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Apr 12

The Future of Transit in the GTHA

Toronto ON, C.D. Howe Institute, 67 Yonge Street, Suite 300

Roundtable Luncheon with Jennifer Keesmaat, Andy Byford and Bruce McCuaig

Jennifer Keesmaat, Chief Planner & Executive Director, City of Toronto

As Chief Planner for the City of Toronto, Jennifer is committed to creating places where people flourish.  Over the past decade Jennifer has been repeatedly recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners and OPPI 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 MacLeans Magazine. 

Her planning practice is characterized by an emphasis on collaborations across sectors, and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGO's and residents associations.  Her priorities include implementing a divisional strategic plan, leading an Official Plan review process, refining public consultation to provide more access to city building conversations, a renewed focus on evidence based transit planning, midrise development on the City of Toronto's many avenues, and overseeing development review for over 4000 applications annually.

Jennifer is the founder of Project Walk, which premiered its first short film in 2011, as an official selection at the TIFF.  In 2012 Jennifer debuted her first TED talk, Walk to School and in 2013 she delivered her second, Own Your City.  Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (combined honours English and Philosophy) and has a Master in Environmental Studies (Politics and Planning) from York University.

 

Andy Byford, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commision (TTC)

Andy Byford was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission in March, 2012.  As such, he leads the largest transit agency in Canada, and the third largest in North America, carrying over 530 million riders on an annual basis.  Mr Byford initially joined the TTC as Chief Operating Officer in November, 2011 and was responsible for the delivery of safe, punctual, reliable bus, streetcar, SRT, subway and Wheel-Trans services.  

From 2009 to 2011, as Chief Operating Officer of Rail Corporation, Sydney, Australia, Mr. Byford delivered service to a million customers a day on Australia’s largest transit network.  From 2003 to 2009, he held the positions of Operations Director and Operations and Safety Director with Southern Railway and South Eastern Trains Limited, UK. 

During his tenure with London Underground from 1989 to 2003, he held a variety of managerial positions including Group Station Manager, Kings Cross and General Manager – Customer Service for three of the busiest subway lines.

Mr. Byford is a graduate of the University of Leicester from which he was awarded a B.A. joint honours degree in French and German.  He also holds a Diploma in Transport from the University of London.

Mr. Byford is from Plymouth in the United Kingdom.  A member of the University Club of Toronto and the Institute of Railway Operators, he is married and lives in Toronto.

 

Bruce McCuaig, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metrolinx 

Bruce McCuaig has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Metrolinx since September 4, 2010.

Bruce began his career in public service in 1984, and has worked in areas involving land use planning and policy, municipal policy, and transportation planning, policy and operations over the intervening years. He served in various capacities at the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for 10 years, as well as serving 15 years at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. His final role at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation was Deputy Minister, responsible for leading the 4,000 public servants dedicated to ensuring Ontario’s transportation was efficient in safely moving people and goods across the Province.

As President and CEO of Metrolinx, Bruce is building a team that is committed to transforming transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, by building a customer service emphasis throughout the organization, delivering quality transportation services on time and on budget, and working collaboratively with our partners. Delivering on the promise of The Big Move, our award-winning regional transportation plan, is central to everything the organization does, and is demonstrated by our focus on growing GO Transit, delivering the Pearson Air Rail Link, deploying PRESTO, the regional smart card fare payment system, and building new transit services across the region.

Bruce graduated from Ryerson University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Urban and Regional Planning) degree, and from Queen’s University in 2000 with a Master of Public Administration degree.

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