Reimagining Canadian Cities
Master of Future Cities students reflect on their time in Singapore.
Communities across Canada are navigating unprecedented change driven by technological innovation, demographic shifts, evolving housing and infrastructure needs, and changing economic and social priorities. Preparing leaders to make informed decisions in an increasingly complex and uncertain world requires a forward-looking perspective that anticipates emerging trends, evaluates opportunities and risks, and plans for long-term success. This approach, known as strategic foresight, forms the foundation of the Master of Future Cities (MFC) program.
This spring, four MFC students participated in FCIT 610 - International Field School, travelling to Singapore to explore what is possible when strategic foresight is integrated into urban planning. Lead by Eryn Stewart, the Managing Director of the Future Cities Institute, students were challenged to critically evaluate how Singapore’s strategies could be adapted to Canadian context.
“Singapore does not simply react to problems as they arise.” explains MFC student Eman Awwad. “It plans backward from the future it wants to create. The Mass Rapid Transit, public housing, and parks aren't isolated infrastructure. They are multi-purpose systems designed to deliver mobility, housing, sustainability, flood resilience, and climate adaptation all at once. Everything is connected and working toward the same long-term vision of a higher quality of life for a liveable city.”
Singapore does not simply react to problems as they arise, it plans backward from the future it wants to create.
During the trip, students met with experts from the Centre for Livable Cities Singapore, Singapore Management University, and The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA). They learned how Singapore is navigating complex issues related to housing, transportation, infrastructure, green urbanism, food sustainability, water systems and extreme heat. Equally important, students immersed themselves in Singaporean culture, gaining a deeper appreciation for the innovative urban approaches in action.
MFC student Kendra Fry was particularly inspired by the City Gallery, managed by the URA. “It provides anyone a free opportunity to digitally recreate their city, utilizing their interfaces to add trees, roads, public art and infrastructure, all while measuring how the user created joy, managed people movement and spent money. The opportunity for individuals to truly understand their city's inner workings was so accessible and engaging!”
As a final project, MFC students will produce a public-facing application and short report to communicate what they have learned, why is it applicable to Canadian cities, and how it can be successfully implemented. These projects will be shared with municipal leaders and other partners of the Future Cities Institute.
For MFC student Joseph Banh, the experience provided valuable perspective on Singapore’s integrated approach. “The contrasts between Singapore and Canada are striking. What has left a lasting impression on me is the degree to which futures thinking and strategic foresight is operationally integrated into Singapore’s entire system of governance. I couldn’t help but recall William Gibson’s classic line, “The future is already here - it’s just not very evenly distributed.’”
FCIT 610 is offered annually in the spring and is open to students in the Master of Future Cities program, other graduate students, and external learners. Information on next year’s trip will be made available early next year.
