Canada

A new Canadian study shows that people in smaller, less affluent cities are happier than those in larger, rapidly-growing ones.

The higher the concentration of fast food restaurants in a city, the fatter its residents, according to a recent study from the University of Alberta.

Owning a home may appeal to primitive happiness-seeking instincts, but the resulting suburban isolation and solitary commutes many people face may be making us profoundly unhappy, writes Charles Montgomery.

Integrating childcare facilities with the workplace is experiencing a slow but steady start in Canada, where some activists are trying to convince employers of the real economic benefits of bringing the kids to work.

A new report ranking Canada's cities in terms of their ability to attract skilled workers finds that looming demographic challenges and infrastructure deficits will require urgent attention from higher levels of government.

A recent editorial argues that creating cities that consume less energy and emit less pollution will also help us create attractive and healthy places to live.

An outdated statistical definition of "urban" has contributed to a gross overestimation of Canada's urban population, argues Roy MacGregor.

A new report warns that Canada's municipal infrastructure, much of it many decades old, is in urgent need of investment and upgrading.

Officials in Ottawa, Canada are planning to try a new marketing ploy to get commuters to switch to the bus -- free pizza.

The Canadian government has recently announced a plan to improve spending on transit, but with a shortfall of more than $60 billion, many are calling on the government to focus on other less "sexy" infrastructure projects.

Government programs that subsidize energy-efficiency improvements in houses are being reconsidered as some claim the effort isn't worth the benefit.

Canada has already seen devastating urban forest fires, and some communities are preparing for the worst by adopting "FireSmart" principles into their bylaws.

An urban renaissance is underway in many American cities, one fueled by the "common sense" of focusing on fundamentals. Canadian cities are looking south to pick up some good ideas.

While Canada's enclosed shopping malls are aging, developers are finding new and profitable ways of redeveloping them.

Canada's cities are asking that some of the $14-billion federal budget surplus be directed at them, and at upgrading aging infrastructure, rather than to servicing debt.

A new study shows that Victoria B.C. leads Canadian cities in terms of sustainable transportation initiatives. But, overall, Canadian cities are not performing as well as they could be.

The growing popularity of naturalized, low-water and chemical-free lawns is leading to conflicts amongst neighbors and city officials. Some disagreements have moved from the front lawn to the courtroom.

Drive-in movie theaters are satisfying a need for public spaces that also allow some privacy.

This slideshow from The Globe & Mail shows some of the best and most outrageous roadside attractions from across Canada.

In a national survey on the best Canadian cities, Vancouver finished with top honors. But other Canadian cities were also recognized for their strengths.