Upcoming events.
Submit a Design for GAPSS Merch!
Are you a little bit creative? Take a stab at creating our 2025/26 GAPSS Merch! Submissions close at 11:59 on Jan 23rd.
Here’s some general information on submission requirements:
The attires will be a T-Shirt, Crewneck and Tote Bag
The merch design may be for the entire attire or a smaller portion of the attires.
The default attire colours will be Cream and/or Dark Blue. You may also choose from the following (Black, Dark Blue, White, Cream or Grey)
Only the design submissions are required, mockups are optional but it will give us a better idea on your vision.
Submitting multiple designs is highly encouraged
Learn more info (like clothing samples and mockups) as well as the design submission form can be found here!
We’re excited to see your ideas!
Orientation for Planning Competition Participants
This event is recommended for everyone participating in the Urban Planning Competition to get more information on the competition and its expectations. The orientation will take place in Tory 3-57 (the planning studio).
Certificate in Sustainability GAPSS Event
GAPSS is creating a low-pressure space where people can chat, make progress on their projects, and connect with others. This event is open to everyone, whether you are in the the Certificate in Sustainability program, interested in it, or simply looking for a space to talk through ideas, projects, or everyday topics with other students. Come meet people from different disciplines, brainstorm project ideas, or just sit and work together.
No need to register! Just show up!
Location: GAPSS Room (Tory 3-38)
APPI Winter Social Bowling at Plaza Bowl
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Let's celebrate a new year by having a little fun at Plaza Bowl. No experience necessary and all are welcome!
This event is open to APPI Professionals and members, Planning and Geography Students. It will be held at Plaza Bowling Co. (10418 118 Ave NW, Edmonton)
Pricing:
APPI Members: $20.00 GST Included
Students: $10.00 GST Included
Registration fee includes, bowling and shoe rentals. Pizza will be provided. Beverages to be enjoyed at your own expense.
Register Here: https://members.albertaplanners.com/mpower/event/landing.action?id=104
There are only 30 spots available so act fast!
CITY HALL TALK #2 with Courtney Walcott.
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
The Great Housing Debates: Lessons from Calgary City Hall with former Councillor Courtney Walcott
Our second City Hall Talk will feature former Calgary City Councillor Courtney Walcott. Courtney served as City Councillor in the core of Calgary from 2021-2025. He will be sharing a presentation about his learnings about housing, development, planning, public engagement, parking, and much more including...
What can we learn from Calgary about the affordability crisis?
How can we ensure new development contributes to building an affordable, sustainable, and inclusive city?
What lessons should Edmonton City Council consider regarding infill and parking policy?
How do we ensure smart urban policy for Edmonton and Calgary from the provincial government?
Clr. Walcott is a former Calgary Public School teacher and now is pursuing a career in affordable housing and public policy.
Respondents to Clr. Walcott and event partners will be announced soon.
Doors at 3:30PM
Talk at 4:00PM
Social Event to Follow
Please RSVP at the link here: https://www.michaeljanz.ca/walcottjan31. Location will be sent to those who RSVP’d 48 hours prior to the event.
Where to go from HGEO?
Are you curious about the field of human geography, wondering about where you could go with an education in HGEO, or an enjoyer of free food and mingling? Join us for a night of networking with Human Geography professionals, academics, and alumni!
Learn what other HGEO Grads have done after their degree, and the various career options available for you! Meet other people in the field of HGEO and gain some more connections from peers, professors, and industry professionals.
A big thank you to the School of Urban and Regional Planning for sponsoring the catering for this event!
Registration and more event info here
This event will take place in Tory 3-57 (the planning studio). Dinner will be provided!
Inaugural APPI Planning History Webinar: Postwar Architect Planners in Alberta
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join us for a special webinar celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute!
You may be a fan of mid-century modern design, but how much do you know about mid-century modern planning? Learn more in this first annual APPI Planning History Webinar. Presenters David Gordon (Queen’s University), Erik Backstrom (APPI president), Wayne Jackson (former APPI president), and Sasha Tsenkova (University of Calgary) will set the historical context and highlight the role of architect planners in establishing the planning profession in Alberta after the Second World War.
The session will be held online over Zoom. Register here: https://members.albertaplanners.com/mpower/event/landing.action?id=64
Planning Students’ Virtual Evening Chat
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
The Students’ Evening Chats are facilitated by the Alberta Professional Planners’ Institute and intended to foster dynamic conversation between students and professionals across different provinces.
The discussion topic will be “How Planning Theory is or Can Shape students' perspective towards the Planning Profession”.
