UVic Geography Graduate Student Earns Canada’s Top Planning Honour

July 16, 2025

Lindsay Chase, Director of Planning for the District of Saanich, UVic Geography PhD candidate, and longtime planning educator, has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners (FCIP): the highest honour awarded to planning professionals in Canada.

Chase was inducted into the CIP’s College of Fellows for her exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to the profession. In Saanich, she has championed key planning initiatives, including the rapid deployment of non-market housing and improvements to the District’s Official Community Plan.

Beyond her municipal work, Chase has shaped the next generation of planners through more than a decade of teaching at Vancouver Island University. She continues to serve on national and provincial planning boards, emphasizing ethics, mentorship, and professional development.

Her recognition highlights the vital role geography and planning professionals play in building livable, sustainable communities across Canada.