The City Institute at York University (CITY) brings together the university’s urban scholars conducting both applied and theoretical research across a broad range of fields and throughout each of its Faculties. This interdisciplinary institute facilitates critical and collaborative research, providing new knowledge and innovative approaches to comprehending and addressing the complexity of the “new city”.

With almost 100 faculty members and hundreds more graduate students, York’s urban researchers possess wide-ranging strengths including planning, architecture, the urban environment, migration and settlement, globalization and world cities, citizenship and civil society, education, law, transportation, and the city in literature, film and art. Learn more about key CITY research projects here. CITY currently houses the Major  Collaborative Research Initiative “Global Suburbanisms: Governance, Land and Infrastructure in the 21st Century”.

CITY draws on the breadth and scope of York’s urban scholarly and professional community to undertake groundbreaking research projects. CITY also plays a vital role in developing Canada’s next generation of leaders and thinkers, with graduate students playing a central role in the life of the Institute and participating fully in its research activities. Are you a faculty member, graduate student or post-doctoral fellow from another institutions and are interested in becoming a Visiting Scholar at the CITY Institute? Click here for more information.

In addition, CITY encourages and facilitates participation in public policy and community activism as an essential form of knowledge mobilization. Our researchers have long-standing relationships with community groups, NGOs, Aboriginal nations, and policymakers both in Canada and internationally.

CITY frequently hosts events and invited talks, including our City Seminar series: check out our Events archives to access audio streams, video, and photos from past talks.

CITY News and Upcoming Events