Be a planner for a day
Have you ever wondered what it takes to design and maintain parks and green spaces in our vibrant National Capital Region? Is your family looking for a fun, interactive activity to do during spring break? Join us for a special edition of the Urbanism Lab that welcomes everyone to explore the importance of urban planning, transportation and green space planning in the National Capital Region, organized in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Planners.
This is an all-ages event, but is recommended for children from 6 to 12 years old.
Through fun games and hands-on activities, connect with biologists, sustainability experts and city planners, and learn about the NCC’s role as Capital planner. The activity will be divided into five themes:
- Planning principles: Start by learning the basics with a simple land-use mapping activity. Families will create a diagram on paper depicting how they move from home to greenspace, showing what they do there and how they travel to those locations (walk, bike, transit, car, etc.)
- Gatineau Park: Do you know where recreational areas are located in relation to ecologically sensitive zones, and why? Gatineau Park interpreters will introduce you to a variety of animals (not real, of course!) and how the seasons affect their habitat. Youngsters will learn the importance of staying on official trails and how the Gatineau Park Master Plan helps guide decision-making.
- Greenbelt: examine turtle models and tree samples to understand the importance of the Greenbelt. With our biologists, children and their parents will also learn how to design a road with passageways to protect turtles.
- Sustainable development: Green spaces provide many benefits for cities, such as reducing pollution, supporting wildlife, providing places for recreation and helping communities adapt to climate change. Families will be invited to share their ideas on how conservation areas can support biodiversity and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
- Transportation planning: Children will be invited to draw their route to school (or another destination) or design a street with a web app. They will think about ways to make the journey safer and more pleasant.
At the end of the workshop, children and parents will share their ideas on a giant floor maps and receive feedback from NCC specialists.
When
Saturday, March 8, 2025
From 1 pm to 4 pm
Where
Urbanism Lab
40 Elgin Street, 2nd floor, Ottawa, Ontario
This is an in-person event only.
Registration
Register today for in-person attendance at the Lab, as places are limited.
This event is split into 3 one-hour time slots.
The sessions are bilingual.
We strive to host inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodations, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may provide the necessary accommodation measures.
This Urbanism Lab conference is presented in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Planners.
