Toronto, Ontario
Philosopher’s Walk: Placid footpath following contour of Taddle Creek, east of Trinity College and west of the Faculty of Music, attracts pedestrians after work, and dogs with their walkers. This week would normally be the calm before students move into residences, and the campus coming alive. New school term will surely see new protocols. (Philosopher’s Walk, Queen’s Park Circle, University of Toronto) 20200901Jimmie Simpson Park: Physically distanced conversation with @cdnorman, updating each other on #SystemsThinking projects. So many years of electronic communications, to discover he walks by my street almost every day. Park bench is a convenient plan while the weather is favourable. (Jimmie Simpson Park, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20200903Warden Woods Hydro Corridor: Footpath between Pidgeon Street and Chestnut Crescent connects two residential neighbourhoods with townhouses backing onto the hydro towers. West side is new townhouses, east side is more established detached houses. Found cycling route as a detail on map, to avoid street descending into St. Clair Ravine and then having to climb out again. (Warden Woods Hydro Corridor, Pidgeon Street to Chestnut Crescent, Scarborough, Ontario) 20200905Nathan Phillips Square: Quiet and cool Labour Day morning, found city plaza devoid of both tourist visitors and civic workers. Barricades at edge of pond discourage contaminants in water. Feels like autumn is arriving soon. (Nathan Phillips Square, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200907Front Street East: Turned faucet handle, no water. Unlikely location for public tap, presumably of potable water, in the median between eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic. Is this an artifact of the Old Town, before indoor plumbing became common? (Front Street East, east of Church Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20200908Artscape Distillery Studios: On Case Goods Lane, #distillerywisdom installation invites visitors to write memories on wooden plaques to be hung, or on small stones placed at the base of a cylindrical frame. Messages left by participants from many parts of the world, and in many languages. Art that changes daily, and is durable in weather fair and fowl. (Art Distillery Studios, Case Goods Lane, Distillery District, Toronto, Ontario) 20200911Lakeview Park: Bright Saturday day trip westbound, as opportunity for outdoor date with social distancing. Sunflowers were planted in rows, by developers as phytoremediators to purify the soil by absorbing toxins. Site of Lakeview Generating Station, demolished in 2007. (Lakeview Park, Lakefront Promenade, Mississauga, Ontario) 20200912Riverdale Farm: Since 1975, the old zoo has been domesticated, hence the flock of sheep now part of the urban park. Immediate vegetation is overgrazed, as animals are restricted to the pen. Many toddlers and preschoolers guided by elders, routes now clearly marked with arrows to reduce human collisions. (Riverdale Farm, Winchester Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto, Ontario) 20200914Metro Hall: About half of the 17 bronze rabbit-dog sculptures #CynthiaShort 1992 Remembered Sustenance, originally installed expecting that children might play with them. Small grass parkette is popular with dogs and walkers, who seem to ignore the figures. Just south of the theatre district, where the stages are dark. (Metro Hall, Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200915Villiers Street: Unplanned encounter of #VidIngelevics #RyanWalker Framework installation @ContactPhoto with photomural of 130 Commissioners Street of January 2020. The Lower Don Lands is now under major construction, with streets blocked and fenced properties with warning signs. Bicycling is/was the best way to view the display from August 2020 to April 2021. (Villers Street, Toronto Portlands) 20200916Concord CityPlace: From Front Street West, Puente de Luz (Bridge of Light) pedestrian bridge spans north to south corresponding to Canada and Chile of sculptor #FranciscoGazitua. Installed in 2012, bicyclists and pedestrians can cross over to Canoe Landing Park and Concord CityPlace. Inspired by nature, skeletons and armatures are bridges. (Puente de Luz, Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200918Bala Rail Underpass: In the mouth-of-the-Don district, a passage fot pedestrians and bicyclists from the Lower Don River Trail westbound towards Corktown Commons. On The Canadian passenger train from Union Station 4 days to Vancouver, the next step is Washago, and then Parry Sound. Constructed in 2007, the interior murals painted for the PanAm games in 2015 have faded, with external clearance hazards now more prominent. (Bala Rail Underpass, Lower Don River Trail, Toronto, Ontario) 20200921Lane South Queen East Knox: Wrought iron sign of Ye Olde Blacksmith Shoppe has entry fence locked up, with shell of a building to the south. This laneway seems to be one of many in Toronto yet to be named, running dead end into TTC Russell Carhouse at Connaught Street first established in 1916. Entry to the building northbound from Minto Street is obstructed by a prominent fire hydrant. (Lane South Queen East Knox, Leslieville, Toronto, Ontario) 20200923
