Canada

"Parklets" Pop Up in Vancouver

Transplanting the wildly popular pilot projects in NYC and SF across the northern border, the City launches VIVA Vancouver program that converts parts of eight streets into public spaces.

September 9, 2011 - THE DIRT

When Will Hollywood Destroy a Canadian City?

Thomas Rogers laments the fact that no disaster movie has bothered to obliterate a Canadian city or landmark.

August 23, 2011 - Globe and Mail

Housing Advocate Jack Layton Dies at 61

Jack Layton, longtime advocate for a national housing policy in Canada has succumbed to cancer just months after leading his New Democratic Party from third party status to official opposition.

August 22, 2011 - Toronto Star

Gas Prices Drive Canadians to Bikes

Sunny Freeman of The Canadian Press takes to the streets to talk to bicyclists about their choice of conveyance. She says a gas price spike during the summer of 2008 pushed many Canadians onto two wheels.

August 14, 2011 - Canadian Business

The Paradox of Minimum Parking Requirements for Bars and Taverns

Zoning codes that mandate a certain number of parking spaces for businesses that serve on-site alcoholic beverages are inconsistent with law enforcement's campaign against drunk driving, says Eric de Place.

July 22, 2011 - Sightline Daily

Health Concerns For Urban Cyclists

A new Canadian study should be of interest to any urban cyclist concerned about his/her health. The study shows what is apparent to most cyclists already - smoking tailpipes, especially from diesel trucks and buses, can have serious health impacts.

July 14, 2011 - Environmental Health News via San Francisco Chronicle

Greenest Cities in North America

Of the 27 high-ranking cities, repeat offenders like San Francisco, NYC, Seattle, and Denver earned top spots. Conspicuously absent from the list is Portland.

July 1, 2011 - USA Today

Opportunities for Big-Box Developments Abound Across the Northern Border

After being hidden in plain sight for decades, Canada now emerges as the hot spot for U.S. "international" investment.

June 19, 2011 - Retail Traffic

Has Canada Botched "the Mother of all Data"?

The 2011 Canadian Census marks a new era in population information: it is now a brief and voluntary household survey, which has led to widespread concern that Canadian public policy will be left fundamentally crippled, writes Sean Kilpatrick.

May 11, 2011 - Globe and Mail

Jane Jacobs' Legacy Lives On

Architecture critic Christopher Hume writes an homage to urban planning icon Jane Jacobs, highlighting the resiliency of her positions on density and diversity.

May 6, 2011 - Toronto Star

Fighting Canadian Sprawl with TDRs

The TDR, or transfer of development rights, could be a way for Canadian cities to reduce the expansion of its sprawling cities, according to this piece.

April 28, 2011 - Globe and Mail

Aging Infrastructure Will Cost Canada Big

Canadian cities are facing major backlogs in terms of maintaining and updating infrastructure. Putting off the work is expected to cost cities billions.

April 8, 2011 - The Vancouver Sun

Council for Canadian Urbanism Calls for National Urban Policy

In an open letter to Canada's political parties competing in the current federal election, the Council for Canadian Urbanism calls on them to champion the Council's 10-point "call to action" on Canada's cities.

April 6, 2011 - Council for Canadian Urbanism

Canada's Leading Thinkers Reimagine the City

As a part of its "Leading Thinkers" feature, the Globe and Mail has posted a series of videos on the theme of "Reimagining the City."

April 4, 2011 - Globe and Mail

A Nation of Traffic Is Holding Us Back

A new report is cause for concern in Canada. It shows that poor public transit and bad traffic are damaging the economic engine of cities like Toronto.

March 26, 2011 - The Globe and Mail

Toronto Set to Launch Bike-Sharing Program

BIXI, a bicycle-sharing program that first launched in Montreal, is due to launch in Toronto in May.

March 22, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

Facelifts for Buildings Can Save Energy

"Reskinning" buildings -- or adding a new facade -- is taking off in Canada and Europe.

February 19, 2011 - Solve Climate News

The Contrasting Urban Outlooks of Canada's Big City Mayors

In Canada, the mayors of two of the country's biggest cities are at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to cities and urban issues.

February 17, 2011 - The Toronto Star

Canada's Constitution Fuels Urban Crisis

Formed as a primarily agrarian nation, Canada is now seeing its cities crippled by constitutional arrangements that leaves its cities underfunded and with only minimal support from the federal government, writes John Macfarlane.

February 8, 2011 - The Walrus

Outlets Invade Canada

Developers are planning a push into the Great White North with an (until now) distinctly American product - the outlet center.

February 4, 2011 - Retail Traffic 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.