Lanrick Bennett

Would love the next elected municipal representative in #TorontoDanforth to prioritize (out loud) the safety of children and to listen to their calls to make their streets safer.

Thanks for sharing @tshontikidis.bsky.social

Breakfast Place Setting Welcome to the 14th Annual "Riverside Antler Breakfast A fundraiser in support of the year-round operation of Fontbonne Ministries’ Food Program at their Mustard Seed location and Ralph Thornton Community Centre

A crowd of folks with Santa

A guy wearing antlers

A table of antlers

#EastEndLove

The things you do EARLY in the morning WITH community

@ Ralph Thornton Community Centre

This is #TorontoDanforth

But something tells me I may need more than hope to remove ice along Jones Av’s Bike Lane.

Someone important once bellowed that we were a “Winter City!” I’d be just fine if we aimed to be a city that did a little bit more for vulnerable road users.

I’m sure on par with drivers of cars is too much

A little bit shocked getting a text from a friend that his daughter took a spill in Withrow Park this afternoon walking home from school with her mom.

I’m going to hope that @toronto.ca will have someone come to #TorontoDanforth and create a safer environment for people to walk, roll & ride.

Riding begin another person on a bike because the protected bike lane on Danforth Av is filled with ice and snow.

Following a parent that just did their kid drop off on Danforth Av.

I’m not into conspiracy theories but if you weren’t a big fan of #VisionZero or #TransformTO, eliminating options like equitable travel by bike seems like a slam dunk. Fuck the climate & VRUs.

Making Bike Lanes DANGEROUS again!

Riding a bike in the winter shouldn’t be an issue.

I live on street that has a 2.2 km painted bike lane. It snowed 24 hours ago & the bike lanes hasn’t been cleared

When we talked about prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users, this video proves my elected rep doesn’t.

#BikeTO

I literally have a gas plant in my ward. h/t @toenviro.bsky.social #TransformTO bsky.app/profile/bren...

This is #TorontoDanforth

h/t @oncleanair.bsky.social

#IdeasAtWork

I'd like more winning, please 📢via @safestreetsto.bsky.social

h/t @auguststreet.ca @ttcriders.bsky.social

Hi @nytimes.com, unless Wenne Alton Davis was killed by an Autonomous or 'self-driving vehicle', she was killed by a driver.

Great book 'There Are No Accidents' by @jessiesinger.bsky.social Fantastic podcast by @thewaroncars.bsky.social

Cc: @transalt.org

thewaroncars.org/2022/02/15/t...

Speed Cameras? Who needs Speed Cameras? We’ll be fine here in Ontario!

No #VisionZero

99% Invisible

Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Full Episode Will Arnett Image of Conan and Will Arnett

Illustration of five women Burn it all Down

LBJ's Humpday Podcast Picks for Dec 10th

This week, urbanism on Sesame Street, the power of comedy & @burnitalldownpod.com is back!

h/t @shireenahmed.bsky.social @jessicawluther.com
@lindsaygibbs.bsky.social @amirarose.bsky.social @brendaelsey.bsky.social

medium.com/@lanrickbenn...

Image of street filled with people on bikes Prabin Joel Jones in • Following CEO - Micromobility Industries & Mayten | Acquiring Small... 10h • O Our cities are transforming much faster thank you think! Take a trip to Paris, London or Brussels and you'll be amazed. If you really want people to pick micromobility, build more bike lanes - it's that simple! Here's what the numbers show - In London, daily bike trips jumped from 1.05m (2019) to 1.33m (2024), a 43% increase. In the past year alone: +12.7% growth. London's cycle network grew from 90 km (2016) to 431 km (2025). The Netherlands leads the world with 31,000 km of cycle tracks and a 70.5% track-to-road ratio and also the highest share of daily riders in Europe. Countries with more separated infrastructure (NL, DK, BE, DE) consistently have more people cycling. Paris built ~1,000 km of bike lanes between 2015-2020; cycling on these lanes rose 71% between 2019-2022. One day alone saw 1.2m trips. https://Inkd.in/gtPhywYN

“If you really want people to pick micromobility, build more bike lanes - it's that simple!”
- @prabinjoel.bsky.social

Although it’s nice to take inspiration from other cities, we’ve already got the tools & talent to future proof Toronto.

We lack #PoliticalWill

In ‘26 People Need To Step Up📢✊🏾

That’s fair, but I’ve probably spent more years fighting elected municipal representatives on the subject of prioritizing the lives of their constituents. The same constituents that they drive by in SUVs daily.

