2009 marks the third annual Pug Ed program, charging senior elementary school students to think critically about what makes for “successful” architecture, design, and urban development in the City of Toronto. As an off-shoot of the Pug Awards, the Pug Ed program is designed to teach students about the built environment that surrounds them, to uncover the fundamentals of good architecture and planning, and to foster an appreciation for the importance of well-conceived, responsible design practices in urban society. The Pug Ed program strives to encourage dialogue amongst students about architecture and design in their everyday lives.

 

Last year, the Pug Ed program included Jesse Ketchum Public School (Bay & Davenport) and Queen Alexandra Senior Public School (Broadview & Dundas). This year, Pug Ed is excited to announce that a third school, Nelson Mandela Park Public School (Parliament & Queen), was added to the program. Approximately 30 grade 8 students from the three elementary schools in Toronto are currently participating in the program that was launched in March 2009.

The Pug Awards present a series of after class lectures, whereby students engage with some of Toronto’s most important and influential professionals involved with the on-going development of our city. The roster of guest speakers draws on some of Toronto’s most notable practitioners: Core Architects, interior design firm Cecconi Simone, developer Gary Switzer, and Janet Rosenberg & Associates Landscape Architecture, to name a few. Alongside the lectures, students are challenged with a design competition which requires the preparation of a complete redevelopment proposal, given a specific urban scenario. Winners of the competition receive significant educational bursaries for post-secondary education.

 

This year’s winners will be presented with their bursaries at the Pug Awards closing ceremony on June 3th, 2009 at the Gardiner Museum.