Attendance is free; register here
CITY HALL TALK with DENIS AGAR
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
AMA with Denis Agar, Executive Director of MOVEMENT, the Metro Vancouver Transit Riders Non-Profit
We have the power to fight for better transit, and win. When riders have a shared vision and a shared voice, we can empower leaders to make transit fast, reliable, and abundant. Here's the thing - we can't do it without you.
Come and Get Inspired with a special live, in-person Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Denis Agar Executive Director of MovementYVR, the Metro Vancouver Transit Riders.
Movement has grown from concept to five staff, grant funding, and scored a number of political wins. They are now helping to lead transit advocacy growth in a number of cities across Canada. Learn about local opportunities through partners such as the Edmonton Transit Riders or through your local community league where you can help speak up for public transit.
Movement empowers transit riders across Metro Vancouver by giving our community a strong, unified voice. We do this through political campaigns, community events, and expert-led seminars that build awareness and deepen public understanding of transit issues. Our work helps riders advocate for better, more equitable transit across Metro Vancouver.
Come and learn, make a new friend, connection, and opportunity to amplify your voice this year in advance of the next Edmonton 2026 four year budget.
Doors: 6:00PM
AMA: 7:00PM
Location TBD. Please RSVP to receive an email 48hrs prior.
O-day'min Park Walking Tour
Take a walking tour with GAPSS of the new Downtown park located in the heart of Edmonton! Tour led by Senior Landscape Architect Matt Sloan and Urban Renewal Planner Tom Beck from the City of Edmonton! Topics will include Design and Planning considerations, community revitalization levy, project design reports, construction process and much more!
Meet at O-day-min Park, exact location TBD. Registration is capped at 30 participants, so be sure to sign-up sooner rather than later!
Winter Term Registration Add/Delete Deadline
Add/delete classes by 11:59 pm on the 16th to avoid any academic record + fees.
Poster Submissions for Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Research and Innovations
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Want to showcase a poster at the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Research and Innovations Night in Feb 2026?
Topics can include: Planning, Environment, Climate, Sustainability, Wildlife, to name a few. If you would like to see if your topic qualifies, email tkopchuk@ualberta.ca.
Submit your poster before Dec. 15, 2025 here.
The event will be at 5:30pm to 9pm on Thursday, February 26th, 2026 in the Fred Pheasey Engineering Commons (DICE-292 and 8A292).
EAS Holiday Christmas Party
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Tickets are now on sale for the EAS 2025 Holiday Party, and we’re excited to celebrate the end of the year with you. Join us on Friday, December 12, 2025 in the Winspear Room at the University Club for an evening of food, fun, and connection from 5:30 PM to midnight.
Event Details:
Doors and Cocktails: 5:30 PM
Program Begins: 7:15 PM
Dinner: 7:30 PM
Activities include a silent auction, dancing, and karaoke
Who Can Attend
Everyone (and their +1s) is welcome! Undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff, across all disciplines.
Ticket Pricing:
Students: $40
Non-students (faculty, staff, guests): $55
How to Purchase Tickets:
Fill out the ticket form
Find a payment method that works for you:
Send an e-transfer to atlaseas@ualberta.ca with your name and email used in the form, and the number of tickets.
If you prefer to pay with cash or card, visit Monday Coffee Hour (9:30-10:30 AM)
Can’t make that time? Email dgutier1@ualberta.ca to arrange another option.
Location: Winspear Room at the University Club. Dec 12, 2025, 5:30 - Late
Semester-End Games Night
Need something to do to take your mind off of exams? Want to decompress? Come join us in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3-87) and play some games!
Please note that photos and/or videos will be taken at today’s event, which may be used for promotional purposes. If you have any concerns about this, please speak to an event organizer or contact Roan Deighton at 587-596-0024 or rdeighto@ualberta.ca.
APPI Empathetic Planning: From Research to Reality
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join us for a discussion on the role of empathy in planning practice. A practicing planner reflects on their graduate research in Empathic Planning five years later with practical insights. The webinar will explore the integral role of empathy within the profession and how planners exhibit, use, and facilitate empathy in their work. The presentation will provide an overview of the research, including the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire results and interviews with planners, to gain insights on what empathy means to professionals. Strategies and recommendations for enhancing empathy will also be provided and an updated perspective after working within the field.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding empathy plays an integral role in planning and determining the public good.
Understanding planners need to forge empathy within the public process, as well as being empathic to the public.
Understanding Empathic Distress within the profession.
