Next City Vanguard Fellow

Next City’s Vanguard fellowship is an experiential urban leadership gathering of rising urban leaders from around the world working to improve cities across sectors, including urban planning, community development, entrepreneurship, government, transportation, sustainability, design, art and media. In 2018 Bridget was the only Canadian selected for this highly competitive fellowship. As part of her work in New Orleans, Bridget was immersed in various presentations, workshops and neighbourhood explorations tied to the theme of “Equity as a Growth Strategy”. Her work included an in-depth design-centric collaboration focussed on New Orleans’ Clairborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District (CID), a 25-block vision for the area under the elevated I-10 expressway that had suffered significant economic and social decline as a result of ill-conceived planning policies and devastation from Hurricane Katrina.

Read more about the Vanguard experience in her Municipal World article “Building the Co-Created City”.

Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Lab Fellow

Recognized for her potential to lead change in organizations, communities and arts sectors Bridget was selected as a The Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Lab Fellow, a program for arts professionals to enhance leadership capacity in Toronto’s arts and culture sectors. In particular, it assembles individuals ready to challenge traditional concepts of leadership to manifest sector-wide change.

The program is designed to invigorate and inspire arts leaders, ensuring their future capacity to steward the health and success of the arts sector and the city as a whole. The goal of the program is to build a network of open-minded, creative problem-solvers and innovative thinkers from across disciplines who explore concepts and practices of relational leadership. The program focuses on power/influence, resilience and self-care, systems and networks, and community and civic engagement. It aims to strengthen leadership capacity in the arts sector, by creating bridges, networks, tools and the space for exchanging different perspectives and approaches.

International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM) Global Connector

IETM Global Connectors are experienced contemporary performing arts professionals from around the world who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing global awareness, inclusion, accessibility and connectivity for the benefit of their communities. In addition to various sessions throughout the year, Bridget’s work included gathering with fellow Global Connectors and the IETM network in Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia (2022 European Capital of Culture) to discuss the state of the creative labour market including workers’ rights regulations and working conditions post-pandemic, labour transformation in the performing arts and theatre and how can the arts embrace care, friendship, solidarity and stability in a dramatically changing world.

Imagining 2080: A Forum on Canada’s Futures

Hosted by the Future of Canada Project based at McMaster University, Bridget was an invited forum delegate who contributed her bold arts and culture voice and expertise to the conversation. She joined 150 other possibility-minded delegates gathered to collectively explore potential futures for Canada in 2080. Over three days in Hamilton, Ontario, delegates immersed themselves in a unique and participatory experience where they learned from fellow visionary voices, contributed to new narratives about the future in 2080 and identified critical next steps in building a brighter future. Rooted in strategic foresight, this Forum presented an opportunity to imagine deeply aspirational futures of Canada while also identifying the key actions and changes needed to get there.

Miles Nadal JCC – The Citizenship Project

The Citizenship Project immerses young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Toronto’s civic landscape, using creative engagement exercises to explore leadership, self-advocacy, and what it means to be a resident of Toronto. As a program mentor, Bridget shared her expertise on advocacy, and city issues with participants and worked with them on how to get involved in their communities.