FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Urban Economy Forum and Transit Capital Corporation Sign Letter of Intent to Advance Stewart Village as a Demonstration Project under the Global Initiative for Transforming Cities

Toronto, Canada – September 10, 2026 – The Urban Economy Forum (UEF) and Transit Capital Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to advance the Stewart Village / Building Brockville Community Development Initiative in Brockville, Ontario, as a strategic partnership focused on integrated, inclusive, and sustainable community transformation.

The Letter of Intent was signed and exchanged on September 10, 2026, during the 8th Urban Economy Forum (UEF8) at the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park, Toronto, before city leaders, development professionals, academics, and international partners from Canada and abroad. The World Urban Pavilion provides a global platform for knowledge exchange, partnerships, and practical solutions in sustainable urban development, housing, innovation, and urban transformation.

Strategically located between Kingston and Ottawa, Stewart Village is envisioned as a mixed-income, mixed-use community that brings together housing, public space, recreation, culture, accessibility, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity. Through the collaboration, Stewart Village is intended to serve as a flagship demonstration project under the Global Initiative for Transforming Cities—testing how an integrated community transformation model can be implemented locally, measured over time, and adapted by communities elsewhere in Canada and internationally.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable housing, social inclusion, placemaking, economic resilience, environmental responsibility, and stronger community institutions. Its broader ambition is to connect local implementation with national and global learning—positioning Stewart Village as a practical model of integrated development grounded in community priorities and capable of generating lessons for wider replication.

Areas of Collaboration

Under the Letter of Intent, the Parties intend to collaborate across a set of mutually reinforcing areas, including:

• Development of a comprehensive community transformation framework for Stewart Village;
• Preparation of a long-term spatial development and implementation plan;
• Sustainable and innovative housing solutions;
• Urban design, placemaking, and public realm improvements;
• Development of parks, open spaces, trails, and community amenities;
• Community engagement and stakeholder participation programs;
• Capacity-building and institutional development through partnerships with non-profit organizations and community groups;
• Identification of strategic funding opportunities and investment partnerships;
• Research, innovation, and demonstration projects;
• Knowledge exchange and international collaboration through UEF's global network; and
• Development of a replicable model for future community transformation initiatives.

A central component of the collaboration will be institution-building and community governance. Partnerships with NGOs, community organizations, educational institutions, and local stakeholders will be explored to strengthen local capacity, participation, accountability, and continuity beyond individual projects or investment cycles.

The Parties also intend to explore community parks, recreational facilities, cultural programming, and public gathering spaces as essential social infrastructure—supporting social cohesion, healthy living, belonging, and a distinctive sense of place.

Phase One Activities

The first phase will translate the Letter of Intent into an actionable pathway. It will focus on project planning, stakeholder engagement, design workshops, a detailed scope of work, a funding and investment strategy, grant applications, and the identification of strategic partners. The phase will also examine planning and development approaches that can strengthen housing affordability, accessibility, sustainability, and long-term community resilience.

Transit Capital Corporation and UEF will draw on their respective expertise and networks to mobilize resources, convene partners, and develop implementation strategies designed to maximize public and community value while establishing a credible pathway from vision to delivery.

Leadership Statements

Reza Pourvaziry, Chair of the Urban Economy Forum, stated:

“Stewart Village gives us an opportunity to move from principles to practice—to show how housing, public space, inclusion, economic opportunity, and environmental responsibility can be approached as one transformation agenda. Our ambition is not only to support one community in Brockville, but to develop practical lessons that other communities can adapt in Canada and internationally.”

Jameel B. Madhani, CFA, Chief Empowerment Officer of Transit Capital Corporation, stated:

“This Letter of Intent is a starting point for turning local ambition into durable and impactful community infrastructure. By combining Transit Capital Corporation’s unique development approach with UEF’s global network and urban transformation expertise, we will create lasting value for residents today while building a model that empowers the next generation.”

About the Global Initiative for Transforming Cities

The Global Initiative for Transforming Cities is an international platform led by the Urban Economy Forum to identify, support, and showcase practical models of community and city transformation. By connecting governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and local communities, the initiative seeks to turn sustainable development ambitions into implementable projects that strengthen housing, economic opportunity, inclusion, resilience, and quality of life.

About the Urban Economy Forum

The Urban Economy Forum (UEF) is an international non-profit organization based in Toronto dedicated to advancing sustainable urban development, housing innovation, urban finance, economic transformation, and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the World Urban Pavilion and initiatives including the Canada Frontrunner Initiative, the NextHome Global Platform, and the Global Initiative for Transforming Cities, UEF connects local action with international knowledge, partnerships, and investment pathways for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

About Transit Capital Corporation

Transit Capital Corporation advances housing, recreation, and community development initiatives designed to generate long-term social, economic, and environmental harmony for emerging and ex-urban regions. Through its unique approach to partnerships, TCC seeks to empower existing community organisations with new resources to co-create highly functional spaces and resilient generations ahead.

Media Contacts

Urban Economy Forum (UEF)
Email: media@ueforum.org
Website: Urban Economy Forum

Transit Capital Corporation
Media Relations
Email: info@transitcapital.com