Seminar with Gil Penalosa "Toronto for Everyone: Equitable, Sustainable, Affordable"

 Over the past decade, Toronto (and most cities in Canada) has become less equitable, sustainable, and affordable, while in the next 30 years the area population will increase by 50%. Gil Penalosa will present in his seminar a vision of how we can create a radically different Toronto, with particular emphasis on sustainable mobility (walking, riding bicycles, using public transit, new uses for cars), parks, streets and other public spaces, solving the housing crisis, including actions to move from talking to doing, creating the necessary change.

Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa, MBA, PhDhc, CSP

Gil Penalosa is passionate about cities for all people. He advises decision makers and communities worldwide on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for all, regardless of age, gender, ability and social, economic, or ethnic background. His focus is on the design and use of parks and streets as great public places, as well as the promotion of sustainable mobility: walking, riding bicycles, using public transit, and new use of cars.

In 2022 Gil ran for mayor of Toronto. In 100 days, he got 100,000 votes, and changed the conversation, which was his objective. His focus was on how to create an affordable, equitable, and sustainable city, a Toronto for Everyone.

Gil is the Founder and Chair of the successful Canadian non-profit organization 8 80 Cities. In addition, Gil is founder of Cities for Everyone and leads a private consulting firm, Gil Penalosa & Associates, providing services as an inspirational keynote speaker, instructor of Master Classes, and advisor to decision makers and communities.

Gil was elected twice as chair of World Urban Parks and was its first ambassador. He holds an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where he was selected as one of the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” in the school’s history. Gil received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at the prominent Swedish university, SLU. He is a Certified Professional Speaker by the US-NSA. Two years ago, he was in Planetizen’s Top 50 Most Influential Urbanists, and received in Australia the World Urban Parks Annual Distinguished Individual Award.