URTNER URBAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM 2022-2023

Tackling Civic Challenges with Community Joy

Image Credit to DAILY TOUS LES JOUR

Despite (or maybe because of) our puritanical, Protestant upbringing, Toronto is not afraid of civic innovation and trying new things (sometimes). Even with our general pessimistic outlook and our world-class ability to see absolutely everything that is going wrong, we still do many things right. The focus of this year’s Curtner Urban Leadership Program will be on understanding city building opportunities as something to be excited about instead of afraid of. We are prioritizing civic challenges and issues, investigate alternative approaches from around the world, and develop solutions that appreciate the challenge but also celebrate and engage communities with joy. We are codesigning the curriculum and identified civic challenges. The participants are leading monthly sessions focused on specific related topics, identify and discuss problems, issues and challenges and provide solutions, examples and best/emerging practices. In addition to the monthly sessions, the participants are working in groups to develop a community-focused, joy-enabling approach or intervention to a selected development challenge. These plans will be presented at a public Town Hall at the end of the program in June 2023.

The Curtner Urban Leadership Program is specifically targeted to mid-career real estate, development, and planning professionals in the industry or public service. However, a limited number of spaces will be reserved for high potential early career professionals, and some spaces will be made available at a subsidized rate for professionals working in community and not-for-profit groups.

This year’s program will be a mix of in person, site specific, and virtual sessions. The commitment is for one day per month for sessions with additional time for study and presentation preparation.

2023 Curtner Urban Leadership Program Directory

Class of 2023 Curtner Urban Leadership Program Participants:

Yasmin Afshar, Associate, Planner, Urban Strategies Inc
Yasir Amr, Intermediate Architect and Project Lead, BDP Quadrangle Architects
Rose Barcarse, Program Manager, Parks People
Denis Belov, Senior Project Manager, Colliers
Katy Belshaw, Program Coordinator, Arts, Culture, Creative Industry Development Agency
Micaela Butron, Design Coordinator, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited
Derek Davies, Senior Advisor, Metrolinx
Leah Dow, Urban Planner, IBI Group Inc.
Matthew Firestone, Intern Architect, Zeidler Architecture Inc.
Mark Francis, Designer/Researcher/Educator, Toronto Metropolitan University
Carly Forrester, Senior Planner & Development Manager, Kindred Works
Shawna Ginsberg Bowen, Project Manager, Urban Design, City Planning, City of Toronto
Tahereh GranpayehVaghei, Urban Planning and Public Affairs Consultant, StrategyCorp
Arleigh Hack, Development Associate, Northcrest Development
Becky Katz, Manager of Cycling and Pedestrian Projects, City of Toronto
Joyce Lau, Development Manager, Dream
Ryan Love, Senior Associate, ERA Architects
Robert McKaye, Senior Manager, Planning & Design, The Bentway Conservancy
Gagan Nijjar, Community Benefits Researcher, Toronto Community Benefits Network
Nadine Oliver, Project & Programs Coordinator, Stakeholder Relations & Strategic Projects, Toronto Global
Evan Perlman, Development Manager, Tenblock
Russell Pollard, Principal and Independent Consultant, Framework Leadership
Kayly Robbins, Senior Planner, Weston Consulting
Adam Santos, Senior Planner, Weston Consulting
Anna Sebert, Manager of Operations, Yonge Dundas Square
Brandon Umpherville, Planner, Halifax Regional Municipality
Daniel Woolfson, Manager, Development, CreateTO
Lawrence Yip, Supervisor, Urban Design, City of Markham
Lingping (Lyndsy) You, Project Manager, Metrolinx