Exploring Canada’s Sustainable Cities

THE NATURAL CITY
As the largest city in Canada, Toronto is often associated with smog and sprawl, but from May 31 – June 2, 2006, it will be home to the international Natural City Conference. Stephen Lewis will be the keynote speaker to kick-off the conference, which will focus on success stories and the newest ideas in integrating urban and natural environments to promote sustainability. “We hope to find ways of highlighting productive solutions and opportunities for positive change, rather than simply continue to focus on our collective failures to advance sustainability,” says Dr. Ingrid Leman Stefanovic, Director of the Centre for Environment and professor at the University of Toronto. It is a city initiative that will hopefully capture the imagination of a country. Also, learn how Toronto’s rooftops have officially gone green.

BEATING THE STREET
Montréal is a tangle of viaducts, interchanges and bridges, an island example of a city where the car is king. But a community-based initiative, Avenue Verte Mont-Royal, is pushing ideas of pedestrianism and car-free streets all over town. But although the idea has gained public support, planners question whether simply barricading streets is the best way to move forward. Also, discover why Canadians are behind in telecommuting.

BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE URBANISM
As baby-boomers become empty-nesters and their children enter the housing market themselves, both generations are increasingly heading back to the cities and leaving behind suburbia, once called the greatest misallocation of resources in the history of the world. Urban planners tell us what needs to be done to retrofit these shrinking communities to maintain vibrant urban areas. “A typical suburb has all the ingredients of a salad, but everything is in separate bowls at each corner of the table. What we have tried to do is toss it all back together,” says George Dark, Urban Strategies. Also, read an urban planning timeline.

BUILDING UP SUSTAINABILITY
Canadian contractors and building associations are taking the steps to becoming green. Also, research some environmental technologies you can use in your home.

PLUS
Learn how to start a Walking School Bus in your area, get comprehensive facts and stats on sustainable cities, urban and suburban smog, green spaces, governments and transit. See a CG map on “Futureville,” and get stories, books and gaming resources.