Can Toronto's New Planning Head Succeed Where Others Have Failed?

This week it was announced that, after a lengthy search, Toronto had found a candidate willing to take on the challenge of guiding the city's planning efforts amid a hostile climate created by "car-loving" mayor Rob Ford.

2 minute read

August 1, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Jennifer Keesmaat, a partner at design firm Dialog, a frequent public commentator on urban
issues, and a columnist for CBC Radio was named this week as Toronto's new chief planner, reports Elizabeth Church.  

"The search for a new chief planner for Toronto officially started in
November and gained widespread attention as speculation mounted that the
vacancy was going unfilled because of the reputation of Mayor Rob Ford
and the high-profile firing of TTC boss Gary Webster," writes Church.

In an interview with the National Post, Keesmaat, who has publicly rebuffed the Ford administration, addressed whether the Mayor's reputation and recent actions had any impact on her decision. "I won't lie, it gave me pause," said Keesmaat, "But in the end, it was something that was
quite easily overcome simply because of my love of the city and the
magnitude of the opportunity. There is so much good stuff to build on,
it's extremely exciting."

On the biggest challenge facing the city from a planning perspective, Keesmaat had this to say:

"There are a few Top of mind for most people is that we think very carefully and have
some honest conversations about transit planning and where we are
putting density to link up transit planning with land use planning, so
we can get out of the traffic chaos we are in. We are doing a pretty
good job with our downtown. Our public realm needs quite a bit of work.
We need to focus on our waterfront, we need to focus on our priority
neighbourhoods, transportation planning and transit planning, and
thinking about some of the forgotten parts of the city, like the inner
suburbs."

Monday, July 30, 2012 in The Globe and Mail

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

2 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

3 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

4 hours ago - Los Angeles Public Press