Bousfields supports our clients early in their decision-making process regarding the acquisition or the sale of land. We prepare due diligence analysis, working with our Urban Design team to prepare massing scenarios and site configuration plans that provide an understanding of what is permitted on the site and what could be achieved through a municipal approvals process. We apply a similar process to support clients undergoing a site selection process so that they can find sites that best meet their needs. Our depth of knowledge means that we provide practical advice on what is possible on a site.
Working as part of a team, our approach to the planning applications process is comprehensive. We provide a professional impartial opinion in planning rationale justification, analyze the context of the proposal through an urban design brief and/or block context plan, provide a summary of the applicable community services and facilities, prepare housing issues reports, and prepare drafts of the applicable instruments including Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendments.
Policy review is a critical aspect of our work at Bousfields. We analyze and interpret emerging planning policies and regulations released by municipalities and engage in the preparation of new policies and regulations, ensuring that our clients are well-informed and positioned to make educated decisions about their projects. We stay up-to-date on changes to policies and regulations to provide the most current advice.
Bousfields has long been recognized as being one of the foremost firms for community and subdivision design. From our early work on the planning and development of the Erin Mills Community, we are now responsible for the master planning of many new greenfield and infill communities throughout Ontario.
We create communication channels between clients and community members through stakeholder and public engagement sessions, workshops, open houses, urban design charrettes, visioning sessions, and surveys. We also create dedicated project websites that feature highlights, FAQs, and application materials that provide clarity and a view to the big picture.
Bousfields has a well-respected and dedicated team of experts who provide evidence before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB). Our deep understanding of the planning system provides objective, evidence-based analysis to support our clients’ cases.
Project management is a core aspect of our work. We assist our clients with application submission and processing. Our comprehensive project management services ensure that our clients’ projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality. We work closely with our clients throughout the project life cycle, providing regular updates and ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged and informed.
Types of projects that we do:
We have extensive experience in residential and mixed use land use planning and development approvals, providing expert advice and support to our clients in the public and private sectors. Our mixed use work includes a range of building typologies and scales, from tall and mid-rise buildings to low-rise neighbourhoods and from infill developments to large-scale master plans. We work closely with our clients to help them navigate the complex planning and development process, from initial feasibility studies to final approvals.
Bousfields offers comprehensive commercial and employment land use services to our clients in the public and private sectors. We provide expert guidance and support across zoning regulations and land use policies, with consideration for land use compatibility, helping our clients to achieve their development goals.
Bousfields has secured planning approvals for a wide variety of institutional land uses, including schools, post-secondary institutions, community health centres, hospitals, community and recreational facilities and long-term care facilities. We have also participated as part of multi-disciplinary teams in the preparation of master plans for large institutions, including publicly led public-private partnerships.
“We have sessions with urban designers and community engagement specialists where we provide the policy element, they provide their design opinion and thoughts on engagement strategies. We review each other’s work and share consistency throughout the process. That’s something that I can say sets us apart.”
🏐 Volleyball at Woodbine Beach 🌳 Family Summer Social at Corktown Commons 🚊 A ride on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT 🚴 Bike for Brain Health 🤝 ULI Summer Social 🎨 Hamilton Art Crawl ⛳ Charity golf events
A season packed with movement, community, creativity, and giving back. Here’s to making the most of summer and carrying the momentum into fall! ☀️
Our Planning Interns, Evan and George wrapped up their terms with us last week. Evan and George are enthusiastic team members who brought endless energy and a desire to learn and grow to their roles over the summer. Shout out to their mentors Brynne and Joie for mentoring our interns and helping them navigate their roles and blooming careers.
Best of luck to Evan and George as they continue their studies in the fall!
Swipe or read below for some key takeaways from each of them about their time at Bousfields:
Evan: “I’ve had an incredible and instructive summer at Bousfields. It was a revelation to me how much work goes on behind the scenes to bring each individual development to fruition. Seeing all the labour and coordination required, and getting to be a part of it, I feel that I’ve come to understand the role and value of planners much better. I will carry these experiences with me as I move forward, and I am especially grateful to my mentor, Brynne, whose attention and guidance were invaluable.”
George: “My time at Bousfields has been an absolute blast! I’m tremendously grateful for having worked with a wonderful team on such varied projects in both scale and complexity all across the province.
Applying research to projects with real, material impacts has been deeply rewarding, while solving problems in highly collaborative ways with some of the smartest people I’ve had the pleasure of working with will be indispensable to my studies and budding planning career.
Thank you to everyone at Bousfields, please keep in touch!”
☀️ 🌳 We gathered at Corktown Common for our Bousfields Family Summer Social, enjoying an afternoon of sunshine, great food, fun activities, and meaningful connections with colleagues and their families. We’re grateful for the incredible people who make Bousfields such a great place to work and for the opportunity to come together and celebrate our community!
We’re proud to share that earlier this summer, Toronto City Council adopted the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 5 Fairview Mall Drive.
Located within the rapidly evolving Don Mills Major Transit Station Area, the redevelopment of 5 Fairview Mall Drive required balancing residential intensification with the retention of an important medical office use.
Our team helped shape the proposal into a comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment consisting of three towers ranging from 33 to 45 storeys, delivering 1,302 homes and approximately 9,000 m² of office and retail space. The plan also introduces new publicly accessible open space, enhanced pedestrian connections, landscaped amenity areas and a redesigned internal circulation system.
The result is a community that accommodates growth, continues the provision of important healthcare services, and contributes to the ongoing evolution of this important urban node.
