Urban planning graduate helps to route and build the first protected bike lanes in Regina

Recently I was able to speak to Ian Cantello about his experience in the world of urban planning and his career as a planner since completing his master of planning in urban development (MPI) at the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) at the Faculty of Community Services (FCS). His master’s research project (MRP) and others can be found online at the Ryerson Library. In his own words:

Tell us where you are in your career. Did your graduate degree play a role?

I am a transportation master plan coordinator at the City of Regina, a position I've held since the winter of 2018. I moved to Regina after completing my master's at SURP to start as a planner working on area planning. My MPl and the experience I garnered from working as a research assistant qualified me for the position I now have.

In a few sentences can you tell us what your MRP is about? What attracted you to this subject matter? What did you measure?

My MRP analyzed the relationships between transportation, lifestyles and social-ecological factors in the physical activity of children. I've always been interested in the transportation elements of planning. This project was an opportunity to delve into the health outcomes of transportation choices, which was very interesting.

How has your work shifted given the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Work has accelerated somewhat due to the increased focus on active transportation (transportation powered by or partially powered by the body) that most cities, including Regina, have experienced or expanded throughout the pandemic.

Looking forward, what do you see as the future, for yourself?  What impact do you hope to have in your field? How does your MPI factor into that?

For me, I hope to eventually move into a senior planning position and potentially beyond that into a managerial or directorial role in the longer term. Through this, I hope to bring my experience in transportation planning to design more practical, better infrastructure, especially in the case of cycling infrastructure. My MPl provided the launch pad into this field of urban and regional planning.

What has been one of the highlights of your MRP experience?

Having an academic journal, Science Direct, publish an article (external link)  that used my MRP as its basis was the highlight of my master's research project. It took a ton of hard work, but it was 100% worth it.

What is an unforeseen challenge you experienced doing your MRP and what did you learn from it?

I had to become a lot more comfortable with statistical modelling than I had ever been before. In the end, it taught me that I really enjoy working with statistics and data analysis, something I had never done to this depth previously.

What would you say to someone considering graduate work, and doing that work at FCS?

If you are interested in cities and building communities, I cannot recommend the Faculty of Community Services enough. Wonderful program, wonderful people. 

Graduate-level work can be all-consuming. What is something you enjoyed doing outside of your graduate work, for school/life balance?

To me the greatest balancing feature was the other folks in the MPl program. I've made a ton of life-long friends through it, including one who was just my best man at my wedding. Spending time with them outside of school was fantastic. 

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for their support on your academic and/or career journey? Perhaps a professor, friend, or colleague?

My MRP supervisor, Professor Raktim Mitra was wonderfully supportive, as were my fellow students Andy Gavel, Graham Procter, Neil Loewen, Chris Erl, Geoff Schwartz, Emma Abramowicz, Sunjay Mathuria, Nate Bunio, Joe Tohill, Casey Craig and Tneshia Innocente. Really the entire cohort was very collaborative and great to work with. 

Are there any career highlights you'd like to share?

Helping to route, design and build the first protected bike lane in Regina was a really great moment in my career, but there have been more than I can count over the last five years.

Graduate Research Series

This past summer graduates and students at the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) were invited to tell us about their research projects and graduate studies experience. This is part of a series of introductory profiles about alumni and graduate students featuring their research and their advice for prospective graduate students. It is our hope you are as inspired by their research efforts and success as we are.  If you would like to submit a story idea for consideration please contact Bonte Minnema at bminnema@torontomu.ca.