Active Transportation
A liveable city is one in which every person can safely and reliably move around in the way they choose, year-round.
Arts & Culture
A liveable city is one that is continually enabling artistic excellence and engages its citizens through accessible arts programming. It supports an active public policy that creates opportunities for arts expression and participation throughout the greater community.
Climate Change
A liveable city is one that supports the greenhouse gas reductions necessary for a liveable climate and fosters employment opportunities in the growing green economy.
Economy & Finance
A liveable city is one that is economically sustainable and efficient. The goals identified in the other themes are not just beneficial to quality of life, they also reduce costs or increase revenue for the city, thus lowering overall tax rates for total services. For example, it is well known that ‘transit-oriented design’ and investments in fixed public transit stimulate private economic development and increase tax revenues to the city. Likewise, policies that support active and public transit, and increased density development, result in reduced costs for delivery of public services per citizen, and enhanced economic and social activity.
Environment
A liveable city is one that contributes to the well-being of its residents by ensuring adequate access to green space, sustainable waste management and sound environmental planning.
Equity
A liveable city is an equitable city – one that is accessible, supportive and empowering for all citizens. It is a city that is proactive and responsive to the differing needs of different groups, and that acknowledges, accommodates and appreciates diversity in its social fabric.
Health
A healthy city is one that is continually supporting and improving the mental, physical and social well-being of its citizens. It provides multiple and accessible opportunities to improve health through governance, policy, and the design of physical and social environments.
Housing
A liveable, sustainable, equitable community is one that ensures timely access to safe, appropriate, affordable homes for all. Housing is an important social determinant of physical and mental health, and wellbeing, for children and other vulnerable populations. Healthy social housing also helps residents with greatest need access opportunities, like jobs, education and services.
Food
A liveable city is one that ensures the food security of its citizens, where families can at all times access sufficient, nutritious, safe, culturally appropriate food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, in order to live healthy and active lives.
Public Transportation
A city with effective public transportation is one where public transit is easy to use and priority transit nodes and corridors are within a five minute walk of housing, services, and employment. Public transit should be a viable transportation choice for all and a basic right of residency. Public transit should be accessible, effective, and reliable.
Urban Planning
A liveable city is one that plans for the future appropriately and develops responsibly, including strategic use of existing infrastructure and land, leveraging well-connected inner neighbourhoods, and prioritizing walkability and transit-oriented development.