Meet our Toronto Metropolitan University Fall Term Students

I first became aware of brownfields through my first-year professor, Christopher de Sousa. As I progressed through my degree, my interest in the environmental side of planning grew. I'm interested in the innovative potential of development which enhances natural systems rather than working against them. Many of the courses I have taken toward my environmental specialization have focused on environmental assessment processes and Toronto-centric environmental policies and guidelines.

Through this placement, I hope to broaden my environmental planning knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of brownfield redevelopment. I am interested in exploring how brownfields intersect with environmental insurance and infill development, given the trend of densification within planning.

I’m a placement student and aspiring urban planner currently in my fourth year at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. I’m especially interested in the opportunities that brownfield sites present, and I’m eager to research and highlight brownfield opportunities

In my free time, I love walking around cities and finding new places to visit. Walking around is the best way to experience a city and helps to familiarize with each aspect of it. I appreciate the architecture and built form of the cities I visit and often take photos of where I have been along the way.

As a third year Urban & Regional Planning student at Toronto Metropolitan University, I am most excited about how planning can drive social justice and build equitable communities. My interest in brownfield redevelopment stems from seeing it as far more than just environmental cleanup. It is a powerful tool for community revitalization. Contaminated lands often disproportionately affect marginalized neighborhoods, and I am eager to explore how redeveloping these sites can restore environmental health, foster economic vitality, and promote sustainable land use across Canada.