Toon Dreessen
@toondreessen.bsky.social
Architect Husband Dad he/him; past pres @oaarchitects.bsky.social; president @architectsdca.bsky.social; writer, public speaker, advocate for #procurement reform; #climatepoli @riseforarch
Pinned
Toon Dreessen
@toondreessen.bsky.social
· Dec 28
The Problems of Public Procurement in Canada: Rule Layering, Strategic Purchasing, and Risk Aversion as a Toxic Stew
This article analyzes persistent challenges in Canadian public procurement, examining in particular the federal government's complex, multi-layered purchasing processes which have contributed to high....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Thanks to a dear friend who very patiently listens to my procurement rants for boosting this into my feed. I and many others, including @alexbozikovic.bsky.social and @novakovicto.bsky.social have been saying this for years. #ReformProcurement 1/ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
I get asked these kinds of things in the other place, so let’s just get it over with here.
Yes, we live downtown
No, we don’t own a car
Yes, we have kids (2)
Yes, we shop on foot (cart)
Yes, we sometimes drive (carshare)
Yes, we live close to social housing (I actually approved it)
Did I miss any?
Yes, we live downtown
No, we don’t own a car
Yes, we have kids (2)
Yes, we shop on foot (cart)
Yes, we sometimes drive (carshare)
Yes, we live close to social housing (I actually approved it)
Did I miss any?
December 8, 2024 at 5:12 AM
I get asked these kinds of things in the other place, so let’s just get it over with here.
Yes, we live downtown
No, we don’t own a car
Yes, we have kids (2)
Yes, we shop on foot (cart)
Yes, we sometimes drive (carshare)
Yes, we live close to social housing (I actually approved it)
Did I miss any?
Yes, we live downtown
No, we don’t own a car
Yes, we have kids (2)
Yes, we shop on foot (cart)
Yes, we sometimes drive (carshare)
Yes, we live close to social housing (I actually approved it)
Did I miss any?
It’s good to be home and to cook: seared NY strip; crispy roasted potatoes; celeriac w/brown butter; roasted squash w/onions & garlic; green beans; red wine and my best friend. Perfect evening.
November 17, 2025 at 12:03 AM
It’s good to be home and to cook: seared NY strip; crispy roasted potatoes; celeriac w/brown butter; roasted squash w/onions & garlic; green beans; red wine and my best friend. Perfect evening.
Friend of my oldest kid, back in HS, went on a month long canoe trip; rather than filling an iPod with music, he loaded one song. No internet connection for a month. 1 song for a month.
Ive had Patio Lanterns stuck in my head all day. Except I only know like one line, so it's just a replay of that line over and over and over. Kill me, please.
November 16, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Friend of my oldest kid, back in HS, went on a month long canoe trip; rather than filling an iPod with music, he loaded one song. No internet connection for a month. 1 song for a month.
Very interesting to hear that CBC is looking to talk to people who live without a car
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
November 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Very interesting to hear that CBC is looking to talk to people who live without a car
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
November 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Very interesting to hear that CBC is looking to talk to people who live without a car
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
@otttransitriders.bsky.social
and
@freetransitottawa.bsky.social
- I'll bet you know people! Email "earth (at) cbc. ca"
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
The reason NFL end zones are smaller than CFL end zones is because in CFL football you need room in the end zone to turn the Zamboni around.
Follow me for more CFL stats and pre-game insights like this.
Follow me for more CFL stats and pre-game insights like this.
November 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The reason NFL end zones are smaller than CFL end zones is because in CFL football you need room in the end zone to turn the Zamboni around.
Follow me for more CFL stats and pre-game insights like this.
Follow me for more CFL stats and pre-game insights like this.
Imagine if #OttCity mayor used transit all the time; even to get to rural and suburban photo op’s. I can think of a handful of councillors who take part in transit challenge or use it regularly; this should be the norm (along w/active transportation).
New Post: Katie Wilson is Seattle’s Next Mayor seattletransitblog.com/2025/11/13/k...
November 16, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Imagine if #OttCity mayor used transit all the time; even to get to rural and suburban photo op’s. I can think of a handful of councillors who take part in transit challenge or use it regularly; this should be the norm (along w/active transportation).
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Transit use, should be a prerequisite to run as mayor of any modern city.
New Post: Katie Wilson is Seattle’s Next Mayor seattletransitblog.com/2025/11/13/k...
November 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Transit use, should be a prerequisite to run as mayor of any modern city.
Same in #OttCity; we cd put public land used for surface parking (including those at urban community centres/libraries) to better use. But it would take political will (which largely exists) + budget and a creative approach to thinking about design (both MIA); we can be #OurBestOttawa if we want
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Same in #OttCity; we cd put public land used for surface parking (including those at urban community centres/libraries) to better use. But it would take political will (which largely exists) + budget and a creative approach to thinking about design (both MIA); we can be #OurBestOttawa if we want
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
One of our biggest struggles when designing bikeways is parking demand vs removal vs safety.
We collect extensive data prior to design to ensure there is adequate parking based on actual usage.
We do counts on weekends, overnight, holidays.
There almost always is.
Links below to data and studies
We collect extensive data prior to design to ensure there is adequate parking based on actual usage.
We do counts on weekends, overnight, holidays.
There almost always is.
Links below to data and studies
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
One of our biggest struggles when designing bikeways is parking demand vs removal vs safety.
We collect extensive data prior to design to ensure there is adequate parking based on actual usage.
