[Music] good evening TEDx Ottawa how many people
good evening TEDx Ottawa how many people
good evening TEDx Ottawa how many people woke up happy this morning how many
woke up happy this morning how many
woke up happy this morning how many people woke up healthy now how much of
people woke up healthy now how much of
people woke up healthy now how much of that health and happiness would you
that health and happiness would you
that health and happiness would you attribute to the place where you woke up
attribute to the place where you woke up
attribute to the place where you woke up or the place where you worked your built
or the place where you worked your built
or the place where you worked your built environment most people look at me
environment most people look at me
environment most people look at me somewhat quizzically when I ask that
somewhat quizzically when I ask that
somewhat quizzically when I ask that question and I’ll be blunt the
question and I’ll be blunt the
question and I’ll be blunt the development system which includes things
development system which includes things
development system which includes things like land-use planning infrastructure
like land-use planning infrastructure
like land-use planning infrastructure environmental regulations and probably
environmental regulations and probably
environmental regulations and probably most importantly Public Engagement it’s
most importantly Public Engagement it’s
most importantly Public Engagement it’s actually stacked against the things that
actually stacked against the things that
actually stacked against the things that we know contribute to health happiness
we know contribute to health happiness
we know contribute to health happiness in a clean environment and the stats are
in a clean environment and the stats are
in a clean environment and the stats are pretty easy pretty simple the Urban Land
pretty easy pretty simple the Urban Land
pretty easy pretty simple the Urban Land Institute says that people that live in
Institute says that people that live in
Institute says that people that live in mixed juice so it means any amenities
mixed juice so it means any amenities
mixed juice so it means any amenities that you need are in your neighborhood
that you need are in your neighborhood
that you need are in your neighborhood mixed juice walkable communities with
mixed juice walkable communities with
mixed juice walkable communities with strong transit oriented links way less a
strong transit oriented links way less a
strong transit oriented links way less a more active and have less chronic
more active and have less chronic
more active and have less chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity and
diseases like diabetes and obesity and
diseases like diabetes and obesity and they feel more socially connected with
they feel more socially connected with
they feel more socially connected with their community and yet our system
their community and yet our system
their community and yet our system forces us almost to do things that we
forces us almost to do things that we
forces us almost to do things that we know makes no sense I’ll start with an
know makes no sense I’ll start with an
know makes no sense I’ll start with an environmental example we take water we
environmental example we take water we
environmental example we take water we chemically treat it a great energy
chemically treat it a great energy
chemically treat it a great energy expense and cost we pipe it all over our
expense and cost we pipe it all over our
expense and cost we pipe it all over our city to do what with it flush our
city to do what with it flush our
city to do what with it flush our toilets wash our cars water our grass it
toilets wash our cars water our grass it
toilets wash our cars water our grass it doesn’t make a lot of sense the system
doesn’t make a lot of sense the system
doesn’t make a lot of sense the system makes it easy to build communities that
makes it easy to build communities that
makes it easy to build communities that look like this the suburbs urban sprawl
look like this the suburbs urban sprawl
look like this the suburbs urban sprawl where you need a car to even go get a
where you need a car to even go get a
where you need a car to even go get a bag of milk where you’re separated from
bag of milk where you’re separated from
bag of milk where you’re separated from your neighbors by great distances that
your neighbors by great distances that
your neighbors by great distances that makes it almost impossible to build
makes it almost impossible to build
makes it almost impossible to build neighborhoods that look like this
neighborhoods that look like this
neighborhoods that look like this walkable where the streets are shared by
walkable where the streets are shared by
walkable where the streets are shared by pedestrians cyclists and automobiles and
pedestrians cyclists and automobiles and
pedestrians cyclists and automobiles and when you live like that your commute
when you live like that your commute
when you live like that your commute looks like this you spend a lot of time
looks like this you spend a lot of time
looks like this you spend a lot of time in your car I want you to spend as pay
in your car I want you to spend as pay
in your car I want you to spend as pay to pay perfect Earths
to pay perfect Earths
to pay perfect Earths pay careful attention to the HOV Lane
pay careful attention to the HOV Lane
pay careful attention to the HOV Lane not only area in your car but you’re
not only area in your car but you’re
not only area in your car but you’re alone and again the stats on this are
alone and again the stats on this are
alone and again the stats on this are very simple there’s a direct correlation
very simple there’s a direct correlation
very simple there’s a direct correlation between countries where they have a high
