Spacing | Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

The rise and fall of National Rubber

Photographer Peter MacCallum documented the National Rubber Industries Cawthra Avenue Plant in the West Toronto Junction, 1991-2026

By Peter MacCallum

In February, 2026 a friend who lives in the Junction emailed me to report that demolition had begun at the site of the former National Rubber factory on Cawthra Avenue. Having already produced an extensive photographic record of this plant, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a few images recording its end. The block-long single-storey shed housing the National Rubber Industries Cawthra Avenue Plant had been built in 1902 for the E.&C. Gurney Company as a boiler and radiator... Read more

Toronto Bikes

The truth about the University Avenue bike lanes

The evidence does not support the negative narrative some are peddling
By Lanrick Bennett
Vancouver Community

UCS: The First 100 (Video)

The Urban Cartoon Syndicate launched in May 2024 and reached the hundredth cartoon last week. We mark this milestone by packing them all into a one-minute...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate
Toronto Waterfront

Rees Park: The rug that can tie the post-FIFA waterfront together

The FanFest zone and the Raptor's Jurassic Park show the potential for flexible public spaces that serve large events and festivals
By Tim Kocur
Vancouver Features

Book Review: Cheapskate in Lotus Land

Author: Steve Burgess (Douglas & McIntyre, 2026) Cheapskate in Lotus Land, the new book by writer/humourist Steve Burgess, delivers what he promises...
By Michael Kluckner
Toronto Community

OP-ED: Invitation as Urban Policy

What the Bentway, the High Line, and Madrid Río taught me about health and belonging in public spaces
By Kate Mulligan
Vancouver Features

I’m Voting for Neighbourhoods. Are You?

I believe that Vancouver is, first and foremost, a “City of Distinguished Neighbourhoods”, and that Vancouver neighbourhoods are poised to...
By scothein

Toronto Bikes

Modernizing e-bike rules

New provincial proposals are timely
By Albert Koehl
Toronto Walking

Church Street is being pedestrianized — that wasn’t so hard, was it?

The recently approved pilot project proves the City can rubber-stamp such initiatives without endless consultations and excuses
By John Lorinc
Vancouver Politics

UCS #100: Piling On

See our Launch and Introduction about the launch of the © Urban Cartoon Syndicate and the announcement by CityHallWatch. *** Related Readings: Rising food...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate
National Podcast

THE OVERHEAD: When Policy Pauses Public Ownership

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Vancouver Urban Design

Time and the City

Cities outlast us. Our imagination doesn't. From seconds to generations, a journey through how cities transform, adapt, and outlast the people who build them.
By Yuval Fogelson
Vancouver Spacing

UCS #99 – The Press Conference Button

See our Launch and Introduction about the launch of the © Urban Cartoon Syndicate and the announcement by CityHallWatch. *** Related Readings: Vancouver...
By Urban Cartoon Syndicate

National Podcast

The Overhead: What We’ve Learned About Evictions

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 094, The Landlords

In this episode: rental construction, Bill 60, and tenants' rights.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 93, Everything Eglinton

In this episode: celebrating the Crosstown, lessons learned, and Scarborough's Golden Mile.
By Spacing Radio

National Podcast

The Overhead: Rent Control and Rent Hikes

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 92, Resolutions for Toronto leadership

In this episode: the election starts now, the Doug Ford problem, and public toilets.
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Community land trusts gaining ground

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Decommodifying Housing

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Indigenous-led housing

Spacing and the Balanced Supply of Housing research node proudly present The Overhead: Understanding Canada’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a special podcast series.
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 90, Bless this urban mess

In This Episode: we talk incremental change, embrace urban chaos, and take a stroll down Toronto's laneways
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 089, Global ideas for local placemaking

In This Episode: what is placemaking and what can we learn from placemakers around the world?
By Spacing Radio
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 088, Big City Mayor Takes on Canadian Housing

In This Episode: recent Vancouver history, Canada's new housing minister, and Scarborough cuisine
By Glyn Bowerman
Toronto Podcast

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 087, Building housing with election planks

In this episode: campaign promises, court injunctions, and taking Doug Ford to court (again)
By Spacing Radio

More Podcasts

Toronto Waterfront

Jet Dreams on Toronto Island (Part 1)

Premier Doug Ford and the Toronto Port Authority, the federal agency that owns Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, have been extraordinarily secretive...
By Ian Darragh
Toronto Bikes

Modernizing e-bike rules

This article is co-authored with Muskan Fatima. E-bikes are good for our cities. They offer reliable transportation for people of all ages and abilities...
By Albert Koehl
Vancouver Features

I’m Voting for Neighbourhoods. Are You?

I believe that Vancouver is, first and foremost, a “City of Distinguished Neighbourhoods”, and that Vancouver neighbourhoods are poised to...
By scothein
Toronto Waterfront

Rees Park: The rug that can tie the post-FIFA waterfront together

The waterfront as an east-west canvas for events and animation in Toronto will show its potential like never before during the upcoming FIFA World Cup...
By Tim Kocur
Toronto Community

OP-ED: Invitation as Urban Policy

This spring, at Bloomberg CityLab in Madrid, social prescribing reached the agenda of the world’s largest cities summit for the first time. It was a...
By Kate Mulligan
Toronto Bikes

The truth about the University Avenue bike lanes

Over the past year, I have written multiple times about how misinformation and selective framing continue shaping Toronto’s transportation debates. In...
By Lanrick Bennett

Podcasts

Trending