Editing Suburb (section)

=== Canada ===

Canada is an urbanized nation where over 80% of the population lives in urban areas (loosely defined), and roughly two-thirds live in one of Canada's 33 [[census metropolitan area]]s (CMAs) with a population of over 100,000.  However, of this metropolitan population, in 2001 nearly half lived in low-density neighborhoods, with only one in five living in a typical "urban" neighborhood. The percentage living in low-density neighborhoods varied from a high of nearly two-thirds of [[Calgary Region|Calgary CMA]] residents (67%), to a low of about one-third of [[Greater Montreal|Montréal CMA]] residents (34%).

Large cities in Canada acquired [[streetcar suburbs]] in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Modern Canadian suburbs tend to be less automobile-centric than those in the United States, and [[public transit]] use is encouraged but can be notably unused.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dependence on cars in urban neighborhoods|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2008001/article/10503-eng.htm#2|website=Statistics Canada|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917183546/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2008001/article/10503-eng.htm|archive-date=17 September 2016}}</ref> Throughout Canada, there are comprehensive plans in place to curb sprawl.

Population and income growth in Canadian suburbs had tended to outpace growth in core urban or rural areas, but in many areas, this trend has now reversed. The suburban population increased by 87% between 1981 and 2001, well ahead of urban growth.<ref>[http://www.planetizen.com/node/20741 The Wealthy Suburbs of Canada]. Planetizen. Retrieved on 22 November 2011.</ref> The majority of recent population growth in Canada's three largest metropolitan areas ([[Greater Toronto]], Greater Montréal, and [[Greater Vancouver]]) has occurred in non-core municipalities. This trend is also beginning to take effect in [[Vancouver]], and to a lesser extent, [[Montréal]]. In certain cities, particularly [[Edmonton]] and [[Calgary]], suburban growth takes place within the city boundaries as opposed to in bedroom communities. This is due to annexation and a large geographic footprint within the city borders.
 
Calgary is unusual among Canadian cities because it has developed as a '''unicity''' – it has annexed most of its surrounding towns and large amounts of undeveloped land around the city. As a result, most of the communities that Calgarians refer to as "suburbs" are actually inside the city limits.<ref>{{cite web | title=CALGARY, AB an overview of development trends | url=http://theoryandpractice.planning.dal.ca/_pdf/suburbs/development_trends/calgary_trends.pdf | access-date=15 December 2018 }}</ref> In the 2016 census, the City of Calgary had a population of 1,239,220, whereas the Calgary Metropolitan Area had a population of 1,392,609, indicating the vast majority of people in the Calgary CMA lived within the city limits. The perceived low population density of Calgary largely results from its many internal suburbs and the large amount of undeveloped land within the city. The city actually has a policy of densifying its new developments.<ref>{{cite web | title=THE CITY OF CALGARY Municipal Development Plan | url=http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Documents/municipal-development-plan/mdp-municipal-development-plan.pdf | access-date=15 December 2018 }}</ref>