Unwin Avenue: Industrial age rail leading to space age satellites? Tracks rarely used from Toronto Container Port to the southwest, curve north beyond fence parallel to Leslie Street, then westbound alongside Lakeshore Boulevard as Keating Yard. Earth stations that upload and download broadcast television video, and Internet to rural and remote areas on land leased from the city, will be moved to another Ontario location before year’s end. (Unwin Avenue, Toronto Portlands, Ontario) 20200928
Toronto, Ontario
Don Valley Drive: Facing west, loud traffic noises beyond the 40 metre steep forested drop into ravine alongside the river, with the Don Valley Parkway on the other side. Dead end residential street is close to city centre, yet hidden away. More than one freestanding basketball hoop on the roadway. (Don Valley Drive, North Broadview, East York, Ontario) 20200806St. James Park: Playground with market theme includes stacked crates, asparagus spears. Open in summer 2019 as part of Phase 1, other Phase 2 areas still fenced off either for completion, or due to pandemic interruption. We often pass by on Adelaide Street or King Street, but haven’t stopped to notice the details. (St. James Park, King Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20200818Mud Creek: View northward from Cat’s Eye Bridge, overlooking the Belt Line Trail by Heath Street East. Bike ride descending from Mount Pleasant Cemetery, with a long climb back up Milkman’s Lane. Route is originally a train line opening 1892, purchased in 1972 in a land swap for the land by the Metro Convention Centre. (Mud Creek, at Heath Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20200820Edward Gardens: Annual visit to the nuptial site, 35th revisiting of our commitments. Sons remarking on the number of return trips yet to come. So warm outside, plans to dine at a patio were abandoned in favour of the first seated restaurant meal in six months, following social distancing protocols. (Edward Gardens, Don Mills, Ontario) 20200824Ashbridges Bay: Bench under shady trees facing pleasure craft, with few visitors on a cloudy day. Popular area for children on bicycles with training wheels, while other parents hold hands before crossing the paved path. Volleyball courts seem more popular than boardwalk, rain arriving within the hour. (Ashbridges Bay, Toronto, Ontario) 20200826
Princes Gates: Rear view, looking eastward toward the city centre, of the Goddess of Winged Victory, with a single maple leaf in her hand. The last two weeks of August normally see this street busy with the Canadian National Exhibition, but the pandemic led to cancellation. Statue commemorated in 1972 was poured concrete, replaced by in 1987 by a polymer copy. Nine pillars represent the nine provinces at that time. (Princes Gates, Princes Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario) 20200829
Toronto, Ontario
Riverside neighbourhood: Working from home, new workplace arrangement, as office sent me a 27″ monitor for laptop. I already had a laptop and and monitor, plus computer tower under desk. Setup took 3 hours of company time, a slow day on a holiday weekend. More tweaks are expected, I spend many so many hours at the keyboard. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20200703Jack Layton Ferry Terminal: The William Inglis ferry returned to service over the past week, destined for the Ward’s Island dock towards the east. The ship was first put into service in 1935, built by the local company that produced marine engines during World War I. On a late Monday afternoon, saw people lounging on the benches by the boardwalk, consistent with social distancing guidelines. (Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200706Yonge-Dundas Square: At @YDSquare, waterplay fountains installed by #DanEuser #Waterarchitecture circa 2002 have been turned back on. This signals progress in reopening of the city, after the pandemic shutdown. Filtration system keeps the sprays above pool-level quality. (Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario) 20200714West End YMCA: Stone sculpture “Little Champion, Le Petit Champion” installed in 2014, donated and created by Dr. Harry Rosen, a professor of dentistry from McGill University. By the entrance on the west side of the YMCA Building constructed in 1890, with The Great Hall becoming a separate venue in a 2016 restoration. (West End YMCA, College Street at Dovercourt Road, Toronto, Ontario) 20200714Queen’s Park: Privileged to live in a city where children can run free in a public park, and parents are trusting, without regard to their ethnicity or socio-economic status. The King Edward VII Equestrian Statue was installed in 1969 more for the horse, than for the monarch on horseback. Any traces of defacement by protesters are gone, a brief moment in the larger context of time. (Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario) 20200721Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial: In 1885, the last spike on the railroad joining Canada from east to west was driven in British Columbia, the same year that Canada imposed a head tax on Chinese immigrants. Location of memorial is on the south side of the tracks, facing north towards the most of the city, with Lake Ontario to its back, and the Rogers Centre currently not hosting baseball games. Pedestrians out on the small strip of parkland, enjoying summer weather. (Chinese Railroad Worker Memorial, Blue Jay Way, Toronto, Ontario) 20200727