Identifying tools and strategies for employing empathy within the planning process.
Presenter: Kelsea Shadlock, MCP, MCIP, RPP Senior Planner, Town of Huntsville
Kelsea is a Senior Planner at the Town of Huntsville. She earned a Master of Community Planning at the University of Vancouver Island. Her passion for planning came from traveling and living abroad, and she continues to love bringing big city ideas to small town planning.
Registration is required! Event is online. Register here
First and Second Year Weekly Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5pm in the GAPSS room, Tory 3-87.
Event for 1 and 2 year GAPSS members and students interested in Geography and Planning.
Bring work, or play games provided in the room. No need for registration, just show up!
Planning Competition Sign-Up Deadline
For more infomration and to register for the planning competition, please check out the 2026 Competition Registration Form here!
APPI Edmonton - City Streetscapes Paint Night
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Follow along with our artist’s step-by-step guidance — from blank canvas to completed masterpiece — in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
What to Expect:
1.5 hours of guided painting instruction
All materials provided (canvas, paints, brushes)
Non-alcoholic drinks available
We recommend wearing clothes you’re comfortable getting paint on, but aprons will be provided for those who want them
Ticket Pricing:
Members- $25 GST Included
Non Members- $35 GST Included
Students- $15 GST Included (Student membership is now free, so be sure to become one before registering for the event!)
This event is capped at 35 participants.
Location: Stantec Tower — 10220 103 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0K4 (Ice District) 3rd floor.
Dinner with a Councillor
The Dinner with a Councillor event is an informal meal and discussion with Ward Papastew Councillor Michael Janz (and fellow student participants). The location will be sent to registrants on the day of the event, but it will be a short walk from main campus. The event is free and pizza will be included.
Spots are limited! If you’d like to attend, please sign up complete the sign-up form here.
Fall 2025 MÉTIS Talks
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Fall 2025 MÉTIS Talks, which will be hosted through zoom by the Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research on Thursday November 27, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm MST. This event extends the opportunity to showcase Métis research connected with Métis Communities. RCMR hosts MÉTIS Talks twice a year, inviting the public to join presentations that highlight Métis specific research, art and culture.
This fall marks the 10 year Anniversary of MÉTIS Talks and will feature three amazing presenters:
Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson, is speaking on Indigenous Fire Stewardship and Métis Communities;
Jakob, with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, will be presenting, Coping with Wildfires: Holistic Approaches for Métis Citizens within Alberta;
Dylan Turner, from Rupertsland Institute. His talk is titled, Kîwîchitanow: We Are Helping Others.
Here is the zoom link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/anAScLlbSReCjiWpzLb_2Q
First and Second Year Weekly Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5pm in the GAPSS room, Tory 3-87.
Event for 1 and 2 year GAPSS members and students interested in Geography and Planning.
Bring work, or play games provided in the room. No need for registration, just show up!
Sustainability Council Lecture
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Modern power and energy systems are becoming increasingly complex as they integrate renewables, distributed storage, and responsive loads such as electric vehicle chargers, smart buildings, and data centers. Numerous control-theoretic and learning-based approaches have been proposed to date to improve their safety, reliability, and efficiency. Each approach offers significant benefits but also faces distinct limitations. In this talk, you will learn why combining reinforcement learning with control theory can unlock new opportunities for sustainable energy systems, enabling better performance while maintaining safety and stability guarantees. You will also see recent results from Dr. Ardakanian’s group on practical ways to achieve this integration.
Nov 25, 2025 12pm - 1pm MST in Education South (ED) 1-28
ECOHH National Housing Day of Action
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECOHH) to use your voice to advocate for affordable and accessible housing. Bring Blankets and warm winter clothing.
Nov 22, 2025 12:00pm on Legislature Grounds
Student Transit Town Hall
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join Panelist Andrew Knack to talk about how to make transit safer for Edmonton transit users.
Nov 20, 2025 3:30 - 4:30
Carruthers Student Commons (Business Building)
First and Second Year Weekly Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5pm in the GAPSS room, Tory 3-87.
Event for 1 and 2 year GAPSS members and students interested in Geography and Planning.
Bring work, or play games provided in the room. No need for registration, just show up!
First and Second Year Weekly Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5pm in the GAPSS room, Tory 3-87.
Event for 1 and 2 year GAPSS members and students interested in Geography and Planning.
Bring work, or play games provided in the room. No need for registration, just show up!
