Where do the Children Play?
Join play expert,
Alex Smith, as he takes us on a curated tour of Canadian play spaces,
past and present, with a smattering of contrasting international
examples. Photos and video illustrate different approaches and
design elements that keep kids coming back for more. Whether it’s public
art, minimalist landscapes, child-led temporary creations, or vernacular
builds, each space offers seemingly endless moments of joy through the
simple medium of play.
Alex Smith is the founder/editor of the award-winning blog, PlayGroundology.
For nearly 15 years he has been publishing stories for international
audiences featuring play theorists and practitioners, designers,
artists, academics and kids from Canada and countries around the world.
Alex’s rediscovery of play was inspired by his three youngest
children’s very active pursuit of fun and adventure. Together, they
gamboled through playgrounds in Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and
points between. The backyard of their Nova Scotia home became an
ever-changing neighbourhood play zone.
In
the process, Alex became an advocate for children’s right to play,
organizing a variety of public events, appearing in regional and
national media, and volunteering with the Canadian chapter of the
International Play Association (IPA). The father of five and grandfather
of two, he is a firm believer in the transformative power of play.
Lecture sponsored in part by: