Cities have been designed without women’s experiences in mind for a long time, making public spaces feel unsafe or inaccessible. Placemaking with a gender lens centres women’s daily realities such as care work, mobility needs, and safety concerns. It calls for inclusive and supportive environments shaped through diverse voices. Designing for women ultimately creates cities that work for everyone.

Women across the country are making remarkable impacts and progress to transform Canadian cities. Help us celebrate just a few this International Women’s Day.

Advocacy at its core is expressing belief in something. It could be as simple as sharing a well-written article to introduce new ideas or raising a hand in a work meeting. Advocacy is for everyone, and it does’t have to be difficult.

The closure of Portage and Main pedestrian intersection in 1976 remains a contentious and a gendered issue today. Those who advocate for opening the intersection continue to push for improved safety, accessibility, and downtown vibrancy.

Enjoy a curated list of our favorite news stories, articles, projects, and resources that have crossed Women in Urbanism Canada’s feed in 2023.

Feminist interventions prioritize the needs and experience of women and other equity-deserving groups, while still positively impacting the lives of men.

The snow clearing policies in many Canadian cities unintentionally prioritize men through the modes, locations, and methods that their policies state. It’s time to apply a gender-based lens to how we deal with snow.

Women across the country are making remarkable impacts and progress to uplift Canadian cities. Help us celebrate just a few this International Women’s Day.

Women face significant barriers to cycling, such as safety, harassment, and gender norms. To encourage more women to get on two wheels, there is a great deal of work required to address patriarchal systems and design.