Hidden Gems Toronto Tom Scanlan

For his entire career Peter Clutterbuck has been involved in creating and implementing social policies that have greatly impacted the quality of life in Toronto. Whether it’s poverty, mental health or marginalized communities, his finger print is on them all. Peter discusses the successes and disappointments of his illustrious career and weighs in on the state of our city from a social planning perspective.
We wrap up the podcast with a chat about the upcoming election for Mayor. 
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StreetARToronto has turned our urban neighbourhoods into an outdoor art gallery. Initiated 10 yours ago  as a plan to reduce graffiti vandalism, the program has engaged artists to change  thousands of drab buildings, underpasses and traffic-signal boxes into vibrant colourful street art. Toronto is now a world leader in this work. And as project manager
Catherine Campbell explains, the process working with artists is just as important as the final results.  
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While growing up in Europe, Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer had a real passion for miniature trains. Later on in life, he developed a similar love for the country where work brought him for a two year stint. That country was Canada. He then had the brilliant idea of combining these two passions into one,  and though it took 11 years and millions of dollars to complete, the effort was well worth it.
He created Little Canada, a stunning exhibit that replicates major parts of Canada in a miniature but realistic and detailed fashion that literally takes your breath away. Jean-Louis tells us how it all came about and explains how thinking small, can sometimes pay big dividends. 


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Tourism is an $8 trillion global industry yet very little of that money makes its way into the hands of local businesses and communities. Fortunately, there is an organization called Planeterra that is trying to change all that. They have helped create nearly 500 community-based initiatives in more than 77 countries. Each one provides travellers with a unique travel experience that also  benefits the local community and many marginalized groups. 
Their articulate Director of Partnerships and Development, Tricia Schers, pulls back the curtain and tells us how they do it and more importantly, how you can travel in a way that makes a difference.
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Zach Grant is the Community Director at the Church of the Holy Trinity in downtown Toronto. The church is a mere 21 steps from the Eaton Centre, the epicentre of retail consumerism in Canada. The contrast could not be more stark. Zach works with, and on behalf of,  the homeless people living in Toronto.  Each month there is a memorial at the Church to celebrate the life and tragic death of those living on the streets.  Zach's life is surrounded by grief and rage, yet their (Zach prefers the gender-neutral pronouns "they/them") compassion and respect for the homeless is on full display. They are a force for change in our city.


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The indefatigable Sarah Lazarovic has been a journalist, editorial cartoonist and  author. Her book, A Bunch of Pretty Things I Did Not Buy, is a lively tale of her fight against overconsumption, including going one whole year without  buying a single piece of clothing.  And her regular  newsletter, Minimal Viable Planet, which she describes as an undepressing newsletter about how to fight climate change is irreverent, funny and very insightful. She is a much needed breath of fresh air. 
Thanks for listening!
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Follow us on Instagram at hiddengems.toronto
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