About Us

Showcasing city building research and achievement

City Building TMU is a university-wide initiative to facilitate research collaborations, mobilize knowledge and showcase the scholarly, research and creative (SRC) activity happening in city building and urban innovation across the institution.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, city building takes many forms. Our reputation as a city-focused university lies in our knowledge mobilization, advocacy, outreach and community engagement work, in addition to our research devoted to shaping healthy communities, in areas ranging from sustainability to democracy to technology. For us, city building is about bold thinking that will shape the future of the city we call home as well as urban centres around the globe.

Learn about Toronto Metropolitan's noteworthy city building initiatives, from multi-disciplinary labs and hubs where innovations are developed and tested in real time, to policy research centres tackling critical issues related to urban development, smart cities, social equity, urban sustainability and more.

People

Dr. Pamela Robinson

Interim Academic Director

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Pamela Robinson (MCIP, RPP) is a professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University, and a registered professional planner. As part of the geothink.ca (external link) research team, Robinson's research and practice focus on urban sustainability issues with a particular focus on cities and climate change and the use of open data and civic technology to support open government transformations. She serves on the board of directors of the Metcalf Foundation and has participated in four Metrolinx Community Advisory Committees. Robinson is an editor of Urban Sustainability: Reconnecting Space and Place (University of Toronto Press, 2013), Teaching as Scholarship: Preparing Students for Professional Practice in Community Services (WLU Press, 2016) and is a columnist for Spacing magazine.

Faculty Page

Cherise Burda

Executive Director

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Specializing in timely, relevant and proactive policy research and strategic communications to drive impact, Cherise Burda has authored over 40 policy reports, book chapters and academic publications, as well as dozens of magazine articles and op-eds. In over 20 years as a thought leader, Cherise’s research and activities have directly influenced policy change in Ontario and British Columbia.

As Executive Director of City Building TMU, Cherise leads collaborations and knowledge mobilization strategies for academic research in city building and urban innovation and policy research on issues of sustainable regional planning and development, housing affordability, placemaking and transportation. Her previous roles included Ontario Director of the Pembina Institute, Program Director with the David Suzuki Foundation in Vancouver and Senior Researcher with University of Victoria’s Eco-Research Chair of Environmental Law and Policy.

Cherise holds an M.A. in environmental policy from University of Victoria, as well as a B.Sc. in environmental science and a Bachelor of Education, both from University of Toronto. Cherise has spoken on dozens of panels, is a regular spokesperson and participates on a number public and private sector advisory groups.