Matthew Blackett

Did you know that the City is conducting a survey about the future of street furniture in Toronto? The current contract expires in the summer of 2027 and a new vendor & furniture will be picked. Take the survey to have your voice heard. #TOpoli

ca.mar.medallia.com?e=90006671&d...

Understanding the elusiveness of Smart Cities - Spacing Toronto As Canadian cities strive to navigate rapid urbanization, climate change, and digital disruption, “smart city” strategies have emerged as a popular, and tempting, framework for innovation and reform. ...

Drawing on examples from around the world, Zachary Spicer digs into what a smart city could look like in Toronto after the experience with Sidewalk Labs.

spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #Toronto #ONpoli #TOpoli #CDNpoli #smartcities

One more housing bill and no new homes - Spacing Toronto How many bills does it take to build the homes Ontario says it needs? The recently re-elected Doug Ford government would have you believe it takes several, despite missing its own housing targets for ...

One more housing bill and no new homes — the Ford government continues to strip away Toronto's ability to plan for the climate and affordability crises, writes Michel Nayrouz.

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

#TOpoli #ONpoli #HousingNow

This may be the best example of false equivalency I've seen in a long time.

Anyway, not even that clever since people play that game after exiting the clubs every weekend.

The Ontario government is starting a pilot project of autonomous delivery vehicles on Toronto's streets. They should also take credit for inventing a new game, the urban-equivalent of cow-tipping.

#ONpoli #TOpoli

Sending out love to UofT Scarborough library peeps for this amazing display of Spacing magazines & #Toronto books sold at the Spacing Store [@spacingstore.bsky.social].

Five days later

Trump says he won't ever back down from tariffs. He believes that today but will do exactly the opposite in short order. He's the worst negotiator ever.

WOW — love that my photo book has inspired some art! Thank you, Bryan D!

I'm touched! Can't remember someone making art from my art. Love it, thanks.

City of Neighbourhoods Toques Buy Toronto's best gifts and hand-made merchandise for transit lovers, cyclists, and discerning urbanists.

We are about to put the toques away in storage until next winter — get a deal on your NEIGHBOURHOOD TOQUE!

spacingstore.ca/collections/...

LORINC: The coming American brain drain will be Canada's gain - Spacing Toronto In the face of the relentless ratcheting up of the Trump administration’s economic assault on Canada, we’ve seen basically three types of government responses: almost immediate and very specific retal...

The coming American brain drain will be Canada’s gain, writes @johnlorinc.bsky.social. U.S. researchers are running for the exits: Toronto and other Canadian cities will be obvious destinations. #CDNpoli #ONpoli #TOpoli

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

28 new @spacing.bsky.social subs in 24hrs. Can we get 50 in this buy-Cdn wave? 50 is huge. Locally produced, printed, owned & sourced. Arrives in your mail! Supports free-to-read content online.

(I listened to Detroit @wdet.bsky.social's pledge drive last week. I am feeling the vibe here too!)

2025 Global Placemaking Summit comes to Toronto - Spacing National Registration is open! Hundreds of placemaking leaders from around the world will gather in Toronto from June 8-11, 2025 to take part in the Global Placemaking Summit. The Summit is a unique opportunit...

Hundreds of placemaking leaders from around the world will gather in Toronto from June 8-11, 2025 to take part in the Global Placemaking Summit. Registration is open!

spacing.ca/national/202...
@placemakingx.bsky.social @placemaking-canada.bsky.social #placemakingcanada #TOpoli #ONpoli #CDNpoli

thanks, Adam!

@proteautype.bsky.social @thehockeynews.bsky.social @davebidini.bsky.social @kencampbell27.bsky.social @tsnofficial.bsky.social @sportsnetspec.bsky.social @jayonrait.bsky.social Hope you can share this CAN-USA poster design

Ha, love it (even as a Leafs fan)! I'm gonna assume those in-the-know that it's implied! I wanted to include the US players' positions on the ice but it cluttered the design.

