Join the School of Cities and the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) for Feminist City 6.0: What Makes a Caring City? Together, we’ll explore how cities can be redesigned to foster caring, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive.

Care is the foundation of our societies. From childcare to health care to elder care, everyone depends on care for themselves and their loved ones. The need for equitable access to care services continues to grow as populations age, women’s participation in the labour market increases, and challenges like the climate crisis threaten health and safety. At the same time, shifting work patterns and back-to-office mandates are changing how people navigate care responsibilities, commutes, and community life.

High-quality care services not only support the well-being of care recipients but also open economic and social opportunities for caregivers. Caring communities are essential for building just, resilient, and flourishing cities—now and in the future.

How can cities meet the demand for equitable, accessible care? How can we prepare urban systems to support care in a rapidly changing global economy?

Answering these questions is critical for businesses, policymakers, civic organizations, developers, planners, and engaged citizens—because we all benefit from cities that are vibrant, inclusive, and built to care.

Join us on January 12 as our expert panel shares actionable insights to help bring the vision of caring cities to life. 

About the speakers:

Heather McDonald

President & CEO, United Way Greater Toronto

Heather McDonald became President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto in 2025, bringing over 25 years of leadership in social services. Formerly CEO of LOFT Community Services, she led major growth, mergers, and real estate expansion. Heather began her career in frontline service and holds an MSW and ICD.D designation.

Recognized as a national changemaker, she is committed to building a more equitable, inclusive, and connected GTA through strategic partnerships and bold, community-driven solutions.

Lin Fang

Professor, Endowed Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

Lin Fang is a Professor and the endowed Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health. She is also the Founder and Director of FIFSW’s Talk It Out Counseling Clinic. Lin’s program of research focuses on advancing the theoretical and empirical knowledge of positive child and youth development through etiology and intervention research as well as community-based research and services. Versed with a range of research methodologies and advanced statistics, Lin has published and presented widely in the areas of adolescent substance use, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and mental health and cross-cultural experiences among immigrant communities.

Heela Omarkhail
Vice President, Social Impact, The Daniels Corporation

Heela Omarkhail is Vice President, Social Impact at The Daniels Corporation (Daniels), a leading Greater Toronto Area based builder-developer. She is responsible for strategic initiatives that look to ensure that the social, cultural and economic infrastructures of communities built by Daniels are as strong as the new buildings. Since 2009, Heela has been working on the revitalization of Regent Park in Toronto’s Downtown East. Most recently, Heela served as an inaugural Co-Chair of the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition co-founded by Daniels. Heela is on the Board of Directors of Start2Finish, a national charity, in addition to several councils and committees. Heela completed her undergraduate studies at the University Toronto specializing in history and political science.

Moderator

Nouman Ashraf
Associate Professor, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

Nouman Ashraf is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behaviour area at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He possesses a broad range of professional, academic and research interests, with a specialized focus on enabling inclusive and innovative practices within teams, organizations and boards. For the last decade and a half, he has held progressively senior roles at the University of Toronto, including most recently as the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the Rotman School of Management. He is a recognized thought leader in governance and has taught thousands of directors in the national Rotman program on Not-for-Profit Governance in partnership with the Institute for Corporate Directors since its inception in 2007. 

Co-Hosts:

School of Cities 
Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE)