Imagine you are watching the sunset as you stand on a ridge overlooking a valley. Out of the corner of your eye, you see movement. It’s a doe and her fawn. Watching them graze, you smile knowing that your work designing this wildlife park means that wild animals will always be free to roam in this beautiful, natural environment. It’s your job to create land use plans that meet the needs of people and communities, while still preserving the natural environment as much as possible. As you hike back to your car, you think about the doe and her fawn and reflect on what you did to make this park a reality.
After developing an initial plan, you studied the land and the people of this area to make sure you were on the right track. You created reports and presentations. You met with community stakeholders, lawyers, and scientists to discuss ideas and get feedback. You also held public meetings to present your plan, which helped you to further understand the community’s needs and address any outstanding concerns. As a land use planner, you mostly work out of an office as part of a team, but you can also be found working outdoors on development sites.
Although you may wait years to see your land use plans come to life, it’s very rewarding when they do. You are dedicated to making a difference and are happy that the end result has a positive impact on the environment and the generations to come.
Duties vary significantly from job to job, but the following list includes typical job duties one might encounter as a land use planner:
Land use planners work in a variety of locations, including, but not limited to:
In the office:
In the field:
In most cases, the minimum educational requirement to work as a land use planner is a university undergraduate degree. Advanced degrees make land use planners more competitive in the job market. The following post-secondary programs are most applicable for a career in this field:
The recognized professional accreditation for this occupation, MCIP/ MICU, is obtained through full membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners. If you are a high school student considering a career as a land use planner, you should have a strong interest in:
Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.
This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.
We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.
As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.
Nous travaillons actuellement sur la version française du site que nous espérons lancer très bientôt!
Merci pour votre patience et compréhension pendant que nous finalisons la version améliorée du site.
We are working to launch the French site very soon!
Thank you for your patience while we finalize the new and improved version of our website.