Argues strongly for community cultural development and the important role of the arts in community well-being. Case studies are presented to demonstrate that community-based creative processes, when embedded into an agency's policies and strategies, can be very powerful in strengthening the knowledge, engagement, social capital and leadership required to achieve policy objectives. Case study material is grouped under seven themes, corresponding to key priorities for governments in achieving community wellbeing:
• Health
• Ecologically Sustainable Development
• Public Housing and Place
• Rural Revitalisation
• Community Strengthening
• Active Citizenship
• Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity.

The paper explores how cultural planning, and the forms of cultural development it animates and supports, can contribute to new formulations of citizenship and local governance. Models and assumptions governing planning and policymaking at the local level are no longer adequate to address the complexities facing cities.

Builds on the findings of the 2004 Highlights report to show key changes from 1991 to 2001 in six factors of quality of life.

Brief documentation of the discussions held during the Forum, including notes from each of the breakout groups held on the second day. It also contains conclusions and recommendations from the Forum Director. Recurring themes include:
– “arts and creativity promote a sense of control and empowerment in people”;
– the arts facilitate human relations and connections;
– “creativity is a need”;
– “new understandings of the nature and the experience of illness are revealed through art”;
– the arts help patients become active partners in their own care; and
– the arts are transformative and facilitate change.

This report provides an overview of the background and process of the CPRN’s Quality of Life Indicators Project. It addresses the context for the project, with information about the project's origins and development, funding, background research, project organization and key project milestones. The methodology developed for the dialogue sessions are described as well as the lessons learned as a result of the project. This report provides advice and guidance to future projects that require both assembling a project team and engaging citizens.

Across Canada, Kids Up Front! provides entertainment and educational opportunities for kids and their families who may not otherwise have the experiences. “Working closely with 300 registered child-serving charitable agencies, numerous corporations, the public, and entertainment venues, we redistribute unused tickets and create special events that help to heal, bond, and unite.” (Accessibility, Civic Involvement)

On Sunday, November 21, 2004 the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities (ECMC) and the Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) held their Annual Eid Dinner for the Inner City's Poor at the Boyle Street Co-Op Centre. Over 700 people were treated to a warm meal prepared and served by over 70 volunteers. (Cross cultural initiatives, charity)

To be an advocate, catalyst, developer, facilitator, promoter, policymaker, programmer, advisory consultant, strategist and enabler for, and of, arts and culture as an economically significant and essential component of North Shore life. The Arts and Culture Commission of North Vancouver is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the whole North Shore community through the arts, thriving both as an industry and as a recreation. 

The first Citizens' Report Card on the quality of life in Canada, described as "a pioneering effort to capture what citizens believe essential to quality of life and to assess Canada against that standard" (p.7).

Report of a meeting held in Ottawa in March 2005 discussing five subtopics of Canadian Cultural Policy: cities, labour markets, generational challenges and opportunities; health and social services; public institutions. Cities discussion raised issues of quality of place, economic viability, shared citizenship, racial concerns, immigration into rural areas.

The emergence of more mixed-race communities, especially those with growing Hispanic and Asian populations, calls out for examining how policy might foster racial and ethnic integration, and encourage positive social outcomes in an increasingly diverse society. Racial integration has served as a benchmark for social progress for as long as racial equality has been on the social policy agenda.

Discusses notions of diversity, governance.

“Creating human security means everything from strong hate crime legislation, language emersion, multi-cultural child care, and festivals that celebrate cultural diversity. It is often the little things that ensure social solidarity in a multi-cultural environment. We, for example, start every City Council meeting with a presentation by local performers that represent the diversity of our city. It is through these celebrations and proclamations that we celebrate our diversity.”

“In this essay, we focus upon the City of Toronto and consider how the rhetoric of globalization espoused by all levels of government, through the competitive city mantra, has undermined the city's quality of place. We highlight the irony of this process by arguing that the very global stature of Toronto rests upon cultural and environmental richness and social equity, qualities that have been undermined by recent policy shifts advanced by provincial leaders. This essay has three parts. The first briefly considers the idea of globalization with a focus on how notions of competitiveness affect the governance needs of urban regions. We then contrast this view of economic competitiveness with one that emphasizes quality of place, comprising social, cultural, and environmental advantage as essential elements in building successful post-industrial cities. Here, quality of place refers to the ways that everyday social, cultural, and environmental experiences affect the well-being of all residents of the city, not just urban elites. The third part presents a case study of Toronto, where we assess policies of amalgamation, divestment, and downloading implemented by the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC or Conservative) governments during the 1990s with regard to how they have undermined the city's quality of place.”

Vancouver living—highest quality of life in the world. Vancouver tied for top spot of cities worldwide for quality of life in a January 2000 assessment of cities worldwide carried out by human resources consultancy firm William M. Mercer. This assessment was based on quality of life factors such as political stability, personal safety, health care, crime levels, water quality, transportation, traffic congestion, education, and the availability of public services.

CPRN is pleased to announce the release of the first Citizens' Report Card on the quality of life in Canada. Judith Maxwell, CPRN President, calls the Report Card, "a pioneering effort to capture what citizens believe essential to quality of life and to assess Canada against that standard."

Robert Palmer's presentation to the Department of Canadian Heritage addressed four topics: the historical background to current national cultural policy; the development of interest in holistic cultural planning; the international focus on creativity development; and the trend of harnessing culture for economic development.

Presentation delivered at the Sutton Place Hotel to the Vancouver Board of Trade. Former UBC President: "These are the questions that regional planners, elected officials and economic authorities consistently ponder as they try to position their region or city as an economic leader. They are also the questions I would like to consider this afternoon as we contemplate Vancouver’s economic future."

The search for quality of life, particularly in the city, has occupied so-called post-industrial and increasingly urbanized societies for more than 40 years. Recently, this has led to initiatives to measure quality of life in urban areas. This column reviews several recent measurement approaches and reflects on how the concept of NIMBY (not in my back yard) may reveal aspects of urban life that present indicators are unable to assess.

Rather than a mosaic composed of isolated pieces, Montreal offers a rich and original set of interconnections. The region’s strength is not a single dominate asset, but the balance of diverse technological capability and innovation, available skilled and creative talent, and an open tolerant society.

UNDR Reports feature a different timely topic in depth. From 1990-2004, the topics were: 1990 Financing Human Development; 1992 Global Dimensions of Human Development; 1993 People’s Participation; 1994 New Dimensions of Human Security; 1995 Gender and Human Development; 1996 Economic Growth and Human Development; 1997 Human Development to Eradicate Poverty; 1998 Consumption and Human Development; 1999 Globalization with a Human Face; 2000 Human Rights and Human Development; 2001 Making new technologies work for human development; 2002 Deepening democracy in a fragmented world; 2003 Millennium Development Goals: A compact among nations to end human poverty; 2004 Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World.