York Region Broadband Strategy

Chris initiated and project managed the development of the York Region Broadband Strategy which provides a roadmap for improved connectivity for businesses, residents and the public sector in York Region.

The Strategy was developed in partnership with York Region's nine local municipal partners (Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora, King, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Georgina).  To assist in developing the Strategy, large and small telecommunications companies were also engaged, including Bell, Rogers and Telus, to help shape the strategy's targets, recommendations and work plan.

The Strategy provides a range of recommended actions focusing on three key areas:

• Education and Advocacy - these actions focus on educating stakeholders on the importance of connectivity to their and the Region's success.
• Municipal Processes - these actions focus on ways municipal processes, such as access agreements and road re-construction projects, can be leveraged to encourage investments in connectivity infrastructure.
• Infrastructure Investments - these actions focus on identifying a range of infrastructure investments to improve connectivity for residents, businesses and the public sector.

To view the strategy visit: www.investinyork.ca/broadband.

York Region Post-Secondary Investment Attraction Strategy

To support York Region’s growing economy and talent needs, Chris initiated and led the development of the Region’s first Post-Secondary Investment Attraction Strategy—a framework to expand access to higher education and strengthen the region’s innovation capacity.

Developed in collaboration with York Region’s nine local municipalities and informed by input from major employers, academic institutions, and policy leaders, the strategy identified opportunities to attract a range of post-secondary investments—from targeted learning centres addressing local skill gaps to the establishment of a full-scale research campus.

The strategy also introduced a policy framework to guide regional involvement in future post-secondary partnerships, ensuring alignment with long-term planning, infrastructure priorities, and economic development objectives.

Pearson Eco-Business Zone District Energy System Feasibility Study

As part of the broader Partners in Project Green strategy, Chris led the development of a district energy feasibility study focused on unlocking new low-carbon infrastructure opportunities around Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The study explored the business case for a centralized district energy system—evaluating both the potential to leverage the Greater Toronto Airports Authority’s (GTAA) existing co-generation facility and the feasibility of establishing a new, dedicated energy system to serve surrounding employers.

Through consultation with local landowners and major businesses, the project assessed technical configurations, governance models, and investment pathways to support a scalable, energy-efficient solution for the airport employment zone.

To view the feasibility study visit here.

Energy Leaders Consortium

To drive collaborative climate action within Canada’s largest employment zone, Chris launched the Energy Leaders Consortium—a network of businesses surrounding Toronto Pearson committed to reducing their energy consumption and environmental impact.

With support from external funding partners, Chris led the design and rollout of a structured program that provided participating companies with tailored work plans, expert mentorship, and access to energy monitoring tools. Through regular training and peer exchange, businesses collaborated to identify efficiency opportunities, share best practices, and accelerate collective progress.

Founding members included major employers such as Bayer, Pratt and Whitney, Magellan Aerospace, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and Weston Bakeries. In its first year alone, the consortium achieved a collective energy reduction of 11.1 eGWh—translating to $1.15 million in cost savings across member organizations.

Pearson Eco-Business Zone Materials Exchange Program

As part of the Partners in Project Green strategy, Chris led the development of the Materials Exchange Program—an initiative designed to help businesses around Toronto Pearson identify opportunities to transform waste into usable feedstock, advancing both sustainability and industrial innovation.

To inform the program’s design, Chris conducted a global scan of successful materials exchange models—analyzing the economic and policy conditions that supported scale and adoption. Building on these insights, he developed a business model tailored to the Pearson employment zone and secured funding to move the initiative forward.

The program continues to operate as a practical tool for companies looking to reduce disposal costs, improve resource efficiency, and explore circular economy opportunities within their supply chains.