Is preserving architectural heritage a hindrance to urban development? Or is the conservation of our built past an essential component of successful cities’ economic and environmental futures? 

Join a distinguished roster of experts for this keynote lecture and panel discussion on Friday, November 22, kicking off a symposium on the challenges of preserving Modern architectural heritage in rapidly growing cities like Toronto, where accelerated development, gentrification, high demand for housing and urban expansion pose significant threats. 

The symposium is co-sponsored by World Monuments Fund (WMF) and includes a full-day schedule of case-study presentations and moderated roundtables on Saturday, November 23. 

Delivering the keynote address on the 22nd will be urban designer and author Ken Greenberg, one of the founders of Ontario Place for All, a grassroots community group seeking to keep the iconic Toronto waterfront complex “a vibrant, publicly accessible space,” followed by remarks from Professor Brigitte Shim of the Daniels Faculty. 

Joining Greenberg for the panel discussion afterward will be architect and WMF senior program manager Javier Ors Ausín, KPMB founding partner Shirley Blumberg, Professor Richard M. Sommer of the Daniels Faculty, Globe and Mail architecture critic Alex Bozikovic and Ontario MPP (Spadina-Fort York) Chris Glover. The event will be introduced by Daniels Faculty Associate Professor Aziza Chaouni, while the discussion will be moderated by the Faculty’s Acting Dean Robert Levit. 

Register for the keynote presentations and discussion on Friday. 

Among the speakers participating in the all-day symposium on the 23rd are: 
 
Margie Zeidler, Founder and President of Urbanspace Property Group 
Jane Wolff, Professor, Daniels Faculty 
Brian Rudy, Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects 
Floyd Ruskin, Co-chair, Save Ontario’s Science Centre 
Tamara Anson-Cartwright, Program Manager, Heritage Planning at the City of Toronto  
Bill Greaves, Artist and Board Member, Architectural Conservancy Ontario 
Joël Léon Danis, Executive Director, Toronto Society of Architects 
Alissa North, Associate Professor, Daniels Faculty  
Brandon Poole, Artist, Researcher and McGill University PhD candidate 
Elsa Lam, Editor, Canadian Architect 
Béatrice Grenier, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain 
George Kapelos, Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University 
Michael McClelland, Founding Principal, ERA Architects 
Sandy M. Smith, Professor and Director of Forestry, Daniels Faculty 
Pina Petricone, Associate Professor, Daniels Faculty 
Jennifer Adams Peffer, Campus Architect, University of Toronto Scarborough
Dora Yeoh, Cadillac Fairview
Joe Lobko, Joe Lobko Architect Inc.
Matthew Blackett, Spacing 
Silvio Oksman, ICOMOS

Register for the all-day symposium on Saturday.

View the schedule.

Read the symposium speaker bios.

Special thanks to Save Ontario's Science Centre and Ontario Place for All.