This paper explores understanding the city as a system and the current climate in using foresight. To achieve this, the study engaged several staff and external consultants to understand their current approaches and challenges in the use of futures tools and implementing strategic foresight. The findings suggest that cities are at various levels of maturity and readiness to adopt strategic foresight, let alone futures thinking and various methods. This paper puts forward a series of recommendations, inviting cities to explore futures thinking as part of their strategic and operational planning and service delivery.

Keywords: Cities, Canada, Municipalities, Systems Thinking, Actors, Systems Map, Causal Layered Analysis, Iterative Inquiry, Intervention Strategy, Foresight, Futures, Futures Thinking, Strategic Foresight