2022 API Conference Speaker Bios

Mitch Underhay

Executive Director, Bike Friendly Communities

Pre-conference Session: Bike Tour of Charlottetown

Mitch is a freelance consultant, and candidate member of the Canadian Institute of Planners with a degree in Community Design program with Honours in Environmental Planning from Dalhousie University. Interested in stakeholder and rightsholder engagement, Mitch enjoys pulling together the many threads of large projects. In the last few years, he has worked in the public, private, and non-profit sectors on projects related to renewable energy, rural planning, public transit and active transportation.

Today, he comes to you as the executive director of Bike Friendly Communities, an independent, non-profit co-operative working to transform PEI communities through accessible, interconnected active transportation infrastructure. All people should feel safe and empowered to choose cycling as a primary mode of transportation. Join him for an easy bike tour of Charlottetown focused on potential connections to some existing active transportation routes. 

Natalie Munn

Heritage Researcher/Collections Coordinator, City of Charlottetown

Pre-conference Session: Walking Tour of Charlottetown

Natalie is the City of Charlottetown’s Heritage Researcher/Collections Coordinator, where she focuses on outreach and community engagement regarding the city’s history, and collections management.  Passionate about the Island’s architecture and history, she has been active in the heritage sector for 30 years working as a researcher, writer, curator, archivist, and volunteer.  She is President of the Archives Council of Prince Edward Island, serves on the Town of Stratford’s Heritage Committee, the Community Museums Association Board, Government House Committee, and other stakeholder committees. She co-wrote and researched the reference work, Minding the House, and has contributed to numerous histories and projects. She holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts (Major: History) from the University of Prince Edward Island.

Alex Forbes, FCIP

Manager of Planning & Heritage, City of Charlottetown

Pre-conference Session: Walking Tour of Charlottetown, Session 3C

Alex Forbes joined the City of Charlottetown in 2013 to manage their Planning and Heritage Department after working with the City of Fredericton for over 22 years where he held various senior management positions. Alex has a Masters Degree in Urban and Rural Planning from Technical University of Nova Scotia and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. Alex has extensive experience in management, long range planning, policy development and heritage preservation. Alex has been active in the Canadian Institute of Planners during his career and was recently named a Fellow of the Institute.

Recently he and his team have been working on implementing a form-based code in the downtown residential and commercial areas, developing regulations and policies around the development of pre-existing confederation water lots, and implementing a new short term rental by-law. In addition, he sits on the Community Action Board (CAB) for affordable housing and is the staff liaison to the Council appointed Affordable Housing Committee.

Leanne Jennings, MCIP, LPP

Regional Lead, Project Planning and Delivery, Develop Nova Scotia

Session 1A

Leanne Jennings, LPP, is a Regional Lead for Project Planning and Delivery at Develop Nova Scotia where she works with a multi-disciplinary team facilitating and implementing placemaking and infrastructure projects in communities across Nova Scotia. Prior to coming to Develop Nova Scotia, Leanne worked for more than a decade as a planner for the Municipality of the County of Kings. Her greatest achievement in this role was facilitating a diverse working group that created the Municipality’s first ever Community Engagement Strategy. Leanne holds a Master of Planning degree, bachelor’s degrees in Science (biology) and Outdoor Recreation, and a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration. Leanne is passionate about community development and is committed to working with communities on placemaking initiatives that are authentic and locally driven. She lives with her husband and four daughters in Kentville, NS.

Lindsay Young

Economic Development Coordinator, Town of Kentville

Session 1A

Lindsay Young is the Community and Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Kentville and has been with the organization for 14 years.  After spending a few years in recreation as resource coordinator, she moved into Community Economic Development in 2012.  Working under the Planning Department, Lindsay’s current portfolio covers Business Attraction and Retention, Visitor Services, Tourism Marketing, Brand Development, Placemaking, General Beautification and Special Events.  Lindsay has extensive experience working collaboratively with businesses and community organizations to develop initiatives and programs that positively impact the environment in Kentville, making it a community of choice for businesses, visitors, and families. In 2013 she was instrumental in leading the Town through the creation of the current Business Improvement District Organization (KBC) and now acts as the Town’s advisor to the board.  She also led Kentville through a community branding project a few years ago and people are sick of hearing her talk about how Kentville is “A Breath of Fresh Air”.   Lindsay loves bragging about Kentville, and currently her favorite topic is the Centre Square Activation project currently in phase 2.

