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Karen Chapple reappointed for a second term as Director, School of Cities
The School of Cities (SofC) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Karen Chapple for a second term as director. Since 2021, Chapple has led the SofC’s growth as a hub for interdisciplinary urban research, education, and engagement. Building on a strong foundation of partnerships and impact, her second term will focus on strengthening global collaborations and advancing evidence-based solutions to urban challenges.
Learning From What Works 2026 Cohort: Call for Ideas
Discover Local Solutions 2.0, a national call for place-building ideas already making communities across Canada stronger, more connected, and more competitive.
Urban Data Analysis & Storytelling Professional Advancement Certificate
The Urban Data Analysis & Storytelling Certificate helps professionals transform complex urban data into insights that shape policy, planning, and community outcomes. Earn stackable microcredentials online and gain hands-on skills to drive evidence-based, impactful decisions in cities today.
Multidisciplinary Urban Graduate Seminar (MUGS)
We invite postdocs or faculty from all three U of T campuses to develop a new graduate course on an urban issue within their discipline and to teach it in a small seminar setting. We are now accepting proposals on a rolling basis for MUGS courses to run anytime from Spring 2026 to Winter 2027.
Mapping Tariffs
Interactive map showing potential local impacts of U.S. tariffs on jobs and businesses across Canada
highlights
Transit-oriented development case studies overview
The School of Cities and the Infrastructure Institute have produced a series of five case studies to identify different kinds of transit-oriented development (TOD) across Canada and to explore the opportunities and trade-offs involved in creating thriving communities near transit
Transit-oriented development case study: Arbutus station
How can we preserve the best features of established neighbourhoods while increasing density around transit?
Transit-oriented development case study: Cooksville station
How can we build complete, family-friendly communities while managing flood risk?
Transit-oriented development case study: McKernan/Belgravia station
How can we build infill in a mature community with strategic infrastructure investments to support high-capacity transit ridership?
Transit-oriented development case study: Northfield station
How can we transform industrial land into a vibrant community that attracts – and keeps – jobs and talent?
Transit-oriented development case study: Panama station
How can strategic development, civic infrastructure investment, and inclusive planning transform a suburban terminal into a vibrant transit-oriented community?
The Trees Lining our Streets
Diversity and equity of Canada’s street trees
How much has Canadian travel to U.S. cities declined?
Estimating and visualizing decrease in Canadians visiting U.S. cities over a two year period (04/2024–03/2026)
How does Toronto travel?
Charting daily travel mode share in Toronto via ternary charts
Charting Commercial Change in Kensington Market
What kind of market is Toronto’s Kensington Market today? What kind of market do Kensington Market community members want it to be? And how can data on neighbourhood change support the community’s desire to determine their collective future?
Keeping up with the neighbours:
Quantitative analysis of accessory dwelling unit permits in Toronto
The impacts of lumber tariffs on Canadian cities
Analyzing potential local impacts of lumber tariffs on jobs and businesses across Canada
Latest media & news
David Roberts in CBC | Toronto’s FIFA human rights action plan is out, but advocates say it falls short for unhoused people
Karen Chapple reappointed for a second term as Director, School of Cities
The School of Cities (SofC) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Karen Chapple for a second term as director. Since 2021, Chapple has led the SofC’s growth as a hub for interdisciplinary urban research, education, and engagement. Building on a strong foundation of partnerships and impact, her second term will focus on strengthening global collaborations and advancing evidence-based solutions to urban challenges.
School of Cities at the World Urban Forum, a global stage for urban solutions
At the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, the School of Cities joined global conversations on housing and sustainable urban development. A key milestone was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with UN-Habitat, establishing a new partnership to advance collaborative research, training, and policy initiatives that support more inclusive, resilient, and data-informed cities.
Carolyn Whitzman and Enid Slack in National Post | CMHC warns of a ‘very significant barrier’ to fixing the housing crisis
Tyeshia Redden and Matti Siemiatycki in Toronto Star | New York mayor secured $50 World Cup tickets for residents. Why didn’t Toronto do the same?
Karen Chapple in The Guardian | Researchers find 42% drop in Canadians visiting US metro areas amid Trump 2.0
Carolyn Whitzman in CBC | Rents continue to rapidly climb for Nova Scotia’s oldest and most affordable rentals
Matti Siemiatycki for Toronto Star | Opinion: Why the proposed high-speed rail Alto project won’t work in Canada
Matti Siemiatycki in National Post | Toronto housing: “Reimagining what a neighbourhood can be”
Matti Siemiatycki in CP24 | These 10 Toronto intersections generated the most red-light camera fines last year
Carolyn Whitzman in CTV News | Manitoba town introduces 1% home down payment program
Karen Chapple for the Toronto Star | Doug Ford and Mark Carney made a promise to would-be homebuyers. It could be a long time coming
Upcoming Events see all
Songs and Stories of Hope
Join the School of Cities and an ensemble led by Mitchell Cohen for a performance of Songs and Stories of Hope at the Citadel, Toronto.
Urban Data Analysis with Python
Build foundational Python and urban data analysis skills through a hands-on workshop series exploring mapping, spatial analysis, APIs, and public datasets using tools like Jupyter notebooks, pandas, and GeoPandas.
The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at the University of Toronto and in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices.
Learn more about us.