Growing up in Yokohama, Japan, Rui Shimada felt drawn to the opportunity to experience life in a different cultural setting, which led him to Halifax and the Bachelor of Sustainability and Community Design programme at Dalhousie. “As someone deeply interested in equitable practices, I feel that community design is the perfect way to make significant positive change within spaces for everyone, using communication, research, and analysis,” he says. 

As he progresses through the curriculum, he finds himself feeling more mentally prepared for the challenges and rewards of a career in community design. Engaging with guest speakers and participating in experiential learning opportunities, such as attending council meetings and planning conferences, have provided valuable insights into the planning practices and initiatives within the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

On campus, interactions with teaching assistants, professors, and alumni helped him navigate his interests within and beyond the programme. “They have influenced my academic journey in numerous ways,” he says.