A message from BILD Edmonton Metro:
As Edmonton evolves, the city's approach to urban development is guided by the principles of a 15-minute district — a concept that prioritizes accessibility, walkability, and community within compact urban areas.
With new town centres emerging, planners, builders, and developers focus on creating neighbourhoods that meet the diverse needs of residents, including young families, seniors, and newcomers seeking community and connection.
Connecting housing with services and amenities is not a new concept. In 2024, the City of Edmonton approved 15 District Plans, which set the path to a population of 2 million and outline where public investment will follow.
At its core, the 15-minute district aims to ensure that essential services — schools, healthcare, grocery stores, parks, and transit — are all within a short drive, walk, or bike ride from home.
Planning supervisor Robert Tarulli says public feedback consistently calls for walkable schools, green space, and safe routes, so school-board planners are working with developers and the City to secure sites that can share gyms and playgrounds with the wider community.
Retailer Teresa Spinelli sees that vision in action at the Italian Centre, where immigrants, young families, and long-time residents mingle daily, showing that community connection is as valuable as commerce.
Developer Mike Kohl adds that well-designed districts should support residents through every life stage, stitching together homes, parks, workplaces, and places of worship into one seamless daily loop.
The urgency is clear: Edmonton welcomed nearly 65,000 newcomers in 2024, and public school enrolment grew by more than 5,000 students, intensifying the need for complete, close-to-home amenities.
As Edmonton continues to expand — as demonstrated in the case study of Heritage Valley and Windermere — it's clear that the 15-minute city isn't just a planning tool, but a vision for how people can live more connected and fulfilling lives. It's about more than proximity; it's about possibility.
The work of shaping new neighbourhoods thrives on collaboration among planners, educators, business owners, and residents. With every new development, Edmonton isn't just building homes — it's cultivating the conditions for connection, care, and a shared future. Because in the end, a 15-minute district is about more than just time; it's about the life that happens within those minutes.
Read the full story and download BILD Edmonton Metro's Urban Growth Case Story to learn more.