between countries where they have a high
between countries where they have a high commuter or walking and biking commuter
commuter or walking and biking commuter
commuter or walking and biking commuter ship and obesity and yet our system
ship and obesity and yet our system
ship and obesity and yet our system funnels everything towards that now I
funnels everything towards that now I
funnels everything towards that now I think the environmental and health
think the environmental and health
think the environmental and health impacts of our built environment might
impacts of our built environment might
impacts of our built environment might be relatively intuitive but what about
be relatively intuitive but what about
be relatively intuitive but what about happiness well there are indicators that
happiness well there are indicators that
happiness well there are indicators that can clearly tell you how happy someone
can clearly tell you how happy someone
can clearly tell you how happy someone is like how many of their neighbors do
is like how many of their neighbors do
is like how many of their neighbors do they know by first name and my beliefs
they know by first name and my beliefs
they know by first name and my beliefs are pretty simple I believe that the
are pretty simple I believe that the
are pretty simple I believe that the places that we live the places we work
places that we live the places we work
places that we live the places we work and the places we play should have a
and the places we play should have a
and the places we play should have a positive impact on our health on our
positive impact on our health on our
positive impact on our health on our happiness and on our environment and I
happiness and on our environment and I
happiness and on our environment and I believe the people that make those
believe the people that make those
believe the people that make those places and that includes not only
places and that includes not only
places and that includes not only developers but the politicians the
developers but the politicians the
developers but the politicians the regulators the urban planners need to
regulators the urban planners need to
regulators the urban planners need to build communities that actually build
build communities that actually build
build communities that actually build community that make us care so why
community that make us care so why
community that make us care so why aren’t we well in my opinion is pretty
aren’t we well in my opinion is pretty
aren’t we well in my opinion is pretty simple develop the development system is
simple develop the development system is
simple develop the development system is a process-oriented system not a goal or
a process-oriented system not a goal or
a process-oriented system not a goal or an outcome oriented system so we end up
an outcome oriented system so we end up
an outcome oriented system so we end up building what we’re allowed to build not
building what we’re allowed to build not
building what we’re allowed to build not what we all know we should build but we
what we all know we should build but we
what we all know we should build but we can’t change them all we got to do is
can’t change them all we got to do is
can’t change them all we got to do is break a few rules and I might be good at
break a few rules and I might be good at
break a few rules and I might be good at that sometimes now I was trained as an
that sometimes now I was trained as an
that sometimes now I was trained as an engineer but I’ve spent my career as an
engineer but I’ve spent my career as an
engineer but I’ve spent my career as an as an entrepreneur and almost all of my
as an entrepreneur and almost all of my
as an entrepreneur and almost all of my businesses have been focused in the
businesses have been focused in the
businesses have been focused in the environmental sector doing things like
environmental sector doing things like
environmental sector doing things like cleaning up contaminated sites recycling
cleaning up contaminated sites recycling
cleaning up contaminated sites recycling hazardous and dangerous dangerous wastes
hazardous and dangerous dangerous wastes
hazardous and dangerous dangerous wastes bringing on renewable energy that
bringing on renewable energy that
bringing on renewable energy that decreases our our dependence on fossil
decreases our our dependence on fossil
decreases our our dependence on fossil fuels and most of those sites or many of
fuels and most of those sites or many of
fuels and most of those sites or many of those sites were in urban areas and we
those sites were in urban areas and we
those sites were in urban areas and we saw downtown highly lucrative
saw downtown highly lucrative
saw downtown highly lucrative urban sites that were fenced off locked
urban sites that were fenced off locked
urban sites that were fenced off locked off oftentimes for decades and it caused
off oftentimes for decades and it caused
off oftentimes for decades and it caused us about ten years ago to say why don’t
us about ten years ago to say why don’t
us about ten years ago to say why don’t we try our hand at
we try our hand at
we try our hand at redevelopment now I will tell you I was
redevelopment now I will tell you I was
redevelopment now I will tell you I was shocked when I went from being an
shocked when I went from being an
shocked when I went from being an environmental cleanup contractor and
environmental cleanup contractor and
environmental cleanup contractor and when you say that at a cocktail party
when you say that at a cocktail party
when you say that at a cocktail party people say that’s fantastic to say I’m a
people say that’s fantastic to say I’m a
people say that’s fantastic to say I’m a property developer and the negative
property developer and the negative
