What We Do

Planning

Planning, Demographics and Forecasting

Hemson develops strategies for the future. The firm has undertaken numerous assignments addressing issues of urban structure, growth management, planning policy implementation and the effects of economic and social trends. The diverse blend of consulting resources in our firm enables us to take a comprehensive approach to a full range of planning and long-range strategy issues. Key areas of the firm’s planning practice include:

Demographics and Forecasting

Hemson is among the most experienced firms in the province concerning long-range economic and demographic growth outlooks.

Mr. Mathew, who has primary technical responsibility for Hemson’s extensive practice in economic and demographic forecasting, has developed and refined a number of forecasting techniques which have become the industry standard, including key elements of the Ontario Government’s guidelines for municipal forecasting techniques. Hemson prepared the population and employment forecasts that formed the basis of Schedule 3 of the Province of Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Hemson has prepared forecasts of population, housing and employment for many metropolitan areas across Canada, and for all CMA’s in Ontario and regularly prepares detailed forecasts at small geographic areas, such as local municipalities, sub-municipal settlement areas and traffic zones.

Recent clients include:

  • Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
  • Metrolinx
  • Region of Peel
  • Norfolk County
  • Grey County
  • City of Mississauga
  • City of Brampton
  • City of Ottawa
  • United Counties of Prescott and Russell
  • United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
  • Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Growth Management Strategy, Long-Range Planning and Provincial Policy Implementation

Hemson has undertaken numerous growth management, long-range strategic planning and adequacy of land supply assignments for municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) as part of the conformity to the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (the Growth Plan). The firm has also completed many similar assignments in other parts of the province where broader planning directions increasingly mirror the principles that have been codified in the Growth Plan.

Our municipal growth management studies have typically involved assessing the long-term growth anticipated in a community, determining the need to plan for additional urban lands and recommendations for built form, density and specific lands for long-term urban development. These projects involve synthesising the input of a variety of technical experts such as civil engineers and environmental and agricultural experts. Extensive municipal, industry and public stakeholder consultation and participation processes assure that the views of the existing community are adequately represented in the growth management strategies we develop.

Recent clients include:

  • Niagara Region – Municipal Comprehensive Review
  • York Region – Housing Market Analysis
  • Grey County – Growth Management Strategy
  • Simcoe County – Land Budget
  • United Counties of Leeds Grenville – Growth and Settlement Analysis
  • City of Mississauga, Ninth Line MCR

Employment Land Studies and Economic Development

Hemson has completed numerous employment land and economic development studies, grounded in an in-depth understanding of broader economic patterns, local economies and shifts, the impacts of demographic change, employer and firm locational needs and the changing dynamics of employment.

Recent clients include:

  • Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure – Office and Retail Location Trends Study
  • City of Toronto
    • Mimico-Judson Regeneration Area: Economic Trends and Opportunities Study.
    • Background Study to the Strategic Direction for the South of Eastern Employment District.
  • City of Ottawa – Employment Land Review
  • City of London, Office Policy Review
  • City of Brampton – Municipal Comprehensive Review of Employment Lands; Employment Land Policy Study
  • Town of Fort Erie – Industrial Land Strategy

Expert representation before the Ontario Municipal Board

Hemson senior staff regularly provide advice and expert witness testimony before the Ontario Municipal Board for planning and growth management matters, such as:

  • Official plans
  • Growth Forecasts
  • Land Budgets
  • Employment land conversions
  • Urban boundary expansions

Demographics and Forecasting, Growth Management and Provincial Policy Implementation, Employment Lands Analyses, Economic Development Studies and all other urban and regional planning inquiries



Russell Mathew, Partner
Phone: (416) 593-5090 ext. 26
Email: rmathew@hemson.com
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