Are you passionate about improving public transit and fostering sustainable modes of transportation like cycling and walking? Do you want to learn about the future of transit in Guelph and beyond? If so, this event is for you!
The Guelph Transportation Summit brings together experts, community leaders, and transit enthusiasts to explore innovative solutions and promote accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation.
Location: Dublin Street United Church, 68 Suffolk St. W., Fully accessible and inclusive.
Nearby transit: Route 3 Westmount, 11 Silvercreek, 99 Mainline N/S
10 minute walk from St. George's Square/Downtown Guelph
On-site bike racks
Free on-site and street parking also available
Hosted by Transit Action Alliance of Guelph (TAAG) in partnership with Guelph Community for Active Transportation (GCAT).
Note: Speakers and Schedule are Subject to Change
Doors Open: 9:30 AM
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM: Welcome & Introduction
TAAG and GCAT welcome plus a short presentation on the Essential Elements of Good Transit.
This session focuses on the broader landscape of transit, from grassroots advocacy to future-forward projects.
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM | From concerned rider to transit champion: how to (re)build transit advocacy movements
Speaker: Rodney Chan, TriTag
Description: My experiences from community organizing, urban planning studies, and co-op work in transportation planning has given me diverse perspectives on how to grow transit advocacy participation and build transit campaigns to successfully advocate for change. I will share my journey and learnings from previous campaigns, discussing optimal ways to recruit volunteers, build relationships, develop campaigns, use social media, and much more.
Bio: Rodney is currently a 4th year urban planning student at the University of Waterloo and has worked co-op terms in transportation and transit planning. Originally from Toronto, he rode public transit since he was young and became increasingly frustrated–leading him into advocacy with TTCriders. Since moving to Waterloo for university, he has revived Tri-Cites Transport Action Group (TriTAG), having advocacy wins like stopping transit cuts and bringing back night transit. TriTAG is currently running a campaign named IONize, to expand more LRT throughout Waterloo Region.
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM | RapidTO Bus-Only Lanes
Speaker: Andrew Pulsifer, Executive Director, TTCRiders
Description: The fight for dedicated transit lanes in Toronto. This will be a play-by-play of the debate around RapidTO dedicated lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin Streets.
Bio: Andrew Pulsifer is the Executive Director of TTCriders, a membership-based transit advocacy group in Toronto. With over a decade of experience as a political organizer, fundraiser, and activist, he works to advance affordable, reliable, and accessible public transit. TTCriders has won key victories for riders—including fare freezes, discount fare programs, and dedicated transit lanes—through grassroots organizing. Andrew is committed to building a stronger movement for transit justice across Toronto.
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM | VIA Rail and Alto High-Speed Rail
Speaker: Peter Miasek, Transport Action Ontario
Description: An update on the Alto High-Speed Rail project (Toronto-Montreal) and VIA Rail, including plans and status for southwestern Ontario.
Bio: Peter Miasek is a retired chemist who worked for over 30 years in the oil industry. He is now actively involved in numerous advocacy initiatives for sustainable transportation and improved urban planning and serves on the Board of Directors for Transport Action Ontario.
11:20 AM - 11:40 AM | Group 1 Q&A (Questions & Answers)
11:40 AM - 11:50 AM | Break
This session explores how transportation impacts the environment and broader social issues.
11:50 AM - 12:10 PM | Fixing the Broken Transit Funding Model
Speaker: Sam Hersh, Environmental Defense
Description: This session will examine why Canadian transit systems are trapped in cycles of underfunding and service cuts, and how this undermines riders and cities alike. We will explore alternative funding models and policy solutions that can create stable, equitable, and sustainable transit systems that actually meet the needs of communities.
Bio: Sam Hersh is a dedicated public transit advocate who has worked to advance better, more sustainable transportation at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. He has campaigned extensively for improved public transit and active transportation. His advocacy highlights the need for reliable funding, bold investment in zero-emission buses and trains, and stronger political commitment to build cities that work for people, not just cars.He has experience in past work with the Amalgamated Transit Union, at Ottawa City Hall, and as a co-founder of Horizon Ottawa, where he has played a leading role in pushing for equitable, accessible, and environmentally responsible transportation policies.
12:10 PM - 12:30 PM | Coming Soon!
Speaker: To be Announced
Description: To be Announced
12:30 PM - 12:50 PM | Group 2 Q&A (Questions and Answers)
12:50 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break & Networking
This session focuses on walking, cycling, and other personal mobility options.
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM | Active Transportation Planning
Speaker: Geoffrey Keyworth, Manager of Transportation Planning, Region of Waterloo
Description: An exploration of active transportation initiatives and planning in the Region of Waterloo.
Bio: Coming Soon
1:50 PM - 2:10 PM | Cycling Lessons from Waterloo Region
Speaker: Tom Strickland, Cycling Advocate
Description: This session will talk about some recent developments in Waterloo Region cycling, and how they might apply in the Guelph environment. These include signed wayfinding strategies, a model to rank the priority of potential new cycling facilities, and the Cycling Guide app to help plan safe cycling routes.
Bio: Tom is a retired actuary, and a Board member of CycleWR, a cycling advocacy group in Waterloo Region. He led a team that developed a detailed spreadsheet model to rank the value of the many potential cycling routes in the Region, with a focus on equity. The project was awarded the Wheels of Change award in 2022 from the Share the Road coalition, and the Local Climate Action award from Sustainable Waterloo Region in 2023.
2:10 PM - 2:30 PM | Bridging the Gap: How Neuron Can Provide Last-Mile Connections
Speaker: Isaac Ransom, Neuron Mobility
Description: How Shared Micromobility is Reshaping Canadian Cities
Shared micromobility programs are reshaping the urban landscape across Canada. Today, there are dozens of programs across Canada, including some right here in the Greater Toronto Area. How Shared Micromobility is Reshaping Canadian Cities will provide an overview of the shared micromobility landscape in Canada and explore Canada's only multi jurisdictional shared micromobility program in the Region of Waterloo.
Bio: Isaac is Head of Corporate Affairs at Neuron Mobility, Canada’s leading shared micromobility operator. Previously, Isaac served as a senior advisor to the Mayor of Toronto and later forged a successful career in municipal relations, helping organizations navigate the complexities of local government in Canada and Australia. Iassc holds a Master of Business Administration from Monash University, a Master of Communication from the University of the Sunshine Coast and a Bachelor of Arts from Acadia University.
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM | Group 3 Q&A (Questions and Answers)
2:50 PM - 3:00 PM | Break and Networking
This session ties transportation into urban design and community planning.
3:00 PM - 3:20 PM | Shaping Cambridge: Equitable Transit-Oriented Development by Design
Speaker: David T. Fortin, University of Waterloo
Description: Discussing how design principles are shaping transit-oriented development in Cambridge.
Bio: Coming Soon
3:20 PM - 3:40 PM | Imagining Guelph as a Transit-Oriented Community
Speaker: Christopher Greyson-Gaito, TAAG/GCAT Member
Description: In this session, we will imagine the future of living and moving around Guelph, exploring what the community will feel and look like in 10 years.
Bio: Chris Greyson-Gaito is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McMaster University, where he researches ecology and economics. He has been a member of GCAT and TAAG for about five years and is the author of the policy document "Removing Parking Minimums: A Key Step Towards An Affordable, Healthy, and Sustainable Guelph."
3:40 PM - 4:00 PM | Group 4 Q&A (Questions and Answers)
4:00 PM - 4:10 PM | Closing Remarks
4:10 PM - 5:00 PM | Networking and Social
*Please note that order of speakers and schedule are subject to change.
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