Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago

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Urban planning and public health go hand in hand, and city and building design are vital measures of bringing diseases under control and promoting wellbeing. Join Jennifer Keesmaat in conversation with Dr. Karen K. Lee on her book Fit Cities: My Quest to Improve the World’s Health and Wellness–Including Yours.

This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.

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Featured Books and Resources
Fit Cities: My Quest to Improve the World's Health and Wellness--Including Yours by Karen K. Lee: anotherstory.ca/item/fL1Fm1B4rfEaYAv5nAEygw

We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.

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Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
7:01 Dr. Karen Lee’s Inspiration & The Link Between City Planning and Public Health
13:24 Thoughts on the Devaluing of City Planners During the Pandemic
15:40 Reading from Fit Cities
18:52 Choice Theory & The Lack of Access to Fresh Food
26:28 Promoting Physical Activity in Cities
33:11 Reading from Fit Cities
43:07 Designing Buildings with Multiple Objectives
46:30 The Importance of Play in Cities
54:30 The Slow Streets Movement & Space for Walking and Cycling
1:01:47 Walkability Scoring and Collecting Walkability Data
1:06:34 Toronto’s Approach to Public Spaces
1:08:19 Examples of Effective Cities
1:13:53 Final Thoughts & Thank You