Toronto is one of the few international cities without a prominent pedestrian zone. When one walks La Rambla in Barcelona, or Old Montreal, there’s a certain vibrancy that isn’t found in car zones.  Nowhere else could you safely have street stalls, patios jutting out, and pedestrians crisscrossing from store to store.

During TIFF, much to the chagrin of commuters, King St was turned into a pedestrian zone for the festival.  The response from film goers and those in the movie industry was nothing short of phenomenal. Deals were made that in other years were not made in Toronto.  The people space of pedestrian zones can be transformative to the social and economic fabric of the city.

Toronto is already a congested city, however, so a dedicated pedestrian zone will have its challenges.  What are the benefits to a pedestrian zone? What would it take to give Toronto a vibrant pedestrian zone? Where could we put it?

Paul Bedford, Toronto’s former Chief City Planner, Janice Solomon, Entertainment District BIA Executive Director, and Fiona Chapman, City Manager of pedestrian projects, are our guests on January 25, 2016 for our first WSIC discussion of the year.  We will be talking about Pedestrian Zones in Toronto.

Join us at the Madison Pub (14 Madison Ave). Doors open at 7:00 and discussion starts promptly at 7:30.

Please help us plan attendance by registering on Evenbrite.  As always, the events are free, you just have to pay for what you order.