Attend the Urban Experience Alliance’s annual symposium for a day of talks and panels, conducted by some of Canada’s leading urban placemakers as they address the state of our downtowns.
Jess Reno
Founder, Nemesis Coffee
Growing up, we didn’t have much but we did have our times in the little neighbourhoods and cafes, spending hours as kids, enjoying the people, energy, and feeling that sense of community. These were my fondest memories. I want any project I’m tied to, to have the same positive impact on the people and the neighbourhoods we find ourselves in as these places that had on me when I was younger.
Sofie Kvist
Director, Gehl Architects
Ali Kenyon
Principal, hcma
Tim Ng
Principal, ADHOC studio
Tim grew up in a condo with green space shared amongst five other units. From forming life-long friendships to learning how to swim, this space shaped Tim’s most influential years. To Tim, community-based participation is crucial to successful placemaking, as it influences people's health and happiness.
Chuck We
Executive Vice President, Pacific Northwest, Hudson Pacific
Janay Koldingnes
Interior Designer, Edit Studios
Our studio is inspired by our clients past, present, and future stories and how it’s reflected in their workplace. Our mission is to challenge businesses to dig deep on understanding who they are and who they want to be.
Lisa Spitale
Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Westminster
Graham Brewster
Director of Development, Wesgroup
Mitchell Reardon
Director, Urban Planning, Happy Cities
Cory Douglas
Cultural Design Consultant & Planner, Modern Formline Design
Ginger Gosnell-Myers
Principal, Ginger Gosnell-Myers Consulting
Rooted in her Nisga'a and Kwakwaka'wakw ancestry, Ginger has been an advocate for Indigeneity in urban centres for 20+ years, connecting research, policy, and urban planning, while weaving Indigenous values into urban landscapes, promoting cultural resilience and equitable representation for Indigenous communities.
Chief Ian Campbell
, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw
Arrive at the Reliance Atrium to check in and grab a beverage and pastry before moving to the Reliance Theatre for talks at 12:30 PM.
Jess Reno (Nemesis Coffee) in conversation with Josh Vanderheide (Field House Brewing & East Abby Hospitality Group)
Sponsored by: Hapa Collaborative
Sofie Kvist (Gehl Architects)
Tim Ng (ADHOC STUDIO & BLACKLINE)
Karam Rai (Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association - DVBIA)
Janay Koldingnes (EDIT Studios), Ted Mildon (Oxford Properties Group), Chuck We (Hudson Pacific Properties)
Ali Kenyon (hcma), Mitchell Reardon (Happy Cities), Lisa Spitale (City of New Westminster), Graham Brewster (Wesgroup)
Jorden Foss (Stee l& Oak Brewing Co.), Brandon Grossutti (PiDGiN Restaurant), Alex Beim (Tangible Interaction & Graffiti+), Jordan MacDonald (fabric living), Cory Douglas (Modern Formline Design), Ginger Gosnell-Myers (Ginger Gosnell-Myers Consulting), Chief Ian Campbell (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) and Tim Grant (PCI Developments)
Cory Douglas (Modern Formline Design), Ginger Gosnell-Myers (Ginger Gosnell-Myers Consulting), Chief Ian Campbell (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw)
Reconvene after the symposium at Nemesis Coffee, just steps away from the Reliance Theatre, for a culinary collaboration between Nemesis Coffee and Michelin-recommended restaurant, PiDGiN. Also, be the first to try a limited-edition beer by Steel & Oak and PiDGiN, crafted especially for the UEA's Food For Thought initiative.
Proceeds from the beer will donated to Mind the Bar, a Not-for-Profit organization dedicated to providing mental health support for hospitality workers.
Our Alliance Members
- CRAIG STANGHETTA
Ste. Marie - ANDREW EMMERSON
GBL Architects - JOSEPH FRY
Hapa Collaborative - JESS RENO
Nemesis Coffee - ANDREA PICCOLO
Prado Cafe - JORDEN FOSS
Steel & Oak Brewing - ADAM MILLS
Four Winds Brewing - JOSH VANDERHEIDE
Field House Brewing - JANAY KOLDINGNES
Edit Studios - TAIZO YAMAMOTO
Yamamoto Architecture - MELISSA HIGGS
hcma - ANDREW LAING, ADAM KRAHN
& MIKE SIMPSON
Quarterhorse - RUFINA WU
Perkins & Will - MATTHEW THOMSON
Matthew Thomson Design - JESSICA BORICH
PrismX Strategy - GINGER GOSNELL-MYERS
Ginger Gosnell-Myers Consulting - ALI KENYON
hcma - LAURA POTTER
hcma - MITCHELL REARDON
Happy Cities - CORY DOUGLAS
Modern Formline - MIKI ELLIS
Niwa & Dachi Restaurants - SUNNY HAHM
Tandem Real Estate Strategy - JAMES HARRY
James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry - DEREK LEE
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. - KELTY MCKINNON
PFS Studio - SEBASTIEN PANOUILE
ThinkL Studio - DENIS AGAR
Movement YVR - CAMILA RAMOS
InformProjects - STEVE BONINI
InformProjects - MITCHELL REARDON
Happy Cities - NICK ROSSI
Kitchen Table Restaurants - SPENCER COPPIN
Opscotch - SHANTI WILLIAMSON
Modern Formline - STEPHEN WHITESIDE
Niwa & Dachi Restaurants
- MARTIN GLEGG
Wallop Film - MAXINE JAKUBKE
PUBLiSH Partners - RYAN SAVELLA
Arcade Original - RACHEL BEYER
Rachel Beyer - ADAM BLASBERG
Adam Blasberg Photography - GEOFF HUNT
Tiny Vikings - ALEX BEIM
Tangible Interaction - TIM NG
ADHOC STUDIO & BLACKLINE - AMANDA OSTER
Provoke Studios - MEGAN HYMANYK
Scribe Communications - STEVEN COX
Cause and Affect - ALBERT LAW
Albert Law Photography - TERRY MCWHIRTER
Vividus - MACKENZIE PAGE
Mackenzie Page Design - MICHAEL MENTON
Bouva Media