Meet Our 2025 Scholarship & Outstanding Graduating Student Award Recipients

The CIP/ICU Planning Student Trust Fund (CIP-PSTF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce our 2025 scholarship recipients and our Outstanding Graduating Student Award recipients. This year, CIP-PSTF awarded seven scholarships totalling $33,000 in financial assistance. Twenty Outstanding Graduating Student Awards were granted, with each winner receiving a certificate, the Outstanding Graduating Student Award digital badge, and a complimentary registration for "The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada", an online six-module Indigenous cultural awareness course.

The sustainability of the scholarship and bursary programs is dependent on individual donations and corporate sponsorships. If you want to support planning students through CIP-PSTF’s programs, you can donate today.

2025 CIP-PSTF Excellence in Planning Research Scholarship: Mara Bender, Université de Montréal

Urbanism factors of suburban public space to create opportunities for intercultural interactions

“I am deeply grateful to be the recipient of the 2025 CIP-PSTF Excellence in Planning Research Scholarship. I’m honoured that CIP-PSTF recognizes the value of my work, and I appreciate the opportunity to share my research with the broader planning community. Thank you for this meaningful support.”

2025 CIP Healthy Communities Planning Scholarship: Sarah Mallen, Queen's University

Urban Downtowns as Places for Healthy Aging: The Experiences of Downtown Living for Older Adults in Calgary, AB

“I am honoured to receive the 2025 CIP Healthy Communities Planning Scholarship. My research on the intersection of age-friendly planning, relocation, and downtown revitalization in Calgary is an incredibly unique project that emphasizes the diversity of lived experiences, motivations, and drawbacks for pre-retirement and retirement age adults in the Greater Downtown. This award affirms that there is still much to be done for age-friendly planning in Canada.”

2025 CIP Housing Action Scholarship: Caley Savage, Queen's University

Studentification Unveiled: Navigating Socioeconomic Shifts, Housing Pressures, and Community Cohesion in Aging Communities

“I am honoured to receive the 2025 CIP Housing Action Scholarship. This support motivates me to continue advancing research and planning practices that foster more inclusive, resilient communities, translating academic insights into actionable solutions for cities facing similar demographic challenges.”

2025 CIP Indigenous Communities Planning Scholarship: Emma O’Reilly, University of Waterloo

Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Professional Planning Practice; Through a Cross-Disciplinary Review

“Receiving this scholarship is both an honour and a meaningful opportunity to continue my research focused on ethical data practices and Indigenous data governance in the planning profession. This support not only empowers my academic journey but also signals a broader commitment to uplifting Indigenous voices and perspectives in planning practice and research.”

2025 CIP Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Planning Scholarship: Jennifer Rodriguez, Queen's University

A Walk-Along Study Exploring Older Adults’ Perspectives on Age-Friendly Features and Playfulness in Ottawa’s Public Spaces

“Receiving the 2025 CIP EDIA in Planning Scholarship is an honour. I am deeply passionate about studying and learning from underrepresented voices to understand how they can shape and influence their own built environments. I am incredibly grateful to CIP for supporting my research and for recognizing the potential of play to enhance the quality of life for older adults.”

2025 Glenn Tunnock Climate Change Action Scholarship: Adam Kelly, University of Waterloo

Revealing Active Transportation Network Shade Dynamics to Advance Municipal Shade Planning: Spatiotemporal Patterns, Source Attribution, and Assessment of Shade Quantification Methods via 3D LiDAR Digital Twin Based Modelling

“I am delighted and grateful to receive the 2025 Glenn Tunnock Climate Change Action Scholarship, as the financial freedom provided enables me to spend more time perfecting the workflow and analysis behind the project. In addition, the added exposure that my project will receive because of this scholarship is equally as important, as I'll be able to share the workflow with more municipalities and drive greater change, all thanks to CIP-PSTF!”

2025 CIP-PSTF Innovation in Planning Scholarship: Anita So, Vancouver Island University

Outdoor Spaces for Everyone: Improving Accessibility in Backcountry Hiking Trails for People with Physical Disability

“I am thankful for this opportunity from CIP-PSTF and honoured to receive the Innovation in Planning Scholarship. This recognition inspires me to continue advancing work that ensures these spaces are inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all, contributing to the creation of more diverse and welcoming outdoor environments.”

Outstanding Graduating Student Award

The Outstanding Graduating Student Award recognizes one student from each accredited planning program (undergraduate and graduate) in Canada who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their future profession.

Dalhousie University

·       Layth Abou Ezzeddine - Master of Planning

·       Darby Sullivan - Bachelor of Community Design

Simon Fraser University

·       Dana Kluchinski - Master of Resource Management (Planning)

·       Kevin Maars - Bachelor of Environment REM (Planning)

Toronto Metropolitan University

·       Julia Menezes - Master of Planning in Urban Development

·       Jennifer Khuu - Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning 4-year degree (PLAN)

·       William Ramalheiro - Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning - 2-year Post Baccalaureate Degree (PLAB)

·       Ainsley Johnston - Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning–Two Year Full-Time Post-Diploma Degree Completion (PLAD)

University of British Columbia

·       Radhika Singh - Master of Community and Regional Planning

University of Calgary

·       Collin Hnetka - Master of Planning

University of Manitoba

·       Gillian Kolody - Master of City Planning

University of Guelph

·       Lucas Berek - Master of Science in Planning (Rural Planning & Development, Canadian Stream)

University of Northern British Columbia

·       Connor Lewis - Bachelor of Planning

University of Saskatchewan

·       Wil Kushniryk - Bachelor of Arts in Regional and Urban Planning

·       Sydney Buzash - Bachelor of Arts in Regional and Urban Planning (Honours)

University of Toronto

·       Angela Ho - Master of Science in Planning

University of Waterloo

·       Emma Borho - Master of Arts (Planning)

·       Alexandra Kelly - Master of Environmental Studies in Planning

·       Mattea Schaap - Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Planning

Vancouver Island University

·       Erik Morden - Master of Community Planning