News

FCI member Dr. Jeff Casello joined CTV News for a live interview on the use of AI-powered traffic lights, highlighting both the promise and the practical realities of bringing this technology to different urban contexts. 

Reflecting on a Quebec town’s success using AI to ease gridlock, Dr. Casello noted that adaptive systems can meaningfully improve traffic flow when supported by the right infrastructure. Larger cities like Toronto, he explained, face additional layers of complexity that make implementation more challenging. Higher traffic volumes, layered governance, and older infrastructure make it more difficult to replicate Kirkland’s dramatic success. As Casello noted, while Toronto could benefit from adaptive signals, it won’t see the same “really large increases in performance.” 

In a CTV News feature, Future Cities Institute member Dr. Jeff Casello shared his perspective on Metrolinx’s plan to expand GO Train service to Kitchener, emphasizing the need for timely action and clear government commitment. 

“I would hope that would be less than a two-year project. I think that’s really reasonable,” he told CTV News. “The construction companies that know how to do that work, we have that. What it really is about is a government priority to moving this forward and dedicating the resources in a meaningful way.” 

The Future Cities Institute was in attendance on October 15, 2025, at Bold Urban Futures: How to Build Healthier, More Resilient Communities, a packed evening of dialogue, connection and future-focused thinking in downtown Vancouver. 

Hosted at the TELUS Garden and part of the University of Waterloo’s Global Futures series, this special event brought together city-builders, University of Waterloo Alumni and partners working at the edge of change. 

FCI Director, Dr. Leia Minaker, joined an inspiring speaker lineup alongside Lisa Helps (Executive Lead, BC Builds at BC Housing) and Dr. Joyce Kim (Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering and Cluster Lead on Housing at FCI) to explore how collaboration, innovation and evidence can help reimagine Canadian urban life. 

In a CBC News story, a CEO invites the community to help reimagine a mall in Saint John, New Brunswick, and turns to research voices like Pierre Filion, Master of Future Cities instructor and Waterloo emeritus professor, to unpack the urban questions behind this challenge. 

Pierre’s insights draw from his research on the decline of urban malls and their attempts to reinvent themselves. His perspective reminds us that thriving city centres depend not just on buildings, but on the people who fill them, residents, students, workers, and visitors shaping vibrant urban ecosystems.

FCI member Dr. Peter Crank has been awarded $78,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund to support infrastructure for his new research project: Addressing urban (over)heating in a warming climate.
 
Through this project, Peter and supporting researchers, including FCI Director Dr. Leia Minaker, will generate critical data to help Canadian cities understand and reduce the health risks associated with rising urban temperatures. 
 
Their work will explore key links between: 
- Extreme urban heat and human health 
- Urban air quality and health outcomes 
- Urban green space and cooling potential 

Future Cities Institute Managing Director Eryn Stewart joined a powerful conversation with one of the world’s most respected voices in climate and development: Sir Andrew Steer. The conversation was presented as part of the TD Walter Bean Lecture 2025. 

Speaking to a full auditorium of Grade 8-12 students, Sir Andrew shared why this generation has what it takes to shape the future of our cities, our communities, and our planet through bold ideas and grounded action. Drawing on a career that has spanned the World Bank, the World Resources Institute, and the Bezos Earth Fund, his message was clear: leadership starts now. 

Eryn brought a sharp and Future Cities Institute lens to the discussion, reflecting on what it means to build resilient cities and how young people across Canada are already doing that work through applied research, community partnerships, and new ways of thinking. 

Watch the full lecture: https://youtu.be/hIlQ3jcPXkQ  

The University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment welcomed Sir Andrew Steer as the 2025 TD Walter Bean Professor in Environment, bringing decades of global insight to a packed lecture on the future of our cities, communities, and ecosystems. The lecture was presented as part of the University of Waterloo’s Waterloo at 100 vision and in partnership with the Future Cities Institute. 

Following the lecture, FCI Director Dr. Leia Minaker moderated a wide-ranging conversation on the scale of the climate challenge and the opportunities for action across sectors.

The Future Cities Institute has joined forces with BUILD NOW, a $500-million initiative led by Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, to help deliver 10,000 new “missing middle” homes by 2030 across the Region of Waterloo. With 70% of these homes set aside for ownership and protected by a legal model that ensures lasting affordability, this is one of Canada’s most ambitious attainable housing efforts to date. 

At the heart of the project is a 25-acre living lab near RIM Park, where FCI researchers will examine how housing design and neighbourhood planning shape lives. Over 40 researchers from all 6 faculties at the University of Waterloo are already involved, bringing expertise in housing futures, urban health, and community resilience. 
 
With home prices in Canada up 77% over the past decade, and most solutions focused on rentals, homeownership is slipping out of reach, especially for younger generations. FCI is working to track what works, share evidence, and help co-create a scalable model for communities nationwide.

What started as an interdisciplinary i-Capstone collaboration has grown into a transformative partnership between the City of Iqaluit and the Future Cities Institute. Faced with complex infrastructure challenges in a harsh Artic environment, the city turned to Waterloo co-op students to bring fresh thinking and technical expertise to the table, and the results have been impactful.  

Engineering student Ahraz Yousuf spent a co-op term in Iqaluit, modernizing the city’s fleet management system. From implementing Fleetio software to building custom tools and leading multi-department training, Yousuf’s work has helped streamline operations and improve service delivery in the North. “I got to build something from the ground up,” he shared. “It allowed me to step outside of the traditional software development and into stakeholder collaboration.” 

This partnership continues to create opportunities for students to apply their skills in meaningful, community-driven projects, advancing real innovation in Canada’s northern cities. 

As Waterloo Region prepares to welcome one million residents by 2050, the Future Cities Institute has partnered with the Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BestWR) to launch the Vision 1 million Scorecard, a first-of-its-kind academic–business collaboration. 
 
This public, data-driven tool tracks the region’s progress across five key areas: housing, transportation, healthcare, employment, and livability. Updated every six months, the scorecard highlights where the region is succeeding and where more focus is needed, helping guide investments and drive meaningful conversations across the region. 

As the academic partner, FCI is grounding the scorecard in data, equity, and long-term impact. With many regions facing similar growth challenges, this model has real potential to scale nationwide, and FCI is proud to help lead the way.