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toronto
Waterfront Toronto approves deal to develop land once slated for Sidewalk Labs
Views of the Port Lands area from Cherry St., the future home of Sidewalk Labs in Toronto on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
book review
Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy is a study of the power and limits of Big Tech
The City Google Couldn’t Buy is a study of the power and limits of Big Tech by author Josh O’Kane
opinion
After Alphabet, Toronto’s waterfront gets low tech and high design
Alex Bozikovic
report on business
Waterfront Toronto names new partners for land Sidewalks Labs intended to build on
A view of the Port Lands area is shown in Toronto on June 25, 2019. Waterfront Toronto has named two new companies that will develop a swath of lakeside land a Google affiliate once hoped to turn into a high-tech neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
report on business
Sidewalk Labs disbanding and CEO discloses likely ALS, 19 months after abandoning Toronto urban-tech project
Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs, photographed during a luncheon talk at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, on Jan 13 2020.
property report
Around The Bend: Office building anchors a waterfront community
toronto
Waterfront Toronto resets plans for Quayside site after Sidewalk Labs
Drawings of a conceptual design for the Quayside district and Parliament Slip in downtown Toronto. Quayside; Possible Vision; Full View Looking NW Credit Rendering to Standard Practice/Design by West 8 and DTAH
report on business
Dream Unlimited adds former Sidewalk Labs-affiliated urbanists to boost impact-investment team
This undated photo provided by Sidewalk Toronto shows the eastern waterfront of Toronto. Ontario's privacy commissioner has raised numerous concerns about how Sidewalk Labs has proposed that personal data be handled in Toronto's Quayside development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sidewalk Toronto MANDATORY CREDIT
opinion
Canada’s AI strategy needs to be built on more than hype
Benjamin Bergen
report on business
Sidewalk Labs Toronto office up for lease after layoffs, abandoning smart city
The Port Lands area from Cherry St., what would have been the home of Sidewalk Labs in Toronto on June 25, 2019.
opinion
After Sidewalk Labs’ departure, Toronto hits the reset button on a smart city
Alex Bozikovic
report on business
Sidewalk Labs lays off most Toronto staff after cancelling smart-city project
A truck leaves an Eastern Waterfront work site after Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs announced it pulled out of the neighbouring "smart city" project due to economic uncertainty in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
report on business
Sidewalk’s end: How the downfall of a Toronto ‘smart city’ plan began long before COVID-19
Sidewalk Labs' proposed Quayside development (CENTRE, beside silos), is seen from a helicopter on June 17 2019.
letters
May 17: ‘Perhaps it’s time to put our trust in people again to do the right thing.’ Readers debate COVID-19 lockdown rules, plus other letters to the editor
The offices of Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs "smart city" are seen after the company announced it has pulled out of its project due to economic uncertainty in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
letters
May 13: ‘An enormous Band-Aid, a spreadsheet large enough to paper the prairies.’ Readers react to federal loans for Canadian corporations, plus other letters to the editor
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a reporter's question during his daily news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic outside his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, on Saturday, May 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
opinion
Sidewalk Labs’s departure is Toronto’s loss
Marcus Gee
morning update newsletter
Morning Update: As Canada slowly looks to reopen, a big backlog of elective surgeries awaits
Two people wearing personal protective equipment, including respirators and coverall suits in-line skate on the seawall at Stanley Park in Vancouver on Sunday, April 5, 2020. Getting around Stanley Park since the pandemic struck is a new experience for Tom Green. Roads that weave through the urban forest in Vancouver have been closed to traffic, making space for residents to get fresh air at a physical distance. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
opinion
After Sidewalk Labs, Toronto should get smart
Alex Bozikovic
technology
Google affiliate Sidewalk Labs abandons Toronto smart-city project
The proposed site of Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs 'smart city' is seen after the company announced it has pulled out of its project due to economic uncertainty in Toronto, on May 7, 2020.
opinion
In Toronto, Sidewalk Labs is getting closer to building – but what?
