Canadian Institute of Planners honours Wolfville with a national Award of Excellence
The Town of Wolfville, together with Fathom Studio, FoTenn, Hatch Engineering and CBCL received the award for Planning Excellence in the category of Rural/Small Town Planning at 2020’s Canadian Institute of Planners’ Annual Awards for Planning Excellence.
The Wolfville Comprehensive Planning Document Review focused on form rather than the separation of use. The bold ship supports better sustainability principles, balanced by the town’s character and rich Acadian heritage. The plan promoted living and thriving sustainably, and embraced climate action, social equity and a series of “Nested Circle” core concepts—complete communities, human scale, pedestrian first, neighbourhood character and new urbanism. A comprehensive engagement strategy brought stakeholders and the community together to shape the path forward on age-friendly communities, affordable housing, and social integration. The jury members were impressed by the comprehensive methodology for this project that addressed in synergy four planning instruments: the Municipal Planning Strategy, the Land Use Bylaw, the Subdivision Bylaw and the Design Guidelines—Urban Design / Architecture and Stormwater. The project, grounded in council’s aim and commitment for its residents, addressed climate change mitigation and adaptation. The project educated people on planning concepts and set a framework to support the achievement of feasible outcomes.
—Juror comments
John deWolf and team, while employed by Fathom Studio, worked closely with Wolfville’s Devin Lake and Fathom’s president Rob Leblanc to design the documents and promotional collateral for the Town of Wolfville’s municipal planning documents.
The Canadian Institute of Planners' annual Awards for Planning Excellence honour planning projects judged on their excellence, innovation, impact on the profession, implementation potential and overall presentation. The CIP and jurors identify projects deserving of recognition for their excellence in planning work, their contribution to the profession and for showing particular strength in one of thirteen categories.
