ABSTRACT
The image of ‘Canada’ often conjures up a country of mountains, trees, tundra and charismatic megafauna. Despite Canada's many natural assets, Canada is also a country of (sub)urban development. Most recent population data indicates that 80 per cent of Canadians live in an urban centre of 10,000 people or more (Statistics Canada, 2008). But the densities of these urban areas vary across large Canadian cities. For example, the population density per square kilometre in Montreal is 4438.7; in Calgary 1360.2 and in Vancouver 5039.0. These variations are further amplified when the contrast between the urban core and suburban periphery is assessed. The Greater Golden Horseshoe region is Canada's most populous metropolitan area (see Figure 12.1) covering 33,500km2. With a population of 8.1 million people it is the region where 25 per cent of Canadians make their home but the region's densities range from 24.4 people per square kilometre in the town of Kawartha Lakes to the high of 3972.4 in Toronto.
