In Development Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Join us for a dynamic episode of the In Development podcast as we sit down with Chelsea Whitty and Jordan Riemer, two innovative urban planners making significant impacts on Edmonton's urban landscape.

Jordan Riemer is an Urban Planner in Edmonton who specializes in merging equity and land-use considerations into transportation planning. With a background that includes six years at DIALOG, Jordan has been involved in major projects such as the Valley Line West LRT and the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion Program, showcasing his expertise in solving complex city-building challenges.

Chelsea Whitty is an Associate at DIALOG, where she excels in urban design, sustainable integration, and public engagement. Her portfolio includes significant projects like Kinistinâw Park and the MacEwan University Campus Master Plan, demonstrating her commitment to creating thoughtful and resilient urban environments.

In this episode, we delve into the transformative projects shaping Edmonton's future. Jordan discusses his work on the Valley Line LRT and Edmonton's approach to Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI), emphasizing how innovative transit design can enhance community connectivity and accessibility. Chelsea Whitty shares insights into her projects, focusing on the importance of public engagement and collaborative urban design.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in urban planning as Jordan and Chelsea share their experiences and visions for Edmonton's growth. Discover how their collaborative approaches and innovative thinking are driving positive change in the city.

Tune in to learn more about the exciting projects redefining Edmonton's urban landscape and the passionate planners behind them.

Join us for an engaging episode of the In Development podcast as we welcome Puneeta McBryan, CEO of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association (EDBA). Puneeta stepped into her role in December 2020, navigating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a leader and connector, she collaborates with government bodies, the private sector, arts and cultural organizations, post-secondary institutions, and social services to foster vibrancy and economic prosperity in Edmonton's downtown. Her efforts have earned her recognition as the Inspired Leader of the Year by IABC Edmonton, one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 by Edify Magazine, and the recipient of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Community Impact Award.

In this episode, Puneeta shares her journey from the field of marketing and communications to leading the EDBA, offering insights into the evolution of downtown Edmonton since her last podcast appearance in April 2022. Listeners can expect to hear about significant changes, including the impact of new projects like Warehouse Park and the High Level Line, and how these developments contribute to downtown’s resilience.

Puneeta delves into the current state of downtown, discussing the flourishing tech industry, the effects of hybrid work models, and the importance of BIAs in enhancing the downtown experience. She also addresses the challenges of residential development, safety concerns, and the ongoing efforts to create a vibrant, inclusive community.

Tune in to learn more about the dynamic landscape of downtown Edmonton, the strategic initiatives of the EDBA, and Puneeta’s vision for the future. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on urban development and community building.

Check out the latest episode of "In Development" featuring Jason Cunha, where he shares his expertise on the infrastructure challenges in infill development. Jason discusses this topic through the lens of zoning bylaw renewal, as well as it applies to programs such as the Neighborhood Renewal and Infill Fire Protection. Later on in the episode Jason reflects on his term as IDEA President since May 2023, ruminating on the association's growth, new educational programming and the upcoming inaugural golf tournament next summer. This episode covers a range of topics from water mains to district planning to composting toilets. Don't miss out—listen now using the link in bio!

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Jason Cunha is an Associate and Project Manager at Stantec. He is a mechanical engineer and experienced project manager with a long track record of managing large scale infrastructure projects in Edmonton, with a specialty in infrastructure renewal and replacement. Prior to his current role with Stantec, he held leadership and project management roles at EPCOR Water and ATCO and brings a wealth of utility industry knowledge from his time there.

Jason’s first direct experience with the real estate development industry started in his role as Manager, Infill Development Planning and Engineering at EPCOR Water. In that role he developed an appreciation for the importance of connecting and building understanding between the land planning and engineering sides of the development process, and uses that insight both in advising clients and in working to influence the development of policy and processes within the City of Edmonton.

Jason is the current president of the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA). He joined IDEA to provide an engineering perspective and share his knowledge and expertise in all things infrastructure.

Welcome to Episode 40 of "In Development" – where urban planning meets insightful discussion! In this comeback episode, our dynamic new hosts, Lilit Houlder and Allison Rosland, bring a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to the podcast.

Join Lilit and Alison as they delve into their professional backgrounds as urban planners, sharing the twists and turns that led them to the vibrant world of IDEA. From urban landscapes to the new zoning law, these hosts have seen it all and are ready to unpack current issues impacting the world of infill development.

