This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the Dalhousie Class of 2021. Visit our Class of 2021 virtual space to share in the excitement with our newest graduates.
Monica DeVidi had just returned to her hostel from a camping trip in New Zealand when she found out she was accepted into Dalhousie’s master of planning program. After being without cellphone service for four days, she checked her email and saw the news.
“It was kind of funny to be around people I had just met when I found out,” says Monica, reflecting on the celebratory moment. “But when I got in, I knew it was definitely something I wanted to do.”
The perfect fit
Originally from Ontario with a background in geography from Queen’s University, Monica was drawn to Dalhousie because of its proximity to the ocean. Her interest in coastal living and passion for planning were further solidified when she joined the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) last summer for her program’s work term. There, she looked at how municipalities are involved in marine spatial planning.
DeVidi credits her two supervisors, Patricia Manuel and Bertrum MacDonald, for helping her make the most of her experience with OFI. “I’ve been really lucky with my supervisors,” she says. “They’re both really pushing me to keep doing my research and bring it further.”
Over the last semester, Monica also participated in a group project where she got to work on a healthy community design study with the Village of Tatamagouche. The Municipality of Colchester will be using the study in its upcoming plan review.
Next steps
Monica completed her master of planning degree from Dalhousie this past May, and although she’s unsure of what the future holds, she’s open to whatever comes her way.
“I kind of want to keep experiencing different things,” she says. “I’m not 100 per cent set on one path still.”
If she had the choice, Monica would be marking the end of her time at Dalhousie the same way she marked the beginning — on an adventure in a different country. But until that day comes, she is happy to continue embracing Nova Scotia and all it has to offer as she waits out the pandemic.
No matter where she ends up, one thing Monica knows for sure is that she’d like to make a meaningful difference in the world of planning through decolonization and climate change mitigation. “You have to keep your mind open to big possibilities for changes.”
Cutline: . Photo by Jad Ghorra.