Telling the real story
As an urban planner with IBI Group Alfiya Kakal helps explain the real – rather than perceived – impacts of quarry development
Q: What is your position and what are your responsibilities?
A: I am an urban planner at IBI Group, with a focus on aggregate development. In my current position I am responsible for all types of permitting and approvals related to the aggregate industry. Such approvals range from new site development to modifications to existing sites and also post-extractive land development approvals. This requires me to have an in-depth knowledge of current policies and regulatory requirements and also be on top of policy changes that may be forthcoming.
Q: What is it about your job that other people wish they got to do?
A: I would say the opportunity to meet new people, some of whom can be high-profile individuals such as mayors and councillors; the opportunity to balance desk work with field work; the opportunity to work on deliverables that gives you a sense of accomplishment; and the opportunity to incorporate some form of design/creativity in your work. These are probably some of the things that other people wished they got to do.
Q: What do you find most challenging in your work?
A: Most applications for approvals undergo a rigorous public consultation process. Navigating this process is probably the most challenging part of my work. It is not uncommon for a planner to find themselves in a position where they are faced with having to answer pointed questions related to the land use impacts of any proposed pit or quarry development. Helping neighbouring property owners understand the difference between perceived risks and evidence-based risk is, and continues to be, a growing challenge that is best handled delicately and with thoughtfulness.
Q: Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to your company.
A: As the urban planner for any project we are usually the first line of communication between the business and either someone in a government office or another member of the project team. My role is to ensure that this flow of information is conducted accurately and seamlessly through any form of oral and/or written correspondence. As planners, we are often required to balance business needs with regulatory requirements. This can take the form of negotiating conditions of approval or may necessitate changes to the site design/operation. Thus, a typical day on the job for me means ensuring open lines of communication so that the project has constant forward momentum and key targets and milestones are met.
I also contribute to the project and the company by having oversight of all the reports, drawings and documents that are required for a complete application. This entails many hours of report writing, reviewing of other technical studies that have been prepared to support the proposal and the preparation of site plans. In this part of my work, attention to detail is critical.
Q: How did you get interested in this field/this work?
A: I was always interested in the built environment which is why I chose to pursue a degree in urban planning. I suppose it was the combination of policy and design that appealed to me. However, coming out of school I didn’t know much about the aggregate side of things. Working as an in-house urban planner for an aggregate producer was an amazing opportunity for me as it allowed me to learn about aggregates hands-on and truly understand the operations side of things. That’s where I had one of my very first site visits with the local MNRF aggregate inspectors, which then allowed me to appreciate the regulatory context and understand the nuances of a typical ARA Licensed Site Plan.
Q: Detail your past or ongoing education and how it is relevant to your job.
A: My educational qualifications include a Hons. Bachelor of Arts with a double major in architectural studies and environmental studies from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in planning from Ryerson University.
Most university programs are no doubt quite theoretical and may be somewhat removed from the day-to-day tasks of a professional planner. Certainly, technical aspects of pit and quarry operations were not addressed in my particular course work. For me, that knowledge has predominantly come from being in the field and on the job. That said, the value and relevance of my formal education lies in the report writing, public presentation and overall problem-solving skills that it has equipped me with. Equally important is that university training provided me with an understanding of Ontario’s public policy context, specifically the function of the upper and lower tier municipalities and the various ministries that play a critical role in land development approvals, be it aggregates-related or otherwise.
Q: Where do you see the industry going in the next few years?
A: With regards to the work that I am directly involved in, I believe the role of the planner is going to continue to be a critical one because the regulatory requirements have become quite layered, and despite the best efforts of the present-day government or any potential future governments to lift some of the current regulatory burden, reducing the complexity in the overall approvals process will be difficult to achieve. Additionally, I believe there is currently a missed opportunity to use data to improve the approvals process. Capitalizing on this is perhaps one direction that the industry might go in.
Q: What advice would you give to others looking for a career in the aggregate industry?
A: The aggregate industry has many potential career paths to offer. And being an urban planner is just one of them. My advice would be to know what you want, be passionate about it and be willing to start from anywhere.