How does one design safe communities in a COVID-19 world?
That was the topic of a webinar, hosted by StFX’s Coady International Institute, that brought together experts and drew hundreds of attendees from around the globe.
Dr. Corrine Cash, Senior Program Staff at the Coady, and facilitator of StFX’s Bachelor of Arts and Science in Climate and Environment, hosted the June 5th webinar, Imagining Public Spaces: How to Design Safe Communities in a Covid-19 World, and was joined by panelists, Dr. Jill Grant, Dr. Jeffrey Squire, Dr. Jason Gilliland, Dr. Ute Lehrer and Mr. John Fleming.
“The issues of how to create healthy and integrated spaces is a very pertinent issue right now. People want to learn how to do things differently. This was a way of bringing ideas together, wherever they reside in the world,” says Dr. Cash, who noted the Coady Institute has been conducting various webinars since COVID-19 began.
“All of the discussions about cities and towns opening up, as well as thinking about what the campus may look like if it opens up, gave me the idea to bring experts together—those whose work focuses on designing public spaces—to discuss factors that those responsible for planning space in a COVID-19 world should keep in mind.”
How space is designed directly influences people’s health, she says, whether it is by creating proper social distancing in places where people gather or through designing streets for people to cycle, and how well people of all races and socio-economic status integrate.
“Right now, we need to practice social distancing, so people are rethinking how space is designed. Parking lots are being turned into spaces where people can gather, streets are being closed for people to ride their bikes and walk. We are also seeing how streets and public spaces are areas where democracy occurs through the massive protests around Black Lives Matters. This webinar was designed so that people could consider exactly how we can collectively create spaces that are healthy, environmentally sustainable while also promoting equality and integration of all people, regardless of race or class.”
With other 300 registrants, Dr. Cash says she was pleased with the response. The webinar was also recorded. Those who couldn’t attend the live session, can view it at https://youtu.be/s3ib_6EjpLA.
Attendees came from across Canada, including many mayors, those who work for municipalities, and emergency services, as well as from countries throughout Africa and Asia. “One of the panelists, Dr. Jeffrey Squire, spoke about his work in Ghana and Rwanda. We made sure that we discussed specific challenges of those who work in informal settlements in the Global South because the challenges there are profoundly different than the challenges that we face in most of Canada.”
Dr. Cash says the feedback she’s received is positive. “I think that there is a need to have more of these discussions. I think it would be interesting to have a webinar discussing these issues but focusing on First Nation communities in Canada,” she says.
As for what’s next, she says she would like to connect attendees who have similar challenges so they can brainstorm together. “I have sent the details of the panelists out to all who attended. I think that there are many opportunities to conduct more of these virtual events as it is a method of bringing valuable expertise to corners of the world that may not otherwise have access to this knowledge.”
