Second-year students in Selkirk College’s Applied Environmental Science and Planning Technology Program are helping shape Nelson’s future by developing action plans to advance the goals outlined in the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP)—Nelson 2050: Leading the Way Together.
Rooted in hands-on, place-based learning, the program connects students directly with local governments and community partners. Over the past several months, students have gathered and analyzed local data, researched best practices and drafted action-oriented plans for topics selected from the City’s recently adopted OCP. Topics include affordable housing, climate resilience, transit infrastructure, urban ecology, waste diversion, renewable energy, food security, traditional ecological knowledge, school streets, bicycle parking and more.
Community members are invited to explore the action plans and share their input at an upcoming open house on Tuesday, March 10, from 5 to 7 pm in Mary Hall at the Selkirk College Tenth Street Campus in Nelson. Students will incorporate input from the Open House into their final plans, which they will present to the City of Nelson in April.
Tackling Real-World Challenges
Guided by instructor Peter Holton, who brings decades of professional planning experience, students move beyond classroom theory to tackle real community challenges. Their work includes analyzing local conditions, engaging residents and stakeholders, setting clear goals, and outlining practical, cost-informed implementation steps tailored to local communities.
“The students who choose this program as a springboard to a variety of rewarding careers arrive with different backgrounds of knowledge and specific interests,” says Holton. “They add so much depth through the time they spend in the classroom and the variety of hands-on field work. I’m always impressed by how students really commit to this element of the program, bringing a fresh perspective and an earned understanding of the issues. This next generation will serve our community partners well.”
Over the past 25 years, Holton’s students have partnered with almost every community in the region. Past projects include City of Castlegar OCP Implementation Plan, Rossland Trails and Laneways Plan, Cottonwood Creek Protection Plan, Kootenay Lake Partnership Stewardship Plans and the Village of Salmo Livable Village Action Plan.
“Working with students and guiding them through these real-world exercises has been a very rewarding part of my career,” says Holton. The students look forward to sharing their plans with Nelson's citizens and to gaining their input.
Learn more about the Applied Environmental Science and Planning Technology Program.
Photo: Students in the Environmental Planning class.