Dear Thorhild County residents,
Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak directly with some residents who have shared their questions and concerns about the Thorhild County Land Use Bylaw as well as Green Space Alliance (GSA) as an organization.
About me and the Green Space Alliance
I’d like to start with a little about me. I am a long-time Canadian citizen and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with the Alberta Professional Planners Institute and member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. I was born and raised in India where I received a bachelor’s degree in architecture and post graduate diploma in urban design. In 2002, I moved to Canada and earned a post-graduate degree in urban planning from McGill University in Montreal. I then worked in Toronto for two and half years as an urban designer before moving to Edmonton where I gained valuable insights into the unique qualities of urban and rural planning as a public servant from 2006 to 2012. I moved on to lead the Edmonton office of a national organization for three years until I branched out on my own and created Green Space Alliance in 2015. When I relocated to Edmonton, I felt an immediate connection with Alberta’s people and culture and was inspired to work in partnership with Albertans to help shape the built environments which enhance our everyday lives. I am proud to call Alberta home where I continue to contribute and grow my practice of equitable community planning.
Green Space Alliance is a Canadian based firm with partners in the U.S and India. Our Edmonton practice is registered as GSA Consulting Inc. with a trade name Green Space Alliance. We specialize in community planning, policy development and have worked extensively across Alberta in both urban and rural settings. We’re a small and diverse team including 7 members dedicated to our work and the profession. Working in new communities is a very rewarding experience as it helps us understand varied perspectives and different ways of life.
My family and I have planted deep roots in Alberta, raising our family and giving back to our community in any way we can.
For more information about GSA, please visit our updated website at www.greenspacealliance.com
Our role in the Thorhild County Land Use Bylaw project
GSA is hired by municipalities through a competitive bidding process. Our role in this project was to support the Administration in the development of the County’s new Land Use Bylaw, through stakeholder input and local, regional best practices. This involved an public engagement process including focus groups, steering committee meetings and open houses in Thorhild County. It is important to understand that we are not decision-makers, but we serve as advisors and provide content recommendations in a continuous exchange with the Country throughout the development, review and approval process. If you have concerns or comments about the Land Use Bylaw, it is important to participate in public consultations and contact your local government. This is how we ensure community voices are reflected in drafts prepared by us during the Bylaw development process.
I want to assure you that Green Space Alliance is not related to or affiliated to any federal government initiatives or World Economic Forum initiatives. We work with public and private sector clients by providing our urban and rural planning/design services to address their local needs.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about me or Green Space Alliance, please do not hesitate to contact me at dnyanesh@greenspacealliance.com or call me at 780-710-0035. I will do my best to answer any questions you may have. I hope we can move forward with kindness, friendliness and collaboration.
Sincerely,
Dnyanesh Deshpande, RPP
Principal, Green Space Alliance, Edmonton