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2:59 PM (17 minutes ago)
to NEWS-RELEASES
City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
==========================================
News Release
August 28, 2017
Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat to leave City of Toronto
The City of Toronto announced today that, after five years as Chief Planner & Executive Director of the City Planning division, Jennifer Keesmaat has decided to leave the City effective September 29 to pursue other interests.
Keesmaat joined the City in September 2012 and since then has successfully championed and led a wide array of projects including the first comprehensive plan for the downtown in 40 years (TOCore), the City's first Council-approved Transit Network Plan (Feeling Congested), OMB reform, Chief Planner Roundtables, the Ravine Strategy, Complete Streets Guidelines, Planners in Public Spaces and the Planning Review Panel as well as partnered with other City divisions and agencies on a number of significant transit projects including the King Street Pilot Project, Scarborough Subway Extension, SmartTrack, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Waterfront LRT and the Relief Line.
"I want to personally thank Jennifer for her tremendous passion, leadership and innovation in driving forward a number of major projects for the City as we continue to move Toronto toward becoming a more livable, affordable and functional city," said Mayor John Tory. "Jennifer has used her platform and voice as Chief Planner to help guide Council's efforts to build a better city for all Torontonians and I wish her all the best in the next phase of her career."
Keesmaat's role with the City was her first foray into public service. Prior to joining the City, she was a principal at design firm Dialog and had a distinguished career as a planning consultant and strategic planner. Her career took her to international projects in the United States, Ireland and Greece as well as across Canada.
“I would like to extend my thanks to Jennifer for her leadership of the City Planning division as well as her contributions to my senior management team," said Deputy City Manager John Livey. "Jennifer is a strong and forthright proponent of complete communities, cross-sector collaboration and public consultation on every project she undertakes, which has helped achieve broad support for many of the City's major infrastructure projects."
“It’s been an honour to work with Mayor Tory, Council, City staff and my remarkable team in the City Planning division over the last five years," said Keesmaat. “I promised myself that after five years in public service I would review my future options. I look forward to new challenges in the important business of city building now enriched by invaluable lessons, new friends and colleagues acquired while serving the people of our great city, Toronto."
This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/HOnm30eJGXY.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. In 2017, Toronto is honouring Canada's 150th birthday with "TO Canada with Love," a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto.
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2:59 PM (17 minutes ago)
to NEWS-RELEASES
City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
==========================================
News Release
August 28, 2017
Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat to leave City of Toronto
The City of Toronto announced today that, after five years as Chief Planner & Executive Director of the City Planning division, Jennifer Keesmaat has decided to leave the City effective September 29 to pursue other interests.
Keesmaat joined the City in September 2012 and since then has successfully championed and led a wide array of projects including the first comprehensive plan for the downtown in 40 years (TOCore), the City's first Council-approved Transit Network Plan (Feeling Congested), OMB reform, Chief Planner Roundtables, the Ravine Strategy, Complete Streets Guidelines, Planners in Public Spaces and the Planning Review Panel as well as partnered with other City divisions and agencies on a number of significant transit projects including the King Street Pilot Project, Scarborough Subway Extension, SmartTrack, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Waterfront LRT and the Relief Line.
"I want to personally thank Jennifer for her tremendous passion, leadership and innovation in driving forward a number of major projects for the City as we continue to move Toronto toward becoming a more livable, affordable and functional city," said Mayor John Tory. "Jennifer has used her platform and voice as Chief Planner to help guide Council's efforts to build a better city for all Torontonians and I wish her all the best in the next phase of her career."
Keesmaat's role with the City was her first foray into public service. Prior to joining the City, she was a principal at design firm Dialog and had a distinguished career as a planning consultant and strategic planner. Her career took her to international projects in the United States, Ireland and Greece as well as across Canada.
“I would like to extend my thanks to Jennifer for her leadership of the City Planning division as well as her contributions to my senior management team," said Deputy City Manager John Livey. "Jennifer is a strong and forthright proponent of complete communities, cross-sector collaboration and public consultation on every project she undertakes, which has helped achieve broad support for many of the City's major infrastructure projects."
“It’s been an honour to work with Mayor Tory, Council, City staff and my remarkable team in the City Planning division over the last five years," said Keesmaat. “I promised myself that after five years in public service I would review my future options. I look forward to new challenges in the important business of city building now enriched by invaluable lessons, new friends and colleagues acquired while serving the people of our great city, Toronto."
This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/HOnm30eJGXY.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. In 2017, Toronto is honouring Canada's 150th birthday with "TO Canada with Love," a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto.
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