Expertise

Community Engagement

Our dedicated community engagement team works collaboratively with planners, urban designers, clients and communities. 

It’s important for people to understand what’s happening in the spaces where they live and work, particularly when change is on the horizon. For many, the planning process can be confusing.

That’s where we come in.

  • Tailored Strategies
    Community engagement helps to create a strong foundation for any planning project, with strategies that are tailored to the needs of the client and the community.
  • Translating Complexity, Building Access
    In many ways, we are translators who provide access for communities to understand the process and its inner workings.
  • Opening Channels for Community Voices
    We find ways to create a fair and transparent platform where people can engage and share their thoughts, and provide a direct channel for communities to interact with the people who are proposing change. 
  • Tools of Engagement
    Stakeholder and public engagement sessions, workshops, open houses, urban design charrettes, visioning sessions and surveys are just a few of the tools we use.
  • Project Websites
    We create dedicated project websites that feature highlights, FAQs and application materials that provide clarity and a view to the big picture. 

“We aim to be the go-to firm for communications and messaging when it comes to the planning process. Toronto and other municipalities have a lot of challenges around that. We really try to simplify the process for people.”

– Community Engagement Specialist


Our community engagement specialists operate in a team learning environment.

We share resources and experience, working creatively with architects, designers and planners to develop strategies and materials that bring projects to life.

Our collaborative approach also includes internal capacity building, helping our planners with in-person presentations with community members.

Most of our community engagement specialists have a background in planning with a real understanding of the planning process and how those areas of expertise work together.


Learn more about Bousfields planning services

Projects

1 Front

Planning for growth. Building on history.

6 Dawes

Creating connections for an emerging community.

CG Tower

An iconic landmark designed to change a city.

625 Church

Honouring the past to meet the needs of a modern community.

Connect with us

Bousfielders had a great time with friends and industry colleagues at the WLI Fall Social: Women-Led City Building Mixer this past Tuesday, graciously hosted by @dialogdesign! It was an inspiring event, bringing together senior and emerging leaders for meaningful networking, idea-sharing, and connection-building.

We’re proud to be annual sponsors of WLI Toronto. Thank you to @uli_toronto for another wonderful event!
Bousfielders had a great time with friends and industry colleagues at the WLI Fall Social: Women-Led City Building Mixer this past Tuesday, graciously hosted by @dialogdesign! It was an inspiring event, bringing together senior and emerging leaders for meaningful networking, idea-sharing, and connection-building.

We’re proud to be annual sponsors of WLI Toronto. Thank you to @uli_toronto for another wonderful event!
Attending this week’s #ULIFall Meeting in Las Vegas?

“WLI Americas Presents: A View from the Top with Former Mayor Debra March”

Be sure to join the ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Americas for its signature program where Emma West, WLI Americas Chair and partner at Bousfields, will moderate a fireside chat with Former Mayor Debra March, of Henderson, Nevada’s second largest city.

Learn more about the session at the link in bio!

#RealEstateLeadership
Attending this week’s #ULIFall Meeting in Las Vegas?

“WLI Americas Presents: A View from the Top with Former Mayor Debra March”

Be sure to join the ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Americas for its signature program where Emma West, WLI Americas Chair and partner at Bousfields, will moderate a fireside chat with Former Mayor Debra March, of Henderson, Nevada’s second largest city.

Learn more about the session at the link in bio!

#RealEstateLeadership
Last month, we were fortunate to continue our 50th Anniversary celebrations with a Staff Retreat at the Toronto Island Yacht Club. A very special thank you to @monumentalprojects for leading our morning session full of reflection and thoughtful discussion, our staff members who organized an afternoon of mini-Olympics style activities, and our whole office for a day filled with team spirit and enthusiasm! #Bousfields50
Last month, we were fortunate to continue our 50th Anniversary celebrations with a Staff Retreat at the Toronto Island Yacht Club. A very special thank you to @monumentalprojects for leading our morning session full of reflection and thoughtful discussion, our staff members who organized an afternoon of mini-Olympics style activities, and our whole office for a day filled with team spirit and enthusiasm! #Bousfields50
We’re #Hiring!! We are currently recruiting for the following positions: HR Coordinator, Planner and Urban Designer. Visit our website bousfields.ca/careers for more info and apply today!
We’re #Hiring!! We are currently recruiting for the following positions: HR Coordinator, Planner and Urban Designer. Visit our website bousfields.ca/careers for more info and apply today!
To say that Bousfielders enjoyed this year’s @ontarioplanners conference in #Hamilton would be an understatement. Thank you to the conference organizers for programming the last several days full of knowledge sharing and connections!

Congratulations as well to our several speakers and facilitators, including:
- David Falletta, Partner
- David Huynh, Partner
- Courtney Heron-Monk, Senior Associate
- Simone Hodgson, Associate
- Alex Smiciklas, Senior Project Manager
- Karla Tamayo, Senior Planner
- Charlie Smith, Senior Planner
- Sam Casola, Urban Designer
- Tina Dadgostar, Urban Designer

#AdaptationTransformation2024 #OPPIConference2024 #Bousfields50
To say that Bousfielders enjoyed this year’s @ontarioplanners conference in #Hamilton would be an understatement. Thank you to the conference organizers for programming the last several days full of knowledge sharing and connections!

