PRESIDENT

BIOGRAPHY

Hello! My name is Dezmond and I am the current VP Events for GAPSS. I am in my third/fourth year of a BA in Planning, and I am participating in the Arts Work Experience program, having completed one internship so far at an urban planning consulting firm, and in the midst of completing a second in Planning Coordination at the City of Edmonton. My interest in planning continues to grow as I realise the potential power it can have in truly improving people's quality of life. Some of my main interests include the planner's role in ending the housing crisis, climate change mitigation through increased active transportation, and the decolonization of the planning practice. In my free time I love playing sports, looking at maps, travelling, eating food, playing guitar, and riding my bike.

PLATFORM

I believe that GAPSS has had some great momentum over the last year or so. We've seen increased engagement by our executives, which I think has had a trickle-down effect and resulted in increased attendance at our events, increased interaction with our socials, and—I hope—an increased sense of community and spirit within the Human Geography and Planning programs. My main goal as President would be to keep this momentum going with a likely brand new set of executives, and continue to build upon the foundation that has been set over the past year. This means continuing to maintain and strengthen relationships with faculty members, other student societies on campus, professionals in both the geography and planning industries and the bodies that represent them, event venues, and other external organizations. Most importantly, this means continuing to build relationships with and between students in the programs we represent. I strongly believe that building relationships is one of the most important and beneficial things a person can do during their post-secondary education, and creating avenues for this to happen should be at the heart of a student group like GAPSS. I highlighted this same message both times I ran for VP Events, and I believe the events I initiated made progress in doing that. As President, I would lead and oversee my fellow executives in continuing to deliver this vision, whether that be via an online initiative, a social event, a learning opportunity, a community space, or a chance to showcase student work.

VP INTERNAL

BIOGRAPHY

I’m currently a Media Committee member for GAPSS! This year has been my first year as a Planning Major after switching from the combined degree program in the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Native Studies. I’ve had such a great year so far and have made so many new friends! Aside from enjoying student life, my other hobbies include olympic weightlifting, film photography, and collecting different forms of music (vinyl records, CDs, cassettes). I enjoy trying new cafes and restaurants on the weekends with my friends, too!

PLATFORM

An area I would like to focus on is club engagement and participation. My plan is to have set days out of the month planned in advance to give more notice to club members to plan to participate accordingly. For example, every second Friday of every month = movie night, every last Friday of every month = Exec night, etc. Although I would also like to plan smaller, mini events as the semesters go on, having at least one known event per month helps to strengthen a culture of inclusivity. I would love to make the GAPSS room a continued shared space of belonging for members to meet and mingle. Although hosting bigger events (like a movie night) is a way to invite people into the room, having smaller scale hangouts in the space (ex. study sessions, listening parties, etc) is another way to amplify participation and can encourage more people to join the club. On this note, I would also like to reach out to club members to see what kinds of club-bonding events they would like to see GAPSS host. Additionally, I would like to continue Beth’s work with the GAPSS website. I think it would be cute to create a submission portal/something of the like for GAPSS members to share their photos/artworks of cities/places, as well as a food review section. This not only creates more content for the site but also expands how club members can express themselves and show their love for urban settings!

VP EXTERNAL

BIOGRAPHY

Hi! My name is Maja, I am a third year student majoring in Urban Planning. I'm currently doing a work term at the City of Edmonton in Development Services. I am super excited to be running as VP external, and to be back on campus in the fall with the rest of you. All of this year I've been on the media committee doing fun stuff with our current VPs (sad to see so many leaving), they all maintained such an awesome student club! More about me, I love to bike! I actually just bought a new gravel bike since exploring the gravel trails in the city has been so awesome! When the weather allows it I bike commute and transit when the weather doesn't. I love Edmonton, and hate people who say it's boring (sorry, you are just boring). It's a great city, huge arts scene, music scene and an awesome food scene. I will not speak about the impending doom of urban sprawl that we are nowhere near halting… But I'll just leave that to my thoughts before bed. I'm very excited to meet lots of new students as well as keep working closely with my awesome peers. Vote for me!

