Welcome to
My Urban Curious Blog:
Authoritative, Affectionate, and Occasionally Absurd
I have been writing about cities, urban design, and the quirks of how people live together for more than twenty-five years. Some of that writing has been technical, or professional. Some has been quirky, or heartfelt. Some has been—let’s be honest here—slightly absurd, usually after an unusually strong espresso.
From Telok Ayer to Toronto and TROIS-RIVIÈRES
Plan Canada Magazine, Fall 2025
In From Telok Ayer to Toronto and Trois-Rivières, a Canadian urban planner visits Singapore to explore what Canadian cities might look like in 2100. Inspired by a walking tour through the historic Telok Ayer district and by conversations with Singapore’s planning and housing offi cials, the author refl ects on Singapore’s bold choices. The experience sparks a hopeful vision: that Canada can embrace long-range, imaginative planning grounded in global exchange, adaptive reuse, and people-fi rst priorities – aff ordable housing, accessible transportation, and placemaking. Travel becomes the lens that sharpens our capacity to envision and shape Canada’s urban future.
What if a bus were my therapist?
Buses (like therapists) remind us that the world doesn’t revolve around us. That’s a good thing. It’s humbling. Sometimes, you end up in places you didn’t expect, but maybe that’s the point.
Just roll with it.
My Top Six Learnings from Amsterdam (with Photos)
Amsterdam rewards curiosity. I arrived with a notebook, my city planner’s lens, and my urban curiosity in full blaze. I left with new ways of thinking about bikes, water, greenery, and design.
The 10 Best Books on Cities and Urban Life (That I Actually Recommend)
If you’ve ever wondered why some streets sing and others snore, these ten books will jolt your urban imagination awake. No polite city-planning manuals here—just sharp takes, sly humour, and a love of the messy metropolis.