Compel - Living City: A Critical Guide

A few weeks ago I watched an episode of the Nature of Things about the state of cities in Canada but thankfully it didn't include the insufferable David Suziki. Instead, Christopher Hume travels to the largest cities in Canada from Halifax to Vancouver, except he skips over Edmonton which makes the show much more enjoyable. He explores the aspects that contribute to making urban settings livable and exciting at the pedestrian level but he also reveals the many mistakes that cities have made that are detrimental to its sustainability. We learn about the many cultural facilities that have recently been constructed in Toronto that help make the city a destination for its citizen, while also discovering the history of Winnipeg and the factors that led to its demise. Unfortunately, he saves the harshest criticism for Calgary, especially our problem with urban sprawl. Humes does applaud our city for our emphasis on public transportation but he really brings attention to the unsustainable nature of outward growth along the city's border. I'm looking at you Panorama! Anyways, please watch the video here and I truly believe you will find it to be both informative and entertaining.