Past Events

2025

June 24, 2025
Simcoe Chapter Mobile Event: “Downsview Airport Transformation”
Presenters: Derek Goring* (Chief Executive Officer, Northcrest Developments), Jesse Zuker* (Vice President, Infrastructure, Northcrest Developments)

May 13, 2025
“Advancing City Building in the Economic Downturn: Municipal Strategies for Collaboration and Development Readiness”
Moderator: Signe Leisk* (Partner, Cassels); Speakers: Alex Chreston (Vice President, Crestview Strategies), Shoon Huggett (Director, Financial Analysis and Advisory Services, Create TO), Tim Simmonds (City Manager, The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound), Meghan Wong (Vice President, Spanier Group)

April 1, 2025
“How All Levels of Government are Responding to Key Issues and Priorities: Observations from StrategyCorp Leadership”
Moderator: Lorraine Huinink* (Company Owner, Lorraine Huinink Design & Consulting); Speakers: Rob Krauss (Senior Advisor, StrategyCorp), Aidan Grove-White (Principal, StrategyCorp) and Fraser Macdonald (Principal, StrategyCorp)

February 19, 2025
“EY Development Update: From Distress to Recovery”
Speakers: Duncan Yang (Partner & Senior Vice President, Strategy & Transactions – Real Estate) and Jay Charbonneau (Partner, Strategy & Transactions, Capital Markets, Ernst & Young LLP)

January 14, 2025
57th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2024

December 4, 2024
Performance of “The Master Plan” by Michael Healey
at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, in the Distillery Historic District

October 8, 2024
“Public-Private Delivery of Purpose-Built Rental”
Speakers: Jennifer Keesmaat (President and CEO, Collectdev-Markee) and Michael Norton* (Chief Development Officer, CreateTO); Moderator: Signe Leisk* (Partner, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP)

May 22, 2024
“Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of the New Ontario Court of Justice”
Speakers and Tour Guides: Sean Cole, Vice President, P3 Asset Management, Infrastructure Ontario; Rosanna Giancristiano, Director, Court Services, Ministry of the Attorney General; Anthony Lue Tam, Manager, Capital Projects & Strategic Initiatives, Facilities Management Branch/Corporate Services Division, Ministry of the Attorney General; Kendra Moffatt, P3 Asset Manager, Infrastructure Ontario.

April 16, 2024
“Spotlight on Project LEAP and the ‘Most Sustainable University in the World'”
Speakers: Ron Saporta (Chief Operating Officer, Property Services and Sustainability, University of Toronto) and Richard Simm (Managing Director, KPMG Corporate Finance Inc. & Partner, National ESG Deals & Value Leader)

March 21, 2024
“Tackling Land Supply and Affordability”
Speakers: Robyn Brown* (Director and Senior Practice Lead, Planning, Arcadis) and Frank Clayton* (Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research and Land Development, Toronto Metropolitan University)

February 21, 2024
“The Role of Modular Housing in Addressing the Shortage in Housing Supply”
Speakers: Kevin Hutchinson (Principal, Montgomery Sisam Architects) and Enda McDonagh (Principal, Montgomery Sisam Architects)

January 10, 2024
56th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2023

December 6, 2023
“What, Why and Where to Grow: Navigating Ontario’s Land Supply Quagmire”
Speakers: Matthew Cory* (Principal, Malone Given Parsons) and Steve Robichaud (Chief Planner, City of Hamilton)

October 24, 2023
“Delivering Transit Faster”
Speakers: Lorraine Huinink* (Director, Rapid Transit & Transit Oriented Development, Regional Municipality of Durham), Mark Conway* (President and Senior Partner, N. Barry Lyon Consultants) and Rob Spanier (President, Spanier Group)

September 12, 2023
“Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: The Role of Downtown Airports in the Creation of World Class Cities: Spotlight on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport””
Tour Leaders: Jennifer Quinn (Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Nieuport Aviation) and Warren Askew (Vice President, Airport at PortsToronto)

May 23, 2023
“What you need to know about More Homes Built Faster and Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants”
Speakers: Cynthia MacDougall* (Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP), Alexander Suriano (Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP) and Jeannette Gillezeau,* (Economist, retired)

March 23, 2023
“Spotlight on the Poplar Regional Health and Wellness Centre”
Speakers: Emma West* (Partner, Bousfields Inc.) and Max Reim (CEO, Co-Managing Partner & Founding Principal, Live Work Learn Play)

