SMART city  Experience is key


uate degrees in other related fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, economics, or engineering to name a few. The accredited undergraduate- level planning programs in Canada offer a more direct entry route to the profession. After obtaining a degree in planning, there is a process of certifica- tion as a professional planner, which is administered by the Professional Stand- ards Board for the Planning Profession in Canada (PSB). Students need to determine if they are


more interested in physical planning or policy making, and if they would prefer to work in the private sector or for the government. Hazel Borys, managing principal at PlaceMakers, LLC, finds that most of Manitoba’s recent grads end up working for the province or city. In the short term, at least, she sees this trend continuing as there are not many private firms who offer strictly planning services. A solid understanding of government


policy, regulations, and statistics are required, but the most important thing for young planners to master, according to Borys, is the ability to bring people to- gether. “Tey need to be able to facilitate, moderate, and communicate.” “Technical skills and website and de-


sign knowledge are also highly sought after,” states Andrew Sacret, director of policy and public affairs at the Canadian Institute of Planners. Experience


“Young grads are not short on great


ideas. Te biggest thing they are lacking is experience,” explains Borys. “Often city planning efforts stretch their budg- ets, and therefore, do not end up hiring students because they need someone with more experience.” Her company, PlaceMakers, does most


of its work through charrettes with an online companion, iCharrette. Char- rettes are collaborative sessions held in-person or online for the entire team – which may include planners, architects, engineers, artists, economists, as well as finance and communications experts. “Often students will volunteer to join a charrette in order to gain experience. Some universities will organize their own charrettes for students to rewrite policies and bylaws or to draft master plans for the urban redesign of neigh- bourhoods to build the students’ portfo- lio of invaluable real world experiences.” Students are also encouraged to


travel. “You need to walk the streets. See what makes cities competitive, what gives them advantages, and what makes them compelling for people to live and


• Salaries for new planners can range from $40,000 to $50,000 annu- ally and increase to $95,000 or more based on their experience, loca- tion, and whether they are working in the public or private sector.


• The Canadian Institute of Planners estimates there are about 10,000 city planners in Canada.


• While cutbacks and the recession did affect jobs, planning posi- tions grew and will likely continue to do so as more people retire over the next few years, and as laws and concerns regarding land use continue to grow.


• Over half of Canada’s city planners work in public administration - (Service Canada 2006 census data).


work in,” says Borys. Another obstacle facing inexperi-


enced grads is caused by the way in which planning is structured in Mani- toba. “It is more of a negotiated process which makes it harder for a new grad. Te transparent development bylaws, policies and pillars of community that exist in cities like Vancouver are not as old and well-established here,” she explains. In addition to increasing their level


of experience, Sacret recommends that students keep up-to-date on current af- fairs and get involved with community organizations. By building contacts, be- ing open to travel and working abroad,


and participating in the Canadian As- sociation of Planning Students, they can gain further experience. Ultimately, new grads should pursue


membership and certification with the Manitoba Professional Planners Insti- tute and the Canadian Institute of Plan- ners to obtain professional credentials, access to networking opportunities, job boards and resume posting, and other opportunities to increase their knowledge. Urban planners today need to work


with the entire community. “It’s not just drawing lines and buildings and work- ing behind the walls of city hall,” says Alan Freeman, a former city planner in


London, UK. “We can't think about cities the way we used to. People are starting to use their cities in very new ways. Tis is the difference between space and place. A space can be anything – a town square, the river walk at the Forks, a hallway – but when you have a conception of what is going to happen there, that is when you get place.” “Creating this difference between


space and place is essentially the job of a city planner. Tey must conceptualize not only the space but how that space will be utilized by the people in the com- munity, creating a place that people will love. Tis is how our modern cities have become attractive places to live in.”


Winter cyclists deserve recognition W


By Brenlee Coates


e’ve all seen them: they’re on two tires, relegated to the corners of the road where the


incline to the snowbanks begins. Likely, they have icicles dangling from


any of their exposed skin or facial hair, and they look like they’re taking part in an extreme sport rather than just making their morning commute to work or class. Tese committed winter warriors are


the winter cyclists, often dreaded by mo- torists for the risk of collision. But what about their rights to the road? Frustrated by being constantly out-


ranked by motorists, winter cyclists teamed up by the dozen to stage a “shovel- in”; they took to clearing a pedestrian bridge themselves that links St. Boniface to Elmwood and Transcona over the Seine River. Te shoveling team – volunteers with


Although challenging, winter cycling has gained a loyal following in Winnipeg. Photo by David Blaine.


6 SMART TAB


Bike Winnipeg – attest that the critical trail hasn’t been cleared all winter, in addition to other routes regularly used by cyclists and pedestrians. Tey hoped the protest would show the city that snow clearance is important to their active community, and that it is unfair that they


can’t expect to use a bike route safely without shoveling a path for themselves. Bike Winnipeg executives say the ac-


tive commuters save the government money due to their health-conscious lifestyles, and deserve at least better road- way and bike path snow clearance. In the future, they’d also like to be included in road condition reports. What used to seem like a relatively


small, guerilla group of riders has become a marginalized community, along with pedestrians and transit users. Te snowbanks at bus stops are often


packed down at best by other recent com- muters, and the leap off the bus is a wob- bly one. Elderly people or persons with disabilities are especially disadvantaged by the high banks and snow-covered sidewalks. Recent rapid transit improvements


are noted, but in our winter city, we need to include timely snow clearance at bus stops to make the services useful and safe. On the heels of the “shovel-in” by cy-


clists, Winnipeg played host to the second International Winter Cycling Congress. People from all over North America and Europe came to share how winter cycling works and is viewed in their cities. In Canada, the highest number of non-


www.smartcareers.ca Quick facts on city planning positions “ Continued from page 1


It’s not just about drawing a great picture; it’s the long vision that may take a generation to be completed.


-Hazel Borys, PlaceMakers, LLC. ”


motorists in an urban centre occurs in Whitehorse. Montreal was one of the first Canadian cities to plan a network of cy- cle tracks, which define bike/pedestrian lanes with a physical barrier, protecting the commuters. Many innovations that come to the aid of cyclists also solve issues for motorists, pedestrians and persons with disabilities. In Scandinavia, Northern Finland and


Sweden, winter cycling is widespread. In Copenhagen, Denmark, which has cycle tracks, record snowfall in 2010 caused the city to ration salt, and since cycling is so prominent and the cyclists simply persisted, the city prioritized the cycle tracks over the roads. Tere is much to learn from interna-


tional cities on how they accommodate their winter cyclists, and Winnipeg needs to catch up. Cycling is often viewed as a necessity


for its proponents. It is often an economi- cally driven choice, or a matter of sustain- ability. It has health, environmental and economic benefits. Winter cycling has too many things


going for it to simply ignore the issue and allow the cyclists to continue at their own risk. It’s time for the city to rally and sup- port our winter athletes.


March 2014


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