Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/609048
w e t h e c i t y by Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University (as read at We The City: An Evening at the Centre on Nov. 4, 2015) What makes a city glorious and great is not the asphalt or the concrete or the neon (the alleys, sidewalks and lights of the city) not the bricks or the girders or the glass (the buildings, bridges and sights of the city). True, it would not be much of a city without them. But they are only the material makings of the city – its intra-infra-structures. They are only the flesh and bones of the city – the lungs, not the voice of the city the head, not the mind of the city its bodily arteries, not its spiritual heart it's physical form, not its metaphysical soul. What makes a city glorious and great are its provisions and its prospects – for employment and accommodation for sustainability and transportation for health and education. What makes a city glorious and great are its conversations and gatherings – its meetings and dialogues its deliberations and debates. What makes a city glorious and great are its networks and societies – its co-ops, unions and grassroots associations its neighbourhood groups and business organizations. What makes a city glorious and great are its customs, styles and cuisines – its Indigenous roots and European suits its Asian foods and passion fruits. What makes a city glorious and great are its people – its students and its activists its thinkers and philanthropists is peacemakers and protesters. What makes a city glorious and great are its artists – its painters and sculptors its actors and musicians its poets and writers. What makes a city glorious and great are its universities – especially when they come out from their ivory towers down from their mountain tops in from their peninsulas to engage the city to enrich the city to build the city. What makes a city glorious and great or not so glorious or less than great are we. For cities are made, not found and we are our cities makers or breakers. No one else. Which is why we are here this week tonight. To shed some light on we the city. To explore its dark spots and its bright spots its daytime and its night spots its open and its tight spots. Which is why we are here this week tonight. To confirm our commitment Through dance and song With paint and pen in poetry and prose to take and make and shape our city. Which is why we are here this week tonight. To renew our resolve We the City all of us to Be the City.