Why attend a student planning conference?

The CAPS conference has been held in a different Canadian city for over 25 years, but never at the University of Waterloo. We are interested in offering conference attendees a good experience, and both undergraduate and graduate students are welcomed. The conference is thus an exceptional platform intended to offer students time and space:

(a) to present their own research,
(b) socialize and network with professionals and fellow students,
(c) be inspired by leading keynote and panel-discussing professionals,
(d) attend skills-building workshops.

What would you like to experience at the 2011 conference?

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Positions filled

The Board of Directors are pleased with the interest in the previously posted open positions.

Organizing a national conference is a team effort, and we are happy John Kazilis, the new Board of Directors member for the position of Treasurer, and Shannon Morris Rice, the new Committee member for the position of Director of Facilities Coordination, have committed to this effort.

In the not too distant future, all members will introduce themselves for you to better recognize them when visiting Waterloo.

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Be part of organizing CAPS-ACEAU 2011

The CAPS-ACÉAU Board of Directors for 2010-2011 is now in the early stages of planning the next student planning conference. There will be many changes over the Summer. First and foremost, we’re looking for a new Board member for the position of Treasurer. Secondly, we’re also seeking candidates for the Director of Facilities Coordination position within the CAPS Committee.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the position of Board of Directors: Treasurer

There is currently an opening on the CAPS Board of Directors for the signing authority position of Treasurer. The Treasurer will fulfill all of the financial responsibilities associated with CAPS such as receiving conference payments, processing raised funds and balancing the budget, while being the sole signing authority registered with Corporations Canada. This will require a meticulous approach employing dedication and at times, a substantial time commitment extending until April of 2011.

The position represents a genuine opportunity to hone project management skills, develop leadership qualities and make meaningful professional contacts within the Canadian planning context.
The Ideal Candidate will:

  • be capable of handling figures, cheques and cash;
  • have an orderly mind and methodical approach to tasks;
  • have experience in dealing with large sums of money and budgets;
  • have experience of financial control and budgeting;
  • have an eye for detail;
  • be available to be contacted for ad hoc advice;
  • have relevant experience;
  • possess good communication and interpersonal skills;
  • ensure decisions are taken and followed-up; and
  • show good time-keeping.

Applicants interested in applying, please forward your resume and one page covering letter detailing your interest in the position to brad.bradford@caps-aceau.org. The competition for the Treasurer position on the Board of Directors will close June 1, 2010 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.

Request for Qualifications (RQF) for the position of Director of Facilities Coordination

There is currently an opening within the CAPS Committee for the Director of Facilities Coordination. Although this list is not exhaustive, the Director of Facility Coordination will be Responsible for:

  • Networking with local conference venues and partners (The Accelerator Centre, CIGI, The Perimeter Institute etc.)
  • Booking rooms
  • Ensuring rooms are available and open
  • Ensuring proper equipment is in place
  • Exercising discretion over room capacity
  • Coordinating day-of parking
  • Directing people
  • Assisting with the coordination of catering
  • Coordinating with the Director of Student Presentations
  • Assembling a day-of team depending on registrants and demand (8-12 committee members)

The Director of Facilities Coordination will play a critical role in the early stages of conference planning working closely with the Board of Directors, as well ensuring smooth coordination during the execution event. This position will require excellent organizational skills and the ability to network and communicate with the various conference venues available to the CAPS organization in February of 2011. The ideal candidate will have a thorough knowledge of the facilities available to the University of Waterloo, and the ability to navigate bureaucratic booking
procedures.

Applicants interested in applying, please prepare a one-page letter detailing your interest and qualifications for the position and send it to brad.bradford@caps-aceau.org. The competition for the Director of Facilities Coordination will close June 1, 2010 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.

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Who will host 2011? You decide!

Conference goers! Be sure to attend the CAPS-ACEAU 2010 AGM on Friday, February 5th from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m to cast your vote.  Click the logos to have a look at the bids.

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Thursday Night Film Screening

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 4
Thornbrough Building

Don’t miss a special screening of a brand new film from Leonie Sandercock and Giovanni Attili entitled Finding Our Way: Healing Canada’s Apartheid, a three-part film dealing with the “inconvenient truth” of Canada’s apartheid.

The film is four years in the making.  Sandercock and Attili have been editing, painstakingly, for the past two and a half years in collaboration with the two First Nations communities featured in the film as well as with other non-Native communities.  Each rough cut received feedback from the communities in a unique and truly collaborative film-making process.

Sandercock told CAPS, “we are now just at the end of the first stage, the making of the film, and are about to launch into the second stage, the ‘action’ part of the research project: we are currently organising three one-day workshop/screenings back in these communities. These will then serve as ‘pilots’ for further workshops in similar communities in [the] region, and then beyond”. The two filmmakers also hope to direct a curriculum around the film with the First Nations Education Steering Committee in British Columbia.

The film has been sent to the CBC as well as a number of film festivals for review.

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Elizabeth May to speak at CAPS-ACEAU 2010!

This just in!!

Environmentalist, writer, activist, lawyer, and leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May will be joining CAPS-ACÉAU 2010 for a special address via Skype during the Thursday opening address.  See Ms. May’s bio and check out the program for more details on this and other exciting events.

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CAPS-ACEAU 2010 Social Events!

If you go to conferences for the parties and social events (and who doesn’t, right?), you won’t be disappointed by this year’s plans for Guelph 2010.  Events will be held every evening during the three-day conference.  And these are just the formally planned parties!  Meet you in Guelph!

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CAPS-ACEAU 2010 Conference Program

The Canadian Association of Planning Students – L’Association Canadienne des Étudiants en Aménagement et en Urbanisme 2010 conference program is now available at caps-aceau.org.  Featuring two dozen exciting speakers, over 40 student oral and poster presentations, mobile workshops, a peak oil and climate change scenario exercise, a special all-delegates creative conversation, with parties and social events every evening!

This year’s opening key note speaker is Guillermo (Gil) Peñalosa, an international leader in creating great cities and communities through active public spaces.  Gil is the former Commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogotá, Colombia and the current Executive Director at Walk and Bike for Life.  Our closing address is from Matthew Blackett, publisher, creative director and one of the founders of the über-cool Spacing magazine.

Plan your conference experience now by reading through the list of speakers, and downloading your handy schedule at a glance and student presentation guide.

For those who haven’t yet registered, only two more days until the final deadline!  Get your registration form in the mail by January 21st.  See you in Guelph!

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Getting to Guelph – VIA Rail Discount!

So you’re all registered for CAPS-ACEAU 2010, the hotel is booked, your presentation ready to go and your favourite speakers and sessions are highlighted in your program.  But how does one get to Guelph?  Click here for more details on getting to, in and around Guelph and the conference.  Save on your annual carbon emission output and 10% off your ticket price if you book through VIA Rail.  See the Guelph section of this website for more details.

If you haven’t registered, don’t delay!  The deadline is January 21st.  Click here!

Find your way on the CAPS-ACEAU 2010 Conference Google Map

View Larger Map

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Here, have 25 bucks

One week left to save $25 on your CAPS-ACEAU 2010 conference registration fee!  Early birds pay only $75 while regular bird registrations received after December 1st cost $100.  Go to caps-aceau.org/registration

The deadline for to submit your research proposal to present at CAPS 2010 is also December 1st.  Check out caps-aceau.org/proposals

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