Is Clareview Station a missed opportunity for transit-oriented development? Tobias thinks so. Surrounded by highways, parking lots, and strip malls, Clareview Station reflects Edmonton’s long-standing dependence on cars. In this YIMBY, Tobias takes a closer look at Clareview’s shortcomings, explores its potential as a transit-oriented community, and shares his ideas for making the station and its surroundings more walkable, accessible, and vibrant. Could Clareview become a model for better transit-oriented development in Edmonton?

Ryan takes us behind the scenes of Edmonton’s LRT system at the D.L. MacDonald LRT Yard open house! From exploring train maintenance facilities to sitting in the driver’s seat, the event offered a unique look at the history and operations of Edmonton’s transit network. But it also raised an important question: is Edmonton moving away from LRT expansion in favour of bus rapid transit? Ryan reflects on the future of rapid transit in Edmonton, the value of our existing LRT network, and why continued expansion matters for the city. Give it a read!

Nathanial explored the hidden costs of something most drivers take for granted: free parking. From West Edmonton Mall’s massive parking lot to the millions of parking spaces across Canada, this piece examines how our reliance on cars shapes our cities, contributes to environmental problems, and drives up housing costs. While parking might seem free, its true costs are shared by everyone, including those who don’t drive. Read the full article to find out why free parking isn’t really free!

Is public art really making our cities better? In this week’s YIMBY, VP Internal David Ivanchikov challenges the way Canadian cities approach public art, from Edmonton’s infamous Talus Dome to costly installations across the country. While recognizing the importance of art in our communities, David questions whether current public art policies actually improve urban spaces or prioritize expensive sculptures over meaningful investments. From pedestrian-friendly design to affordable artist studios and community arts programs, this piece explores how cities could rethink public art to better support artists, residents, and community creativity. What if making art truly public meant giving everyone the opportunity to participate?

Wihkwentowin has been one of Edmonton’s most walkable, vibrant, and desirable central neighbourhoods, but those improvements have also raised important questions about affordability and who gets to benefit from urban renewal. In this YIMBY post, GAPSS VP Marketing Luka Zvonkovic looks at how new development, changing businesses, bike infrastructure, and major transit investments are reshaping the neighbourhood, while also considering the pressures these changes can place on lower-income and long-time residents. Read more about the complicated relationship between good urbanism, gentrification, and creating a neighbourhood that remains accessible to people from a range of backgrounds and incomes.

For the latest YIMBY blog, GAPSS VP Internal David Ivanchikov asks an important planning question: what actually makes a great party space? Using films like Party Girl and Project X alongside examples from Dublin and Singapore, David explores partying as counter-culture, public space, and community-building. The piece looks at how informal nightlife can create connection and social change, while cities often try to channel nightlife into more regulated, commercial spaces. Check out the full piece for a fun take on what party movies can teach us about planning, nightlife, and public space!

To kick off the first YIMBY blog of the academic year, GAPSS VP Internal Logan dives into a disturbing shift in digital cartography: who actually controls the maps we use every day?
Following the U.S. Executive Order attempting to rename Lake Ontario, tech giants like Google and Apple swiftly fell into line, altering digital map displays for millions of users. This piece explores how political mandates and corporate self-interest threaten the objective geographic truths we rely on to navigate our world. Give it a read!

As the year wraps up, Vanessa reflects on her time as GAPSS VP Internal with gratitude for a year full of growth, connection, and new experiences. From stepping outside her comfort zone to building meaningful relationships, her highlight was launching “Grab a Bite With GAPSS,” a food blog that brought fresh creativity and a sense of placemaking to the club. With GAPSS continuing to grow and a new executive team stepping in, the future looks bright. Want to look back on the memories and milestones from this year? Give it a read!

In this week’s YIMBY, Raymond explores the growing push for AI infrastructure in Alberta through the proposed Synapse data centre development in Olds. As governments promote data centres as engines of economic growth, projects like this raise important planning questions about land use, environmental impacts, and community consultation. From noise and water use to power generation and development timelines, Raymond unpacks both the opportunities and the concerns surrounding these massive facilities. With AI infrastructure likely to expand across the province, this piece asks planners to start paying attention now. Curious about what data centres could mean for Alberta communities? Give it a read.