March 1, 2023
“Distressed Residential Real Estate: the Economic Challenges of Development”
Speakers: Zach Pendley (EY, Partner & Senior Vice President, Strategy and Transactions – Real Estate) and Duncan Yang (EY, Associate Partner, Strategy and Transactions – Real Estate)

January 10, 2023
55th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2022

November 23, 2022
“Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act: Goals and Consequences”
Panelists: Brian Bridgeman* (Commissioner of Planning and Development, The Regional Municipality of Durham), Signe Leisk* (Partner, Cassels) and Emma West* (Partner, Bousfields Inc.)

June 1, 2022
“A Tribute to Eb Zeidler Architect”
Speaker: Vaidila Banelis (Senior Partner, Zeidler Architecture)

April 27, 2022
“Development Corridors”
Speakers: Brian Bridgeman* (Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, Durham Region), Gabe Charles* (Director of Planning, Town of Oakville) and Stephen Lue (Senior Development Manager, City of Markham)

February 15, 2022
“A Vision for the Future of Downsview”
Speakers: Derek Goring* (Executive Vice President, Development, Northcrest Developments) and Kristy Shortall* (Vice President, Development, Northcrest Developments)

January 12, 2022
54th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2021

November 23, 2021
“Inclusionary Zoning: the Genesis, the Law and the Developer”
Speakers: Mark Conway* (President & Senior Partner, NBLC), David Bronskill* (Partner, Goodmans LLP) and Andrew Duncan (Chief Investment Officer, Riocan)

May 11, 2021
“yongeTOmorrow: the future of Yonge Street”
Speakers: Jacquelyn Hayward (Director, Project Design & Management, City of Toronto – Transportation Services) and Cassidy Ritz (Manager, Major Projects, City of Toronto – Transportation Services)

April 21, 2021
“Why have Toronto condos become so %@$#$! expensive?”
Speakers: David Wex (Partner, Urban Capital) and Russell Mathew* (Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd.)

March 23, 2021
“History of the Regent Park Revitalization”
Speakers: Remo Agostino (Vice President Development, The Daniels Corporation) and Peter Zimmerman (Senior Director, Development, Toronto Community Housing Corporation)

February 23, 2021
“The Retail, Office and Commercial Market and the Impact of COVID-19”
Speakers: John Filipetti (Vice President, Design and Innovation, Oxford Properties Group), Peter Nikolakakos (Vice President, Planning and Entitlements, Cadillac Fairview) and Peter Norman* (Vice President & Chief Economist, Altus Expert Services, Altus Group)

January 12, 2021
53rd Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2020

December 9, 2020
“The Housing Crisis: Defining solutions for Toronto’s employers and developers in partnership with school boards, universities and non-profit organizations”
Speakers: Michelle German (Vice President, Policy and Strategy, WoodGreen Community Services) and Craig Ruttan (Policy Director, Energy, Environment & Land Use, Toronto Board of Trade)

November 18, 2020
“Bringing Mass Timber to Residential Missing Middle Buildings”
Speakers: Leith Moore (Co-Founder, R-Hauz) and Mike Barker (Co-Founder, R-Hauz)

August 26, 2020
“Bill 197: Its Anticipated Parks and Development Charge Impacts in Toronto and the 905”
Moderator: Kim Beckman*, Partner, Davies Howe LLP
Panelists: Audrey Jacob* (Deputy Regional Director, Canada East, IBI Group), Gregg Lintern* (Chief Planner & Executive Director, City of Toronto), Claudia Storto* (City Solicitor, City of Markham)

May 26, 2020
“COVID-19 Pandemic: The Immediate and Long-term Impacts on Land Development in Ontario”
Moderator: Agnieszka Wloch* (Vice President, Development, Minto Communities – Canada)
Speakers: Mike Mestyan* (Vice-President, Development, Tridel), Lesley Pavan (Director of Development and Design, City of Mississauga), Russell Mathew* (Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd.)

