2023 Annual Report

A first-year Master of Community and Regional Planning student at the School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), UBC, Jasmeen is an architect by profession and an urban design, planning, and placemaking enthusiast at heart. She thinks that how space is organized, accessed, distributed, and interpreted is a question of justice. She strongly believes that the built environment is a tool for social change. She understands that her role as a budding professional in the field is crucial in reimagining and recreating a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world in the future. Jasmeen has worked for various profit and non-profit organizations that work towards creating people-centric spaces. She has a keen interest in designing and planning child-friendly cities. She likes to explore places and develop her understanding of the relationship between people and the built environment. Jasmeen is a compassionate individual who articulates her thoughts into narratives, graphics, and poems.

"It is an incredible honour to be chosen as the recipient of the 2023 CIP Diversity Impact Bursary. I am extremely grateful to the CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund  for recognizing my academic achievements and potential. This bursary will undoubtedly be a significant contribution to my academic and professional growth. I'm further motivated to keep using my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on society and beyond!"

Mon Rosete has recently completed their undergraduate degree at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Alberta. Born and raised in Edmonton, Mon takes inspiration and interest in sustainable development strategies that promote health, culture, and inclusiveness in our cities. In an eight-month co-op term with the City of Edmonton, Mon was exposed to the rapidly growing Infill Development scene in Edmonton as a development permit inspector, and grew an interest in land use planning to enable more innovative and sustainable development solutions. Mon is also passionate in making a difference in the Filipino and local communities as a member of the small non-profit group, "Heart of YEG Filipino Community". As a young Filipino-Canadian planner, he hopes that his career will help encourage more BIPOC populations to have a hand in city building through inclusive and collaborative planning practices. 

"As a first-generation university graduate, I am truly honoured and privileged to be the recipient of the 2023 Ages Foundation Diversity Impact Bursary. Receiving this bursary ensures that I can dedicate more time to volunteer and serve my community to create positive change while assisting me in covering my education expenses. I hope this award inspires future generations of BIPOC Planners to pursue their education and professional goals to make an impact in their own communities."

Eenthu (I am) Sophia Elliott, tun’ni’tsun ‘utl’ Quw’utsun (I am from Cowichan). I am the daughter of Ernestine Elliott (nee Jack) and Don Elliott Jr. My grandparents are Florence Elliott (nee Thomas) and Don Elliott Sr, the late Ernie Rice Sr. and the late Theresa Rice (nee Jack). My lineage connects me to a number of Nations throughout southeastern Vancouver Island, lower mainland and across the border. My family ties connect me to community, culture, language and history. I aim to demonstrate how my education, work, lived experiences and values position me to contribute to community-based planning with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people weaving western and Indigenous knowledge for a collaborative and cross-cultural approach. I believe my B.A. in Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies and Professional Certificate in Indigenous Land Management have contributed to my ability to recognize the interconnectedness, interrelationality and interdependence of Indigenous people and the territory in which they come from and occupy. The tools I’ve gained support my ability to approach community planning in Indigenous communities with a wide scope.

"I raise my hands in thanks to the CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund. I am thankful to be the recipient of the 2023 SOAR Professional Services Indigenous Student Bursary. This bursary funded by SOAR Professional Services will support me in my ongoing work in and with Indigenous communities, including my own. Support such as this demonstrates the value placed not only on Indigenous planners but Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and understanding. I will continue to live my family, community, and cultural values to carry out my work with ‘uy’ shqwaluwun (good thoughts and/or feelings). I will continue learning and growing as a planner and finding the balance between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to best support the work of Indigenous communities, who have been planning since time immemorial."

Ricardo Dabydeen is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo pursuing studies in Honours Planning and specializing in Urban Design. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, Ricardo prioritizes sustainability and inclusivity in all his works as he is studying to become an entrepreneur architect in the future. He has achieved consecutive term distinction status in his program and is the Team Lead Ambassador for the Faculty of Environment at his university. Ricardo possesses a deep passion for green architecture and regularly volunteers at shelters that support youth and the less fortunate without adequate homes or resources to thrive. He strives to revolutionize the architectural world with his vision of the future, and planning enables him to make this dream a reality. When he is not designing or studying, he also knows the importance of having a balance in life by being among nature and having fun dirt biking.   

"I am elated and humbly honoured to be awarded the 2023 College of Fellows Undergraduate Bursary, and I am sincerely appreciative to the CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund for this incredible recognition of my hard work in urban design. This financial support provides me with relief at a critical time of my studies, as well as propels my studies and work in sustainable and innovative urban design to continue making a profound impact on future generations."

My name is Afsoon, and I am from Iran. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Guilan, where my studies sparked my passion for energy and sustainability topics. This led me to pursue a Master's degree in Architecture and Energy at the University of Tehran, where I honed my skills as an architect and a researcher in both government and industry. 
As I have always been passionate about teaching and the academic environment, I began my journey as a University Lecturer in Iran in 2018, where I had the opportunity to engage with students. In 2020, I focused my research efforts on sustainable development and straw bale construction, resulting in three published papers. Currently, I am pursuing my second Master's degree in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. I am proud to work as a Research Assistant on a project related to Equity and Infrastructure, conducted jointly by the University of Guelph and the City of Guelph.

"As an Iranian female student pursuing higher education in Canada, I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the recipient of the 2023 David Palubeski Bursary. This award not only provides invaluable financial support to me but also serves as a powerful reminder that perseverance always leads to incredible opportunities. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to continue on my journey of growth and learning, and I aspire to make a meaningful contribution to society."

Talia Mimura is a Master of Planning student, graduating in the class of 2023 at the University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape. Talia is of Metis heritage from the Metis Nation of Alberta Region 1. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and worked as a project manager in IT healthcare, managing projects for the design and implementation of a province-wide clinical information system. She also completed an internship in economic and tourism development in rural Alberta. Talia is interested in sustainable design and the relationships between land, law, and people. Her unique array of experience in health care planning and project management, as well as her indigenous background, gives her a people-focused approach to planning. 

"Thank you for supporting students like me with the Ted Fobert & Robert Tennant Planning Merit Bursary. I am honoured to receive this bursary. I became interested in becoming a planner and obtaining my Master of Planning degree because of the opportunity to share my passion for innovation and collaboration and lead a career that promotes and advocates for connectivity and inclusivity within our communities. This bursary will be of tremendous help in covering the financial costs of tuition and associated program costs."

Where I am from is a huge part of who I am. I come from a small island in the Caribbean, Saint Lucia, where its beauty is its natural wonders and simplicity. I am an aspiring planner with a background in Architecture. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. I have always been interested in the environment, buildings,
cities; their designs, and how they function. I aim to explore the interrelationship between planning, communities and cities, urban design, and sustainability and their interaction with economic, environmental, and societal conditions. Ultimately, I aim to help plan, design, and build a better, and more sustainable world.
 

"I am honoured to receive the John Bousfield Bursary from the CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund. As an international student from a small Caribbean Island, I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue my education and pursue a career that allows me to integrate my interests, and this award will support my efforts."