City of Toronto to launch “Planners in Public Spaces”

Donna Magee has kindly forwarded to me the following news release:

News Release

August 8, 2013

City of Toronto to launch “Planners in Public Spaces”

Toronto’s City Planning Division will launch an outreach initiative called “Planners in Public Spaces” with a kick-off event on Tuesday, August 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square. The initiative includes pop-up information booths at events across the city where residents can learn about planning issues, the role of City planners and find out how they can get involved in planning their city.

The City has partnered with the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Cold Stone Creamery, and the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the kick-off event.

Children of all ages are invited to join City planners to help plan and build a giant LEGO city in the middle of the square. Canada’s first LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Master Builder, Graeme Dymond, will be on hand, along with his Junior Construction Team, to guide the build. Participants can have their photo taken with a giant inflatable LEGO minifigure.

Guided walking tours of the area will be offered by the Downtown Yonge BIA.

Following the kick-off is a month-long tour of pop-up locations across the city. Watch for City Planning staff at the weekly Farmers’ Market in Mel Lastman Square, the York-Eglinton International Street Festival, the Lawrence Bridging Festival, Runnymede and Kipling subway stations, Scarborough Town Centre shopping mall and many more locations.

For a complete list of dates, times and locations, visit the City Planning website at http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pips. Follow City Planning’s official Twitter feed @CityPlanTO for live coverage of the events. Sign up for City Planning email updates at http://www.toronto.ca/e-updates/ to stay informed about planning issues and upcoming events.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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