Project for Public Spaces: Placemaking for Communities

Victoria, B.C.

I’m doing some work in Victoria at the moment. I am co-leading the Aboriginal engagement process for the Victoria Urban Development Agreement, and today we held a focus group on physical and environmental factors for success. One of the key ideas that has come forward this week has been the idea of creating a First Nations cultural precinct in Victoria, like a Chinatown for example, or more like the Jewish neighbourhoods around The Main and St. Urbain Street in Montreal, except a centre for First Nations business, services, community and culture.

In thinking about this stuff we were fortunate to hear a radio interview on CBC earlier this week with Fred Kent from the Project for Public Spaces.

I’m sure he’d be interested in some of the conversation we were having today, especially about putting First Nations culture and presence on the land. Imagine walking around the inner harbour of Victoria and knowing the Straits Salish names for the features you were looking at and the traditional and contemporary uses of the space? Imagine a vibrant and diverse First Nations market in the heart of downtown that was more than just a tourist trap, but instead acted as a hub for the community, celebrating the diversity and enterprise of the the folks who live here, and creating a safe home in the middle of Canada’s most British city?