property developer and the negative stigma that comes with that now might be
stigma that comes with that now might be
stigma that comes with that now might be somewhat deserved because there was a
somewhat deserved because there was a
somewhat deserved because there was a property developer that built this well
property developer that built this well
property developer that built this well one of the first things that we did was
one of the first things that we did was
one of the first things that we did was to set out to break that stigma we
to set out to break that stigma we
to set out to break that stigma we wanted to prove that we could build
wanted to prove that we could build
wanted to prove that we could build communities they would actually make the
communities they would actually make the
communities they would actually make the environment better so we built Canada’s
environment better so we built Canada’s
environment better so we built Canada’s first LEED Platinum building leads a
first LEED Platinum building leads a
first LEED Platinum building leads a rating system that rates how sustainable
rating system that rates how sustainable
rating system that rates how sustainable a building is with platinum being the
a building is with platinum being the
a building is with platinum being the ultimate level not only did we build
ultimate level not only did we build
ultimate level not only did we build Canada’s first LEED Platinum building we
Canada’s first LEED Platinum building we
Canada’s first LEED Platinum building we build British Columbia’s Alberta’s
build British Columbia’s Alberta’s
build British Columbia’s Alberta’s Ontario’s we actually had a hand in
Ontario’s we actually had a hand in
Ontario’s we actually had a hand in building this theater which is LEED
building this theater which is LEED
building this theater which is LEED Platinum but we quickly came to realize
Platinum but we quickly came to realize
Platinum but we quickly came to realize that while we’re having a positive
that while we’re having a positive
that while we’re having a positive impact on the environment we weren’t
impact on the environment we weren’t
impact on the environment we weren’t necessarily changing people’s behaviors
necessarily changing people’s behaviors
necessarily changing people’s behaviors when I saw one of our clients drive
when I saw one of our clients drive
when I saw one of our clients drive their Hummer SUV into the parking lot of
their Hummer SUV into the parking lot of
their Hummer SUV into the parking lot of our highly sustainable building I kind
our highly sustainable building I kind
our highly sustainable building I kind of scratched my head and we started
of scratched my head and we started
of scratched my head and we started looking for a better way and we found
looking for a better way and we found
looking for a better way and we found something called the one planet
something called the one planet
something called the one planet community framework one planet the name
community framework one planet the name
community framework one planet the name speaks for itself we have to live like
speaks for itself we have to live like
speaks for itself we have to live like we only have one planet and again
we only have one planet and again
we only have one planet and again everyone looks at me with a quizzical
everyone looks at me with a quizzical
everyone looks at me with a quizzical look and says but Jeff we do only have
look and says but Jeff we do only have
look and says but Jeff we do only have one planet and I remind them that if we
one planet and I remind them that if we
one planet and I remind them that if we all live like an American
all live like an American
all live like an American we need five planets or a Canadian we
we need five planets or a Canadian we
we need five planets or a Canadian we need four and all we’re doing is
need four and all we’re doing is
need four and all we’re doing is stealing from our own grandchildren and
stealing from our own grandchildren and
stealing from our own grandchildren and the developing world to sustain our
the developing world to sustain our
the developing world to sustain our unsustainable lifestyle now one planet
unsustainable lifestyle now one planet
unsustainable lifestyle now one planet is essentially lead on steroids and the
is essentially lead on steroids and the
is essentially lead on steroids and the big difference is it brings in
big difference is it brings in
big difference is it brings in indicators around health happiness local
indicators around health happiness local
indicators around health happiness local economy so now we tell people we’re
economy so now we tell people we’re
economy so now we tell people we’re gonna build communities that not only
gonna build communities that not only
gonna build communities that not only will make you happier and healthier but
will make you happier and healthier but
will make you happier and healthier but actually improve the environment and
actually improve the environment and
actually improve the environment and oftentimes they laugh at us we’re
oftentimes they laugh at us we’re
oftentimes they laugh at us we’re getting used to it
getting used to it
getting used to it and more often than not the people that
and more often than not the people that
and more often than not the people that laugh the hardest are the very ones
laugh the hardest are the very ones
laugh the hardest are the very ones responsible for the development system
responsible for the development system
responsible for the development system so how does and and actually sorry the
so how does and and actually sorry the
so how does and and actually sorry the one planet system we’ve claimed that we
one planet system we’ve claimed that we
one planet system we’ve claimed that we call it social sustainability so
call it social sustainability so
