News

BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region has officially broken ground on Union 1, an 85-unit non-profit rental building at 2025 University Avenue East. As the academic partner for this initiative, the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN will study the project closely to document what works, what doesn't, and how different sectors can successfully build together at this scale.

The Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN partnered with Velocity to host the Future Cities Innovation Challenge. The high-intensity, two-week sprint brought interdisciplinary student teams together to build data-backed business concepts targeting the Canadian housing crisis, modern infrastructure demands, and municipal service systems.

The Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN sponsored lunch at the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) meeting in Waterloo. Connecting with over 65 mayors, Chief Administrative Officers, and policy staff from across the province, Director Dr. Leia Minaker presented the institute’s applied research capabilities and work-integrated student programs designed to tackle pressing, real-world municipal challenges.

At a recent event co-hosted by the University of Waterloo and TD Wealth, members of the Waterloo community gathered for a powerful conversation on Shaping Cities of the Future: Women, Leadership & Philanthropy.  

Moderated by Leia Minaker, our Director at the Future Cities Institute, the discussion highlighted the vital role women play in financial leadership and philanthropy. Leia guided a rich conversation that emphasized the value of trust-based giving, the power of intentional investment, and the many forms philanthropy can take, whether it be time, ideas, or financial support. 

Congratulations to Dr. David C. Del Rey Fernández on being named Pratt & Whitney Canada’s new Industry-Sponsored Research Chair in Industrial AI! 🎉 As an Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo and a valued member of the Future Cities Institute, David's interdisciplinary research will drive innovation at the intersection of AI, computational mathematics, and sustainable aeronautics.

Look, it’s us! The Future Cities Institute is officially making waves in Waterloo News!

We’re here to help local governments (and others!) build better cities by bringing together global thinkers, industry leaders, and researchers to tackle today’s biggest urban challenges, on everything from housing, climate, infrastructure, and beyond. Our goal? Healthy, prosperous cities that are resilient, inclusive, and built for the future.

Read more about us and how we’re shaping tomorrow’s cities in hashtagUWaterloo news: https://bit.ly/4goIfoa

Frank Cairo, co-founder and CEO of the Caivan Group, speaks with the Globe and Mail about new technology his firm is employing to revolutionize the construction industry for new homes in Canada.