False narratives that have guided planning decisions for decades have resulted in costly urban sprawl. It’s time to plan for the city that really exists. Understanding the type of city you are helps communities plan for the future. If you are a tourist town, you gear infrastructure…

The Niagara Escarpment is a World Biosphere running right through the centre of our city. It’s a critical part of the civic identity and recreational and cultural life of Hamilton. We should be protecting and celebrating it much better than we have. It is probably our…

It isn’t a new concept but it’s a chance to refocus on what makes a city a walkable, livable and sustainable community for everyone. The concept of the 15-minute city is a hot discussion of late, primarily because of misinformation surrounding what it means. Nothing illustrates this…

The goal of the Daily School Route is to see 100 per cent of students who live close enough walking or wheeling to/from school daily, regardless of age, ability, or personal circumstance, so that they can experience the benefits of active transportation. In the last municipal election campaign,…

Hamilton has chosen to grow without urban sprawl. Here’s how we can do it, says urban planner Paul Shaker. The historic decision to not expand Hamilton’s urban boundary didn’t come easily. It took months and months of debate that included intense lobbying from the development industry as well…

 As urban planner Paul Shaker explains, Hamilton neighbourhoods have always been at the forefront of change and innovation. It’s time we learn from that legacy. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that the soul of Hamilton can be found on the streets of its vibrant neighbourhoods. Some of these…