call it social sustainability so environmental sustainability is pretty
environmental sustainability is pretty
environmental sustainability is pretty well defined the social side of it how
well defined the social side of it how
well defined the social side of it how do you drive happiness how do you drive
do you drive happiness how do you drive
do you drive happiness how do you drive better health from the built environment
better health from the built environment
better health from the built environment social sustainability so the question is
social sustainability so the question is
social sustainability so the question is how did we how do we use social
how did we how do we use social
how did we how do we use social sustainability and the one planet system
sustainability and the one planet system
sustainability and the one planet system to change the development system it’s
to change the development system it’s
to change the development system it’s pretty simple we focus on the outcomes
pretty simple we focus on the outcomes
pretty simple we focus on the outcomes let me tell you a story here in the
let me tell you a story here in the
let me tell you a story here in the heart of the nation’s capital straddling
heart of the nation’s capital straddling
heart of the nation’s capital straddling the border between Ontario and Quebec
the border between Ontario and Quebec
the border between Ontario and Quebec Ottawa and Gabon right between the two
Ottawa and Gabon right between the two
Ottawa and Gabon right between the two downtown cores of our cities sits 37
downtown cores of our cities sits 37
downtown cores of our cities sits 37 acres of beautiful waterfront lands they
acres of beautiful waterfront lands they
acres of beautiful waterfront lands they have unobstructed views of all of our
have unobstructed views of all of our
have unobstructed views of all of our national monuments Parliament Hill our
national monuments Parliament Hill our
national monuments Parliament Hill our Supreme Court the galleries the museum’s
Supreme Court the galleries the museum’s
Supreme Court the galleries the museum’s unobstructed views of sunrises in
unobstructed views of sunrises in
unobstructed views of sunrises in sunsets John Seely beautiful right
what do you see do you see a fenced off
what do you see do you see a fenced off contaminated site that’s going to take
contaminated site that’s going to take
contaminated site that’s going to take years to decontaminate with all of the
years to decontaminate with all of the
years to decontaminate with all of the regulations straddling the border or do
regulations straddling the border or do
regulations straddling the border or do you see as we did the outcome the
you see as we did the outcome the
you see as we did the outcome the ability to build one of the world’s most
ability to build one of the world’s most
ability to build one of the world’s most socially and environmentally sustainable
socially and environmentally sustainable
socially and environmentally sustainable communities do you see all of the red
communities do you see all of the red
communities do you see all of the red tape and regulation that comes with
tape and regulation that comes with
tape and regulation that comes with trying to put a development in the
trying to put a development in the
trying to put a development in the middle of the Ottawa River in Quebec and
middle of the Ottawa River in Quebec and
middle of the Ottawa River in Quebec and in Ontario with all the cultural
in Ontario with all the cultural
in Ontario with all the cultural implications of that or do you see an
implications of that or do you see an
implications of that or do you see an opportunity to bring all of those
opportunity to bring all of those
opportunity to bring all of those communities together to do something
communities together to do something
communities together to do something truly world-class as we did now
truly world-class as we did now
truly world-class as we did now the complexity they say can’t be
the complexity they say can’t be
the complexity they say can’t be understated we sit half and Gatineau
understated we sit half and Gatineau
understated we sit half and Gatineau half in Ottawa half in mist in the
half in Ottawa half in mist in the
half in Ottawa half in mist in the province of Quebec the the French
province of Quebec the the French
province of Quebec the the French founder the the founding problem French
founder the the founding problem French
founder the the founding problem French province of Canada and half in Ontario
province of Canada and half in Ontario
province of Canada and half in Ontario the founding English province in Canada
the founding English province in Canada
the founding English province in Canada we have federal oversight and we sit in
we have federal oversight and we sit in
we have federal oversight and we sit in the heart of Algonquin traditional
the heart of Algonquin traditional
the heart of Algonquin traditional territory First Nations and I often say
territory First Nations and I often say
territory First Nations and I often say to have a successful development here is
to have a successful development here is
to have a successful development here is pretty simple all we have to do is to
pretty simple all we have to do is to
pretty simple all we have to do is to get Canada’s three founding nations to
get Canada’s three founding nations to
get Canada’s three founding nations to cooperate and collaborate
but we did it and how did we do it
but we did it and how did we do it well let me explain oh not only did we
well let me explain oh not only did we
well let me explain oh not only did we do it
do it
do it but we’ve been recognized
but we’ve been recognized
but we’ve been recognized internationally for what we’ve done this
internationally for what we’ve done this
