Themes

History and 1980s
Equity and Accessibility

Chapman, D., Nilsson, K., Larsson, A., & Rizzo, A. (2017). Climatic barriers to soft-mobility in winter: Luleå, Sweden as case study. Sustainable Cities and Society, 35, 574–580.

Sweden warms to “gender equal” snow ploughing. (2013, December 11). The Local.

Tunney, C., & Lunn, S. (2018, January 22). How Bill Morneau may use Sweden’s gender-balanced snow-clearing to adjust Canadian budgets [News]. CBC Politics.

Sensory

Zardini, M. (Ed.). (2005). Sense of the City. Canadian Centre for Architecture and Lars Müller.

Narrative Generation and Languaging

Socio-Ecological Connections

Municipal Policy for Winter Cities

The following municipalities have developed plans, policies, guidelines, and/or strategies to address the unique challenges of winter living and enhance urban resilience.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

WinterCity Strategy aims to transform how the city operates during winter, focusing on winter recreation, business opportunities, winter festivals, and public engagement.
Winter Design Guidelines, which require consideration of winter conditions in city-led developments. The subsequent Policy (2016) emphasizes winter-friendly urban design to ensure that public spaces and city infrastructure are designed with winter in mind.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

The WinterCityYXE Strategy aims to enhance Saskatoon’s livability and vibrancy by designing and adapting the city to embrace and celebrate winter, focusing on making public spaces, infrastructure, and activities more accessible and enjoyable during the coldest months of the year.

The Implementation Plan outlines actionable steps to transform Saskatoon into a more winter-friendly city by improving outdoor spaces, increasing winter recreation opportunities, and fostering a vibrant winter culture through community engagement and thoughtful urban design.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Calgary’s Winter City Strategy: Focuses on winter recreation, pedestrian mobility, and ensuring that streets and pathways are safe and accessible during the winter months. The city also promotes outdoor activities like winter festivals and ice skating.

Beaumont, Alberta, Canada

The Beaumont Winter City Strategy promotes a comfortable and enjoyable experience on the street level, minimizing wind and maximizing sunlight, while adding visual interest and landmarks.