Alex Bozikovic
report on business
Waterfront Toronto endorses bulk of Sidewalk Labs smart-city innovations, but still uncertain of risks
The Toronto skyline is seen past cranes in the waterfront area envisioned by Alphabet Inc.'s Sidewalk Labs as a new technical hub in the Port Lands district, on March 29, 2019.
report on business
Waterfront Toronto tries to block legal attempt to shut down Sidewalk Labs smart-city project
A street sign for Villiers St. is photographed on Oct 3 2019. Sidewalk Labs is asking for part of Villiers St., located near Toronto's waterfront in the Portlands area, is to become the new home to Google Canada, and this is a stumbling block in the negotiations with Waterfront Toronto.
technology
Toronto should weigh inclusion, transparency and privacy in digital infrastructure decisions, chief technology officer says
FILE PHOTO: The downtown skyline and CN Tower are seen past the eastern waterfront area envisioned by Alphabet Inc's Sidewalk Labs as a new technical hub in the Port Lands district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo
british columbia
Vancouver can’t let privacy concerns for Sidewalk Labs projects fall through the cracks
Condo and office towers fill the downtown skyline in Vancouver on Friday, March 30, 2018. Vancouver city council has voted in favour of a motion that demands global fossil fuel companies pay their share of costs arising from climate change. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
technology
Sidewalk Labs partners with Plaza Ventures on fund focused on urban technology
Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs, walks to a press scrum outside the Sidewalk Labs offices at 307 Lakeshore Blvd, East on June 24 2019.
report on business
Opponents of Sidewalk Labs get advice from German tech protesters
Opponents of Sidewalk Labs get advice from German tech protesters
music
Tapestry’s TAP:EX Augmented Opera is a compact, experimental success
TapExAugmented-stills-photobyDahliaKatz-5954.jpg production images are attached for Tapestry Opera's TAP:EX Augmented Opera. Both photos are by Dahlia Katz.
report on business
Sidewalk Labs stays mum on tech infrastructure costs
FILE PHOTO: The downtown skyline and CN Tower are seen past the eastern waterfront area envisioned by Alphabet Inc's Sidewalk Labs as a new technical hub in the Port Lands district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/
report on business
New Sidewalk deal strikes better balance on IP and innovation but questions still unanswered, experts say
Experts and others weigh in on new Sidewalk deal
report on business
Waterfront Toronto moving forward on Sidewalk Labs’s smart city, but with limits on scale, data collection
Waterfront Toronto moving forward on Sidewalk Labs’ smart city, but with limits on scale, data collection
report on business
Sidewalk Labs agrees to smaller version of proposed project
Sidewalk Labs' proposed Quayside development (CENTRE, beside silos), is seen from a helicopter on June 17 2019.
report on business
Sidewalk Labs document reveals company’s early vision for data collection, tax powers, criminal justice
The Sidewalk Labs office in Toronto includes models of the proposed Quayside project. An internal document from 2016 shows Sidewalk's early plans for data collection and taxation powers.
report on business
Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto move closer to agreement on Quayside project
Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto move closer to agreement on Quayside project
report on business
Indigenous group speaks out over ‘grossly misleading’ Sidewalk Labs consultation
Indigenous leaders speak out over ‘grossly misleading’ Sidewalk Labs consultation
report on business
Sidewalk Labs courting local venture capitalists to back smart-city project on Toronto waterfront
Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs, walks to a scrum outside the Sidewalk Labs in Toronto on June 24, 2019. Sidewalk has been taking meetings with local venture capitalists and startups to help invest into a venture fund for local, early-stage companies focused on 'urban innovation.'
technology
Sidewalk Labs’ Toronto projects lacks independent oversight, has insufficient public role, privacy watchdog says
Views of the Port Lands area from Cherry St., the future home of Sidewalk Labs in Toronto on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj