2018 Ontario Climate Symposium
Historical Neighbourhoods as Model Sustainable Communities
Back to the 2018 Ontario Climate Symposium Program
TRACK 3
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Meet at Registration Desk at 2:30 pm
Presented by Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Members of Stantec’s Ontario-based Cultural Heritage team have had the opportunity to work on several heritage conservation district studies and plans in southwest Ontario. Though studied primarily for their heritage value and interest, we began observing other types of characteristics typical of these older or mature neighbourhoods.
We began to see these as model sustainable neighbourhoods.
They are also Canada’s most desirable neighbourhoods based on annual polls by the Canadian Institute of Planners. The reasons? Walkability, alternative modes of transportation including public transit, walking and cycling. Less need for parking spaces when alternate modes of transportation are used. Increased infiltration. Shaded boulevards for reduced heat island effect. Walkability can create greater surveillance and can contribute to better health, resulting in lower rates of obesity, diabetes and asthma in mature neighbourhoods.
The goal of the work is to identify the elements of older neighbourhoods that contribute to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
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David Waverman | Senior Landscape Architect and Cultural Heritage Landscape Specialist
David is a University of Toronto educated landscape architect with more than 32 years of design and construction experience and more than 15 years as a senior cultural heritage landscape architect with full membership in the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), and Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP).
He has been an employee of Stantec Consulting Ltd. for more than five years. David has won regional, national and international awards for his research and restoration of J.E.H McDonald’s (founding member of the Group of Seven) garden, the subject of the iconic Canadian painting The Tangled Garden. The project was completed on behalf of the City of Vaughan.
Laura Walter | Cultural Heritage Specialist
Laura Walter is a Cultural Heritage Specialist with Stantec Consulting Ltd. Laura brings more than five years of experience in the promotion and preservation of history through public education and interaction, building conservation and museums. She is a graduate of the University of Western Public History MA program and an intern with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP).
Laura’s work in the field of cultural heritage with Stantec includes cultural heritage evaluation reports, heritage conservation district studies, strategic conservation plans and other heritage impact assessments. She has recently been involved as the historian on the Bloor West Heritage Conservation District Study in the City of Toronto.
About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.
We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what’s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.
We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.