We invited leaders and visionaries
to join the conversation at our Speaker Series

Jan Gehl and Ken Greenberg

On the evening of November 13, 2007, the fourth and final Our Future Mississauga Speaker Series event was held at Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre. The Series is part of a larger project aimed at developing a new Strategic Direction and Plan for the City of Mississauga, as it positions itself to be a great city in the 21st Century. The objective of these events is to motivate and inspire the envisioning of our future Mississauga.

Over 600 people were in attendance to be part of the conversation, and to hear renowned urbanists and urban designers Jan Gehl and Ken Greenberg discuss the opportunities available to Mississauga. Jan Gehl talked about the importance of a human scale, and showed a number of examples of cities that have successfully enlivened their streets, and that have made cycling and pedestrianism viable transportation alternatives. Ken Greenberg suggested developing a network of nodes across the city, and talked about leveraging the city’s hidden gems, including its natural systems. The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session, moderated by Suhana Meharchand, that included questions about walkable communities, private bus services, locally grown food, and the Mississauga waterfront. Following the Q&A, closing comments were made by the City Manager, Janice Baker.

The evening concluded the Our Future Mississauga Speaker Series, but the conversation about the future of Mississauga has only begun. The Speaker Series stimulated a broader dialogue, generated provocative ideas, inspired people to ‘dream big’ about the future of their city, and encouraged participation in a process that will culminate in the creation of a new Strategic Plan for the City of Mississauga. Please stay involved, and continue to participate in the conversation about the Vision for Mississauga’s future. The project website provides a forum for comments and ideas, and will be regularly updated with information on upcoming events, including the February Visioning Symposium.