Partners
The Urban Policy Lab collaborates with a range of academic, government, and community partners on research and civic education projects, as well as professional training and skills development events.
City of Toronto
The City of Toronto has regularly hosted Lab fellows, who have completed work-integrated learning placements in several offices and divisions, including the Poverty Reduction Office, the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division, and the Environment and Climate Division.
Pembina Institute
The Pembina Institute is a non-profit think-tank that advocates for strong, effective policies to support Canada’s clean energy transition. Multiple cohorts of graduate fellows have assisted Pembina’s Urban Transportation Team in their efforts to advance policy frameworks that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities, from cargo e-bikes to medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance
The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) at the University of Toronto's School of Cities researches fiscal health and governance challenges facing large cities and city-regions. The Lab has worked closely with IMFG in the publication of the Who Does What report series examining the role of Canadian municipalities in a range of urban policy areas.
Canadian Black Policy Network
The Canadian Black Policy Network aims to create a safe space for Black community members and allies to explore policy issues affecting Canada's Black communities. In 2019, the Lab hosted and sponsored the inaugural Toronto Black Policy Conference, a first-of-its-kind event organized by CBPN founders and Munk School alumni Anna-Kay Russell, Sharnelle Morgan, and Eunice Kays.
Canadian Urban Institute
The Canadian Urban Institute is a non-profit applied research organization dedicated to achieving healthy urban development. The Lab collaborated with CUI to develop the City Building Leadership Program, whichprovided students the opportunity to work alongside staff in the City of Toronto's Chief Planner's Office, as well as an annual Urban Exchange speed networking event.
CivicAction
CivicAction is a civic engagement organization dedicated to creating and implementing effective solutions to the most pressing challenges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region. The Lab provided research support for the 2019 edition of CivicAction's quadrennial city summit, which brought together nearly 1,200 civic leaders from across the region.
Toronto Region Board of Trade
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential chambers of commerce in North America, backed by more than 13,500 member businesses. In 2020-21, one of the Lab's graduate fellows contributed research toward the development of a policy playbook to guide the future of employment lands in fast-growing communities across the Innovation Corridor.
Evergreen
Evergreen is a national not-for-profit dedicated to making cities flourish. In Fall 2018, the Lab's graduate fellows contributed to the planning and implementation of the Future Cities Canada Summit, a partnership between Evergreen, the McConnell Foundation, and other civil society leaders to share best practices and stories of inspiration in the field of urban innovation and sustainability.
Canadian Municipal Barometer
The Lab is a member of the Canadian Municipal Barometer partnership, which brings together five academic institutions as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Samara Centre for Democracy to conduct an annual survey of mayors and councillors in more than 400 municipalities across Canada.