Geothink Research Gives Inside Look at how Toronto’s Makerspaces are Governed

By Drew Bush Google “Makerspaces” and you might not understand the definition you’re reading. First popular in China and other Asian countries, these do-it-yourself (DIY) spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn have also spread to the United States and, most recently, Canada. Many are located at libraries where they include tools such as 3D printers, software, … Read More

Crosspost: Green Cities and Smart Cities: The potential and pitfalls of digitally-enabled green urbanism

This post is cross-posted with permission from Alexander Aylett, from UGEC Viewpoints. Aylett is an Assistant Professor at the Centre on Urbanisation, Culture and Society at the National Institute for Scientific Research (UCS-INRS) in Montreal, Quebec. By Alexander Aylett Since its early days, the discourse around “smart cities” has included environmental sustainability as one of its core principles. The application … Read More

Canada Action Plan on Open Government 2.0: Much Still To Do?

By Drew Bush Introduction For the savvy traveller headed over Canada’s border this holiday season, Canada’s Action Plan on Open Government 2.0 holds promise. A visit to the site in December 2014 yielded a multi-media list of steps to follow when travelling abroad and even an iOS “Travel Smart” application. Drafted after a June 2013 G8 Summit, Canada’s plan results … Read More