In collaboration with the Ryerson University's Department of Architectural Science, the Office of the President and co-organizer Brendan Cormier, curator of 20th and 21st Century Design at the Victoria and Albert Museum, two discussions are being presented on November 7th-8th about the role institutions can play in the positive development of Canadian cities by forging stronger and more effective cultures of architecture and urbanism.

Taking the lead in Ryerson University's role as city-builder for the past decade has been its president Sheldon Levy. At the symposium, Levy will focus on how a city can be improved, for instance, by creating an efficient dialogue between the major actors in city-building projects (architects, urbanists developers, etc), by encouraging innovation, or by engaging directly in the physical construction of the city as well as the evolution of the development policy. 

Ryerson President Sheldon Levy, image by Craig White

Four panel discussions will be held to address these modes of improvement, each focusing on one potential crucial institution of city-building: publishers, museums, schools and the government. Speakers from around the world are invited to share their expertise with a focus on the development of Toronto.

The lectures are free and open to the public, although registration is required. The events will be on Friday, 7 November 2014 from 6-8pm at the Glenn Gould Studio at 250 Front Street West, and on Saturday, 8 November 2014 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the Paul and Leah Atkinson Family Cinema (Cinema 4).