Liese Coulter, PhD

Mitacs Research Fellow, MNAI; Associate Faculty, Royal Roads University 

Session 2A

Liese works with Royal Roads University and the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI) to better understand professional norms and educational competencies that support NAM. She has researched climate risk storylines and communicated information to support adaptation decision-making. During her 2018-19 Mitacs Science Policy Fellow with the Ministry of Agriculture in British Columbia, Liese developed a framework and user guide for Climate Change Adaptation Pathways to help communities and agricultural producers develop shared adaptation goals and objectives. Liese holds a PhD from Griffith University and a MSc Communication from the Australian National University.

Adam Cheeseman

Director of Conservation, Nature NB

Session 2A

Adam Cheeseman lives and works in Sackville, NB as a Director of Conservation with Nature NB, an organization whose mandate is to celebrate, conserve, and protect New Brunswick’s natural heritage through education, networking, and collaboration. Adam manages Nature NB’s climate change adaptation projects, which focus on building capacity and expertise for nature-based adaptation approaches in Maritime Canada. Experienced as faculty member at Mount Allison University and as a researcher with the Education for Sustainability Research Group at Dalhousie University. Adam holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Mount Allison University and Master of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University.

Matt Delorme

Executive Director, AIM Network

Session 2A

A civil engineer with over 20 years’ experience in engineering design and management, Matt works from the beautiful Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. He oversees AIM Network’s mandate to develop educational programming, technical support programs and free, open-source tools and resources for Atlantic communities to build their asset management practices. Matt collaborates with various governments, industry and other NGOs to advance asset management in Canada. He has helped develop asset management frameworks for NS and NL and assisted dozens of municipalities in Atlantic Canada on their asset management journey.

Adje Prado

Territorial Analyst in Research and Sustainable Development, NWRSC

Session 2A

Adrian “Adje” Prado works with the Northwest Regional Service Commission (NWRSC) in NB, where RSCs provide additional capacity and cost sharing for common services such as land-use planning and solid waste management. He focuses on environmental and climate change projects, collaborating with ENGOs and researchers, helping communities with sustainability goals, and developing maps tools for land-use planning. He sits on boards and committees including NBEN’s Climate Change Adaptation Collaborative, CLIMAtlantic, and Food For All NB. Adje holds undergraduate degrees in Biology and Environmental Sciences and a master’s degree in Microbiology (McGill).

Kate Greene, MCIP, LPP

Regional Policy Program Manager, Halifax Regional Municipality

Session 3A, 1C

Kate is a Licensed Professional Planner of Nova Scotia with a Master in Urban and Rural Planning. She has 17 years of experience as a planner, and 11 years of experience managing teams in both the public and private sector. She is presently the Regional Policy Program Manager in Halifax Regional Municipality’s Planning & Development Department. In her current role she provides leadership and direction to Council in the formulation and implementation of a strategic regional plan for growth and settlement patterns. The policies are complex, long-range, and critically important for the vitality of community and the growth of the Atlantic region. 

Jill MacLellan, MCIP, LPP

Principal Planner, Halifax Regional Municipality

Session 3A

Jill MacLellan currently holds the position of Principal Planner with Halifax Regional Municipality’s Housing/Social Policy group. While Jill has worked in various roles with the Municipality over the past 12 years, most recently she has been focused on affordable housing-related initiatives and issues.  Her work ranges from region wide planning policy, developing programs to offer financial incentives/support and working with stakeholders on affordable housing initiatives. Jill represents HRM in Halifax’s Housing and Homelessness Partnership and sits on the Board of Directors for the Licensed Professional Planners of Nova Scotia.

