Chiyi (she/her) is an urban planner and anti-displacement organizer practicing in Tkaronto’s Kensington-Chinatown neighbourhood. Chiyi is the managing director of the recently established Toronto Chinatown Land Trust. She was recognised as an Early Career Canadian Urban Leader by School of Cities. Her goal is to reciprocate knowledge and wealth into community ownership.
She was the first staff and executive director of the Kensington Market Community Land Trust, where she acquired the organization’s first building acquisition. Chiyi serves on the advisory board of Montreal Chinatown’s JIA Foundation, BC’s Union Cooperative Initiative, and the board of the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts.
She leads a public course on community land trusts with the Esturary Institute. She co-developed “Planning and Designing for Community Power”, a graduate course at the University of Toronto. She frequently supports groups from all corners of turtle island exploring community ownership and wealth building as an anti-displacement strategy for racial & economic justice.
