Toronto has always had its share of challenges and has always sought ways to rise to meet them. The present era is no different, yet some have suggested that it feels like we may have lost our ambition to be and build a better city. As we face big questions about the city we want and our vision for the future, Toronto welcomes a new Chief Planner to help us find the answers.
Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 30 for an expert discussion on our city’s ambition, how to keep it strong, and what it means to build a more beautiful Toronto. Moderated by Alex Bozikovic, Architecture Critic at The Globe and Mail, this expert panel will feature:
Jason Thorne
Chief Planner & Executive Director of City Planning, City of Toronto
Jason Thorne is the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning at the City of Toronto, where he leads a team of more than 350 professionals in the fields of urban planning, urban design, architecture, heritage planning, transportation planning and land economics. Jason is an accomplished city builder with more than 25 years of experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Prior to joining the City of Toronto, Jason spent 10 years leading the Planning and Economic Development Department at the City of Hamilton. He has also held roles as Director of Policy and Planning at Metrolinx, Senior Associate and Manager with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal and he was a Partner and Principal in the Toronto-based planning, architecture and design firm planningAlliance. Jason also has extensive experience working with non-governmental organizations, having started his career working as a community organizer and activist for a variety of not-for-profit environmental organizations
Jason is a registered Professional Planner and a full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. A proud urbanist, and student of cities, Jason has visited and met with city planners and city builders in dozens of cities around the world.
Chris Ball
Vice President, Counsel Public Affairs
Chris is a Vice President at Counsel Public Affairs, based in Toronto. With nearly two decades of experience in strategic communications, brand and issues management, digital and social strategy, media relations, public affairs and campaigns, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Most recently, Chris served as the Senior Strategic Advisor to Mayor Olivia Chow, who won a historic by-election in Toronto in 2023. He is a seasoned war room and central campaign veteran at all three levels of government. Chris has a keen eye for public affairs and political strategy and has held multiple senior political roles as the Director of Communications for the Ontario NDP and as Special Assistant to Jack Layton, former leader of the Federal NDP. Chris has also worked with numerous Canadian and global media and culture brands and Fortune 500 companies. His portfolio includes positions such as Head of Communications for Vice Canada and Head of Media Relations and Issues Management for the CBC. Additionally, he has worked in commercial space travel, helping a successful, Florida-based carbon-neutral space company, reach new global markets.
Alex Mather
Vice President of Development, Collecdev Markee
Alex Mather is the Vice President of Development at Collecdev Markee, where he leads the implementation of the company’s strategic vision for transformative urban projects that blend sustainability, affordability, and community-focused design. With a diverse career spanning Urban Development, Political Strategy, and Finance, Alex brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities of city building.
In his current role, Alex oversees a diverse portfolio of projects aimed at reshaping Toronto’s urban landscape, ensuring that growth aligns with the evolving needs of its communities. His work at Collecdev Markee is deeply rooted in his passion for creating spaces that are not only functional but also foster strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
Having worked across both the public and private sectors, Alex’s breadth of experience across political strategy, policy development, and finance provides him with a nuanced understanding of Toronto’s growth and challenges. He served as the Communications Director for former Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat’s Toronto Mayoral campaign, which advocated a bold and ambitious vision for the city’s future. Alex has also worked as a Senior Advisor to former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Housing, and Infrastructure.
Previously, Alex was a Senior Director at Blue State, the firm behind the innovative strategies of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. There, he led work for global organizations such as UNICEF, Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, and the United States Olympic Committee. His background in policymaking and urban development is also underpinned by his experience in Finance, having started his career at CIBC World Markets.
Driven by the belief that cities should be catalysts for positive social and environmental change, Alex brings a strategic, cross-disciplinary approach to his work in urban development.
Alex holds degrees from the London School of Economics (LSE) and Western University.
Claire Weisz
Founding Partner, WXY
Claire Weisz, FAIA, RAIC, Hon. FASLA, is the founding partner of WXY, the NYC-based architecture, urban design, and planning firm globally recognized for its community-centered approach. Her portfolio includes the Rockaway Boardwalk, the SeaGlass Carousel, and the Arverne East Nature Center. A recipient of ASLA Honorary Membership and AIANY’s Medal of Honor, she is known for her ability to integrate architecture with landscape and public space. Through her leadership at WXY, she continues to push the boundaries of sustainable design, material innovation, and resilient civic architecture.
Leslie Woo
Chief Executive Officer, CivicAction
Leslie Woo, CRE® is an award-winning city-builder with 25+ years of experience shaping sustainable communities in the Greater Toronto Region. A tri-sector leader, Leslie has worked across public, private, and non-profit sectors, blending her expertise as an urban planner, architect, and civic innovator. As CEO of CivicAction, she empowers emerging leaders to tackle urban challenges through cross-sector collaboration.
Previously, Leslie led strategic planning for a $60B transit expansion at Metrolinx. She serves on the boards of Waterfront Toronto and Yee Hong Centre, and is the founder of shebuildscities.org, amplifying the voices of women city-builders.
A Senior Fellow at the Munk School and advisor at the University of Toronto’s Infrastructure Institute, Leslie holds degrees in Planning, Architecture, and Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. Born in Trinidad, she’s a proud Toronto east-ender and mum of two.
Alex Bozikovic
Architecture Critic, The Globe and Mail
Alex Bozikovic has been the Architecture Critic for The Globe and Mail since 2013. He covers architecture, planning, landscape architecture and related subjects ranging from the details of the physical city to housing policy. He also writes occasionally on Toronto and Ontario politics.
His book 305 Lost Buildings of Canada (written with Raymond Biesinger, 2022) was a national bestseller that unpacks the social and architectural history of cities across the country.
House Divided (2019), for which he was an editor, catalyzed a conversation in Toronto and across Canada about the state of city planning.
His first book, Toronto Architecture: A City Guide (2017) was a new edition of the definitive guide to buildings in Toronto, first written by the late Patricia McHugh. Alex brings a deep understanding of Toronto’s past and of architectural history.
A leading national voice on architecture and city planning, he has been a keynote speaker, design juror or visiting critic for organizations across the country including the Ontario Association of Architects, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, and the cities of Calgary, Hamilton and Toronto. Alex has been a consistent advocate for intensification within cities, for social, economic and environmental reasons.
