Urban Planning Portfolio

Niko Casuncad Urban Planning Portfolio Selected works

(Photo: Taken by Niko Casuncad at 8 80 Streets Danforth, Toronto, Canada Date: August 2019)

About me An action-oriented city builder passionate about making cities more inclusive & sustainable through community led engagement and informed decision-making for successful planning outcomes. Graduated the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Certificate in Sustainability Studies in 2018.

Contact Information 403-978-1999 | ncasuncad@ryerson.ca | Linkedin & twitter @nikocasuncad I

Education MASTER OF PLANNING (MPl) in Urban Development School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University | exp. Apr 2020 Toronto, Ontario • Major Research Project: Exploring Indigenous-Immigrant Relations In Toronto: Municipal Planning and a Pathway to Reconciliation • Graduate Research Assistant • Assisted Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration, Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou, Faculty of Arts | July 2019 Sept 2019 • Graduate Teaching Assistant • PLX 599 The Human World: Intro to Planning & Urban Design | Fall 2019 • PLG 810 Planning Administration and Implementation | Winter 2019 • Activities: Ontario Professional Planners Institute, RUaPlanner, RPGSA BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) in Urban Studies University of Calgary | 2018 • Certificate in Sustainability Studies • Overseas Field School Group Study: Urban & Environmental Sustainability in Europe

Achievements • Aditya Jha Community Development Award (Winner): School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University | 2019 • Migration and Migrant-Integration Graduate Research Scholarship Award (Winner): Canada Excellence Research Chair, Ryerson University | 2019-2020 • Top 30 Under 30 (Winner): Alberta Council For Global Cooperation | 2018 • Ryerson Graduate Fellowship (Recipient): Ryerson University | 2018 & 2019

Work Experience PROJECT ASSISTANT 8 80 Cities | May - Aug 2019 - Summer Student Toronto, Ontario • Researched placemaking, public spaces, active transportation, and community engagement topics to support projects and workshops.

• Supported public life studies to inform better decision making around the public realm.

• Coordinated public events, inclusive programming and supported community engagement processes through focus group facilitation and on-site pop-up engagement boards.

• Analyzed community engagement data and written summary reports, illustrations/graphics, and literature reviews.

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Cities of Migration, Global Diversity Exchange at Ryerson University | Jan - May 2019 • Coordinated communication projects to roll out a new research project: Immigrant Futures which focused on creating a toolkit for small to mid cities on Immigration attraction and retention.

• Assisted with community consultations and facilitation with partners and key stakeholders across Ontario and the Atlantic.

EVENT AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Alberta Bike Swap | 2017 - 2018 - Intern • Coordinated social media and event marketing for the large Bike Swap event with cycling community and advocacy partners and to raise awareness city-wide.

Created marketing materials and dissemination strategy.

Worked with strategic alliances to help promote and raise awareness of cycling in the Calgary area.

COMMUNITY GARDEN COORDINATOR Generation Indigenous | 2017 - 2018 Calgary, Alberta • Planned and led the implementation of the Aboriginal community garden to increase awareness of reconciliation in Calgary.

Skills • Urban planning policy and land use framework • Grant & proposal writing • Public speaking, facilitation, & engagement support • Social media management & graphic design

• Qualitative research • Adobe creative suite • Project management • Office support • Leadership & Strategy • Client & stakeholder relations • Data analysis/ visualization

Community Leadership TKARONTO YOUTH RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE (TYRI) LEADER Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) | Aug 2019 Present • Works with the TYRI team to facilitate and deliver community education programming and workshops to Toronto District School Board schools on reconciliation, decolonization, crosscultural education, and Indigenous history, cultures & worldviews.

STUDENT LIAISON COMMITTEE MEMBER Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) | Sept 2018 - Present • Elected member of the Student Liaison Committee (SLC) to link student in accredited Ontario university planning schools to OPPI. EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER & FACILITATOR RU a Planner, Ryerson University | 2018 - Present • Designing, and managing outreach programs (Youth City Lab, World Town Planning Week high school outreach program) supported by City of Toronto Planning and ULI. • Facilitating workshops with planners to empower high school students through presentations and design charrettes about urban planning.

(Photo: Taken by Niko Casuncad in Copenhagen, Denmark, Date: July 2016)

Table of Contents Public realm Neighbourhood Avenue study Social justice and equity in mobility Vision Zero 2.0 Planning rationale & municipal finance Safer transportation and vision zero Planning for reconciliation Youth and City-Building and Reconciliation Top 30 under 30

Public Life Studies Project

ByWard Market Public Realm Plan Client: City of Ottawa *During internship with 8 80 Cities*

My Role

Supported the Project Manager and Project Coordinator. Helped facilitate public life study volunteer shifts around the extensive site area. As well as speaking with public to get feedback for engagement boards. Supported counting activity shifts.

