TORONTO - Sidewalk Labs has come under criticism for not doing enough to include recommendations by members of the Indigenous community in its proposal for the Quayside development on Toronto's waterfront.
In an Oct. 25 letter to Waterfront Toronto, Indigenous artist and elder Duke Redbird and architect Calvin Brook say that the Google Inc. sister company talks about Indigenous consultations in its master plan, but has not "carried forward in any substantial manner" the recommendations made by a focus group of Indigenous people in architecture, urban design and other creative sectors.
The 14 core recommendations that came from a one-day consultation hosted by Sidewalk Labs, and organized by the Indigenous Design Studio at the Brook McIlory architecture firm, looked to address some of the needs of the Indigenous community including adding Indigenous art, housing, and job components.
The letter writers say the recommendations have apparently been dismissed even as Sidewalk Labs talks of inclusion in its official draft plan, which they say creates the "grossly misleading implication of endorsement by the Indigenous community of Toronto."
The writers acknowledge that the plan includes temporary winter art installations that could be designed by Indigenous artists, and that some housing and jobs have been set aside for Indigenous people within a longer list of disadvantaged groups, but say the commitments are "tokenistic" and "meaningless."
Sidewalk Labs spokeswoman Keerthana Rang says Quayside plans are still at the early stage, but that the consultations helped inform the draft plan and that Sidewalk is committed to continued conversations and collaboration with Indigenous stakeholders.
