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matthewblackett.bsky.social
Matthew Blackett
@matthewblackett.bsky.social
660 followers 210 following 17 posts
• Co-Founder, Publisher & Creative Director of Spacing spacing.bsky.social / Spacing Store spacingstore.bsky.social / Spacing Radio spacingradio.bsky.social

• Author-editor-photog of 13 books
• drew 'm@b' comic
• @MatthewBlackett on Insta, Threads, X
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
Drawing on examples from around the world, Zachary Spicer digs into what a smart city could look like in Toronto after the experience with Sidewalk Labs.

spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #Toronto #ONpoli #TOpoli #CDNpoli #smartcities
Understanding the elusiveness of Smart Cities - Spacing Toronto
As Canadian cities strive to navigate rapid urbanization, climate change, and digital disruption, “smart city” strategies have emerged as a popular, and tempting, framework for innovation and reform. ...
spacing.ca
June 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
One more housing bill and no new homes — the Ford government continues to strip away Toronto's ability to plan for the climate and affordability crises, writes Michel Nayrouz.

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

#TOpoli #ONpoli #HousingNow
One more housing bill and no new homes - Spacing Toronto
How many bills does it take to build the homes Ontario says it needs? The recently re-elected Doug Ford government would have you believe it takes several, despite missing its own housing targets for ...
spacing.ca
June 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
The Ontario government is starting a pilot project of autonomous delivery vehicles on Toronto's streets. They should also take credit for inventing a new game, the urban-equivalent of cow-tipping.

#ONpoli #TOpoli
May 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
Sending out love to UofT Scarborough library peeps for this amazing display of Spacing magazines & #Toronto books sold at the Spacing Store [@spacingstore.bsky.social].
April 11, 2025 at 9:13 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
Trump says he won't ever back down from tariffs. He believes that today but will do exactly the opposite in short order. He's the worst negotiator ever.
April 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
WOW — love that my photo book has inspired some art! Thank you, Bryan D!
April 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacingstore.bsky.social
We are about to put the toques away in storage until next winter — get a deal on your NEIGHBOURHOOD TOQUE!

spacingstore.ca/collections/...
City of Neighbourhoods Toques
Buy Toronto's best gifts and hand-made merchandise for transit lovers, cyclists, and discerning urbanists.
spacingstore.ca
April 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
The coming American brain drain will be Canada’s gain, writes @johnlorinc.bsky.social. U.S. researchers are running for the exits: Toronto and other Canadian cities will be obvious destinations. #CDNpoli #ONpoli #TOpoli

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
LORINC: The coming American brain drain will be Canada's gain - Spacing Toronto
In the face of the relentless ratcheting up of the Trump administration’s economic assault on Canada, we’ve seen basically three types of government responses: almost immediate and very specific retal...
spacing.ca
March 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
28 new @spacing.bsky.social subs in 24hrs. Can we get 50 in this buy-Cdn wave? 50 is huge. Locally produced, printed, owned & sourced. Arrives in your mail! Supports free-to-read content online.

(I listened to Detroit @wdet.bsky.social's pledge drive last week. I am feeling the vibe here too!)
March 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
Hundreds of placemaking leaders from around the world will gather in Toronto from June 8-11, 2025 to take part in the Global Placemaking Summit. Registration is open!

spacing.ca/national/202...
@placemakingx.bsky.social @placemaking-canada.bsky.social #placemakingcanada #TOpoli #ONpoli #CDNpoli
2025 Global Placemaking Summit comes to Toronto - Spacing National
Registration is open! Hundreds of placemaking leaders from around the world will gather in Toronto from June 8-11, 2025 to take part in the Global Placemaking Summit. The Summit is a unique opportunit...
spacing.ca
March 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
I'm really excited to share this poster design of McDavid's winning goal! We've already sold a few within minutes of it being available at the Spacing Store ( @spacingstore.bsky.social )

spacingstore.ca/collections/...

#canada #mcdavid #4nationscup #hockey #connormcdavid #nhl #marner #mitchmarner
February 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
Canadian hockey fans: we made a 12x18 poster print celebrating McDavid's winning goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Selling it through the @spacingstore.bsky.social.

Please feel free to share!

spacingstore.ca/collections/...

design by: @matthewblackett.bsky.social
#hockey #canada #mcdavid
February 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
Great piece on re-thinking approaches to urban planning in the age of 15-minute-city conspiracies.

