New Kids On The Block: How young people are reclaiming urban spaces 

“Whatcha Makin’ Wednesday” reads the flyer for a free monthly art workshop in my city. Held in a cozy tavern repurposed for the event, the venue welcomes youth from all over the neighbourhood to learn and experiment.  

With third spaces declining and anxiety about the commercialization and surveillance of public spaces growing, events like this offer a refreshing experience — a place to gather, create and belong. 

Linsy Woolley, an Integrated Arts student at McMaster University and organizer of Whatcha Makin’ Wednesdays, hopes to foster exactly that kind of environment. Frustrated by the lack of accessible spaces where people could simply come together to create, they took it upon themselves to build the change they wanted to see: a welcoming, judgment-free space where creativity comes first and cost isn’t a barrier. 

“I wanted to create a community the institution would not build,” they said. The monthly workshops prioritize openness and collaboration, making space for both beginners and seasoned artists to share ideas, ask questions and try new things without fear.  

At a time when many young people have been left feeling disconnected after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Woolley sees these gatherings as a crucial way to make socializing and self-expression feel possible again. Their approach treats art as more than a hobby; it’s a tool for reclaiming space and education — and it’s resonating. Most attendees are young adults who, like Woolley, are searching for connection and creative outlets in a world they’re still figuring out. “Without them,” they said, “there wouldn’t be events to create.” 

Across my city of Hamilton and other urban centers, young people like Woolley are reimagining what community space can look like. They’re starting community gardens, curating DIY concerts in basements and organizing clothing swaps, food drives and other community aid meet-ups. What connects these efforts isn’t just creativity — it’s care. A desire to nurture their surroundings and each other in ways institutions have often failed to.  

These grassroots efforts are more than just a response to the lack of traditional third spaces, they represent a quiet but powerful shift in hegemonic beliefs about who certain spaces are for and how they should be used.  

Rather than waiting for institutions to catch up, young people are carving out their own networks of support, collaboration and joy. What’s emerging is a redefinition of public space; not one driven by profit or passive consumption, but by shared experiences, mutual learning and collective care.