Chief of waterfront agency to to step down
‘He knows the next stage of the waterfront revitalization is in very good hands,’ chair says
The CEO of Waterfront Toronto, the organization dedication to revitalizing the city’s waterfront, is stepping down after nearly three years at the post, the organization’s chair announced Wednesday.
Will Fleissig is “very proud of the accomplishments of Waterfront Toronto and the support he has received from the team,” Helen Burstyn, chair of the board at Waterfront Toronto, said in a statement.
“He knows that the next stage of the waterfront revitalization is in very good hands,” she continued.
As CEO, Fleissig oversaw the 2017 announcement of a $1.25-billion project to revitalize Toronto’s waterfront areas, including the Port Lands.
The project — backed by municipal, provincial, and federal funding, part of which will go to a flood protection plan — is expected to be one of the largest downtown redevelopment projects in any major city in the world.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the waterfront project as creating “a better quality of life for the people of Toronto.”
Of Waterfront’s many ongoing projects, another notable one is the socalled Quayside development, a joint effort with Sidewalk Labs, a sister-company of Google.
The project is intended to create a high-tech neighbourhood on Toronto’s eastern waterfront. Earlier this year, the team announced an extension of the deadline for the Quayside proposal. Many have expressed hesitation about the development of the so-called “smart city” in Toronto, including city councillors. Issues range from privacy concerns to a lack of clarity on the intentions of the project. In a statement regarding the CEO’s departure, Mayor John Tory praised the work of Fleissig and Waterfront Toronto. “The flood protection of the Port Lands and the Quayside development are two of Toronto’s biggest and most important projects, both of which are being led by Waterfront Toronto,” he said. “This complex work brings transformative opportunities for city building, economic development, and job creation.” “Will Fleissig brought a great deal of vision and excitement to Waterfront Toronto and I thank him for his work and wish him luck in the next chapter of his career.” During the search for Waterfront Toronto’s new CEO, an interim leadership position will be held by Burstyn, and Meg Davis, chief development officer. Michael Nobrega, former president and CEO of OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), will be the acting CEO. Tory added that Waterfront Toronto’s work “will benefit greatly from Mr. Nobrega’s leadership credentials and expertise in the implementation of major infrastructure projects.” Burstyn added, “Waterfront Toronto has been fortunate to have a leader with such an innovative vision of what Toronto’s waterfront could and should be, and we wish him the very best as he takes on new challenges in the future.”