Insights from the 2025 Munk One Case Competition
The annual Munk One Case Competition brought together creativity, collaboration, innovation and the vibrant spirit of the Munk One community for a challenging but unforgettable experience. With just 24 hours, a small group of teammates, and a challenging local issue to tackle, this year’s cohort dove into one of Toronto’s most pressing concerns: improving the city’s response to inclement weather in an age of climate disaster.
As unpredictable storms, flooding, and extreme temperatures become increasingly common, Toronto’s need for sustainable and equitable climate resilience strategies has never been clearer or more prescient. This year’s challenge asked students to imagine innovative and equally actionable solutions to strengthen the city’s extreme weather preparedness or response, while considering the needs of vulnerable communities most affected by climate change. Under the thoughtful leadership of Munk Twos Caleigh Pan, Eno Ma, and Fani Kanztevelos, the 2025 Case Competition carried forward the program’s tradition of linking classroom learning with tangible, real-world impact and experience.
Teams of Munk One students came together to brainstorm, research, and craft their pitches, transforming abstract policy discussions into grounded, creative solutions. Some teams explored the potential of city-wide cooling and warming centre networks designed to be more accessible to unhoused populations and seniors, while others focused on infrastructural innovation proposing the implementation of more effective drainage systems preventing subway station flooding. A few groups examined community-level initiatives, suggesting neighborhood-based education programs alongside volunteer based response teams functioning to strengthen local support during weather or climate crises.
Each proposal reflected a unique blend of policy insight, ethical awareness, and forward thinking, long term solutions to this emergent problem. Presentations were delivered before a panel of judges representing expertise in urban planning, environmental governance, and community resilience. Their task of evaluating the teams was anything but simple, as every group demonstrated a remarkable balance of ambition and feasibility. Across all the presentations, one theme stood out: the recognition that addressing climate disasters is as much about social coordination and empathy as it is about engineering or policy.
For the Munk Ones, the 24-hour timeframe was both a challenge and a thrill. Teams worked against the clock, navigating the tricky balance between generating bold ideas and ensuring every aspect of their proposal could realistically be implemented in Toronto’s existing policy landscape. Many competitors later reflected that the process taught them more about collaboration and adaptability than any single classroom assignment could. Brainstorming sessions stretched late into the night as groups revised arguments, adjusted visuals, and rehearsed final pitches. Amid the caffeine-fueled energy and racing deadlines, there was a shared sense of purpose and pride, an understanding that they were grappling with an issue that directly affects their city’s future.
A sense of unity extended beyond the competing teams. The event is as much a bonding experience as it is an academic challenge, giving first-year students the opportunity to connect with peers they might not normally work with and to see firsthand the value of diverse viewpoints in tackling complex problems. This year’s organizers, Caleigh, Eno, and Fani, were intentional in designing an event that fostered this collaboration. Their leadership ensured that participants not only developed strong proposals, but also gained a deeper appreciation for teamwork, time management, and interdisciplinary learning.
As with every Munk One Case Competition, the event also drew on the mentorship of the Munk Twos, Threes, and Fours who once stood in the competitors’ shoes. Their guidance throughout the process offered insight into how to turn ambitious concepts into well-structured proposals. This ongoing tradition of mentorship is one of the hallmarks of Munk One, each year’s cohort builds on the experiences of the last, strengthening the program’s culture of mutual support and academic curiosity.
Reflecting on the weekend, the organizers expressed pride in how this year’s students rose to the occasion. The 2025 competition not only highlighted the Munk Ones’ ability to analyze and present complex policy solutions, but also underscored their capacity for empathy and civic responsibility. Every team showed a genuine commitment to improving the lives of Torontonians and making the city more resilient in the face of an uncertain climate future.
As the competition came to a close, what remained most striking was not just the range of proposals, but the sense of optimism that filled the room. The event reaffirmed that young policymakers and thinkers are more than capable of tackling difficult, real-world issues with ingenuity and compassion. Whether through emergency response plans, equitable infrastructure design, or community education, each presentation offered a glimpse of what a more sustainable and better prepared Toronto could look like.
The Munk One Case Competition continues to be one of the program’s most anticipated and meaningful traditions, an opportunity for students to translate theory into practice and to grow both as scholars and as community members. Thanks to the tireless work and leadership of Caleigh Pan, Eno Ma, and Fani Kanztevelos, this year’s event stood out as a true success, blending academic rigor with creativity, teamwork, and an unwavering focus on public good. Their efforts not only made the 2025 competition possible but ensured that it embodied what the Munk One Program values most: collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to making meaningful change in the world around us.