Join us for an inspiring conversation on how strong social infrastructure (parks, healthcare and cultural programs, community organizations) and a safe environment foster a sense of belonging by providing cohesive spaces for interaction, building trust, and cohesion within a community.
Our speakers will reflect on how social infrastructure and community safety can contribute to building belonging and regenerating our social fabric in the context of division and isolation. Our speakers will also discuss how a Canada-wide Strategy for Belonging can help amplify the impact of social infrastructure and community safety as catalysts for belonging.
The discussion will include practical recommendations for changemakers on how to enable a strong social infrastructure and adopt a holistic approach to community safety.
This webinar is part of a 2025 series of conversations to amplify the movement for a Canada-wide Strategy for Belonging that centres the perspectives of residents on making community belonging a policy priority for wellbeing and economic prosperity.
Speakers
Ada Chan Russell (she/her). Social Planner. City of Vancouver
Ada is a Social Planner focused on social infrastructure policy and projects at the City of Vancouver where she led the development of Spaces to Thrive Strategy, the City’s first 10-year policy and partnership framework for social infrastructure. Born in Hong Kong, she grew up on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples, known as Vancouver. After attaining a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto, Ada has held various planning positions in Regina, Richmond and Vancouver, towards healthy and complete communities. Her previous work in the non-profit sector included Vancouver Chinatown BIA and immigrant and settlement agencies. With 20 years experience in planning, policy, collaboration, and coordination, Ada is driven by social impact, equity, and reconciliation through her work to support communities.
Felix Munger, PhD (he/him/il). Executive Director. Canadian Centre for Safer Communities
Felix joined the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities in 2015 as the executive director. Felix has over 25 years of experience facilitating strategic planning, priority setting, and collaboration building with a wide range of participants including equity-deserving and Indigenous communities. Originally trained as a psychiatric nurse, he has experience in community safety, organizational collaboration, mental health and addiction, equity, diversity, inclusion, and organizational capacity development. He holds a master’s degree in environmental studies and a PhD in community psychology. Most recently, his work is focused on the impacts of climate change and social polarization on community safety, as well as evaluation and monitoring of community safety. Felix resides in Waterloo Region, Ontario, which is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral peoples.
Anita Li, HBA, MJ (she/her). Publisher and CEO. The Green Line
Anita Li is the publisher and CEO of The Green Line, a community-driven news outlet in Toronto, and serves as Journalism Innovator-in-Residence at Toronto Metropolitan University. Anita has over two decades of experience as a multi-platform journalist, having started her career as a reporter and editor at Canadian legacy outlets, including The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and CBC. She later worked in strategic, management-level roles at American digital media publications, such as Complex, Fusion and Mashable. Anita was also director of communities at The Discourse.
Anita runs a consultancy where she advises journalism outlets and institutions on news products, community-driven journalism, audience engagement, news entrepreneurship, emerging media business models, newsroom diversity, media ethics and journalism innovation. She is a member of the board of directors for LION (Local Independent Online News) Publishers and formerly for the Online News Association, as well as an alum of the inaugural Poynter-NABJ Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media. She also co-founded Canadian Journalists of Colour, a growing network of racialized media-makers in Canada. To keep up with Anita, subscribe to The Other Wave, her innovation newsletter about challenging the status quo in journalism.
Clara Ganemtoré (she/her). Manager, SafeTO and Community Risk Intervention. City of Toronto
Clara Ganemtoré is the Manager of the SafeTO and Community Risk Intervention unit in the Community Safety and Wellbeing (CSWB) section of the Social Development, Finance and Administration (SDFA) division at the City of Toronto. Adopted by Toronto City Council in 2021, SafeTO is Toronto’s comprehensive ten-year plan to advance community safety and well-being, through collaboration across sectors, communities, and governments.
With an MSc in Regional and Urban Planning Studies and a BA in Political Science and Economics, her career has been anchored in collaborating with different levels of government, community organizations and residents, to advance equitable outcomes for racialized and marginalized communities. Across multiple jurisdictions, Clara has addressed complex social issues related to poverty, institutionalized racism, community safety, urban renewal, affordable housing, and unemployment. Her work includes research on community-based approaches to disaster-risk management in Dakar, Senegal, gang prevention programing for racialized youth in Montreal, Quebec, redesign of access to social assistance in Toronto and Ontario and foundational work on inclusive workforce development strategies for community benefits initiatives in Toronto, Ontario.
John P. Smith (he/him). Manager, Community Development. City of Toronto
John is a community development professional with over 30 years of experience in municipal services. Immigrating to Canada from Antigua and Barbuda in 1974, he grew up in several social housing, co-op housing, and rental communities across the City of Toronto. From 1988 to 2006, he honed his community leadership skills in various roles with the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation division, including Camp Coordinator and Recreation Coordinator. During this time, he earned a Sociology degree from York University, enriching his critical thinking. In 2006, he transitioned to a Community Development Officer role in the Social Development Finance and Administration (SDFA) division, supporting community planning and investments. Since 2015, he has managed community development initiatives, including the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy and the Community Coordination Plan. Since 2019, he has also served as a part-time professor at Humber Polytechnic, teaching community development and justice. His lived experience and education have allowed him to gain a deep understanding of community resilience, the impact of institutional oppression, and approaches to reconciliation and equity. He collaborates across diverse sectors, recognizing the value of individual and collective contributions to community goals.
Jorge Garza (he/him/il). Director, Communities Building Belonging. Tamarack Institute
Jorge is leading a growing Canada-wide, asset-based movement that supports municipalities, institutions, and individuals to increase the collective sense of belonging. At Tamarack, he is excited to engage with more than 7,000 learners and over 1,000 local champions in making community belonging a policy priority in Canada. Previously, Jorge worked at the Metcalf Foundation, where he supported the development of its poverty reduction program. He also worked at the McConnell Foundation, where he contributed to the development of its place-based portfolio and explored the role of philanthropy in cultivating a more equitable society.
Jorge is a realistic optimist who loves being in community. He believes in everyone’s potential to build just futures. Jorge brings a diverse background of experience in strategy development, program design, and urban policy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati.