What is lived experience?

“Lived experience” refers to personal knowledge, perceptions, and feelings about the built environments in which we live, work, and play. Responses reflect meaningful personal opinions rather than expert, scientific, or even formal descriptions.

Mapping positive lived experiences in Canada
Public Buildings
Housing Housing
Streets and Paths
Parks,⁣ Squares and Plazas
Neighborhoods and Districts
Others
Quality in Canada's Built Environment: Roadmaps to Equity, Social Value and Sustainablity

Share your lived experience


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Place Plumereau
Roxane 18 June 2026
Place Plumereau in Tours, also known as Place Plume, is a place for gathering and celebration. It is like the […]

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Pembina Hall Student Residences
Félix 2 June 2026
Pembina Hall Student Residences offers comfortable and immaculate private rooms right on the University of Manitoba campus. Just a few […]

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Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
Nabeel 15 May 2026
“What stands out about this space is how accessible it feels from the moment you arrive. There is a clear […]

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Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
Sheena 9 May 2026
When entering the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, the sounds of the city were almost nonexistent, except for the occasional plane flying […]

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Prince’s Island Park
Sheena 9 May 2026
In the summertime, walking through Prince’s Island Park in the late afternoon established a sense of connectivity to the city […]

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Grassi Lakes
Sneha Maliat 9 May 2026
Grassi Lakes is a beautiful example of Alberta’s natural landscape, where mountains, hiking trails, forests, and turquoise water come together […]

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Bowness Park Boathouse
Sneha Maliat 9 May 2026
I have a summer position at the Boathouse in Bowness Park, and every year I look forward to the arrival […]

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Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
Hosna 9 May 2026
“Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge, to me, is an exemplary user experience and quality in the built environment because […]

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Marda Loop Neighbourhood
Veronica 9 May 2026
“Marda Loop is one of the places in Calgary that I feel is very dynamic and engaging. I remember walking […]

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Walkway, University of Calgary
Sneha Maliat 9 May 2026
“Last fall, while working as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate course, I had the opportunity to lead students on […]

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Kensington Public Plaza
Sneha Maliat 9 May 2026
“After a long and busy day, I often feel the need to escape, even if it is just somewhere nearby. […]

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Eighth Avenue Place
Brian R. 8 May 2026
“I experience Eighth Avenue Place through its quality. It stands out for how well it is put together, in a […]

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Bow River Pathway
Brian R. 8 May 2026
“I experience the Bow River Pathway as a place that is very welcoming. What stands out right away is that […]

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Calgary Central Library
Brian R. 8 May 2026
“I experience the Calgary Central Library as a strong public gesture, something that feels like the city’s living room. When […]

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TELUS Sky Tower
Brian R. 8 May 2026
“I experience TELUS Sky more as an experiment within the city. It is not necessarily about public access, but about […]

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Studio Bell: Home of the National Music Centre
Bill 8 May 2026
“I experience Studio Bell as a project that stands out as part of a larger shift in the city. It […]

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Glenbow Museum Redevelopment
Bill 8 May 2026
“The Glenbow is another project that really stands out to me. It is an incredible example of adaptive reuse, but […]

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Nose Hill Park
Mikaela 8 May 2026
“After a day of constant stimulation from urban life, I recall heading to Nose Hill Park to decompress. Stress was […]

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13th Avenue Greenway
Afrah 8 May 2026
“I experience 13th Avenue as a street where you can really see that something is happening. When you walk there, […]

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Studio Bell
Meaghon 8 May 2026
“Studio Bell really stands out to me. It feels like an incredible space. What I really love about it is […]
Guidelines

Typically, between 500-1000 words.

Positive Lived Experience should touch on at least one of QUALITY IN CANADA’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT goals.

Should aim to include at least one good quality image accompanied with a caption.

Should be accessible and understandable to a wide audience, e.g. everyday language, and explain any more complex concepts with which not everyone will be familiar.

Contributions in EN-FR

Include a short author bio.

Process will include submission, review and edition.