OK, 2017 wasn’t Toronto’s best year. But neither was it the worst. Here, in no particular order, are 10 reasons for hope from the year about to end.

It says a lot about Toronto that the best story of 2017 came out of Montreal. We’re talking, of course, about the election of Valérie Plante as mayor of that city. Young, progressive and female, Plante defied expectations to defeat political veteran Denis Coderre. Her victory signalled a desire for change that has swept every Canadian city but one . . . Yes, Toronto, which has fallen behind the times. But as Plante showed, that doesn’t have to be the case.

The most hopeful sign of intelligent life at city hall came when, for the first time ever, local politicians prioritized public transit over the private vehicle. It happened on King St., where the much-beleaguered 504 streetcar carries 65,000 passengers daily in ridiculously congested conditions. TTC users love the year-long pilot; streetcars move along as never before. Polls show most Torontonians approve, but merchants are up in arms. Though data show similar changes elsewhere boost business, in Toronto the sky is always falling.

The Royal Ontario Museum did its bit for the city when it refurbished and reopened its fabulous 1930s art deco entrance on Queen’s Park. It won’t change life in Toronto, but it enhanced the urban experience subtly but profoundly. In addition to honouring history, the move brought the venerable ROM a little closer to the city with this new designated gathering place. The museum’s next move will be on Bloor, where it plans to make better use of the sidewalk space created by the Crystal.

We know, we know, when Quayside arrives, we’ll be living in a cross between candid camera and digital diaries. It’s only a matter of time before Toronto becomes Googletown and residents Googletons. If nothing else we will have achieved total transparency. Isn’t that we wanted? Still, Sidewalk Labs’ proposal to build a community “from the internet up” will be fascinating to watch. Who doesn’t want to see the future unfold down on the waterfront? Even if it flames out, the process will be followed around the world. And we have the best seats on the planet.

OK, so Josh Matlow denies rumours he’s planning to run for mayor in the municipal election next year; but how refreshing that someone not from the Family Compact or Etobicoke might take a shot at the city’s highest office. However unlikely Matlow’s candidacy may be, the rumours are enough to remind us that civic politics don’t have to be as dreary, predictable, self-destructive and anti-urban as they have since 2010.

The Toronto Public Library system is the best city agency, hands down. Despite constant threats of cutbacks and political hostility, it is a major community-builder and civilizing force. While much of Official Toronto has fossilized, the TPL has helped lead the city into the 21st century. Its latest branch, the Albion library, which opened in June, is a great example. Designed by Perkins + Will to accommodate all ages and uses, the colourful and cleverly flexible building is the new community living room in a part of town built without much thought for the people who would live there.

News that Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong hopes to run for the provincial Conservatives was cheered from one end of Toronto to the other. Few politicians appear to have less affection for the city they’re elected to serve; the only question raised by his departure is who would Mayor John Tory choose from his cabinet of deplorables to replace him.

Even city council realized it had no choice but to OK the Bloor St. bike lane in November. That’s great as far as it goes, but forgotten in the cheering was the fact the 2.4-kilometre stretch is a tiny fraction of the cycling network that should have been in place long ago. If the city moved any slower, it would be going backwards. Which many already think it is.

Developers are understandably terrified that Ontario Municipal Board reform will further encourage the NIMBY forces. They fear the city is unwilling and unable to stand up to naysayers. Though they’re right, the changes will force the city, kicking and screaming, to grow up and accept responsibility for what gets built. The process will be slow and painful but necessary and transformative.

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Meanwhile, suburbs from Mississauga to Markham embraced urbanity. Suddenly, the talk is all about density, public transit, mixed use, etc. This may be the most hopeful sign that the future of the GTA won’t be more of the same.

Christopher Hume’s column appears weekly. He can be reached at jcwhume4@gmail.com