One of Canada’s top urban planners will address housing issues in Burlington

Published May 23, 2024 at 3:27 pm

A well-known Canadian urban planner will tackle the issue of affordable housing in Burlington at an upcoming public forum.

Jennifer Keesmat, former chief planner for the City of Toronto, will speak at the session on May 27 at 7 p.m. at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC). Admission is free but you have to register in advance.

Due to demand, a new block of tickets has been made available.

Keesmat worked in Toronto from 2012 to 2017 where she gained a high profile for her views on development and livable cities. During her tenure, she was named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Maclean’s magazine, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life magazine, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada.

Eventually, her take on the Gardiner Expressway and other issues led her to butt heads with then-Toronto Mayor John Tory and she resigned from the post. Keesmat then ran unsuccessfully against Tory in the 2018 municipal election.

This is the first in a speakers series launched by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward who says her intentions are to inspire positive change and practical solutions within the city through innovative approaches and tangible actions.