The University of Waterloo’s Future Cities Institute (FCI) founded by CAIVAN advances pragmatic, data-driven solutions with cities and communities by incubating interdisciplinary talent and tools. We are evidence-based, politically agnostic, and measured by what we do, not what we say.
Help shape the Vision 1 Million Scorecard
We’re working to make the BestWR Vision 1 Million Scorecard a powerful tool for understanding how ready our region is for a population of one million. We need your insights on critical areas like housing, transportation, health, employment, and livability; where are we prepared, and where do we need to improve?
Your feedback is confidential and will directly inform updates to the scorecard. Thank you for helping us build a better, more resilient future.
Fostering – We promote the integration of research, teaching, and knowledge mobilization to drive innovative city and community solutions.
Healthy – We embrace a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, environmental, and planetary well-being.
Prosperous – We create the conditions for communities to thrive socially and economically by fostering employment, innovation, education, and inclusive growth that benefits citizens.
Future – We explore multiple plausible futures, not just preferred ones, ensuring adaptable and resilient city and community strategies.
Cities and Communities – We engage with municipalities and Indigenous communities to collaboratively shape sustainable development.
News
Breaking Ground on a New Housing Model in Waterloo Region
BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region has officially broken ground on Union 1, an 85-unit non-profit rental building at 2025 University Avenue East. As the academic partner for this initiative, the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN will study the project closely to document what works, what doesn't, and how different sectors can successfully build together at this scale.
Innovation Challenge Empowers Students to Build Real-World Housing Solutions
The Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN partnered with Velocity to host the Future Cities Innovation Challenge. The high-intensity, two-week sprint brought interdisciplinary student teams together to build data-backed business concepts targeting the Canadian housing crisis, modern infrastructure demands, and municipal service systems.
FCI Connects with Ontario's Big City Mayors
The Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN sponsored lunch at the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) meeting in Waterloo. Connecting with over 65 mayors, Chief Administrative Officers, and policy staff from across the province, Director Dr. Leia Minaker presented the institute’s applied research capabilities and work-integrated student programs designed to tackle pressing, real-world municipal challenges.
