JRS is Proud to Support the 2026 1UP Conference!

Posted April 29, 2026

JRS is proud to once again be a Gold Sponsor of the 1UP Conference! Now in its 10th year, the 1Up Conference brings together youth from across Ontario to imagine, design, and build the future of their communities.

This year, JRS Project Leader Gabriela Gallo volunteered as a facilitator for the conference’s Design Jam Challenge, held in collaboration with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), which invited participants to design TTC waiting spaces that are safe and accessible for all users.

Gabriela reflects on the experience:

“It was a lot of fun seeing each student step into their assigned persona and carry that perspective through from concept to physical prototyping. The ideas for TTC-designated waiting areas were imaginative and thoughtful, with a clear focus on community, sustainability, and inclusivity.

The setup itself was highly participatory and engaging-it was honestly hard to stay in my role as a facilitator at times, as I found myself wanting to jump in and take part.

It would be great to see some of these ideas make their way into future TTC designs!”