Upcoming Events
Join natIgnite 2026 – Interdisciplinary Competition
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
When: May 8–10, 2026
Where: 8th Floor, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering (DICE), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Who: Open to participants from all disciplines: tech, science, business, arts, health, engineering, and more!
Theme: Accessibility
This year’s event explores how products, systems, and organizations can be designed to be more usable, inclusive, and equitable. From physical and digital systems to internal processes and business operations, teams will build solutions that expand access rather than limit it.
Register here: nat.ltd/natignite
Application Deadline: April 17, 2026
Housing Forward: 2026 Prairies Affordable Housing Summit
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Housing Forward: 2026 Prairies Affordable Housing Summit is the first City of Edmonton-hosted, prairie-wide gathering focused specifically on practical delivery of affordable and non-market housing solutions. Convened by the City of Edmonton, the Summit brings together municipalities, developers, housing providers, planners, Indigenous housing leaders, and funders from across Western Canada.
Learn more about the event with the above link!
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
Planners as Consultants: The Business Side of Planning
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Planners are trained to analyze policy, land use and community needs, but few receive guidance on the practical realities of running a consulting practice. In this workshop, the facilitator will draw on her experience as owner of a successful 30-person consulting firm to address the business skills you need to thrive as a consultant or firm owner. Real-world case studies, candid insights and hands-on exercises will illustrate the learning and equip you with tools you can use.
Wed April 15 – 11 am to 1pm Pacific Time (12:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST)
Online Synchronous
Student Fee: $45 – Add to Cart at online registration link and use promo code: PLANURP
GAPSS Year End Student Showcase
The Year-End Student Showcase is a low-stakes way to showcase your best work to industry professionals, professors, and fellow students. Last year, 74 students presented projects!
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026; from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Venue: University Commons Atrium (UCOMM), University of Alberta
Planning and Human Geography grad and undergrad students are eligible to participate as presenters.
Projects do not need to be completed at the time of registration.
fill out this form if you'd like to present something!
Projects can be from any class/term, or year and should be in a presentable format. Printing costs for posters will be reimbursed/subsidized!
Students are welcome to attend as guests if they don’t bring a project, as the Showcase will also function as an informal networking event.
Email gapss@ualberta.ca if you have any questions at all.
SEE YOU THERE!
GAPSS Winter AGM
Join us for our semi-annual general meeting, where we will propose constitutional changes, as well as announce the new exec team winners!
Dinner will be provided!
Location: Tory 3-57 (Planning Studio)
GAPSS Voting Period
Cast your votes to elect the executive committee for the 2026-2027 academic school year!
To learn more about our nominees, head to our Student Life tab > Elections.
The voting period runs from March 30 - April 2 at 4:00 pm. Winners will be announced at our Winter AGM on Thursday, April 2 @ 5:00pm in Tory 3-57. All are welcome and food will be provided!
Please note that you must be a GAPSS member to vote. Membership sign-ups are paused during the voting period.
Follow the voting link here!: https://campus.hellorubric.com/election?electionId=775
EAS Grad Banquet
Everyone within the EAS department is invited to celebrate this phenomenal group of undergrads!
The banquet will be taking place on Saturday, March 28th, starting at 5:30 pm in Dinwoodie Lounge (SUB).
Tickets to the banquet will be $35 and can be paid with an e-transfer or cash. Instructions for each can be found below.
To pay via e-transfer, please fill out the 2026 EAS Graduation Banquet Ticket form. Instructions are included in the form. Once your e-transfer is received, you must pick up your ticket in either the P.S. Warren (CCIS 2-034) or GAPSS (Tory 3-87) clubroom. However, please note that ticket pick up will begin on Wednesday, March 11th!
If you'd prefer to pay cash, you will have to do so in person at the P.S. Warren (CCIS 2-034) when a Grad Committee member is present. Once again, ticket pick up will only start on Wednesday, March 11th.
Even if you are not graduating, a professor, or a friend, you are still welcome (and encouraged) to attend! Ticket sales will close Friday, March 20th at 11:59 pm. Make sure you buy them now before you forget!
GAPSS Election Forum
Learn about all the potential candidate platforms and why you should vote for them! Come with questions, open to all students, but only GAPSS members can vote (become one here)
Location: Tory 3-57 (Planning Studio)
ATLAS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lunch-Hour
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Instead of having lunch alone (or no lunch at all), this is a chance to take a break from work, socialize, and engage in discussions with other students from the department in a relaxed and welcoming environment!
When: Every two weeks, on Thursdays
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Where: ESB 3-01 (EAS lunchroom)
What’s provided: Sweet treats, coffee, and tea
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
GAPSS Bowling Night!
Join us for the third annual GAPSS Bowling social at Plaza Bowling Co. for some classic Canadian five-pin fun!
For $15, enjoy 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and priceless camaraderie with your Geography and Planning classmates (total bargain). Additionally, Plaza offers an assortment of snacks, local craft beer, ciders, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase, and a unique and wonderful bowling atmosphere. All are welcome, so please feel free to invite friends, family, and partners along!
Event Timing: March 20th, 2026 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Location: Plaza Bowling Co. - 10418 118 Ave NW
Tickets are $15! Get yours here!
Did you know: Geographers and Planners are 50% more likely to hit a strike when they take public or active transit to the alley.
