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Toronto City Council · 2023-06-14 · 2023.MM7.7

The filed record

Developing a Framework for the Installation of Outdoor Working Stations - by Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll

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The decision

2023-06-14 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on June 14 and 15, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with other appropriate City Divisions, to consider the installation of free-to-use outdoor work spaces that are equipped with Wi-Fi and solar lighting, as well as funding models, as part of the overall public Wi-Fi strategy under the ConnectTO program.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In 2020, a company based in Montreal that organizes and creates event spaces, developed a pilot project called Cabine de Castelnau. The intent of this project was to utilize outdoor public areas in Montreal and turn them into teleworking spaces that are equipped with WiFi and electricity. With the goal of implementing 20 of these spaces in 2021, the project was successful and attracted nearly 30,000 users that year and the number of spaces doubled in 2022 with 40 spaces strategically positioned across the City.

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This project was made possible through collaboration between the Province of Quebec, the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough, Desjardis Group and FIZZ Canada - a mobile and internet company that provides WiFi for the spaces. Greendesking, another name for working outdoors, combats social isolation, stimulates creativity, reduces stress and promotes positive mental wellbeing by bringing people together in a shared fully-equipped outdoor environment. Toronto is a city the loves the outdoors. Whether it be through CaféTO, Open Streets TO or the use of our public parks, it is clear that Torontonians will leverage the option of bringing their office outdoors.

Staff recommended

Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back on a framework to pilot the installation of free-to-use outdoor work spaces that are equipped with WiFi and solar lighting, funded in part by corporate partnerships by the fourth quarter of 2023.

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