2021 Program

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Symposium

Thursday, November 4, 2021 | Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) Regent Park

Real Estate and land use professionals across the private, not-for-profit and public sectors are retooling their business strategies to reshape the future of the built environment to meet the increasingly acute demands of the future. The acceleration of global, national and local forces promises to fundamentally shift the trajectory of city building.

Bold and trusted leadership through the accountable advancement of clear Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) objectives is the foundation of the new social license for business and government. A realignment of private interests and public purpose. ULI Toronto’s milestone ESG symposium explored the current and future urgencies facing our industry, the leaders who are championing them, and the communities they impact.

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VIRTUAL WALKING TOURS

PROGRAM AGENDA & SPEAKERS

7:30AM: Networking Breakfast
Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) Regent Park

8:00AM: Welcome
Symposium Co-Chairs and Masters of Ceremony will introduce a program of challenging and inspiring speakers seeking to define why the emergence of ESG is critical to the real estate and development industry.


8:10AM: Land Acknowledgement

8:20AM: Opening Keynote – The New Urgency

9:05AM: The measure of success. The cost of failure.
As the fastest growing urban region in North America (& Europe), the GGH is a critical frontier in advancing toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. But what are the goalposts for the real estate and development industry – and the communities its serves? How is the industry rising to the challenge and demonstrating action rather than simply saying the words? And what is the cost of failure?

10:15AM: Unintended Consequences?
The pursuit of environmental and social objectives in city building poses many apparent conflicts from public infrastructure gentrification and displacement – to higher green construction cost and affordability.  How can we recognize that environmental and social priorities are intertwined? And create the policy and economic frameworks to advance both simultaneously?

11:15AM: Keynote – Our Moment to Lead

11:45AM: Industry Leadership – Our Moment to Lead
How have Toronto developers retooled their corporate strategies to meet and exceed ESG goals to address the new urgencies at the local and global level? And what does accountability & transparency look like as companies pursue ESG and other impact strategies?

2:00PM: Walking Tours: Through Different Eyes
Starts at Daniels Spectrum; ends at Daniels Artscape Launchpad (virtual option avail.)
Led by urban leaders and stakeholders from outside the real estate & land use industry, smaller tour groups will explore one of downtown Toronto’s most dynamic urban precincts designed as an immersion into the city from the perspectives of those who live and work outside our professional bubble. These tours will include multiple intersections with speakers with deep, lived experiences, including: indigenous community; homeless and low income housing residents; environmentalist; and more.

Tour 1
Paintbox Bistro
Fred Victor Centre
St. Lawrence
Sherbourne Commons

Tour 2
Regent Park District Energy
Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre
Indigenous Hub
Waterfront Toronto

5PM: Tim Jones Creative Placemaking Awards Reception
Artscape Daniels Launchpad (4-130 Queens Quay East)
In cooperation with the Artscape Foundation, the first annual Tim Jones Creative Placemaking Award will be announced followed by a networking reception at the exciting new arts business incubator. Separate registration at no additional cost to attendees.  

SPONSORSHIP & TOUR/ZOOM ROOM OPPORTUNITIES