Melisa Tang Choy

Dalhousie University

Session 3A

Melisa Tang Choy 邓梅英 (she/her) is a first-year Master of Planning student at Dalhousie University. She is currently the Student Assistant for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning. Her previous work experience is in program coordination and management in the non-profit sector with organizations that work in food justice, in sustainability, and with people with disabilities. She is a co-founder of Shades of Sustainability, a community project that seeks to make space for BIPOC experiences in sustainability through dialogue and intergenerational storytelling. She also volunteers with different communities in Halifax, which inform her approaches to Planning. As a daughter of Chinese immigrants to Peru, her interests in Planning lie at the complex intersections of immigration, access, engagement and community-building. Knowledge translation is key to her activities, as she was one of her parents’ translators growing up.

Pascal Hudon, MCIP, RPP

Project Manager, Stantec

Session 3A

Pascal Hudon holds a bachelor’s in Urban Planning and in History, as well as a Master’s in Urban Studies. He is a senior planner based in New Brunswick with 17 years of experience in both the public and private sector. He is passionate about everything related to the city. He emphasizes the importance of knowing the history and typomorphology of a place in order to draw inspiration and propose new ideas that are embedded in the community while also encouraging evolution. Moreover, his work in New Brunswick has reinforced a practice that prioritizes a thorough management of the boundaries between public and private spaces. His experience in the municipal sector allows him to supervise each step in the development of a project that has a strong identity for the communities. Today, Pascal works for Stantec and plays an active role with the Montreal Urban Places Studio and Fredericton office.

Steve Potvin

Director of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, Montreal Urban Places Studio, Stantec

Session 3A

Steve Potvin holds a bachelor’s in Urban Planning and a master’s in Urban Studies. He has been working in the field of planning since 2002 and has developed expertise in real estate and retail development. He is currently Director of the Studio of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture at Stantec and accompanies major private clients in their projects located across North America. As a planner and project manager, he particularly appreciates elaborating development projects that are embedded in the local context and can include a heritage component and a high-quality approach to landscape architecture and design. He accompanies clients through all stages of a project: from due diligence of a site to conceptual site planning, analyzing planning by-laws, defining the approval strategy, and coordinating the permitting process.

Brianna Maxwell

Junior Planner, FBM Architecture 

Session 1B

Brianna Maxwell brings to the planning team expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Sustainability, combined with passion and experience in community engagement. She combines these skills to identify and achieve sustainability goals with community members that are informed by accessible and in-depth analysis of land use and geography.

Brianna joined FBM after completing a Bachelor of Community Design (Honours) and Sustainability at Dalhousie University. During this time she also obtained a certificate in GIS and minor in Indigenous Studies.

Throughout her degree, Brianna was actively involved in the planning profession through her work at the County of Kings, Dalhousie’s Local Government Program, the Town of Bridgewater, and the Village on Main (Dartmouth).

For her academic efforts, contribution to the planning profession, and extracurricular involvement, Brianna was awarded the Atlantic Planners Institute’s Student Scholarship (2019) and the Canadian Institute of Planners College of Fellows Scholarship (2020). Brianna now serves on the Atlantic Planners Institute Board of Directors and continues to grow her sustainability leadership skills through the Nudge Global Impact Challenge.

David Paterson

FBM Architecture 

Session 1B

With a background in urban design, David Paterson is a solutions-focused professional, with expertise in long-range planning, master planning and the design and development process. Born in Nova Scotia, he has over 8 years of Planning experience in the Maritimes and British Columbia, working in both the public and private sectors.

David has a focused expertise and passion for the involvement of communities in the planning process. He has developed and implemented in-depth engagement strategies for the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, Canada Lands Company, Halifax Regional Municipality, and the City of Vancouver.

He continually looks to improve consultation practices and to ensure strategic communications and meaningful involvement. This is supported by membership with the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), and extensive training with IAP2 in current engagement methods, including digital engagement. Combined with his design and planning experience, David is uniquely positioned to provide planning and design services for complex projects with a public participation component.

David joined FBM in 2018 after working in Planning for the City of Vancouver. He completed Architectural studies at the University of British Columbia in 2013.