My one thought: you don't need to change industry terms to assuage opponents that are scared or hostile. You need to explain things better.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
From 15-Minute Cities to Freedom Cities, Urban Planners Need To Consider Our Narratives
Op-ed: With Trump returning to the White House, planners must learn to cut through political divides by crafting strategic narratives.
nextcity.org
January 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
Anyone with leads on Toronto collectors let me know!
spacing.bsky.social Spacing @spacing.bsky.social · Dec 18
We're looking for the collectors and collections of Toronto things. Who has a collection of something Toronto-oriented? (Beyond the archives and the library). Especially what might be unexpected or little-known. Let us know in replies.
January 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
The 2025 budget and Toronto’s bursting real estate bubble

City officials have warned council for years not to get addicted to real estate-linked revenues — now we're paying the price, writes senior editor John Lorinc / @johnlorinc.bsky.social

spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #TOpoli #ONpoli
The 2025 budget and Toronto's bursting real estate bubble - Spacing Toronto
For years, Toronto’s finance officials have dutifully added an annual footnote to their budget documents, cautioning readers that a portion of the City’s revenues — namely the municipal land transfer ...
spacing.ca
January 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
The auditor-general's scathing review of the Therme spa deal at Ontario Place again raises questions about the source of the spa's cash. Senior editor John Lorinc digs into the report.

spacing.ca/toronto/2024...
#ONpoli #TOpoli cc: @johnlorinc.bsky.social
Follow the money to Ontario Place - Spacing Toronto
The Ontario auditor general’s review of the Ontario Place scandal contains enough muck to start an industrial-scale pig farm, with plenty left over to get the OPP or the RCMP going on an investigation...
spacing.ca
December 4, 2024 at 4:12 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
Love seeing my designs on newsstands! This one pops.
dylanreid.bsky.social Dylan Reid @dylanreid.bsky.social · Nov 27
Always great to visit a bookstore and see @spacing.bsky.social on the magazine rack (Book City at Yonge & St. Clair)
November 27, 2024 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
dylanreid.bsky.social
Always great to visit a bookstore and see @spacing.bsky.social on the magazine rack (Book City at Yonge & St. Clair)
November 27, 2024 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
There is a high cost to on-street parking... With cycling infrastructure facing a mortal threat, it's time for #Toronto to banish on-street parking on transit arterial roads, writes senior editor John Lorinc.

spacing.ca/toronto/2024...

#ONpoli #TOpoli cc: @johnlorinc.bsky.social
The high cost of on-street parking - Spacing Toronto
In case you hadn’t checked recently, there are, according to the Toronto Parking Authority’s very helpful “Find Parking” map, no fewer than 43 Green P lots along Bloor-Danforth, between Woodbine in th...
spacing.ca
November 27, 2024 at 2:26 PM
matthewblackett.bsky.social
While we’ve been on Bluesky for over 10 months, over the last two weeks we’ve seen our Spacing audience grow by 65%. Keep it up!

cc: @spacing.bsky.social
November 24, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
If they’re going to accuse road safety folk of waging a war on the car, let’s actually talk about who’s operating in good faith & who isn’t. And some history.

If they accuse cyclists and pedestrians of waging war, a war they should get.

My column this wknd.

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Shawn Micallef: Think there’s a ‘war on the car’? Here’s the truth behind the rhetoric in Toronto
The fight over cycling lanes and other safer-street infrastructure in our city is marred by obfuscation, scapegoating and rhetoric.
www.thestar.com
November 24, 2024 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
"Singing the Gridlock Blues"

The City of #Toronto has reams of data on traffic flows yet hasn't made it available to the public, writes senior editor John Lorinc. Shouldn't residents know where the congestion is located?

spacing.ca/toronto/2024... #TOpoli #ONpoli

By: @johnlorinc.bsky.social
Singing the gridlock blues - Spacing Toronto
How does one know if the main street running through a neighbourhood, or on a route to work, is becoming more congested? There is a steadily noisier drumbeat, brought to you by the political classes a...
spacing.ca
November 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacingstore.bsky.social
Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the Spacing Store opening! We're hosting a little celebration from 5-9pm. Pop into the store or shop online Thursday-Sunday to get 10% off everything!
SHOP: SpacingStore.ca

#ShopLocal #IndieBookstores #BookLovers #Toronto
November 20, 2024 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacing.bsky.social
Check out our Starter Pack of Spacing contributors who have found a home here on Bluesky.

go.bsky.app/BaqvpWd #Toronto #StarterPack #urbanism
November 19, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blackett
spacingstore.bsky.social
The Spacing Store turns 10 on Thursday Nov 21st!

Pop into the shop on Thursday from 5-9pm for a little celebration and get 10% off EVERYTHING! The 10% off sales runs from Thursday-Sunday.

spacing.ca/toronto/2024...
Celebrate a Decade of the Spacing Store - Spacing Toronto
On Nov 21, 2014 we opened the Spacing Store at 401 Richmond St. W. It’s been an amazing decade of being the city’s premier destination for Toronto-centric merchandise, which has been made possible by ...
spacing.ca
November 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM