We're taking the pulse of the city. Our October 11 Yonge Talks conversation will focus on the health of Toronto and what we can do to enhance it. Our tool this time out: The hot-off-the-presses Vital Signs report.
 
Since its founding in 2001, the Toronto Community Foundation's Vital Signs report has become an influential indicator of the health of the city on everything from the environment to arts and culture to housing. Last year's Vital Signs report attracted national attention when it warned of the disappearance of middle-income neighbourhoods and 'transit deserts.'
 
Just a week after the official release of the 2012 report, Yonge Talks will present Rahul Bhardwaj, president and CEO of the Toronto Community Foundation, in conversation with special guest Mary Rowe, vice president and managing director of The Municipal Art Society (MAS) of New York. Moderated by Yonge Talks stalwart Peter MacLeod of MASS LBP, they'll explore this year's Vital Signs findings, as well as the opportunities and challenges that emerge from it.
 
Since MAS publishes its own survey on New York's liveability, we're particularly excited that Rowe will be able to share the lessons New York has learned.
 
After the formal panel, attendees will be invited to stay for a talkback session in order to contribute their thoughts on the Vital Signs report and how to use it to generate solutions.
 
The Yonge Street Speakers Series is sponsored by the Toronto Community Foundation.
 
THE DETAILS
Thursday, October 11
Doors at 6pm; program starts at 6:20pm
NEW Location: Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto Campus, 2 Sussex Avenue (NW corner of Sussex and St George streets).
Free admission
 
To register online go here.
 
We'll be using the hashtag #yongetalks for this series.
 
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS
Rahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO, Toronto Community Foundation 
Formerly a corporate lawyer with a leading Canadian law firm, Bhardwaj was also vice president of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid. As part of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Fiscal Review Panel in 2008 Bhardwaj was involved in identifying efficiencies for the City of Toronto. A year later the Province of Ontario appointed him to the board of Metrolinx, an organization developing and implementing an overall transit strategy for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. More recently, Bhardwaj was chair of the 2012 Ontario Summer Games organizing committee and was appointed to the board of directors for Upper Canada College.
 
Mary Rowe, Vice President and Managing Director, The Municipal Art Society of New York
Mary W. Rowe connects the work of the society with the broader goals of livability and resilience, and deepening its role in identifying and promoting community-based approaches to city-building. Rowe has been a grant-maker, a social entrepreneur, a facilitator and calls herself an "urban animator." Prior to coming to MAS, Rowe was based in New Orleans, where she witnessed first-hand the resilience of community-led initiatives, and the need to approach city-building holistically, always connecting social, economic, cultural and environmental considerations.

Facilitator: Peter MacLeod, Principal, Mass LBP 
Peter MacLeod is the co-founder and principal of MASS LBP, an innovative firm based in Toronto which works with visionary governments and corporations to deepen and improve public consultation and engagement. Since 2007, MASS has led some of Canada's most original and ambitious efforts to engage citizens in tackling tough policy options while pioneering the use of civic lotteries and citizen reference panels on behalf of a wide array of clients. A fellow at the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University, he writes and speaks frequently about the citizen's experience of the state, the importance of public imagination and the future of responsible government.