The Bachelor of Community Design’s emphasis on experiential learning instantly stood out to Johnny Kurelek. “As you progress further and further into this programme, there are more hands-on experiences and topics taught about real-life situations,” he says. 

For example, Kurelek and the rest of his Site Infrastructure class are proposing an affordable housing development in Wolfville, which the town could eventually adopt and use. In the Community Design Practice class, he interviewed planners regarding the current field, workforce, and the overall state of planning. “I got to interview all members of Open One Studio, which was a great way to learn about the community engagement events that take place at the local level in Halifax,” he says. 

Kurelek appreciates how Dalhousie invites expert professors and experienced guest lecturers to give students a better understanding of the depth and variability of the planning profession. He also loves how small each class is. “I have learned a lot from faculty members outside of class time and have created some connections that I never would have gotten the opportunity to get if I were in a bigger programme,” he says.