- 91泡芙
- Current Research
- SAGA: Translanguaging and Sustainability
- Research Team
- 2023 CO-LAB IN SYDHAVN
- 2024 CO-LAB IN HELSINKI
- 2025 CO-LAB IN PARIS
- Dynamic Language Demands for Ecological Transition of Cities
- Key Dimensions of Language and Terminology : City as Habitat in Space and Time
- Key Dimensions of Language and Terminology : Inviting Cultural Vernaculars
- Key Dimensions of Language and Terminology: Real-Time Updates to the Evolving Language of Urban Practice in Ecological Transition
- Innovation in Urban Transition Practice: Putting Transition in Place in Arcueil and the Plateau de Saclay
- Key Dimensions of Language and Terminology: Political Ecological Translations
- Losing the Edge of the Translation: Gated or Green; Shrinking or Degrowth
- Call for Abstracts
- Open Positions
- Urban Innovation Lab
- SAGA: Translanguaging and Sustainability
- Opportunities
- Partners
Staff
Brad Davie
Former Deputy Fire Chief @ CNW, Current Fire Chief @ City of White Rock
Years of Participation: 2023, 2024 & 2025
How was your experience with UIL as a staff guide?
As a staff guide, I had the privilege of working with students who brought fresh perspectives that challenged my own thinking and introduced innovative ideas that often enhanced and shaped the real-world solutions to the real-world problems. This collaborative approach created mutual growth opportunities and pushed boundaries to elevate the quality of the outcomes. It was inspiring to watch students translate bold concepts into actionable strategies.
Jorge Cardenas
Previously Chief Librarian @ CNW, Current Head Librarian @ SFU Belzberg Library
Year of Participation: 2023
How was your experience with UIL as a staff guide?
It was a very good experience! I appreciated having students with no experience working in libraries to look at problems from their perspective. Find ways to collaborate, to look at problems in a big picture, from a different perspective, supported by academic backgrounds.
What would you like to see in the lab moving forward?
I would like to see the lab being a safe place for experimentation 鈥� go crazy, forget about everything, and break it. Success is combining aspects of academia and the practitioner: looking at different participants across departments, going in with a shared expectation, and seeing results through an iterative process. Failure is part of the project, and it is important for students to feel okay to go wrong and for staff to have the opportunity to find questions and answers. Students coming from different disciplines benefit by seeing how they can contribute to city-building.
Harji Varn
Previously CFO @ CNW, Current CFO @ Metro Vancouver
Year of Participation: 2023
What are the personal learning outcomes from engaging in this course?
I learned a lot about urban planning after I became the CFO of New Westminster and how valuable the technical studies are when it comes to planning a thriving and livable community. Meeting the students was also a valuable experience as they were open to learning more about the role finance plays in helping shape the budget when delivering the plan.
Why did you participate in Urban Innovation Lab?
I see value in planners and finance professionals understanding each other鈥檚 roles. Planners need to know that their dreams and vision come with a price tag, and a budget can be a barrier to reaching their goals. I want students to understand the value of understanding finance, its implications, and the budget.
What do you think 鈥渟uccess鈥� looks like in Urban Innovation Lab?
I think the success would be linked to employment, bridging students to work. It is important to develop early habits of working with different departments, not in silo. It is essential for students to understand the funding sources, largely taxpayers money, and the fiduciary duty when investing those public dollars. In the future, I would recommend including an estimated cost/budget and the risk if the budget is not approved 鈥� how to articulate that risk to an audience like Council.