‘Happy City’ author to deliver keynote presentation in Kelowna

Charles Montgomery, award-winning author of ‘Happy City’, will deliver a keynote presentation for the Creative City Summit, hosted in Kelowna from Oct. 27-29, 2015.

How does a city’s ‘emotional landscape’ affect its residents’ well-being? What kind of urban surgery can reverse the damage done by sprawl? How can you re-engineer your relationship with the city you live in?

These questions, and more, are addressed by Montgomery in his book Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design. In an exhilarating journey through some of the world’s most dynamic cities, he meets mayors, architects and activists who have used their own vision and ingenuity to build a hopeful urban future. He also delves into the history of urban planning, new insights from psychology and neuroscience and his own urban experimentation. David Suzuki has called the book “brilliant, entertaining and vital.”

“Those of us who work in the cultural sector know the true value and benefit that arts and culture have in our communities,” says Kelly Jerrott, Chair for the Creative City Summit 2015. “Many of us collaborate with city planners to engage residents and enhance the vibrancy of our communities through creative place making. The Creative City Network of Canada supports cultural development in communities and facilitates knowledge sharing with our annual national Summits. We are thrilled to be working with the City of Kelowna to present Charles Montgomery, and look forward to learning more about creating happy cities and how cultural departments can work with city planners, businesses, community organizations and individual residents to transform our communities and our souls.”

Montgomery will deliver his keynote presentation on Thursday, Oct. 29, as part of the Creative City Summit, a national conference for members of the Creative City Network of Canada. A reception and book signing will follow the presentation.

Location: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna

Date and time: Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 to 6 p.m. – doors open at 4:30 p.m. Reception and book signing to follow.

Tickets: $25 / $15 for students – only 160 tickets available through the Rotary Centre for the Arts box office or online at www.selectyourtickets.com.

This event is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors: City of Kelowna, City of Toronto, CTQ Consultants Kelowna, Outland Design Landscape Architecture and Urban Systems.