18 Yonge: South of overhead rail tracks, @OtternessStudio 2007 “Immigrant Family” bronze in front of #Lanterra building reflects the hope for the future amongst new arrivals to the city. Migrants from Eastern Europe arrived after WWII by ship to Halifax, and by train to Toronto. In the block just north of the elevated Gardiner Expressway, the sculpture is well lit, but the site isn’t on the beaten path for pedestrians. (Immigrant Family sculpture, Yonge Street north of Lake Shore Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario) 20200728
Toronto, Ontario
Ontario Place West Channel: From the southeast tip of Marilyn Bell Park, boardwalk gives a view of the silos @OntarioPlace West Islands. Fond memories of the venue from my childhood, when the programming was focused on family education about the province. Pleasure boats presumably headed for the north marina. (Ontario Place West Channel, Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200601Lower Don Recreation Trail: Don Mills Road Underpass eastbound from E.T. Seton Park is new to me, despite decades of bicycling around the city. Just north of junction of West Don River branch and main Don River, bridge wends over rail tracks. Routed from Thornecliffe Park to the north, coming down a very long hill that I wouldn’t want to bike up on. (Don Mills Road Underpass, Lower Don Recreation Trail, Don Mills, Ontario) 20200609Ashbridges Bay Skateboard Park: One of 14 skateboard parks open in Toronto, with city is still in Phase 1 reopening while most of province is in Phase 2. Clear, bright afternoon, although temperatures barely warm enough to wear shorts. On bike path, parents guiding children on small bicycles, while racers in spandex zoom by. (Ashbridges Bay Skateboard Park, Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto, Ontario) 20200616Cruise Ship Terminal: When/if a Great Lakes passenger vessel requiring a second floor gangway docks in Toronto, the Port of Toronto is ready. However, the pandemic has pre-empted the cruising season for the year, not that many ships visit our city. The other side of the buildings has been rented out for film production offices, and the massive parking lot is cordoned off for automobile dealer inventories. (Cruise Ship Terminal, Unwin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20200624King Street West at John Street: Wider sidewalks by restaurants in the theatre district has enabled city dwellers finally in Covid Phase 2 reopening to enjoy a summer Friday night physically together. Bicycling by the storefronts, I noticed the interiors were largely vacant, so the 2 metre distancing wouldn’t be a problem. This cluster of open businesses isn’t the norm, however; nearby blocks see maybe 25% with lights on to welcome customers. (King Street West at John Street, Theatre District, Toronto, Ontario) 20200626Paul Kane Parkette: Small green space facing south, in front of facade incorporated in the 1985 construction of a coop complex on the north side of the building. Paul Kane was a painter, born in Ireland, living at this site 1853 to 1871. I’ve never stopped at this venue, but was out bicycling, and found a comfortable place to take a phone call, after passing through the relatively quiet Pride Weekend hangouts. (Paul Kane Parkette, Wellesley Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20200627
Fentster: Storefront gallery @MakomTO installation @RDavidovitz (2020) What Will Remain stained glass sculpture has cracked panes, when inspected more closely. Toronto-based artist pays tribute to grandfather who would repair broken windows in post-war Vilna (then Poland, now Lithuania). On the eve of statutory holiday, few people on the street, except for pizza pickups next door. (Fentster / Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism, College Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20200630
Toronto, Ontario
Tollkeepers Park: Canoe unexpectedly found in park in Humewood neighbourhood, part of the #Butterflyway @DavidSuzukiFDN project installed in 2017, natural habitats for bees and butterflies. Park has cottage from the 1850s, in use when roads had tolls for travellers on horseback or on wagons. Grass is following the unkempt trend, as city services are limited during social isolation. (Tollkeeper’s Park, Bathurst Street at Davenport Road, Toronto, Ontario) 20200505The Silver Mill: Strangely shaped 3-storey former wooden-crib grain elevator from 1906, beside a former flour/grist mill on dead end road just north of railway tracks in east end of the city. Building was used as a transdisciplinary arts centre, with municipal art organization vacating the premises in 2018. Signage now minimized, redevelopment into a new high rise complex that will connect to the Danforth Go Train terminal was in council in 2019. (The Silver Mill, 10 Dawes Road, East York, Toronto, Ontario) 20200512Riverdale Farm: