Vancouver 
Evergreen, a Canadian organisation working towards making “cities more livable, green and prosperous,” and home to Toronto’s Evergreen Brickworks, has analyzed Canadian cities with a population of 200,000 or more using Walk Score and Pedestrians First to find the top 10 walkable cities in Canada.
Credit: Tourism Saskatoon
Here are the top 10:
- Vancouver: Evergreen says Vancouver prioritizes walkable development. Redfin Vancouver reports high Walk Scores, with neighborhoods like Downtown, West End, Fairview, and Mount Pleasant surpassing 90. The city also boasts the top Bike Score for infrastructure and connectivity. (Walk Score: 79.8)
- Montréal: Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, boasts a high walkability score, European charm, diverse architecture, and pedestrian-prioritized streets, making it a delightful destination for exploring on foot. (Walk Score: 65.4)
- Toronto: Toronto boasts walkable neighborhoods, a 30km underground walkway (PATH), and easy access to education and healthcare. It ranks first in Canada for Transit Score, indicating excellent public transport options. (Walk Score: 61.0)
- Burnaby: Burnaby ranks fourth, offering walkable downtown neighbourhoods with diverse amenities but lags behind Vancouver. Only 25% is a 15-minute city. Compensating with 11 SkyTrain stops and multiple bus routes, commuting is easy. (Walk Score: 60.1)
- Longueuil: Longueuil, Montreal’s urban escape, ranks fifth for parks and hiking trails, including Michel-Chartrand Park. Canada’s third-best Bike Score highlights its extensive cycling network, making exploration easy and enjoyable. (Walk Score: 54.4)
- Hamilton: The Steel City ranks sixth as a car-dependent city but has transformed with walkable neighborhoods, attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists to core, west end, and Dundas areas. (Walk Score: 49.6)
- Mississauga: The second largest city in the GTA, known for urban sprawl and car-centric design, now promotes transit-oriented development and densification. With initiatives like Inspiration Port Credit, the city is creating walkable neighborhoods and revitalizing public spaces. (Walk Score: 48.9)
- Winnipeg: Manitoba’s capital city has walkable neighborhoods like Exchange District, Osborne Village, West Broadway, and St. Boniface. However, the city remains car-reliant, with only 34% of residents near education and healthcare facilities. (Walk Score: 48.5)
- Surrey: The predominantly car-dependent neighbourhood of Vancouver has walkable areas like downtown, Guildford, and Fleetwood. Efforts to improve bike-friendliness include new lanes, expanded routes, and added parking facilities. (Walk Score: 46.1)
- Saskatoon: The largely car-dependent city of Saskatoon ranks 10th, with efforts to increase pedestrian-friendliness. The 2016 Complete Streets Policy promotes safe, accessible streets for all users, with implementation underway in various areas. (Walk Score: 45.7)
