The 2023 Robertson Lecture presents: Our Cities Will Define Our Future
The 2023 Robertson Lecture presents: Our Cities Will Define Our Future featuring Jennifer Keesmaat, renowned urbanist and expert on building sustainable cities.
While some may argue that the issues we face in the 21st century are insurmountable – global warming, peak oil, economic collapse – Jennifer Keesmaat believes that now is the best possible moment, locally, nationally, and internationally, to engage in city building and taking ownership of our shared future.
Jennifer issues a call to action which implores cities to best address the most pressing challenges of our day: global poverty, affordable housing, quality of life, the need for innovation, the economy, traffic congestion, and climate change.
Jennifer Keesmaat
Jennifer Keesmaat is passionate about creating places where people flourish. A renowned urban planner, she was named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Maclean’s, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada. Keesmaat spent five years as Toronto’s Chief City Planner, where she was celebrated for her forward thinking and collaborative approach to city-building.
Today, Keesmaat is a founding partner of Markee Developments, where she, along with veteran developer Jason Marks, are developing new communities across the GTA as sustainable, liveable places that prioritize access to high-quality, affordable rental housing. She is also the CEO of The Keesmaat Group, where she provides inspiration through public speaking, and delivers impact through her consulting services on creating complete, walkable communities.
A Distinguished Visitor in Residence Emeritus at the University of Toronto, Keesmaat frequently shares her vision for cities of the future through a variety of publications including The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, Macleans, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and on her podcast, Invisible City. She was also the Chief Architect of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities, which provides a blueprint for adapting cities post-pandemic.
Keesmaat’s work has been repeatedly recognized by professional associations, including the 2016 President’s Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners; the 2016 Bryden Alumni Award from York University; the 2017 City Builders Award from EDIT/the Design Exchange; and, most recently, the 2019 Edmund N. Bacon Award from the Center for Architecture and Design in Philadelphia. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the Urban Land Institute, Toronto; has been appointed to the International Panel of Experts of the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority; is a board member for May Mobility; and is on the President’s Planning and Growth Advisory Board for Ohio State University.
Keesmaat has a combined honours degree in philosophy and english from the University of Western Ontario, and a master’s in environmental studies, politics, and planning from York University.
Event Details
Thursday, October 19, 2023
12:00 – 1:30 pm CST – Saskatchewan Time
The 2023 Robertson Lecture will be delivered via Zoom. Those interested in attending this free, online lecture must register in advance. Zoom connection details will be sent by email.
If you are interested in seeing the recording but are unable to attend the live event, please email jsgs.events@uregina.ca, and do not submit a registration form for this event.
About the Robertson Lecture
Scientific knowledge, when properly and clearly shared with policymakers and the media, can greatly improve the quality of the human experience. It is critical that the findings scientists make through rigorous discipline and proven protocols are not misinterpreted or misunderstood in order to preserve the integrity of scientific leadership, public policy, and communications work. The Robertson Lecture is named in honour and remembrance of Dr. Bev Robertson, and made possible by the continued support from his wife Elaine and their family. For more information on this series, please click here.
Questions? Email us at jsgs.events@uregina.ca.
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