School of Cities / People / Visiting Expert

Chris Murray

Canadian Urban Leader

Chris Murray is special advisor to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Communities on issues of regional transit investment and affordable housing. Prior to this role, he served as City Manager of Toronto from 2018-2022 and City Manager of Hamilton from 2009-2018. During his term in Hamilton, Mr. Murray established the Greater Hamilton Toronto Area (GTHA) executive leadership table, which still meets regularly to discuss shared interests in housing, transit, digital infrastructure, procurement and financial sustainability, and shares information with more formal metropolitan structures in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.    

Chris is a registered professional city planner, with considerable experience in housing and transportation planning. During his time as a Canadian Urban Leader, he will explore his interest in and experience of the role of Canadian municipalities in the innovation economy – especially in the healthcare and climate change sectors – and the rise of Canadian regional planning and the urban agenda.