Placemaking: Building Safe, Connected, and Resilient Communities

We can build community by designing better public spaces! Get an introduction to placemaking, and then dive deeper into examples of how two forms of placemaking – little free libraries and road murals – can be used to build safe, connected, and resilient communities. This talk explores ways in which individuals, community groups, and municipal governments can support placemaking, and the role that visualization and data can play in promoting placemaking. Since 2017, Teale has been mapping, helping build, and stocking little free libraries around the CRD. When he started there were 111 in the region, and in September 2025 we celebrated the 1,000th LFL in the region! The talk will include a look at the winners of the 2025 Little Free Library awards (voting open until Nov 6!).

We will also invite attendees to participate in a Blind Date with a Book! Bring a book to share, wrap the book in paper to hide the cover, and write down a few points such as "historical novel" or "epic fantasy" to hint at the book's contents. Select a new book to take home after the talk!

Teale Phelps-Bondaroff

Teale lives in Saanich near Rutledge Park with his partner Stephanie. In 2022 he was elected as a Councillor for the District of Saanich, BC, Canada. He works as Director of Research for OceansAsia, a marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting our oceans and combatting wildlife crime.

As a long-time and active Saanich resident, Teale works to build a vibrant and connected community. He leads the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s Pocket Places Project, which maps, promotes, builds, and stocks little free libraries in Saanich and communities throughout the Capital Regional District.