About Urbanarium
The world is becoming more and more urban, and cities more and more complex. Political, economic and environmental systems are undergoing radical shifts creating added uncertainty in planning for the future.
Urbanarium has been founded by a group of the most committed urbanites in Vancouver, including architects, planners and other citizens who are passionate about city making.
Urbanarium believes in informing, educating and engaging the citizens of Metro Vancouver to help guide decision making to protect our future well being. Urbanarium is starting to reach out to the community to provide it with stimulating and easy to understand information about how our urban system works, what forces are acting on it, what alternative futures might happen and what we can do to affect those outcomes.
Our intention is to become respected as a platform for advanced urban conversation in Metro Vancouver and a place where people can get reliable information without political or ideological bias.
The Vancouver Urbanarium Society is a registered non profit society.
Urbanarium.
For smart cities.
FAQ
What is the official status of Urbanarium?
Vancouver Urbanarium Society is a registered charity. The Urbanarium's charity registration number is 83332 5830 RR0001.
How is Urbanarium organized?
Urbanarium is an all-volunteer organization with a Vancouver-based Board of Directors who have a passion for city building and extensive experience leading volunteer organizations. Their resumes can be viewed in “About the Board”. Numerous volunteers serve on task forces and specific projects to advance the Urbanarium mission.
When was the Urbanarium organization formed?
Urbanarium 1.0 was founded in 1985 by Ray Spaxman, former City of Vancouver Director of Planning, with a board of public-spirited citizens. In 1987 the first exhibition and series of live events, Urbanarium: Lost/Unbuilt Vancouver, was held over a three week period at the Old Motor Vehicle Testing Station on West Georgia Street.
Urbanarium 2.0 produced live events in 1990 and 1991, then followed with an ongoing series of debates, retrospectives and lectures, Builders of Vancouver, jointly promoted with the Alcan Lecture Series from 1992-1998. A second group, URBANARIUM…. at the Museum, partnered with Museum of Vancouver to develop annual exhibitions from 1993 through 1996.
In 2013, during meetings of UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Advisory Board, the Urbanarium 3.0 was revived in discussion to answer the need for an organization that would foster intelligent city building.
Where is Urbanarium?
In the future Urbanarium will provide a physical setting for exhibits, lectures, debates and education. At present, Urbanarium is a catalyst for the creation of events and projects, supporting organizations in Metro Vancouver that are passionate about citymaking.
Who can post events on the Urbanarium “Events” page?
The intention of the Urbanarium “Events” page is to provide a very broad range of content that promotes urban excellence. We will not edit for ideological content, but may screen out events that have a limited connection to our mandate. Urbanarium “trusted event providers” can load events directly to the website without screening. These include some Metro Vancouver municipalities, the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, SFU City Program, Vancouver Public Space Network and others. If you believe your organization should be a trusted event provider, please email us.
Will listed events be free and open to the public?
Most events are open to all, but organizations may occasionally post events with limited capacity or with attendance restricted to a particular group. Some events may require advance registration or an admission fee. Always check the specific website information to avoid disappointment!
Support
The Urbanarium is supported by the passion, time and financial contributions of many individuals, organizations and companies.
Volunteers
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Alex Bakker |
Alicia Medina |
Bo Helliwell |
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Andrea Smith |
Bruce Haden |
Bryce Rositch |
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Catherine Alkenbrack |
Dan Henriques |
Darryl Condon |
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Debra Bodner |
Brendan Hurley |
Eesmyal Santos-Brault |
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Elena Chernyshov |
Erick Villagomez |
Hans Thiessen |
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Ian Grais |
Ian Ross McDonald |
Jennifer Cutbill |
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Joanna Clark |
Joe Fry |
Jonathon Cesar |
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Kelly Gartner |
Kim Smith |
Laura Killam |
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Leslie Van Duzer |
Lisa Nakamura |
Mahbod Biazi |
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Mari Fujita |
Marta Farevaag |
Matthew Plummer |
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Michael Alexander |
Pamela Rounis |
Patrick Y. Foong Chan |
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Peeroj Thakre |
Rachel Kelly |
Rafaela Kirloss |
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Ray Spaxman |
Richard Henriquez |
Sam M. Khany |
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Scot Hein |
Shane Galway |
Shanna Fromson |
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Sheldon Rennie |
Shelley Craig |
Stewart Burgess |
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Sue Wilkinson |
Tate White |
Chanhoo Kim |
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Thomas Daley |
Tom Shepansky |
Veronica Gillies |
Founding Donors
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Rositch Hemphill Architects |
Adera Development Corporation |
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Marcon Investments Ltd |
BTY Consulting Group |
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Wesgroup Properties LP |
Brook Pooni Associates |
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Macdonald Developments |
PFS Studio |
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Glotman Simpson |
Bruce Haden |
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Richard Henriquez |
Andrew Gruft |
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Henriquez Partners Architects |
Leslie Van Duzer |
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Rethink |
Marta Farevaag |
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James Cheng Architects |
Reliance Holdings |
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Anthem Properties |
Rick Hulbert |
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Mellenger Interactive Ltd. |
Board Directors
Bruce Haden
Bruce Haden is an architect and urban designer in Vancouver.
Bo Helliwell
Bo Helliwell has over forty years of experience in architectural design is the Founding Principal of Blue Sky Design, a design build company on Hornby Island that he established in 1975.
