09/04/2025
Our most recent episode delves into the importance of public and free third spaces and how they impact your mental health. We had the pleasure of talking with filmmaker, Ali Weinstein, about her first observational documentary, Your Tomorrow, which premiered at the TIFF in 2024.
Listen at braaainspodcast.com/episodes/third-places.
The film is about the last year in the life of Ontario Place which became a defacto public park 10 years ago after living many lives as an educational and entertainment destination. Ontario Place was a third place that acted as a refuge to a lot of Torontonians until the government decided to turn the main part of the space into a private spa and despite public process, construction began in October of 2024, a month after Ali’s documentary premiered.
For those of you who haven’t heard of third places before, it’s a sociological term that refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home ("first place") and the workplace ("second place"). Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. They are spaces like churches, cafes, libraries, gyms, bookstores, gaming spaces, parks, and theatres, where people can gather, relax, and engage in meaningful interactions, which can positively impact mental health by fostering a sense of community and belonging Third places are where we can both affirm our own identities and build empathy for identities different from our own.
In Ray Oldenburg and Karen Christensen’s 1989 book The Great Good Place, Oldenburg argues that third places are essential for democracy, civic engagement, and a sense of place. IN the 2023 edition, Christensen argues that third places are also the answer to loneliness, political polarization, and climate resilience.
PS After you listen to this episode, go watch Your Tomorrow currently on TVO Docs.
