In 2015, then-city planner of Toronto Jennifer Keesmaat called for the establishment of a sitting citizens’ panel to review and comment on major planning initiatives. Keesmaat was familiar with citizen participatory events at the time and believed that her department’s work could lend itself well to public engagement. This was not the first standing citizens’ panel that Toronto, nor  the City Planning Division, had implemented. Prior to the Planning Review Panel, the city had held what was called the Design Review Panel, an opportunity for architects to offer their expert insight and advice to the city.