Earlier this week, I saw a news article about a proposed high-density housing development in our community. As I read the comments, I was amazed at the negativity and uproar about how this is one step closer to 15-minute cities, which some people believe is the government’s latest plot to control us.
Welcome to week 25 of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a sustainable living tip for the week. In addition to exploring the idea of 15-minute cities, this week I look at Canada’s most expensive cities, pollinator week, microforests, and travel snacks and drinks.
While The Sunday Spark is on hiatus for a couple of weeks, I’m bringing back some old favourites. I originally published this post in June 2023. It was updated and republished in August 2026.
On my mind this week: 15-minute cities are a good thing
If you’re not familiar with the concept of a 15-minute city, it’s an approach to urban planning that creates neighbourhoods where everything you need is accessible either on foot, by bike, or by transit. From an environmental point of view, 15-minute cities are an excellent way to reduce urban sprawl, lower our carbon footprint, and lessen our dependency on cars.
The comments on the Facebook post made it clear that an idea that has some merit is yet another polarizing issue. On the one hand, many of the commenters saw this development as a positive—creating much-needed rental housing close to our downtown core and within walking distance of the light rail transit system.
Not surprisingly, others took an opposing view. Those who are against the development said 15-minute cities are the government’s way of controlling us and restricting our movement. Further, they indicated that this type of development is one step towards the government making it illegal for people to travel outside their neighbourhood. The comments read like a dystopian novel.
It always amazes me how some people are hell bent on looking at everything with a negative lens. You know the type—those who will never let common sense and logic come in the way of a good conspiracy theory.
At one time everyone lived in a 15-minute city
It would be easy for me to sit back in my single-family suburban home and expect everyone wants to, or can, live like I do. That’s just not the case. The high cost of living means many people can’t afford to buy cars, or houses. We desperately need housing solutions to support that growing population.
If you think back a few generations, before the industrial revolution urbanized our world, everyone lived in a 15-minute neighbourhood. Before cars took over the planet, people walked or rode bikes to do their errands. They socialized with neighbours in their local community. It was a simpler and more sustainable way of life.
I’m not suggesting we turn back the clock but if we’re ever going to solve our societal and environmental issues, we need to embrace different ideas. Instead of resisting and attacking everything that doesn’t align with our life and our personal view of the world, why not take the time to learn more so we can form an educated opinion?
The neighbourhood where I live has a very low walkability score. As I look toward the future, I can see a day when I’d love to live in a neighbourhood where I wouldn’t need a car. As our population ages, 15-minute cities are a concept that needs serious consideration in our car-centric society.
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Three highlights of the week
It’s important to celebrate big milestones and simple pleasures in life. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:
- This week, I’m feeling grateful for my co-workers. On Tuesday, I went into the office and had a nice lunch with two of my work friends. Then, on Friday afternoon, I gathered with several friends at a co-worker’s house and enjoyed some wonderful food and great company.
- On Wednesday evening, the local chapter of my professional association hosted a summer social at a local brewery. It was great to socialize and enjoy some good food and great company.
- The flowerpots that I planted for the front of our house are growing so well.
Three things I learned this week
Life is all about learning. Here are three things I learned this week:
Toronto is now Canada’s most expensive city
There are so many things to love about Vancouver. The combination of the mountains and the ocean are irresistible to many. For many years, Vancouver had the dubious honour of being Canada’s most expensive city.
Interestingly, Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking reports Toronto has surpassed Vancouver as Canada’s most expensive city. Living within commuting distance of the city of Toronto, I can attest to how the high cost of living in Toronto has driven up the cost of living in our mid-sized city.
On the world scale, however, Toronto ranks number 92, whereas Vancouver is number 101. Hong Kong tops the list, and New York City is the most expensive American city.
It’s pollinator week
June 19 to 26 is Pollinator Week, a time to spread the word on how we can protect the pollinators that are so crucial to our food chain. I’ve been thinking about a pollinator’s garden in the spot where our kids’ playhouse now sits. I need to do some research on the best flowers to plant there.
