News
A two for one policy? Professor Moos and colleagues find those in subsidized housing having more sustainable commute patterns, benefiting affordability and climate change goals
Professor Moos from the School of Planning collaborated with Skye Collishaw and Professor Tara Vinodrai from the University of Toronto on new research that shows people living in subsidized housing having more sustainable commutes (defined as the shorter distance travelled and lower car use) than otherwise similar renters. The findings have important planning and policy implications for the role of subsidized housing in terms of meeting housing affordability and climate change goals. The findings provide support for policies that promote investment in subsidized and affordable housing near transit as a housing affordability and sustainability strategy, particularly benefiting lower-income earners.
The research relies on Statistics Canada census data and is published in Housing Policy Debate.
Planner in Residence 2023-2024 Martin Quarcoopome
The School of Planning is pleased to announce our Planner-in-Residence for the 2023-2024 academic year is Martin Quarcoopome. He will deliver PLAN 403 in the winter term to our 4th year undergraduate students and interact with the School community in various other ways throughout the year.
The Role of AI in Social Science Research - Contributions by the School of Planning's Prof. Dawn Parker
The prestigious journal Science has recently published an article which the School of Planning's Prof. Dawn Parker helped to co-author. The article contains discussion amongst researchers within the field of social science from University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, Yale University and University of Pennsylvania on the role that AI can play in the future of the research profession.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the School of Planning at Waterloo!
This is Canada’s largest and one of the longest-established Planning Schools in this country. Our School is an interdisciplinary community, reflecting and building on the learning and research culture that was established in 1969. We maintain strong connections with the Planning profession, and we focus on combining conceptually rich education with applied experience.
We think that this is such a great time to study and work in Planning. There is so much important work to be done. Our professors and students study, and carry out research that addresses, some of the most pressing societal issues such as affordable housing, climate change, environmental conservation and policy, active transportation, urban economies, participatory planning processes, and equity and inclusion, among many other subjects. We offer a range of subfields in Planning including social planning, environmental planning, community sustainability, urban design, transportation, housing, urban economics, heritage and more.
Located in the Faculty of Environment's LEED Platinum certified Environment 3 building, we are the only Planning School in Canada to offer programs at the Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels. Our BES, MA, and MES programs are accredited by the Canadian Planning Profession. Our students explore Planning practice and theory, and they gain practical experience through co-op jobs or internships. The PhD program welcomes scholars with career aspirations in academia or the policy worlds. We are proud to provide a high-quality, experience-based education that is the foundation for students’ future success, whether in Planning practice, related fields, or further studies.
We look forward to connecting with you.
Sincerely,
Mark Seasons PhD, FCIP, RPP
Mark Seasons, Director, School of Planning
MA/MES Domestic Application Deadline Extended
Updated March 2, 2023 - Domestic application deadline extended from January 15th to June 1st for MA/MES. Please contact potential supervisors prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program and confirm that they are still accepting new students.