Welcome to Urbanism Vancouver: a podcast that explores how our built environment shapes our everyday lives and community experiences. I’m your host: Helen Lui. Join me, as we discover where we live, work, and play - and how we can shape better communities.
With each episode, we’ll bring a bit of insight and industry experience from myself and my guests. We’ll delve into the inner workings of our urban surroundings and explore how places are planned, designed, and built, and discuss ways to create more liveable, equitable, and sustainable cities.
I hope that you will learn a little, and be inspired to be more curious, and more involved, in impacting positive change.
Uytae Lee from the YouTube channel About Here, joins Helen Lui to chat about storytelling in urban planning, emphasizing the need for effective communication strategies to drive public engagement. They also advocate for diverse voices in advocating for inclusive urban environments.
Helen Lui interviews Fern Hahn, a transit advocate and urban planning student, discussing Fern's advocacy for improved public transit and passion for transit network design. Additionally, Helen speaks with Matthew and Emma from UBC CAPACity, a group dedicated to engaging university students in urban planning. Matthew and Emma highlight the club's activities, such as informational nights and debates with city council candidates, aimed at fostering student involvement in urban planning.
The conversation continues with Houssam Elokda from Happy Cities, as Helen Lui explores the impact of the built environment on communities, emphasizing the importance of creating livable and sustainable cities. They discuss the subjective nature of happiness and well-being in urban settings, also highlighting the significance of social connections, community, and meaningful interactions in fostering happiness.
Host
Helen Lui is a seasoned housing and development professional with a fervour for abundant, and affordable housing. She supports various community organizations and non-profits through advisory roles, board positions, and speaking engagements.
With over a decade in both non-market and market developments, her passion lies in sculpting cities that are equitable, sustainable, and livable. She ardently champions civic reforms and policies to pave the way for inclusive, equitable urban development.
Producer
With over two decades in Media & Broadcasting, Aaron Johnson stands as a distinguished figure across platforms, from Radio and Television to Digital. Describing himself as "The Creator of Sound and The Silence Between," Aaron's expertise is global, with notable contributions in the US, Canada, and New Zealand, spanning major media conglomerates to independent startups.
Recently, he's emerged as a transformative voice in podcasting, collaborating with brands like Royal Bank of Canada, Lululemon, and Expedia, while championing independent publishers. His innate curiosity and proficiency as an audio engineer ensures content is meticulously crafted, resonating with and captivating a broad audience. Always forward-thinking, Aaron continually seeks to develop content for new and emerging audiences.