internationally for what we’ve done this project won the best master plan from
project won the best master plan from
project won the best master plan from the canadian planning institute went on
the canadian planning institute went on
the canadian planning institute went on to win from the north american planning
to win from the north american planning
to win from the north american planning institute and in Durban South Africa
institute and in Durban South Africa
institute and in Durban South Africa last year the community won the best
last year the community won the best
last year the community won the best master plan community on the planet so
master plan community on the planet so
master plan community on the planet so how did we do it well we started by
how did we do it well we started by
how did we do it well we started by getting curious when we looked at the
getting curious when we looked at the
getting curious when we looked at the lands we wanted to know what communities
lands we wanted to know what communities
lands we wanted to know what communities are involved in these lands what is it
are involved in these lands what is it
are involved in these lands what is it that they’re looking to see out of the
that they’re looking to see out of the
that they’re looking to see out of the lands and we’re now blessed with some
lands and we’re now blessed with some
lands and we’re now blessed with some fantastic new friends I have some great
fantastic new friends I have some great
fantastic new friends I have some great québécois friends that I have to
québécois friends that I have to
québécois friends that I have to constantly apologize for my poor French
constantly apologize for my poor French
constantly apologize for my poor French some fantastic Algonquin friends who
some fantastic Algonquin friends who
some fantastic Algonquin friends who took us under their wings taught us
took us under their wings taught us
took us under their wings taught us their language their culture explain to
their language their culture explain to
their language their culture explain to us how things work and our curiosity
us how things work and our curiosity
us how things work and our curiosity kept driving us to say how do we make
kept driving us to say how do we make
kept driving us to say how do we make sure that when we build a community
sure that when we build a community
sure that when we build a community everybody from our community feels like
everybody from our community feels like
everybody from our community feels like they have a sense of place and most
they have a sense of place and most
they have a sense of place and most importantly we do it in a way that will
importantly we do it in a way that will
importantly we do it in a way that will drive happiness health and a clean
drive happiness health and a clean
drive happiness health and a clean environment so we started engagement
environment so we started engagement
environment so we started engagement lots of it literally hundreds of
lots of it literally hundreds of
lots of it literally hundreds of engagements and one of the things that
engagements and one of the things that
engagements and one of the things that we decided to do was we would we hosted
we decided to do was we would we hosted
we decided to do was we would we hosted a major non-mandatory I want you to
a major non-mandatory I want you to
a major non-mandatory I want you to think about how most property developers
think about how most property developers
think about how most property developers would think about public engagements
would think about public engagements
would think about public engagements kinda like dental surgery we hosted a
kinda like dental surgery we hosted a
kinda like dental surgery we hosted a non mandatory public meeting at one of
non mandatory public meeting at one of
non mandatory public meeting at one of the local museums we had a thousand
the local museums we had a thousand
the local museums we had a thousand people show up and if we had a criticism
people show up and if we had a criticism
people show up and if we had a criticism from that it was you didn’t show us what
from that it was you didn’t show us what
from that it was you didn’t show us what you were gonna build we said well that’s
you were gonna build we said well that’s
you were gonna build we said well that’s the purpose of the engagement we
the purpose of the engagement we
the purpose of the engagement we actually want to know what you think we
actually want to know what you think we
actually want to know what you think we should build
should build
should build most public consultations around
most public consultations around
most public consultations around development look something like this
development look something like this
development look something like this they’re not a lot of fun I can tell you
they’re not a lot of fun I can tell you
they’re not a lot of fun I can tell you ours look like this and the headline the
ours look like this and the headline the
ours look like this and the headline the next day talked about enthusiasm around
next day talked about enthusiasm around
next day talked about enthusiasm around the development and the outcome we had
the development and the outcome we had
the development and the outcome we had was a social contract let me explain
was a social contract let me explain
was a social contract let me explain what a social contract is social
what a social contract is social
what a social contract is social contract is an agreement between us and
contract is an agreement between us and
contract is an agreement between us and all of the communities we engage with to
all of the communities we engage with to
all of the communities we engage with to do certain things we came up with eight
do certain things we came up with eight
do certain things we came up with eight development principles we call them our
