Urban Land Institute announces #CityResolve winners

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua picks from over 900 tweets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO – January 27, 2016…The Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Toronto announces its winning Tweets from its second annual #CityResolve campaign that took place: January 6^th – 8^th 2016. Pioneered by ULI at the beginning of 2015, the goal of the campaign was to trigger a broader conversation about how individuals through their personal actions can make our urban region more liveable, prosperous, and friendly.

“We hope our #CityResolve campaign will broaden in future years and become a social media movement about urban issues and ideas that stretches from city to city. So far it has expanded from Toronto to Philadelphia and Washington. We created the campaign not only to engage the development community but to also engage leaders and influences in other sectors as well,” says Richard Joy, Executive Director, ULI Toronto

By using the social media giant Twitter, ULI hoped to use social media to bring out the very best in the city and the local community. This year saw resolutions from city representatives such as Councillor Norm Kelly, Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat and Mayor John Tory, as well as many from local students and businesses.

For each of the three days of the campaign, a winner was selected exhibiting the positive influence that #CityResolve was looking for. Judges chose resolutions that strived to make an impact, and noticed trends towards local exploration and sustainability.

The grand prize winner was selected by the City of Vaughan and was awarded to  Kim Graham & Associates: kg&a ‏@kga_pr who resolved to “pay more attention to the city we live in….not just our inbox” has won two tickets to the 2016 Annual Mayor’s Luncheon.

“I am inspired by the #CityResolve campaign – it’s an excellent way to bring people together to demonstrate how we can collectively have an impact on our communities and transform the environment. Together, we can make our cities more livable, promote sustainability and contribute to our continued health and prosperity for the future,” says Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Kim Graham & Associates – @kga_pr #CityResolve to adjust our gaze from our screens to our surroundings. To pay more attention to the city we live in…not just our inbox. #yyz

HONORABLE MENTION

Jennifer Keesmaat ‏@jen_keesmaat  My #CityResolve2016 is morphing into an event. A walk/bike the entire length of the city from the lake to Woodbridge in the Humber ravine!

DAILY WINNERS:

Avi Behar @avi_behar who said he will use his creative and technical skills and posted a video of himself playing the piano to provide Toronto the soundtrack it deserves.

Monica Silberberg @mosilb who hopes to convince her downtown friends to try something new and explore the outreaches of North York.

Michael Collins-Williams @mikejcw resolved to connect with the city politically in order to promote transit-first policy.

Each of the three daily winners received a ULI-designed ‘urbanize’ cap.

RUNNERS UP

Anson Kwok ‏@AnsonK My #CityResolve is not to drive at all for 50 days in 2016 @ULIToronto #YYZ

DIALOG Toronto ‏@DIALOGtoronto #DIALOGtoronto’s #CityResolve is to improve the wellbeing of communities and the environment we share. @ULIToronto

Jake Tobin Garrett ‏@jaketobin My 2016 #CityResolve w my friend Anna Hill: to walk/bike TO’s ravines to coincide w the City’s Ravine Strategy.

Joseph Milos @josephmilos My 2016 #CityResolve is to swim at everyone of Toronto’s beaches this summer

Subhanki Sivakumar ‏@subhanki_s ULI Toronto Yes! So much #YYZ pride. My #CityResolve is to find more toronto-grown/family owned businesses to support. #BuyLocal

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For more information please contact:
Alexandra Rybak
Manager, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto
[email protected]

About Urban Land Institute:
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining and creating thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 36,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. ULI Toronto is a District Council of the international organization, representing over 1200 members locally.