Bryce Rositch
Bryce is a principal of Rositch Hemphill Architects in Vancouver, is active in community issues and loves to ski.
Catherine Alkenbrack
Catherine Alkenbrack is the director of Facilities Planning at UBC, working to develop comprehensive planning models for new and renovated facilities.
Dan Henriques
Daniel is the CFO of EnWave Corporation (TSX.V: ENW), a Vancouver-based technology company. Previous to EnWave, Daniel was worked in PwC's Assurance Group assisting public and private clients with financial reporting and taxation services.
Leslie Van Duzer
Leslie Van Duzer is a Professor of Architecture in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia.
Marta Farevaag
Marta Farevaag is an urban planner and Principal at PFS Studio interested in the integration of planning, landscape architecture, and urban design.
Richard Henriquez
Richard Henriquez, Vancouver Architect and Artist is the Founding Partner of Henriquez Partners Architects . Recipient of the RAIC Gold Medal, he is internationally recognized for his award-winning, iconic buildings and for his many years of Community Service.
Scot Hein
Scot Hein is the University of British Columbia’s Urban Designer and teaches in the Masters of Urban Design Programme.
Sam Khany
Sam Khany is an urban planner and an urban designer at the City of Vancouver and Urbanarium's webmaster.
Nic Paolella
Nic Paolella is a development manager at Marcon. As part of the second generation of his family’s real estate development firm, he is helping build on the successes of the company over the past three decades.
Jon Stovell
Jon Stovell is the President of Reliance Properties Ltd. and has been in the real estate investment and development industry for over 25 years working in all areas including acquisitions, finance, civic approvals, construction and marketing.
Elena Chernyshov
Elena Chernyshov is an architect at Diamond Schmitt Architects in Vancouver.
Colleen Hardwick
Urban Geographer. Film Producer. Internet Entrepreneur. Colleen Hardwick is the CEO of PlaceSpeak, a pioneering location-based smart city civic engagement platform.
Darren Yada
As Managing Partner and head of digital planning at Rethink, Darren oversees the strategic direction for the agency and clients within social and digital channels. He leads a team of strategists, analysts and amplification experts across offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Their roster of clients includes IKEA, Shaw, A&W, Molson Canadian, UNIQLO, Coast Capital Savings and the Vancouver Canucks.
Advisors
Ian Grais
Ian is a founder and Creative Director of Rethink Communications.
Ray Spaxman
Ray Spaxman is an architect and planner with over 50 years of experience. Half of his career has been as a municipal planner in England, Toronto and Vancouver (Director of Planning 73-89), and the second half as president of RSC Ltd. providing planning and urban design advice in Canada and Internationally.
Dr. Gary Hack
Gary Hack is professor emeritus of urban design in the School of Design, University of Pennsylvania. From 1996-2008 he served as dean of the School and is a former chairman of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. He practices and writes about large scale urban design, and has prepared plans for over 40 cities in the US and abroad. Garry Hack serves as an advisor to the Urbanarium.
Peeter Wesik
Peeter Wesik is the President of Wesgroup Properties, one of Vancouver’s most prominent development companies, a long term holder and developer of industrial, commercial and office properties. Peeter has over 30 years of experience in corporate law, corporate acquisitions, real estate investing, mortgage lending, and structuring and negotiating complex transactions. He has a B.A. and a B.Law from UBC and previously practiced law in Vancouver. Peeter is involved in numerous industry associations and not for profit institutions, including serving on the board of Arts Umbrella and being a director and past chair of the Urban Development Institute.
Carol Henriquez, CM
Carol Henriquez is the Co-founder and former Executive Director of Children’s Arts Umbrella, a visual and performing arts organization for children located in Vancouver. She has worked as a social worker and an artist. She holds an Honorary Doctorate from Emily Carr University and is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Larry Beasley
Larry is the retired Co-director of Planning for the City of Vancouver. He is now the founding principal of Beasley and Associates, an international planning and urban design consultancy and the “Distinguished Practice Professor of Planning” at the University of British Columbia. He is a Registered Professional Planner in Canada. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Isaac Marshall
Isaac is Principal of AldrichPears Associates, an internationally recognized and award-winning interpretive planning and exhibit design firm.
Nick Cosulich
Nick Cosulich is an associate lawyer practicing at the Vancouver based law firm of Singleton Urquhart LLP. Nick focuses his practice on commercial real estate, mortgage financing and corporate commercial transactions. He holds a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Commerce with distinction from the University of Victoria.
Gregory Dreicer
Gregory Dreicer is an interpretive strategist, curator, and historian known for multidisciplinary explorations of cities and society. He is Director of Curatorial and Engagement at the Museum of Vancouver, where his responsibilities include exhibitions, programs, and public access to collections. Dreicer received his Ph.D. from Cornell University’s Department of Science and Technology Studies.
Mike Flannigan
Michael, who is currently Vice President – Development & Asset Strategies BC Housing, brings 25 years of experience in partnering with different levels of government, not-for-profit and private housing partners, as well as the development community to his role of promoting the creation of affordable housing. In 2001, after five years as director of leasing and vice-president at Hong Kong-based Henderson Development, Michael joined the City of Vancouver as deputy director of real estate services. Six years later, he was appointed director of real estate services, assuming responsibility for the strategic planning and financial management of the City’s $3-billion Property Endowment Fund.