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What's more, they can look to identify and invite opportunities for new partnerships, such as Riverdale Park, Hanlan's Point, or sections of the Waterfront.
buildtoronto.com/memos/conser...
buildtoronto.com/memos/conser...
Using Conservancies to Build Great Public Spaces
The Bentway shows how public-space conservancies can combine public ownership with independent care, unlocking better programming, maintenance, and design.
buildtoronto.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
What's more, they can look to identify and invite opportunities for new partnerships, such as Riverdale Park, Hanlan's Point, or sections of the Waterfront.
buildtoronto.com/memos/conser...
buildtoronto.com/memos/conser...
With a clear Conservancy Partnership Framework, the City could move from one-off exceptions to a standardized framework. This framework should outline clear legal, operational and funding arrangements.
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
With a clear Conservancy Partnership Framework, the City could move from one-off exceptions to a standardized framework. This framework should outline clear legal, operational and funding arrangements.
However, there are still limitations in Toronto's approach to conservancies. As they look to grow, each phase requires unique approvals and exemptions. Many different departments need to be navigated, approvals from previous phases are not rolled over to the next, and there is no sustained funding.
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
However, there are still limitations in Toronto's approach to conservancies. As they look to grow, each phase requires unique approvals and exemptions. Many different departments need to be navigated, approvals from previous phases are not rolled over to the next, and there is no sustained funding.
This combines the stability of public ownership with the agility and ambition of non-profits and philanthropies.
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This combines the stability of public ownership with the agility and ambition of non-profits and philanthropies.
This was possible because of The Bentway Conservancy. Conservancies are non-profit organizations that manage publicly owned land through long-term agreements with government. Ownership remains public, but operations, programming and fundraising are handled by independent entities.
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This was possible because of The Bentway Conservancy. Conservancies are non-profit organizations that manage publicly owned land through long-term agreements with government. Ownership remains public, but operations, programming and fundraising are handled by independent entities.
With changes to connectivity and wayfinding, we can make Toronto's first impression a great one.
buildtoronto.com/memos/great-...
buildtoronto.com/memos/great-...
Make Toronto’s First Impression a Great One
The first 90 minutes in Toronto shape how visitors judge the city, and today that experience is confusing and fragmented.
buildtoronto.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
With changes to connectivity and wayfinding, we can make Toronto's first impression a great one.
buildtoronto.com/memos/great-...
buildtoronto.com/memos/great-...
4️⃣ Expand TO360 – TO360 is a strong wayfinding foundation, but should be expanded to be the true tourism network layer, directing visitors to central and tourist-heavy neighbourhoods
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
4️⃣ Expand TO360 – TO360 is a strong wayfinding foundation, but should be expanded to be the true tourism network layer, directing visitors to central and tourist-heavy neighbourhoods
3️⃣ Make UP Express the clear and seamless choice – Create a single-threaded path from Pearson's arrivals to UP Express, and study the feasibility of adding nonstop trips during peak periods
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
3️⃣ Make UP Express the clear and seamless choice – Create a single-threaded path from Pearson's arrivals to UP Express, and study the feasibility of adding nonstop trips during peak periods
2️⃣ Extend the 509 Waterfront LRT into Billy Bishop –Establish the 509 as the official Billy Bishop-Union connection
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
2️⃣ Extend the 509 Waterfront LRT into Billy Bishop –Establish the 509 as the official Billy Bishop-Union connection
1️⃣ Turn Union Station into Toronto's arrival hall – Install "arrival maps" with route directions to major destinations, highlighting direct walking routes, including in and around the PATH, and nearby transit connections
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
1️⃣ Turn Union Station into Toronto's arrival hall – Install "arrival maps" with route directions to major destinations, highlighting direct walking routes, including in and around the PATH, and nearby transit connections
In Mike Murchison's memo, he proposes changes to reimagine visitors' first 90 minutes experience in Toronto:
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
In Mike Murchison's memo, he proposes changes to reimagine visitors' first 90 minutes experience in Toronto:
These impressions carry even greater weight – roughly half of all Canadian visitors start their journey in Toronto, funnelling an estimated $8-10 billion in tourism each year. Even small improvements in arrival flow or wayfinding could yield hundreds of millions in new local spending each year.
