By: Korie Marshall

The current president of the Planning Institute of BC will be starting with the Village of Valemount as the new Corporate Officer/Planner, announced the Village last week. Andrew Young, is an experienced and registered professional planner, will be starting with the Village on November 12, 2014.

“We have a number of significant planning challenges and opportunities in the near future, and this is a skill-set that is needed here,” says Anne Yanciw, Chief Administrative Officer for the Village in a press release. “We are delighted to have someone with Andrew’s experience and expertise.”

Small municipalities deliver most of the same services that larger municipalities do, but seldom have the expertise in all the different sectors required.

“Having someone of Andrew’s talents is going to help us make better planning decisions in house,” says Mayor Andru McCracken. “I am so pleased to welcome Andrew to the team.”

Young brings years of municipal planning experience, and has worked on some complex planning challenges such as the amalgamation of two municipalities into one.

The Planning Institute of BC is a professional association of planners in BC and the Yukon, and an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Members work in both public and private sectors on different fields of planning, such as land use and development, municipal and regional planning, resource and environmental planning.

“I’m really looking forward to working with you and the other members of Valemount’s team. There are many exciting opportunities ahead,” says Young.