Did you know: People who fact-check fun facts throw gutter balls 100% of the time.
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
Exec Info Session
Interested in running for an Exec Position in 2026/27?
We have organized a presentation detailing all the positions and commitments each exec holds. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about which role interests you.
Interested? Join the meeting here!
ATLAS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lunch-Hour
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Instead of having lunch alone (or no lunch at all), this is a chance to take a break from work, socialize, and engage in discussions with other students from the department in a relaxed and welcoming environment!
When: Every two weeks, on Thursdays
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Where: ESB 3-01 (EAS lunchroom)
What’s provided: Sweet treats, coffee, and tea
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
Sustainability Lecture
This event is located in UCOMM 1-330.
Agritourism provides many benefits, including cultural heritage and environmental conservation, visitor education, and farm revenue diversification. Drawing on findings arising from a longitudinal study of visitors to Alberta's Open Farm Days, the impact of this annual farm visitation event will be presented. Effects on visitors' appreciation of agricultural production, development of rural destination loyalty, and consumer food purchase decisions will be discussed, and strategies for increasing the sustainability of agritourism activities will be proposed
Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Curious about undergraduate research and how to get started? The annual Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (FURCA) is a great place to see examples of projects that students have been involved in, make connections with other students interested in research, and discover potential opportunities for you to participate in research yourself!
FURCA is hosted by the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) and it is a campus-wide celebration showcasing the research and creative achievements of undergraduate students across all disciplines. All students are invited to come check out poster sessions and oral presentations from students sharing the results of their exciting research. The Involvement fair will also be held on the last day of FURCA to give students an opportunity to connect with professionals involved in research.
This year, FURCA will be held on March 10-12, 2026, at the University Commons. Poster presentations and the involvement fair will be held in the atrium, and oral presentations will be held in room 2-350. Learn more at uab.ca/furca!
YEAR-END SHOWCASE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
The Year-End Student Showcase is a low-stakes way to showcase your best work to industry professionals, professors, and fellow students. See GAPSS Year-End Student Showcase Event for more info!
Planning and Human Geography grad and undergrad students are eligible to participate as presenters.
Projects do not need to be completed at the time of registration.
fill out this form if you'd like to present something! Please see the form for specific deadline requirements regarding poster printing subsidies.
Projects can be from any class/term, or year and should be in a presentable format. Printing costs for posters will be reimbursed/subsidized!
Students are welcome to attend as guests if they don’t bring a project, as the Showcase will also function as an informal networking event.
Email gapss@ualberta.ca if you have any questions at all.
Showcase Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026; from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Showcase Venue: University Commons Atrium (UCOMM), University of Alberta
SEE YOU THERE!
GAPSS Winter Sem Bar Night
It’s time for GAPSS Bar Night!
Join us at The Pint on Whyte Ave (8032 104 St NW) for the second time this academic year!
Bar Night tickets are $7. This gets you (1) prepaid 1oz highball + priority entrance before 11:00 pm. All students welcome, including undergrads and grads. Proceeds from bar night tickers help fundraise for our graduation banquet!
COME JOIN US! TICKETS HERE. We hope to see you there!
Please drink responsibly.
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
ATLAS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lunch-Hour
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Instead of having lunch alone (or no lunch at all), this is a chance to take a break from work, socialize, and engage in discussions with other students from the department in a relaxed and welcoming environment!
When: Every two weeks, on Thursdays
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Where: ESB 3-01 (EAS lunchroom)
What’s provided: Sweet treats, coffee, and tea
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
ATLAS Talk
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Governing urban marginality through necrospatial containment and slow violence: From informal settlements in Harare to Homeless encampments in Edmonton
The talk will be this Friday, February 13th, from 12-1 pm in Tory 3-36. Please come in person and grab some coffee, tea and snacks!
ATLAS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lunch-Hour
*This is promoted event. Event is NOT hosted by GAPSS!*
Instead of having lunch alone (or no lunch at all), this is a chance to take a break from work, socialize, and engage in discussions with other students from the department in a relaxed and welcoming environment!
When: Every two weeks, on Thursdays
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Where: ESB 3-01 (EAS lunchroom)
What’s provided: Sweet treats, coffee, and tea
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
GAPSS Merch Sale!
Want to rep this executive years’ merch? Fill out a form to place your order here! The order form also contains various options of designs and merch options.
Orders must be placed by February 16, 2026 at 11:59pm. Your order is not considered placed until we receive an e-transfer payment from you. More information can be found in the order form.
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!
Junior Study Room
Every Wednesday at 5 pm till whenever. Join the 1st and 2nd years in the GAPSS Room, do some studying or not. Located in the GAPSS Room (Tory 3 - 87).
Topophilia Journal Submissions Now Open!
Topophilia is now accepting submissions! You can submit papers that
Are related to human geography or planning
Are from a 200-level or higher class
Received at least an A- grade
This is a great opportunity to showcase work that you are proud of, or that you think the planning and geography community could benefit from reading. Publication in Topophilia can build your resume and allow you to share your work beyond the classroom!
Please ensure the papers you submit fall within the recommended word count, academic guidelines, and formatting guidelines. For more information and to submit your papers, please see the submissions page on the Topophilia website. Submissions will be open from February 1 to February 28.
Thank you for considering submitting your hard work for Topophilia 2026!
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.
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!
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)