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
These impressions carry even greater weight – roughly half of all Canadian visitors start their journey in Toronto, funnelling an estimated $8-10 billion in tourism each year. Even small improvements in arrival flow or wayfinding could yield hundreds of millions in new local spending each year.
And getting around Union Station itself is confusing, when it could be a real arrival hall, telling newcomers how to reach the Waterfront, the Distillery, or the museums.
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
And getting around Union Station itself is confusing, when it could be a real arrival hall, telling newcomers how to reach the Waterfront, the Distillery, or the museums.
And that first time experience is fractured. Pearson transfers to public transit don't feel effortless, leading to only 10% of visitors using modes like the UP Express. Billy Bishop lacks a dedicated, high-reliability link to Union.
October 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
And that first time experience is fractured. Pearson transfers to public transit don't feel effortless, leading to only 10% of visitors using modes like the UP Express. Billy Bishop lacks a dedicated, high-reliability link to Union.
Toronto has the opportunity to make its services, simple, fast and reliable by treating digital delivery as essential infrastructure. With these changes, we can modernize City Hall.
Full memo: buildtoronto.com/memos/digita...
Full memo: buildtoronto.com/memos/digita...
Make Toronto Digitally Native
Toronto’s digital services are fragmented. Residents face a maze of portals and paper forms for basic tasks like taxes or permits, wasting time and undermining trust in City Hall.
buildtoronto.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Toronto has the opportunity to make its services, simple, fast and reliable by treating digital delivery as essential infrastructure. With these changes, we can modernize City Hall.
Full memo: buildtoronto.com/memos/digita...
Full memo: buildtoronto.com/memos/digita...
4️⃣ Build AI-native experiences – Many of Torontonian's daily frustrations – confusing portals, unclear forms, long routing delays – are exactly the kinds of problems AI can help solve
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
4️⃣ Build AI-native experiences – Many of Torontonian's daily frustrations – confusing portals, unclear forms, long routing delays – are exactly the kinds of problems AI can help solve
3️⃣ Open APIs and expand open data – The city should focus on secure backend infrastructure that enable the public to spark innovation with dashboards, tracker, and real-time service metrics
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
3️⃣ Open APIs and expand open data – The city should focus on secure backend infrastructure that enable the public to spark innovation with dashboards, tracker, and real-time service metrics
2️⃣ Redesign workflows for automation and accountability – Many of Toronto's services could be delivered in hours with routine cases automated
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
2️⃣ Redesign workflows for automation and accountability – Many of Toronto's services could be delivered in hours with routine cases automated
1️⃣ Create a unified digital platform – Rather than juggling multiple system and logins, create a unified platform that will service as the single front door for all payments, permits, licenses and service requests.
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
1️⃣ Create a unified digital platform – Rather than juggling multiple system and logins, create a unified platform that will service as the single front door for all payments, permits, licenses and service requests.
It doesn't have to be like this. Tarun's memo lays out a plan to make Toronto observable, so city data is open by default, programmable, so core functions can be securely accessed by others, and digitally native, so services are designed for the online world first.
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
It doesn't have to be like this. Tarun's memo lays out a plan to make Toronto observable, so city data is open by default, programmable, so core functions can be securely accessed by others, and digitally native, so services are designed for the online world first.
Take the City's recent rollout of the Vacant Home Tax. Homeowners were required to declare their property status online, but the portal was poorly designed, confusing, and error-prone. Of the 167k properties that received a bill, about 108k charges had to be reversed, due to a poor rollout.
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Take the City's recent rollout of the Vacant Home Tax. Homeowners were required to declare their property status online, but the portal was poorly designed, confusing, and error-prone. Of the 167k properties that received a bill, about 108k charges had to be reversed, due to a poor rollout.