Dave Meslin - (he/him) Founder of the Toronto Public Space Committee An urbanist, community organizer, trainer and political entrepreneur, Dave has left a trail of campaigns and organizations in his path, including the Toronto Public Space Committee, Unlock Democracy Canada, and Cycle Toronto. Dave also co-founded Spacing magazine, in 2003.
Cara Chellew - (she/her) is a graduate from the Master of Environmental Studies program in urban planning at York University where her research focused on the design, regulation, and politics of public space. She is the founder of the Defensive Urban Design Research Network and the public space project Mapping DefensiveTO. She is currently pursing a PhD.
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Igor Samardzic (he/him) is a disability advocate and urban planner. He is a co-founder of S+G Urban Partners, a social impact firm specializing in urban development. With a background in community development, non-profit management, and evaluation. Igor holds a BA in Urban Studies & Political Science and an MScPl in Urban Planning & Development from the University of Toronto. He has also studied Program Evaluation at Ryerson University and is an avid kayaker and runner.
Merve Kolcak (she/her) is an urban planner having completed her Master’s of Environmental Studies at York University specializing in Urban and Regional Planning. She is passionate about creating inclusive and safe spaces and communities for everyone, especially for those vulnerable in society. She believes that having a collaborative and interactive community and capacity building in communities to be a powerful tool that allows for a transparent and inclusive decision-making process. In her free time, she likes to explore many of the hikes, trails and parks in the GTA and Ontario at large.
Linda Salem (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Toronto, having done a double major in City Studies and Art History. She is passionate about the intersection of cities and the arts. Her interests lie in striving to create simple solutions to complex issues in our city while fighting for equity and amplifying the voices that have always occupied our city. She is currently pursing a Fellowship at UofT regarding an arts start-up she co-founded called Muslims in Public Space.
Jessie (she/her) is a recent McGill graduate who studied Environment and Political Science. She has a keen interest in public spaces, community engagement, and active transit. She co-founded an art initiative called Designs for a Difference and sits on the steering committee of the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition. Currently, she leads the public washroom subcommittee at the TPSC. As an avid runner and cyclist, she can often be found exploring the city on two feet or two wheels.
Car is an architect who leads Cyan Station, an architecture and design studio focused on working with buildings, people, and communities to reimagine the ordinary. The Cyan dream is to redesign the basic building blocks of our cities and make architecture accessible to everyone.
David (he/his) is Director of The Center for Active Transportation, a nonprofit committed to creating safer streets for walking and riding bikes. He has a decade of project management experience specific to sustainable mobility, workshop design and facilitation, community engagement, and inclusive public spaces. As a founding member of Open Streets TO, David played a key role in the creation of Canada’s largest free outdoor recreational program that temporarily opens streets to people by closing them to cars. Trained as an actor, David firmly believes listening is the key to building equitable and vibrant public spaces.
Sylvia Schmidt is a dedicated Toronto real estate agent on a mission to redefine the city's public spaces. Beyond the confines of property transactions, Sylvia passionately advocates for inclusivity, accessibility, and cultural diversity in our urban landscapes. She firmly believes that the essence of crafting beloved neighbourhoods extends beyond bricks and mortar homes; it's about cultivating vibrant public spaces that forge connections within communities, ultimately making Toronto a city truly worth loving.
Ronny Yaron: Currently I'm an English language coach; served forty-five years plus as a social worker in a wide variety of settings from hospitals to Veterans Affairs to criminal justice and in housing support with women; developed strong interest in urban planning, community building and climate action.