5 Day Challenge Resources

Day 1
In today’s challenge, we explore examples of what racism and discrimination looks like in our country, and we invite you to get inspired by Jay Pitter’s ‘A Call to Courage’.

Read: A Call to Courage: An Open Letter to Canadian Urbanists

Read: Indigenous Experiences with Racism and Its Impacts

Listen: How the spectacle of U.S. racism allows Canada to overlook its own

Optional: Equity & Inclusion Glossary of Terms

Day 2
In today’s challenge, we examine examples of who is planning and designing our cities, and we invite you to consider whose needs are not being included in the process.

Watch: Urban Design is not Neutral

Read: The Very Way Cities Like Toronto Are Run Is Making Inequality Worse

Read: What would cities look like if they were designed by mothers?

Day 3

In today’s challenge, we look at the role of transportation planning and public transit in building a more equitable and inclusive city, and we invite you to consider whose needs are not being included in our current policies.

Read: Racism has shaped public transit, and it’s riddled with inequities

Read: Anti-Black Racism in the Liveable City and Canada

Read: Opening conversations about active transportation in racialized suburbs

Day 4

In today’s challenge, we learn about Toronto’s long-standing and ongoing housing crises, through today’s homeless tent encampments downtown, and we wonder if the COVID-19 pandemic can finally shake us out of complacency?

Read: The story of Africville

Read: There’s no such thing as affordable housing in Toronto

Read: Our opportunity to end housing poverty

Day 5

In today’s challenge, we question how ‘public’ our public spaces really are, and we invite you to think about how we can make places like our parks more accessible and equitable for everyone to enjoy.

Read: Racism is a Parks and Public Space Issue

Read: Toronto’s Racialized Communities Have Less Access to Urban Forests

Read: Whose Streets? Black Streets