I'm really excited to share this poster design of McDavid's winning goal! We've already sold a few within minutes of it being available at the Spacing Store ( @spacingstore.bsky.social )

spacingstore.ca/collections/...

#canada #mcdavid #4nationscup #hockey #connormcdavid #nhl #marner #mitchmarner

Canadian hockey fans: we made a 12x18 poster print celebrating McDavid's winning goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Selling it through the @spacingstore.bsky.social.

Please feel free to share!

spacingstore.ca/collections/...

design by: @matthewblackett.bsky.social
#hockey #canada #mcdavid

From 15-Minute Cities to Freedom Cities, Urban Planners Need To Consider Our Narratives Op-ed: With Trump returning to the White House, planners must learn to cut through political divides by crafting strategic narratives.

Great piece on re-thinking approaches to urban planning in the age of 15-minute-city conspiracies.

My one thought: you don't need to change industry terms to assuage opponents that are scared or hostile. You need to explain things better.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Anyone with leads on Toronto collectors let me know!

The 2025 budget and Toronto's bursting real estate bubble - Spacing Toronto For years, Toronto’s finance officials have dutifully added an annual footnote to their budget documents, cautioning readers that a portion of the City’s revenues — namely the municipal land transfer ...

The 2025 budget and Toronto’s bursting real estate bubble

City officials have warned council for years not to get addicted to real estate-linked revenues — now we're paying the price, writes senior editor John Lorinc / @johnlorinc.bsky.social

spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #TOpoli #ONpoli

Follow the money to Ontario Place - Spacing Toronto The Ontario auditor general’s review of the Ontario Place scandal contains enough muck to start an industrial-scale pig farm, with plenty left over to get the OPP or the RCMP going on an investigation...

The auditor-general's scathing review of the Therme spa deal at Ontario Place again raises questions about the source of the spa's cash. Senior editor John Lorinc digs into the report.

spacing.ca/toronto/2024...
#ONpoli #TOpoli cc: @johnlorinc.bsky.social

Love seeing my designs on newsstands! This one pops.

Always great to visit a bookstore and see @spacing.bsky.social on the magazine rack (Book City at Yonge & St. Clair)

The high cost of on-street parking - Spacing Toronto In case you hadn’t checked recently, there are, according to the Toronto Parking Authority’s very helpful “Find Parking” map, no fewer than 43 Green P lots along Bloor-Danforth, between Woodbine in th...

There is a high cost to on-street parking... With cycling infrastructure facing a mortal threat, it's time for #Toronto to banish on-street parking on transit arterial roads, writes senior editor John Lorinc.

spacing.ca/toronto/2024...

#ONpoli #TOpoli cc: @johnlorinc.bsky.social

While we’ve been on Bluesky for over 10 months, over the last two weeks we’ve seen our Spacing audience grow by 65%. Keep it up!

cc: @spacing.bsky.social

Shawn Micallef: Think there’s a ‘war on the car’? Here’s the truth behind the rhetoric in Toronto The fight over cycling lanes and other safer-street infrastructure in our city is marred by obfuscation, scapegoating and rhetoric.

If they’re going to accuse road safety folk of waging a war on the car, let’s actually talk about who’s operating in good faith & who isn’t. And some history.

If they accuse cyclists and pedestrians of waging war, a war they should get.

My column this wknd.

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Singing the gridlock blues - Spacing Toronto How does one know if the main street running through a neighbourhood, or on a route to work, is becoming more congested? There is a steadily noisier drumbeat, brought to you by the political classes a...

"Singing the Gridlock Blues"

The City of #Toronto has reams of data on traffic flows yet hasn't made it available to the public, writes senior editor John Lorinc. Shouldn't residents know where the congestion is located?

spacing.ca/toronto/2024... #TOpoli #ONpoli

By: @johnlorinc.bsky.social

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the Spacing Store opening! We're hosting a little celebration from 5-9pm. Pop into the store or shop online Thursday-Sunday to get 10% off everything!
SHOP: SpacingStore.ca

#ShopLocal #IndieBookstores #BookLovers #Toronto