to another year of community design and planning at Dalhousie
University.
Classes begin on Thursday 8 September.
The Masters orientation is Friday 2 September (1 to 4 pm);
the BCD orientation is Wednesday 7 September (10 am to 4 pm).
At convocation in May 2005 the first graduates of two new programs
received their degrees. Nine students earned the Bachelor of Community
Design and seventeen received the Master of Planning degree. We
offer our graduates best wishes for an exciting future in their
chosen field.
Student Awards
Masters student Adam Fritz won the Governor-General’s Gold
Medal as the university’s top graduate student in arts and
social sciences. BCD student Matthew Reid earned the University
Medal in Community Design. Kate Thompson, in our final graduating
class of NSCAD graduates, won the Governor General’s Silver
Medal as the top undergraduate at NSCAD University. Congratulations
to all the graduates and the many other prize winners within the
School.
Click here for a complete list of 2005 awards.
In July 2005, Dalhousie Senate approved the School’s proposal
for a new Master of Planning Studies (post-professional) degree.
This program is designed for those who already hold a recognized
undergraduate degree in planning, or have membership in a professional
planning organization: it will allow them to earn a graduate degree
with a significant planning research component leading to a thesis.
The program may be completed in one year of full-time study or
up to five years of part-time study: at least one winter semester
(January to April) must be completed in residence (full-time study).
The proposal now goes to the Dalhousie Board of Directors and
the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Committee for final approval.
We hope to begin offering the program in 2006.
Faculty have been busy this summer preparing for fall courses
and engaging in research and scholarly activity. Susan Guppy,
Frank Palermo, and Jill Grant attended the Canadian Institute
of Planners conference in Calgary where they gave presentations
and convened a reception for alumni and students. Student Andrew
Curran also presented a paper at CIP. John Zuck attended the Canadian
Society of Landscape Architects conference, and Patricia Manuel
attended a conference on Critical Perspectives on Ice Hockey and
Identity in Plymouth MA. Mike Poulton participated in the Queen’s
Land Forum.
After a year of leading the School as Acting Director, Patricia
Manuel has begun a sabbatical leave during which she will continue
her research on urban wetlands, planning for children, and healthy
year-round communities. Jill Grant has returned as Director and
Undergraduate Coordinator; her major sabbatical project was a
book titled Planning the Good Community: New
urbanism in theory and practice, which will be published by Routledge
UK in September 2005. Frank Palermo has received additional funding
for the First Nations Community Planning project and has also
organized workshops for the Canadian Institute of Planners project
on land management for First Nations. Mike Poulton is trying to
secure funding for research on Canadian transportation futures
while Susan Guppy works on her study of food systems and urban
ecology. John Zuck continues with his consulting work and advocacy
work with the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects.
Student News
Andrew Curran (M.Plan candidate) was elected as the National Student
Representative on the Canadian Institute of Planners Council this
year. Congratulations to Andrew, and good luck in representing
student interests to the national body. Andrew attended his first
Council meetings in July and will be touring some of the other
planning schools this fall.
Maritime Field Trip
In early September Mike Poulton will lead students on a field
trip to Prince Edward Island to examine planning issues.
International Field Trip
Over the winter break graduate students are planning a field trip
to New York City.
Space
Renovations on the building continued through the summer. The
brick work has been repointed and the roof repaired. The basement
level has been modified to provide additional office space. While
space remains in critically short supply, conditions are improving.
