Design for Inclusion: Diverse Voices for Healthier Communities

Regenerate 2025

6月 9, 2025

For SJ Regenerate Week, we hosted an engaging session to dive deeper into the critical topic of inclusive design and its role in building healthier, more inclusive communities. Over 70 attendees from B+H and CHIL, representing our Toronto, Vancouver, and Seattle studios, participated in this interdisciplinary conversation, both virtually and in person. We recognize that understanding inclusive design demands a wide range of perspectives.

Building on the “Regenerate: People” theme, we heard from experts beyond Architecture + Design, including artists and therapists. These “new designers” offered fresh insights into how art, wellness, culture, and prosperity directly influence our communities and the people we design for. Their contributions were invaluable in broadening our understanding of the human experience and enhancing our design approaches.

The session, facilitated by Gail Shillingford, Principal of Planning and Landscape, B+H, brought together a panel of diverse voices:

  • Chiyi Tam, Urban Planner
  • Troy Budhu, Specialist Social Finance & Community Wealth
  • Janelle Lee Pong, Narrative Therapist
  • Nathan Foerger, Registered Psychologist
  • Nicole Moyo, Urban Designer and Artist

Our goal is to emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and community engagement. By sharing our diverse experiences and perspectives, we can collectively address the challenges of creating welcoming, inclusive environments.