Cities & Environment Unit

Temporary and
Part-time Staff:

Nahal Sharifi
BArch, MPlan
Production Assistant

Mark Nener, BA, MPlan

Community Planner
m.nener@dal.ca

Mark brings a unique perspective to the team through his diverse background, which includes experience in Toronto’s film industry that informs his approach to visual representation. Mark is inspired by projects that integrate sustainable transportation options within intensifying built environments. Mark has contributed to a wide variety of Cities & Environment Unit projects, including the development of urban design guidelines for Uptown Saint John, NB, a web-based riparian buffer resource for planners and First Nations community-based plans. Mark is currently leading the development of a comprehensive plan for Mikisew Cree First Nation in northern Alberta.

Frank Palermo, BArch, MArch, FRAIC, FCIP

Director
frank.palermo@dal.ca

Frank holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University. His experience includes working as an architect with WZMH in Toronto and as Director of Downtown Planning for the City of Calgary. Since 1984 he has been a professor in the Faculty of Architecture & Planning at Dalhousie where he has also held the positions of Head of the Planning Department and Dean of the Faculty. Frank has been a member of the National Capital Commission Advisory Committee on Planning and Real Asset Management and is currently a member of HRM’s Urban Design Task Force.

Ali Shaver, BRM, MES

Community Planner
ali.shaver@dal.ca

Drawing from her experience in facilitation, public engagement, environmental education and project management, Ali approaches projects from multiple perspectives. Ali has worked as a planner and consultant on community plans, environmental management strategies and design projects. Her areas of interest include public participation, sustainable transportation and the history of cities. Ali is currently leading Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Community-Based Planning project in Saskatchewan as well as Cities & Environment Unit’s efforts to establish a Planning & Design Centre in Halifax that will engage the public in planning through community outreach.

Ross Soward, BA, MPLan

Community Planner
ross.soward@dal.ca

Ross is a transplanted British Columbian who moved to Halifax to pursue a graduate degree in planning at Dalhousie. Over the last five years as student and practitioner, Ross has developed a keen interest in active transportation planning, streetcar suburbs, and the Ecocities movement. Some key experiences he brings to his work include an internship with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, developing a neighbourhood assessment tool as a graduate student project, volunteering with non-profit organizations in Victoria and Halifax, and community-based plan development across Canada with Cities & Environment Unit.

Heather Ternoway, B.Sc, MURP, MCIP LPP

Community Planner
heather.ternoway@dal.ca

Heather brings a range of interdisciplinary skills and experience to the team, drawing on a background in environmental science. She has worked on a number of projects, including the Old North End Community Action Plan (Saint John, NB), a home ownership training program and several First Nation community plans across the country. Heather leads the Environmental Science Action Team for the Principles in Practice (PIP) project, an interdisciplinary ocean and coastal governance initiative in Southeast Asia. Heather is also committed to increasing relevancy and transparency of planning by establishing a Planning & Design Centre in Halifax.

Temporary and Part-time Staff:

Mark Nener, BA, MPlan

Community Planner m.nener@dal.ca