Shift 2024

Shift 2024: Growing Pains

Thursday March 7th at the Lord Nelson Hotel

Friday March 8th at the Halifax Central Library

We're excited to announce that SHIFT 2024 will be held on March 7th and 8th in partnership between the Dalhousie School of Planning and the Licensed Professional Planners Association of Nova Scotia (LPPANS). It will include keynote presentations, panels, workshops and a debate. All sessions will be aimed at better understanding how we can plan for the opportunities and challenges posed by rapid urban growth. 

For more information and registration:

Register here for Thursday(March 7th) and Friday(March 8th). 

Register here for Friday(March 8th) only. 


Thursday March 7th at Lord Nelson Hotel

Professional Planning sessions hosted by LPPANS 

Sponsored by Fathom Studio, Clayton Developments Limited, Armco Capital Inc


1:00 pm - 1:30 pm            Conference Opening and Welcome

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm            Panel 1: How do we pay for growth in our province? What are some                                                  examples of how communities are handling the cost of growth?

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm            Break

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm            Panel 2: How do we make sure we are building beautiful cities when                                                 we are growing as fast as we are? Is there still room for thoughtful                                                   urban design, landscaped areas, parks and plazas?

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm.          Break

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm           Panel 3: How can we leverage the opportunities of growth to ensure                                                our communities are for everyone? Who gets missed when we plan                                                and build quickly?


Evening Keynote

Sponsored by Downtown Halifax Business Commission


6:00pm - 7:00pm.          Reception

7:00pm - 8:30pm.          Carmichael Lecture featuring Naama Blonder of Toronto based design                                             firm Smart Density. "Blonder's professional practice combines the                                                    disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and urban design to bring a                                            deeper, more realistic understanding of how cities can address housing            affordability and champion inclusive neighbourhoods".


Friday March 8th at Halifax Central Library


9:00 am - 9:15 am           Doors open. Tea, coffee and snacks provided. 

9:15 am - 9:30 am           Opening remarks

9:30 am - 10:15 am          Keynote presentation from Mike Moffat of Smart Prosperity Institute. 

10:15am - 11:00 am          Keynote presentation from Sasha Tsenkova of University of Calgary. 

11:00 am - 11:15 am          Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm           Panel: How can we achieve urban growth without contributing 

                                         to displacement?

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm            Free lunch provided. 

1:15 pm - 3:00 pm            Interactive workshops hosted by FBM Architecture and Design, and                                                 the Dalhousie Transportation Collaboratory (DalTRAC).

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm           Break

3:15 pm - 4:15 pm             Debate: Be it resolved that maximizing the number of housing units                                                 should take priority over preserving green space in master planning.

4:15 pm  - 4:30 pm          Closing remarks


Photos of Halifax Central Library