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http://www.wintercities.com/ On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WinterCitiesInstitute Those who live and work in northern cities recognize the need for better planning and design. The sustainability of winter cities requires a creative approach that addresses the problems of snow and cold while enhancing the advantages, opportunities and beauty of the winter season. A positive approach benefits the attitudes of residents, and bolsters the community’s ability to attract new business and residents. The Winter Cities Institute was organized in 2008 to identify, promote and share the positive attributes of winter living, new concepts in architecture and urban design, and success stories from those places that are thriving in the north. The Institute was founded by Patrick Coleman, AICP, recognized for his work with the Livable Winter Cities Association (WCA). From 1982-2005, the WCA organized conferences, published books and the quarterly magazine “Winter Cities”. A totally volunteer staff made the WCA difficult to sustain and in the end it struggled with its mission. As Coleman incorporated winter enhancement strategies in his planning practice with multi-disciplinary design firms in Alaska and northern Michigan, he found enthusiastic reception to the idea of making winter a better time of year. “People are looking for answers to common winter problems and issues”, he said. “I experienced firsthand and heard from many the need for a source of information, networking and resources, and decided to launch the Institute as a web-based network and resource sharing project”. The Winter Cites Institute offers a place for those looking to improve the quality of life in wintertime and need information on what is being done in other northern places. Our members are from around the world and include: cities and towns architects planners engineers parks and recreation professionals economic development and tourism officials Welcome to the resources available on this site and consider joining the network to get even more benefits.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/28/cities-best-reputation-vancouver-montreal-toronto_n_6234654.html

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Obituary+David+Azrieli+touched+many+parts+society/10014707/story.html By Paul Delean, THE GAZETTE European-born David Azrieli, who fled the Nazis as a teenager, fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and then found fortune in Canada, died Wednesday at age 92. According to Forbes magazine, the Montreal-based real-estate developer and businessman was one of the richest Canadians with an estimated worth of $3.1 billion. He also was one of the most generous, contributing more than $100 million to philanthropic causes around the world, many of them in the fields of medical research, education and the arts. “It’s a great loss,” said Susan Laxer, president of local Jewish organization Federation CJA. “He literally changed the landscape in Israel with his office towers and architecture, and with his philanthropy, he touched many parts of our society and community. Through his legacy, he’ll continue to touch the lives of many people.” Norma Joseph, professor of religion and associate-director of the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies at Concordia University, described him as “a formidable person, very strong-minded. And he used his mind for a wonderful vision of community and building.” The institute got its start in 2011 with funding provided by the family foundation, “but he did more than give money. He also gave his personal time and effort,” Joseph said. Born into a Jewish family in Poland, Azrieli escaped ahead of the Nazi occupation and kept moving, winding up in British Mandate Palestine in 1942. He studied architecture at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and fought in Israel’s war of independence before settling in Canada in 1954. In a rare 1973 interview with the Montreal Star, he said he arrived here with no family connections and “literally, penniless.” “Nobody gave me anything,” he said. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Université de Montréal and working at a number of jobs, he had enough saved for his first solo project in 1957, construction of four duplexes on vacant lots he purchased in Ville D’Anjou. It was the start of a real-estate juggernaut that would eventually include thousands of apartment units, office buildings and shopping centres in Canada, the U.S. and Israel. Among his local holdings is the downtown Dominion Square Building housing The Gazette, acquired for $78.25 million in 2005, and the Sofitel Hotel. The Azrieli Group also held interests in companies active in the fields of energy, water and finance. He remained its chairman until last week when daughter Danna succeeded him, a move prompted by his medical condition. A sometimes controversial figure, Azrieli made headlines in the 1970s when he razed the former Van Horne Mansion on Sherbrooke St. and erected a 17-storey office tower on the site. In 1984, he sued The Gazette for libel over an editorial about a local development, but lost. “From the times of the pyramids to those of the skyscrapers, the works of architects and builders have been monuments to their glory or to their shame,” Superior Court Judge Paul Reeves said. “They build before the public eye and the public rightfully says whether it likes or dislikes what it sees.” In his later years, Azrieli split his residency between Israel and Westmount. “I have two homelands,” he once said, “two places that I love and where I have been blessed to do what I love best.” Active in and supportive of Jewish causes throughout his lifetime, he served as president of the Canadian Zionist Federation and in 2008 authored a book called Rekindling the Torch: The Story of Canadian Zionism, which told the story of the contribution of Canadian Jews and non-Jews to establishment of the state of Israel and their continuing support for the country. He also made Holocaust remembrance a personal crusade after it took from him two siblings and both parents. “This is my vision, to be able to use the tangible rewards of my career in building and construction to create a legacy for education and educational institutions in both of my homelands,” he said. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Azrieli also was a “chevalier” of the Ordre National du Québec. Married for 57 years to Stephanie Lefcort, he had four children: Rafael, Sharon, Naomi and Danna. He died surrounded by family at his country home in Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Que. pdelean@montrealgazette.com

