for families and builds a stronger community."
Should the idea that Toronto must question whether it wants to be a family friendly city even be a thing? If a city isn’t welcoming and accommodating to families who choose an urban lifestyle, can we ever consider it a Challenger City?
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