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!