In this episode, they explore recent developments in Edmonton's urban planning scene, dissecting the implications of the city's new zoning bylaw and the subsequent motions presented by City Council following its approval. Get ready for an insightful conversation that goes beyond the headlines, as Lilit and Alison share their thoughts on the topic and drop an exciting teaser about Episode 41, revealing their first official guest.
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Lilit is a local planner in Edmonton, working with a consulting firm, Invistec Consulting Ltd. Lilit has pursued her Masters in Urban Planning at the University of Calgary and has since worked in private and public sectors with a focus on urban design and policy. 

In her volunteering efforts, Lilit strives to advocate for equitable cities as the Co-Chair of her national organization, Women in Urbanism, by taking an intersectional approach to urban planning that focuses on people’s health and safety.

Allison is an urban planner with six years of planning consulting experience in both an urban and rural context. She began her planning career working with small urban and rural municipalities to prepare long-range future land use plans, zoning bylaws, watershed management plans and tackling the day-to-day planning challenges municipalities face. Since joining Situate in 2022, her focus has shifted to rezoning and strategic advisory services for awesome infill projects.

Allison holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta and Master of Planning from the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

Today, Dr. Sandeep Agrawal joins In Development for a very special episode. The conversation kicks off by exploring Dr. Agrawal’s interesting journey into the Planning profession and academia. The audience learns about Dr. Agrawal’s experiences spearheading programs at two prominent Canadian universities. For the first time ever, this episode also features audience-generated questions, in which Dr. Agrawal provides his professional insight on topics such as climate, culture, equity, zoning policies and more.

Dr. Sandeep Agrawal is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. He was an Associate Chair in the department and Inaugural director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning between 2013 and 2023. During his tenure as director, he led the development of MSc Planning and PhD specialization in urban planning, and established the School in 2018. Prior to moving to the University of Alberta, he was Associate Director and Founding Graduate Program Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).

Dr. Agrawal has a diverse array of research interests that encompasses sustainable urban and rural planning, energy transition, Indigenous issues, and human rights. Among several national and international grants he has received, the most recent one is $98.6M CFREF grant, in which he is the project lead from the University of Alberta. As an accomplished author with over a hundred articles and professional reports and three books, Dr. Agrawal has contributed to planning practice and affected city bylaws and planning policies and legislation, with a lens on human rights and equity. The most recent book is entitled Rights and the City: Problems, Progress and Practice. His new book Municipal Boundary Battles will be published soon.

Dr. Agrawal is a recipient of the Canadian Institute of Planners’ national academic award for his significant contribution to planning education and research in the country.

In this episode, Ryan and Olivia sit down with Kristin Tollovsen to discuss the relationship between environmental sustainability and property development. In particular, the influence of embodied carbon, operational carbon and a building’s end of life on our climate. Kristin also highlights various industry resources available, such as educational programs, green building certifications, and free digital tools for builders and developers. Listen to the full episode to hear an environmental scientist’s unique perspective on development and why Kristin believes all stakeholders in the industry should consider a carbon life cycle analysis for existing and future projects.

Kristin Tollovsen is the Manager of Sustainability and Social Purpose at Centurion Canada Infrastructure. Kristin has a B.Sc. from UBC and over 13 years of environmental experience including roles as an Environmental Scientist and Sustainable Project Manager. Kristin has worked with sustainable building certifications, sustainable operations and policy, and life cycle analysis for buildings and is now using those skills to lead Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) initiatives and improve workplace diversity at Centurion. Kristin is the co-founder and chair of the Carbon Leadership Forum – Alberta Hub and was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 recipients by Edify Magazine for 2021.

In this episode of In Development, Ryan and Olivia sit down with Alessandra Bruni, Principal/Owner of ChalkMark Residential. Alessandra starts by sharing about her nuanced career journey; how her strong background, passion for unique design, and experience with diverse groups of builders and developers allowed her to create a niche in the real estate industry.

The conversation explores ChalkMark’s unique service offerings, and how Alessandra’s lens in marketing and communications sets ChalkMark apart. Tune in to the full episode to hear Alessandra speak to how travel has inspired her work, her involvement with prominent infill projects in Edmonton, as well as her role in leading the charge for infill development in Leduc. 

With over 10 years of residential experience, an insatiable amount of passion, and a desire to make a difference, ChalkMark Residential was built. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alessandra was immersed in the real estate industry at a young age. Spending weekends at showhomes collecting builder brochures and floorplans is where she first fell in love with the housing industry. Since then, she has worked with numerous builders, developers, and marketing firms. With an eye for design, a thirst for innovation, and an efficient personality, Alessandra brings her years of experience to ChalkMark Residential in the hopes of helping those around her make informed, unique decisions as it relates to the real estate industry. 

