Ontario

Richard Florida Calls for a "Spatial Fix" in Toronto

Richard Florida says that his city of Toronto needs to implement some real, physical changes to inspire economic recovery.

May 24, 2010 - The Toronto Star

Public Toilets Make a Comeback

Will a new automated, self-cleaning public restroom system provide relief to Torontonians?

May 21, 2010 - The Globe and Mail

Funding Delays Add Slightly to Toronto's Light Rail Timeline

Despite uncertainties about funding and objections from the city's mayor, Toronto's light rail plans are moving ahead, according to transit officials.

May 20, 2010 - Global Toronto

Toronto's "Dysfunctional" Planning

With its planning department reporting to a deputy manager several steps removed from the mayor's office, Toronto's planning system is "just insane", writes Christopher Hume.

May 13, 2010 - Toronto Star

Why Toronto Will Never Be A Great City

Toronto Star architecture critic Christopher Hume writes that a recent controversy in the city over a proposed waterfront sports complex highlights why Toronto will never be a great city.

May 4, 2010 - The Toronto Star

The Urban-Suburban Housing Conundrum

Marcelle Cerny describes her family's so-far-fruitless quest for an affordable, suburban-sized home in an urban area close to public transit and amenities.

April 30, 2010 - The Globe and Mail

Transportation Frustration in Toronto

Toronto transit activists are frustrated that funding for planned streetcars is being rerouted, and are preparing a "Save Transit City" campaign.

April 18, 2010 - The National Post

Student Planners Remake Toronto

Toronto's former chief planner Paul Bedford asked his students at Ryerson University to present 100-year plans to re-imagine Toronto.

April 6, 2010 - The Toronto Star

Toronto "Squandering" Stadium Opportunity

So says Ken Greenberg, a noted urban designer who resigned from the project after the city began moving forward with a conventional stadium plan rather than an urban facility with a mix of uses.

April 4, 2010 - The Toronto Star

Underpass Finds New Life As Park

The land underneath a Toronto highway overpass will be converted into a neighborhood park. Officials hope it will spark the revival of one of the city's underused waterfront neighborhoods.

March 26, 2010 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

Woonerfs Are Coming

"Woonerf" is a Dutch word for streets that mix cars and people, but with pedestrians as the dominant mode. Toronto planners are using the concept in their plans for the West Don Lands neighborhood.

March 16, 2010 - The Toronto Star

Learning From Philadelphia's Transit System Improvements

The city of Toronto's public transit system has been plagued by dysfunctional service and rider complaints. Officials are looking to Philadelphia for lessons on improving their troubled system.

March 8, 2010 - The Toronto Star

Collage of the Past and Present

Through a photo collage of historical and current pictures, artist Alden Cudanin documents the changes that have happened in Toronto Since the early 1900s.

March 7, 2010 - Spacing Toronto

Controversy Over Condos in Buffalo

A 12-story condominium proposed for Crystal Beach in Fort Erie, Ontario brought protesters out in droves, but despite the fact that objections outweighed approvals by 2-1, the city council approved the project.

March 5, 2010 - The Buffalo News

Music Shapes the Landscape

Landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy collaborated with cellist Yo-Yo Ma to design a waterfront park in Toronto. Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello served as inspiration.

January 4, 2010 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Dismissing 'Utilitarian' Building May Hurt Ottawa

Plans to quickly rebuild the historic Lansdowne Park in Ottawa instead of spending time on a design competition have spurred hot controversy in the city. Architecture critic Christopher Hume says the fast approach is bad for the project and the city.

December 22, 2009 - The Toronto Star

Tax on Billboards in Toronto

Amidst sweeping new regulations, the Toronto City Council has also added a new tax on billboards that could bring in millions of dollars to city coffers.

December 21, 2009 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Windsor + Detroit = BFF?

Windsor, Ontario is known as The Detroit of the North, and has been as hard hit as the Motor City by the fall of the auto industry. A group of artists and urbanists have come together to do something about it.

November 25, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Toronto Street Furniture Program Blasted

The city of Toronto is rolling out a new street furniture program. Lisa Rochon calls the new additions to the city's sidewalks an "assault on civic life".

October 18, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

A Tale of Two Niagaras

Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, Ontario are a study in contrasts -- Ontario's a success story of good governance and planning, New York's the complete opposite. Rob Gurwitt has the story.

September 23, 2009 - Governing Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.