We are thrilled to share that in July, Toronto City Council adopted the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Toronto expansion at 240 McCaul Street, marking an important milestone for a project that will strengthen support for families accessing pediatric health care in Toronto.
Bousfields worked closely with RMH Toronto, the consultant team and City staff to advance a proposal for linked 19-storey and 4-storey buildings containing 200 suites. Located near Toronto’s Hospital District, the development has been carefully integrated into its urban setting and will significantly expand the organization’s ability to support families who need to remain close to specialized medical care.
The approval supports RMH Toronto’s long-term presence on the site and represents represents an important investment in Toronto’s health care ecosystem and the vital social infrastructure that supports children and families from across Ontario and beyond.
🚇 Line 5 Transit Crawl: Exploring the Eglinton Crosstown Corridor
Bousfielders had a great time last week exploring the western portion of the Eglinton Crosstown (Line 5) corridor. The transit crawl took participants to several key stations along the corridor, highlighting local history, planning contexts, and Bousfields projects within a number of Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) along the Eglinton corridor.
The tour began at Mount Dennis Station, where attendees learned about the area’s transformation, including the redevelopment of the former Kodak lands and the evolving planning framework for the surrounding neighbourhood. The group then visited Oakwood Station where we explored the cultural heritage and significance of Little Jamaica and ongoing planning initiatives in the area. The evening concluded at Eglinton Station, with discussions focused on intensification, the public realm, privately owned publicly accessible spaces (POPS) and future growth within one of Toronto’s busiest urban centres.
Throughout the event, Bousfielders also took part in a Line 5-themed bingo activity, had our own ‘Kodak moment’ andsampled snacks from local businesses. It was a great opportunity to learn more about Toronto’s evolving transit network and the communities it serves, while exploring the connections between transit investment and our planning, urban design, and community engagement work. 🚆🌆
The @uli_toronto Summer Social brought together approximately 700 professionals from across the land development and real estate industry at TABLE Fare + Social in CIBC Square.
As an event sponsor, Bousfields was pleased to support an evening that created space for meaningful conversations across disciplines, organizations, and sectors. Events like these play an important role in strengthening relationships within our industry and providing opportunities to exchange ideas outside of day-to-day project work.
Thank you to ULI Toronto for organizing another well-attended event!
Photo credit: @shibbyphotography
Last week was a busy one for the Bousfields team! We helped advance over 30 files between Toronto and East York, North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke York Community Councils.
These files represent a wide range of projects, each with its own complexities, timelines, and stakeholders. We’re appreciative of all the collaborative work that happens across disciplines to get each project to this important milestone in the process.
Thank you as well to City staff for their continued engagement and thoughtful review throughout the process. Advancing planning applications is never the work of a single party, and productive outcomes depend on contributions from many people along the way.
Stay tuned for more info about some of these projects in the coming weeks!
Sharing an update on 5500 Dundas Street West: City Council recently approved two mid-rise buildings (14 and 16 storeys), bringing new housing and a more active street edge to a site that is currently underused.
As described by Bousfields Senior Associate Ryan Doherty, “This site is between two tall building nodes and is of a considerable size and depth where you could achieve a really strong public realm and also provide significant transition to the abutting neighbourhood to the north.”
This site highlights how built form and public realm can be shaped to respond to both city-building objectives and the immediate context of surrounding neighbourhoods.
This summer, we’ve had the pleasure of supporting community initiatives, including Rustic Bakery’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament in support of @hrh_foundation and the GIFTs Foundation Golf Tournament.
We’re pleased to recognize Bousfielders who participated in the ULI Curtner Urban Leadership Program and the contributions they’re making across the industry. The program brings together a diverse mix of professionals engaged in shaping how our cities evolve.
Through open discussion and shared experience, the Curtner Program offers a forum for participants to exchange ideas, test new perspectives, and learn from one another.
Here are some takeaways from this year’s participants:
“The ULI Toronto Curtner Urban Leadership Program has been an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. Over the past eight months, I had the privilege of connecting with an exceptional group of professionals, engaging in meaningful discussions, and learning from inspiring industry leaders. The program challenged me to think differently, broadened my perspective on leadership and city-building, and provided valuable insights that have contributed to my professional growth. I am thankful to the organizers, mentors, and fellow participants who made this journey so valuable, and I look forward to applying these lessons throughout my career.” Tina Dadgostar
“I had a great experience participating in this year’s ULI Toronto Curtner Urban Leadership Program. The program connects you with passionate, diverse peers across the industry and features inspiring leaders who facilitate meaningful and candid discussions. The program not only expanded my knowledge and provided me with valuable insights, it also allowed me to build strong, meaningful connections with fellow professionals in our industry.” Mona Al-Sharari
“As a Steering Committee Member and an alumnus of the ULI Curtner Program, I had the privilege to be involved in this program alongside passionate peers that supports the growth of emerging professionals in our industry. This role was incredibly rewarding and gave me a chance to contribute to meaningful conversations, expand my network and gain valuable perspectives on where the industry is headed.” Himanshu Katyal
We are thrilled to announce that Bousfields Partner Emma West is going to be inducted into the @cdnplanners (CIP) prestigious College of Fellows!
Fellowship is the highest honour the Institute can bestow upon a planner and this distinction recognizes excellence and identifies prominent role models that have professional attainment and influence on a national level.
Please join us in congratulating Emma on this incredible achievement!
Learn more about Emma below or visit the link in bio.
