Anoop Dayal (BA) & Avery Chan (BSc)

When Planning Meets Purpose

Community is everywhere. It shows up in familiar places like our workplaces and schools, but also in the coffee shop we visit on quiet Sunday afternoons, the fitness studio where we show up with friends to conquer first-time nerves, and even online, when we send a message to our group chats to celebrate life’s wins or share everyday stories.

For each of us, community is ever-evolving—shifting in shape and meaning as we face new challenges and embark on new adventures. It offers guidance, support, and a sense of direction as we make choices about our futures. For Avery Chan and Anoop Dayal, recipients of our Graduate Studies Award, community played a defining role in their individual decisions to pursue a Masters of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) at The University of British Columbia.

So, how is it that two individuals from vastly different backgrounds can arrive at a shared vision—to build more inclusive, connected, and resilient communities? Continue reading.

Connect with Anoop on LinkedIn.

Connect with Avery on LinkedIn.