|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
A
Job to Love
Imagine sitting in front of your house
watching the sunset. Out of the corner
of your eye, you see movement. It’s
a doe and her fawn. Watching them graze,
you know that it was you who designed
this wildlife park to make sure that
animals are free in their environments.
It’s your work that makes sure
we plan for the future generations who
have let us borrow this land. Sighing,
you’re pleased, knowing that your
vision makes a difference for people
and the environment.
Land
use planners create land development
plans that meet the needs of people
while preserving the natural environment.
As part of a team, they mostly work
out of an office, but can also be
found working outdoors on development
sites. Many Aboriginal land use planners
live where they grew up—protecting
water, wildlife, and heritage lands
that are valued by their Elders and
home communities.
For
these reasons, it’s rewarding
to see your land use plans come to
life, but no job is perfect. As a
land use planner, you’ll sometimes
have to wait years to see results
of your work. You’ll face people
who oppose your plans. You’ll
often work long hours, under the pressure
of deadlines. You might feel stressed
by a lack of job security because
when budgets get tight, planning is
one of the first things to go. Then
again, good land use planners work
around these obstacles because they’re
dedicated to making a difference and
the end results are so important that
they outweigh the negatives.
Job
Description
Land use planners decide how to build
communities based on environmental and
human needs. After taking the time to
understand what residents, community
groups, politicians, and business people
want in their communities, land use
planners develop strategy for action.
For example, if a land use planner were
creating a plan for a new neighborhood,
he or she would design roads, parks,
homes, and stores. Land use planners
work for real estate agencies, not-for-profit
organizations, architectural companies,
and the government.
Job
Duties
- Prepare
plans for environmental protection
such as wildlife preserves, national
and provincial parks, and watershed
protection
- Prepare
land use plans for housing, transportation
systems, farms, and parks
- Study
the physical land and an area’s
people to make sure that land use
plans are appropriate
- Hold
public meetings to present plans,
proposals, and studies to the general
public and special interest groups
- Process
applications for land development
permits
- Supervise
and co-ordinate the work of urban
planning technicians and technologists
Fact
Canada has more than 19 vehicles per
kilometre of road.
|
|
 |
 |
|
High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include English, computers,
calculus, geometry, physics, chemistry,
and biology. Aboriginal studies, history,
and languages will prepare you for working
in a multi-cultural setting. Talk to
your career or academic counsellor about
options such as business administration,
economics, geography, politics, social
studies, writing, environmental science,
drafting, engineering, blueprint reading,
and communication technology.
The
minimum education requirement for
this job is a bachelor’s degree
in planning, environmental studies
or a related area such as geography,
economics, political science or engineering.
Advanced degrees will make you more
competitive in the job market and
you’ll find it easier to get
a job and negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce,
some land use planners require training
in:
- Public
speaking
- Written
communication
- Cultural
diversity
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
After
completing your education and gaining
more than two years of planning experience,
you’ll write an exam (administered
by The Canadian Institute of Planners)
to become a professional land use
planner.
|
|
|
 |
|
Land
use planners with a bachelor’s
degree make an average of $45,000.00
per year.
Land use planners with a post-graduate
degree make an average of $55,000.00
per year.
Land use planners with several years
experience and education make an average
of $63,000.00 per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to land use planners:
The Planning Student Trust Fund
Awards start at $2,000.00.
Contact: The Canadian Institute
of Planners
116 Albert Street, Suite 801
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5G3
Telephone: (613) 237-PLAN
email: general@cip-icu.ca
website: www.cip-icu.ca
|
|
|
 |
|
Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders about traditional
land uses, and learn which areas are
traditional hunting or fishing lands
or are sacred and need to be preserved.
Your traditional knowledge and understanding
of the natural world will appeal to
employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- GIS
analyst
- Geologist
- Remediation
scientist
- Survey
technician
Relate
and interact with land use planners.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
Student Chapter of the Canadian
Institute of Planners
116 Albert Street, Suite 801
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5G3
Telephone: (613) 237-PLAN
email: general@cip-icu.ca
website: www.cip-icu.ca
Relate with other students. There
are Aboriginal student associations
and resource centers at most colleges
and universities. Visit these centres
to find out what they have to offer.
Also, look into community, friendship,
and multi-cultural centres.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
