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We are back in Vancouver, BC, Canada for this episode where we sit down with our guests ClaIre Leaonard, to discuss her strategy to bringing light back to the Downtown core through security, inclusivity and re-usable infrastructure.

As the current Placemaking and Public Spaces Manager for Vancouver Downtown, Clare walks us through the strategies being used in the City to bring excitement and novelty to the community without constantly starting from scratch – from making anchor events that citizens can rely on annually, to investing in re-usable infrastructure. We dive into the aftermath of the devastating Lapu Lapu Day festival in 2025 and how it affected the city’s approach to safety, as well as the strategies the City is using to bring joy into its (limited) public spaces.

This episode covers:

• The importance of security for all public events and it’s evolution over time. Safety is about comfort and inclusivity, not about surveillance.
• Prioritizing sustainability over spectacles to create anchor events that the community can rely on year-after-year. While residents crave “newness”, lasting vibrancy will only be created through local initiatives
• Claire’s four pillars of placemaking: activation, beautification, strategic planning and maintenance.
• How to make the most in a city with limited public spaces for activations.
• Vancouver’s trajectory for the next five years and beyond

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CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/

Claire Leonard | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcleonard/?originalSubdomain=ca


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The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP04 | Building Joy Into the Infrastructure: Downtown Vancouver’s Next Phase appeared first on Story City.