3 Canadian cities among the best places to live in the world

Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s most liveable cities list released this month. The magazine/research group ranked 140 cities based on a range of criteria including healthcare, culture and entertainment, infrastructure, environment, civil unrest and quality housing.

Vancouver and Toronto made the top five in spite of their increasingly unaffordable housing, and Calgary in spite of its recent spike in unemployment.

Scored between one (intolerable) and 100 (acceptable), Vancouver narrowly topped Toronto with respective scores of 97.3 and 97.2. Calgary tied Adelaide, Australia, for fifth with a 96.6 each. (Vienna, Austria, finished second. Our other high-ranker, Montreal, finished in 12th.) Between them, Australia and Canada took six of the top 10 spots.

Our cities remain relatively affordable compared to Paris, London, New York or Tokyo, and those European cities also suffer from higher crime rates, worse traffic congestion (hard to believe, I know) and other transportation issues. The threat (or perceived threat) of terrorism had an impact on some of the European contenders, too, as well as knocking Sydney, Australia, out of the top 10.

Vancouver

Not to take it for granted, but we already know Canada boasts an enviable quality of life, and that some of our cities are well deserving of making such a list. What’s got me thinking is why Melbourne keeps us out of the top spot six years running? Clearly, whatever we know about making cities great, the Australians know it too. So what do they know that we don’t?

Melbourne has the Yarra River, which offers residents ample options for watersports and boating, as well as terrific views. Water? Vancouver, check; Toronto, check. In spite of the provincial attitude we still tend to have towards gambling, Melbourne’s Crown Casino hasn’t done it any harm — it’s the largest gambling centre in the southern hemisphere. But Vancouver’s got gaming options right in the city, and although we may have to go a little further afield, those intent on giving their money away can do so not too far outside the GTA.

The arts are also a strength of the Australian gold medal winner, but Vancouver and Toronto are no slouches there. Australia's got nightlife and motorsports, but so do we. Ditto great markets, coffee shops and restaurants. Parks and gardens we’ve all got; Melbourne’s Royal Park and Vancouver’s Stanley Park, and Toronto has High Park and many smaller parkettes peppering the downtown.

Melbourne’s literary scene has earned it a Unesco City of Literature title, which is something I certainly wouldn’t mind aspiring to, and it has a plethora of pedestrian-friendly laneways, which we’re just beginning to value. Australians also seem to embrace cutting-edge architecture more than we do. Melbourne residents have also embraced street art in a way we don’t.

Calgary

When it’s comes to public transit, we’ve got a long way to go, while Melbourne’s tram network is one of the world’s best.

Then there’s the weather. We just can’t compete there. Summer temperatures in Melbourne range from 20 to 26 degrees celsius, while in Toronto of course they range from 20 to the surface of the sun. Average winter temperatures in Melbourne (June to August) are in the 6 to 7-degree range, which isn’t unlike Vancouver, but compare 650 mm or so average rainfall annually in Melbourne to Vancouver’s 1,100 mm, and we have a clear winner.

While we can’t change the weather, we should take a trio of other pages from Melbourne’s book. Public transit is essential to a livable city and we are lagging badly. If we can get people out of their cars, hopefully we can motivate planners to embrace pedestrian laneways (although they may be less popular in the doldrums of February, which brings us back to the weather).

Although transit and pedestrian infrastructure and planning is expensive and takes a sea change, we stand to lose more by not moving to open our streetscapes up to interesting and compelling architecture.