One of three sheep in the pen, all in need of shearing. Hair wet from recent rainstorm, temperature rising to spring normals from the record low frost warnings the past evenings. Starting route northbound on Lower Don River Trail and found unpaved sections with big puddles. Opted to push the bike up one set of stairs, ride west downhill, and then push up again into the park. (Riverdale Farm, Winchester Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20200515Ashbridges Bay East Breakwater: Rocky berm shore onto Lake Ontario put in place to control sediment from the west, maintained by regional conservation authority. The park is on lands historically a marsh. Saw a couple lounging by the point, amongst the many cyclists and pedestrians enjoying spring temperatures. Still too cool for beachwear, with strong winds from the east. (Ashbridges Bay East Breakwater, Lakeshore Boulevard East, Toronto, Ontario) 20200520Riverside neighbourhood: Restored cover on backyard gazebo, spring is turning into summer. Trimmed with accent lights for atmosphere after dark. Potential for social visits with physical distancing, if guests come via the laneway. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 201200523
Kadampa Meditation Centre: Bicycling along residential streets in Little Italy, wasn’t expecting to find a temple for Modern Buddhism. Gilded panels on facade reflecting glare with the late afternoon son. About 90 years ago, this was a Ukranian church before the congregation moved, the use in intervening years isn’t readily apparent. (Kadampa Meditation Centre, Crawford Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20200530
Toronto, Ontario
Kensington Market: Sleepy Saturday afternoon in market that would normally be packed with shoppers, if not tourists. Lineups outside the few essential services reminiscent of a visit to Russia in the 1970s; people don’t expect to be in a hurry. Bicycling around town maintains physical distance, with only light vehicle traffic. (Baldwin Street, Kensington Market, Toronto, Ontario) 20190404Danforth Village: Long stretch of sidewalk with almost no pedestrians, on a late pre-holiday afternoon with social isolation. On this main street towards the east end, storefronts are wider than in the city centre, so walks seem longer. Maybe one in ten businesses was open, and few had customers. Pedalling bicycle with light traffic on street. (Danforth Avenue, west of Coxwell Avenue, Danforth Village, Toronto, Ontario) 20200409Riverside neighbourhood: Touchup on hairline, since all of our sons have decided to self-barber. The chair and clippers were already in place, since I prefer to NOT cut my own hair in a mirror, and DY agreed to learn the tools for me. She’s primarily the one who would have an opinion on my hair style. I’m just happy that my head is cooler. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20200412King Street West at Peter Street: Encountered the first raised transit stop platform in town, where bicyclists and pedestrians take turns through a narrow lane previously a parking space. On Easter Sunday, streetcars paused only momentarily, with few passengers boarding. Only pedestrians of note were lined up outside the pharmacy, with respectable distances between them. (King Street West at Peter Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20200412Underpass Park: Public space unoccupied, with yellow tape not only on playground equipment, but also benches, to discourage social gatherings. Citizens mostly respecting physical distancing directions to stay at home. Dogs out walking their masters, who may get more exercise than others who aren’t leaving the house. (Underpass Park, Lower River Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20190419Distillery District: Unadorned and unilluminated as in @tolightfest, the #SymbolicPeace scupture by #StudioRosenblatt was first installed in early 2019. Laser cut, cold rolled steel celebrating diversity in the community stands silent on a bright afternoon where a normally teeming plaza is now deserted. Art galleries are closed, so more permanent outdoor sites have to be sought. (Gristmill Lane, Distillery District, Toronto, Ontario) 20200422New Century Plaza: Saturday 1pm in Chinese mall in Markham reveals gates up at non-essential businesses. Came to pick up replacement contact lens from optometrist. Transaction, started on phone, completed mostly by talking through a locked glass door. I was invited in, asked to use hand sanitizer, used pen for signatures, and was then reminded to sanitize on the way out. Terse service consistent with 14-minute drive up DVP/404 from Lakeshore Drive to Steeles Avenue. (New Century Plaza, Ferrier Street, Markham, Ontario) 20200425
Don Roadway: Roadblock southbound into the Portlands now blocked to vehicular traffic, with ongoing construction. Don Roadway is being rebuilt to a higher elevation, so that major rainfalls flooding the Keating Channel won’t spill over into the lands on the east side of the road. It’s a dull afternoon for bicycling. (Don Roadway, Portlands, Toronto, Ontario) 20200430
