Steering Committee

TCAT is advised by a Steering Committee who were either chosen at a general meeting of TCAT supporters or appointed to fill a vacant seat. Steering Committee members are requested to commit to at least a two-year term. A brief bio of each of the current Steering Committee members is included below.

James Chan
James Chan was first introduced to the transformative power of urban planning and design when he was managing marketing communications projects for inner-city revitalization developments in Calgary. That experience has led to an interest in public policy, a passion for urbanism, and a desire to help create sustainable and livable communities. Now back in Toronto, James writes about social innovation and civic entrepreneurship as a way to inspire others (and himself) to become active and engaged city-builders. Wherever he is, even when traveling, James prefers to go places on foot, by bike, or using transit. He is a member of the Toronto Cyclists Union and a huge fan of neighbourhood walking tours run by the ROM, Jane's Walk, and Heritage Toronto. James holds an HBA degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. (Member since January 2011)

Stewart Chisholm
Stewart is passionate about cities and committed to finding more sustainable ways of how we move about them. As Program Director at Evergreen, a national non-profit organization focused on urban sustainability, he leads a range of programs aimed at professional and community audiences that address urban mobility, green design, local food, water, energy and other issues.  As an avid cyclist he enjoys his daily commute through Toronto’s unique ravine system. He has served on related municipal advisory committees and has a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning from the University of Waterloo. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. (Member since June 2012)

Keagan Gartz
Keagan is a Program Manager at Smart Commute - North Toronto, Vaughan, a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to improve commuter options and reduce traffic congestion in the GTHA. Keagan helps to develop, launch and monitor transportation demand management (TDM) programs for local employers, post-secondary institutions, and property managers. Keagan is a graduate from the Environment and Resource Studies program at the University of Waterloo. Her thesis focused the contributions of local conserver initiatives to sustainability, one of the core areas of her research being the exploration of alternatives to vehicle ownership. She also received a Minor degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, which helps her to prioritize ethics, cultural diversity and community building in all of her endeavours. Keagan's previous work in the environmental sector has further cultivated her involvement in policy planning and decision making, grassroots marketing, and public participation. She currently manages the York University Bicycle User Group and is the Chair of the Smart Commute Bike to Work Day Committee in partnership with Metrolinx and the City of Toronto. (Member since January 2011)

Chris Hardwicke
As an associate at Sweeny Sterling Finlayson & Co Architects Inc., Chris Hardwicke researches, designs, teaches, gives advice, makes policies and writes about places and cities. Chris is guided by the principle that urbanism is a vehicle of social change and renewal. This philosophy extends from the design of public places to embracing the broader principles of healthy cities. He is a fellow of the Urban Design Institute in New York, a Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design in the UK and a member of the Council for Canadian Urbanism. (Member since January 2011)

Jacquelyn Hayward Gulati
Jacquelyn is the Manager of the Cycling Office at the City of Mississauga, responsible for overseeing the implementation of cycling infrastructure, policy, programs and promotion.  Jacquelyn has close to ten years experience in the field of sustainable transportation and Transportation Demand Management.  Prior to roles in municipal government, Jacquelyn worked in various organizations including the Smart Commute Association, Pollution Probe and the first Transportation Management Association (TMA) in Ontario, the Black Creek Regional TMA. Jacquelyn studied at York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies in the Bachelor program with a focus on environmental management.  Jacquelyn is a member of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) Canada and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP).  She lives in Mississauga with a young family and loves the view from the Confederation Parkway bridge over Hwy 403 on her bike ride to work. (Member since June 2012)

Thomas Smahel
Thomas is a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist (CCPE), a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and holds a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering and a Masters degree in architecture. He has over 10 years of experience conducting research, carrying out on-road experiments and providing expert opinions on issues relating to the behaviour of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. He has carried out on-road reviews of pedestrian and driver behaviour at different types of pedestrian crossings, laboratory studies to determine comprehension of symbols and sign designs to road users and literature reviews to examine ways of accommodating cyclists at roundabouts and freeway interchanges. He has presented the results of his research at annual conferences held by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), and the Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE). (Member since January 2011)

Darryl Young
Darryl is a registered professional planner with a keen interest in transforming communities through active transportation improvements and the benefits of transportation demand management for a more sustainable future. Darryl has been involved with a variety of planning projects involving transportation studies, water and wastewater, and urban development for his work. As a suburban cyclist, pedestrian and public transit user, he is happy to “share the road.” He also enjoys cycling around the Toronto Islands during the summertime - one of the city's best kept secrets! Darryl is a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and involved with the Ontario Professional Planners Transportation Working Group. (Member since January 2011)