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 Juanie Pudluk, Director of Infrastucture at Nunavut Housing Corporation, to explore the challenges of building in Nunavut. What are the solutions or strategies that we can use to alleviate the housing crisis? We will discuss some of the challenges and strategies that we have started and share that with the students.

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?

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.

Building cities we care about, together

There is no force for change more powerful than a community that understands what it values and why. This event invites that conversation.

Join the Future Cities Institute for a talk and discussion with Nadine Ibrahim, Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and Turkstra Chair of Urban Engineering.

Nadine’s work explores how cities can be designed, governed, and experienced in ways that support strong communities and better outcomes for people. She brings a holistic lens to urban challenges, connecting social, cultural, environmental, and economic perspectives to help leaders and practitioners think differently about how cities grow and change.

At FCI, Nadine plays a key role in building communities of practice that bring together municipal leaders, researchers, and practitioners to learn from one another and move ideas into action. Her approach makes complex urban systems understandable and relevant, whether you work in academia, government, industry, or community spaces.

This event is an opportunity to reflect on what we care about in our cities, how those priorities are shaped, and how shared learning can help inform better decisions for the places we call home.

All are welcome.

Join us for the i-Capstone Symposium sometime in March 2026. This annual event showcases the innovative work of fourth-year students from diverse disciplines as they tackle real-world urban challenges in collaboration with industry and community partners.

Explore interdisciplinary projects, engage with students, and witness the future of cities come to life through innovative research and design. Whether you're a student, industry professional, faculty member, or community partner, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the next generation of change-makers.

We look forward to seeing you there!