Monocle's The Urbanist is a weekly podcast about what makes cities tick, from city hall to the suburbs. Listen to Principal Sam Dufaux speak with Monocle's Carlota Rebelo about the virtues of second cities as master-plan test-beds.

Adjacent to the city of Toronto, Mississauga is considered a second-city, but is often misrepresented as sprawling suburbia despite being the headquarters for major international companies and manufacturing facilities. With a dynamic arts community and global connections to South and East Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere, the city has evolved into a sophisticated city with a unique character and needs.

Sam features Connecting Cooksville in Mississauga, Ontario as a model for mixed-use Transit Oriented Communities with over 2,000 units of housing along the GO commuter rail line. Created as a 15-minute city, the housing is supported by vital neighbourhood infrastructure such as a community centre, commercial spaces, large public plazas, and an urban forest unfolding across the development.

By increasing Mississauga’s investment in mobility and transit-oriented development, Connecting Cooksville represents a defining example of building an inclusive, thriving, and regenerative community for a low-carbon future.

Listen to his interview on The Urbanist - Planning Ahead: Second-City Test-Beds.