Bouncing back from recession, Toronto leads Canada’s growth

[Innsertnamehere]

they seem to have finally shaken off that explosion that happened a century ago... LOL

[IrishMan2010]

Originally Posted by InTheBeach

Urban planning is for the love of it, but there is no money in it for all but a couple of people at the top of a few planning departments for larger cities.

Stick with marketing, and maybe sales (esp. if you have technical knowledge).

Would it be difficult to get into Planning/Architectural consultant firms? Thanks for all your responses!

[Гроф]

Originally Posted by IrishMan2010

Would it be difficult to get into Planning/Architectural consultant firms? Thanks for all your responses!

Unless you have _lots_ of related experience, yes. The job market is very bad and finding a job in any planning-related capacity is hard, hard work.

[InTheBeach]

Not to offend, but if it isn't too late, I would change your major to something else. Maybe software development?

Urban planning is one of those subjects that is attractive (who here doesn't like urban planning?), but really, universities offer it to subsidize more capital intensive programs like engineering, medical, natural sciences, computer science, etc.). Universities talk about virtue, but really, they are businesses too.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Halifax has so much going for it, it always surprised me how slowly its economy would grow. A deep port, rail links, good airport, huge military bases, tons of hospital/medical, aerospace, a young population, moderate climate by Canadian standards, and universities galore.

The population is growing faster now than it has in decades, the shipbuilding contract went Halifax's way, and immigrants are starting to discover Halifax. Perhaps, Halifax is emerging from 100 years of hibernation?

that would be great for Halifax and many Canadians. It would be nice to have a blossoming east coast city to balance out Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver

While I love Toronto, I'd love a well-paying job in my field of study & I wouldn't mind moving if it meant that would be possible.

Cheers, m

[allurban]

Originally Posted by InTheBeach

Not to offend, but if it isn't too late, I would change your major to something else. Maybe software development?

Urban planning is one of those subjects that is attractive (who here doesn't like urban planning?), but really, universities offer it to subsidize more capital intensive programs like engineering, medical, natural sciences, computer science, etc.). Universities talk about virtue, but really, they are businesses too.

Anything that universities can do to promote innovation & knowledge (even if that means half-empty urban planning programs) is fine by me.

Canada is not going to survive just by selling our resources to the world. We need to make better use of our resources, develop greater knowledge and skills, and promote our cities as leading centres for innovation.

Cheers, m

[InTheBeach]

Originally Posted by allurban

Anything that universities can do to promote innovation & knowledge (even if that means half-empty urban planning programs) is fine by me.

Canada is not going to survive just by selling our resources to the world. We need to make better use of our resources, develop greater knowledge and skills, and promote our cities as leading centres for innovation.

Cheers, m

Ok, I really agree with your point about resources. Anyone with a shovel can play that game.

But at the same time, I really disagree with institutions spoon feeding people crap (well, the content is not crap, but people may as well just read a book, because there is no career at the end of it for them) and causing them to collect student debt for a degree that is not going to enrich them financially.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by InTheBeach

Ok, I really agree with your point about resources. Anyone with a shovel can play that game.

But at the same time, I really disagree with institutions spoon feeding people crap (well, the content is not crap, but people may as well just read a book, because there is no career at the end of it for them) and causing them to collect student debt for a degree that is not going to enrich them financially.

Amen to that.

Everything starts with learning, then doing, then sharing your experience with others.

Our country can do wonders if government and business and academia stuck to that simple formula. Education is a system that promotes itself according to its own self interest.

We need better ways to get people to be innovative, rather than producing graduates with their pieces of paper.

But we also need people who are willing to take a chance, be creative and work hard.

Cheers, m

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by allurban

that would be great for Halifax and many Canadians. It would be nice to have a blossoming east coast city to balance out Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver

Halifax was meant to be a big city, but Confederation got in the way. 90% of its trade bit the dust with the stroke of a pen as the traditional NS-New England flows were severely restricted to encourage NS-central Canada links. Predictably, NS went into a deep free fall that it never recovered from.

The Free Trade Agreement in the 1980s finally reversed that economic catastrophe for Halifax and its been a slow steady climb from the abyss.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Halifax was meant to be a big city, but Confederation got in the way. 90% of its trade bit the dust with the stroke of a pen as the traditional NS-New England flows were severely restricted to encourage NS-central Canada links. Predictably, NS went into a deep free fall that it never recovered from.

The Free Trade Agreement in the 1980s finally reversed that economic catastrophe for Halifax and its been a slow steady climb from the abyss.

let's hope they do a great job planning for the growth ...

Don't want to have a situation like Calgary or Edmonton with massive population increases that the infrastructure cannot handle.

Of course, metro Halifax is more constrained than Calgary or Edmonton...

It will be interesting to see if they have any public transport improvements planned. Chris Hume also comments on traffic congestion and the port ...http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...-to-the-future

Cheers, m

[Taller, Better]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2319309/

Toronto tourism had record year in 2011
Toronto— The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 9:06AM EST
Last updated Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 9:10AM EST



Officials say 2011 was a record year for tourism in Toronto.

Tourism Toronto says the number of hotel room nights sold surpassed 9 million for the first time.

And, for the first time since 2006, Toronto saw an increase in overnight visitors from the U.S. last year.

Tourism Toronto president David Whitaker says 2011 also saw growth in the number of visitors from overseas markets such as China, India, and Brazil.


read the article in its entirety here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2319309/

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2319309/

Toronto tourism had record year in 2011
Toronto— The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 9:06AM EST
Last updated Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 9:10AM EST



Officials say 2011 was a record year for tourism in Toronto.

Tourism Toronto says the number of hotel room nights sold surpassed 9 million for the first time.

And, for the first time since 2006, Toronto saw an increase in overnight visitors from the U.S. last year.

Tourism Toronto president David Whitaker says 2011 also saw growth in the number of visitors from overseas markets such as China, India, and Brazil.


read the article in its entirety here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2319309/

You beat me to it

Considering Canada as a whole saw less tourists this year (especially out west), this is remarkable. Toronto is obviously doing something right!

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by ACT7

You beat me to it

Considering Canada as a whole saw less tourists this year (especially out west), this is remarkable.

Was tourism down for the country as a whole?

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Was tourism down for the country as a whole?

Well according to the Canadian Tourism Commission is was...

http://en-corporate.canada.travel/si...011_11_eng.pdf

Not by much, so even if we say it was flat. This report is up to November but I doubt December was vastly different.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by allurban

let's hope they do a great job planning for the growth ...

Don't want to have a situation like Calgary or Edmonton with massive population increases that the infrastructure cannot handle.

Of course, metro Halifax is more constrained than Calgary or Edmonton...

Congestion in Halifax is ridiculous for a city its size. You've basically got 100,000 commuters trying to squeeze on to a tiny peninsula each morning. Halifax only has 400,000 people, but its geography screams out for a subway system. A simple loop would do wonders for this city: Halifax-Dartmouth-Bedford-Halifax.