from Vancouver

Colleagues and Friends!

I check this Blog often and I was delighted to see Erika’s recent addition. I figured it was just about time for me to get on the Blog tom-tom’s and send you all a message.

Hard to believe that a new semester of MPLAN is up and rolling without us. That said I really want to get off the Dal Planning e-mail list. It was fun while it lasted but I really do not need to know what time they are having their meet-and-greet lunch this week or what electives are available from other faculties. Though there is a certain comfort I experience upon receiving an e-mail from Carol…she never gave me a bad mark.

As for me, I am enjoying life in Vancouver. I miss Halifax occasionally. I am working at a non-profit that advocates for people with physical disabilities. The organization is called BC Rehab Foundation and I work as the program manager. For the most part I manage projects that make buildings and public spaces more accessible to people with mobility issues (e.g. spinal cord injury, amputations, progressive MS, ALS, etc.) To be honest, I find myself calling on my planning education every day I am at work. The other day I was reviewing bylaws for New Westminster to see how we could fit a ramp on the side of a community centre. Right now I am coordinating a project to make various food banks across the GVRD accessible to users and volunteers who have challenges with their personal mobility. There is also an awareness component to what I do at the Foundation, so that frequently translates into doing presentations to other organizations and coordinating events. So the upshot is that I am doing way more “planning” that I ever would have imagined myself doing 5 months ago. I think what I like most about working at a non-profit is that you get to do a bit of everything because resources are tight and there is literally no one else there to do them. So it is a great learning experience.

Erika, I will now borrow a page from your book ;)

Loathe. Buildings with accessible main entrances and then all the emergency exits are at least ten steep stairs to safety. Outdoor yoga classes that think it is kosher to set up group sessions on bike and pedestrian paths. And people who call and tell me the mandate of our organization… “Oh! That’s what we do! I only work here. Thank you, now I am enlightened.” Well, maybe I don’t loathe the last one but it really gets on my nerves.

Love. Bicycling in Vancouver, hanging out with Julia, Graeme and Pat on Commercial Drive and doing laps in the Pacific Ocean.

Yikes, my loathe list is a lot longer than the love one. Hmmm…maybe I should get in on those group yoga sessions and I’d be a little more zen-like. ;)

Anyways, I hope you are all enjoying life after grad school. This is my first official MPLAN 2009 blog post so thank you for tuning in. I love getting updates on what you are all up to in your respective locations. Take good care.

Cheers,
Pam