History

The School of Community and Regional Planning has a rich history as one of the first dedicated planning schools in Canada and the first planning school in North America to be specifically focused on sustainability through its mission statement.  The following is a brief chronology of key events in the school's history.

1951	Peter H. Oberlander founding Director of the School
1958	First three Masters students graduate
1968	First doctoral student admitted
1970	SCARP first accredited by U.S. Planning Accreditation Board
1971	First doctoral student graduates
1977	Brahm Wiesman becomes Director of the School
1988	Alan Artibise becomes Director of the School
1994	William Rees becomes Director of the School
1994	SCARP adopts Sustainability Mission statement: To advance the transition to sustainability through excellence in integrated policy and planning research, professional education and community service
1995	Student Curriculum Report: Planning for the 21st Century
1996	Draft Proposals for Revising the Masters Degree Program
1997	Student Report: What Do Canadian and American Planning Schools Say They Do?
1999	Re-Accreditation Reviews by U.S. Planning Accreditation Board and Canadian Institute of Planners; reports
1999	Tony Dorcey becomes Director of the School
1999	School Management Committee established - faculty, staff and student representatives meeting monthly
1999	SCARP web site provides details of degree programs and courses
2000	Canadian Association of Planning Students (CAPS) annual conference organized by SCARP students
2000	Introduction of annual community-based planning course in interior of B.C. - Royston on Vancouver Island - and wins PIBC Honourable Mention
2001	SCARP students engage campus sustainability and development
2001	PlanTalk introduced, a downtown series of discussions organized by PIBC Lower Mainland Chapter and SCARP students
2001	Professional Research Project introduced as alternative to Masters Thesis
2002	SCARP faculty first post statements of their individual Perspectives on Sustainability Planning
2002	Planning Education for All Seasons: Integration and Diversity in Theory and Practice - a workshop with planning academics and practitioners from across Canada, convened as one of the School's 50th anniversary events
2002	West Mall Annex renovated and the Centre for Human Settlements (CHS) relocates to it from the other side of the campus
2003	Review of SCARP's Quantitative and Analytical Courses
2003	SCARP launches the first bi-annual, week-long North American PhD Student Jamboree
2004	Re-Accreditation Reviews by U.S. Planning Accreditation Board and Canadian Institute of Planners
2005	Masters curriculum review report; and School discussion of report
2006	SCARP Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Overview Prepared for Search for a New Director
2006	SCARP received the 2005-2006 Peter Larkin Award, which is granted to a UBC graduate program for contributions to student development in honour of Dr. Larkin’s commitment and passion for teaching and graduate education
2006	Planners for Tomorrow organized by SCARP students as CAPS annual conference and to coincide with the World Urban Forum in Vancouver. Report: Planners for Tomorrow (P4T): Student Perspectives on the Future of Planning in Canada
2006	Leonie Sandercock becomes Director of the School
2007	School faculty retreat reaffirms SCARP mission statement and goals; also decides to rejuvenate the Centre for Human Settlements with a new mission, focusing on research and engagement addressing an urban world in sustainability crisis
2008	Penny Gurstein becomes Director of the School and announces strategic plan to be developed during 2008-'09

Newsbytes provides information on SCARP since its first publication in 2000. It is the web-based successor to The Garden City News that was published every Monday morning during term by the School's longtime Administrator, Bonnie Schoenberger.