Building Resilience: Edmonton Urban Design Awards Showcase
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join ULI Edmonton for an evening celebrating innovation, collaboration, and climate-adaptive urban design. Hear from Cyril Balitbit, Liz Wreford, and Nolan Halonen as they discuss three award-winning projects—the Klondike Park Redevelopment, Garneau Neighbourhood Renewal, and Northeast River Valley Park Strategic Plan—each showcasing how thoughtful design can build a more resilient city. Enjoy drinks, appetizers, and conversations that inspire new ideas in sustainable urban design.
Location: Kaffa Roastery & Studio #201, 10920 88 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T6G 0Z1 Canada
Student pricing for this event is available for both members and non-members.
If interested, you can purchase tickets here: https://alberta.uli.org/events/detail/632A2661-3BC5-48B7-9750-4F2B83A7931F/
U of A 2025 Celebration of Planning
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
The University of Alberta Urban and Regional Planning Committee are excited to once again hold their Celebration of Planning Gala on November 6, 2025. This year will mark their 10th annual event.
Funds from previous events have provided dozens of students in the School of Urban and Regional Planning with scholarships and have helped to build a long term scholarship endowment for the School.
Who: University of Alberta Urban and Regional Planning Committee, students
Location: Riverview Room in the Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB
If you wish to attend, please register here.
First and Second Year Weekly Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5pm in the GAPSS room, Tory 3-87.
Event for 1 and 2 year GAPSS members and students interested in Geography and Planning.
Bring work, or play games provided in the room. No need for registration, just show up!
Sustainability Council
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join Mercedes Morin, Director of the Sustainable Development Goals Unit at Employment and Social Development Canada, and SDSN Canada for an engaging session on how Canada and young leaders are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through insights from the Government of Canada and a dynamic youth panel hosted by Ali Epp, this event will explore national progress toward the 2030 Agenda, the importance of collaboration, and how youth are shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. You will gain practical insights, hear inspiring stories, and discover ways to contribute to Canada’s SDG efforts
Topic: Canada's Path to 2030: Government and Youth in Action
This is an online meeting through ZOOM.
Rally for the ATA!
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join the Education Students Association and other campus clubs for a rally in support of our Alberta Teachers! Additionally ESA is organizing an art build on Nov 4 at 4pm in the 4th floor education lounge - supplies provided.
The event will be happening on the main quad. Come support teachers protest the notwithstanding clause & defend our right to strike!
No registration required.
ESA Art Build
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
ESA is organizing an art build at 4pm in the 4th floor education lounge. Supplies will be provided. This event is in support of teachers following the ATA teacher strike. Come put together a sign to help protest in support of teachers during the school walkout on Wednesday, November 5 at noon in the main quad!
APPI Campus Walking Tour
GAPSS invites you to sign up for the inaugural APPI Campus Walking Tour, co-hosted by GAPSS! The event will include a short presentation about U of A campus planning and the history of its development, followed by a walking tour to talk about specific sites on campus! The event starts at 6:30 pm in Tory 3-57, and will end at 8:00pm after the tour. Registration is limited to 30 attendees. Register here: APPI Walking Tour - U of A Campus Walking Tour
Date is subject to change. Please dress for the weather, as a portion of the event will be held outside. Pictures will be taken during the event. If you have any concerns about this, please speak to an event organizer or contact Roan Deighton at either (587)596-0024 or rdeighto@ualberta.ca.
Interactive lecture and discussion with students with Kobus Mentz
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
The author of The Future Embraced, and director of Urbanism+ joining us this week to offer a session for you. The event is this Thursday. This is at no cost to you.
Location: Tory 3-57 (Planning Studio)
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
No registration required.
EAS Halloween Movie Night
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Join EAS for their Halloween themed movie night!
MOVIE: Coraline.
Time: Doors open at 5:45 PM, movie starts at 6:00 PM
Location: ESB 3-27
Bring snacks or buy some there.
CIP Student membership info session - VIRTUAL
Whether you’re a new member or just exploring, join us for the CIP Student Membership Online Info Session to learn how to make the most of your free membership!
Discover how CIP can help you grow your network, access exclusive resources, and kick-start your planning career.
CIP offers free membership to all post-secondary students, no matter your field of study or where you live. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and get the most out of being part of Canada’s planning community!
Register here! https://members.cip-icu.ca/mpower/event/landing.action?id=82
Please note that this is a virtual event held at 12:00 pm EST (10:00 am MST).
GAPSS Bar Night
GAPSS’ first bar night of the year is here! Join us at The Pint on Whyte from 9:00pm-11:00pm. Tickets are $5 and get you (1) 1oz highball + priority entrance until 11:00pm!