Program Overview

Master of City Planning Program

The Master of City Planning program at the University of Manitoba is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in city planning, preparing them for careers in urban planning, policy-making, and community development.

Program Overview

The program focuses on contemporary urban planning issues, applying theoretical frameworks to local contexts, critically examining policies and plans, and exploring opportunities for new urban design strategies. Students engage in independent and original research, guided by their supervisory committees, and contribute new knowledge to the planning field.

Capstone Projects

The program features a capstone project, where students undertake a research project on a topic of their choice, applying theoretical concepts to real-world problems. Recent capstone projects have covered a range of topics, including:

• The role of community gardening in promoting a sense of place and supporting immigrant integration in Winnipeg
• Assessing the disability friendliness of winter sidewalks in Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Old connections and new directions: The Government of Manitoba's role in rural age-friendly planning
• Paying for growth: Development charges at the crossroads of housing affordability and fiscal pressures in mid-sized Canadian cities
• Regulations reimagined: Implementing culturally appropriate housing for Indigenous people living in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Saskatoon

Case-in-Point Projects

The program also features case-in-point projects, which are collaborative research projects conducted with professional practitioners. These projects provide students with hands-on experience in applying theoretical concepts to real-world problems. Recent case-in-point projects have covered topics such as:

• Scaling up: Selkirk's climate action journey
• Cobblestone Court: Proof that density is viable in rural settings
• Food security: Rethinking food policy in Manitoba through public participation
• Kelowna's waterfront park: Using future land use designations to create public spaces
• Assessing community engagement strategies in the development of Brandon City Plan

Thesis and Practicum Projects

The program offers students the opportunity to undertake a thesis or practicum project, allowing them to delve deeper into a specific topic or gain practical experience in the field. Recent thesis and practicum projects have covered topics such as:

• Stopping the wrecking ball: Addressing demolition by neglect in Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Planning for a winter mindset: The role of urban interventionism at Winnipeg's Forks International Historic Site
• Achieving sustainable living through cohousing: Lessons from Quayside Village (North Vancouver, B.C.)

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba is committed to providing students with a comprehensive education in city planning, preparing them for careers in urban planning, policy-making, and community development. The department offers a range of courses and programs, including the Master of City Planning program, and is home to a community of scholars and practitioners dedicated to advancing the field of city planning.