“I grew up in a relatively car-oriented suburb of Montreal where first/last mile options to get to bus stops were not ideal.
The closest bus stop to my house was only 200 meters away but there were no sidewalks, heavy car circulation, and limited street lighting. At certain times of the day, it would become too dangerous to walk so I would ask family members to pick me up at the stop (defeats the purpose!).
Experiences like this made me question how different modes and users are being prioritized in city planning. ”
Why Transportation Planning?
To me, the beauty of planning is that it marries a lot of different fields! This was a significant pull factor for my undecided younger self who had a lot of different interests but wasn’t ready to let go of any of them.
Planning also came from a deep love of urban spaces. As far as I can remember I have always been fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the “big city”. I liked the rich cultural makeup, the many mobility options, and the fascinating history behind different neighborhoods.
My interest in transportation specifically - like many “transpo” planners - grew in reaction to my good and bad experiences using transit. I grew up in a relatively car-oriented suburb of Montreal where first/last mile options to get to bus stops were not ideal. The closest bus stop to my house was only 200 meters away but there were no sidewalks, heavy car circulation, and limited street lighting. At certain times of the day, it would become too dangerous to walk so I would ask family members to pick me up at the stop (defeats the purpose!). Experiences like this made me question how different modes and users are being prioritized in city planning.
My Professional Trajectory
I am one of those unusual cases who entered the planning field at a very young age (I was only 19 years old!). As a result, I have already explored a lot of different facets of the job despite still being at the beginning of my career.
My work experience started in land use planning. I worked for a few summers as a bylaw inspector and plan examiner for cities in the Montreal area. From there, I moved into the real estate sector and worked as a consultant helping developers with city bureaucracy and planning processes. When I moved to the West Coast to pursue my master’s degree, I got interested in the green building field and conducted research on energy efficiency and adaptive reuse.
How I Move Around
My current home, Hamilton, has an efficient bike-share system as well as a growing cycling infrastructure. When the weather permits, bike sharing is hands down my favourite way to move around; it’s cheap, convenient, and the most fun!
I am also a frequent GO Train user as I often travel to downtown Toronto for work and social activities. I really value how comfortable and easy to use it is. The GO is the mode of choice to knock down your reading challenges.
What I Do When I’m Not Planning
I am a big “wanderer”. It is not rare to find me in a local bookshop, a record store or a vintage market looking around and taking my time. I find the experience of getting lost in places like that very relaxing.I have also recently been getting more into outdoor activities. My latest favourite is back-country camping and canoeing.