If you wanted to learn a new skill, where would you begin? In a library, lecture hall or on Google? What if you could learn by doing, with a hands-on project supported by experts in the field? Twenty high school students from Forest Hill Collegiate Institute recently had the opportunity to do just that through UrbanPlan, a mock city-building event put on by the Urban Land Institute. The event had an Infrastructure Ontario connection through Jeremy Warson, Director, Portfolio Development, who lent his time and expertise to mentor the student participants.

The event was open to students with an interest in business, urban planning, real estate, architecture or law. Each “project team” needed to contain a Financial Analyst, Marketing Director, City Liaison, Neighbourhood Liaison and Site Planner. This lay the foundation for groups to respond to a mock RFP to redevelop a 5 ½ block neighbourhood.

Teams had to develop a financial proforma and physical model of the plan for an urban infill and mixed-use redevelopment. “I was amazed of the depth of information the students were given to prepare themselves for the assignment,” noted Jeremy. The teams also had to balance competing demands, like affordable housing, business interests and environmental standards.

In his role as a facilitator, Jeremy drew on his professional experience to challenge students to think more critically about the issues involved in the case and specific responsibilities of each student’s role. “It was great to see students fully engaged, taking on different roles, working as a team to develop a land use plan, and most of all, thinking critically about the impacts their land use decisions would have on the neighbourhood,” commented Jeremy. Once complete, groups pitched their proposals to “city council” who awarded a contract to the winning team.

The event is the first of its kind in Canada, but ULI hopes to expand it for other schools, with the help of volunteers like Jeremy. “I was happy to have volunteered as facilitator and look forward to doing it again,” shared Jeremy. “I wish I had something like UrbanPlan when I was in high school.” It’s initiatives like these that help to generate positive and informed dialogue about land use from our future generation of voters, neighbours, public officials and land use professionals.