Simone Thibault

The Dutch invest €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do the math on investing in better mobility. Let’s be clear — it wastes public money to NOT do it. #CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife

As I think about my life, I am constantly reminded that we are all in this together. Even if we disagree, this is our chance to leave the world in a place where our children can dream of being anything.

10:44 am in #Kyiv Morning from Ukraine! The night was with drones in Kyiv. In total, our Air Force downed 40 drones out of 45 overnight over Ukraine. I had a strange sleep and a good cup of #warcoffee after it. As usual, my Sunday is dedicated to writing a letter. So see you later. Today's piece of Ukrainian art: David Burliuk, Cyclamens, 1954

It's Friday, I'm in love.

An important conversation that I'm eager to have. If we question the ethics of developers making voluntary contributions for communities, let's also look at campaign donations through the same lens. "Integrity should work both ways." ottawacitizen.com/opinion/adam-o…

Join us as we launch STEAR- Canada's first mobile app designed to connect victims of Economic Abuse with comprehensive tools and support. Register today ow.ly/U1YT50Qx2Bq @WomanACT @WAGE_FEGC @ShelterMovers @YWCA_Canada @can_wcc @CanWaCH @CanadaFgm

11. Later he said to me – “Please write down for me what you did. It was the best hospital experience I’ve ever had. You’re the first doctor who’s ever believed me.” **Everything we do is sociotechnical.**

This article from @OttawaCitizen's @marlogee contains some interestingly framed statements, plus a good bit of one-sided perspectives. I'm increasingly curious about how municipal matters are being covered by local media. 1/ ottawacitizen.com/news/should-ot…

Here's the first paragraph: "Dollars from developers have become something of a lightning rod around Ottawa’s city hall, with a controversial $300,000 donation leaving councillors seeking a formal policy FORBIDDING them from negotiating these kinds of deals." That's incorrect. 2/

Putting aside that "dollars from developers" have ALWAYS been a "lighting rod" around City Hall, this sentence seems to pre-conclude & mis-portray Council's goal for the policy that Council is seeking. The cart's before the horse, but the horse hasn't left the stable yet. 3/

The objective of the policy, as per the motion that Council passed, is pasted below. What Council is seeking is simply to develop a policy on developer contributions in order to ensure consistency and improve transparency. We don't yet know what that policy will be. 4/

Before city staff have begun to explore a policy, and certainly before Council has had a chance to view, let alone debate the policy, the article suggests that councillors have already determined the policy. That's lighting-speed policy development. 4/

Further in the article, the journalist describes the MOU between Councillor Menard and Katasa thusly: "...the deal raised the eyebrows of many around the council table, with some councillors saying it didn’t pass the sniff test." Nothing sells news like controversy, right? 5/

Another way to write that sentence: "...while several councillors raised concerns over perception, with a few members even alleging impropriety, many councillors expressed their support for the agreement, even noting a lengthy history of similarly negotiated contributions." 6/

To conclude: 1) Council only speaks as one voice after Council has deliberated and voted on a matter. Just because the Mayor wants something does not make it so. 2) When media gives imbalanced coverage, the public discourse becomes further unbalanced.

@Kat_LeBlanc Bonne chance Kathryn! Bon séjour à Winnipeg

I have a life update to share: I am moving to Winnipeg because my partner started a new job with the Manitoba government. I will continue running my consulting work remotely & I’ll come back to Ottawa when I can, and will continue to regularly visit family back in NS too.

Alberta directed removal of #COVID19, flu references in fall vaccine campaign, documents show, by @alanna_smithh via ⁦@globeandmail⁩ theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta…

A global study reveals that Dutch residents are the most physically active on earth, getting 12.8 hours of exercise each week. The key—designing activity into daily life. The average #Dutch person cycles about 1,098 kilometers per year. HT @Cycling_Embassy ipsos.com/en/global-view…

The dichotomy is that urban ridings have a larger tax base due to density, as well as much lower infrastructure costs, but we are ignored or low in priority for new facilities that our lower income families desperately need. Lowertown has 1 aging Community Centre. Such a shame.