Sen̓áḵw's return to the Squamish people marks a monumental victory after years of legal battles. Across Canada, Indigenous nations are reclaiming their rights, holding Canada accountable for fulfilling its end of the reconciliation pact. Critics believe that tall buildings and urban densification are somehow discordant with Indigenous principles but I believe that current projects in Vancouver offer an assertion to placemaking Indigenous-driven empowerment that will ideally shape a more progressive city for everyone.

Here is a significant example of sustainable urban development: the Etobicoke Civic Centre (ECC) is a campus that needs to be more ambitious even though its programmatic and renewable energy mandate is laudable. I'm bullish on the next wave of renewable energy technologies to bring more robust onsite energy storage (thermal and battery), PV panel integration, thermovoltaics, and other experimental and increasingly feasible onsite energy production. So much investment is moving into this climate tech. I'm encouraging the building industry to integrate and scale u on emerging renewable energy technologies.

We need to plan on how new energy infrastructure is built and impacting rural development. Thermal and battery storage can boost the potential for regenerative architecture and landscapes.

Our governments are investing $40B for EV battery plants. A fraction of these generous subsidies could be directed toward building a thriving regenerative agricultural future for Ontario communities.

In an era of networked collaborations, hybrid work and design egos, the value of authentic networks and dialogue remains all-important for so many reasons.

A reflection on the potential of building regenerative communities. Ambitious developments like Picton's Base 31 could become a global benchmark for future community building.