the business challenge

Toronto has long hosted major international events — yet historically, few opportunities existed for Next Generation leaders to contribute meaningfully to city-shaping legacy projects.
 This gap left emerging civic innovators without a platform to help define Toronto’s future identity as a global, creative city.

As the TO2015 Pan Am Games approached, a rare opportunity emerged: to design a project that not only celebrated the Games but also empowered Toronto’s next generation of builders, thinkers, and cultural leaders to leave a lasting mark.

the solution

A collective of young city builders, cultural producers, and entrepreneurs came together to envision the Next Generation Legacy Village — a first-of-its-kind concept featuring a 41-shipping-container cultural village that blended global celebration with local impact.

Each container represented a different Pan Am country, housing its own functional kitchen and cultural showcase, creating a one-of-a-kind food and viewing hub that invited Torontonians to experience the world in their own city.

The project included a post-Games legacy plan: the container infrastructure would be donated back to the city for ongoing use in festivals, public events, and community spaces — a sustainable model for adaptive urban reuse and cultural exchange.

the resultS

Although senior leadership changes within the Games organization prevented the project from advancing to execution, the vision and framework sparked a movement.

• The concept became a catalyst for other shipping container-based projects across Toronto and internationally.


• It helped establish the idea of Next Generation leadership being embedded in future legacy and blockbuster city events.


• The project’s spirit and design thinking have continued to influence how major urban activations engage emerging leaders and prioritize long-term civic benefit.


The outcome proved that ideas born from bold, youthful collaboration can leave an enduring imprint — even without a physical build.

our role

Concept Creator & Lead Strategist


Led ideation and development of the concept; built and managed a diverse coalition of Next Generation leaders; secured partnerships, endorsements, and stakeholder alignment.

Oversaw communications, positioning, and legacy planning — ensuring the project became a model for intergenerational civic innovation.