We do counts on weekends, overnight, holidays.
There almost always is.
Links below to data and studies
We collect extensive data prior to design to ensure there is adequate parking based on actual usage.
We do counts on weekends, overnight, holidays.
There almost always is.
Links below to data and studies
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
The most insanely frustrating thing about the #ClimateCrisis is how the breakthrough we so clearly need isn’t technological. It’s just a collective willingness, a determination even, to change in ways that would clearly be SO MUCH BETTER than the clear and obvious consequences of NOT changing.
October 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The most insanely frustrating thing about the #ClimateCrisis is how the breakthrough we so clearly need isn’t technological. It’s just a collective willingness, a determination even, to change in ways that would clearly be SO MUCH BETTER than the clear and obvious consequences of NOT changing.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Leonard Cohen looms large over Montreal. Johnny Cash looks over Sacramento (down the road from Folsom Prison). I love these. Big, fun place-making & story-telling instead of a big, blank wall.
I’m recommending this again. Put favourite son Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip on the Kingston skyline.
I’m recommending this again. Put favourite son Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip on the Kingston skyline.
November 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Leonard Cohen looms large over Montreal. Johnny Cash looks over Sacramento (down the road from Folsom Prison). I love these. Big, fun place-making & story-telling instead of a big, blank wall.
I’m recommending this again. Put favourite son Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip on the Kingston skyline.
I’m recommending this again. Put favourite son Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip on the Kingston skyline.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
James Brown, Cincinnati
November 16, 2025 at 4:03 AM
James Brown, Cincinnati
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Hell, yes!
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Hell, yes!
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
As it’s Sunday, take a moment to imagine how good life would be if your neighbourhood was built for people.
November 16, 2025 at 9:26 AM
As it’s Sunday, take a moment to imagine how good life would be if your neighbourhood was built for people.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
On today's World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims it is worth noting that in the two years since Wales implemented a national default 20mph (32km/h) there have been 25% fewer casualties on such roads with over 1,000 fewer people killed or injured. youtu.be/efr3uVKpOwY
UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - Theme: Remember. Support. Act. - English
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM
On today's World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims it is worth noting that in the two years since Wales implemented a national default 20mph (32km/h) there have been 25% fewer casualties on such roads with over 1,000 fewer people killed or injured. youtu.be/efr3uVKpOwY
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
On today's World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims it is worth noting that in the two years since Wales implemented a national default 20mph (32km/h) there have been 25% fewer casualties on such roads with over 1,000 fewer people killed or injured. youtu.be/efr3uVKpOwY
UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - Theme: Remember. Support. Act. - English
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Good thread and video.
From the IG pages: if the #OttLRT was an interesting journey no one would care if it was a bit slower. Instead we run it thru featureless tunnels, the middle of highways etc; make the trip more interesting, more reliable, more uplifting and more ppl will take it. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Good thread and video.
This latest newsletter from @neilsara.bsky.social includes this bit which I feel in my core. I resist, and advocate for change, at enormous personal sacrifice; I become effectively blacklisted within certain circles for speaking up for the public interest and trying to do the right thing.
November 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This latest newsletter from @neilsara.bsky.social includes this bit which I feel in my core. I resist, and advocate for change, at enormous personal sacrifice; I become effectively blacklisted within certain circles for speaking up for the public interest and trying to do the right thing.
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
What if public transit was designed by Disney instead of engineers? What if the transit journey was slower but fantastic?
It think this is slightly overstated (not “really, really slow,” but slower) but makes an important point around psychology vs physics (or enjoyment AND efficiency).
It think this is slightly overstated (not “really, really slow,” but slower) but makes an important point around psychology vs physics (or enjoyment AND efficiency).
From the IG pages: if the #OttLRT was an interesting journey no one would care if it was a bit slower. Instead we run it thru featureless tunnels, the middle of highways etc; make the trip more interesting, more reliable, more uplifting and more ppl will take it. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 8:29 PM
What if public transit was designed by Disney instead of engineers? What if the transit journey was slower but fantastic?
It think this is slightly overstated (not “really, really slow,” but slower) but makes an important point around psychology vs physics (or enjoyment AND efficiency).
It think this is slightly overstated (not “really, really slow,” but slower) but makes an important point around psychology vs physics (or enjoyment AND efficiency).
Reposted by Toon Dreessen
Disney's People Mover is a cost effective solution for the waterfront LRT. Omnimover from Union Station to Queens Quay utilizing the existing tunnel. 509 route expands east, use the Cherry St turnaround or build a new one above ground.
From the IG pages: if the #OttLRT was an interesting journey no one would care if it was a bit slower. Instead we run it thru featureless tunnels, the middle of highways etc; make the trip more interesting, more reliable, more uplifting and more ppl will take it. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Disney's People Mover is a cost effective solution for the waterfront LRT. Omnimover from Union Station to Queens Quay utilizing the existing tunnel. 509 route expands east, use the Cherry St turnaround or build a new one above ground.
From the IG pages: if the #OttLRT was an interesting journey no one would care if it was a bit slower. Instead we run it thru featureless tunnels, the middle of highways etc; make the trip more interesting, more reliable, more uplifting and more ppl will take it. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
From the IG pages: if the #OttLRT was an interesting journey no one would care if it was a bit slower. Instead we run it thru featureless tunnels, the middle of highways etc; make the trip more interesting, more reliable, more uplifting and more ppl will take it. 1/