F2 - The Great Urban Design Debate : Life after Death?

Urban design is under fire.

It is blamed for slowing approvals, criticized as arbitrary, and accused of applying rigid standards without regard for context and economic considerations. Has urban design lost its legitimacy, or has its value simply been misunderstood?

Join a provocative conversation with influential city-builders as they debate the future of the profession. Our panellists will confront the successes and failures that brought us to this moment, examine the risks of abandoning design principles, and ask whether urban design can be reinvented for a new era.

Can urban design regain its credibility and relevance? Will its ambitious city-building goals survive, or are we witnessing the end of an era?

For design professionals, policymakers, and political leaders, this session promises bold perspectives on the life, death, and possible rebirth of urban design in Canada, and what is at stake for our communities.

Speakers

Moderator: Eric Turcotte
RPP, FCIP, OAA, OAQ, FRAIC, LEED® AP
Partner, Urban Strategies Inc.

Eric Turcotte (RPP, FCIP, OAA, OAQ, FRAIC, LEED AP) is an Urban Designer, a Planner and an Architect. He has been with Urban Strategies since 1997 and has extensive redevelopment experience in sensitive urban areas in Canada – notably in Ottawa, the United States and Europe. He has led numerous award-winning large scale master plans, downtown revitalization plans and community design plans. Eric is an Urban Design industry leader and a founding member as well as past President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism (CanU). He is a member of the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel, the chair of the Brampton Design Review Panel Project, and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Moderator: Mark Guslits
Principal, Mark Guslits & Associates Inc.

After practicing as an architect and affordable housing consultant in Canada and the UK, Mark now works primarily as an urban revitalization/mixed income/mixed tenure residential development consultant and educator. Over the years, along with managing his own urban design & architecture consulting firm (Mark Guslits & Associates Inc.), he has been design architect for Guinness Breweries in London, England; Managing Partner with Sankey Architects in Vancouver, B.C.; partner with the Daniels Group (a large Toronto residential development company focusing on affordable housing); Special Advisor on Housing to the City of Toronto (Let’s Build Program); Chief Development Officer for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation overseeing the initiation and first phase of the Regent Park Revitalization project and, with HOK Architects, acting as project lead in the development of the Pan Am Athletes Village/Canary District on Toronto’s Waterfront. He continues to consult to clients in Toronto & Vancouver and, until recently, in South Africa, and Ireland. Mark’s teaching activity has included courses in urban design/global development at the Institute Without Boundaries at George Brown College in Toronto and at the Munk School of Global Affairs at University of Toronto; and currently Mark is an adjunct professor at the Daniels School of Architecture at U of T teaching courses related to Affordable Housing and Socially Responsible Architecture. He has recently completed his term with several boards of directors relating to the work he has pursued during his career to date - Board of Governors, George Brown College; Board of Directors - Canadian Association to End Homelessness (CAEH); Chairman, and now past -Member Board of Directors ANPHI non-profit housing (previously Artscape); & currently is a Member, Board of Directors of CreateTO (the City of Toronto Land Development Corp) and the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation. Mark now lives and works primarily on his farm south of Picton, in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

Alain Miguelez
Vice-President, Capital Planning and Chief Planner, National Capital Commission

Alain Miguelez is the Vice-President, Capital Planning and Chief Planner of the National Capital Commission. He oversees three Divisions: Long Range Planning; Transportation Planning; and Federal Approvals, Heritage and Archaeology. He also oversees the Interprovincial Transit Office and the planning studies for the 6th Ottawa River crossing.

Prior to working at the NCC, Alain spent almost 20 years at the City of Ottawa’s Planning Department. His most recent mandate was as Manager of the Planning Policy team which completed the 2021 Official Plan now in effect – Canada’s first big-city transect-based Official Plan. Before that, he led the Community Planning team, the Zoning and Intensification team, the Downtown Development Review team, and started as a senior planner in Research and Forecasting.

Alain’s planning career started in the private sector with consulting firms McNeely-Tunnock and Maxgroup Associates. He also worked at CMHC as manager of market analysis for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario prior to going to the City.

He currently is a member of the Board of International Making Cities Livable LLP and has served as a Board member of the Council for Canadian Urbanism.

He is the author of two books: “Transforming Ottawa; Canada’s Capital in the Eyes of Jacques Gréber” (2015) and “A Theatre Near You: 150 Years of Going to the Show in Ottawa-Gatineau” (2004).

Mary Wiens
Journalist, producer and co-host of The Torontonian podcast

Mary Wiens is a journalist, producer and co-host of The Torontonian podcast. She spent nearly 40 years with CBC, producing stories for news and current affairs, many focused on the people and communities at the heart of a changing Toronto.

As a producer for Metro Morning, she created documentaries and series on subjects ranging from immigration and employment to the transformation of neighborhoods and the impact of major infrastructure projects. Her work was recognized with national RTDNA awards and an international Gabriel Award.

Mary has frequently moderated panels and public discussions on urban planning and city-building, including for the Canadian Urban Institute. Through The Torontonian, she continues to explore the people, ideas and forces shaping Toronto.

Jessy Desjardins
Chief Product Officer at Brigil

Jessy Desjardins is Chief Product Officer at Brigil. He helps define the vision for the company’s projects, from initial concept through commercialization, bringing together urban planning, architecture, design, and the residential experience into a cohesive vision.

His approach focuses on creating vibrant, complete communities that foster human connection, culture, and a genuine sense of belonging. He places particular importance on the quality of public spaces and gathering places, active and public transportation, and everyday access to nature.

Active in his community, Jessy has notably served as Honorary Chair for the Fondation Forêt Boucher and as Campaign Co-Chair for Centraide Outaouais, supporting organizations and initiatives that strengthen quality of life across the region.

Jessy holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.

Josée Bérubé
PA LEED, ASC
Architecte - urbaniste émérite, Provencher_Roy

Josée Bérubé joined Provencher_Roy in 2015 and became Partner and head of the Urban Planning and Urban Design department in 2016. As an accomplished urban planner, she has devoted most of her career to advancing the practice of urban design within multidisciplinary firms. Prior to joining Provencher_Roy, she spent nearly 30 years at the multidisciplinary firm Cardinal Hardy, including 20 years as a partner.

In addition to her professional practice, Josée has taught urban design studios at the Université de Montréal, contributing to the education and development of future urban planners and architects.
Deeply engaged in governance and city-building issues, she serves on several boards and chairs committees focused on urban development and planning matters. In recognition of her significant contribution to the profession, the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec awarded her the distinguished title of Urbaniste émérite.

Josée currently serves as Chair of the Jacques-Viger Committee, the City of Montréal’s independent advisory body on architecture, urban planning, urban design, and heritage. Through this role, she contributes her expertise to promoting design excellence and the sustainable evolution of Montréal’s built environment.