Welcome to the Institute for New Suburbanism Website!

The INS creates a forum for dialogue on suburban planning, design, and development at local, regional, and global levels.
We invite speakers representing a range of interests and disciplines, and host conversations through speaker sessions, workshops, conferences.

Feel free to browse our webpage and view the links below for our latest updates!

PAST EVENT: On September 29th, 2021, the INS hosted a webinar — Suburbs, Exurbs, and the Making of the Human City. America’s Uber-Geographer, Joel Kotkin served as the keynote speaker and delivered an eye-opening presentation that changed the way many view communities of varying densities.

The presentation can be viewed below:

PAST EVENT: On April 30th, 2018, the INS welcomed Brett Chang, Senior Policy Advisor at Uber Canada. Brett spoke in depth about the Uber/Innisfil transit partnership, as well as Uber's growing role in vehicle and non-vehicle transportation. Brett also discussed Uber's use of AI to better improve service.

Brett's presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On April 30th, 2018, the INS welcomed Sabbir Saiyed, Manager of Transportation Planning at the Region of Peel. 

Sabbir presented on the Region's Sustainable Transportation Strategy (RSTS), the Goods Movement Strategic Plan (GMSP), and the Transportation Safety Strategy & Operational Plan (TSSOP). 

Sabbir's presentation can be download below:

PAST EVENT: On November 1st, 2017, The INS welcomed John Stapleton — writer, instructor and Innovations Fellow with the Metcalf Foundation. John discussed the disproportional amount of “working poor” in the suburbs that surround Toronto when compared to the downtown core.

John's PowerPoint and the audio file from his presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On May, 27th, 2017, Executive DIrector Dave Hardy addressed the Scarborough Caucus Federal Liberals and gave a presentation titled Rethinking Housing and Urban Planning in the Suburbs.

Dave's annotated remarks can be found in the link below:

PAST EVENT: On July 12th, 2017 Dave Hardy - the Executive Director of the INS - gave a presentation on New Suburbanism really.

Dave's PowerPoint and the audio file from his presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On August 24th, 2021, the INS hosted a webinar, Demystifying the Suburbs: Suburbs as Places of Complexity and Diversity. Speakers included: Uzma Jalaluddin (teacher, columnist, and author), André Sorensen (Professor of Urban Geography, at UTSC), and Robert Walter-Joseph (Gladki Planning Associates).

The presentation can be found below:

PAST EVENT:On April 30th, 2018, the INS welcomed back Arvin Prasad, the former Director of Integrated Planning at the Region of Peel and the current Commissioner of Development Services the City of Markham.

Arvin presented on how transportation planning can be used to connect the suburbs to denser areas of regions. 

Arvin's Presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On January 5th and January 6th, 2018, The Executive Director of the INS, Dave Hardy, was interviewed by Val Cole on ONTV on the CHCH network.

Dave spoke about what New Suburbanism is and how it can be used to look at planning through another lens.

If you missed the interview, click the link below to check it out on YouTube!

PAST EVENT: On November 1st, 2017, The INS welcomed Paul Hunter, Head of Research at the UK's Smith Institute.

Paul discussed what he has learned from studying suburbs in the UK and poverty in suburban areas, as well as how this relates to Canada.

Paul's PowerPoint and the audio file from his presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On October 12th, 2016, the INS welcomed Judith De Jong, Associate Dean and Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Judith's PowerPoint and the audio file from her presentation can be downloaded below.
 

PAST EVENT: On September 15th, 2016, the INS welcomed Dr. Andre Sorensen, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Dr. Sorensen's PowerPoint can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On July 13th, 2021, the INS hosted Pandemics and the Periphery: The State of Suburban Planning. Our panel discussed the effects of infectious disease on urban peripheries and the future of suburban-centric planning. Speakers included: Catherine Hernandez (author), Roger Keil (Professor), and Rob Fiedler (NPG Solutions)

The presentation can be viewed below:

PAST EVENT: On April 30th, 2018, the INS welcomed Jonathan Chai, P.Eng (Project Manager) and Elli Papaioannou (Transportation Planner) from HDR.

Elli and Jonathan presented on how we can rethink transit solutions through a sustainable mobility future. They also discussed the changing planning and transportation needs for millenials.

HDR's presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On December 1st, 2017, Dave Hardy - the Executive Director of the INS - gave presentation on New Suburbanism at the Region of Peel offices in Brampton, Ontario.

The event was attended by planning and economic development staff from the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga, and the Town of Caledon.

Several politicians were also in attendance. 

PAST EVENT: On July 12th, 2017, the INS welcomed international housing expert and professor Wendell Cox.

Wendell spoke about his research and his views on what can be done to reduce housing prices in the GTHA and around the world.

Wendell's PowerPoint and the audio file from his presentation can be downloaded below:

PAST EVENT: On October 12th, 2016, the INS welcomed Arvin Prasad, Director of Integrated Planning at the Region of Peel. Arvin prsented on how Peel's suburbs could look in the future.

Arvin's PowerPoint and the audio file from his presentation can be downloaded below

PAST EVENT: On September 15th, 2016, the INS was launched. We were lucky enough to welcome planners, academics, and residents from the GTHA, including MP Salma Zahid. For information on the INS, please click below: