About Us
Urban change and de-industrialization have created a legacy of vacant and derelict land that is increasingly seen as a development opportunity rather than planning problem. Southern Ontario, like most older industrial regions, is home to many acres of abandoned or underutilized properties that are either known or suspected to be environmentally contaminated.
Such properties, commonly referred to as brownfields, represent budding prospects for community redevelopment and urban renewal. A good example of such an opportunity is the West Don Lands in Toronto. It was developed to be home of the Athletes’ Village for the 2015 Pan American Games and is now a vibrant residential community.
The transformation of West Don Lands, produced by Infrastructure Ontario and Waterfront Toronto.
Our Team
The reACTIVATE Lab brings together an interdisciplinary team of scholars, students, and stakeholders to develop and carry out research projects and other activities related to brownfields redevelopment.
Christopher De Sousa
Christopher De Sousa, Ph.D., MCIP, RPP, is a Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is a Registered Professional Planner, a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Professor De Sousa’s research focuses on brownfield redevelopment, urban environmental management, and sustainability in Canada and the United States. He is the author of numerous journal articles, technical publications, and two books.
Reanne Ridsdale
Reanne is a PhD student at Toronto Metropolitan University, receiving a Graduate Fellowship for 2016-2019. Her research focuses on brownfield redevelopment and community revitalization. She is particularly interested contaminated land management in marginalized communities.
Reanne currently serves as a Board Member at the Canadian Brownfields Network. She has been a board member since 2020.
Rami Hilan
Rami is a first-year student in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Master of Planning Program and a Research Assistant at the reACTIVATE Lab. He is primarily responsible for collecting Canadian municipal data to examine the effectiveness of public financing incentives for brownfield redevelopment, as well as reviewing local, regional, and international brownfield financing case studies.
Research Lab Alumni
Adam Gardner
Adam received his undergraduate degree from Bates College, where he studied Environmental Studies and Art History, writing his thesis on potential uses of brownfield redevelopments in New York.
He recently completed an independent research project exploring the potential for renewable energy projects in brownfields within Canadian First Nations communities.
Guillaume Perreault
Guillaume graduated from the Toronto Metropolitan University Master of Planning program in 2024. While there, he joined Dr. De Sousa and the reACTIVATE Lab as a Research Assistant.
Specifically, Guillaume’s research has focused on data collection and analysis regarding Quebec’s brownfield financing in Quebec.
Simon Horner
Simon graduated from the TMU Master of Planning program in 2024. As a Research Assistant in the reACTIVATE Lab, he reviewed municipal funding/finance tools used by the public and private sectors for brownfield redevelopment.
Simon is currently working as a Planner at Bousfields, where he previously worked as a Planning Intern.