The Forefront: Ideas for cities

Education has the power to open doors, create opportunities and strengthen communities. As president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University, Mohamed Lachemi has spent the past decade helping to expand access to higher education while championing student success. In this episode, Lachemi reflects on his journey from international student to university president and discusses how phi...

The Forefront: Next-gen generosity is exploring how generosity can create opportunity, strengthen communities and shape the future. Hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang, this season features conversations with leaders, community builders and changemakers whose commitment to giving back and giving forward is making a lasting impact. Through stories of leadersh...

Discover how Toronto Metropolitan University is shaping the next generation of nurses through  immersive, hands-on education. Backed by a $1 million donation from the FDC Foundation, these innovative simulation labs immerse students in realistic healthcare scenarios, preparing them for the complexities of modern nursing by utilizing the latest technology to navigate high-pressure situations with c...

TMU’s DMZ has earned its place as the world’s top university-based tech incubator with its 14 years of experience, 1000+ startups and $2.76 billion in funding. By providing entrepreneurs with the tools to build, launch and scale their ventures, DMZ fuels groundbreaking innovation while shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Canada. Discover how Nathaniel Bagnell, co-founder of the tech startup...

Shopping for clothes is typically a visual experience, but for those who are partially or totally blind, it can be challenging. Enter Aille Design, founded by Alexa Jovanovic, a Fashion Communication '16 alumna, and incubated in TMU’s Fashion Zone. Aille integrates braille into its designs, making garments fully legible for braille readers. Discover how Aille is breaking down barriers and res...

There’s a silent epidemic impacting older Canadians over the age of 50. A new report from Toronto Metropolitan University'’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA) revealed that 40 per cent of Canadians aged 50 and over are at risk of struggling with social isolation. In this episode, we explore the growing issue of loneliness among older adults in Canada and spotlight the NIA’s efforts to curb i...

Artificial intelligence in higher education comes with its challenges, but one Toronto Metropolitan University professor has turned AI into an asset. Meet ProfBot , the revolutionary AI study buddy developed by Dr. Sean Wise. Learn how this innovative tool has helped students increase their grades — transforming the way students learn and the future of education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

What if the next time you see a doctor, you are treated as a person, not just a patient, and your culture and background are embraced, not overlooked? That’s the vision Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine is bringing to life. Through its bold new approach to medical education, TMU is transforming health care in Ontario to provide a person-centred experience that is as unique as yo...

Our award-winning podcast, The Forefront , is back for another season! Join us as we explore disruptions in healthcare, education, technology, fashion, and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Smoke, noise, disorientation— when firefighters are inside a burning building, the ability to get out safely is a challenge. In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanfield, a former Toronto fire chief and co-founder of IFTech, and Alex Ferworn, Director of the Computational Public Safety Lab at TMU, about the “As Real as It Gets” suit, which utilizes virtual reality video game technology into po...

The job market is changing at a rapid speed, making it difficult for both those looking to get hired and for those doing the hiring. How can we address this skills gap? In this episode, we speak with Matt McInnis, an educational technology leader, and with Gary Hepburn, dean of The Chang School, about microcredentials: a skills-based training and certification program developed in partnership with...

More than 50 per cent of Canadians report that their mental health has worsened since the beginning of the pandemic. And while treatments like therapy and medication can help, they can be hard to access — and expensive.  In this episode, we speak with the team behind a music therapy app called LUCID: Aaron Labbé, who turned to music as a source of comfort during a mental health crisis, and Frank R...

A lot of things about being a breast cancer patient can feel dehumanizing, but one thing that can change is what patients are given to wear on their chest.  In this episode, we speak with patient advocate Jennifer Schultz and Jessica Mudry, director of the Healthcare User Experience (HUE) Lab at TMU, about applying humanities thinking — like fashion design — when it comes to finding patient-centre...

In 2018, hackers got hold of TMU alumna Erin MacDonald’s personal information and began a tsunami of purchases — affecting her credit rating and causing profound stress.  In this episode, we speak with Erin about the theft of her identity, along with global information technology leader Claudette McGowan and TMU-based computer scientist Javaid Zahid, who are creating a quantum wallet to better sec...

Our award-winning podcast is back for another season! This time we’re exploring human-centred innovation, from designing a post-surgical garment for breast cancer patients to employing robotics to help first responders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to TMU's Centre for Urban Energy , by 2030, 80% of the world's population will live in urban areas, so the way we use energy will impact the way we live, work and grow as a community. This has many people – including TMU alumni, looking for alternative modes of transportation. In this episode, we speak with two alumni entrepreneurs about their pursuit of cleaner transportation...

Canadians continue to be divided on bike lanes on city streets. However, research out of TMU shows that after developing protected bike lanes, four in ten users in Toronto were new cyclists. Before this infrastructure existed, these cyclists would have used an alternate means of travel. This is good news for municipalities looking to reduce congestion on city streets.  In this episode, we explore...

For city dwellers, noise is just part of the package – but how noisy is too noisy? Research shows that ongoing exposure to noise can negatively impact your health, leading to conditions like heart disease and diabetes. And according to the United Nations Environment Program – it's also a top environmental risk. In this episode, we hear from TMU's leading noise expert and a Toronto reside...

In 2021 the Standing Strong Task Force provided a list of recommendations for how the university can address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson and forge a new chapter. One of the recommendations was a renaming to reflect our university values better. The process included feedback from over 30,000 people, with over 2,600 name suggestions. In April 2022, the name Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) wa...

In Canada and around the world, Black Indigenous and people of colour are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Research has shown that racialized communities in Canada have higher exposure to air pollution and less access to green spaces.  In this episode, we discuss the gaps in the research and the fight for environmental justice in Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Canadian youth are becoming increasingly concerned about the climate change crisis impacting our country and the world. TMU's Leadership Lab is working towards building factual awareness around solutions to the challenge of climate change through a youth-driven initiative known as Generation Climate .  In this episode, we discuss the implications of climate misinformation and the importance o...

Toronto Metropolitan University's award-winning podcast The Forefront is back! This season, we look at how the university is tackling some of the environmental issues impacting Canadians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this season of The Forefront, we will explore the role Toronto Metropolitan University is playing in creating more inclusive, sustainable, and livable cities.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people move to Toronto, which means the need for housing is not slowing down, however neither is the rising costs. This leads to an increase in the construction of high rises, which are polluting the environment. The solution? The ZEROhouse concept is a 1,100-square-foot stacked townhouse designed to be built on cheap land formerly occupied by one or two-storey...

In a multicultural hub like the Greater Toronto Area, what impact do immigrant entrepreneurs and retailers have on the city? Urban and Regional Planning professor Dr. Zhixi Zhuang says the benefits go beyond economic ones and extend into establishing a sense of belonging and ownership for many newcomers and communities. In this episode, host Amanda Cupido chats with Dr. Zhuang and Mohamad Fakih, P...