Patricia Manuel, PhD, MCIP, LPP

Dalhousie University 

Session 2B, 2C, 2D

Dr. Patricia Manuel is a professor of Planning in the School of Planning at Dalhousie University where she teaches and conducts applied research with a focus on watersheds, coasts, climate change adaptation planning, and marine spatial planning. She is a member of advisory committees addressing climate change impacts and action, and volunteers with community-based groups to support environmentally responsible land use planning and development. Patricia is a Licensed Professional Planner in Nova Scotia and a full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Jenna Miller

CLIMAtlantic

Session 2B

Jenna Miller is the New Brunswick Specialist with CLIMATlantic, the climate services hub for Atlantic Canada. Jenna holds a MSc in Climate Change (University of Copenhagen) and a BA in Geography (Saint Mary’s University). She has worked with Parks Canada, NGOs, and academic institutions across the Maritimes. Her work has focused on adaptation and vulnerability to climate change impacts in coastal areas, coastal erosion and the relationship between social factors such as language and gender and climate change impacts. 

Kate Thompson

Dalhousie University

Session 2B

Kate Thompson is an adjunct professor and undergraduate program advisor in the School of Planning, Dalhousie University. She is completing her doctoral research through the Interdisciplinary PhD program on the use of ecosystem services ideas and tools in Canadian urban planning. Kate’s doctoral supervisors are Drs. Kate Sherren and Peter Duinker, School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dal. Kate holds a Master of Planning Studies from Dalhousie, a Bachelor of Design (Environmental Planning) from NSCAD University and a BSc (Chemistry) from UPEI. Kate teaches broadly in the planning curriculum including environmental planning, community design methods, health and planning, planning theory, and planning practice. In addition to her research on ecosystem services and their integration into urban planning, she has studied healthy community design and the relationship between women’s social networks, suburbs, and health. 

Danika van Proosdij, PhD

TransCoastal Adaptations and Saint Mary’s University

Session 2B, 2C

Dr. Danika van Proosdij is a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Saint Mary’s University, Director and Co-Founder of TransCoastal Adaptations: Centre for Nature Based Solutions with over 25 years of applied ecosystem based coastal adaptation projects and vulnerability assessments in Canada, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.  

Xander Gopen, MCIP, RPP

Senior Planner, SNBSC

Session 3B 

Xander Gopen is a Senior Planner at the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC). In addition to administering planning by-laws and regulations, he is also responsible for long-range planning matters including policy recommendations, community consultations, and project management. Beyond the region of Southwest New Brunswick, Xander is involved in planning at a Provincial level as chair of the New Brunswick Association of Planners (NBAP) Promotions and Advocacy Committee.

While involved in many areas of planning, affordable housing has been a focus of his work since his masters degree where he gained experience dealing with urban housing issues in Toronto. Now with a focus on rural municipalities, Xander works closely with private and non-profit developers, municipal staff and officials, and Provincial and Federal departments to achieve affordable housing goals. 

Paul Dec, MCIP, LPP

Planner, UPLAND Planning + Design Studio

Session 3C

Paul is a planner with UPLAND Planning + Design Studio based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. His work focuses on development planning, main streets, urban design rules, strategic growth planning and the complexities of land use planning and infrastructure development.

Paul joined UPLAND in early 2020 coming from the Eastern District Planning Commission, where he was working collaboratively to administer land use planning in two towns and four rural municipalities of eastern Nova Scotia. While working as a planner and development officer with the Commission, Paul was able to broaden his experience with main street design and placemaking during that time. Paul has also spent time working with a Business Improvement District in Dartmouth, NS and at the City of Warsaw planning department in Poland. Prior to his career as a planner, Paul worked eight years for the German International Development Agency GIZ, where he had the opportunity to experience living and working in Egypt, India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

Paul received his academic education from the University of the West of England, UK (Master’s Degree, Town and Country Planning) and the Baden Württemberg Cooperative State University, Germany (Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration / Marketing). His academic research interests to his professional life: Paul is passionate about smart growth, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and is a published author on efficient use of urban infrastructure, compact development, and urban sprawl repair.

