THE HIGHLIGHTS

👥 Let's design public spaces that connect us

There are best practices

🐢 Wondering what animals you could see at the Brick Works?

What are we, a zoo?

🤖 The Evergreen Idea: Keeping it real in 2025

Is this the AI's internet now?

OUR TOP STORY

Nadha Hassen: Feeling less alone is critical to our public health

What if we viewed public space as absolutely vital to public health?

We know that the spaces where we gather can contribute to our physical and mental health, but they also have an outsized impact on how connected (or how lonely) we feel. If the built environment shapes our connections, then we need to design to bring people together.

To explore the link between public space and social connection, we spoke to someone at the forefront of the research. Nadha Hassen is a Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She recently collaborated with The Bentway on a report called Rx for Social Connection: Public Space as a Strategy to Combat Loneliness.

How do we design spaces for connection? Read more →

'I've never known this many of my neighbours'

What do public spaces mean to the people who use them? In Voices in Public Spaces, we ask community members to share how public spaces impact them personally. It’s all about real voices sharing real reflections. In this episode, we caught up with Omar at Regent Park in Toronto.

"I love living in places like this that are dense and have spaces that aren't just my home." Watch the video →

THE EVERGREEN IDEA 💡

LET'S GET REAL. The internet has been a noisy place lately. Actually, maybe it’s the world that’s noisy, and the internet has just turned the volume up, but it certainly feels like online spaces have become more chaotic.

Yet, despite all the noise, online spaces also just feel flat. Even though more online content is being produced than ever before, so much of it feels the same. Design, tone and even subject matter all seem as though they've been assembled on a factory line. Pumped out and algorithmically added to your feed.

It’s the AI’s internet now; we’re just visiting.

There are plenty of reasons to lament the AI’ification of everything. It’s been reported that approximately 57% of online content is AI-generated, with estimates of that skyrocketing to 90% by 2026. Generative AI is being used for everything from customer support to copywriting to search results and even therapy. If your online experiences are feeling hollow or lost in a sea of sameness, this is why.

It's getting harder to feel certain that what we’re experiencing online is real. That’s why we’re going all in on Real Things at Evergreen in 2025. You might even see us subtly reminding you of this at the bottom of newsletters and in our social feeds.

That’s not a brag; it’s just us trying to reach out and say, “hello, we’re still here.”

Part of what makes real experiences so special is that they come with just the right amount of weirdness. They’re quirky or whimsical in a way that feels genuine. No algorithm could possibly come up with a sightseeing tour aimed at squirrel enthusiasts (this is a real thing I encountered outside of Dublin in 2018). Real can be weird, and we’re all for it.

All of this is what we love so much about public places. The best ones are diverse and messy and weird in all the right ways. How could they not be when they’re created and used by such wonderfully creative and passionate people? Visit a farmers market, a well-designed playground or a public art exhibit, and tell me you don’t leave feeling just a little bit more alive.

A little bit more connected to real people or our world in a deeper way. See how you can help us connect.

🖊️ BEN BARTOSIK, MANAGER OF BRAND AND CREATIVE | EVERGREEN

Our 50/50 winning jackpot is over $2,400

When you purchase a raffle ticket you're helping to give children real moments of connection and delight at the Brick Works through school visits and nature camps. The raffle lasts until the end of February and the prize pot is growing fast!

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MUST-READS FROM AROUND THE WEB

📎 We're spending more time alone than ever — is it intentional?

The share of U.S. adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The Atlantic looks at the trend of self-imposed solitude. Read more →

📎 Burned out parents need better public spaces

The physical design of public space is reducing communal play spaces and creating barriers to children's mobility, according to Bloomberg. How do we “build back our tolerance for children in public spaces?” Read more →

📎 Healthier cities will require a strong dose of nature

If we can't get to the forest, the forest must come to us, in the form of cities designed around green spaces. Wired looks at the science behind the incredible health benefits of living in greener areas. Read more →

📎 The incredible project to reconnect the Don River to Lake Ontario

The $1.3-billion flood prevention project in Toronto’s Port Lands is one of the most ambitious urban nature restoration projects in Canada’s history. But Waterfront Toronto's director tells Canadian Geographic that the process reconnects people too, with massive park space to explore. Read more →

EVERGREEN IN ACTION

New jobs posted!

We're looking for skilled, passionate individuals to join our growing team. As we work to build better public spaces, we're dedicated to developing a workforce that reflects the spaces in which we live and work. See open positions →

Group of people talk around boardroom table.

Employee spotlight series

Our Staff Spotlight series shines a light on the voices and perspectives of the Evergreen team. Meet Emma Vredenburg, a dedicated leader and Program Manager. Emma has been instrumental in bringing Evergreen’s programs and events to life for over seven years. Let's get to know more about her! Read more →

What's on at the Brick Works

Looking for things to do in Toronto this month? There are still two more DJ Skate Nights, where you can skate among the trees while the DJ spins your favourite tunes. Or shop local at the Saturday Farmers Market. See what's on →

Have you joined our Get Outdoors winter challenge?

Join us and commit to spending one hour outside every day until spring. We've already seen over 2,000 hours committed by participants! Learn more: Get outdoors →

🎨 BANNER ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA MEDWYK | MELISSAMEDWYK.COM

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