The Metcalf Foundation’s Environment Program held an informative and lively event on December 1st at Isabel Bader Theatre, featuring two visionary city builders: Janette Sadik-Khan and Jennifer Keesmaat.
The evening began with a networking reception at 6:oopm, followed by the keynote presentation at 6:30pm. Drawing on her experience as New York City’s Transportation Commissioner and more recently as a Principal at Bloomberg Associates, Janette’s keynote explored how we can reimagine and redesign our cities around people. Following her keynote, Janette was joined on stage by Jennifer Keesmaat, Chief Planner for the City of Toronto, for a fireside chat on rethinking mobility and public spaces.
This event was sold out!
Janette Sadik-Khan served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) from 2007-2013. At NYC DOT, Janette oversaw a $2.8 billion budget, delivering transformative projects including the pedestrianization of Times Square and redesigning 2.3 miles of Broadway from Columbus Circle to Union Square; the planning and launch of seven Select Bus Service routes; and the nation’s largest bike share program. She was responsible for adding nearly 400 miles of bicycle lanes and installing 60 public plazas across the city. At Bloomberg Associates, she works with mayors around the world to reimagine and redesign their cities with innovative projects that can be developed quickly and inexpensively.
Jennifer Keesmaat is committed to creating places where people flourish. Her planning practice is characterized by an emphasis on collaborations across sectors, and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGOs, and residents associations. Over the past decade, Jennifer has been repeatedly recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners and Ontario Professional Planners Institute for her innovative work in Canadian municipalities. Most recently, Jennifer was named as one of the most influential people in Toronto by Toronto Life magazine and one of the most powerful people in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine.