News

The Canadian government’s Task Force for Housing and Climate recently released their Blueprint for More and Better Housing– a report outlining plans to build 3.8 million new affordable and climate-friendly homes by 2030. The School of Planning’s Dr. Dawn Parker commented through a recent piece in The Conversation on the task force’s report, stating that the “report recommendations fall short by failing to fully consider land and housing market dynamics,” and perpetuate the “tall and sprawl” method of urban development.

A recent study overseen by School of Planning’s Dr. Leia Minaker finds that even a few minutes spent surrounded by nature can boost the mental well-being of children living in cities. Dr. Minaker and her research team recently took 70 children aged 9 to 17 to a variety of stops across Kitchener, both urban and natural, to poll how each location made them feel.  

While Ontario's agricultural sector plays a significant role in the province's economy, the environmental impact of modern farming practices cannot be overlooked. In particular, large-scale industrial farming practices can contribute to soil erosion, water and air pollution and biodiversity loss. As climate change impacts continue to escalate, the imperative for sustainable farming practices becomes ever more pressing.

Dr. Michael Drescher, a professor in the Faculty of Environment, advocates for the adoption of sustainable farming practices, particularly through the utilization of Environmental Best Management Practices (eBMPs).

The School of Planning's Dr. Dawn Parker spoke with both Global News and the Woolwich Observer about the role that parking can play in addressing the Canadian housing crisis. 

On Tuesday, February 6^th, Dr. Katherine Perrott and her PLAN 720 class took the ION LRT down to Kitchener’s southern terminus. This area is largely characterized by car-oriented suburban retail and is a perfect opportunity to learn about the challenges of planning for transit-oriented densification.  

The School of Planning’s Matthew Van Bakel (4B) and his team colleagues, Nathan Lee and Alan Mak, won 1st place for the third consecutive year at the 10th Annual Expand Your Empire case competition held over the January 27th weekend. 

Hamilton will be the first city in Ontario to introduce a bylaw targeting renovictions, requiring a permit purchased by landlords to confirm the legitimacy of repairs when seeking to end a tenancy to renovate a rental unit.

Waterloo Region has seen a rise in serious pedestrian injuries from being struck by cars in comparison to this time last year. There have been 38 incidents, many involving multiple injuries, in the past 67 days between November 1 and January 7, with 10 of those incidents resulting in serious injury to 16 pedestrians.

Waterloo students mobilize to save 15-minute evening service on the Ion light rail and win

The School of Planning's Director Dr. Mark Seasons recently spoke with CTV News about the potential benefits that mobile/modular housing could provide for addressing housing affordability.