City of Kitchener launches speaker series to explore and discuss the next 25 years of city-building

The City of Kitchener is kicking off a speaker series in support of Kitchener 2051, the new official plan currently under development. The first session in the speaker series will bring together Dr. Samantha Biglieri, Dr. Robin Mazumder, Kathleen Vanderlinden, and a community member supported by KW Habilitation to discuss “how we live and how we move” and “how we plan for community wellbeing” at the Kitchener Public Library Central Branch on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.

The session will be a moderated panel discussion to explore what it means to build a Caring and Connected City with a focus on ability, mobility, neurodiversity, mental health and equity. This conversation will be moderated with a panel of experts and local residents, all with different perspectives on and experiences with the discussion’s theme.

“Kitchener 2051 will be a plan for our community that ensures there is a place for everyone,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This speaker series is a wonderful opportunity to hear from thoughtful, instructive local voices, and I encourage anyone interested in our community’s future to attend and get involved by completing the online activities.”

To shape Kitchener’s new official plan and transportation master plan, panelists Dr. Samantha Biglieri, Dr. Robin Mazumder, Kathleen Vanderlinden, and a participant from KW Habilitation, will discuss how the design of our communities shapes our experiences within them.

Dr. Samantha Biglieri is an Assistant Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University and Director of the Health, Access + Planning Lab.

Dr. Robin Mazumder is an environmental neuroscientist with a keen interest in how urban design impacts individual, community, and societal well-being. A local Kitchener resident, he is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the University of Waterloo’s Future Cities institute.

Kathleen Vanderlinden is a person living with dementia and a co-researcher in a number of projects with the University of Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Alzheimer's Society of Waterloo-Wellington, including the 'Dementia-Capable Communities Waterloo Region' project.

A participant, through partnership with from KW Habilitation, will bring local resident perspectives to the panel discussion.

The City of Kitchener’s inclusion services team will moderate the discussion, which will include opportunities for attendees to share their thoughts and ask questions of speakers.

Pre-registration for this event is required. Click here to pre-register and receive your event ticket.

“This is just the first session in our speaker series, and we’re also early in our public engagement journey for Kitchener 2051,” said Director of Planning and Housing Policy Rosa Bustamante. “I encourage everyone to visit the Kitchener 2051 Engage page and sign up to hear about future sessions in the speaker series. You’ll also hear about opportunities to provide feedback on Kitchener 2051, such as the online activities that are live on the page now.”

As Kitchener plans for its responsible growth as the largest municipality within our region, our community needs a plan to ensure everyone can benefit from the changes unfolding across our city. Kitchener 2051 is that plan, and it is being developed through extensive public consultation, technical analysis and research.

This is the first in a series of in support of Kitchener 2051 over the next year. To register for the event, click here. For more information about Kitchener 2051, please visit www.engagewr.ca/kitchener2051.

Full panelist bios:

Samantha Biglieri - Dr. Samantha Biglieri, RPP, MCIP is an Assistant Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University and Director of the Health, Access + Planning Lab. As a Registered Professional Planner, her research uses critical approaches at the intersection of planning and health/wellbeing, making connections with practice to build inclusive and accessible communities. Her research explores planning issues related to aging, living with dementia, disability and accessibility. Dr. Biglieri's research and practice is concentrated in Waterloo Region, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, as well as rural communities in Ontario.

Robin Mazumder - Dr. Robin Mazumder is an environmental neuroscientist with a keen interest in how urban design impacts individual, community, and societal well-being. Robin is an outspoken advocate for healthy urban design and has given more than 60 invited talks internationally on the topic. He was named Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine in 2014, an “Edmontonian to Watch” in 2015 by Metro Edmonton, and in 2018 was awarded the University of Waterloo’s President’s Community Impact Award in recognition of his leadership and advocacy. In 2023, Robin was named the 2023 Zeidler-Evans Architecture of Health Lecturer by McMaster University. Robin is also passionate about science communication and has been interviewed by and written for major media publications, including the CBC, BBC, Huffington Post, Wired, and Vice. In 2024 he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Technical University of Berlin, where he was part of the research platform Neurourbanism. Robin is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Future Cities Institute at the University of Waterloo, an Associate Fellow with the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria, and a Fellow with the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health.

Kathleen Vanderlinden - My name is Kathleen Vanderlinden, and I am a person living with dementia. I’m 60 years old. I was diagnosed with vascular dementia and early onset Alzheimer’s disease at 54. I had a stroke when I was 39 years old. I grew up in Toronto, and have lived in Waterloo for 22 years. I live at home with my husband. I have two sons. I am a co-researcher in a number of projects with the University of Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Alzheimer's Society of Waterloo-Wellington, including the 'Dementia-Capable Communities Waterloo Region' project.

KW Habilitation is a local not-for-profit organization that provides a wide range of individualized services and supports to children with any special need and adults with developmental disabilities. We believe that a good life is fostered through early learning supports, inclusive living services, community involvement, and employment supports. Our work is guided by our Vision Statement: “A community where everyone belongs and participates” and by our Mission Statement: “Together with our community, KW Habilitation inspires abilities to enrich the lives of children, youth, adults and families”.