The TPSI team consists of approximately 30 volunteers and University of Toronto interns.
Management Team
Jayme Turney Executive Director
A former campaign coordinator of the Toronto Public Space Committee, Mr. Turney now heads up the Toronto Public Space Initiative. He graduated from the University of Toronto’s specialist program in political science with High Distinction and has earned a Master’s degree in political science from York University focusing on political science and critical economics. Turney is also the Executive Director of the Campaign for Commercial Free Schools, a volunteer advisor to Samara Canada, co-founder of the U of T Political Science Alumni Association’s ‘Mentorship Program’, and a Director of InTO consulting. His favourite public space is Sunnyside Beach when the weather is good, and the inside of Toronto’s many beautifully designed libraries when the weather is bad.
Isabel Cascante, Projects Manager
Isabel hold a PhD in Latin American Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Toronto. She is interested in issues of public space as they pertain to the democratization and empowerment of civil society and the public sphere. When she moved to Toronto, she found solace from the bustling city in the Toronto Music Garden, which remains her favourite public space in the city.
Rami Tabello, Projects Manager
Monica Resendes, Projects Manager
Monica is a PhD Candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the development of collaborative, online learning environments that support knowledge creation, as well as the design of innovative learning models for free, Open Educational Resources (OEDs). She’s also a high school English and history teacher, and has taught at both the secondary and post-secondary level, including courses on the history of consumer culture. She loves summer-time pedestrian sundays at Kensington market.
Bill Cowen, Technical Ops Manager
Bill is an arts enthusiast who turned to technology because of the
money, fame and glory it brings him. He specializes in building
collaborative networks for community based organizations, believing strongly in potentials of net-neutrality and the benefits of open-source software. In Toronto, he enjoys bicycle lanes, especially the ones along College St., as well as the paths along the waterfront.
Katina Schell, Design Manager
Katina is a graduate from Laurentian University, as graphic designer, with a minor in fine arts and creative writing. She works full-time as a graphic designer, and she is always looking at sharpen her savvy skills in the design business. Also, she believes that we need to use the tools to create the type of positive change we want.
Jared Ong, Researcher
Jared volunteered for the TPSC since 2008 and recently graduated from the University of Toronto’s political science specialist program with High Distinction. He enjoys discovering Toronto’s “hidden” public spaces and believes they are an essential part of what makes Toronto so awesome.
Juneeja Varghese, Researcher
Juneeja has a Masters in Science and Technology Policy from University of Edinburgh. A member of the Edinburgh Public Policy Network, she has also undergone a training workshop in facilitating public engagement in policy contexts. She is interested in engaging such community discussions to enable democratic decision-making. After moving to Toronto recently, she is still exploring its public spaces.
Anjuli Solanki, Researcher
Anjuli Solanki has a background in community engagement, education and public program coordination, and urban research. She recently completed in her Masters in Urban Planning in the UK, and has a great passion for public spaces and enjoys researching their dynamics. Toronto is her latest landing spot after having lived in Oxford/London, Kigali, and Vancouver. The vitality of Toronto’s civic engagement has thoroughly enamored her to the city. Her favorite public spaces in the city are the streets, particularly those around Kensington Market.
Sue Kelleher, Researcher
Sue Kelleher has a background in Urban Geography and completed a graduate degree in Planning at the University of Toronto in 2009. Her research interests are in community place-making, particularly place-making that manifests from community resistance to formal organization and management of urban space. Her favourite space in Toronto is Ireland Park, which makes her think about home.
Hema Vyas, Researcher
Hema Vyas currently sits on the board of Culturelink, and is a former president of the June Callwood Centre for Women and Families. She works in evaluation at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Hema lives in the west end and loves walking around Toronto.
Board of Directors
Stephen Young, President
Bruce Gavin Ward, Secretary
Felix Chakirov, Treasurer
