Ideas Forum: Advocating for a Better City

Brian Rudy is a Partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects whose practice centres on public and cultural work, adaptive reuse, and sustainable design. With three decades in the profession, he has guided such projects as the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Etihad Museum in Dubai, Waterloo Region Museum, and Place des Arts in Sudbury. His advocacy for the Ontario Science Centre was focused on preserving the cultural history of this Centennial landmark, along with the uniqueness of its Toronto ravine setting. Brian is a member of the Ontario Museum Association and the Canadian Association of Science Centres, an OAA architect, and an RAIC Fellow.

Michael Longfield first joined what was then known as the Toronto Cyclists Union in 2010 as a dues-paying member, motivated by frustration after Toronto’s newly elected mayor, Rob Ford, declared that “war on the car is over” during his induction ceremony that also derided “all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles”. A decade later he served as the organization’s Acting Executive Director, guiding Cycle Toronto through a period that saw a historic expansion of Toronto’s cycling network during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning to the staff team in 2022, he was appointed Executive Director in 2023.

Michelle Gay is an artist, designer and researcher. She holds an MFA from NSCAD and a Master of Information from University of Toronto. She has been an urban planning activist in the city of Toronto, in the West Queen West area, for decades, lobbying for affordable live & workspaces for creative work, for public and community spaces, and for urban design that considers people and place as important as profit. She teaches in the Interdisciplinary Media Art and Design program at OCAD U and is currently doing research in the Environmental and Urban Change program at York University.

Nina-Marie Lister is Professor in the School of Urban Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University where she founded and directs the Ecological Design Lab. A Senior Fellow of Massey College, and Visiting Professor of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Lister holds the John R. Bracken Fellowship in Landscape Architecture. As a licensed planner and landscape ecologist, Lister’s lab connects people and nature in our cities. Her research is funded by the federal government and is published widely, with a focus on green infrastructure design for climate resilience, biodiversity, and human wellbeing. A recipient of the Canadian Green Building Council’s excellence and leadership award, Lister was nominated among Planetizen’s Most Influential Urbanists and in 2021, was awarded the Margolese National Prize for design.

Wesley Lincoln Reibeling is a Toronto-based cultural strategist, writer & interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of design, urbanism, parks & public space. His practice bridges art, community engagement & city building, exploring how storytelling, collaboration & creative process can shape more caring, equitable cities. Wesley is the Program Manager of Toronto Networks & Partnerships at Park People, supporting community & city partnerships across the park system. He sits on the boards of Community & Cultural Spaces Trust & Urban Minds, co-leads The Public Great. a collective focused on equitable development & cultural activation, and part of the Steering Committee for Jane’s Walk Toronto & Global. Rooted in queer placemaking & social practice, his work is about helping cities listen, connect & care for the people who make them.