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.
What’s In a Name?
A book title is a promise. Which one speaks to you?
If you’ve been following my writing journey—studying cities, walking urban landscapes, and navigating my own memories—you know I’ve been working on a book that braids together the best of European city-building with the intimate, lived experience of moving through city streets, squares, and public spaces. And now: the moment of choosing a title.
The Top Thing I Learned as PIBC President
This weekend, we celebrated both our newest Registered Professional Planners and those marking 25 years in the profession. Watching them together felt like seeing the full arc of a calling.
After two years as PIBC President, the top thing I’ve learned is this: our profession renews itself, generation after generation.
Why I Am a Delusional Optimist—About Urban Planning
It’s a tough time to be a planner.
Housing crises, climate emergencies, biodiversity loss, failing infrastructure, public cynicism—some days the work feels impossibly heavy.
And yet: the very things that make this moment hard are also what make it meaningful. When the stakes are this high, planners don’t just participate in change—we have to lead it.
Ten Ways to Loosen Our Zoning Corset: Paris Lessons for Canadian Cities
Why do Canadian cities feel so… well-behaved, compared to Paris?
The short answer: we’ve largely zoned out streetscape spontaneity.
In Canada, we need to shed—or at least rethink—a few old habits.