What if the Olympics didn’t belong to one city, but an entire region? In this week’s YIMBY, Logan explores how Milano Cortina 2026 redefined the host-city model by dispersing events across Northern Italy. With competitions spread across multiple hubs, mobility networks replaced a single Olympic core, reducing new construction while challenging cohesion and the traditional Village experience. The result? A Games that prioritized reuse and regional balance — but sacrificed centrality and spectacle. Curious what this shift could mean for the future of mega-events and urban planning? Give it a read and join the conversation.

In this week’s YIMBY, Izzy S. reflects on public transportation as more than just a way to get from point A to point B. From collecting transit maps to romanticizing LRT rides and sharing fleeting moments with strangers, Izzy explores the quiet sense of community that emerges in everyday commutes. With warmth and honesty, this piece balances what makes transit joyful—imagination, affordability, and connection—alongside its very real shortcomings, including accessibility gaps and the stigmatization of unhoused people in public spaces. Thoughtful, funny, and deeply human, this YIMBY reminds us why transit matters beyond efficiency. Hop on and give it a read.

In this week’s YIMBY, Anjeli turns our attention to one of winter’s most underrated urban features: warming huts. While Edmonton often talks about winter city design, many residents have never encountered these small but impactful structures tucked along skating trails, the River Valley, or even near City Hall. Drawing inspiration from Winnipeg’s well-known warming hut program and design competition, Anjeli reflects on how passive heating and thoughtful design can make outdoor spaces more inviting—even in the coldest months. Cozy, creative, and full of potential, this piece asks us to imagine how Edmonton could embrace winter even better. Give it a read and keep an eye out for warmth along your next winter walk

In this week’s YIMBY, VP Marketing Eli reflects on the long-awaited redesign of the University of Alberta’s iconic Sports Pavilion—better known as the Butterdome. As plans move forward to transform the building’s unmistakable yellow curves into a sleeker, more sustainable design, Eli explores the mix of nostalgia, controversy, and opportunity surrounding the change. From safety and energy efficiency concerns to thoughtful design elements like river-inspired motifs and improved street engagement, this piece asks what it really means to modernize a beloved landmark. Love it or loathe it, the Butterdome’s next chapter is worth talking about. Read more to see where you land.

In this week’s YIMBY, Raymond reflects on his experience winter cycling in Edmonton—and keeps it very real. From inconsistent snow clearing in suburban neighbourhoods to the cost of proper gear, he breaks down why winter cycling can feel less like a lifestyle choice and more like a test of endurance. While bike lanes and shared pathways offer some relief, Raymond questions who winter cycling actually works for, and at what cost. Honest, funny, and a little masochistic, this piece digs into the gap between policy optimism and lived experience. Read the full article to see if winter cycling is worth the ride.

In this week’s YIMBY, Bronwyn takes us along on her Reading Week trip to Stratford, Ontario, a postcard-perfect town of Victorian buildings, family-run shops, and unmistakable Hallmark-movie energy. But beyond the charm, she digs into a classic planning question: does better transit threaten small-town character, or help it thrive? From cat cafés to GO-Train hypotheticals, this piece blends travel, nostalgia, and urban planning insight. Read the full article to follow Bronwyn’s journey and weigh in on whether accessibility and quaintness can truly coexist.

GAPSS media committee member Logan takes a fresh look at Whyte Avenue. Riding the bus along this vehicle-heavy corridor, Logan reflects on the cancelled LRT plans and asks whether Edmonton missed a major opportunity to transform the street. While rapid bus service offers some benefits, a Whyte Avenue LRT could encourage more transit use, improve walkability, and strengthen connections between Downtown and Old Strathcona. Curious about the full vision for Whyte? Read Logan’s full piece to see why this corridor deserves a second chance at rail and a more people-focused future.

In this YIMBY post, Anjeli proves Edmonton is anything but boring. She attended the 2025 Edmonton Urban Design Awards with fellow GAPSS friends and discovered incredible projects shaping the city. Highlights include Public City Architects’ award-winning plan for the Northeast River Valley Park, which thoughtfully integrates Indigenous knowledge, and the upcoming Coronation Park Recreation Centre, celebrated for its organic design and community focus. There’s so much happening right here in our urban fabric. Check out the awards booklet or explore the city yourself to see what’s new!

Rachel takes us to Milan, where the 2026 Olympic Village is just one part of a major railyard redevelopment. After the Games, the Village becomes student housing, while the wider site transforms into a car-free district with mixed housing, public plazas, offices, eco-zones, and a large park of native plants. A suspended forest will even cover the metro line, reconnecting two previously divided neighbourhoods. Curious about the full project? Check out the full article to see everything this ambitious plan includes!