News Release
June 4, 2019

The City of Toronto officially released Toronto’s first ever Resilience Strategy today, presenting a holistic approach to building a more resilient city. Toronto is the second Canadian city and the 62nd city internationally to release a Resilience Strategy.

In 2016, Toronto joined the global network hosted by 100 Resilient Cities, pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC), to help the city prepare for catastrophic events and urban stresses that are increasingly part of the 21st century.

Over the past two years, the City’s Resilience Office engaged more than 8,000 Torontonians and 75 partner organizations, and leveraged more than 40 existing City plans and strategies to develop the Resilience Strategy.

The strategy supports the City’s efforts to enhance equity and adapt to climate change. Its vision is to help Toronto become a more equitable, liveable, prosperous and resilient city where every resident can thrive for decades to come.

The Resilience Strategy presents priority actions such as retrofitting apartment towers, making investments to combat flooding, and providing support to residents to make their homes and communities more resilient.

To access the full Resilience Strategy document and for more information, please visit http://toronto.ca/resilience.

Quotes

“The City of Toronto has long been a leader in resilience, from land use planning innovations such as the Toronto Green Standard, to social programs such as Tower and Neighbourhood Revitalization, and leadership in infrastructure development. Resilience is a process: this strategy is the next big step to build on everything we are doing to make Toronto a resilient city.” – Chris Murray, City Manager

“Toronto’s weather is getting hotter, wetter and wilder and our climate risks are increasing. We are also growing in inequality, which increases our vulnerability. Our growing risks and vulnerabilities are interconnected, as those who are most vulnerable, in many cases, are also at highest risk. This Resilience Strategy helps us to address these urgent and growing challenges.” – Elliott Cappell, Chief Resilience Officer

“Toronto has been consistently recognized as one of the world’s most livable cities, attracting talent and traditions from across the globe. Climate change, growing inequity, and other pressing issues have nevertheless placed a stress on the urban fabric. This Resilience Strategy demonstrates that by taking thoughtful and bold actions today, Toronto will remain a global leader in city building, and thrive in the face of its resilience challenges.” – Michael Berkowitz, President, 100 Resilient Cities

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

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Ray Park
Strategic Communications
416-392-7542