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Toon Dreessen

@toondreessen.bsky.social

8.2K followers 1.2K following 4.4K posts

Architect Husband Dad he/him; past pres @oaarchitects.bsky.social; president @architectsdca.bsky.social; writer, public speaker, advocate for #procurement reform; #climatepoli @riseforarch

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · Dec 28

Thanks to a dear friend who very patiently listens to my procurement rants for boosting this into my feed. I and many others, including @alexbozikovic.bsky.social and @novakovicto.bsky.social have been saying this for years. #ReformProcurement 1/ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

The Problems of Public Procurement in Canada: Rule Layering, Strategic Purchasing, and Risk Aversion as a Toxic Stew

This article analyzes persistent challenges in Canadian public procurement, examining in particular the federal government's complex, multi-layered purchasing processes which have contributed to high....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 1d

The Toronto barriers also appear to be taller than normal barrier curbs; more like 3-400mm or so tall, whereas Ottawa uses much lower ones: standard 150-200mm taller barrier curbs.

Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Miranda Gray @mirgray.bsky.social · 2d

Plus the existence of new sidewalks are not the rejectable by the community or refusable by counsellor when bundled with a planned road project.

Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

So #IfIWasMayor: automatic 40km/h within city urban and suburban areas (as basic starting point); no right on red inside city; make case for anything above 40 with study to prove its needed/beneficial; auto sep bike infra, raised ped crossings on every street build; end shave&pave w/out infra

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

Yup. I get mine from a local farmer at the weekly farmers market. Best stuff around.

Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Miranda Gray @mirgray.bsky.social · 2d

I live #CarFree by choice. I don't believe a car should be a requirement to live well in a suburb. It doesn't stop me from advocating for road safety for all to travel to #PlacesForPeople. I want a city without crumbling infrastructure or commuter gridlock. #OttPoli

Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

I like my car, always have and need it for much of my work; that doesn’t stop me from advocating for better transit, better #PlacesForPeople and cycling spaces and wishing/hoping that my city was less car dependent and better at commuting #CarFree

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Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 2d

"Body cameras do not reduce police violence or help to hold police accountable. Police killings have only increased and criminal convictions of police officers remain extremely rare. Camera footage is almost never used against police officers.”

Body cameras are not a solution

The history of police body cameras tells a different story than the marketing campaign

tedrutland.substack.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

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Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 22d

You can be a “car guy” and not like car dependency. You can be a “car guy” and get that too many cars in cities is bad for everyone, including drivers. You can be a “car guy” and be tired of lies & manipulations like “the war on cars.” You can be a “car guy” and know more choice means more freedom.

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

In our hood, it’s a 50km limit in front of the HS, 40 in the adjacent streets c/w signage so you know you can speed up. Make it make sense.

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

Fee-based RFPs are good

🏰meg⚔️ @Birthright Audiobook! @impavid.us · 5d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.

Reposted by Toon Dreessen

👁🌻🦊⚙️⚓ Bob, Engineer, Pusher of Paper @navmecheng.bsky.social · 3d

> It is 2025 BC. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

> It is 2025 AD. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

Soldiers at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis, TN.

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Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Dr. Mike P. Moffatt @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social · 3d

Fantastic piece by Don Iveson on what Edmonton is doing right on housing. There are lots of lessons here for other communities.

The big picture on housing, density and affordability

How Edmonton's approach fights for affordability and fiscal efficiency

civicgood.substack.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 2d

I don’t.

Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Love this. The best so far.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 3d

It’s pronounced cyclist.

Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Katelyn Boo-urns @katelynburns.com · 3d

Famine time?

Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 3d

"The Labor Department warned in an obscure document filed with the Federal Register last week that 'the near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens' is threatening 'the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers.'”

Trump administration says immigration enforcement threatens higher food prices

U.S. farmers face labor shortages and potential food price hikes due to Trump’s immigration policy, the administration acknowledged in a Federal Registry document.

wapo.st

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

No no it’s fine. No one else wanted a pillow. Why would you think that?

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Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 3d

“The big advantage of bikes is that they go directly from where you start to where you finish, when you need to go. The advantage over cars is that they need perhaps 1/10th of the amount of space. Roads that jam up quickly with cars can carry effectively unlimited numbers of people by bicycle.”

Why e-bikes are more important the EVs

Bikes can actually transform cities in the way driverless cars promise

danielknowles.substack.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Thoughts and prayers for the driver behind me who seemed surprised that I would actually stop at a stop sign and had to screech to a halt. #TheNerve #Sarcasm

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

That wouldn’t get you parking at concert today amirite?

a little girl is laughing in a black and white photo while making a funny face .

ALT: a little girl is laughing in a black and white photo while making a funny face .

media.tenor.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Meanwhile new schools in ON are built with loads of parking spaces.

@alexbozikovic.bsky.social

LAist @laist.com · 3d

Millions have been allocated to remove asphalt from schoolyards and replace it with green spaces, such as plants and trees, providing much-needed shade for students. One local company, SLA, is also using the funds to train people who have few job prospects, giving them valuable skills.

Providing shade in schoolyards and valuable skills to young job seekers

The founder of this South East L.A. company grew up going to schools with few green spaces and living in neighborhoods with limited job prospects.

ow.ly

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Haven’t bought any since January 2025; not a single bottle. Local apple cider or water. #ElbowsUp

@mark-carney.bsky.social

ProBon @probon.bsky.social · 3d

Meanwhile the world has stopped buying American orange juice.
It now trades at 43% of the price it went for when Trump took office.

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Reposted by Toon Dreessen

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 4d

“The transformation is astonishing. [Paris] has quietly—& quickly—become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. What started as a series of emergency “coronapistes” or pop-up bike lanes, built during the pandemic has evolved into a permanent bike network spanning hundreds of kilometres.”

New Study Shows How Paris Pedaled Its Way to a Cycling Revolution

Cycling through central Paris meant weaving between buses and scooters—a bold choice reserved for the fearless few.

momentummag.com

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Not once in my life ever ever wanted to say duck off; nor have I ever wanted to say goosebye

a goose giving a thumbs up with the word goosebye written below it

ALT: a goose giving a thumbs up with the word goosebye written below it

media.tenor.com

Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Hamilton next year apparently…

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 3d

Just looked him up. He’s 60. WTAF