Toronto, Canada’s Regent Park Revitalization Showcased in New Book on Urban Transformation
Cairo, Egypt (November 11, 2024) – The much-anticipated international launch of Rhythms of Change, Reflections on the Regent Park Revitalization, authored by Mitchell Cohen, took place on November 5th at the World Urban Forum (WUF12), the world’s premier conference on sustainable urbanization.
This captivating book chronicles the dramatic transformation of Toronto’s Regent Park, Canada’s oldest and largest public housing project, into a dynamic, vibrant, mixed-income community. Since 2005, this ambitious redevelopment has served as a model for sustainable urban regeneration, highlighting the importance of inclusive, community-led development, supported by strong public and private partnerships.
Author Mitchell Cohen is a social activist, a musician, and the president and CEO of The Daniels Corporation, one of Canada’s most respected real estate development firms, and Toronto Community Housing’s development partner for 53 of the 69-acre Regent Park revitalization. Through Rhythms of Change, Cohen shared insights from this transformative journey, blending emotion, knowledge, and artistic and poetic expression.
His insights highlighted how adversity—stemming from the economic downturn of 2008 and various social and political challenges—can catalyze innovative solutions when communities come together.
Cohen’s emphasis on a “shared vision” underscores the importance of unity in overcoming challenges. By combining resources, knowledge, and creativity, the stakeholders transformed Regent Park into a model for neighbourhood revitalization, demonstrating that with social commitment and a focus on creative capital, meaningful change is not just possible, but achievable.
“This book is about the transformative potential that can be achieved when all sectors unite with a shared, powerful vision and work together in common cause,” said Cohen.