Visit pollinator.org to learn more about Pollinator Week and how you can help.
Microforests
Every day, I get The Carbon Almanac’s daily email news. Imagine my surprise when one of this week’s emails gave a shoutout to Waterloo Region in a piece about microforests!
A microforest is a patch of land, about the size of a tennis court, densely planted with species that are native to the local area. Sustainable Waterloo Region has been piloting microforest projects, many of them are on school properties. Microforests absorb the heat from parking lots close by, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide habitat for local wildlife. What a great initiative!
(Source: Sustainable Waterloo Region)
(2026 Update: Read about my experience with a local microforest project in this post.)
Sustainable living tip: Travelling? Pack your own snacks and water bottle!
As we approach the end of June, school’s out in North America! If you’ll be travelling this summer, there are two simple things to pack that will significantly reduce waste and save you money, too.
First, pack a refillable water bottle. Even if you’re flying, you can fill it up after you pass through airport security. Similarly, pack your own travel snacks. I fill my own containers at a local bulk store and pack them in my carry-on.
These simple items will save you from paying airport prices for bottled water and packaged snacks.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.
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I like the idea of 15-minute cities. However, we have a 15-minute city in the middle of a bad/violent part of town in Phoenix, far from grocery and restaurant exact one of each on site… which I think is a little crazy, because who wants to walk several hours into 120 heat.
That sounds like a poorly planned neighbourhood, Erin. Last year, we stopped in Levis, Quebec on our way home from PEI and our hotel was in a newer neighbourhood that had a terrific mix of shopping, restaurants, hotels and residential buildings. We thought it was great.
Yes, it’s such a great concept, but the execution there was not great. I don’t know if it’s the case everywhere, we have a lot of complexes being build with stores at the base level and apartments/condos above, so you can get groceries or go eat without getting into a car. It’s nice.
European cities have figured it out long before us in Canada the value of walkable cities. It contributes to work-life balance, wellbeing and also is more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Like you, I am in favour of this movement.
And yes, sadly, Toronto has become so unaffordable. I am thankfully we got into our home long before it became unattainable to afford one!
Yes, public transit in Europe is light years ahead of us in North America. When they built the light rail system in Kitchener-Waterloo, the amount of squawking people did was ridiculous. And, I hate to admit that most of it was from people in my age group. We are so car dependent, but I recognize that the day will come when I will no longer be able to drive. We do live close to a bus stop that goes to our local shopping area so we’re probably better positioned than most people to age in our home.
Kitchener transit has come a long way! I used to rely on it in the early 00s to visit the hubby when he studied in Waterloo. 😊
It definitely has and I see that as a good thing. I grew up in Cambridge and there was no regular bus service to Kitchener in those days. Now we have regular express bus service from Cambridge to Kitchener-Waterloo and plans to extend light rail in the future, although the naysayers are against that, of course. One of the biggest arguments against light rail rail is, “I won’t ride it so it’s just a waste of taxpayer money.” Ugh. Why can’t people think of other people? If you’re privileged enough to own a car, it’s clearly not for you, but other people will benefit from it.
I think it is unfortunately a generational thing. But thankfully there are those who also see the good in paying for the greater good! 🙏
I read your intro and for the life of me, couldn’t think of why 15 minute cities could be perceived as bad. So interesting how people can take the other side. Thanks for another great Sunday Spark, Michelle!
Honestly, Wynne. Some people will find fault with anything. Lloyd Alter is a retired professor of urban planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. He writes a lot on Substack about the huge problems we will have once our aging population can no longer drive. People plan to age in their homes but most of those homes do not lend themselves to car-free living. 15-minute cities are an attractive alternative. It’s a shame people aren’t more open to the idea.