PLATFORM

My Goals for VP External is to maintain and build upon the already established efforts from past VPs, work closely together with VP Marketing to engage with more students, and to maintain and add to our already large external Network. I will maintain past efforts by continuing to work closely with VP Marketing to make sure all members are informed via many communication channels. I will maintain the newsletter as well as explore different forms of communication in collaboration with marketing, such as a podcast. Connections with Planning and Human Geography Professionals is key to bringing new insights and understandings as to what the world is really like after graduation. I believe that utilizing my work term at the city, as well as the already established strong connections made by past VPs, I can bring interesting network opportunities to related events, from all scopes of the professional world. The recent growth of the student committees should not go un-utilized. I will strive to keep a welcoming space for great ideas from committee members, and encourage more involvement from driven students. Last but not least, we love a growing and happy city, just as much as a growing and happy club. I will make strong efforts to engage more with first and second year students by class outreach and collaboration with Marking. Combined with first year large class sizes and a general first year schedule, it can be hard to meet the people you will eventually graduate with. It is important to me to make sure as many first and second year Planning and Human Geography students are aware of our club and the awesome events we hope to plan in the future.

VP PLANNING

BIOGRAPHY

Hi! I’m Oren! I’m in my third(ish) year of the BSc Planning program, minoring in earth sciences. I’m super enthusiastic about planning and all the ways that it can make the world a better place. As someone who lived in Red Deer for a year with no car, I have personal experiences with the ways that planning can influence someone’s quality of life. Environmental planning also interests me a lot, and I’m excited to learn more as my degree progresses. I love any course I’ve taken relating to ecology, biology, or conservation, and I’m a big fan of plants in general! If I’m not in class or studying, you’ll most likely find me singing in one of the many choirs I am a part of.

PLATFORM

I am committed to ensuring that planning students get all the support they need, through knowledge of the services that the university provides or by communication with faculty. It can be difficult to balance the packed yet varied schedules we have, while applying for internships and taking care of yourself on top of it all, but there are many resources available to help. As VP Planning, I am committed to the equitable facilitation of these resources to help any planning student who would benefit. Academic connections are extremely important; I am committed to the continuation of the ongoing relationships that GAPSS has with our department representatives, and making other new connections as opportunities arise. I will continue to foster a sense of community and inclusion within GAPSS, by being open-minded and supportive. The people who make up GAPSS are remarkably kind and welcoming, and these are traits I will continue to embrace. I am committed to being a collaborative and valuable member of the GAPSS exec team. In addition to my other responsibilities, I am extremely excited to be a part of the student journal, and will collaborate with the other responsible VP to make sure the journal continues to showcase all the excellent work that our students produce.

VP EVENTS

BIOGRAPHY

Hi everyone! My name is Eden, and I am a third-year undergraduate student in the BA Planning program. I am drawn to planning for its interdisciplinary nature. As someone who wishes they could pursue almost every career, I feel really lucky to be able to study and hopefully eventually work in planning, because it seems like the closest I can get to that. Last summer, I did a four-month internship with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, where I got to learn all about federal assessments of projects like mines and dams, the consultation process with Indigenous groups and other stakeholders, and cubicles… Overall, I enjoyed the experience immensely, and before I graduate, I hope to complete at least one or two more work terms with different organizations. I adore rocks, and have completed several mineralogy courses that I am hoping to put towards a minor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. For about three years now, I have worked part-time at a tailor shop, and I am really happy whenever I get to share the craft and teach a friend how to mend a garment or sew a button. In my free time, I like to play piano and guitar. I also enjoy mountain biking, Olympic weightlifting, ice skating, badminton, gymnastics, finding cool sticks, climbing trees, and jumping off of things.

PLATFORM

I have always taken a lot of pride in fostering camaraderie among the communities in which I am involved, and I would be very honoured to continue this in an official capacity with GAPSS by taking on the role of VP Events! This past year, I’ve taken on a more involved role in the Events Committee as a Primary Event Coordinator, playing a major part in the organization of the upcoming Geography and Planning Year-End Student Showcase. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone’s research and design projects, meeting new people who work and research in the field, and watching all of our hard work finally come to fruition. If the Year-End Showcase turns out well (knock on wood), as VP Events next year, I would like to help establish it as an annual event for GAPSS. Finally, in my duties for the role, I would like to develop an events calendar that is mindful of the academic schedule. It should be balanced, affording students enriching opportunities for personal and professional development, and offering social functions at which we can gather with old and new friends alike to unwind when we need it most! I have been lucky enough to witness firsthand how GAPSS’ events draw the tightly-knit geography and planning community even closer together, especially in welcoming new members and helping them share in the sense of belonging right away. Thank you for considering me as your next VP Events.

