As a founder, editor, and writer for Spacing magazine, I have been deeply involved with urban issues for almost two decades. In 2010, I and the other founders of Spacing were awarded the Jane Jacobs Prize for our contribution to Toronto.
At the same time, I have been an active advocate around walking issues. I am a co-founder and frequent spokesperson for Walk Toronto, a grassroots, volunteer pedestrian advocacy group, and I chair the meetings of its steering committee. Earlier, I was a member (2003-2007) and co-chair (2007-2010) of the Toronto Pedestrian Committee, an official citizen advisory body to the City of Toronto. I was also a co-founder of the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (2006), which has since evolved into The Centre for Active Transportation.
As a result of my work on urban issues, I have been invited to be a guest lecturer and presenter, a chair or member of panel discussions, a mentor, a judge, and a course designer. I have contributed to roundtable discussions, stakeholder consultations, and policy reports. I have designed and led walks exploring urban issues and participated in international conferences.
I continue to take on these roles when suitable opportunities present themselves.
I also appear as a guest or interviewee in the media to discuss urban issues. I have spoken on CBC radio's Metro Morning, Here and Now, and The 180, CBC television, Global Television, TVO's The Agenda, CITY TV news, CP24, CIUT Take 5, AM 640 (The John Downs Show and The Tasha Kheiriddin Show), Newstalk 1010 (John Moore), Zoomer Radio, and CHUM FM. I have been quoted in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Toronto Sun, Metro Toronto, CBC News Toronto, Global News Toronto, and Toronto.com.
I have also been interviewed for two podcasts, Colin Marshall's "Notebook on Cities and Culture" and Nadia Halim's "The Opposite of Lonely" (twice).