development principles we call them our
development principles we call them our eight commanders and don’t remind me I
eight commanders and don’t remind me I
eight commanders and don’t remind me I know there’s actually 10 commandments
know there’s actually 10 commandments
know there’s actually 10 commandments but these are our eight commandments
but these are our eight commandments
but these are our eight commandments they included things like building a
they included things like building a
they included things like building a world-class sustainable community making
world-class sustainable community making
world-class sustainable community making sure that Canada’s three founding
sure that Canada’s three founding
sure that Canada’s three founding nations were represented not only
nations were represented not only
nations were represented not only protecting but enhancing views and I
protecting but enhancing views and I
protecting but enhancing views and I think most importantly opening up this
think most importantly opening up this
think most importantly opening up this magnificent waterfront site to the
magnificent waterfront site to the
magnificent waterfront site to the citizens of this region for the first
citizens of this region for the first
citizens of this region for the first time in two hundred years and those
time in two hundred years and those
time in two hundred years and those eight commandments guided us through
eight commandments guided us through
eight commandments guided us through everything we did and allowed us to
everything we did and allowed us to
everything we did and allowed us to start challenging the system overcoming
start challenging the system overcoming
start challenging the system overcoming barriers and where did we start we
barriers and where did we start we
barriers and where did we start we started with politicians we said very
started with politicians we said very
started with politicians we said very simply we have a contract to build a
simply we have a contract to build a
simply we have a contract to build a world-class community that means
world-class community that means
world-class community that means different your bureaucracies are set up
different your bureaucracies are set up
different your bureaucracies are set up to enforce the same all of the rules you
to enforce the same all of the rules you
to enforce the same all of the rules you need to allow your bureaucrats to ask
need to allow your bureaucrats to ask
need to allow your bureaucrats to ask themselves is this the right thing to do
themselves is this the right thing to do
themselves is this the right thing to do and if it is how do we do it and we got
and if it is how do we do it and we got
and if it is how do we do it and we got the city of Gatineau the City of Ottawa
the city of Gatineau the City of Ottawa
the city of Gatineau the City of Ottawa the National Capital Commission and the
the National Capital Commission and the
the National Capital Commission and the first nations together in the same room
first nations together in the same room
first nations together in the same room to talk about this I don’t think that’s
to talk about this I don’t think that’s
to talk about this I don’t think that’s ever happened before in this region and
ever happened before in this region and
ever happened before in this region and what was the outcome mayor of Ottawa
what was the outcome mayor of Ottawa
what was the outcome mayor of Ottawa says he’s gonna roll out the red carpet
says he’s gonna roll out the red carpet
says he’s gonna roll out the red carpet not red tape the mayor of Gatineau
not red tape the mayor of Gatineau
not red tape the mayor of Gatineau says this is a must not miss opportunity
says this is a must not miss opportunity
says this is a must not miss opportunity the national
the national
the national leader of our First Nations talks about
leader of our First Nations talks about
leader of our First Nations talks about unprecedented dialogue between US and
unprecedented dialogue between US and
unprecedented dialogue between US and the First Nations and that allowed us to
the First Nations and that allowed us to
the First Nations and that allowed us to really start breaking some rules we were
really start breaking some rules we were
really start breaking some rules we were able to go to the bureaucrats and
able to go to the bureaucrats and
able to go to the bureaucrats and challenge them to say again world class
challenge them to say again world class
challenge them to say again world class means different just because we keep
means different just because we keep
means different just because we keep doing the same thing over and over again
doing the same thing over and over again
doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t make it right we do not believe
doesn’t make it right we do not believe
doesn’t make it right we do not believe we’re doing the right thing for people’s
we’re doing the right thing for people’s
we’re doing the right thing for people’s health for people’s happiness and for
health for people’s happiness and for
health for people’s happiness and for the environment so let me give you a few
the environment so let me give you a few
the environment so let me give you a few examples and there’s a lot of them I got
examples and there’s a lot of them I got
examples and there’s a lot of them I got to keep them relatively short there’s
to keep them relatively short there’s
to keep them relatively short there’s 500 provincial bridges in our region all
500 provincial bridges in our region all
500 provincial bridges in our region all of them are heavily trafficked commuter
of them are heavily trafficked commuter
of them are heavily trafficked commuter bridges we the one that runs through our
bridges we the one that runs through our
