As more and more condos stud the skyline, the need to make the most of our remaining green space – and figure out alternative ways to increase oxygen, decrease carbon and keep the city moving – is of utmost importance. Think you have what it takes to make Toronto a better place? Maybe you’ll be the next Jane Jacobs.
A degree in architecture or geography is a good first step to becoming an urban planner. A grounding in politics, engineering, economics and aesthetics is beneficial, too. It’s smart for upcoming urban planners to have a postgraduate degree in sustainable or environmentally aware planning. We need all the help we can get.
WHERE TO STUDY
Algonquin College (Ottawa) Geographic information systems: $5,368/semester. algonquincollege.com
Chang School, Ryerson (Toronto) Urban and regional planning: $552/class. ryerson.ca
Fanshawe College (Toronto) Geographic information systems: $2,410/term GIS and urban planning: $2,264/term. fanshawec.ca
Lakehead University (Thunder Bay) Geography: $6,374-$6,474/year. lakeheadu.ca
Laurentian University (Sudbury) Geography: $5,584/year. laurentian.ca
OCAD University (Toronto) Environmental design: $6,408/year. ocadu.ca
Nipissing University (North Bay) Geography: $6,436/year. nipissingu.ca
Queen’s University (Kingston) Geography $6,681/year urban and regional planning graduate program: $9,916/year. queensu.ca
Ryerson University (Toronto) Urban and regional planning: $6,584/year geographic analysis: $6,709/year environment and urban sustainability: $6,479/year. ryerson.ca
Trent University (Peterborough) Geography: $7,083/year. trentu.ca
University Of Guelph (Guelph) Geography, environment bachelor of science: $3,535/term rural planning and development graduate program: $3,000/term. uoguelph.ca
University Of Ottawa (Ottawa) Geography and environmental studies: $3,079/semester. uottawa.ca
University Of Toronto (Toronto) Human geography geographic information systems: $7,007/year planning and urban design graduate program: $9,703/year. utoronto.ca
University Of Waterloo (Waterloo) Geography and environmental management planning: $3,242/term development and environments graduate program: $2,694/term. uwaterloo.ca
University Of Western Ontario (London) Geography urban development: $6,881/year. uwo.ca
York University (Toronto) Geography geography and urban studies urban studies environmental studies: $6,526/year geography or environmental studies graduate program: $3,696/two terms. yorku.ca.
Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo) Geography and environmental studies: $3,694.55/term geography and environmental studies graduate program: $2,515.85/term. wlu.ca
Willowbank (Waterloo) Heritage conservation, $5,000/year. willowbank.ca
