Ontario

Vancouver and Toronto Lead Big Increases in Canadian Housing Prices

The bloated cost of housing in Vancouver and Toronto has raised concerns among market analysts about a potential correction. Presumably, people in Canada are also worried about the price of housing.

February 19, 2016 - The Vancouver Sun

Toronto Planners Shopping Massive Transit Plans

What's being described as an unprecedented outreach program will gather public feedback on a total of seven provincial and city-led transit projects for the Toronto area.

February 17, 2016 - Toronto Star

An Ambitious Plan to Rethink Toronto's King Street

Here's a project to watch: an influential group of contractors has been hired for a complete streets makeover for King Street in Toronto.

January 26, 2016 - Toronto Star

Toronto from the CN Tower

Costs Soar for the Suburban Lifestyle in the Toronto Area

Famous for its focus on dense, infill development and quickly ascending skyline, the Toronto housing market is still plagued by rising housing costs at the single-family detached homes end of the spectrum.

November 28, 2015 - The Toronto Star

Alberta Announces Landmark Climate Protection Strategy

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced a transformative three-pronged climate protection plan on November 22 that will cap greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands development, add a carbon tax, and phase-out coal power plants.

November 25, 2015 - CTV

Neighborhood Polarization in a Canadian City

In Canadian cities, rising income inequality has been reflected in neighborhood polarization. The experience of Hamilton, Ontario, has been typical. Here, inner-city decline is now giving way to gentrification, displacing poverty to the suburbs.

November 4, 2015 - Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership

An Online Portal for Making Sense of Toronto Traffic Data

With so many potential sources of data with which to analyze traffic behaviors and real-time conditions, University of Toronto engineers have created an online portal that could one day help drive a system populated with autonomous cars.

October 25, 2015 - U of T Engineering News

One Developer's Appreciation of Landscape Architecture

A planner and developer waxes poetic, and keeps it pragmatic too, about the importance of landscape architecture.

September 7, 2015 - Toronto Star

Closed Ontario Schools May Be Transformed Into Community Hubs

Schools are part of, and even anchor communities. Good planning requires schools as part of "Complete Communities". Until this proposal is adopted, school boards often close schools due to funding or liability. This is a possible step forward.

August 12, 2015 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

One Bridge on the Way, Another Still Possible on U.S.-Canada Border

With a request for qualifications for a new bridge, connecting Detroit with Windsor, Canada, and a proposal for another bridge on the table, it'a bridge building time on the U.S.-Canadian border.

July 29, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Gov. Jerry Brown: Committed to Fighting Climate Change

Reporting from a two-day conference in Toronto where states and provinces organized to tackle climate change in advance of a UN conference, political reporter Chris Megerian profiles Gov. Brown's climate change commitment in five articles.

July 12, 2015 - Los Angeles Times - Political

Toronto's New Complete Street: For Everyone, By Everyone

A complete streets makeover for a stretch of Queens Quay in Toronto earns high praise.

June 27, 2015 - Toronto Star

Toronto to Implement '10-Minute-Or-Better' Transit Service Network

Toronto Transit Commission recently approved a major overhaul of transit service in the city. In total, 52 transit routes will operate on ten-minute (or better) headways.

June 17, 2015 - Progressive Railroading

Toronto

Toronto City Council Decides to Rebuild Gardiner East Expressway

Coulda, woulda, shoulda. The Toronto City Council sided with Mayor John Tory this week to rebuild an elevated freeway in downtown rather than tearing it down.

June 12, 2015 - Toronto Star

Quiet Suburban Road Considered for Toronto's New Subway

Some are calling one of the proposed routes for an extended Scarborough subway route in Toronto a straw man. The discussion about the route provides insight into the city's current transit planning process.

June 4, 2015 - Toronto Star

Neighborhood Activists Mobilize Against Mid-Rise Developments in Toronto

There are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments raising prices, and there are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments lowering home values. Toronto is currently dealing with the latter.

May 26, 2015 - Toronto Star

Toronto Chief Planner Supports Gardiner Expressway Removal

Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat has broken rank from Mayor John Tory on the issue of whether to replace or remove an elevated highway along the city's waterfront. The cost to replace the expressway, $919 million, is more than removing it.

May 25, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

Water Taxis and Ferry Service Pitched for Detroit's Waterfront

Local port and tourism officials are pushing dual plans to add waterborne transit to Detroit—one proposed ferry route would even connect to Canada.

May 12, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Report Assesses Expressway Removal Options for the Toronto Waterfront

A recently released report makes the case for removing, in part or in full, an elevated span of roadway along the Toronto Waterfront.

April 19, 2015 - The Toronto Star

Ontario to Join Quebec in Cap-and-Trade Program

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne made a strong case for taking decisive climate change action when she signed an historic agreement to join the Quebec program that trades carbon with California.

April 17, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.