bridges we the one that runs through our site to show to your bridge is probably
site to show to your bridge is probably
site to show to your bridge is probably the least pedestrian friendly crossing
the least pedestrian friendly crossing
the least pedestrian friendly crossing in the area anybody that’s walked across
in the area anybody that’s walked across
in the area anybody that’s walked across that bridge or ridden across it it’s a
that bridge or ridden across it it’s a
that bridge or ridden across it it’s a it’s a terror show the sidewalk doesn’t
it’s a terror show the sidewalk doesn’t
it’s a terror show the sidewalk doesn’t even follow the whole side of the street
even follow the whole side of the street
even follow the whole side of the street on one side but by engaging with traffic
on one side but by engaging with traffic
on one side but by engaging with traffic engineers of all people what was the
engineers of all people what was the
engineers of all people what was the outcome we took something that currently
outcome we took something that currently
outcome we took something that currently looks like this a four-lane highway and
looks like this a four-lane highway and
looks like this a four-lane highway and we now have agreement to make it look
we now have agreement to make it look
we now have agreement to make it look like this this will be the most
like this this will be the most
like this this will be the most pedestrian friendly crossing in our
pedestrian friendly crossing in our
pedestrian friendly crossing in our region and what’s important is we’re
region and what’s important is we’re
region and what’s important is we’re able to do it in a way that is not gonna
able to do it in a way that is not gonna
able to do it in a way that is not gonna impact the amount of cars that can get
impact the amount of cars that can get
impact the amount of cars that can get across the bridge through redesign
across the bridge through redesign
across the bridge through redesign leading with pedestrian friendly leading
leading with pedestrian friendly leading
leading with pedestrian friendly leading with cycling friendly we were able to do
with cycling friendly we were able to do
with cycling friendly we were able to do something that we were told was
something that we were told was
something that we were told was impossible we didn’t think it was really
impossible we didn’t think it was really
impossible we didn’t think it was really that big a deal but we wanted to take
that big a deal but we wanted to take
that big a deal but we wanted to take things that look like this and turn them
things that look like this and turn them
things that look like this and turn them into streets that look like this where
into streets that look like this where
into streets that look like this where pedestrians cyclists and cars are all
pedestrians cyclists and cars are all
pedestrians cyclists and cars are all together and if you’re on your feet you
together and if you’re on your feet you
together and if you’re on your feet you rule the roost and the cyclists will
rule the roost and the cyclists will
rule the roost and the cyclists will line through and if you’re in a car
line through and if you’re in a car
line through and if you’re in a car you’re welcome but you’re a third class
you’re welcome but you’re a third class
you’re welcome but you’re a third class citizen making your way through
citizen making your way through
citizen making your way through we were told we couldn’t do it city
we were told we couldn’t do it city
we were told we couldn’t do it city bylaws do not allow that well we broke
bylaws do not allow that well we broke
bylaws do not allow that well we broke that rule we did it by saying maybe we
that rule we did it by saying maybe we
that rule we did it by saying maybe we just own the streets in perpetuity and
just own the streets in perpetuity and
just own the streets in perpetuity and we’ll prove that you
we’ll prove that you
we’ll prove that you can maintain them and manage them and
can maintain them and manage them and
can maintain them and manage them and set a model for what should happen next
set a model for what should happen next
set a model for what should happen next to make walkable pedestrian friendly
to make walkable pedestrian friendly
to make walkable pedestrian friendly friendly streets another barrier we
friendly streets another barrier we
friendly streets another barrier we broke one of the ones I’m most proud of
broke one of the ones I’m most proud of
broke one of the ones I’m most proud of is the Quebec construction industry is
is the Quebec construction industry is
is the Quebec construction industry is very difficult to work and if you’re a
very difficult to work and if you’re a
very difficult to work and if you’re a First Nations worker it’s even more so
First Nations worker it’s even more so
First Nations worker it’s even more so because oftentimes you spend time
because oftentimes you spend time
because oftentimes you spend time working on the reserve you could be a
working on the reserve you could be a
working on the reserve you could be a carpenter for twenty years on the
carpenter for twenty years on the
carpenter for twenty years on the reserve but because it’s federal land
reserve but because it’s federal land
reserve but because it’s federal land none of your experience is recognized in
none of your experience is recognized in
none of your experience is recognized in the province so we started three years
the province so we started three years
the province so we started three years ago saying we want to see First Nations
ago saying we want to see First Nations
ago saying we want to see First Nations workers on our site we were told the way
workers on our site we were told the way
workers on our site we were told the way the union’s work the way the vast saying
