Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Happy Cities

Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · 17d

Canada is spending millions on an ambitious affordable housing program.

If we design right, we can solve the affordability crisis and the social disconnection crisis at the same time!

Crucial lessons from @happycities.com for Minister @gregorrobertson.bsky.social

happycities.com/blog/afforda...

How Build Canada Homes can go beyond affordability — Happy Cities

What Canada can learn from non-market housing communities about social connection, health, and belonging.

happycities.com

5 13

Happy Cities @happycities.com · 17d

The 44th Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off today!

We're excited to be sponsoring a series of short films at #VIFF2025, portraying snapshots of daily life from cities around the world. We hope to see you there!

Learn more & get tickets: viff.org/whats-on/vif...

Short Forum 6: City slickin' | VIFF 2025

Shorts from: Canada, France, Jordan, Spain, USA.

viff.org

Happy Cities @happycities.com · 27d

A thriving arts & culture scene contributes to healthy, vibrant communities 🎥

The 44th Vancouver International Film Festival is on from Oct 2–12. We're excited to be helping to support #VIFF2025. Check out the lineup of 172+ feature films, 97 shorts, and 128+ premieres! Details: viff.org/festival

VIFF 2025 | Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF 2025 runs Oct 2-12, showcasing the best cinema from around the globe, talks, conferences, live performances and other unique events that celebrate film and film culture.

viff.org

2

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Sep 18

"More than just a way to address social isolation and remedy cultural disconnection, [Vancouver's] plazas could become a blueprint for more people-friendly outdoor infrastructure."

vancouversun.com/news/local-n...

Plazas and public spaces: what are we getting right, and where are we going wrong?

vancouversun.com

1 3

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Jul 30

How we design better neighbourhoods for aging communities?

We're excited to share an updated version of our dementia-inclusive planning and design guidelines, this time with a broader focus on age-friendly communities 👪

Learn more: happycities.com/blog/new-gui...

New guidelines for age- and dementia-inclusive neighbourhoods — Happy Cities

Learn the unique planning and design considerations for older adults and people living with dementia through a free online course.

happycities.com

1 2

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Jul 15

What makes some spaces feel safer than others? The answer might be simpler than you think.

Read about the power of placemaking to nurture safer community spaces: mailchi.mp/happycities/...

How do we design safer public spaces?

Rapid, small-scale investments may hold the key to more vibrant, safe places

mailchi.mp

1

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Jun 3

What makes a street feel safe and welcoming? In Surrey, Canada, placemaking helped a community rebuild its sense of safety after a tragic loss—showing that even simple changes can have a big impact. Read the full story:
happycities.com/blog/surrey-...

Movie nights, picnics, and art: How Surrey, BC is creating safer public spaces — Happy Cities

To create safer neighbourhoods, offer inviting and vibrant places for community members to gather.

happycities.com

1 3

Happy Cities @happycities.com · May 20

Social spaces are just as important as water and electricity for healthy, resilient communities. Why don't we provide them with the same consistency? Our latest story makes the case for a more rigorous approach to social infrastructure: happycities.com/blog/the-cas...

The case for social infrastructure — Happy Cities

Social spaces and networks create an essential foundation for healthy, resilient communities. But they’re hard to measure.

happycities.com

2

Reposted by Happy Cities

Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · May 13

Like trees in a forest, we are healthier when old and young live together and exchange energy with one another. Beautiful essay by Tessa McWatt: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2d66089...

Canada must reimagine intergenerational life

Intergenerational spaces normalize mortality and honour the aging journey alongside the vibrancy of youth

www.theglobeandmail.com

2 4 9

Happy Cities @happycities.com · May 8

People feel less lonely in buildings that invite neighbours to connect.

Whether a cozy seating nook next to an apartment hallway or a shared courtyard, the homes we live in can help fight social isolation and build more connected, resilient communities: www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...

How to design a city to improve your mental health—according to science

Experts say small changes in our neighborhoods—like where we sit, walk, or congregate—can make a big difference in how connected we feel to those around us.

www.nationalgeographic.com

1

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Apr 28

And some community-organized resources and supports:

Filipino Emergency Response Homepage: vanfilemergency.my.canva.site

Filipino Emergency Response Resource: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

offering help: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Requesting help: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Filipino Emergency Response - Organized by VanFilEmergency

vanfilemergency.my.canva.site

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Apr 28

If you or anyone you know has been impacted, here are some resources shared by the City of Vancouver: vancouver.ca/files/cov/la...

vancouver.ca

1

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Apr 28

Safe streets and celebrations of culture are fundamental to healthy communities.

As planners who work on many open streets initiatives, we are working to understand what additional steps we can take to ensure people's comfort and safety at future community events.

1

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Apr 28

Our hearts go out to everyone—people, families, and Filipino community members—affected by the devastating tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day celebration in Vancouver this past weekend.

1 1

Reposted by Happy Cities

Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · Apr 5

I love this story on building age-friendly housing from Michelle Gagnon-Creeley on the team at @happycities.com

Deeply moving, and also very practical!

happycities.com/blog/what-ma...

