Events

On April 3, 2024, the University of Waterloo will embark on a bold new mission to create healthier, more prosperous cities with the launch of the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN. 

Join Frank Cairo, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Caivan, and Co-Founder of the FCI, to explore the intersection of economy, environment and social realms and the lack of comprehensive, interdisciplinary methods in land use planning. Topics covered:​

• Generative and Parametric Design Tools;​
• Harnessing quantitative methods and optimization in the planning of built environment;​
• The need for robust economic feasibility modelling in municipal decision making;​
  Advanced manufacturing as a productivity solution for the construction sector.

Join Tai Huynh, Editor-in-Chief at The Local, to unpack how cities can be health promoting but they can also make us unwell. How they do this often isn’t very visible and goes beyond plainly obvious things like walkability or road safety. Using Toronto as a case study and drawing on his work at The Local, Huynh will discuss the social determinants of health within the context of a dense urban setting.

Join Sandy Little, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the City of Waterloo, to explore linkages between housing, health (with a focus on planetary health specific to climate change), and humanity highlighting homelessness and the importance of connecting and collaborating with municipal divisions, other levels of government, and community strategic partners in this work.

Join us for the Velocity Future Cities Innovation Challenge Final Awards and Presentations!

​​Come celebrate the top eight teams who have made it this far as they take the stage to deliver their polished three-minute pitches to a live audience and judges. There is $20,000 in cash prizes up for grabs!

• ​Top Three Solutions: $5,000 each
• ​People's Choice Award: $2,500
• ​Bonus Prizes: $2,500

FCI Postdoc Robin Mazumder is a panelist on Where We Live: Critical Perspectives on Our Built and Natural Environments as part of The John Albert Lecture Series. This session, in Victoria, BC, explores how cities and regions can reimagine built environments to create more affordable, beautiful, and sustainable communities that support mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

How do we have reasonable dialogue about the biggest issues facing our municipalities today? Dr. Leia Minaker, inaugural Director of the Future Cities Institute at the University of Waterloo, will talk about how the Institute is trying to shake up typical partnerships for action and impact. How do we get past the “this is how we’ve always done things” mentality, and decision making for political reasons to support healthy and prosperous cities?

We are proud to welcome Sir Andrew Steer, the 2025 TD Walter Bean professor. 

Sir Steer brings decades of global climate leadership to Waterloo for two timely and thought-provoking lectures on how we - leaders, innovators, and citizens - can rise to meet the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, for nature, our cities and our future.

As former President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund and a longtime global advisor on climate and development, Dr. Steer brings deep insight into how transformative solutions take root—across governments, industries, and communities. At a moment when the need for bold, coordinated action has never been clearer, he will explore what it takes to drive real progress for cities, ecosystems, and future generations.

How can we shape the future of urban life in Canada and beyond? 

Join fellow University of Waterloo alumni and friends for an evening of reflection, reconnection, and future-focused dialogue on the challenges and opportunities shaping Canadian cities. 

Hosted in partnership with TELUS at the iconic TELUS Garden in downtown Vancouver — a symbol of urban sustainability and innovation—this special event will feature inspiring  insights from the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN. Hear about real-world examples of urban change and get an exclusive preview of a bold national initiative to build healthier, more resilient communities. 

In the Fall, Constructing Futures continues, inviting community members of all ages to shape bold new visions for Stratford. In October 2025, join urban planners, sustainability experts, and design thinkers for a panel discussion where your imagination takes the lead.

Free to attend.