Steffen Käubler, MCIP, LPP

Partner, Planner, Urban Designer, UPLAND Planning + Design Studio

Session 3C

Steffen is a founding partner of UPLAND Planning + Design, a planning, landscape architecture and public engagement consulting firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Along with Project Lunenburg, Steffen has been leading many of the UPLAND’s large scale comprehensive planning and design projects and is well versed in working with diverse stakeholder groups and multidisciplinary teams. During the past 19 years of working as consultant with communities across Atlantic Canada, Steffen has developed an expertise as a planner and designer with a keen interest in bridging the gap between planning policy and physical design.

Ian Watson, MCIP, LPP

Senior Planner, UPLAND Planning + Design Studio

Session 3C

Ian Watson is a senior planner at UPLAND Planning + Design, and joined the firm after spending four years as a municipal planner in a diverse regional municipality. Ian brings a highly analytical approach to solving problems. Since joining UPLAND, Ian has used this approach to assist over two dozen Atlantic Canadian municipalities in developing clear and concise policies and regulations that are easy to interpret and apply. Ian fundamentally believes that planning is a discipline that affects all people, and strives to ensure planning processes and outcomes are understandable and accessible to everyone.

Dawn Sutherland, MCIP, LPP

Senior Planner, Eastern District Planning Commission 

Session 3C

Dawn Sutherland is a senior planner with the Eastern District Planning Commission in Nova Scotia. Dawn has held a number of leadership roles over the course of her 20 years as a professional planner in town, rural, and regional settings. As a community planner, she is passionate about preparing communities for the future and has a special interest in UNESCO World Heritage. Dawn is a proud member of CIP and has volunteered as a member of the Professional Education and Examination Committee for the last several years.

Mikiko Terashima, PhD

Dalhousie University, PEACH Research Unit

Session 1C

Dr. Mikiko Terashima is an associate professor at the School of Planning at Dalhousie University and Lead of the PEACH (Planning for Equity, Accessibility, and Community Health) Research Unit. The PEACH Research Unit has been investigating how planning can enhance accessibility in the built environment since 2017. Dr. Terashima leads various research activities at the PEACH Research Unit, including development of experience-based accessible design standards and guides, economic value of accessible spaces, and comparison of walkability measures with and without accessibility lens.

Kate Clark

Dalhousie University, PEACH Research Unit

Session 1C

Kate Clark is a research analyst and project coordinator at PEACH (Planning for Equity, Accessibility, and Community Health) Research Unit, Dalhousie University. The PEACH Research Unit has been investigating how planning can enhance accessibility in the built environment since 2017. As part of Session 1C, Kate will share lessons learned from research on planning practice and scholarship related to accessibility.

Devin Lake, MCIP, LPP

Director of Planning and Economic Development, Town of Wolfville

Session 1C

Devin Lake is the Director of Planning and Economic Development for the Town of Wolfville. As part of Session 1C, Devin will share the Town’s mobility planning efforts and links to the Town’s accessibility plan. 

Siobhan Evans, MCIP, LPP

Accessibility Planning Specialist, Dalhousie University

Session 1C

Siobhan Evans is the Accessibility Planning Specialist at Facilities Management and Co-chair of the Built Environment Accessibility Working Group at Dalhousie University. As a Master of Planning graduate and Rick Hansen Foundation Professional, she brings her knowledge of best practices for the built environment beyond today’s building code and policies. She strives to remove barriers in the built environment from large scale building design to small, but important building features. As part of Session 1C, Siobhan will provide an overview of Dalhousie University’s accessibility planning process, which is currently taking place, and the challenges and opportunities of reaching accessibility goals.

Julia Stephenson

Province of Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate

Session 1C

Julia Stephenson works with the Province of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Directorate, which has been leading the implementation of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.  She brings her background in health promotion and municipal recreation to her work at the Directorate where she supports public sector bodies prescribed under the Act in building their capacity to increase accessibility. As part of Session 1C, Julia will provide an overview of the province’s accessibility legislation and how the Directorate supports the needs of municipalities and other prescribed public sector bodies in their accessibility work.

Jason Naug

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Session 2D

Jason Naug is a project and program manager with over 25 years of professional work experience in public, private, NGO, and international settings. Before joining Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), he was a planner, biologist, and environmental consultant involved in projects across the Maritimes, in the US, and overseas. Since joining DFO in 2001, Jason has played a lead role in ocean and coastal management initiatives particularly those in the Bras d’Or Lakes and southwest New Brunswick Bay of Fundy.  He has also helped lead program development related to the department’s environmental response planning and currently leads the development of a Marine Spatial Plan for the Scotian Shelf / Bay of Fundy bioregion. Jason has degrees in biology, environmental science and land use planning. 

Daniel Calderon

Dalhousie University

Session 2D

Daniel Martinez Calderon holds a Bachelor of Sustainable Coastal Management from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a Master of Multidisciplinary Coastal-Marine Zones Management from the Institute of Ecology, Fisheries and Oceanography of the Gulf of Mexico. He has worked as a consultant for NGOs on sustainable fishing, participatory planning, participatory mapping, and community coastal development. He is currently an interdisciplinary PhD student at Dalhousie University researching the development of a framework for participatory, place-based marine spatial planning in Atlantic Canada.

Julia Szujo

Dalhousie University

Session 2D, 3E

Julia Szujo is a second year Master of Planning student at Dalhousie University. She has been involved in MSP research for close to a year, serving as a Research Assistant with the MSP research group that is part of the Social license and Planning for Coastal Communities research module in the Ocean Frontier Institute. Julia focuses on community engagement in MSP initiatives. She is passionate about sustainable and equitable urban and coastal spaces and believes that blue-green infrastructure is a catalyst for social change. Outside of school, Julia has been involved in organizing planning-related workshops, conferences, and other community initiatives.

Monica DeVidi

Dalhousie University

Session 2D

Monica DeVidi graduated from the Master of Planning program at Dalhousie University in 2021 where she completed a research project on the role for municipalities in marine spatial planning in Nova Scotia. Her research led to a contract with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to begin initial engagement with municipalities as the federal government works towards the first-generation marine spatial plan for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy marine bioregion. Currently, she is working as a research associate at Dalhousie University supporting revisions to the coastal communities adaptation toolkit, CCAT, lead by CLIMAtlantic. 

Calvin Thompson

Manager of First Nation Relations, City of Fredericton

Session 3D

Calvin Thompson, has been with the City of Fredericton for 20 years. He came to the City from the private sector in commercial and residential real estate development throughout the Maritimes. During this time he gained valuable experience in property acquisitions and disposal, development, negotiations, leasing and project management. Upon joining the City he led the restructuring of the City’s $120M real estate portfolio as well as the City’s approach to development and investment opportunities. After a short period overseeing the City’s tangible capital budget he moved into his current role as the Manager of First Nation Relations for the past four years.

James DiPaolo

Associate, Urban Planner, Urban Strategies

Session 1D

Originally from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, James is an Associate Planner at Urban Strategies, and is based in Toronto. James is involved in a range of planning work, including master planning, development approvals, transit network planning, and downtown and neighbourhood revitalization. James acted as a project manager and urban planner on the City of Saint John’s Central Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan (2018) and more recently is involved in the City of Red Deer’s Downtown Identity Project (2021). Since 2020, James has acted as a Practice Area Lead for Urban Strategies’ Downtown, Main Street, and Neighbourhood planning practice area. 

Jennifer Kirchner, MCIP, RPP

Manager of Community Planning, City of Saint John

Session 1D

Jennifer Kirchner is the Manager of Community Planning at the City of Saint John. Born in southern Ontario, her early career was spent in Alberta where she was often the sole planner on staff. Jennifer is particularly proud of her leadership role in the development and implementation of 2 APPI award winning plans: The City of Lacombe’s Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and the City of Lacombe’s Heritage Management Plan. Jennifer’s passionate about heritage preservation, neighbourhood redevelopment and revitalization, and long-range community planning. As a graduate from the University of Guelph’s Rural Planning and Development Masters’ program, she also has developed a keen interest in the evolving nature of agriculture including farmers’ markets, agri-tourism, and urban agriculture.

Mark Reade, MCIP, RPP

Senior Planner, City of Saint John

Session 1D

Mark Reade is the Senior Planner at the City of Saint John. Since joining the City in 2010, Mark has been involved in approvals for various large scale and complex development applications including residential subdivisions, multi-unit residential development, and industrial projects such as the Lancaster Logistics Park. Most recently, Mark was the lead planner for the highly anticipated Fundy Quay Development which is a mixed-use, multi-building development that will dramatically change the face of the Saint John Waterfront. He was also involved in the development of the City’s Transportation Master Plan. As both a Planner and an Engineer, Mark’s planning interests include transportation planning, site development and industrial development.

Andy Reid, MCIP, RPP 

Planner, City of Saint John

Session 1D

Andy Reid is a Planner with the City of Saint John and works on both complex development files and long-range planning projects. During his time at the City, he has played a critical role in the completion and implementation of the Central Peninsula Secondary Plan and is the project lead for the creation of the recently adopted Affordable Housing Action Plan. In addition, Andy manages the City’s Urban Development Incentive Program which supports investment and redevelopment within the City’s Central Peninsula.

Thomas Lewallen

Planner, City of Saint John

Session 1D

Thomas Lewallen is a new Planner with the City of Saint John. Beginning his career in Ontario and Québec, Thomas is currently working on the City of Saint John’s Race to Net-Zero Plan which aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. He graduated with a BA in Environmental Sustainability from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a Master of Environmental Studies in Urban Planning from York University in Toronto. Thomas’ goal within the planning field is to discover how cities can improve the health of residents, nature, and the built environment in order to create a higher quality of life for all inhabitants.

Yeva Mattson

Planner, City of Saint John

Session 1D

Yeva Mattson is a new Planner with the City of Saint John. Yeva is a recent graduate of the Masters of Community Planning degree from Vancouver Island University, where her Thesis topic focused on heritage planning and included the City of Saint John as a case study. Her areas of interest are in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Planning, as well as Heritage Planning.

Tracey Wade, MCIP, RPP

Session 2E

Tracey has more than 20 years of experience in community planning in Atlantic Canada. She has managed a wide-range of planning exercises in areas of land use, sustainability, recreation, food security, health and climate adaptation. Tracey was Project Lead Public Health NB’s HealthADAPT project. She has also worked on several climate adaptation plans, trained planners on climate adaptation planning, and undertaken climate-related policy work. Tracey is a founding member of the Chignecto Climate Change Collaborative and a member of the Town of Sackville’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. In 2020, Tracey became a Climate Reality Leader, an international initiative of former Vice President Al Gore, through which she has presented to a wide variety of audiences (youth, seniors, planners, and public stakeholders) throughout New Brunswick.

Tolulope Victoria Akerele

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Session 3E

Tolulope Victoria Akerele holds a Bachelor of Science degree (First Class Honours) in Urban and Regional Planning from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She also has a Master of Science degree in Transport Planning from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, as a Commonwealth Scholar. After that, she worked as a Transport Planning lecturer at the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, before moving to Canada in 2015. She currently works as a Senior Planner for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She has served as a board member of Happy City, St. John’s, a local NGO with the mandate to raise awareness on urban issues. In 2021, she was appointed Commissioner to the St. John’s Transportation Commission. She is currently undergoing her doctorate at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she is building on her substantial professional experience in municipal planning and transit.

Chloe Simpson

Dalhousie University

Session 3E

Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph in International Development, with a specialization in Environmental Development and is currently in the Master of Planning Program at Dalhousie University. Her favourite thing about planning is its ability to be highly interdisciplinary. 

Bridget Taylor, Dalhousie University

Session 3E

Bridget’s studies focus on renewable energy infrastructure planning. Before starting the Master of Planning Program at Dalhousie University, Bridget worked for the Town of Kirkland as their Community Service Manager and taught community fitness classes for three years. 

Samantha Horner, Dalhousie University

Session 3E

Samantha has a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC and is currently in the Master of Planning Program at Dalhousie University. She is passionate about increasing accessibility in urban areas and rethinking cities as centers for human health and happiness.