the union’s work the way the vast saying
the union’s work the way the vast saying is work it can’t happen well we broke
is work it can’t happen well we broke
is work it can’t happen well we broke that rule too we worked with the
that rule too we worked with the
that rule too we worked with the regulator’s and here’s the first crew
regulator’s and here’s the first crew
regulator’s and here’s the first crew well here’s the first crew on our site
well here’s the first crew on our site
well here’s the first crew on our site doing the site decontamination 70
doing the site decontamination 70
doing the site decontamination 70 percent Algonquin workers truly
percent Algonquin workers truly
percent Algonquin workers truly unbelievable
unbelievable
unbelievable not only we got construction work with
not only we got construction work with
not only we got construction work with the First Nations we called the site ZB
the First Nations we called the site ZB
the First Nations we called the site ZB which is Algonquin for River and one of
which is Algonquin for River and one of
which is Algonquin for River and one of the things I love about that is when I
the things I love about that is when I
the things I love about that is when I say the site is called the ZB people say
say the site is called the ZB people say
say the site is called the ZB people say why ZB I said because it’s the Algonquin
why ZB I said because it’s the Algonquin
why ZB I said because it’s the Algonquin word for River they say why Algonquin I
word for River they say why Algonquin I
word for River they say why Algonquin I said because this is their territory
said because this is their territory
said because this is their territory they’re our hosts so another barrier
they’re our hosts so another barrier
they’re our hosts so another barrier broken another one that we’re really
broken another one that we’re really
broken another one that we’re really proud of is we are building our regions
proud of is we are building our regions
proud of is we are building our regions and one of the few in North America Zero
and one of the few in North America Zero
and one of the few in North America Zero Carbon district energy system what that
Carbon district energy system what that
Carbon district energy system what that means is all of the heating cooling and
means is all of the heating cooling and
means is all of the heating cooling and electrification on our site will be zero
electrification on our site will be zero
electrification on our site will be zero carbon
carbon
carbon most developments hook on to the natural
most developments hook on to the natural
most developments hook on to the natural gas pipeline connect to what is a pretty
gas pipeline connect to what is a pretty
gas pipeline connect to what is a pretty dirty grid and that’s all they do and we
dirty grid and that’s all they do and we
dirty grid and that’s all they do and we continue our carbon dependency now you
continue our carbon dependency now you
continue our carbon dependency now you might know utilities in this part of the
might know utilities in this part of the
might know utilities in this part of the world are pretty heavily regulated when
world are pretty heavily regulated when
world are pretty heavily regulated when we first met with the local hydro
we first met with the local hydro
we first met with the local hydro distribution company and we said we want
distribution company and we said we want
distribution company and we said we want to run our own utility they made it
to run our own utility they made it
to run our own utility they made it pretty clear if you do that we are going
pretty clear if you do that we are going
pretty clear if you do that we are going to war
to war
to war while I’m happy to say if we go to war
while I’m happy to say if we go to war
while I’m happy to say if we go to war there no my partner
there no my partner
there no my partner there are a 50/50 partner in our first
there are a 50/50 partner in our first
there are a 50/50 partner in our first zero-carbon district energy system in
zero-carbon district energy system in
zero-carbon district energy system in the region so we can do better it’s
the region so we can do better it’s
the region so we can do better it’s clear we can do better and all of us
clear we can do better and all of us
clear we can do better and all of us have a responsibility in my opinion to
have a responsibility in my opinion to
have a responsibility in my opinion to challenge the system and demand that we
challenge the system and demand that we
challenge the system and demand that we want places that we know the data is
want places that we know the data is
want places that we know the data is evidence we know improve health
evidence we know improve health
evidence we know improve health happiness and our environment in 10
happiness and our environment in 10
happiness and our environment in 10 years time when I’m sitting on a
years time when I’m sitting on a
years time when I’m sitting on a waterfront patio looking at Parliament
waterfront patio looking at Parliament
waterfront patio looking at Parliament Hill or watching the sunset in the
Hill or watching the sunset in the
Hill or watching the sunset in the world’s most sustainable community I’ll
world’s most sustainable community I’ll
world’s most sustainable community I’ll know that not only did we break a few
know that not only did we break a few
know that not only did we break a few barriers maybe even a few rules to make
barriers maybe even a few rules to make
barriers maybe even a few rules to make it happen but we set a model for how it
it happen but we set a model for how it
it happen but we set a model for how it can be done
can be done
can be done meat which thank you now see you happy
”
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