Toronto’s Last Frontier: Our 10KM Waterfront

Essential Insights

Redefining our Waterfront: Toronto’s waterfront isn’t just a boundary—it’s an untapped resource already contributing $13B annually. Now’s the time to leverage it fully.
From “Or” to “And”: Toronto’s waterfront can do it all—commerce, public space, industry, and recreation—expanding what’s possible for a dynamic, inclusive future.
Collective Leadership: Unlocking the waterfront’s potential depends on a strong coalition of business leaders, government, and community stakeholders, working together to drive a unified vision for a world-class district.
Waterborne Transit: Integrating water transit can connect Toronto’s communities and reduce congestion, transforming the waterfront into a key transit asset.

For decades, Toronto has grown with its back to the lake, viewing the waterfront as a boundary rather than the city’s last great opportunity. This 10-kilometre stretch, already contributing $13 billion annually to Ontario’s GDP, is more than an edge—it’s a vital, untapped resource. At our event, The 10 KM Conversation: Launching the Next Phase of Toronto’s Waterfront, leaders from across the city gathered to chart a bold, unified vision for this long-overlooked neighborhood, calling for a transformation that matches the scale of its potential.

1. Moving from “Or” to “And”

Our waterfront doesn’t need to be limited by either/or choices between commerce or public space, industry or recreation. RJ Steenstra (President and Chief Executive Officer, PortsToronto) and Dr. Richard Florida (Professor, University of Toronto; Visiting Distinguished Professor, Vanderbilt University; Founder, Creative Class Group) challenge the city to embrace a vision where these elements coexist, creating a waterfront that’s dynamic and inclusive.

Toronto seems to be a city that is about or it can be this or that but why can't it be this and that this has played out recently with Billy Bishop airport where there was some discussion in recent weeks about the airport closing to become a park it was a binary debate this or that the point of my remarks today is that the binary debates that sometimes dominate our head lines are based in the concept of or and we would be all better served with discussions and visioning that are based in and we can't think either or and and when you hear that just tune your ears out you know just say stop stop your negative stuff we all want great housing we all want inclusive development we all want housing for students we all want great parks and you know what this is really important look at all the green on the God darn map I mean we're here in Toronto Canada we have a lot of Green Space we have a lot of water we have a lot of land compared to Europe or Asia we need more develop I don't know maybe I'm nuts but we need more development I I I can't say that strongly enough

2. Using the Water for Transit

Toronto’s lake has always been a natural asset. Now, it’s poised to become a critical piece of our transit system. Jennifer Quinn (Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Nieuport Aviation), Tim Kocur (Executive Director, Waterfront BIA), and Corina Moore (Executive Vice-President, Transportation & Infrastructure, WSP in Canada) discuss the transformative potential of waterborne transit to connect communities and ease congestion across the region.

I kind of go back to Marine we don't leverage our water access enough and that is both across uh the Waterfront but even thinking about Transit and transportation regionally hover link is an opportunity to think about connecting Niagara to Toronto could take a lot of cars off the road and provide greater access um I also would encourage us to think about things like aerial Transit it's a lot of people tell us it's a tremendous benefit that they can walk down the street from here and get on a plane to New York or Chicago I think that the Port Authority is obviously very important in the future Marine Transit too I think that's one of my things I'm hoping for for if we're hopefully doing this next year buy your tickets now um we hope we'll be hearing about more Marine Transportation because I think in Toronto there's a lot of news about a bridge to the airport which likely isn't going to happen but there's probably going to be a lot more places to dog boats and hopefully bigger boats to vary people between more locations but I think it's all about multimodal right we just have a certain view in our heads of how people get around and so it it's kind of the combination between multimodal approach but also great meaningful destinations

3. A Call for Leadership

This transformation calls for leadership. Business leaders must be central to realizing a vision that reshapes our waterfront for the city and the region. Giles Gherson (President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade), Corina Moore (Executive Vice-President, Transportation & Infrastructure, WSP in Canada), and RJ Steenstra (President and Chief Executive Officer, PortsToronto) underscore the need for private sector voices in defining this new era.

the truth is Toronto has developed with its back to the lake for decades we've been focused on what's behind our Skyline not what's on it we've grown out and we've grown up while until recently this neighborhood has barely been on the map for so many residents it takes a long time to change behaviors right people have a perspective of what the Waterfront is right now and it's probably wrong for the majority of people just because we're in our daily lives and we're going to and from work and we don't think about what is happening on the other side and so so you know as we leave this room and we're inspired and energized about what the Waterfront can do for the people that live here but also as a destination I think we need to have that conversation with our colleagues right there are a few elements that all great waterfronts have in common and all of these commonalities exist together they do have well planned residential they have iconic buildings they have a variety and mix of different uses activities that go on around the clock and throughout the year access Made Easy by boat bike and foot and other means of transport

The next phase for Toronto’s waterfront is unmistakable: harness the lake as a transit asset and unify business leadership to deliver results. Now is the time for decisive action. By aligning public, private, and civic interests, we have the opportunity to transform Toronto into a Waterfront City rather than just a city with a waterfront.