To sprawl or not to sprawl: A discussion of urban development in Montreal

Abstract: Urban sprawl in Montreal has accelerated dramatically over the last 40 years. This rapid increase has serious implications for current and future generations. Today’s decisions about urban development are locking future generations into a city structure that will affect their health and quality of life, car dependence, state of the natural environment, availability of agricultural land and local food, and much more. As part of a trans-disciplinary research project on urban sprawl in Montreal, researchers from the Departments of Geography, Planning and Environment; Philosophy; and Psychology will work together with Montrealers across generations to envision the future of the city. As part of this work, we invite you to help us begin a community-wide conversation about current and future urban sprawl in Montreal.    

Jochen Jaeger will summarize the historic development of urban sprawl in Montreal and illustrate the consequences. He will also introduce the research project and its objectives.

Mehrdokht Pourali will address the question of which cites are the most sprawled in Canada. She has measured the degree of urban sprawl for all cities across Canada. She will compare Montreal to other Canadian cities.  

Craig Townsend has investigated and compared the activities of various cities in Canada to address urban sprawl. He will discuss how successful they have been so far. 

An open discussion will follow these four presentations. Everyone is invited to contribute.  

This event is free and open to the public.