When Planning Meets Purpose: A Conversation with GSA Recipients, Anoop Dayal and Avery Chan

BEEDIE LUMINARIES — 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?

In this piece, Anoop and Avery reflect on their journeys and explore their inspirations, their “aha” moments, and the power of finding common ground through difference.

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Hey! It’s great to see you both. Would you mind introducing yourselves?

Anoop: Hey, my name is Anoop (she/her) and I’m a Master’s student in Community & Regional Planning at UBC. I spent the first half of my childhood in London, England and then moved to Surrey when I was 5 and have been here ever since! I have a background in Human Geography and have always been interested in issues of equity and social justice. I’m Sikh, so my faith has really shaped my perspective in that its core values of equality, compassion, and community service are ones that I want reflected in both my personal and professional life.

Avery: Heyo, I’m Avery (he/him), also an MCRP student here at UBC. I grew up in Richmond but I’ve lived all over Greater Vancouver (I think I’m at 5 different cities). My parents are both immigrants from Guangzhou, China, and that cultural background was a large part of how I grew up. In my free time, I love hiking, board games, and trying out hole-in-the-wall restaurants across the city!

_{Travelling! Avery in Fremont in Seattle, WA and Anoop at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab.}

So, we know you’re both in planning. Can you tell us about what made you want to go into it?

(Note: ‘Planning’ is synonymous with ‘urban planning’. However, planning is also important for rural, unbuilt, and regional areas so most people in planning in Canada just call it ‘planning’.)

Anoop: It started during my undergraduate studies in Human Geography, where I learned about systemic inequalities and how cities are designed in ways that tend to exclude certain groups. It felt like I was learning a lot about everything that’s wrong with our world and not a lot about how to change these systems. After doing some asking around, planning felt like the right path to make a tangible difference.

Avery: The short answer? I just think planning is cool. But that encapsulates a lot of things. My first ever encounter with planning was waayyyy back in high school, when I interviewed a planner from TransLink for a project. I remember hanging up the phone and being hooked on the idea that ordinary people like me or you could genuinely make a difference in the systems that shape how we live and move!

I ended up doing my undergrad in something different (environmental sciences) but that fascination with planning stuck around in the back of my mind. Eventually, I took a leap and took on a summer job in Kelowna where I worked in environmental planning which perfectly married those two interests. That summer also happened to be the year that the wildfires hit. Seeing my coworkers spring into action to manage the rebuild and recovery, I knew this was a field where you could make an actual difference in your community, so I decided shortly after that to apply to master’s programs in planning.

_{What do these two pictures both have in common? They’re both graduated.}

There’s no doubt that Community is important to you both. How do you think access to community has affected the person that you are? Where do you find your community?

Anoop: Over time I’ve come to realize how important it is to cultivate a sense of community. There were times when I felt disconnected, and those experiences motivated me to seek out spaces where I could connect with others who share my interests and values, though it can be tough to make that first step of reaching out.

One of the most valuable aspects of my post-secondary journey has been having a mentor who’s been a wonderful source of support. As the first person in my family to attend university, my mentor helped me navigate academic and professional challenges, and reinforced the importance of building strong networks. I’ve also found a great sense of community amongst my peers in the MCRP program. Beyond that, my family has always been a huge source of support and belonging.

Avery: They weren’t kidding when they said ‘it takes a village’. Community has been an incredible factor in where I am today. Having people that you can fall back on and who can support you is incredibly important, and I’ve found that with my family and close friends. When I took that job in Kelowna, it was because of my community that I felt comfortable taking that risk, and I’m immensely thankful for that.

The Beedie Luminaries community has also been amazing for this! Talking to my mentor, REAL Teams, and other Lumies, I’ve grown so much as a person and learned so much about life and community. It’s true when they say Beedie Luminaries isn’t like other scholarship programs— take advantage of all the different supports while you’re still here!

What has the MCRP program been like so far?

Anoop: It’s been a mix of eye-opening, challenging, and rewarding. I came in thinking planning was a wonderful way to enact constructive change in our communities, but quickly realized the constraints that exist in the profession. You have to navigate different interests (government, developers, communities) while delivering something that aligns with the vision of your employer, and that can be tough. There have been moments of frustration, but I’ve also learned that real change often happens in small steps. The program has given me a more realistic perspective while also reinforcing why I chose this path. I am also consistently inspired by the bright ideas of the other students in my program.

