The local park is an important centrepiece of a neighbourhood. It’s a place to play, exercise, relax and recharge. That’s why redesigning a local park is an important community building process. This includes ensuring the community sees how their input is shaping the park redesign.

"There is a giant opportunity to make this a new major city eco-destination. To elevate this space to the forefront of city planning. A unique park, something not found in any other city in this part of the country." hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/the-hamilton...

As we head into the holiday break, #MerryChristmas and #HappyHolidays from your friends at Civicplan.

One more #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️ Student Street Strategies: Creating Neighbourhood Active Transportation Systems. 🥇 PlanON 2025 Vision Award of Excellence, OPPI; Award of Excellence, Visions and Master Plans, HUDDA 🤼 Daily School Route More: lnkd.in/es3h_Bza

Civicplan is pleased to work with the City of Mississauga on updating their #ClimateChange Action Plan. This included a Community Climate Lab & a GHG Reduction Calculator – interactive engagement tools that combine Climate Action Planning with #ParticipatoryPlanning. Learn More: lnkd.in/gUQJSaUX

Urban Design and Communication – Two of the themes that emerged from a community strategy session, held earlier this year, on how to get downtown revitalization back on track. From “13 Steps to a Stronger Downtown” in Hamilton City Magazine. Read More: lnkd.in/gSRWKbbV

A Student Routes Strategy is an effective way to help redesign neighbourhood streets to be safer & more pedestrian friendly. This is innovative community planning & we are proud to work with the Daily School Route on this #participatoryplanning project. h/t: Bike for Mike, @tomflood.bsky.social

OPPI is honoured to highlight one of the winners of the 2025 Vision Award of Excellence: Creating a Neighbourhood Active Transportation System: A Student Routes Strategy for Ward 9, City of Hamilton by Civicplan. Learn more about the winners: https://ow.ly/BxQ050XtMAW #PlanON2025

In more recent years, there has been a return to two-way streets in many cities driven by a general desire in Downtown areas to improve accessibility and quality of life. With the City of Windsor, Civicplan recently launched a vPIC to engage residents on this transformative issue. #Planning

Another #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️Project: Reimagine Our Museums 🥇Recognition: Winner, Award of Excellence in Community Engagement + WOW Distinction, Ontario Museums Association civicplan.ca/portfolio/re...

Civicplan was delighted to join the Bay Area Restoration Council and Toms + McNally Design in receiving an honourable mention for our Rethinking Chedoke Creek project in the Visions and Master Plans category at the 2025 City Of Hamilton Urban Design and Architecture Awards.

"This past spring, 50 people from various sectors in Hamilton gathered for a discussion about the state of downtown. 13 themes emerged from the discussion. More than anything, they reflect the desire of all who attended to see downtown thrive." Read More: hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/13-steps-to-...

An October #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️Project: Fisherman's Pier District Concept Plan 🥇Recognition: Winner, Award of Merit, Visions & Master Plans, HUDAA 👯‍♀️ Partners: HOPA Ports, Toms + McNally Design #ParticipatoryPlanning More: civicplan.ca/projects/pla...

St. George's Square in Downtown Guelph is being redesigned to be more vibrant, people-friendly and accessible. Civicplan, GSP and MTE Consultants recently launched the latest round of interactive community engagement. PlanLocal #participatoryplanning in action. Learn more: mte.planlocal.ca

We are thrilled to share that we have received a PlanON 2025 Vision Award of Excellence for the Students Routes Strategy we developed with the Daily School Route. These awards are the highest honour from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Another #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️Project: Beautiful Streets and Spaces 🥇Recognition: Winner, Award of Excellence, Visions and Plans, HUDAA Urban Design and Architecture Awards #ParticipatoryPlanning More: lnkd.in/eu9hSUm

The City of Mississauga is mapping out the next five years of its #climate plan. To help residents understand the actual impact of climate actions, Civicplan developed a GHG Reduction Calculator – an interactive tool to help demonstrate how various actions impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With the start of another school year, it's a good time to remember that if you want to build effective pedestrian friendly streets, build them for students. A Student Streets Strategy is a great way to develop active transportation and safer streets for neighbourhoods. Learn more: lnkd.in/gTcb5NsM

Chedoke Creek is an example of a partially buried urban stream, with occasional daylighting. However, could it be something more? In the summer issue of Hamilton City Magazine, Civicplan's Paul Shaker talks about the Rethinking Chedoke Creek project. Read More: lnkd.in/gzKpD7jn

This month's #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️Project: DNA Neighbourhood Character Study 🥇Recognition: Winner, Cultural Landscape Heritage Award, HMHC Heritage Recognition Awards + Winner, Award of Merit, HUDAA Urban Design and Architecture Awards #ParticipatoryPlanning

The South Shore of Cootes Paradise is an urban gem. Nestled beside the Westdale Neighbourhood and McMaster University, this area is a favourite of many residents. That’s why Civicplan & BMcH are pleased to work with the RBG to develop a Visitor Use Management Plan for this special part of the city.

Hamilton is going through an unprecedented transformation anchored along the upcoming LRT route - we are in the middle of it right now. In the early summer issue of Hamilton City Magazine, Civicplan's Paul Shaker talks about The Big Build. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/hamilton-and...