http://www.lienmultimedia.com/spip.php?article33716 Betaville – Un jeu vidéo pour la planification urbaine 27 novembre 2012, 00h05 Avec tous les débats des dernières années à propos de la nécessité de tenir des consultations publiques en matière d’urbanisme, que ce soit dans le cas de l’échangeur Turcot ou de Griffintown, l’implantation de Betaville ne peut pas tomber mieux. Créé par Carl Skelton du Brooklyn Experimental Media Centre et Martin Koplin du M2C Institute for Media Technology and Culture de Brême, Betaville est un outil 3D de planification urbaine gratuit et en ligne, à l’usage des entreprises de design, des architectes, des promoteurs et de la communauté en général.

Via Les Affaires : L'incubateur Founder Institute s'établit à Montréal Offert par Les Affaires Publié à 06:00 Édition du 08 Février 2014 PAR JULIEN BRAULT Le Founder Institute accueillera sa première cohorte d'entrepreneurs à Montréal le 29 avril prochain. Fondé dans la Silicon Valley en 2009, l'incubateur est déjà implanté dans quelque 70 villes, mais Montréal représentera sa première incursion au Canada. Son ambition ? Amener des employés à créer des entreprises qui dureront. «Mon but est d'inverser le taux d'échec des start-ups, dont 90 % ferment leurs portes avant d'avoir atteint 24 mois», explique Adeo Ressi, pdg du Founder Institute. L'incubateur affiche des résultats qui semblent probants. Des 1 034 entreprises issues de l'incubateur, 89 % seraient toujours actives. Dans chaque ville où s'implante le Founder Institute, des directeurs locaux s'occupent de mettre en place le programme. À Montréal, c'est Sergio Escobar, organisateur de Startup Weekend à Montréal, et Louis-Philippe Maurice, pdg de Busbud, qui font office de codirecteurs. Contrairement aux incubateurs comme FounderFuel, le Founder Institute n'investit pas dans les entreprises qu'il incube. En fait, il faut débourser 750 $ pour y être admis à Montréal, en plus de céder 3,5 % des parts de toute entreprise créée durant le programme. Ces parts sont ensuite partagées entre le Founder Institute et les mentors. D'une durée de quatre mois, le programme requiert des poulains un investissement en temps d'au moins 15 heures par semaine, mais leur permet de garder leur emploi. «Le but est d'attirer des jeunes professionnels qui ont peut-être une idée, mais qui ne savent pas quel chemin emprunter pour la concrétiser», explique Louis-Philippe Maurice. Conseils d'entrepreneurs à succès L'incubateur, qui accepte les candidats individuellement, favorise ainsi la formation d'équipes, mais surtout, il permet à ses participants de bénéficier des conseils d'entrepreneurs à succès. Hicham Ratnani, cofondateur de Frank & Oak, Ian Jeffrey, directeur général de FounderFuel, Martin-Luc Archambault, pdg de Wajam et Alexandre Taillefer, associé principal de XPND Capital, seront du nombre. «Ce programme permet aux entrepreneurs d'éviter de faire des erreurs ; si on en avait fait partie, on aurait pu aboutir plus vite», soutient Hicham Ratnani, de Frank & Oak. Le Founder Institute n'est pas aussi sélectif qu'un incubateur traditionnel, mais n'y est pas admis qui veut. Le processus d'admission repose en grande partie sur un test de personnalité en ligne, qui permettrait de retenir les candidats ayant ce qu'il faut pour devenir des entrepreneurs à succès. Un second tri est effectué durant le programme. En règle générale, entre 20 et 30 % des participants partent en cours de route. Un devoir non rendu ou une absence peuvent entraîner l'exclusion. «C'est dans le contrat de chaque participant», explique Sergio Escobar, codirecteur du Founder Institute à Montréal. Ceux qui souhaitent faire partie de la première cohorte montréalaise de l'incubateur ont jusqu'à la mi-avril pour poser leur candidature. Entre 20 et 25 participants devraient être retenus.