TORONTO, ON, May 25, 2020 — ULI Toronto will co-lead an initiative to surface early and core recommendations toward retrofitting the “physical realm” of the as many more people start to move beyond their homes. The initiative is part of Reimagining Recovery – a six-track framework the Toronto Region Board of Trade launched as Toronto businesses begin to emerge from the COVID-19 shutdown and shift to economic recovery.

“COVID-19 is an existential threat to the global competitiveness of the region – requiring a much more fundamental economic rethink, including how we retrofit and develop the physical city going forward,” said Richard Joy, Executive Director at ULI Toronto and member of the initiative’s Steering Cabinet. “Now is the time to come together to leverage the full professional ecosystem of the real estate and development industry.”

A set of recommendations will be developed through a 1.5 day working session focussed on discrete components of the “physical realm” (including main streets, airports, mass transit, major events spaces, institutions, commercial spaces, shopping malls, residential spaces, and housing), established through nine separate Working Groups.

“ULI Toronto values the importance of this opportunity to convene over 100 leading regional, national and international companies, labour unions, and public agencies in an effort to retrofit our city region,” said Emma West, Partner, Bousfields, Incoming Chair, ULI Toronto and Table Lead for the Residential Working Group.

The Working Group themes will be: Transportation, Civic Assets, Educational Institutions, Cultural, Public Realm, Commercial, Retail, Residential, and Social Purpose Real Estate. Each of the nine Working Groups will have a Table Lead, selected for their expertise in the field.

“When we talk about retrofitting our infrastructure, it’s more than adjusting to the current pandemic,” said Jan De Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. “We’re taking a creative, collaborative look at how our transit, offices and other shared spaces need to evolve to encourage economic growth and innovation – which will be vital to our shared recovery, and why it’s one of six core priorities in our framework.”

The Table Leads are as follows:

Civic Assets: Tim Eastwood, Principal, Healthcare Sector, Stantec and Stuart Elgie, VP, Healthcare Sector
Commercial: Grant Humes, Executive Director, Toronto Financial District BIA
Culture: Antonio Gomez-Palacio, Principal, DIALOG
Education: Nic de Salaberry, Director, Planning & Development at Ryerson University
Public Realm: Michel Trocmé, Partner, Urban Strategies and Warren Price, Designer and Partner, Urban Strategies
Residential: Emma West, Partner, Bousfields and Tyler Grinyer, Partner, Bousfields
Retail: Katarzyna Sliwa, Partner, Dentons 
Social Purpose Real Estate: Remo Agostino, VP Development, Daniels Corporation 
Transportation: Daniel Haufschild, Principal, Arup 

Reimagining Recovery is created in partnership with the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, Government of Canada, and dozens of leaders, experts, and researchers.

To learn more about the framework, or to get involved in one of the priority tracks, please visit the Board’s business support portal or contact us at [email protected].

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For more information, interviews or images please contact:
Jen Sapkowski
ULI Toronto
647-258-0017
[email protected]

Rebecca Tsehay
Toronto Region Board of Trade
647-216-2686
[email protected]

ABOUT ULI TORONTO
Our mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. We provide our members with independent forums for discussion and debate about city building issues and best practices. ULI Toronto carries forth that mission, while helping to shape a sustainable and thriving future for the Toronto Region. We are supported by over 2200 public and private sector members.

ABOUT THE TORONTO REGION BOARD OF TRADE 
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential chambers of commerce in North America and is a catalyst for the region’s economic growth agenda. Backed by more than 13,500 members, we pursue policy change to drive the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region, and facilitate market opportunities with programs, partnerships and connections to help our members succeed – domestically and internationally. We want Toronto to be recognized as one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world, and believe this reputation starts with our businesses. Learn more at bot.com and follow us at @TorontoRBOT.