March 4, 2020
“Transit-Oriented Development: Challenges and Opportunities”
Moderator: Lorraine Huinink (Associate Principal, Access Planning)
Speakers: Marni Dicker (Executive Vice President & General Counsel, LiveWorkLearnPlay), Derek Goring* (Executive Vice President, Development, Northcrest Developments), Rick Schippling (Director, Commercial – Transit Oriented Development – Metrolinx) and David Atlin* (Senior Vice President, Altus Group)

2019

November 27, 2019
52nd Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

October 28, 2019
“Beyond Technology: What Sidewalk Labs means to the future of urbanism”
Moderator: Peter Thoma* (Partner, urbanMetrics)
Speakers: Steven Turell (Associate Director of Development, Sidewalk Labs, New York), Pino Di Mascio (Director of Planning, Sidewalk Labs, Toronto)

September 30, 2019
“Should Municipal Planning Departments be Transformed into ‘Municipal Planning and Economics Departments’?”
Speaker: Alain Bertaud, Urbanist and Author

June 19, 2019
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip to the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus
Speakers and Tour Guides: Scott Mabury (Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships, University of Toronto), Ron Venter (Chair of the University of Toronto Project Planning Committee, former Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Vice-Dean) and Richard Sommer (Dean, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design)

April 16, 2019
“More Places to Grow: What Should the Province Propose in the Update to the Growth Plan, Planning Act and LPAT Reform?”
Moderator: Russell Mathew* (Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd.)
Panelists: Dana Anderson* (Partner, MHBC Planning, Urban Design & Landscape Architecture), Larry Clay (Former ADM, Ministry of Municipal Affairs), Patrick Devine* (Partner, Devine Park LLP) and Kelly Matsumoto (City of Toronto, Legal Services)

February 26, 2019
“An Adult Conversation About Autonomous Vehicles: the issues of deployment and urban transformation, not a lesson on automotive technology”
Speaker: Bern Grush (Chief Innovation Officer at Harmonize Mobility, Inc. and Automated Fleet Strategist at Grush Niles Strategic)

January 23, 2019
“The Changing Face of Retail”
Moderator: David McKay* (Vice President & Partner, MHBC Planning, Urban Design & Landscape Architecture)
Panelists: Ira Kagan (Partner, Kagan Shastri, Barristers and Solicitors), John Archer (Chief Development Officer, 360 Collective) and Matt Rubinoff (President, Tusk Global Ltd. and Founder of STACKT)

2018

December 4, 2018
51st Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

October 24, 2018
“One Year into the Toronto Local Appeal Body: The Good, the Bad and the Costly”
Moderator: Aaron Platt* (Partner, Davies Howe LLP)
Speakers: Michael Goldberg* (Principal, Goldberg Group), Amber Stewart (Amber Stewart Law) and Alexander Suriano (Solicitor, City of Toronto Legal Services)

September 18, 2018
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip to Kitchener-Waterloo
Speakers and Tour Guides: Craig Beattie (Partner, Perimeter Development Corporation), Mitchell Blaine (Senior Vice President, CBRE), Dan Currie (Partner, MHBC), Kurtis McBride (CEO, Miovision), Ryan Mounsey (Senior Economic Advisor, City of Waterloo) and Carl Zehr (former Mayor, City of Kitchener)

May 1, 2018
“Developing for Multiple Objectives – The New Class of Land Developers”
Speakers: Gordon Harris (President & CEO, SFU Community Trust), Cyndi Rottenberg-Walker (Partner, Urban Strategies) and Anne McIlroy* (Principal, Brook McIlroy)

February 20, 2018
“The Future of Toronto Hydro’s Distribution Grid: Challenges and Opportunities”
Speakers: Joe Bilé (Manager of Conservation Demand Management (CDM) Program Delivery and Business Development, Toronto Hydro) and Hani Taki (Manager of Standards & Policy Planning, Toronto Hydro)

January 20, 2018
50th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

2017

December 5, 2017
Simcoe Chapter 50^th Anniversary Celebration
Keynote address by the Hon. Bob Rae: “Planning for the Common Good – Looking Forward and Looking Back”

November 8, 2017
“Toronto’s Housing Affordability Conundrum”
Speakers: Murtaza Hazider (Ryerson University) and Mark Conway* (N. Barry Lyon Consultants Limited)

September 26, 2017
“Entering a Brave New World: A Panel Session on OMB Reform”
Moderator: Roslyn Houser* (Goodmans LLP)
Panel Members: Michael Melling* (Davies Howe LLP), Lindsay Dale-Harris* (Bousfields Inc), Chris Barnett (DLA Piper) and Barnet Kussner* (WeirFoulds LLP)

