Planners Network 50th Anniversary Conference
May 8-10, 2026
Toronto/Tkaronto, Canada
Planners Network, a network of progressive planners, academics, students and activists based in North America, also known as Turtle Island, and beyond, is hosting a conference celebrating its 50th anniversary: Planning in the Face of Fascism. The theme of this conference engages the pressing political challenge confronting progressive people around the world, namely, the global resurgence of the phenomenon popularly known as fascism. While there are of course still academic debates on the proper name to grasp the nature of the current conjuncture, it is clear that the various situations in which planners work—in relation to forces of state, economy and people—are being decisively shaped by comparatively varied combinations of authoritarianism and the far right. These contexts are now thoroughly permeated by strands of fascist politics and ideology, notwithstanding the obvious differences between the present state of the world and the conditions that led to classical European fascisms. Under the present circumstances, the progressive principles affirmed by Planners Network have come under unprecedented threats and they are in urgent need of not only vigorous defence but also organized radicalization.
The Planners Network conference seeks to address the question: how can progressive planners remain true to their vocation in our time of fascism? More specifically and with reference to Planners Network’s Statement of Principles, we are now compelled to ask: as planners resolved to moving away from extractive (neo)colonialism and toward abolition and decolonization; as planners dedicated to moving away from environmental catastrophe and toward climate justice; as planners committed to moving away from patriarchy and toward feminist liberation; as planners organized to moving away from racial capitalism and toward egalitarian socialism; and as planners aligned with social movements transforming society in order to achieve equity and liberation for all oppressed peoples, what kinds of planning theory and practice do we envision today? What planning is to be done here and now?
In addition to the paper sessions, roundtables and workshops, Planning the Face of Fascism will also feature keynote sessions devoted to the history of Planners Network and the conference theme, tours of Toronto/Tkaronto highlighting progressive planning and urban political activism and a moderated open forum on urban political activism, in which participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences from various cities and collectively brainstorm strategic initiatives for progressive planners and activists today. Time for substantive informal conversation, meals and socialization will also be integrated into the conference program.
Co-sponsors include: Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto; New Housing Alternatives (NHA) Partnership; Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University; CITY Institute, York University; School of Urban and Regional Planning, Toronto Metropolitan University; School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), University of British Columbia; School of Planning, University of Waterloo; Department of Geography, Planning & Environment, Concordia University; and the Spaces of Struggle Collective.
Organizing committee: Martine August, Sarah Gelbard, Kanishka Goonewardena, Efadul Huq, Kuni Kamazaki, Stefan Kipfer, Anna Kramer, Julie Mah, Enrique Szendro Morales, Katharine Rankin, Norma Rantisi, Pamela Robinson and Luisa Sotomayor.
Planning in the Face of Fascism conference will take place in person over three days, May 8-10, 2026 (Friday morning to Sunday late afternoon), at the University of Toronto, located in downtown Toronto/Tkaronto, Canada. It is expected that conference participants will attend the entire conference—rather than merely their own session—in collaborative and critical spirit. Confirmed conference participants will be expected to register for the conference on or before March 31, 2026, by paying one of the following registration fees (in US dollars – PN is a U.S. non-profit):
- Professionals and full-time (tenured/tenure-track) academics: US$200; except for Global South participants: US$75
- Low-income/students: US$25
- Other participants: pay what you can
Sponsors/donors: contact pn2026conference@gmail.com
To register, please click on this link
Conference program
To view the program (PDF format), please click on this link
(Information about the tours will be updated by mid-March)
Accommodation options
Please keep in mind that prices for hotel rooms in Toronto are expensive, and the sooner you can book accommodations the better. All the rates listed below are in Canadian dollars.
1) University College Student Residences, University of Toronto
Location: 73, 75 and 85 St. George Street, Toronto, ON
PN has a hold on 75 student residences at University College, which is situated across the street from the main conference venue (Sidney Smith Hall), for May 7 -11.
https://www.uc.utoronto.ca/residence/buildings
The cost is $75 per night; and if you want 3 meals included, it would $125 per night. When registering for a room, you should email uc.summerres@utoronto.ca and include the code UCGEOMAY. Please note: confirmation will only be sent sometime in March.
The reservation will be created, and a confirmation email will be sent with check-in and check-out details, as well as pricing information. Payment will be collected manually on the day of check-in.
Other options (in order of proximity to main conference venue):
2) Kimpton St. George Hotel
Address: 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V8
Phone: (416) 968-0010
Special rates for 1 King or 2-Queen (from May 7-11): $354 per night per room, not including taxes.
Option One: Click on the link below, follow the booking prompts, and enter the desired stay date. This link will remain active until March 23, 2026.
Planners Network 2026 Conference Kimpton Saint George
Option Two: If you prefer to book by phone, please call our Central Reservations number at 1-833-642-9137. It’s essential that each guest contacts the hotel by March 23, 2026. They should mention they are part of your group and provide us with the following details: guest name, preferred room type, bed type (e.g., king, double/double, queen, or suites), check-in and check-out dates, and VIP status.
If any special room arrangements are required, please inform us during this call. We would appreciate it if the hotel could also be included on your attendee mailing list so we can stay informed about the expected reservation arrivals.
-To identify yourself as part of the group, guests can use the group code “C50” or mention the name “Planners Network 2026 Conference”.
All rates are subject tax, which is currently 22.61% (8.5% MAT (municipal accommodation tax – to which HST also applies) and 13% HST (harmonized sales tax)), and any fees set forth above. Taxes are subject to change without prior notice.
3) Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre
Located in: Carlton Court Apartments
Address: 30 Carlton St., Toronto, ON M5B 2E9
Phone: (416) 977-6655
Special rates for 1 King or 2-Doubles (from May 7-11): $279 per night per room, not including taxes. Guests can book their own rooms up to April 6, 2026. To book, you can use this link: 50th Anniversary Planner’s Network Conference.
4) Chelsea Hotel
Address: 33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4
Phone: (416) 595-1975
Special rates follow (per night per room, not including taxes):
| CHELSEA | EXCUTIVE | KITCHENETTE | |
| May 7-11, 2026 | $290.00 | $310.00 | $349.00 |
CLICK HERE to book your rooms at the Chelsea Hotel over the above dates.
Template letters for visa requests
Please add your personal details to this form letter to submit to a Canadian Embassy or Consulate.
Here are a few helpful hints for the fields of data in this letter:
- None of the fields are required by Planners Network but may be helpful to your application. It is your option to leave a field blank.
- This letter is for one individual only. Create multiple letters for your co-authors as needed.
- For presenters, the abstract ID is the number linked to the session you are presenting in. If we receive questions about your conference participation from the visa granting authorities, Planners Network will be able to respond using this number.
- The presentation format is one of the following according to the type of abstract you submitted:
- Individual Paper (Oral) Presentation
- Workshop Presenter
- Panelist in a Roundtable Discussion
- Other information required by the application can be anything you know to be necessary for your application.
Other logistical questions concerning conference attendance may be directed to pn2026conference@gmail.com.