While it’s important to appreciate the systems thinking foundations laid down by the Tavistock Institute and U. Pennsylvania Social Systems Science (S3, called S-cubed) program, practically all of the original researchers are no longer with us. Luminaries who have passed include Eric L. Trist (-1993), Fred E. Emery (-1997), and Russell L. Ackoff (-2009). This […]
In order to move forward, the Systems Changes Learning Circle has taken a step backwards to appreciate the scholarly work that has come before us. This has included the Socio-Psychological Systems, Socio-Technical Systems and Socio-Ecological Systems perspective, from the postwar Tavistock Institute for Human Relations. The deep dive on “Causal texture, contextualism, contextural” takes us […]
For those who haven’t read the 1965 Emery and Trist article, its seems as though my colleague Doug McDavid was foresighted enough to blog a summary in 2016! His words have always welcomed here, as Doug was a cofounder of this web site. At the time of writing, the target audience for this piece was […]
In the famous 1965 Emery and Trist article, the terms “causal texture” and “contextual environment” haven’t been entirely clear to me. With specific meanings in the systems thinking literature, looking up definitions in the dictionary generally isn’t helpful. Diving into the history of the uses of the words provides some insight. 1. Causal texture 2. […]
Towards appreciating “action learning”, the history of open systems thinking and pioneering work in organization science, the influence of Action Learning Group — in the Faculty of Environment Studies founded in 1968 at York University (Toronto) — deserves to be resurfaced. 1. Trist in Canada 2. Environmental studies, and contextualism in organizational-change 3. Action learning, […]
The news that Doug McDavid — my friend, colleague, and one of the original cofounders of the Coevolving Innovations web site in 2006 — had passed, first came through mutual IBM contacts. More details subsequently showed up on LinkedIn from Mike McClintock. Doug left us on May 9, while working at his desk, likely in […]
In web conference, #HermanDaly says #EcologicalEconomics used to get attacked from the right, now it's from the left. Panel @revkin @jon_d_erickson @ktkish @sophiesanniti #TimCrowshaw #KatieHorner livestreamed #sustainwhat .Read more ›
Complementing the idea of a @longnow , @nfergus provokes the challenge of a #shortthen as the online social media platforms distract the larger perspectives on history.Read more ›
Social ecology and environmental psychology described @dstokols @Social_Ecology , interviewed by @katiepatrick . References #WilliamsJames on attention. Book on Social Ecology in the Digital Age released in 2018.Read more ›
Concerns on #personaldata should be reframed as interpersonal, says @sheldrake , less the nodes and more the edge connections. “I want to take back control” superficial, @hartzog says control doesn’t scale. Agency is about negotiation in the world, more rhizomatic…Read more ›
Doing science should be wayfinding (pathfinding), says #TimIngold , gaining grounding in the art of paying attention, towards research as the pursuit of truth. Truth is more than objective facts, where science and art are embraced with materials, so that we can see the quality inside the natural world as it forms, rather than as […]
We should be more vigourous, says @MazzucatoM , in debating differences between value extraction and value creation, and between profits and rents. Lecture at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford U., January 2019Read more ›
Social Systems Science graduate students in 1970s-1980s with #RussellAckoff, #EricTrist + #HasanOzbehkhan at U. Pennsylvania Wharton School were assigned the Penguin paperback #SystemsThinking reader edited by #FredEEmery, with updated editions evolving contents.
Resurfacing 1968 Buckley, “Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist: A Sourcebook” for interests in #SystemsThinking #SocioCybernetics #GeneralSystemsTheory #OrganizationScience . Republication in 2017 hardcopy may be more complete.
Proponents of #SystemsThinking often espouse holism to counter over-emphasis on reductionism. Reading some definitions from an encyclopedia positions one in the context of the other (François 2004).
Saying “it doesn’t matter” or “it matters” is a common expression in everyday English. For scholarly work, I want to “keep using that word“, while ensuring it means what I want it to mean. The Oxford English Dictionary (third edition, March 2001) has three entries for “matter”. The first two entries for a noun. The […]
It's been challenging to find sources that specifically define two-word phrases -- i.e. "systemic change", "systematic change", "systems change" -- as opposed to loosely inferring reductively from one-word definitions in recombination. MartinReynolds @OpenUniversity clarifies uses of the phrases, with a critical eye into motives for choosing a specific label, as well as associated risks and […]
The term "environmental" can be mixed up with "ecological", when the meanings are different. We can look at the encyclopedia definitions (François 2004), and then compare the two in terms of applied science (i.e. engineering with (#TimothyFHAllen @MarioGiampietro and #AmandaMLittle, 2003).
