In addition to our regular faculty complement, the School commonly draws on sessional instructors, many of them registered professional planners, to teach courses relating to specific areas of professional expertise and to substitute in case of faculty leaves. For Fall 2020, we are pleased to welcome the following sessional instructors:
James Parkin – PLAN 417/674
James Parkin is a Partner at MHBC Planning and has been with the firm since 1989. Mr. Parkin is a land use planner with experience in rural and resource planning. He has been extensively involved in planning related to mineral aggregate resources across the Province. He has advised aggregate producers, municipalities and industry associations on many specific applications and planning policy development.
Mr. Parkin provides project management and planning evaluations related to Planning Act, Aggregate Resources Act and Provincial Plan matters. He is certified by the Minister of Natural Resources to prepare site plans under the Aggregate Resources Act. He has provided expert evidence before the Ontario Municipal Board and Joint Board.
Prior to joining MHBC, Mr. Parkin was employed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and held a variety of field and main office positions in the aggregate resources program.
Mr. Parkin graduated from University of Waterloo in 1982 with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours) Department of Geography.
Professional Associations:
- Full Member, Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)
- Full Member, Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI)
Christopher Alton – PLAN 210
Christopher Alton is a planner and design researcher. As a PhD candidate in Planning at the University of Toronto, his research looks critically at resource extraction projects and their closure and landscape recovery strategies in both Canadian and European contexts. He is a visiting scholar at the Center for Biocultural Landscape and Seascape at the University of Sassari, and is a studio instructor at Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. With OPSYS Landscape Infrastructure Lab he was project co-manager and lead researcher for Canada’s entry for the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale and he holds a master in design studies (MDes) from Harvard Graduate School of Design. His work has been supported by a SSHRC CGS Doctoral Scholarship.
Dana Anderson – PLAN 721
Dana Anderson has over 30 years of experience as a professional planner. Through positions in the public and private sector, she has developed an extensive knowledge base and gained experience in a variety of areas. She has completed several research and policy studies related to redevelopment and housing that have led to positive changes in communities. She has also been recognized for her role in facilitating the successful outcome for complex development projects and her commitment to creative community engagement. Dana recently shared her approach to practice as the Planner-in Residence with the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning (2018/2019).
Bob Lehman – PLAN 721
Robert Lehman has a Masters degree in Environmental Studies and worked initially for the City of Toronto Planning Department. He became a consultant in 1974, establishing his own practice in 1980 in the City of Barrie. The firm of Lehman & Associates eventually grew to 25 employees with offices in Barrie, Toronto and Thunder Bay.
Bob has acted as project director for major research and policy studies related to the Province’s Growth Plan, the Commission on New Planning for Ontario and the Urban Density Study for the Office for the Greater Toronto Area. He has been retained by a number of public and private sector organizations to assist in a wide variety of communications-led processes including Local Government Restructuring Studies and Growth Management exercises.
Twice planner in residence at the University of Waterloo School of Planning, Bob is the author of the Zoning Trilogy, a bestseller of the American Planning Association Bookstore. Twice awarded with the Canadian Institute of Planners Honour Award for Planning Excellence, Bob served as the Chair of the College of Fellows from 2010 to 2014.
Bob is retiring very very gradually and continues to teach at the University of Waterloo Graduate School of Planning. He also continues to provide strategic advice to a small group of clients including the Toronto District School Board, the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and a number of large industries in the GTA.