CityTalk Canada

Innovation is, as with invention, another offspring of necessity... and it can happen in any community ⏤ like, for example, Deep River, Ontario.  In this episode, Mary Rowe is pleased to introduce Neil Milton , whose novel approach to building affordable apartments in small communities is more than simply timely.  Find out more about Neil's projects   here.   Talk to us from your city

Contemporary urbanists continue to find inspiration in the ideas crafted, tested and authored by American-Canadian activist Jane Jacobs more than fifty years ago. Mary Rowe revisits some of Jane's visionary work with two fellow devotees - Toronto environmental writer Lloyd Alter and former Toronto mayor John Sewell - and how it's as timely as ever to Canada's rapidly-shifting econom...

This increasingly longer and larger 'moment' of economic and geopolitical upheaval impacts communities across Canada, though the extent is often hard to gauge at ground level. That's one reason the world gave us economists.  Veteran economist and columnist Armine Yalnizyan give Mary Rowe her wide horizontal view of fresh policies being added by the Carney government and their effect...

As global investors descended on Toronto recently to consider putting their money into Canada's infrastructure (and airports), Mary Rowe wanted to consider how to generate more investment in the independent businesses that represent the bulk of the local economies in most every community.  Joining in this considerate conversation are small business advocates Amy Robinson, founder of LOCO BC ,...

This third week of September 2026 was filled with some extraordinary developments regarding Canada's future...from the billions expected to land via the first-ever Canada Investment Summit to a ground-breaking relationship with the European Union . How all of this benefits the evolution of Canadian federalism and the economics of our communities is what's top-of-mind for both CUI's...

With the Canada-USA trade war escalating, there's a particular group of Canadians bearing the brunt of its impact, and whose livelihoods are in peril. They're the independent manufacturers, retailers and service outlets lining the main streets of communities across the country. In this episode, CUI CEO Mary Rowe chats with Dan Kelly, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business...

More smart, helpful answers to a wide variety of FAQs about the present and future of Canada's housing ecosystem...provided by many of the leading stakeholders attending CUI's Housing Future Summit in June 2026.  If you're planning to change your address this year, you'll want to hear what the experts are saying about your best options.  Join host and FAQ quizmaster Mary Rowe f...

More top-level answers to FAQs about the present and future of Canada's housing continuum delivered by leaders from every corner of the country, including real estate developers, bankers, not-for-profit and co-op associations as well as the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Gregor Robertson. Join CUI's Mary Rowe for another 'lightning round' of helpfu...

Curious about what's really going on with Canada's housing system?  Here's your answer... actually, many of them.   At its recent Housing Future Summit, CUI gathered the leading voices in the housing continuum to answer some FAQs about current challenges and opportunities, and the solutions in development across the country.  Host Mary Rowe is your guide and quiz mistress.  Talk to...

Vancouver’s Downtown East Side has long been associated with high levels of homelessness and substance abuse, issues which many cities across the country are now facing. Host Mary Rowe speaks with two people who help deliver services and housing supports to people in the neighbourhood, and share lessons that other communities can learn. Donna-Lynn Rosa is CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society and...

Across the country, people are increasingly turning to encampments for shelter. These informal communities spotlight many complex challenges, from housing affordability to substance use and mental health issues. Encampments also present challenges to the social and economic functioning of neighbourhoods and downtown areas. For the last few years CUI has been very involved in convening a broad rang...

This CityTalk hosted a conversation with the CEOs of Build Canada Homes and the Canada Infrastructure Bank on how to get more built, faster. Ana Bailão, CEO of Build Canada Homes and Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank shared their thoughts on how to leverage strategic financing and other tools to develop much-needed housing and housing-enabling infrastructure. Coming at the end of a...

Many of our cities’ biggest challenges right now are playing out inside public libraries. Library staff come face-to-face daily with issues relating to homelessness, substance use, mental and physical health, and, of course, education. As they continue to adapt to their communities' increasing needs, their funding is not growing. Two library CEOs from opposite ends of the country join host Ma...

The increased threat of extreme weather has made it increasingly clear that we need to better prepare for - and respond to - these events. Author Adam Greenfield thinks one answer is to create a new kind of institution at the heart of each neighbourhood. He calls it a “lifehouse”, a community hub to provide refuge and resources during emergencies, as well as ongoing services like daycare and works...

Further reading: “How resilient is New Orleans Today” at The Brookings Institution.

Last summer, Beth Sanders was getting ready to lead a new planning department for Jasper, Alberta when the municipality was evacuated due to wildfires. The fires ended up destroying about a third of the town. Beth joins Mary to talk about the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding, as well as lessons for other municipalities facing increasing threats from climate change. Beth is the Director o...

It’s no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis. The gap between incomes and housing prices has been growing for decades, as governments of all political stripes have promised to ease the burden. So what will it take to finally end it? Murtaza Haider and Carolyn Whitzman join host Mary Rowe to talk about how we got here and what we can do about it. Carolyn Whitzman is a senior housing researcher...

Festivals can be a great excuse to get out and see something new. But they can also be disruptive to local residents and businesses. So when do they help a place thrive, and when are they more trouble than they’re worth? CityTalk host Mary Rowe gets the perspectives of two guests who helped shape iconic downtown areas. Tim Tompkins was president of the Times Square Alliance in New York City from 2...

At the Canadian Urban Institute, better, future-proof infrastructure pervades every project and discussion we have. Ahead of the upcoming Ontario Bike Summit in Windsor, host Mary Rowe has a two-wheeled chat with leading advocates for more, better and safer urban cycling systems, including Eleanor McMahon (Share The Road Coalition); Lanrick Bennett Jr. (School of Cities, U of T); Leona Medley (Joe...

The title of this episode is shared with a report recently released by the Canadian Urban Institute. It compiles the findings from thousands of community-level placemaking projects along with perspectives on placemaking from leading practitioners, including Jerome Barth of Belleville Placemaking (NYC) and Marc-André Carignan of Kollectif (Mtl.) featured in conversation with host Mary Rowe. Report...

Housing and infrastructure present challenges to nations across the globe. CUI's State of Canada's Cities Summit was pleased to welcome Alain Resplendy-Bernard, director of State Buildings for the government of France, as a special guest panellist. CUI board chair Cameron Charlebois also met Alain at our onsite studio for a deeper dive en français . Also, CUI researcher Jacquelyn West sp...

Day 2 of CUI's State of Canada's Summit in Ottawa (December 2024) offered something new to attendees - walking tours of innovative project sites. Our microphones joined Brad Rodgers and Ana Bailao of Dream Unlimited for a tour of Zibi, a net-zero community being developed on the banks of the Ottawa River. Later, we joined Leanne Moussa and Kwende Kefentse along Ottawa's Laurier Aven...

For the final episode gleaned from the State of Canada's Cities Summit, host Mary Rowe introduces a 'blue-ribbon' panel of housing experts recorded at the Beaver Barracks Housing Development in Ottawa. The discussion centres on the evolving roles and responsibilities for all orders of government in solving Canada's housing crisis. See and hear more about the Summit at citytalkc...

Bolstering Canada's local economies has become an instant priority in the wake of proposed actions by the Trump administration. Fortunately, we have no shortage of smart people with innovative solutions already in the works.  Canadian Urban Institute CEO Mary Rowe chats with Heather Hachigian, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Management at the School of Business at Royal Roads University...

Host Mary Rowe welcomes another 'tariff/no tariff' conversation with Doug Griffiths and Heather Thomson of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and frank talk about what could, and what shouldn't, happen in this moment of economic uncertainty (crisis? opportunity?) for communities across Canada.  See and hear more at citytalkcanada.ca.