The Planner in Residence Program

As part of its mission to serve communities across northern British Columbia and beyond, the UNBC School of Environmental Planning acknowledges the critical importance of strong and reciprocal relationships with practicing planners. Practicing planners across our region and beyond enable partnerships for experiential class projects, provide professional mentorship and networking opportunities for students, contribute to the governance of the School, and share their unique knowledge, experience, and perspectives as course instructors. 

The UNBC Planner in Residence is a unique position within the School that acknowledges the professional leadership of a practicing planner and provides a structured avenue for this individual to share their knowledge and experience with future planners. The UNBC Planner in Residence is a professional with a diverse range of planning experience and a shared commitment to UNBC’s mission to serve communities throughout northern British Columbia and beyond. They have a passion for exploring new opportunities to advance this mission through teaching and mentorship, and are excited to share their knowledge with our students as the instructor in the ENPL 318 - Professional Planning Practice course. 

The Planner in Residence 

Finlay Sinclair is a nationally recognized Urban Planner who has spent 30 years working within the development, planning and community building sector. He has been responsible and accountable for master planning, rezoning, servicing and marketing of over 4 million square feet of new residential, commercial, retail and institutional developments across BC. His extensive experience working with every level of stakeholder informs and streamlines his management process. Finlay has completed extensive work with British Columbia’s Indigenous communities including the development and successful signing of multiple Memorandum of Understandings. 

As UNBC’s inaugural Planner in Residence, Finlay will bring his extensive experience as a practicing planner and a nearly 20-year relationship with the UNBC School of Environmental Planning as an Adjunct Professor into the classroom. As a Registered Professional Planner, past president of the Planning Institute of BC, and Director of Development Services with Emergence Developments Inc., students will benefit by learning from an instructor with a varied and impactful career in planning practice.