Canada is well known around the world for its vibrant cities and multicultural identity. Cities like Vancouver function as “gateways” to foreign countries, providing a cultural reference point for local-to-global engagements.
The key to optimizing Vancouver’s “locational advantage” as a global knowledge and innovation hub is developing a curator’s instinct for new sources of social and economic value as well as a strategist’s aptitude for combining different, but complementary perspectives, in an integrated manner.
Follow the conversation in Vancouver and learn more about VSIR’s growing contribution to the social, economic, and intellectual life of this exceptional city.
URBAN DISPATCH #2 – LEVERAGING CANADA’S URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AMBITION
VSIR has launched a new blog series called the Urban Dispatch which summarizes and clarifies contemporary city-related trends, strategic management issues, and research questions. We welcome your engagement and feedback.
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URBAN DISPATCH #1 – HARNESSING THE SMART POWER OF CITIES
VSIR has launched a new blog series called the Urban Dispatch which summarizes and clarifies contemporary city-related trends, strategic management issues, and research questions. We welcome your engagement and feedback.
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A DATA STORY ON ETHNOCULTURAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN CANADA
Social and economic diversity make global cities more resilient and more adept at coping with complexity and uncertainty. Is Canada able to tell that story in a meaningful way that makes sense to policy makers, community leaders, and residents?
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THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY, HOW CAN MICROMOBILITY SUPPORT A LIVABLE REGION
Micromobility solutions provide an economic alternative to automobile travel especially within dense urban cores. The question for urban transportation planners is how to integrate the multiplicity of micromobility options within a regional transportation framework.
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INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND NATION-BUILDING IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan’s complex mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, and tribal constituencies present formidable governance challenges. But with roughly 80% of its population under the age of 40, Afghanistan has considerable potential for long-term capacity-building.
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WHEN FACTS FAIL: MUNICIPAL POLICY IN THE DISINFORMATION AGE
Canada is facing important near-term decisions about the design, capability, and governance of its digital infrastructure and technology platforms. Supported by thoughtful planning around social and institutional resiliency, targeted technology investments could usher in another urban infrastructure “golden age.”
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MEDIA, MISINFORMATION, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT
The proliferation of digital technology devices and platforms is transforming our engagement with the world along with our capacity for understanding the impacts. Intelligent solutions are needed to optimize the benefits and to mitigate the risks of the digital age.
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RETHINKING THE REGION 2019 – AN ALPHA-METRO VANCOUVER?
Vancouver’s municipal governance “model” enjoys widespread appeal despite its international status as a “beta” city. Global economic competition could force a major policy rethink, but the choice about whether to become an “alpha” city-region is not an either-or proposition.
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2019 BC TECH SUMMIT – THE REALITY REVOLUTION
High-impact technology investments are critical enablers of innovation, productivity, and Canada’s competitive advantage in the global economy. Ironically, the proliferation of these technologies may raise the value of experiential knowledge and inclusive foresight.
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JAPAN-CANADA INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP FORUM IN VANCOUVER
While Vancouver continues to strengthen its global reputation as an innovation centre amidst a context of technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty, Canada has much to learn from Japan about internationalizing its urban “soft power” advantage.
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