Congratulations as well to our several speakers and facilitators, including:
- David Falletta, Partner
- David Huynh, Partner
- Courtney Heron-Monk, Senior Associate
- Simone Hodgson, Associate
- Alex Smiciklas, Senior Project Manager
- Karla Tamayo, Senior Planner
- Charlie Smith, Senior Planner
- Sam Casola, Urban Designer
- Tina Dadgostar, Urban Designer

#AdaptationTransformation2024 #OPPIConference2024 #Bousfields50
✨Earlier this year we had the pleasure of celebrating our 50th Anniversary with colleagues, clients, and friends at the Globe & Mail Centre, with the Toronto skyline as a fitting backdrop!

Here is a small sample of the incredible time had that day - it truly was a ‘lovely day’. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate! A special shout out to everyone involved in organizing the event, including our staff, the event planner, event staff, vendors, photographer and more, who made the celebration possible!

#Bousfields50 #ShapingGrowingCommunities #50thAnniversary
✨Earlier this year we had the pleasure of celebrating our 50th Anniversary with colleagues, clients, and friends at the Globe & Mail Centre, with the Toronto skyline as a fitting backdrop!

Here is a small sample of the incredible time had that day - it truly was a ‘lovely day’. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate! A special shout out to everyone involved in organizing the event, including our staff, the event planner, event staff, vendors, photographer and more, who made the celebration possible!

#Bousfields50 #ShapingGrowingCommunities #50thAnniversary
You might have noticed a few changes to our logo this year. To celebrate and commemorate an exciting milestone/achievement for our firm, we developed a special 50th anniversary logo. 

Swipe through to see the behind-the-scenes process that our Senior Graphic Designer, Michael Lewis, undertook to create our fabulous, special edition 50th anniversary logo!
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#graphicdesign #logodesigns #50thanniversary #Bousfields50
You might have noticed a few changes to our logo this year. To celebrate and commemorate an exciting milestone/achievement for our firm, we developed a special 50th anniversary logo.

Swipe through to see the behind-the-scenes process that our Senior Graphic Designer, Michael Lewis, undertook to create our fabulous, special edition 50th anniversary logo!
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#graphicdesign #logodesigns #50thanniversary #Bousfields50
It wouldn’t be summer without Bousfields beach volleyball! Good luck to our teams as they finish out the season over the next few weeks!

#SpikePlanApproval #DedicatedSpikeLanes
It wouldn’t be summer without Bousfields beach volleyball! Good luck to our teams as they finish out the season over the next few weeks!

#SpikePlanApproval #DedicatedSpikeLanes
Thank you to @nativecentre (NCCT) for taking us on one of their First Story Tours last week. Special thanks in particular to our guide Charlie, who took us on an exploration of the deep Canadian Indigenous cultural roots of Tkaronto (Toronto), Ishpadinaa (Spadina Road), and the 60+ years history of the NCCT. We look forward to visiting again in the future!
Thank you to @nativecentre (NCCT) for taking us on one of their First Story Tours last week. Special thanks in particular to our guide Charlie, who took us on an exploration of the deep Canadian Indigenous cultural roots of Tkaronto (Toronto), Ishpadinaa (Spadina Road), and the 60+ years history of the NCCT. We look forward to visiting again in the future!
As we wrap up our time at #CONNECTION2024, our team is reflecting on what an incredible time was had attending and presenting at the conference, connecting with fellow colleagues across the planning industry, learning from the keynote speakers and other planning experts, and exploring #Edmonton.

Thank you @cdnplanners for having us!
As we wrap up our time at #CONNECTION2024, our team is reflecting on what an incredible time was had attending and presenting at the conference, connecting with fellow colleagues across the planning industry, learning from the keynote speakers and other planning experts, and exploring #Edmonton.

Thank you @cdnplanners for having us!
We’re thrilled to have a number of Bousfielders speaking at, and attending, this week’s #CONNECTION2024 in #Edmonton. We’re looking forward to connecting with planners from across Canada. We hope to see you there!
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#urbanplanning #conference #knowledgeexchange
We’re thrilled to have a number of Bousfielders speaking at, and attending, this week’s #CONNECTION2024 in #Edmonton. We’re looking forward to connecting with planners from across Canada. We hope to see you there!
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#urbanplanning #conference #knowledgeexchange
🚴‍♀️Huge congrats to our amazing @mattamyhomes #BikeForBrainHealth team who participated in yesterday’s ride in support of @baycrest! The Bousfields team surpassed our fundraising goal, raising $11,500+ in support of this important cause. Go team go!

If you’d still like to donate, our team page is accepting donations at the link in bio.
🚴‍♀️Huge congrats to our amazing @mattamyhomes #BikeForBrainHealth team who participated in yesterday’s ride in support of @baycrest! The Bousfields team surpassed our fundraising goal, raising $11,500+ in support of this important cause. Go team go!

If you’d still like to donate, our team page is accepting donations at the link in bio.