About Us
Canada is a young country - the ink has yet to dry on our maps. In fact, our maps are still being drawn. Jurisdiction and control are still being negotiated, and the language for these negotiations is rooted in maps.
Within this context, there is a mapping renaissance spreading across the country, but the maps being made are not the one's typically found in our glove compartments. These maps relate to community identity, cultural assets, and the values and visions of place.
If done well, these maps can become strategic tools at the planning table, in consultations, in negotiations, and sometimes, in court. Here is where PlanLab takes the lead: we make sure, at all stages, the maps are done well. Whether it be a bioregional atlas, community asset mapping, or maps for negotiations, we bring equal measures of rigor and creativity to each application of mapping, in both process and product. Beautiful maps, powerful stories. This is our art.
PlanLab is a dynamic network of practitioners who bring innovation and integrity to each project. We draw on our network to build teams with the combined skills to tackle complex issues. Our team of associates and advisors include leading practitioners from across Canada, representing a broad range of sectors and expertise.
Our Associates
- David Carruthers, MSc. MCIP, RPP,
president, PlanLab Ltd. - Murray White,
Community Cultural Planner, PlanLab Ltd. - Terry Tobias, Principal
Tobias and Associates - Stephen Kilburn,
GeoPraxis Inc. - Adam Putter and Ms. Janis Mussat,
BadMath Inc. - Orit Sarfati,
Municipal Cultural Planner
Our Advisors
- Jim Munroe, President,
Maiyoo Keyoh Society - Nina-Marie Lister,
Associate Professor, Ryerson University - James Stauch,
Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation - Motek Sherman, J.D.
Westmoor Holdings - Mario St-Georges, biologist
GREBE Consulting
“ Decision making is risk management. To minimize risk, you need to determine how much information is required to make an adequate or right decision. For GIS, this means knowing how much data and analysis is required to support the decision makers - too much can consume resources; too little is negligent.“
from Making it Work: GIS in community-based organizations, PlanLab
Completed Projects
2011 Mi'gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat consultation tools and tracking system
2011 Mapping and GPS training with Pic River Youth Development Camp
2011 Consultation procedures workshop with Pic River First Nation
2011 Landuse planning workshop with Nunavik Marine Region Planning Commission
2011 Mapping support to the Algonquin comprehensive and specific claims
2011 Natural heritage assets in municipal cultural planning report, Ryerson University
2011 Data familiarization workshop with Scugog Island First Nation
2011 Consultation procedures blueprint with Wolf Lake First Nation
2011 GIS needs assessment with Grand Council Treaty #3
2010 Natural Heritage asset mapping workshop, Belleville Ontario
2010 Land use planning workshop with the Nunavik Planning Commission
2010 Data audit of Algonquin cultural maps
2010 Mikisew Cree First Nation use and occupancy data processing
2010 Ecotrust Australia, new programs - scoping and evaluation
2010 Scugog Island First Nation GIS needs assessment and consultation capacity development
2010 CIER good practices guidebook to Aboriginal GIS
2010 Pic River First Nation sensitive areas mapping workshop
2010 Pic River First Nation Mouth of the Pic visioning workshop
2009 Algonquin Nation Secretariat shoreline inventory tool development and training