What makes an age-friendly home? — Happy Cities

Canada’s population is aging. Our homes need to catch up.

happycities.com

1 3 10

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Apr 2

What kind of home do you envision for yourself as you grow older?

Our latest story shares four strategies for age-friendly homes (drawing on our work with @heyneighbourcollective.ca): happycities.com/blog/what-ma...

What makes an age-friendly home? — Happy Cities

Canada’s population is aging. Our homes need to catch up.

happycities.com

2 4

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Mar 27

We recently joined Cities for Everyone w/ @penalosag.bsky.social to explore the power of #placemaking for happier, healthier, more inclusive communities ✨

Watch here for the full recording, with inspiring stories, free resources, and evidence: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cin2...

Emma Avery & Leah Karlberg • The Power of Placemaking: Creating Happier Cities from the Ground Up

YouTube video by Penalosa_G

www.youtube.com

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Mar 17

What makes an age-friendly home?

Our latest newsletter explores: mailchi.mp/happycities/...

As always, you can join us here! happycities.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

What makes an age-friendly home?

These innovative housing ideas will keep you in good health for longer.

mailchi.mp

1 2

Reposted by Happy Cities

Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · Mar 14

The housing crisis and the loneliness crisis can be solved at the same time:
Modular construction
Canadian wood
Pro-social designs
Faster approvals for market + nonmarket supply

@happycities.com Madeleine Herbert joins experts in Dan Fumano's excellent story:
vancouversun.com/business/rea...

B.C. housing innovators striving for faster, cheaper homes — and happier residents

Homegrown innovations, like prefabricated mass timber parts and policies that promote well-being, are contributing to 'happier' housing.

vancouversun.com

1 10 72

Reposted by Happy Cities

Charles Montgomery @charlesincities.bsky.social · Mar 14

Yes, apartment buildings can be designed in ways that are BETTER for children and seniors than detached homes.

Another banger from @happycities.com

This one includes a link to the age-friendly housing design toolkit.

mailchi.mp/happycities/...

What makes an age-friendly home?

These innovative housing ideas will keep you in good health for longer.

mailchi.mp

9 50

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Feb 13

Socially connected homes not only connect us with neighbours—they offer private, comfortable places to recharge.

Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to design social homes: happycities.com/building-soc...

📸 Driftwood Village Cohousing (Cornerstone Architecture)

Photo showing the living room of a home with a couch, coffee table, house plants and a dining table. Four pink dialogue bubbles are overlaid pointing out design elements of the space; 1) Ground-level entrance facing a courtyard, 2) Natural lighting and cross-ventilation, 3) Private-public transition, and 4) Flexible space that can evolve over time to meet changing needs.

Text on a light pink background reads: “Design toolbox for for social homes: Explore the Building social connections toolkit”

1 2

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Feb 7

Honoured to see our founder @charlesincities.bsky.social, on the @vancouvermagazine.bsky.social Power 50 list, along with some of our heroes—Leslie Shieh, Mark Shieh, Marianne Amodio—for their impactful work on building happier, more socially connected homes: www.vanmag.com/city/power-5...

Introducing Vanmag’s 2025 Power 50 List - Vancouver Magazine

To be clear: this list isn’t about highlighting only those in power. […]

www.vanmag.com

1 1

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Feb 5

Apartment amenity rooms & lounges often sit vacant, used only for special events. This one shows a more social alternative:

Download our housing design toolkit with @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...

📸 Marmalade Lane Cohousing (David Butler / Mole Architects)

A community amenity room with a book shelf, children playing at a ping pong table, a group of adults sitting at a long table, and two adults sitting on a couch. Four purple dialogue bubbles are overlaid pointing out design elements of the space; 1) Flexible space that can accommodate different uses, 2) Connection to outdoor amenity space, 3) Shared storage space, 4) Activities for all ages and abilities. Text on a light purple background reads: “Design toolbox for social indoor amenity spaces: Explore the Building social connections toolkit"

1

Reposted by Happy Cities

Jill Atkey @jfatkey.bsky.social · Jan 30

I have some thoughts 👇

Supportive housing exists because our systems sometimes fail people.

It’s the solution, not the problem.

And we need more of it. A lot more.

vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Jill Atkey: Mayor Sim's call for a pause on new supportive housing leaves Vancouverites with more questions than answers

Ken Sim's call for a pause on new supportive housing creates questions and panic — an announcement without a plan puts lives at risk

vancouversun.com

1 13 35

Happy Cities @happycities.com · Jan 29

Join Mitchell Reardon from Happy Cities in LA next week to discuss the future of transportation! Hosted by @pepperdine.bsky.social
publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events/2024/...

Going Forward: Planning the Region’s Transportation Future in a Time of Crisis | Pepperdine School of Public Policy

The conference will focus on the policy intricacies of transportation and the leadership required to lead to human flourishing-focused solutions.

publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu