Amie Baker, CIP/ICU Student Representative

Happy New Year and welcome back from the break!

I can’t help but feel energized and optimistic about 2008! There is a feeling that change is in the air. In addition 2008 has lots in store for young planners. For starters the CAPS/ACEAU conference topic is change, planning positions (co-op and full time) are plentiful, more students and professionals are considering environmental impacts, health is rising on the planning agenda, provinces are investing heavily in transit, municipalities will develop Integrated Community Sustainable Planning Strategies with gas-tax funding, the CIP is embarking on a Climate Change Symposium in Nunavut, the Olympics in China may provide a perspective on growth and development issues, and the list goes on. New issues with long range impacts are coming to the forefront of discussions among students and planners! The challenge is to carry the momentum from discussions, research and collaboration into action plans to make a real impact on the future of communities. Bring on 2008!

In this issue: an Interview with a New Brunswick Planner Paul Jordan on the province’s Climate Change Plan, Info on the CAPS/ACEAU conference, CIP Representative Election information, Student Submission towards the Membership Continuous Improvement Project, school news, upcoming events and links!

See you at the CAPS conference,

Amie L. Baker
2007-2008 Student Representative