Join this lively conversation with a group of city shapers, to explore the relationships between values, design and social exchange in Victoria’s urban public spaces.

The panel discussion will draw inspiration from “Public Access”, a new exhibit of photographic works by Quinton Gordon. The exhibit will be available to be viewed in the Design Victoria Hub for the full festival duration.

Moderated by DAU Studio Principal Erica Sangster, the panel discussion will take place in the Rotunda at 1515 Douglas Street, on Friday May 1^st from 3:00pm – 5:00pm.

Panelists members include:‍

Krista Loughton, a Victoria City Councillor, award-winning documentary filmmaker and business owner, who has spent her career raising key societal issues with all levels of government.  Krista is President of the Canadian Capital Cities Organization (CCCO) executive committee and is committed to maintaining a well-managed city that meets the needs of all residents and businesses. Her vision for Victoria is “A City of Communities” — a city with walkable, accessible and vibrant neighbourhood villages. ‍

Miko Betanzo, an urban designer and Senior Planner with the City of Victoria whose work bridges academia and practice. Formerly the head of Vancouver Island University’s urban design program, his research examines how narrative and context influence our physical surroundings. For Miko, the way we talk about our cities is just as important as the way we build them, and he believes that a higher standard of architectural dialogue is the key to better urban design. ‍

Nathan Flach, an urban designer and architect with a specialization in campus planning and broad ranging experience across Canada. In his current role as Design Director of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, Nathan is overseeing design for the city's new performing arts centre and Olympic Plaza transformations, and the development of new transit-oriented communities. Nathan believes a project’s success depends on how well it shapes and connects with the surrounding city and brings to every project a passion for holistically sustainable places that are authentic, inclusive, safe, desirable and healthy. ‍

Quinton Gordon, a writer, photographer, publisher and filmmaker exploring the contemporary Canadian identity and landscape (urban, rural, natural) through long-term projects that situate the impact and influence of our social, cultural, and political identity on the physical environment. He is the founder and creative director of Turn Signal Media, focusing on storytelling through video, print and online publications. His limited edition prints and handmade artist books are held internationally in both public and private collections, and he continues to be an active public speaker and workshop instructor with the Leica Akademie USA. ‍

Robin Mazumder, a researcher, writer and speaker on the psychological impacts of urban design. With a phD in Cognitive Neuroscience, Robin is interested in how the physical and social structure of cities influence how we feel, function, and connect with each other. Robin is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Future Cities Institute at the University of Waterloo, Associate Fellow with the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria, and Fellow with the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health.