AN EVENING WITH DAVID CROMBIE
SPECIAL EVENTS
Fundraising
Celebrating the history of our neighbourhood
An Evening with David Crombie
December 5, 2024 - 6:30pm
On December 6th, we were honoured to host former Mayor David Crombie at The Jamii Hub for a remarkable discussion about the triumphs and legacy of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, also known today as The Esplanade. (The area originally designated as the St. Lawrence neighbourhood is what we now call The Esplanade, while today’s St. Lawrence neighbourhood covers a much larger area.)
Moderated by Sarah N. Ahmad, the evening shed light on the history of this groundbreaking urban project, its foundational values, and the community-driven vision that shaped it. A standout takeaway? The pivotal role of community consultations, where neighbours shaped their collective future. These efforts led to special housing allocations, fostering micro-communities like the Centre d’Accueil Héritage for Francophone older adults.
Joining Crombie were guests Vincenzo Pietropalo and Frank Lewinberg, who shared insights into their upcoming book about The St. Lawrence—Housing for All—set to be released in Fall 2025.
The event doubled as a fundraiser, and we’re thrilled to share that we raised $6,000—all of which will go toward free 2025 programming at The Jamii Hub!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, to David Crombie for his generosity, and to Jae Yang for the photos that beautifully captured the evening.
Thank you to Jonelle Sills and Timothy Cheung for their striking opening and closing performances, to the St. Lawrence Market for supporting Jamii and providing us with delicious charcuterie platters. Thank you to Collective Arts for sharing their craft beers, adding a perfect local touch for participants as they listened to Former Mayor David Crombie’s engaging talk. Last but not least, to the Jamii team for organizing nothing less than an outstanding event!
Here’s to creating new memories and building on the legacy of a vibrant, inclusive community!
Photos by: Jae Yang
David Crombie, Speaker
David Crombie is a Canadian politician and public servant, best known for serving as the Mayor of Toronto from 1972 to 1978. A respected leader, Crombie was influential in championing urban renewal and environmental conservation during his tenure. After his time as mayor, he continued his work in public service as a Member of Parliament and later as a Cabinet Minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Crombie's commitment to sustainable development and community-focused urban planning has left a lasting impact on Toronto and Canadian politics.
Frank Lewinberg, Guest Speaker
Frank Lewinberg is the co-founder of Urban Strategies. His groundbreaking publications in particular the Reurbanization of Metropolitan Toronto have shaped the discussion on urban matters in Toronto. Frank has been privileged to work throughout Canada, US, England, and South Africa. He is responsible for the master plans of the St Lawrence neighborhood, the CAMH redevelopment and the new CIBC head office straddling Toronto’s main rail line. His continuing interest in affordable housing has led to his examination of the St Lawrence neighbourhood as a guide to our collective futures
Vincenzo Pietropaolo, Guest Speaker
Vincenzo Pietropaolo is a photographer and writer. His lifelong mission has been to document social justice and human rights issues. He has distinguished himself as a photographic bookmaker, having published over a dozen volumes, in which he often combines photographs with his own original writing. In his most recent book, Toronto as Community: Fifty Years of Photographs (2023), he traces life in his adopted city through a social justice lens. Pietropaolo has held over 100 exhibitions across Canada and in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. His photographs are in the collections of the National Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which features his work in a permanent exhibition. His most recent book is Toronto as Community, a personal view of Toronto through photographs and short stories. He is the co-author (with Frank Lewinberg) of the upcoming book, Housing for All: How Toronto Built the St Lawrence Neighbourhood.
Sarah N. Ahmad, Moderator
Sarah N. Ahmad is a Toronto based urbanist and a passionate supporter of community arts and public spaces. Sarah works as a Public Art consultant and has recently worked with Jamii to advance arts based programming and projects both inside the Jamii Hub as well as in David Crombie Park.
Photo by: Isorine Marc