Skills

Public realm analysis, Teamwork, Collaboration, Observations, Client/ Stakeholder relations

Impact

The ByWard Public Life Study helped inform City of Ottawa’s ByWard Market Public Realm Plan. The public realm plan will establish a vision for the short, medium and long-term improvements made to the network of public spaces in the ByWard Market. The types of public spaces to be studied and enhanced include streets, sidewalks, parks, squares and plazas. The plan will also identify strategies and partnerships to enliven key public places

Public Realm Analysis Project

My Role

Skills Impact

Course: PL8100 Physical Planning & Design Fundamentals Site Reconnaissance: Public Space Analysis

Individual assignment

Critical analysis, policy framework, InDesign, ArcMap, Illustrator, Teamwork, Collaboration, Observations. project presentation and design.

Purpose of the assignment was to observe, examine, and describe - using visual and textual communication selected public spaces located within the City of Toronto. I was able to develop my skills in site analysis through spatial obersvation, description, notation, as wekk as graphic and written communication

Neighbourhood Analysis Project

PL8101: Multicultural Cities and Planning Policy Poster Assignment: Observing Emerging Ethnic Landscapes in a Multicultural City

My Role

Individual assignment, required site visits

Skills

Critical analysis, policy framework, InDesign, ArcMap, Illustrator, Observations. project presentation and design

Impact

Through qualitative observation and experience, I reported on the ethnic/ cultural/religious and other forms of diversity embedded in Toronto’s East Chinatown neighbourhood. The assignment is aimed to unpack the city through the lens of diversity/ multiculturalism and reveal ethno-cultural diversity manifested in everyday urbanism.

“Throughout the history of East Chinatown, new groups enter and leave.

The current residents and associations start to question whether new demographic/ethnic groups could be a new market to fill the gap of closing businesses to revitalize the neighrbourhood into a new thriving place that accomodates all cultures and groups. Planners need to support growth that does not displace low-income residents.”

Community Engagement Project

My Role

8 80 Streets Danforth and Pineway, Toronto Community Partners: Better Block Foundation *During internship with 8 80 Cities*

Supported the Project Manager and Project Coordinator. Attended community meeting to take notes and get feedback from the public.

Helped with programming strategy for pilot project (Danforth). Assisted with engagement boards using the DotMocracy method.

Skills

Public speaking, facilitation, & engagement support; Client & stakeholder relations

Impact

8 80 Streets is a project which aims to accelerate action on reducing pedestrian fatalities. The project will transform three sites across Toronto to showcase how quickly design elements can be introduced to create safer, vibrant, humancentered streets. 8 80 Streets Danforth (August 2019); 8 80 Streets Pineway (September 2019)

Avenue Study Master Plan Project

Course: PL8100 Physical Planning and Design Fundamentals: • Yonge + Steeles Avenue Study: Planning and • Design Framework • Two assignments: included poster presentation to a panel for critique, and a final report and presentation

My Role

In a group of four students. I was in charge of completing research, designing, and analyzing the policy framework and transportation/mobility sections.

This included creating maps, taking photos on site visits, and analyzing the site.

Skills

Critical analysis, policy framework, Creative Adobe Suite, ArcMap, Teamwork, Collaboration, Observations. project presentation and design

Impact

Identified and prepared a planning and design framework to guide the change and evolution of an Avenue in the City of Toronto. For part one: our group identified the role and relationship of Yonge + Steeles in the broader urban context and prepared a detailed analysis of the exisiting physical conditions. document planning and design considerations, and identified physical strengths, opportunities, and constraints.

For part two of the assignment, we identified a vision, guiding principles, and a set of recommendations to guide the change and evolution of Yonge + Steeles.

This was an opportunity to explore planning and design interventions in urban contexts. We were required to build on the analysis and findings from our site visits and lectures.

Poster Presentation: Yonge + Steeles Avenue Existing Conditions

PICTURE: Poster board presentation. I researched the policy and planning framework and worked on the transportation & mobility and activity and use sections (maps)

Slideshow Presentation: Yonge + Steeles Avenue Planning & Design Framework

PICTURED ABOVE: Design presentation slides that I designed and created out of a presentation of about 20 slides, while my team members worked on other slides.

Social Justice & Equity Mobility Project My Role Skills Impact

Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice in Planning Final Paper and Presentation Professor: Magdalena Ugarte

Individual Assignment

Analytical thinking and analysis

The purpose of this assignment is to write an essay that critically examines a planning topic/case/ process/problem of your choosing in light of the theories and concepts explored in the course. The course provided a forum to discuss and analyze issues related to diversity, and, particularly, issues related to inclusive design. Through lectures, examples and seminars, the course examined diversity issues in design, particularly, the changing roles of the designer in increasingly diverse societies. We responded to questions such as: What are the underlying concepts of diversity that relate to our designed environments? Do we really understand the complexities inherent in these relationships? Is diversity a necessary component of the content, process, and participants in design? What are the consequences of the diversity agenda, particularly in design and planning practice?

