A brief overview of the State of the Place Making and Place Management in Canada
The following provides a short introduction to placemaking and place management in Canada. We have presented some key ideas about the process and dimensions of these activities.
We recognize that there are areas of both practices that can provide insights into the UK and Canada. For example, while the High Street Task Force was conducting investigations and recommendations, complementary studies and investigations were happening in Canada around the Main Street concept.
We have chosen to separate placemaking and place management, recognizing that in Canada, place management, in the form of Business Improvement Areas or their equivalents, has well-recognized and structured implementation environments where, whereas placemaking has a more diverse array of implementation pathways, and in many ways is still in the early stages of full recognition of its potential.
Placemaking
In Canada, as in many countries, the term “placemaking” has become widely used in recent years. An array of different definitions can be found that speak to the essential tenets of the practice – the enhancement of urban or rural spaces, and the creation of people-friendly public (or semi-public) places. The term has been used to describe aspects of the renewal of high streets, the transformation of parking lots into plazas, the enhancement of master-planned neighbourhoods, existing community facilities or ‘third spaces’, and an array of activities in between. The practice has been supported by a wide variety of actors, strategies and funding mechanisms.
Despite the relative newness of the term, placemaking describes the sort of practices that have been undertaken since ‘time out of mind’ by Indigenous communities –including sustainable land use stewardship, and the creation of gathering areas and place-based markers and elements that reflect deeply rooted social, cultural and spiritual values.
Today, in the country now known as Canada, placemaking is reflected in the varied practices of community groups, artists, cultural organizations, non-profits, municipalities, businesses and business associations, healthcare professionals, developers and consultancies. Amidst the many motivations for placemaking work, there is also an active and essential conversation about Reconciliation and the recognition and incorporation Indigenous perspectives – which adds further depth and complexity to questions of place.
On a national level, placemaking became more organized with the creation of Placemaking Canada (https://www.placemaking-canada.ca/ ) in 2015 – an early initiative paralleled by other national organizations including Place Collective (formerly Placemaking UK), Placemaking Aotearoa, and Placemaking US (to name a few). Organizations such as Project for Public Spaces, Placemaking Europe and Placemaking X help to provide a larger convening forum for international discussions and collaboration.
Placemaking Canada is a network of mostly grassroots organizations focused on placemaking and public space that recognizes the nature of the Canadian context, including regulatory and funding issues, climate and geography. It is a shared learning platform that provides opportunities for placemakers to connect and convene. The organization works to amplify local placemaking initiatives, support capacity-building and skill-sharing, and advocate for the importance of public spaces.
Placemaking Canada identifies several key dimensions to successful placemaking: community engagement and inclusivity; prioritizing environmental sustainability; integrating Indigenous perspectives and cultural contributions into placemaking efforts; advancing an equity-centred approach to placemaking, developing methodologies and practices that boost local economies by creating vibrant spaces that attract foot traffic and support local businesses; creating safe and comfortable public spaces that cater to people of different genders, races, ages and abilities.
In addition to Placemaking Canda, The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) (https://canurb.org/) has been actively involved in placemaking initiatives, particularly through its "Canada's Placemaking Community" project. This initiative, organized and curated by the Healthy Communities Initiative team at CUI, serves as a hub for placemakers leading efforts nationwide. It aims to foster togetherness, joy, and connection while expanding the collective vision of what placemaking can achieve. It has identified placemaking as a vital approach to creating inclusive, vibrant, and resilient communities across Canada. Key perspectives of the Canadian Urban Institute placemaking include advocating for placemaking that addresses social inequities and fosters activity, revitalizing main streets through several innovative programs, ensuring community engagement and resilience, and promoting inclusive placemaking that considers diverse community needs.
It is generally recognized that placemaking in Canada has made significant strides. However, it faces a range of challenges related to funding, inclusivity and the balance between economic development and community needs. Funding is often very limited, forcing many initiatives to rely on short-term grants. There is also a debate about the commercialization of placemaking with the threat of it leading to gentrification, thereby replacing lower-income residents from revitalized areas. It is recognized that community-led approaches, policy support and sustainable development are necessary.
Notwithstanding these challenges, we would argue that placemaking in Canada is positioned as a transformative force in both urban and rural contexts, enhancing quality of life, supporting economic vitality and fostering a sense of belonging.
Place Management – Case Study
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs) serve as an important example of actors focused on Place Management. They are collaborative organizations that unite local businesses and property owners to enhance commercial districts through various initiatives. BIAs and BRZs are similar in many characteristics to BIDs in the UK. While exact numbers can fluctuate due to new formations or dissolutions, as of recent data, Canada hosts over 500 BIAs, with more than 270 located in Ontario alone.
- The structure and level of activities of BIAs can vary significantly across the country and face the following challenges
- Rising commercial rents, leading to increased property values and rents
- Growth of e-commerce and big-box stores, reducing local foot traffic
- Rise in homelessness
- Changing demographics
- Extreme weather events
- Administrative burden of managing programs, events, and infrastructure
- Lack of access to detailed data on foot traffic, customer behavior, and economic performance
- Smaller BIAs struggle to recruit and retain skilled staff or board members
- Many small businesses within BIAs lack the resources or knowledge to adopt new technologies
- Many BIAs struggle to communicate their value to both the public and their members, leading to misunderstandings about their purpose and impact
The structure and level of activities of BIAs can vary significantly across the country. Some of the larger BIAs, for example, in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, have several staff members (including staff focused on placemaking activities) and significant budgets, while some are managed by part-time coordinators or sometimes by volunteers. They are generally involved in the following areas: streetscape beautification; marketing and promotion; organizing events, festivals, and promotional campaigns; safety and security; business support and advocacy, maintenance of the public realm, economic development, and community engagement.
About the author
Walter Jamieson FIPM