[cldellow]

FWIW, I live in the region and disagree with OP's characterization of "serious decline" and "most people have left".

I went to school here from 2003-2008, moved away and moved back in 2011.

The area's population has increased by ~20% since 2012 (~the death of RIM, according to its stock price). In 2011, it got regional train service to Toronto. In 2019, it got a local light rail train.

The university area that the OP seems to be referring to is, IMO, more walkable and bikeable now than before. Some of the towers are mixed use, with ground floor retail.

The city is definitely quite different from the early 2000s, though.