Jay Pitter, MES, is an award-winning placemaker, whose practice mitigates growing divides in cities across North America. She is also an adjunct urban planning professor who has engaged students at Cornell, Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and many other universities. Whether leading the development of Toronto’s first-ever cultural district plan, reimagining a Confederate Monument site in Lexington or applying a gender-responsive approach to the redesign of Grandville Bridge, Jay’s contributions consistently benefits clients and communities. Ms. Pitter’s numerous accolades include: Daniel G. Hill Award (2024); Heritage Toronto Award (2023); John Bousfield Distinguished Visitor in Planning at the University of Toronto (2019-2020); being short-listed for the Margoles National Design for Living Prize (2021); and being the only Canadian Knight Foundation Public Space Fellows Award Finalist (2019). Her two forthcoming books will be published by Penguin Random House.
Project Highlights
Keynotes & Lectures
Jay Pitter is the most original and iconoclastic speaker on cities and urban design I’ve encountered in a long time. In a moving, articulate voice that weaves narrative and analysis, she always manages to shatter preconceptions and provide hopeful but practical ideas for meaningful change.
Doug Saunders, Columnist & Award winning author (Arrival City)
Professional Advocacy & Social Responsibility
Storytelling & Shaping Public Conversations
For Jay, this work isn't strictly professional; it's personal. The practice leads numerous placemaking and social responsibility initiatives.
Jay shapes public conversations through media interviews and professional publishing. As a compelling storyteller and respected researcher; Jay’s brings new and urgent perspectives to city-building conversations.
Voted one of the top 100 Most Influential Urbanist, Past and Present - Planetizen
