Blog Post

On Big Transitions, Unconventional Paths, and the Value of Mentorship Nov 12, 2024

On Big Transitions, Unconventional Paths, and the Value of Mentorship

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto recently featured Kristy, highlighting her journey from public sector urban planning to a “portfolio career” that includes consultancy, coaching, teaching, and Ph.D....

Better Planners Podcast: Planning Workplace Dynamics May 21, 2024

Better Planners Podcast: Planning Workplace Dynamics

Shelley, Mary, and special guest Kristy Kilbourne, are back with a great episode discussing various issues that come up in the Planning Department or Planning Office and those workplace dynamics at play.

This episode actually came from a...

Urban Planning is Not Boring: Career Coaching with Kristy Kilbourne Oct 25, 2022

Urban Planning is Not Boring: Career Coaching with Kristy Kilbourne

Sam and Natalie sit down with Kristy Kilbourne, also know as @passionateplanning on Instagram, to bring listeners advice on how to navigate a career in planning. Covering topics from what employers are looking for in a potential...

The #1 Priority in Landing a Great Planning Role Aug 22, 2022

What might matter more than your job?

It's not your salary (although that is very important). It’s not the perks.

It’s your manager. It’s your colleagues. Your mental health. And your self-worth.

Don’t agree? Hear me out.

...

Advice and Insights from a GIS Specialist to Planners Jul 25, 2022

Having a career in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) did not come to mind when I first enrolled in post-secondary education; I pursued an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science at Lakehead University in Geography with a minor in Criminology at first. Through this program is where I was first...

Passion Project: Creating More Inclusive Professional Exam Preparation Options May 03, 2022

Host: Why did you decide to start the AICP Podcast? How did it go from an idea to reality?

It’s a bit of a funny story really. The short story is, I decided I was going to take the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification test back in 2019 and it was then that...

Passion Project: Finding Magic in Metropolis - The Love of Design + Architecture Feb 22, 2022

Host: What are some key takeaways from your school studies?

The way my program at York University is designed is that you have course work, an internship, and a final research project. My final research project was focused on a case study, providing design...

Passion Project: How to Reconnect with Nature While Living in a Modern World Dec 21, 2021

Host: How did Planning Places come to fruition and what sparked the internal dialogue behind its ideation?

Planning Places was born in my urban design classroom in downtown Toronto, where I began a personal study of the healing relationship between nature and cities. Living...

Stay Tuned for Planning Passion Projects... Nov 09, 2021

Over the coming months, we're excited to be showcasing planners from all over the world that are the kind of change agents we need for our communities and our profession! They are exploring and enhancing the world of planning in unique and creative ways. There are so many planners out there doing...

Pivoting In Your Planning Career Aug 25, 2021

For those of us in the world of planning, we are lucky to be part of a profession that offers a myriad of trajectories to choose from. In any geography, you can find planners playing a part in a number of different roles, across all facets of the industry from transportation, environmental,...

Managing Development Projects On Time & On Budget Jul 28, 2021

As a private sector planner, clients almost always focus on time and money. This means I am expected to manage the project from the estimate, right through to completion by keeping costs down and the project moving along. This takes strong project management skills to accomplish, in addition to...

Toward a More Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Profession Jun 08, 2021

Planning is a profession in constant connection with the built form. As practitioners, planners are designing and building spaces that meet the needs of people from all walks of life; however, there is a strong need for more cultural awareness and consideration within planning processes...