Vision Zero 2.0 Projects

My Role

8 80 Streets Danforth and Pineway, Toronto Community Partners: Better Block Foundation; Councillor Brad Bradford’s and Councillor Shelley Carrol’s Office *During internship with 8 80 Cities* • Presented a deputation on behalf of 8 80 Cities to the City of Toronto Infrastructure & Environment Committee. Watch here • Helped paint, set up and program the Danforth Pilot Project • Helped with community engagement

Skills

Public speaking, project support, community engagement, programming, stakeholder relations

Impact

From August 23rd – 24th we transformed one block of Danforth Avenue into a street that exemplifies the City of Toronto’s aspiration to get traffic fatalities down to zero. The pop-up street makeover took place from Woodbine Ave to Woodmount Ave, and it’s the first of its kind in Toronto, and in Canada. Partnered with local community organizations such as Cycle Toronto and the local BIA and business owners.

Planning Rationale Project

Individual Site Assessment and Zoning Review Course: Institutional and Legal Context of Planning

My Role

Individual Assignment

Skills

Planning policy and land use framework, Report writing, qualitative research

Impact

Assessment of the existing in-force land use regulations including Provincial policies and plans, municipal official plan(s) policies, zoning by-laws, minor variance approvals and other potential issues (i.e. heritage, conservation, etc.) for 241 Church Street. An assessment of the as-of-right permissions for the site and an opinion and discussion of the highest and best use for the site are included Through a series of case studies in practice, this course offers students a foundation in the legal and institutional context in which planning is practised as a registered profession in Ontario. Relevant statues covered will include: Planning Law, The Planning Act, the Places to Grow Act, the Greenbelt Act, the Environmental Protection and Assessment Acts, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as related policies such as Smart Growth, growth management, Environmental Bill of Rights, etc. The course is taught in combined lecture-seminar format, with students working in teams to debate in moot court, various planning decisions in the context of pertinent statues and policies.

Municipal Finance & Governance Project My Role Skills Impact

Municipal Finance & Governance Professor David Amborski Term Paper Individual assignment Report writing, qualitative research

This course grounds students in urban economics and mechanisms of finance used in the development, regeneration and revitalization of contemporary urban regions. Through a series of seminars and case studies in practice, students will critically assess and analyze a range of instruments in urban finance and local governance, including for example, tax increment financing, density bonuses, development charges, land transfers, land swaps ,etc.

“It is recommended for City of Toronto and Toronto and East York councils and important key community partners to adopt a combination of approaches: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Establishing a Business Improvement Area and Community Improvement Plan with additional support from other financial incentive programs will help establish the planning process for the Indigenous Cultural and Business District. The Community Improvement Plan and Business Incubator programs will ensure that proper funding opportunities can reach various business owners, residents, and visitors to the District. Designating the proposed district as a BIA and Community Improvement Area will allow the proper tools to establish the site. While additional fiscal and planning support with changes to zoning bylaws to implement a BIA and height and density exchanges with high rise development adjacent to the site and TIEF and fees grant programs within the Community Improvement Plan will ensure proper directed community development.

Meaningful political, community, and business leadership to take on this planning project with objectives and goals and monitoring and evaluation is vital to the success of the Districts implementation. Lastly, ensuring that all key actors involved in this process recognize the truth and reconciliation is a long process that requires institutional change to be able to make transformative change for urban Indigenous people and all citizens of Toronto.�

Planning & Reconciliation

Decolonizing Planning: A Pathway To Reconciliation A Toolkit For Urban Practitioners and Community Leaders

Project

Project: Storytelling and Sustainability:Animating Toronto 2033 Planning for Sustainability Professor Pamela Robinson

My Role

Individual Assignment Indigenous Business and Cultural District at Dundas and Jarvis St. Artist concept. City of Toronto

Skills

Qualitative research; graphic design, adobe creative suite, public speaking and presentation

Impact

This course is designed to provide graduate students with an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of urban sustainability. The focus of the course will be on what happens when we scale the global concept of sustainability down to the local scale in the context of urban planners and the practice of planning.

The specific learning objectives for this course are: Gaining foundation for understanding urban sustainability issues; introduced to the range of sustainability issues we will l confront in professional practice; gaining working experiences with the challenges that planners face when responding to urban sustainability issues; & introduced to hone the range of skills planners need to respond to urban sustainability issues in practice.

