About Us
Our vision
We envision neighbourhoods as vibrant, inclusive spaces where engaged residents are informed and inspired to create.
These neighbourhoods enable residents to contribute to the social fabric of their neighbourhoods and foster opportunities, belonging, and happiness.
Our vision
We envision neighbourhoods as vibrant, inclusive spaces where engaged residents are informed and inspired to create.
These neighbourhoods enable residents to contribute to the social fabric of their neighbourhoods and foster opportunities, belonging, and happiness.
Our mission
We inform the public, inspire action, and act as a catalyst for creating collaborative solutions that strengthen the capacity to build more neigbourhoods where residents can thrive.
"The health of a city is inextricably linked to health of it’s neighbourhoods..a vibrant and prosperous future for our cities can be created, but it needs to be created one neighbourhood at a time."
"Every year you spend in a better [neighbourhood] makes you more likely to go to college, less likely to have teenage pregnancy, makes you earn more as an adult, makes you more likely to have a stable family situation…in so many dimensions, you see substantial improvements."
"Cities are full of people overflowing with creativity and innovation...over the past decade, innovators have been successful in breaking open...silos by creating tools that enable more people to apply their creativity to solving complex urban problems."
"The health of Americans is shaped in neighborhoods and communities outside the healthcare system...Mobilizing resources and investments to create high-opportunity neighborhoods is a winning strategy to fix the U.S. health disadvantage."
""We expect too much of buildings, and too little of ourselves.""
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
Learn more about Imagine Cities
Meet our volunteers
We rely on talented individuals to join our mission and are always seeking exceptional volunteers.
Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Imagine Cities. These talented, passionate individuals come from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to building more thriving neighbourhoods.
Meet our board
Ron Jaicarran
Founder & President
Ron is the Vice-President of Operational Excellence & Technology at BMO Radicle, a part of BMO Capital Markets. He is focused on building products supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. He previously managed digital products at ATB Wealth and was a Policy Advisor at the City of Toronto. Ron holds multiple certificates and a Master's degree focused on data and city making.
Azeez Jinad
Treasurer
Azeez is the Director of Corporate Reporting at CKPC, with expertise in finance, audit, and risk management. He holds a CPA, a Master's degree in Finance, and has a strong passion for data and research. Azeez was previously a Senior Manager of Audit and Assurance at Deloitte.
Milton Ortega
Secretary
Milton is the Operations Manager at Alberta International Medical Graduate Association. With previous roles at the Accessible Housing Society and Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth, he holds degrees and certifications in International Relations, Public Administration, and Executive Leadership.
Winson Wong
Director of Fund Development
Winson is the Chapter Director at Pflag Peel Region. Winson has an honours Bachelor of Arts specializing in human geography and focusing in urban geography and planning. He also holds a certification in Non-Profit Leadership for Impact.