I’m a little bias in that regard. bsky.app/profile/grap...

a cartoon character is standing on a kitchen counter and says win ! Alt: a cartoon character is standing on a kitchen counter and says win !

Hey! That sounds like you're digging for details. I'm not looking for details. Just wins!!
/s

Seems like a fairly easy win for @toronto.ca's Infrastructure and Environment Committee to put forward and make happen. You'd also have to have the willingness of elected municipal reps to prioritize the safety of vulnerable road users.

So the answer is...
#PoliticalWill + #VisionZero

By spring! bsky.app/profile/mark...

Umm what did you say @ttcriders.bsky.social?

h/t @auguststreet.ca @chmarco.bsky.social @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social @rmtransit.bsky.social @taras-grescoe.com @femwriter.bsky.social

Agree that we’re probably seeing less posts, but they are so much more meaningful posts. The content across the feeds here on @bsky.app that I am following just seem to be better than they could ever be on Twitter. Learning and connecting with so many more people beyond my urbanist sphere. Love it❤️📢

#IdeaAtWork

“The genesis of this project is that the Eastern bridge was being removed and we wanted to salvage parts of that bridge and reuse parts of the bridge for public infrastructure elements, whether it’s furniture or public art,” @jbwicz.bsky.social says.
- Alex Kharabian #EastEndLove

Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city? Feminist City 6.0 When Monday January 12, 2026 5—6:15 p.m. ET Where Desautels Hall, 105 St. George St, Toronto, M5A 0L4 Join the School of Cities and the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) for Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city? Together, we’ll explore how cities can be redesigned to foster caring, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. Care is the foundation of our societies. From childcare to health care to elder care, everyone depends on care for themselves and their loved ones. The need for equitable access to care services continues to grow as populations age, women’s participation in the labour market increases, and challenges like the climate crisis threaten health and safety. At the same time, shifting work patterns and back-to-office mandates are changing how people navigate care responsibilities, commutes, and community life. High-quality care services not only support the well-being of care recipients but also open economic and social opportunities for caregivers. Caring communities are essential for building just, resilient, and flourishing cities—now and in the future. How can cities meet the demand for equitable, accessible care? How can we prepare urban systems to support care in a rapidly changing global economy? Answering these questions is critical for businesses, policymakers, civic organizations, developers, planners, and engaged citizens—because we all benefit from cities that are vibrant, inclusive, and built to care.

Speakers Heather McDonald became President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto in 2025, bringing over 25 years of leadership in social services. Formerly CEO of LOFT Community Services, she led major growth, mergers, and real estate expansion. Heather began her career in frontline service and holds an MSW and ICD.D designation. Recognized as a national changemaker, she is committed to building a more equitable, inclusive, and connected GTA through strategic partnerships and bold, community-driven solutions. Lin Fang is a Professor and the endowed Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health. She is also the Founder and Director of FIFSW’s Talk It Out Counseling Clinic. Heela Omarkhail is Vice President, Social Impact at The Daniels Corporation (Daniels), a leading Greater Toronto Area based builder-developer. She is responsible for strategic initiatives that look to ensure that the social, cultural and economic infrastructures of communities built by Daniels are as strong as the new buildings. Since 2009, Heela has been working on the revitalization of Regent Park in Toronto’s Downtown East. Nouman Ashraf is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behaviour area at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He possesses a broad range of professional, academic and research interests, with a specialized focus on enabling inclusive and innovative practices within teams, organizations and boards. For the last decade and a half, he has held progressively senior roles at the University of Toronto, including most recently as the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the Rotman School of Management. He is a recognized thought leader in governance and has taught thousands of directors in the national Rotman program on Not-for-Profit Governance in partnership with the Institute for Corporate Directors since its inception in 2007.

#IdeasAtWork

Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city?

Monday Jan 12, 2026

5pm-6:15pm ET at Desautels Hall, 105 St. George St, Toronto, M5A 0L4

h/t @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @unitedwaygt.bsky.social @uoftcities.bsky.social @rotmanschool.bsky.social
schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/event/femini...

