National recognition for USask regional and urban planning alumna

By Chris Putnam

As Kelley Moore receives one of the highest honours granted to Canadian planners, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) alumna has advice for graduates at the start of their careers.

“Believe you belong, first and foremost and always.”

Moore (BA’00, MA’13), a graduate of the College of Arts and Science's regional and urban planning undergraduate program and USask's interdisciplinary studies graduate program, is one of two people elected this year to the College of Fellows of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).

Election to the College of Fellows is the highest award given by the CIP. It recognizes the most experienced members of the institute who have reached the peak of their field.

“It’s an honour. It’s very surreal in a way, because it really feels like not very long ago when I was still a young professional meeting the fellows and thinking about how I hoped to someday have contributed enough in my career to be worthy of something like that,” said Moore.

In its citation, the CIP describes Moore as a planner who has had a “transformative impact” on her profession. For more than 20 years, she has worked in both public and private sector planning at the local, provincial and international levels.

But like many young professionals, Moore once grappled with doubts about her abilities.

“It’s intimidating. It’s easy to feel that everybody knows more than you or they’re more experienced or they belong there and you don’t,” she said.

Moore faced extra challenges because her sexual orientation set her apart. She and her partner Lenore Swystun (MA’96) fought in court for the right to be legally married and were among the first same-sex couples to wed in Saskatchewan.

“Whether you’re young or you’re part of the LGBTQ2S+ or some other minority—or any kind of person of diversity—part of contributing is believing you belong,” said Moore.

“When I came out, I had a choice to make between … following my heart and conforming to what was socially acceptable. And it was a hard decision to be authentically myself, because I knew that I would be giving up my privilege. I knew that I would lose friends. I would have family that would abandon me. I might not get the same opportunities…. But I couldn’t imagine the life I would have had if I chose not to follow my heart.”

Today, Moore works for the Government of Saskatchewan as executive director for northern property management with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement. She is the co-founder of a private consulting firm, has had numerous roles with the City of Saskatoon and the Government of Saskatchewan, and volunteers extensively.

The variety of her work is what Moore loves most about her chosen career. “I’m a curious person and I love learning new things. And the planning profession offers a very diverse range of opportunities,” she said.

She is grateful to the USask faculty who have supported her throughout her career, including the members of the Department of Geography and Planning who led her nomination for the College of Fellows.

“It really speaks to how important our university is. We don’t stop our relationships once students graduate,” she said.

Moore continues to be influenced by Dr. Joe Garcea (PhD), the renowned USask Department of Political Studies professor who passed away last year. Garcea was Moore’s graduate supervisor and a long-time mentor.

“He was just so inspiring, encouraging,” she said. “He gave me a confidence that I really didn’t have.”

Although she has attained one of the highest recognitions in her field, there is still much more that Moore wants to achieve.

“It’s sort of become a little bit of a motto—to reach further than I think I can reach.”

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