I was walking across campus this Friday before reading break when I spotted Curtis and Chloe from the Student Planners Association set up with their display. Naturally, I had to ask what was going on. (Because of course we’re OTEE — we care about student voice and initiatives.)
They’re students in UNBC’s planning program, and they were asking students to share feedback about what we want to see in our communities. It’s for World Town Planning Day, which happens tomorrow (November 8th). They’ve been doing this for the last couple of years, collecting what students actually think about the places we live.
“We’re here today on campus, kind of getting the consensus of our community members on campus of what they want to see in their own communities, what they’re lacking, what they already love and are enjoying,” they explained.
I asked them why they were doing this, and Curtis said something that actually made sense. Cities don’t usually do a great job getting input from younger people. “Sometimes you don’t always get that, especially with the city itself. So sometimes that’s a group that they don’t always get when they’re trying to get surveys and trying to get feedback within the city.”
## Connected to Professionals
The Student Planners Association is accredited by the Planning Institute of British Columbia, which means they’re connected to actual professional planners, not just operating as a casual student club.
They mentioned that connection is part of what keeps the club going. When your club is tied to a professional organization, you actually have a purpose, a goal, and some mentorship too.
They also noted that the success of a club is tied to faculty supervision. Their previous faculty advisor retired last year, so they’re currently between advisors but managing independently. “We work very closely with the faculty,” they said. “One of our board members is dedicated to going and attending school meetings and reporting in between each other. So we work very closely but independently.”
## The NUGSS Club Establishment Process
I asked about the club establishment process and what that’s like. They mentioned there have been some hiccups with NUGSS requirements, and the process does take a lot of their focus and time. When they went to renew their SLO status this year, they found out they needed to add a conflict resolution bylaw. “We had to quickly put that together,” they said.
And then there’s the signing authority issue that comes with every executive changeover. “Every time we do a changeover, there’s always a lot of work to get signing authority,” they explained. “You can’t do anything with that money anyways since it’s not a lot” until it’s sorted.
But despite those challenges, the club keeps going because they see value in connecting with other students and having that professional mentorship.
## Get Involved
The Student Planners Association has been one of the most active clubs at UNBC for many years. They provide info about the planning profession, opportunities to interact with the local planning society, and volunteer opportunities to contribute to the community.
If you’re interested in joining or just want to stay updated on their events and opportunities, follow them on Instagram at @unbc_planners.