I was born in a fifteen minute city and have always loved it, so it is interesting to me to see you break down both sides of the argument for and against these types of small communities! Wonderful morning read.
Thanks Layla! People are very creative at coming up with arguments against anything the government does. I think the benefits outweigh the challenges and the discussion should start from there.
I was struggling to think of why someone would object to 15-minute cities as I scrolled down to read your explanation. Geez.
And I love your travel tips. I’m going to be traveling this week and really appreciate them! Thanks, Michelle!
The arguments they are making defy logic, don’t they Wynne? Then again, these are mostly the same people who protested against vaccinations, public health restrictions and held our capital city hostage for weeks on end in early 2021 so I suppose nothing should surprise me.
I’m glad my travel tips are useful to you. I’ll be travelling in July and August, so I’m getting my packing list ready.
I love the focus on creating 15-minute cities. It opens up a whole world of possibilities for many people that may otherwise struggle, like students, first-time renters, those without vehicles, people with disabilities that have a harder time travelling longer distances, etc. That being said, I will never understand the need to find the negative side of everything. Do I support it? Yes. Do I think everyone has to live that way? No, that would be where we cross the line into control. We live in the middle of nowhere, and I love it – a 15-minute city certainly isn’t for me. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a great option for many others!
I agree with you, Britt. It wouldn’t be my choice of lifestyle at this stage of my life but, as I get older and possibly less mobile, who knows? Sadly, many of the more vocal protesters don’t recognize their privilege of being able to afford a single-family home and they think everyone can and should live like they do.
I love the idea of 15 minute cities. I’d like to see town planners focus on these so much more. It would make it so much easier for so many.
I can see the concept of 15-minute cities appealing to younger people, and also to seniors. It makes so much sense to have everything close by.
I rather like the idea of 15 minute cities, especially the ones that have miles of golf carts and that’s how everyone gets to the stores etc. I think there’s some like that in Florida. I’m in Texas, and I wish we had a community like that. We do have lots of planned developments, but they feel rather Stepford Wives-ish to us. Cookie-cutter houses too close to each other, and too many regulations on how your house and yard are to look, etc.
With the high cost of living, I see the appeal of 15-minute cities for young people who can’t afford cars. I also think they’d be great for seniors with everything they need close by. I would totally live in one!
I would too but my husband would rather us live in a rural area. We will see as our travels take us to new places!!
I can’t imagine my husband living in a high rise or a condo. He was raised on a farm and it was a big leap for him to move to our mid-sized city when we got married.
I understand, like you can’t take the Texas out of my hubby, but I’m aiming to try and change his mind if we find something somewhere else or better!
Micro forests! I love this. New to me but the concept and benefits make so much sense. And I’ll be a fan forever of 15 min cities. The concept aligns beautifully with the need to address “food deserts” in urban areas where fresh food can be hard to find. Thanks for all of this, Michelle. 😉
Hi Vicki! I love the idea of microforests and I was so surprised to learn they are happening right here in our region. I’m definitely going to plan a field trip to some of these locations. Watch out for a future post on this.
I also think 15-minute cities are a great concept. I just don’t understand why people see them as a bad thing.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
You, too Michelle — you, too! 🥰
I didn’t know about the 15 minutes cities! It’s a great idea. I stopped using the car in Brussels and when I don’t walk, I take the public transport. We also have micro-forests here in my city, but there are people against them. As you said there are always people with negative thinking. Happy Sunday!
Thanks Cristiana! I love that you have microforests, and I can’t imagine why anyone would have a problem with them. People can be strange. Have a wonderful day!
They complain because they wouldn’t clean them up and they might become waste deposits. All this without knowing it, as most of them are quite new. People are strange indeed!
Your microforest has inspired me to write to my boss and suggest we make one. I think we could have one at the school.
It is an amazing idea. I had no idea this project existed right in my own community until I saw it in The Carbon Almanac’s daily email. I will definitely plan to go and have a look at some of them over the summer.