VP MARKETING

BIOGRAPHY

Hello everyone! My name is Eli, and I am running for Vice President of Marketing for GAPSS. I am currently in my third year pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Urban Planning. I moved to Edmonton from Anchorage, Alaska three years ago for the planning program and have been a GAPSS member since my first year. In my spare time, I like to explore the river valley, bike through the city and ponder planning-related topics. I am excited to be a part of the GAPPS team.

PLATFORM

I carry a passion for strategic outreach and a track record of success in marketing and communications, I am eager to maintain and elevate our organization’s presence on and off campus. My experience in marketing began at Steller Secondary, where I established the Social Media Liaison position to maintain our school’s online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic. I coordinated with event organizers to effectively promote activities and ensured our digital platforms remained active and engaging. Building on this experience, I later co-chaired the applications committee at Outer Coast College, where I was responsible for advertising and admissions outreach. I developed and executed a strategic marketing plan, hosted information events at Alaskan high schools, and played a key role in engaging prospective students. Additionally, I managed Outer Coast’s social media presence across multiple platforms, growing its brand and following through organized takeovers and a consistent and creative posting strategies. As VP of Marketing, I will bring this experience to GAPSS by developing a strong marketing strategy, leading our promotional efforts, and ensuring we maintain a dynamic and engaging social media presence. I will also work to expand our outreach through clubs fairs and other promotional events, making GAPSS more visible and accessible to all students.

VP FINANCE

BIOGRAPHY

My name is Mikoto, and I am an upcoming fourth-year student double majoring in Urban Planning and Economics. Growing up in Vancouver and experiencing the constant changes around the city has led me to pursue a career in planning and development. When I was young, taking the Skytrain to the city or biking around the seawall with my mom was one of my favourite weekend activities. As I experience my city becoming more walkable, bikeable, and transit-able, I hope to see many other Canadian cities experience the same. In my free time, I enjoy watching hockey and soccer (or real football). Please don’t judge me as a Canucks Fan. Since coming to University, I quickly realized that our campus community is a place where we learn together, from one another, and about each other. I believe that our studies in urban planning teaches us how to create diverse communities and promote change in our cities. As a University of Alberta student ambassador I believe that being a U of A student inspires us to be community builders and change-makers in our world. Recognizing that when you learn from everyone, you can share your story too.

PLATFORM

A part of the GAPSS success story over the past couple years is the hard work of the VP Finance executives. Isabella (2024) and Mason (2023) have put in tremendous work to ensure that GAPSS is financially sustainable and capable of growing in the long term. With an educational background in a major in Economics and all the calc 1 and 2 suffering I have overcome, I plan to do the math-ing that most planners don’t want to do. All jokes aside, I believe that it is important to carefully maneuver the balance between the club's finances, events, and spending with long term financial success. As GAPSS continues to grow as a student group and play a more significant role in the University, I recognize that there will be future opportunities for additional fundraising and sponsorship opportunities. Through the University Ambassador Program I have many friends and colleagues who are presidents or VP Executives of other student organizations on campus. I hope to take advantage of my connections to learn and find new financial opportunities for the success of GAPSS. As VP of Finance, I will find creative approaches to improve the Club's financial situation, maintain a substantial budget, and reach out to those with more experience for guidance or expertise to find new funding opportunities.

VP FINANCE

BIOGRAPHY

Hi, my name is Grace, and I am currently in my second year of the BA Planning program with a minor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. I joined GAPSS in 2023 as a member of the academic committee and really appreciate the opportunities that GAPSS has given me to connect with others in planning and geography. My main interest in planning is in making transportation more sustainable and accessible. Outside of planning I enjoy fencing, hiking, and foraging in antique stores for old maps.

PLATFORM

As Vice President of Finance, I would work diligently to find funding opportunities for GAPSS and to come up with fundraising ideas. I would also ensure that funding is spent appropriately and efficiently by thoroughly analyzing the budget and discussing it with other VPs.