Thoughts on Indigenous Planning

In certain contexts around the globe, at least for Canada which is what I am concerned with, planning is essentially a very colonialist concept and practice. Settlers settle, take, and configure policy, design, and public goods over top of Native land after extracting and exploiting all the resources it takes to do so. Yuck. When …

What does urban planning look like through a feminist lens and why is feminism a crucial element in city building?

I need to start this blog by clarifying a few things. Feminism is not a dirty word. Feminism is not a man-hating body of ideals, and feminism's objective is not to push a matriarchal society where men are slaves. Feminism is also not a system that women make up for themselves to keep themselves oppressed (yes, …

Hello again!

Whew! It's been a while. I took somewhat of a blog-hiatus this summer to let my thoughts brew a bit on what to next contribute to this blog. While offline, I spent the summer in Ottawa working at Employment and Social Development Canada's Innovation Lab as a communications assistant. After internalizing a bit of what …

Pedestrians First on Sparks Street, Ottawa

Normally this term I wouldn't be writing a blog post on a Monday afternoon, but due to the flooding situation in the region, my office building was closed for the day. I had already spent the whole weekend in my house due to the rainy weather, so today I decided I wanted to make use …

Katie in… the National Capital Region!

I haven't written in a couple of weeks and I figured it's time to at least provide an update even though I have not yet found the time to dedicate to a legitimate post that will get me back on track. Because.... I have moved! Because of my program's co-op component, I will be spending …

Personal Creed 2017

For some time, I've been mulling over what I want to do with my life. That's what 20-year-olds are supposed to do, right? When I was 19 it seemed like I could just ponder different paths and avenues. While I can definitely still do that, it feels like there is more pressure to just get …

In the City’s Image: City Slogans and Mottos

To help guide my blog for the next month or so while I gear up for exam season, I've decided to start a little series of smaller blog posts which will discuss the images of cities around the world. Lots of pieces fit together like a puzzle to create a city's image, and I want …

Katie on, ugh, snow removal.

Weeks away from turning twenty years old, I still don't drive a car. I'll learn the skill somewhat soon, but as of right now and in the foreseeable future I am 100% a pedestrian and public transit user. I really like it this way - while I may be bound by weather and transit timetables …

Katie on the Relationship between Cities and Loneliness

 The Rideau Canal, Ottawa, taken by me on a solitary walk on a July morning, 2016.  It's been a while since I've last written a blog post. In the meantime, my classes and the search for a summer job have both been demanding yet rewarding. Since my last blog post, I've come across a podcast called …

Katie on Silly Planning Jargon

Happy new year! To start off the blog in the new year, I want to address how people talk about cities, what buzzwords exist in planning, and what words I think should be tossed or at least redefined when it comes to talking about cities structures and its people. Planning-related jargon is interesting to think …