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.
As we step into 2026, we are proud to announce several well-deserved promotions. These individuals have consistently demonstrated leadership, innovation and a commitment to excellence. We’re excited to see them thrive in these next chapters of their careers.
New Year. New Roles. New Impact.
Please join us in congratulating Grace Wang, Ashley Paton, Richard Valenzona, Ryan Doherty, Simone Hodgson, Mona Al-Sharari, Anne James, Joie Kwong and Jessica Yi, as they take on their new roles!
🔁Bousfields 2025 Recap!
Big projects, big laughs, and even bigger teamwork. From conferences and speaking engagements to charity events and fun social outings, 2025 was filled with moments that brought our Bousfields team together. Thanks to everyone who made this year one to remember!
✨Always a highlight of our year: the Bousfields Holiday Party!
Special thank you to: 🗓️Our Goodworks Committee for all the behind the scenes planning 📍 Our venue @waterworksto for hosting us in your awesome space, and 🍽️ @fooddudes for the delicious food
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
Big shoutout and thank you to our incredible interns Alley Poon, Myah Sachedina, and Leo Bridgewater wrapped up their internship experiences with us this past week!
Here are some key takeaways they noted from their time with us:
“My eight-month co-op at Bousfields has been everything I hoped for in a final internship! It’s been such a pleasure getting to know everyone, both on Team Lennox and across the firm, and to be part of an environment that values knowledge-sharing and building connections with one another beyond work. I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who took the time to teach, support, and get to know me throughout my internship. I’ve been able to reach goals I’d been working towards for a long time, and I truly appreciate the experience. I hope to see everyone again in the future!” - Alley Poon
“My time at Bousfields has been extremely memorable and has helped me grow not only as an individual, but also as a planner. I am very grateful for the team of planners who taught, coached, and believed in me throughout the past 8 months. I’m proud of the goals I’ve accomplished during this time and the hard work that went into achieving them. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey; I’m excited to see where the rest of it takes me.” - Myah Sachedina
“The eight months I have spent with Bousfields has been an extremely memorable experience. Everyone across the firm makes an incredible effort to ensure interns can thrive and challenge themselves throughout the various facets of the industry. It was incredible to work together this year, and I thank everyone across the firm for their support.” - Leo Bridgewater
Over the past couple of weeks, Bousfielders participated in some fun holiday events organized by our Goodworks and DEI Committees:
1. The Bousville Gingerbread Competition, with ‘Raise the Roost’ taking top prize, followed by GIMBY (Gingerbread in my Backyard), and Gingerdale.
2. The First Stop on our BOU Gourmand Series: I’m a Little Hot Crab, where we tried Singaporean chili crab, widely regarded as Singapore’s national seafood dish.
What a great way to start the holiday season off with our Bousfielder family!
Bousfields is proud to be part of a team alongside KPMB Architects, PFS Studio, BA Consulting Group Ltd., Lithos Group Inc., Purpose Building Inc. working on the revitalization of Swansea Mews for Toronto Community Housing. The vision for the revitalization is to create a community that fosters strong connections, growth, identity, and sustainability.
As part of the vision, TCHC will be adding: more affordable housing, higher-quality homes, new community space and amenities, and more open space with improved connections. Visit the link in our bio to learn more!
Images provided by KPMB
Last week, Bousfielders who are involved in the redevelopment of 1-7 Yonge Street, were invited to attend the 100th Floor concrete pouring of the Phase 2 landmark building. This is the first 100 storey building in Canada and we are proud to be a part of the applicant’s Team! Photographed is Partner Kate Cooper celebrating with Founder and CEO of Pinnacle International, Mike De Cotiis, on the 100th Floor. The building will rise to 106 storeys in the coming months.
Bousfields was a proud table sponsor at last night’s @uwpat Annual Dinner. It’s always great to spend an evening with fellow industry colleagues. Thank you to the team of organizers, including our very own @uofwaterloo alum, Melissa Greco!
Go Jays Go!
Bousfielders celebrated the @bluejays last weekend on the road to their American League East Division Title win - and will be rooting them on in their playoff run!
#BlueJays #WANTITALL
Today is the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day. It is a day to recognize and reflect on the impacts of the Canadian Residential School System. At the same time, it is a day to celebrate the resilience of Indigenous peoples and their ongoing efforts to revive their cultures and languages.
Our DEI Committee organized a reading and guided discussion at both the Toronto and Hamilton offices, where we read and discussed a chapter from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book “Braiding Sweetgrass”, a book on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, culture, and teachings. It gave Bousfielders the time and space to pause and reflect on their own impact as individuals and professionals, as well as on ways we can progress Reconciliation efforts.
🏆A huge congratulations to the Regent Park Phase 4 & 5 Project Team for winning one of this year’s coveted @ontarioplanners PlanON Vision Awards of Excellence!
Comprising the final two phases of the Regent Park Revitalization, the creation of a new vision for Phases 4 & 5 was initiated through a development partnership between @torontohousing and @tridelcommunities and led by an international, interdisciplinary team led locally by the planners, urban designers and community engagement specialists at Bousfields Inc. Located at the north end of the evolving Regent Park neighbourhood, Phases 4 & 5 represented the final opportunity to maximize the use of this public land for the purposes of providing much needed market and affordable housing, as well as significant community benefits.
Be sure to check out the link in bio to learn more about the team behind the project, as well as the rest of incredible 2025 PlanON Award winners!
Earlier this month, we hosted our annual Values Day, where staff come together for an interactive afternoon focusing on the 5 Bousfields Values: Integrity, Respect, Shared Knowledge, Leadership and Excellence. Thank you to all who helped organize this amazing event, it was a great team building experience and gave us the chance to reconnect with colleagues, learn and have some fun!