June 7, 2017
“Transformation of CF Toronto Eaton Centre: Can High-end Retail Thrive in the GTA’s Favourite Shopping Centre?”
Speakers: Wayne Barwise (Executive Vice President of Development, Cadillac Fairview) and senior members of the Cadillac Fairview development team

May 16, 2017
“The Story of Eglinton: the Next Chapter”
Speakers: Lorna Day (Director of Urban Design, City of Toronto) and Edna Cuvin (Manager, Metrolinx Rapid Transit Program Unit, City of Toronto)

February 21, 2017
“You Get What You Pay For: Is it Time to Diversify Funding Sources for Canadian Cities?”
Speaker: Dr. Enid Slack* (Director, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto)

January 17, 2017
“What Happened with the Foreign Investment Tax in Vancouver? And How Much Off-Shore Real Estate Investment is There in Toronto Anyways?”
Speakers: Richard Cook (Principal, Jorden Cook Associates), Shaun Hildebrand (Senior Vice President, Urbanation Inc.) and Hunter Milborne (CEO, Milborne Real Estate Inc.)

2016

April 7, 2014
“Urban Parkland and Park Policies: A Panel Presentation and Discussion”
Speakers: Ronji Borooah* (City Architect, City of Markham), Jeannette Gillezeau* (Senior Director, Altus Group), David Leinster (Partner, The Planning Partnership) and Janet Rosenberg* (Founding Principal, Janet Rosenberg & Studio)

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

January 21, 2014
“OMB Reform: Learning from Our Past”
Moderator: Mary Flynn-Guglietti* (Partner, McMillian LLP)
Speakers: Doug Colbourne* (former OMB Chair), Donald Granger (former OMB Vice-Chair), Bruce Krushelnicki* (former OMB Member) and Susan Rogers (former OMB Member)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

October 28, 2014
“Tall and Super-Tall Buildings: Globally and in the Toronto Context”
Speakers: James Parakh (Manager of Urban Design, Toronto and East York District, City of Toronto Planning Division) and Richard Witt (Principal, Quadrangle Architects Limited)

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

2014

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

2014

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

March 24, 2015
“Good Urbanism: A Profitable Decision. A Look at the Economics of Good Urban Design”
Speaker: Lynn Richards (President & CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism)

February 24, 2015
“Tackling Toronto’s Infrastructure Deficit”
Speakers: Lyn Townsend* (Partner, WeirFoulds LLP), Kim Beckman* (Partner, Davies Howe Partners LLP Lawyers), Craig Binning* (Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd.) and John Livey* (Deputy City Manager, Planning and Public Works, City of Toronto)

January 27, 2015
“Toronto’s Condominium Conundrum: Livability and Intensification”
Speakers: Robert E. Millward* (President, R.E. Millward & Associates), Gregg Lintern (Director, Community Planning, Toronto East York – Toronto City Planning Division), Frank Schirripa (Vice President Sales, Plazacorp Investments Limited) and Mark Conway* (Senior Partner, N. Barry Lyon Consultants Limited)

2014

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

May 27, 2015
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip to the Aga Khan Museum

March 24, 2015
“Good Urbanism: A Profitable Decision. A Look at the Economics of Good Urban Design”
Speaker: Lynn Richards (President & CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism)

2014

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

October 13, 2015
“Transit and Sustainable Transportation in Toronto”
Speaker: Hilary Holden (Director of Transit and Sustainable Transportation for the City of Toronto)

May 27, 2015
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip to the Aga Khan Museum

March 24, 2015
“Good Urbanism: A Profitable Decision. A Look at the Economics of Good Urban Design”
Speaker: Lynn Richards (President & CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism)

2014

November 25, 2014
47th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members

September 23, 2014
“Redefining Bloor & Yonge”
Speaker: Alan Vihant* (Senior Vice President, High Rise, Great Gulf Homes)

May 13, 2014
Simcoe Chapter Field Trip: Tour of Waterfront Parks and the 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village Site

February 24, 2014
“Update on the 2015 Pan Am Games: Capital and Games Planning”
Speaker: Martin Kenneally (Senior Director, Security and Accreditation, TO2015 Organizing Committee)

December 1, 2015
48th Annual Meeting and Induction of New Members