Geographical Thinking: S4E25 – Catching Up on Quiet

In this episode of Geographical Thinking, host Michelle Brake welcomes back Ingrid Buday, founder of No More Noise Toronto, to discuss the organization’s remarkable growth and ongoing fight against urban noise pollution. Ingrid shares how her grassroots initiative has expanded from 240 to 1,600 members, all working to address noise sources like vehicle traffic, waste collection and amplified sound. With innovative use of GIS technology and community-driven data collection, Ingrid is paving the way for quieter, healthier city living. Tune in to hear how she’s turning up the volume on advocacy and making impactful noise about the need for change. 0:00 – Episode summary 0:39 – Intros 1:31 – Noise pollution & No More Noise Toronto 4:08 – 2024 8:35 – Managing growth 10:58 – Partnerships 13:34 – Overnight waste collection 15:09 – GIS usage 20:39 – Future goals 22:36 – Get involved! 24:38 – Outro We’re posting new episodes full of inspiring geography stories at least monthly. Subscribe to Esri Canada’s channel so you never miss a new episode of Geographical Thinking! Looking for resources on what we discussed in today’s podcast? Check them out below! No More Noise Toronto: https://www.nomorenoisetoronto.com/ A grassroots initiative advocating for quieter, healthier urban spaces by addressing noise pollution through community action, data collection, and policy change. "NOT 311" Noise Report: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0cbf700b7e7b4c01a5f12f27c3152c12 This story highlights key findings from Toronto’s Noise By-law Review, focusing on public consultations, health data, and the importance of stronger noise regulations. Loud Moving Vehicle Noise: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/54f125bbe66f4c3789a5d6180f4dc988 This high-level overview analyzes the prevalence of vehicle noise in Toronto, emphasizing sources while advocating for enforcement and policy updates to address the issue. Overnight Waste Collection: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4e6896774a4b48c89238d6ca00bfe3bb This story details how overnight waste collection noise affects residents, with survey findings revealing widespread sleep disruption and its health implications. Noise Calendar: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cd57311eda4443dcb60f51ce11fe788e Looking for what’s up next for No More Noise Toronto? Check out the noise calendar for opportunities to learn more and speak up about noise pollution!