Industry Info Session with Jason Thorne – Director of City Planning at the City of Toronto
Tuesday, February 3, 5:30-7 p.m.
Galbraith Building, Room GB117
Register to secure your spot here
City Planning Division at the City of Toronto:
City Planning leads policy development, champions design excellence, and delivers innovative research initiatives on land use issues, providing expert planning advice on housing, environmental sustainability, community and economic development, urban design, and transportation. Stewards of the City’s Official Plan, City Planning recommends actions to City Council, the Planning and Housing Committee and administers the Committee of Adjustment.
Meet the Speakers:
Jason Thorne
Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning at the City of Toronto
Jason leads a team of more than 350 urban planning, urban design, heritage, and technical professionals. An accomplished city builder with more than 25 years of private and public professional experience, Jason provides expertise and leadership on policies, plans and strategies that support building complete communities and promoting a sustainable, healthy and economically vibrant Toronto.
Jason is a registered Professional Planner and a full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. His public sector experience includes 10 years as the General Manager of the Planning and Economic Development Department at the City of Hamilton, Director of Policy and Planning at Metrolinx, and Senior Associate and Manager with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. Jason also has extensive experience working with non-governmental organizations, having started his career working as a community organizer and activist for a variety of not-for-profit environmental organizations. A proud urbanist, Jason’s passion is to solve complex urban issues and create great urban places for everyone.
Valesa Faria
Executive Director, Development Review, City of Toronto
Valesa oversees a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are involved in the development review process including Community Planning (all five districts), Engineering Review (including Transportation Review) and Business Process and Strategy. Valesa and her team are responsible for streamlining the development review process, improving consistency and transparency for all stakeholders, expediting the review of development applications and ultimately, getting more affordable homes within well-planned, complete communities built faster.
Valesa has over two decades of experience working in both the private and public sectors and overseeing diverse portfolios including residential and commercial leasing, asset management, development and housing policy. Most recently, Valesa was the Director of the City’s Housing Secretariat where she led the development of system-level housing policy and programs, and oversaw a wide range of affordable housing projects. Valesa describes herself as an avid city and community builder who is focused on creating a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable Toronto where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
