News

Adam Skoyles, a PhD candidate in the School of Planning, is researching how nature and climate change are considered in residential development decisions in Ontario, Canada. In a recently published article, Skoyles interviewed municipal planners and private land developers to assess how decisions are made about natural features in the residential development planning process, and what role climate change plays in this decision making.

The Master of Development Practice (MDP) is empowering the next generation of global development professionals. This one-year, course-based program prepares graduates to identify and address the challenges of extreme poverty and sustainable development. In their final term, MDP students can enroll in DEVP 611 – Field Placement. Students spend four months contributing to the development field, working with a local community partner on a particular development challenge. This year, three students completed DEVP 611, including Talia Rodriguez and Lina Nassir.

Data is an essential element of effective decision-making. In the Planning profession, data sovereignty and data governance are components of ethical data stewardship. Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) and Indigenous Data Governance (IDG) refer to the rights of Indigenous communities to govern and manage the data that pertain to their people, land and culture. Currently, there are no guidelines for IDS or IDG in the Planning profession. Emma O’Reilly, a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta and a Master of Arts student in the School of Planning, completed a cross-disciplinary review of IDS and professional Planning practice.

The Masters of Future Cities (MFC) is empowering its students with competency in futures and system thinking and foresight methods to tackle the complex challenges of cities and urban areas. In May, MFC and other graduate students had the opportunity to come together for the inaugural offering of FCIT 610: International Field School. The course includes travel to an international city that exemplifies innovative, resilient strategies to prepare for a changing world. This year, the city was Singapore.

The Master of Economic Development Innovation Program equips its graduates with the knowledge, tools, and approaches to address contemporary economic development challenges in cities and communities across Canada and internationally. The one-year program ends with a capstone project, which includes the option of completing a four-month internship in the economic development field. This year, four MEDI students undertook an internship, including Ricky Zhao and Kellie Hettinga. Zhao completed his internship at the County of Perth as a Tourism Officer. Hettinga completed her internship with the City of Woodstock within the Economic Development department.

The Faculty of Environment is pleased to announce that Dr. Ian Rowlands has been appointed Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, effective September 1, 2025. He succeeds Dr. Peter Deadman, who is beginning a sabbatical after three years of dedicated leadership.

In the final term of the Master of Climate Change program, students have the option of completing an internship in a role focused on climate or climate change. This term, nine students are completing an internship, including Taylor Wiebe and Jack Phibbs. Wiebe is completing an internship with the Oil, Gas, and Alternative Energy Division (OGAED) at Environment and Climate Change Canada in Gatineau, Quebec. Phibbs is completing his internship at the City of Waterloo as a Project Planner and Community Engagement Associate in the Parks and Forestry Department.

Trees are valuable components of the Canadian ecosystem and natural instruments of carbon storage and sequestration. Karisa Tyler, a recent Master of Science graduate from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, linked the tree growth of black spruce trees to local hydroclimate in two fen sites in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region.

Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is an issue that disproportionately impacts women and girls as they are often responsible for finding and collecting water for their households. This issue has a greater impact in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, where water access, solid waste receptacles and improved toilet facilities are not commonly present in households. Julius Jebuni, a Master of Arts graduate from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, grew up in the Upper West Region of Ghana.  His research explored women’s experiences and empowerment through WASH and cash transfer programs post-COVID 19 in his home community.

A neighbourhood’s stores and restaurants can significantly influence the health and lifespan of its residents. This is due to the area’s retail food environment, which affects how convenient and affordable it is to access nutritious food. Patrycia Menko, a recent Master of Environmental Studies graduate from the School of Planning, identified food deserts and food mirages in Toronto and the cross-sectional links between these areas and gentrification, broken down by dissemination area.