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2024-09-19
BC2 to host a panel at the 12th World Urban Forum
Chapters
BC2, a Canadian firm specializing in urban development and strategic consulting, has been selected from numerous international applications to lead a panel at the upcoming edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF) by UN-Habitat, which will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from November 4 to 8, 2024.
This participation is based, among other things, on BC2’s recognized expertise, gained through its “Collaboration Internations” team, which has developed a unique approach to working with northern, Indigenous, and southern communities. By creating locally adapted solutions that promote inclusion and resilience, BC2 has successfully built strong, trusting relationships with many communities. Whether in the fields of environmental resilience, sustainable urbanization, social development, housing, or culture and recreation, the Collaboration Internations team stands out for its ability to support communities and Indigenous groups in their growth while assisting them in their empowerment and strengthening processes.
The panel is co-organized with the Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens, a non-profit organization that supports people affected by conflicts and disasters.
A Look Through Five Case Studies
In line with the theme of this 12th edition of the WUF, “It All Starts at Home,” the panel titled “Home Away from Home, in Displacement and Beyond” will explore the multiple causes and consequences of the loss of “home.” It will address issues of governance, housing models, as well as the loss of identity and sense of belonging among vulnerable populations.
With input from researchers and experts from various fields, the panel will analyze how uprooting — often associated with forced displacement — also results from power imbalances. By drawing parallels between the erosion of the sense of belonging and the fragmentation of cultural identity, whether within geographic displacement or not, the panel will examine how dominant and colonizing forces can contribute to the regeneration of cultural and identity fabric in marginalized communities.
Case studies from Turkey, Lebanon, Nunatsiavut (an Inuit territory in Labrador, Canada), Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will enrich the session. These examples will offer interdisciplinary perspectives on the socio-economic impacts of the loss of cultural identity while highlighting examples of resilience within displaced communities or within their original environments, striving to revive their cultural heritage.
Presentation of Five International Panelists:
- Dr. Chen-Yu Chiu: Presentation of the first humanitarian architecture project in the Levant region in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and the Turkey-Syria earthquake of 2023.
- Dr. Faten Kikano: Exploration of the links between exclusion policies and the appropriation of space by Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
- Mr. Colin Gilbride: Presentation of the Nunatsiavut development strategy aimed at providing housing plans and development tailored to the cultural needs of the Inuit communities in Labrador.
- Mr. Olsen Jean Julien: Discussion on post-disaster efforts to safeguard Rara ritual artifacts from 97 Voodoo temples.
- Dr. Robert Kasisi: Analysis of the forced displacement of Indigenous Pygmy peoples deprived of access to their ancestral lands.
The panel’s moderator, Marie-Pierre McDonald, is Vice President of BC2 and Director of the “Collaboration Internations” team. Throughout her career, Marie-Pierre has primarily focused on projects where she has worked closely with several Indigenous communities and government agencies in the realization of complex planning, development, or regulatory projects. These experiences have allowed her to gain a better understanding of the issues, needs, and values of Indigenous peoples, in order to create a positive impact on these communities.
The World Urban Forum (WUF)
Established in 2001 by the United Nations, the World Urban Forum (WUF) addresses urgent challenges related to rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate, and public policies. Organized by UN-Habitat, this high-level event is an open and inclusive platform to tackle the challenges of sustainable urbanization.
WUF12 will highlight the pressing challenges faced by the 4.4 billion people living in urban areas: availability and cost of housing, mobility, air quality, water supply security, access to safe public spaces, climate change impacts, and urban crises and conflicts.
The concept of “home” goes beyond a simple physical structure, encompassing cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of daily life. It also embodies notions of belonging, meaning, and values, which are essential elements for the sustainability of our cities and communities. The event will therefore emphasize the central role that local action can play in accelerating progress toward urban sustainability.