City Planning as Ideology and Practice: Ten Speeches by Dr.Earl A. Levin

Abstract

For more than three decades, Dr. Earl A. Levin delivered extraordinarily eloquent speeches concerning Canadian cities and city planning. Earl Levin was wont to speak on an impressively wide range of topics, at great length and on a regular basis: one week he could be heard discussing urban renewal, then two weeks later the subject would be housing, the week after, the nature of the planning process. Throughout these speeches we see several enduring themes that still resonate today. Foremost among these is the limitation of the planning function as a role outside of municipal governments. He sought tirelessly to dispel the notion that planning departments can be conceived of – or function – as politically viable entities on their own, but that planning needed to be fully integrated within governments. Absent such integration, plans are very likely to go unfulfilled. Dr. Levin’s speeches remain as relevant and timely as when they were originally delivered.