CF Wards Project<wardsproject@climatefast.ca> ​CF Wards Project <wardsproject@climatefast.ca>​ Congratulations and Thank You!! Last week we came together with people from across the city at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee to demand their support for stronger TransformTO 2026-2030. And the entire council noticed! Over 120 in-person/online deputations were given on the main climate items and hundreds more written deputations were submitted. People from a variety of sectors and interest groups were almost unanimous in their call for strong, immediate and meaningful climate action. It was a really long day, with many of us demanding TransformTO be strengthened with BEPS. And it was worth it when we learned that a motion was introduced by Councillor Fletcher to bring it back! (Unfortunately, Paula Fletcher’s motion was for it to be brought back to committee in 2027 which is much too long a wait - but there could be some work arounds on this. Stay tuned!) This inclusion was very much down to people like us exercising our rights and strengthening grassroots democracy. Tomorrow the Executive Committee meets to discuss Maximum Indoor Temperature Requirements and the City’s Heat Relief Strategy. Additionally, Executive will hear back on Toronto’s Climate Resilience plan a critical part of preparing our City for the changing climate. On December 16, Council will convene and look at the recommendations sent by the IEC and Executive for consideration. At this meeting the Wards Project will be submitting the petition asking for support of TransformTO to the City Clerk. Councillor Josh Matlow will introduce the petition during the meeting. If you have a petition with signatures, please let me know ASAP and I will arrange to have it picked up by Monday December 15th. Thank you and congratulations again for all your efforts over the past months that got us to this point. Yours sincerely, Susan Bakshi Wards Project Steering Committee

Apologies for my elected municipal rep, who is also the IEC Chair #TransformTO

YouTube video by The Speech Prof Hello Kitty Is Not A Cat?

Hello Kitty Is Not A Cat?
- @thespeechprof.bsky.social
youtu.be/jvZwtqjOs4s

Help lead the continued revitalization and re-imagination of Toronto’s waterfront! The City Planning Division is looking for a new Director to lead the Waterfront Secretariat. Details at jobs.toronto.ca/search/

a close up of a man wearing glasses and a suit . ALT: a close up of a man wearing glasses and a suit .

DMX can't be real. He can't!

Thank you for this breakdown Sue.

a man in a striped sweater is sitting on a couch ALT: a man in a striped sweater is sitting on a couch

Karl, let me get comfortable for this.

Bronze plaque saying "A Letter to the Future. Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. August 2019. 415ppm CO2"

TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".

Ottawa duty-bound to provide safe drinking water to First Nations, federal judge rules Shamattawa First Nation in Manitoba faced ‘near constant’ drinking-water advisory since December, 2018

Federal judge rules Canada must provide First Nations with water to drink.

#gift

www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/86d984a...

dahlia kurtz * yı7 nt © @Dahli•3d X About 49% of Somalians are the product of inbreeding. The average IQ is 67. Mental impairment in America is anything less than 70. And Ilhan Omar is married to her brother. So there's that. Civil war Somalia is a great investment, Minnesota! Anyone wanna vacation there? e

Image of a Black man in a suit and tie “George Mohamed Washington: the founding father of Somaliminnesota in 1732”

Iman Mohamed, M.Ed. • Passionate Community Builder Trump's comments about Somalis have been everywhere this week, and like we always do, our community met it with humour. The memes about Somalis being the forefathers have been hilarious and honestly therapeutic. It is our way of taking the power out of someone else's hate. But even as we laugh, we have to stay aware. What happens in the south always finds its way here, and Canada is not insulated from the ripple effects of rhetoric like this. When the President of the United States targets Somalis, it doesn't remain an American issue. His words travel. They land here. They shape online behaviour here. And they embolden people who are already comfortable with prejudice. The data backs this up. In 2023, hate crimes targeting Black people rose by 33 percent in Canada, making Black communities the most targeted group for the fourth year in a row. The Ontario Human Rights Commission continues to show disproportionate stops, surveillance, and use of force against Black Torontonians, with Somali youth consistently among those most affected. Media studies from Western and Toronto Metropolitan University continue to show that Somali communities are disproportionately framed through crime or "risk," shaping public perception and policy responses long after the stories fade. None of this is accidental. Narrative shapes reaction. Reaction shapes policy. And policy shapes who gets protected and who gets targeted. So when hateful rhetoric is amplified by the most powerful political office in the world, there is a direct line between that speech and the outcomes we have already seen here in Canada. This is the moment for Canadian institutions and leaders to pay attention, not after the damage is visible but before it reaches us.

I wanted to create space and stage for recognizing the hate and racism that festers from the US. Understanding that it has an unfortunate home in Canada.

I had dahlia kurtz’s post sent to me multiple times in the last week. (Oh it’s real)

I appeciate Zakaria Abdulle forwarding this response ❤️📢✊🏾