More than 40 Munk School students participated in the 2021 edition of the Urban Policy Case Competition, held on January 22nd. This year’s competition focused on economic development on main streets.

Students were asked to develop a strategy that the City of Toronto could implement to support small business on main streets during the COVID-19 recovery while addressing key considerations of inclusive growth, local business and community buy-in, and economic feasibility.

Each team presented to an esteem panel of judges, including:

  • André Côté, Acting Director of Research with the Canadian Urban Institute, and Principal with Côté & Company Strategies
  • Judy Lam, Manager of Commercial Districts and Small Business within Economic Development at the City of Hamilton
  • Darryl Julott, Managing Lead of Digital Main Street
  • Huzaifa Saeed, Manager of Partnerships for Thrive Career Wellness Platform
  • Maureen Sirois, President of Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas
  • Dane Wiliams, Vice Chair & Co-Founder of Black Urbanism TO

Congratulations to the winning team, made of first-year Master of Public Policy students Rubina Kharel, Benjamin Burgar, Hugh Ragan, and Shazre Khan. Their strategy focused on streamlining event permitting to attract more people to main streets and create new opportunities for businesses.

Thank you to the judges and all our student participants for a wonderful event!

Winners of the 2021 Urban Policy Lab Case Competition (clockwise from top left): Benjamin Burgar, Hugh Ragan, Shazre Khan, and Rubina Kharel.