Amie Baker, CIP/ICU Student Representative

It seems like just yesterday that I was packing for Quebec City to take on the role of student representative. It has been a memorable year! I enjoyed meeting a host of planning students and professionals and working with the staff at the CIP office. Attending conferences, council meetings and visiting schools (McGill, Waterloo and Ryerson) enable me to gain insight into issues students and planners are concerned about!

It's exciting to see that the Institute is pursuing international partnerships with international planning organizations, which offers planners opportunities for growth. Perhaps more important is the Institute’s concerted effort to consider how the profession can adapt and mitigate the impacts of Climate Change. In addition to the major climate change project was the national council’s willingness to implement more environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

Although I’m sure you have heard it before, it really is an exciting time to be a planner. More than ever the profession is recognizing prevalent issues and seeking interdisciplinary solutions. Over the past year I’ve come to recognize that although the planning community is growing, it still a relatively small group of dedicated people. So keep in touch with your classmates and colleagues! I’ve also realized that pushing the envelope for change is not always easy, but is necessary. As one of my fellow Dalhousie students puts it “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”. The challenge is to maintain this attitude even after graduation, continue to question and push for positive change and progress within our profession.

After meeting students from across the country I’m confident that our profession will continue on a progressive path. The range of rigorous and interesting student work in this issue is evidence of that.

Here’s what’s in store for my last issue of Plan2Plan:

• 2008 WorldLink Internship Program – applications due June 15, 2008
• Get the inside scoop on Winnipeg
• A sample of Climate Change Fellowship Projects from across the country
• Student Work ranging from Post Occupancy at False Creek to Halifax’s Streetcars
• An Interview with the Dalhousie Team that Placed in the Top 20% at the Gerald D. Hines Urban Land Institute Student Design Competition (**Also check out their submission poster!!)
• Links & Videos

I look forward to seeing you in Winnipeg and passing the torch to Adam Cooper, your 2008-09 Student Representative!

Thanks for a fantastic year!

All the best,

Amie L. Baker
2007-2008 Student Representative

‘You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her. She was meant to be wooed and won by youth.’ - Winston Churchill