Those who live and work in northern cities recognize the need for better planning and design. The sustainability of winter cities requires a creative approach that addresses the problems of snow and cold while enhancing the advantages, opportunities and beauty of the winter season.    A positive approach benefits the attitudes of residents, and bolsters the community’s ability to attract new business and residents.

The Winter Cities Institute was organized in 2008 to identify, promote and share the positive attributes of winter living, new concepts in architecture and urban design, and success stories from those places that are thriving in the north.  

The Institute was founded by Patrick Coleman, AICP, recognized for his work with the Livable Winter Cities Association (WCA).  From 1982-2005, the WCA organized conferences, published books and the quarterly magazine “Winter Cities”.  A totally volunteer staff made the WCA difficult to sustain and in the end it struggled with its mission. 

As Coleman incorporated winter enhancement strategies in his planning practice with multi-disciplinary design firms in Alaska and northern Michigan, he found enthusiastic reception to the idea of making winter a better time of year.  “People are looking for answers to common winter problems and issues”, he said.  “I experienced firsthand and heard from many the need for a source of information, networking and resources, and decided to launch the Institute as a web-based network and resource sharing project”.    

The Winter Cites Institute offers a place for those looking to improve the quality of life in wintertime and need information on what is being done in other northern places.  Our members are from around the world and include:

• cities and towns
• architects
• planners
• engineers
• parks and recreation professionals
• economic development and tourism officials

Welcome to the resources available on this site and consider joining the network to get even more benefits. 

 

The Winter Cities Institute

CEO

Patrick Coleman, AICP,
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Advisors and Contributors

Scott MacInnes,
City Manager, Houghton, Michigan USA

George Paul, President,
Community Solutions, Inc. Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Tom Davis,
Associate Planner, Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Anne Martin,
Former City Councilor, Prince George, BC, Canada

Gordon van Tighem,
Mayor, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada

Cara Fisher
Coordinator, Built Environment & Active Transportation
BC Recreation and Parks Association

Peter Briggs, ASLA,
Landscape Architect, Principal, Corvus Design, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Seppo Makinen,
Snowhow Oy, Ltd, Oulu, Finland

Raymond Carriere,
WinterLights/Canadian Communities in Bloom, Kirkland, QC, Canada

Bill Sanders, ASLA, Landscape Architect, UPEA, Marquette, Michigan USA

Special thanks and credits for the logo image painting “Winter Cities”,  courtesy of Kean Leathem, Whitewood SK, Canada

Contributions of news, articles and research from members and other interested persons are always welcome.