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Our Services

Our team offers a variety of services from land use planning, development consulting, engagement, consultation, master planning and more. We have experience across BC, with a focus on Vancouver Island and the Okanagan Valley. 
 

Westplan is deeply committed to education and raising the bar on planning and real estate development education, and we invest a significant amount of time and resources of the company in various educational programs

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Master of Community Planning

Mark worked with Drs Pam Shaw and David Witty, and other colleagues, to launch VIU’s School of Community Planning in 2015.  He now holds a professor position at the school and teaches the professional practice courses and supervises many thesis students.  His courses cover key topics including: 

  • Real estate development 

  • Policy analysis 

  • Local government planning and approvals 

  • Regional planning 

  • Official community planning 

  • Neighborhood and special area planning 

  • Zoning 

  • Subdivision 

  • Development Permits 

  • Master planning 

 

He has also played a central role in the creation and ongoing evolution of the curriculum to best answer the question: “What do young planners need to know to be effective in the 21st Century?

 

 Students love his courses, and he was awarded the Provost’s Award for Scholarship and Creativity at VIU for his work. 

Teunesha plays a role in mentoring and sponsoring graduates from the program and is also a guest speaker / PT instructor in various roles. 

Water Taxi

Urban Development Institute

Mark has played a central role in the public and professional education programs for several chapters of the Urban Development Institute – including the Capital Region Chapter and the Okanagan Chapter.  He has helped create, coordinate, teach in and chair numerous master class sessions on many real estate topics over the past decade. 

In 2020, he worked with UDI Capital Region to develop a formal certificate program in Real Estate Development Management.  He chairs this 9 course annual program and teaches a number of its sections.  The online program has become one of the leading (and only) real estate development management programs in BC.

The RED Management Certificate program covers topics including: 

  • Financial proformas 

  • Securing development land 

  • Concept development 

  • Financing

  • Development law 

  • Approvals

  • Consultant's studies 

  • Community engagement 

  • Marketing and sales 

 

In 2021, UDI gave Mark an Award of Excellence for his contribution to the industry for helping develop and manage this program. 

Find out more at:  https://udicapitalregion.ca/get-involved/upcoming-educational-courses/#0

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