Today’s #Civicplan10 highlight from our first decade in business: ✒️Project: ForWard1-Participatory Budgeting 🧑‍🤝‍🧑Partner: City of Hamilton 🥇Recognition: Winner, IAP2 Canada Core Values Award for Extending the Practice through Creativity, Contribution & Innovation in the Field More: lnkd.in/gBjSKAWq

Cities need to reduce GHG emissions by more than half by 2030 & be net-zero by 2050. As part of Mississauga's climate planning, Civicplan has designed an interactive Climate Lab to help residents tell decision-makers what climate issues matters most to them. More: vpic.planlocal.ca/mississauga-...

Good discussion last night at Franklin Elementary School in Kitchener to discuss Stormwater and Park upgrades for Prospect Park. @civicplan.bsky.social is working with Montrose Environmental Group, SDG & the City of Kitchener to deliver a renewed park space that meets their needs.

Rediscovering a forgotten neighbourhood creek can happen in a variety of creative ways. The team with the Rethinking Chedoke Creek project were inspired by history discovered in old photos from the 1940s. Learn more and participate in the virtual Community Design Lab - Barc.Planlocal.ca

How can a buried, forgotten and maligned waterway be reimagined to become a valuable civic asset? That's what the Rethinking Chedoke Creek project is all about. 3 Zones, 3 Opportunities. Zone 1: Watercourse Design Theme: Reconnection Learn more with the Community Design Lab at: barc.planlocal.ca

The City of Guelph is rebuilding infrastructure in the downtown core. This is an opportunity to redesign spaces to be more vibrant, people-friendly & accessible. With the municipality, Civicplan, GSP & MTE have launched the next round of interactive community engagement. Learn more: mte.planlocal.ca

Planning for a waterfront city. In the latest issue of Hamilton City Magazine, Civicplan Principal Paul Shaker talks about why the CN rail yard on the west harbour has to move in order to realize Hamilton’s full potential as a true waterfront city. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/embracing-th...

We are excited to share our latest participatory planning project with the Bay Area Restoration Council & Toms + McNally Design. Rethinking Chedoke Creek uses a PlanLocal Design Lab to demonstrate how the city can be reconnected to this important waterway: Check it out at: barc.planlocal.ca

Civicplan's Student Routes Strategy with dailyschoolroute.org has been named a Finalist for the Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners. #activetransportation #neighbourhooddesign #participatoryplanning More: lnkd.in/eKk7zSVg

Hamilton is in the middle of #TheBigBuild. Billions in investment anchored along the upcoming LRT corridor. Thousands of new residential units built, under construction or planned. Millions in upgraded infrastructure connecting thousands of jobs. Explore: thebigbuild.ca

Participatory design in action! A Virtual Community Design Lab is an interactive way for residents to participate in the design of their civic spaces. Through Civicplan's Design Lab, we are pleased to be engaging residents around the redesign St. George’s Square in downtown Guelph.

"Students gain practical knowledge and deepen their understanding of the importance of safe, active travel routes." Civicplan is proud to be a project partner with the DSR - A ground-breaking approach to promoting active transportation and active school travel. www.hwcdsb.ca/news/what_s_...

"If we accelerate redevelopment of more major corridors across the city, we can accommodate a significant amount of our anticipated growth while creating more vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods and reducing urban sprawl." #smartgrowth

"Some cities have embraced their elevation difference to offer a unique transportation experience. Pittsburgh still has an incline railway similar to what was found in Hamilton a century ago. Portland, Ore. has a cable tram." Could this work in #HamOnt? hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/embracing-ou...

"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." We continued to be inspired by this sage advice from Jane Jacobs. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your friends at Civicplan!

"Embracing slower streets is really about asking some fundamental questions around city building. Specifically, who do we build our streets for? For all the talk of complete streets & walkability, we don’t view pedestrians on the same level as drivers." hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/the-transfor...

"The building of 15-minute cities should be a deeply participatory process that asks the individual communities what they have, what they value, & what they need. Rather than being a conspiracy about control, it’s a chance for a more democratic city." hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/rediscoverin...

The Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark System is a one-of-a-kind natural treasure. This collaboration of 9 partners protects nearly 2,200 ha of open space between Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment. @civicplan.bsky.social & BMcH were pleased to work with the Ecopark team on planning & strategy.

Swinging for the Fences - In the holiday issue of Hamilton City Magazine Civicplan's Paul Shaker explains why rebuilding a culture of civic ambition is paramount as Hamilton’s downtown faces the choice to stagnate and slide backwards or realize its potential. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/swinging-for...

Over 50% of Ontario’s GHG emissions come from cities & they can help decrease them through leading by example & planning how they grow. The @cityofmississauga.bsky.social is updating its Climate Change Action Plan & Civicplan has designed an interactive & informative Climate Lab to engage residents.

Progress on #HamOnt becoming a more livable and sustainable city must include eliminating "Stroads" in dense urban neighbourhoods that should be flourishing with people and commerce but instead prioritize traffic speed and volume. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/have-we-reac...

"Almost everywhere in Canada, the car is king. But there is one Canadian city that is slowly but surely taking back some of its most beloved streets and neighbourhoods from daily commuter traffic." toronto.citynews.ca/2024/10/04/h...

The area in front of schools is sometimes the most dangerous for students. Creating Student Zones is one way to make this area safer. With our partner, the Daily School Route, we are using our tools like Design Lab to engage communities, promote safer streets & active school travel.

Building a Stronger City- In the fall issue of HCM, Civicplan's Paul Shaker explains why the @strongtowns.bsky.social movement & lessons from south of the border can act as inspiration for community engagement, planning & redevelopment here. hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/building-a-s...