Avery: Really cool! I came from a STEM background so it’s been a big hurdle catching up on all the theory and history. Still, I’ve been enjoying how varied the courses are in the program. One day I’m learning how to facilitate a workshop, another day I’m knee-deep in planning law trying to learn what judicial review is. But what’s helped is how close our cohort is in the MCRP program. Being able to lean on each other for support or to bounce ideas off each other has been an incredible learning experience, and it goes back to the importance of community as a student and beyond!

_{We held a mock public hearing at the West Vancouver City Hall for PLAN 542: City Planning as a Craft}

What advice would you have for someone interested in planning?

Anoop: Planning is so much more than just city design. It’s about people and power, and the dynamics between the two. If you’re thinking about getting into it, be ready to engage with the political side of things. This is much easier said than done (I know because I still struggle with this sometimes), but try to stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to question the status-quo. Find mentors and a community that align with your values because they’ll keep you motivated. And it helps to get involved early, whether it’s volunteering at the community centre, attending public hearings, or joining a civic committee in a municipality. The more exposure you get, the more you’ll learn about how you fit in planning!

Avery: Like Anoop said, experience as much as you can! One of the places I learned the most about planning was just going to public hearings or engagement events in my neighbourhood by the city or non-profits. Experience the whole range of human experiences, and make friends in high and low places!

And honestly one of the best pieces of advice I got for being a student (and life in general) is to embrace the side quests. Sign up for that volunteer opportunity, try out that craft you’ve always wanted to start, go on that day trip you’ve been eyeing! 

For some reason, this just clicked for me. I’ve always been intimidated by the question “what are your hobbies” because I’ve always found it hard to commit and identify with one singular thing. But reframing it as ‘side quests’ helped me take that pressure off– do whatever makes you feel fulfilled even if it’s short, silly, or unfamiliar. What’s important is trying new things and stepping outside your comfort zone! Life is too short to not enjoy the journey!

For example, one of my side quests this past year has been working occasionally as a background actor. Or recently when it snowed, I spontaneously gathered up Anoop and some other people from class to build a snowman.

But also like in video games, you never know when the rewards you get from your side quests (resources, skills, experiences) can come back to help you in the future. For planning specifically— planning is such an interdisciplinary field that any skill can be a useful skill. For example, I used to help make posters for my friends’ student council campaigns, and now I’m digging up those graphic design skills that I built to make professional-looking documents for school and work. 

^{Our drag queen snowman, Miss Zoning.}

No pressure, but what’s next? What do you hope to do following school?

Anoop: I’m learning new things everyday and my planning interests are constantly expanding, but I’m broadly interested in social/community planning with a focus on equity and inclusion. Whether this be through planning for the public health system, transportation, or the environment, my goal is to create planning processes that actually center the voices of people who are often left out of these decisions. I know the system has its constraints, but planning can be a tool for justice and meaningful change.

Avery: I hope to work as a planner (wow, big surprise), hopefully in the public sector within a local or regional government. I’m hoping to be a generalist, able to tackle a wide range of issues, but I’m really interested in land use, climate, and environmental planning.

Thank you for sharing – your insight has been invaluable. Any closing thoughts?

Anoop: For any Beedie Luminaries interested in pursuing planning or graduate studies in general, I’m always happy to chat and share more! There are so many resources through Beedie Luminaries and universities to help you when you feel stuck. Even if it feels like you’re lost or unsure, trust that you’re always exactly where you’re meant to be, it’s just a small moment in the bigger picture.

Avery: Same here! I know all too well what it’s like to be on the other side of the screen reading this, but I can promise you that Lumies are some of the kindest, most open people you’ve ever met, so please reach out! We’re in this as a team, and we’re here to support each other. 

If you want to talk about grad school, making the most out of your time with Beedie Luminaries, or just want to nerd out about cities for an hour, send either of us a message and we’d be more than happy to chat.

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Connect with Avery Chan & Anoop Dayal. Learn more about our alumni here.

^{Anoop in Venice, Avery in Guangzhou.}