Niko Casuncad Master of Planning Candidate PL 8105 Planning for Sustainability - Assignment #4 Ryerson University, School of Urban and Regional Planning

Client Studio Project Project

Advanced Planning Studio Title: Exploring an Interpretative Tree Story Map Supervisor: Sheila Boudreau Client: Toronto Region Conservation Authority

My Role

Group project. My role was to assist the team with the tasks which include: review scholarly and professional literature; consulting key advisors regarding their experience; Develop a conceptual framework for an interpretive tree story map for The Carrying Place Trail (online / app), including an example(s) of what this could look like; Develop recommendations for TRCA regarding developing the interpretive tree story map, including policy change, design guidelines, and Indigenous engagement.

Skills Impact

Critical analysis, policy framework, Creative Adobe Suite Collaboration, project presentation and design, client/ stakeholder relations This core studio forms the backbone of planning theory and techniques in practice, with an emphasis on integrating the two literacies - multiculturalism and ecology in planning and design. Through experiential learning and applied planning and design techniques, graduate students will study urban precedents from various metropolitan regions, critically assess these cases, and from these analyses, critically consider planning alternatives for a local site, develop strategies for implementation or policy issue in the context of contemporary urban development. Working in small groups, students will present their work in weekly critiques, a midterm design charette, and final project reviews presented to a jury of invited critics

Youth and City-Building Project

RU a Planner? is a joint initiative between Ryerson’s Urban Development (MPl) students and the City of Toronto. The goal of RU a Planner? is to empower students to realize their capacity to change the cities in which they live.

We accomplish this through an interactive presentation and various activities and discussions that kick-start this thinking during World Town Planning Week.

My Role

One of four executive team members of RUaPlanner.

Skills

Project management, collaboration, facilitation, workshop design, public speaking, stakeholder relations

Impact

World Town Planning Day is an annual international celebration that recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of urban planners to their communities and cities. We celebrate by connecting future planners with city building experts through fun youth-focused workshops. At RUaP, we believe one day isn’t enough so we celebrate all week long in what we call World Town Planning Week. We also launched Youth City Lab. A oneday interactive field trip to Ryerson’s School of Urban and Regional Planning for high school students attending schools in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.

In an effort to achieve greater equity, diversity, and inclusivity through our programming, we hope that the Youth City Lab will help to bring urban planning education to these students. et utetur apit maio et aut adis sectur?

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Youth and Reconciliation Project

Canadian Roots Exchange

My Role

Youth Reconciliation Initative Leader, Tkaronto Team

Skills

Facilitation, workshop support, collaboration

Impact

The Youth Reconciliation Initiative (YRI) has been placing youth at the forefront of reconciliation work since 2012. The YRI builds the capacity of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to envision and realize their own visions of reconciliation. CRE now supports YRI teams in 12 communities from coast to coast to coast. From September to April, we organize monthly events for youth in our community to discuss what reconciliation means to us and teach youth in Toronto District High Schools.

Since 2012, CRE’s Youth Reconciliation Initiative (YRI) has engaged Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across Canada.

Initiatives have taken place in the communities of Vancouver, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Hamilton-Six Nations, Sudbury-Manitoulin, London, Toronto, Ottawa, MontrĂŠal, Rankin Inlet, Labrador, and Halifax. As part of the YRI, volunteer leaders enter an eight-month contract and attend a week-long leadership training where they cultivate strong relationships through teambuilding and receive training on facilitation, conflict resolution, the processes of reconciliation and decolonization, Indigenous histories and contemporary issues facing First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and other diverse communities in Canada. Leaders dedicate 10-15 hours a month to coordinating reconciliation programs in their communities, including intergenerational events, workshop facilitation and exchange coordination. et utetur apit maio et aut adis sectur?

Top 30 Under 30 The Top 30 Under 30 is an annual award presented by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation to 30 outstanding young people, nominated by their community and selected by a committee of peers, for their commendable work in making the world a more just, fair, and sustainable place for all.

Every year,the Alberta Council for Gloabl Cooperation selection committee chooses 30 outsanding individuals from a collection of nominations across Alberta and the world. These few selected are featured in the annual Top 30 Under 30 campaign, which offers readers the opportunity to learn about the contributions young people are making in their communities.

Among many other benefits, selected youth will be featured in the annual Top 30 Under 30 campaign and recognized at a public Top 30 Celebration event during International Development Week. ACGC continues to provide the opportunities for these young people to develop themselves as leaders in Alberta, Canada, and the world.

My story: An avid (sub)urban cyclist, I have supported and advocated for more sustainable transportation options in Calgary. In October 2016, I was a struck by a car while cycling. Since then, I have dedicated both my academic and extracurricular efforts towards ensuring that all citizens have access to safe and inclusive sustainable transportation. As an Urban and Sustainability Studies student, I am working on a “Campus as a Learning Lab� project assessing current cycling infrastructure and resources and expanding the campus-wide Bike Share program.

You can read more about the 2018 cohort here.

(Photo: Taken by Niko Casuncad in Montreal, Canada Date: August 2017)