News

During the Spring and Fall terms of 2020, the School of Planning transitioned and adapted to the remote learning environment. The School offered various virtual events and activities for students, Faculty, alumni, and supporters to participate in. Despite the pandemic, the School and student body have shown incredible resilience, which will continue in the new year.

Read about the following School of Planning events and activities in fall 2020.

The University of Waterloo invites applications from a dynamic planning practitioner and educator for a three-year definite term appointment as lecturer in the School of Planning, Faculty of Environment, with a possibility of renewal as a Continuing Lecturer. Applicants must demonstrate excellence, or the clear promise of excellence in teaching combined with extensive knowledge of, and practice experience in, urban design and planning practice.

The pandemic has disrupted many of our social interactions and activity patterns; however, in some ways, it has also brought us closer to our communities. Finding contentment in ordinary places throughout our local neighbourhoods is more relevant now than ever. Whether that is taking a walk in a new neighbourhood, spending time at a park, visiting the library, or finding new ways to safely engage with others in the Downtown core, we attempt to understand community in the new normal.

The School of Planning is pleased to congratulate Connor Rettinger for winning the World Town Planning Day social media contest. From November 6-9, the School of Planning, Planning Students’ Association, and the Association of Graduate Planners hosted a World Town Planning Day event series. Students were given until Sunday, November 8 at midnight to share a contest card to Instagram about their favourite courses and an environmental cause they care most about.

"Don't call me an urban planning pioneer", a message from Katie Turriff

School of Planning alumnus Katie Turriff addresses issues in Urban Planning that perpetuate a "collective colonial amnesia".

The School of Planning was pleased to host Robert Walter-Joseph at the annual Induction Ceremony, held virtually for the first time this year! Robert is an alumnus of the School of Planning and the Department of Geography and Environmental Management in the Faculty of Environment. He is currently working as a Planner with Gladki Planning Associates.

The ACSP Conference invited Graduate students to prepare poster presentation highlighting their research. Co-authoured with Leia Minaker, Lindsey Soon shares An Analysis of Retail Food Environments Surrounding Secondary Schools and Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Status.

The ACSP Conference invited Graduate students to prepare poster presentation highlighting their research. Co-authoured with Dr. Zhu (Joe) Qian, Chen Yang shares research on Generational Difference and Spatial Mismatch of Concentrated Resettlement Communities (CRCs) in China (PDF).

The ACSP Conference invited Graduate students to prepare poster presentations highlighting their research. Co-authoured with Leia Minaker, Patrycia Menko shares research on The Retail Food Environment in Toronto, ON.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, which comprises over 100 university departments and programs, begins November 5, 2020. Educators, researchers, and students collaborate to advance knowledge about planning education and research. The topic of “Racial Equity and Justice in Urban Planning Research and Education in the Face of Racialized Inequality”will be a central highlight to the conference and will be primarily focused on in the first day.