Alessandra has a bachelor’s degree in Business, along with a background in media communications, and holds an active REALTOR® license. She currently serves on multiple committees within the community, and Chairs the Urban Development Institutes, Leduc Committee. 

In this special episode of In Development, Ryan and Olivia chat with Tegan Martin-Drysdale - President of RedBrick Real Estate Services, Founder of Ocheller Homes, Co-Founder of Homestead Coworking and Co-Founder of IDEA; Chelsey Jersak - Founder and Principal of Situate and Past President of IDEA’s executive board; and Mariah Samji - previous Executive Director of IDEA.

In recognition of IDEA’s 10 Year Anniversary, Tegan, Chelsey and Mariah share their individual stories about IDEA’s beginnings, reflect on the challenges of starting a non-profit in the infill space, and celebrate the many pivotal moments of driving positive change for infill in our city and beyond.

For the first time ever, watch IDEA’s key players as they commemorate the organization’s collective achievements and speak to how you, the viewer, can be a part of driving change for people-centred communities!

As well, join us and infill community on Friday, June 23 at the IDEA 10 Year Gala! 🎉🎉🎉*Tickets available until June 19
 
Thank you to our episode sponsor: Situate. Get in touch with Situate today to find out how they can help you with your infill and urban redevelopment projects, large and small: hello@situateinc.ca.

In this episode of In Development, Ryan and Olivia sit down with Nancy Surby, Principal of NAKO Design - a full service interior design firm. Nancy dives into how NAKO came to be, the influences of travel and lifestyle on NAKO’s style, the company’s core values and the nuances and challenges of entrepreneurship. Nancy also provides her thoughts on infill design across Alberta and compares housing within the inner cities to those in the suburbs. Listen to the full episode to hear Nancy share about NAKO’s unique projects, designing for longevity, and multi-general living, as well as of the importance of becoming educated as a client. 

Nancy Surby is a self-appointed insanely passionate creative who loves design; when she is not working, she is still researching, reading, and discussing design with her carpenter husband Karl. In August of 2019 she stepped out on her own creating NAKO Design after thirteen years of working with talented architects and designers across various sectors; this included leading designs on high profile mixed-use buildings: prominent city projects such as the TWOSE Planetarium, recreational facilities like the Jasper Place Pool Renovation, and boutique commercial spaces. Combining her creative and technical skills with her list of extensive travel experiences from all over the world, including a short living stint in Australia, she approaches each project with authenticity, designing specifically to each client. Her focus has always been function meets timelessness’ quoting her clients are investing in ‘forever’ not 'trendy'. This encourages collaboration with builders and makers within each city that her projects take her, which currently is across Canada from BC to Nova Scotia. When she is not working and not designing, she enjoys being active in the mountains whether hiking or skiing, or being calm practicing yoga. 

In this episode of In Development, Ryan and Olivia chat with Travis Fong, President and Executive Director of YEGarden Suites. Travis shares about his passion for sustainability, its impact on urbanization and housing, and how YEGarden Suites came to be founded. From building for family proximity, to aging in place, to rental income, Travis dives into the main driving factors for this built form. Listen to the full episode to hear Travis outline the challenges for garden suite development, the growth and evolution of YEGarden Suites, and his thoughts on the future of housing typologies with Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw Renewal initiative. 

Originally from Halifax, Travis moved to Edmonton after graduating from Dalhousie University with an Honours BA in Sustainability and Political Science, with a minor in Economics. Travis also holds a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo. Travis’s studies focused on the efficiency and growth of cities from an environmental and financial sustainability lens.

Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Travis worked on multiple development projects including affordable seniors housing and renewable energy. In 2017, Travis co-founded YEGarden Suites, a non-profit that functions as an advocacy, education, and awareness organization to support the densification of Edmonton through homeowner-driven development. Through policy advocacy and citizen empowerment, YEGarden Suites has supported tens of millions of dollars of homeowner led investment into this housing form. Understanding the policy framework, and economic underpinnings behind Edmonton’s larger development strategy served the organization well as they proposed changes and alterations to the regulations which were arbitrarily restrictive and reducing positive housing outcomes. Edmonton’s backyard housing regulations are now among the strongest in North America, and Travis now serves as President and Executive Director of YEGarden Suites, and strives to deliver extraordinary value to homeowners who are considering making an investment on their own.