EJQ3 - Winter 2025 - Journal - Page 5
“Brown昀椀eldswillhelpsolvethecity'slanduseneeds
forhousingandtheinfrastructureoftomorrow."
- Toronto Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie
At this year’s ceremony, which marked the 25th anniversary of the
annual awards, Toronto Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie emphasized
that brown昀椀eld projects are a great way to achieve more desperately
needed a昀昀ordable housing in the city and beyond.
“We will be welcoming 700,000 new residents by 2051 here in the City of
Toronto,” said McKelvie, who is also chair of Toronto’s Infrastructure
and Environment Committee. “Brown昀椀elds will help solve the city’s
land use needs for housing and the important infrastructure of
tomorrow. Rethinking how our land can be used in new and innovative
ways is the key to getting more housing built here and in
any city.”
So why haven’t more brown昀椀elds been developed
in Toronto and across the country? Unfortunately,
barriers such as liability risks and cleanup costs are
still a burden to prospective projects and project
teams compared to green昀椀eld projects.
This edition aims to raise awareness about how we can
work together to support prospective projects, provide
innovative solutions and strategies available from brown昀椀eld
practitioners, and inspire more politicians and municipal leaders to
enable policy that transforms real estate trash into treasure.
The Distillery District will always have a special place in my heart.
What’s your favourite brown昀椀eld project? Let me know and we’ll
consider sharing your before-and-after story on our platform.
Join the conversation. Send your thoughts to connie@actualmedia.ca
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • W I N T ER 2 02 5 • P AGE 5
