People

Urban Strategies’ 40th anniversary celebrates the people who have built the practice and the legacy they continue to have on city-building. Diverse disciplines, cultural perspectives and experiences have expanded the firm’s expertise, and successive generations of leaders have made the practice their own. 

Our Story traces the firm’s evolution and leadership. That history supports a wider account of contributions extending well beyond individual commissions. 

Strategists love to teach, write and participate in public discussions about cities. Many of us serve on design review panels, professional bodies and community boards, bringing practical knowledge to decisions beyond the studio. Alumni have gone on to become chief planners and industry leaders in many public agencies and other practices, carrying their experience as Strategists into new settings, and shaping the industry.

Professional honours reflect contributions to our respective disciplines. Members of the firm’s leadership have received Fellowships in the Canadian Institute of Planners and Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, a Governor General’s Medal in Landscape Architecture, and appointment to the United Kingdom’s Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. CIP Emerging Planner Awards recognize the achievements of a younger generation.

Within the firm, a structure built on mentorship and collaboration connects experience with new perspectives, energy and approaches. We aim to grow our knowledge as Strategists at every stage of their career share what they have learned and challenge one another to think further.  

Our 40th anniversary celebration brought generations of Strategists together and has provided an opportunity to reflect. Our legacy is built on an exchange of ideas. The next chapter will be shaped by people building on that foundation and taking it in new directions.