Vancouver City Council has voted to remove the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts. The removal of the viaducts presents the City of Vancouver with a unique opportunity to address the past wrongful displacement of Vancouver’s long-standing Black community familiarly known as Hogan’s Alley. This pattern of displacement was experienced across many North American cities.

This event will bring together renowned architect Zena Howard with a panel of Hogan’s Alley Society members to discuss systems of exclusion and how to build a more equitable and inclusive metropolis.

About Zena Howard,

“For nearly three decades, Zena has passionately served as a model for underrepresented populations in the architectural profession. Zena’s management of Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture, with its fast-track delivery model, politically charged program, contextually sensitive site, and diverse stakeholders and institutions, presents a model for transforming an underfunded public design process into iconic architecture that uplifts both its purpose and its program. Zena is at the forefront of infusing cultural elements into neighborhoods that have historically been denied a voice in community decision making.

Zena’s facilitation has been instrumental in working with the local black community to reimagine and restore the social, economic, political and cultural heart of this historic inner-city district. The goal is to right pass injustices by centering the black community in a robust visioning and consultation process."