
Innovation Matters
World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW) is the kind of celebration we embrace at Urban Matters CCC.

REFRAME SPOTLIGHT PART II: EXPANDWELL HOMES
In part two of a spotlight series on the 2018 Reframe Housing Competition winners, we’re featuring Expandwell Home Inc.

REFRAME SPOTLIGHT PART I: NEXBUILD CONSTRUCTION
Recently, Urban Matters’ Social Venture Developer Jerome Lengkeek visited the Reframe winners in person. His first stop was Kamloops, BC.

Urban Matters CCC President joins the Central Okanagan Journey Home Society’s inaugural board of directors
“As part of a company that is deeply invested in the wellbeing of communities across the country, I see this role as an opportunity to share my learnings as I continue to learn.”

My story, her story: on Canadian identity and immigration
It is important to reflect on the economic and social challenges that disproportionately impact newcomer women and, going forward, imagine the possibilities that emerge when we prioritize initiatives that will enable newcomer women to thrive.

Transforming playgrounds into places of possibility
This article is the first part of a series exploring how creative community design interventions can lead to better child development outcomes.

What’s Inclusion Got to Do With It?
A future of inclusive growth and full participation by everyone in society. This short phrase, or some variation, has been rolling around in my head over the past months.

2018 Reframe Housing Competition Winners Announced
What does it take to bring innovative housing ideas together to imagine the future of community housing in Canada?

Access for Everyone, Everywhere All the Time
City of Lethbridge Creating New Masterplan for Inclusive Design It was an unusual sight: Lethbridge city officials and consultants wandering around outside city hall, some blindfolded and holding canes, some in wheelchairs, all struggling. A local reporter who just...

Jen Casorso – Committed Kamloops based community change agent is Urban Matter’s new Community Well-Being Consultant
Jen Casorso - a much loved Social and Community Planner from Kamloops, is broadening her reach and joining the Canada wide team of Urban Matters. Walking down the street with Jen through Kamloops you quickly get a picture of the incredible depth and breadth of trusted...

Reframe Housing Competition Brings Innovation to the Housing Conversation
Everywhere you look nowadays, people are having a conversation about housing: How do we ensure equitable housing for everyone? What does the solution or solutions look like? Perhaps not part of the conversation, however, is how to share the success stories that are...

Nobody Left Behind
How the City of Grand Forks is turning a one-in-200-year flooding event into an opportunity for long-term housing solutions for their community. In early May, many residents of the City of Grand Forks and neighbouring areas of the Regional District of...

Lee Prevost – New Affordable Housing Development Lead
No - that’s not a typo in Lee’s job title. This is Lee’s big dream - that we drop the ‘affordable’ term and value all types of housing as important elements of healthy and inclusive communities. He wants housing developments to focus on cutting edge design, creative...

Case Study: City of Calgary – Housing Renewal Planning
From the Federal government’s recently released National Housing Strategy to Alberta’s Provincial Affordable Strategy there’s reason to be hopeful about enhancing the affordable housing inventory in Alberta. With such an emphasis on the building of new affordable...

A Reflection on Reconciliation and Healing
I recently had the great honour of taking part in the fifth Walk in Balance Reconciliation and Healing conference in Fort St. John. Many of our Northern communities came together for this gathering - members of each local Treaty 8 Nation participated, support staff...