Spacing | Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

LORINC: When the police neither serve or protect

Why has Queen's Park tried to remedy Toronto's police problem by ordering a probe of every police service in Ontario?

By John Lorinc

Following last week’s revelations about “Project South” — a far-ranging probe into police corruption that netted indictments against seven Toronto cops, one retired officer and three other suspensions in Peel Region, as well as 24 civilians — a media-fuelled narrative quickly hardened into received wisdom. According to various pundits, this bust, which allegedly involved organized crime, extortion and attempted hit jobs, with links to drug dealers, car theft rings and... Read more

National Architecture

Book Review: Architecture Against Architecture

Author: Reinier de Graaf (Verso, 2026) When Reinier de Graaf published Four Walls and a Roof in 2017, it stood out for its rare willingness to expose...
By Erick Villagomez
Toronto History

Jimmy Cliff and the roots of Toronto’s reggae scene, Part 2

Cheryl Thompson presents a two-part series for Black History Month in 2026
By Cheryl Thompson
Toronto History

Jimmy Cliff and the roots of Toronto’s reggae scene, Part 1

Cheryl Thompson presents a two-part series for Black History Month in 2026
By Cheryl Thompson
National Architecture

Book Review: New York 2020

The much-anticipated final volume in the critically acclaimed series, New York 2020 explores the planning and politics of building the city in the first...
By Sean Ruthen
Toronto Walking

LORINC: The post-snowstorm sidewalk obstacle course

The City made good on its promise to improve snow clearing on streets in the aftermath of a big snowfall — sidewalks, not so much
By John Lorinc
Toronto Waterfront

Why the Trillium should find new life on the waterfront

Retire the venerable island ferry in the Portland Street slip, next to the refurbished Canada Malting silos
By Oliver Hierlihy

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
Vancouver Politics

UCS #84: Vancouver’s New Needy

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

OP-ED: Stop Framing Bike Infrastructure as the Problem

Lanrick Bennett argues that a briefly plowed bike lane does not reflect the City's actual priorities
By Lanrick Bennett
Toronto Spacing

NEW ISSUE: Crossing Town

Issue 73 explores Eglinton Avenue, Toronto's "prime rib" from east to west, as it awaits its new transit line
By Dylan Reid
Vancouver Housing

Rethinking Housing Economics

How Supply-and-Demand Falls Short in the Housing Debate
By Erick Villagomez
Vancouver Spacing

UCS #83: Your Tax Dollars at Work

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

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
National Podcast

The Overhead: The Housing Crisis in Trump’s America

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: Tracking Evictions Across Canada

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 086, Lost Highways

In this episode: the Ontario election, do highways solve congestion, and Winnipeg's famous intersection
By Spacing Radio
National Podcast

The Overhead: Security for Renters

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 085, City accounting for global chaos

In this episode: Trudeau's urban legacy, Toronto's budget, and potential economic meltdowns
By Spacing Radio

More Podcasts

Toronto Culture

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Songs About Toronto

In the Fall 2023 issue of Spacing (coming soon to a store or mailbox near you), we shine a spotlight on five “Toronto Troubadours” — musicians “dedicated...
By Todd Harrison
Toronto Pandemic

LORINC: The pandemic is about cities

Viruses, in the abstract, don’t care much about their host organisms, beyond the latter’s on-board, physiological defenses. Yet it’s clear the coronavirus...
By John Lorinc
Vancouver Architecture

S101S—Understanding Residential Density: FSR, Building Setbacks and Height Regulations

What is Floor Space Ratio (FSR) and how does it interact with building setbacks and height regulations to create building forms and the ‘look and feel’ of...
By Erick Villagomez
Toronto Waterfront

What’s really happening at Ontario Place? (Part 1)

The investigation by Ontario Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk into the Ford government’s removal of 7,400 acres of prime farmland and wetlands from the...
By Ian Darragh
Toronto Housing

LORINC: The Tories’ use-it-or-lose housing ruse

On the north-east corner of Bathurst and St. Clair West sits a snazzy purpose-built condo sales office, ostensibly there to promote Foret, a giant...
By John Lorinc
Toronto Waterfront

Q&A with Steven Evans on photographing Ontario Place

With the chaotic Greenbelt scandal swirling in the background, the updated plans for the Ford government’s deeply contentious and destructive scheme...
By John Lorinc

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