We are a relationship-based company focused on building healthy, sustainable communities by balancing social, economic, cultural and environmental values.
We believe that the ‘process’ is often more valuable than the end result when planning communities. When done well, community planning processes result not only in realistic, community-supported plans and policies that guide future decision-making, but strengthen relationships and increased levels of trust between community members and government.
Meraki Community Planning is a female-owned and operated, full-service community planning firm specializing in long range planning and community engagement. We are listed on the First Nations Marketing Housing Fund's registry of preferred housing consultants. Our Clients include, but are not limited to, municipal government, First Nations, academic institutions, developers, non-profits and commercial businesses. The company's mandate is that of a participatory approach to planning communities - community members and stakeholders early and often in community planning projects.
Meraki values teamwork - internally and with the clients we support. While we bring technical expertise to projects, we realize the importance of working closely with our clients to develop an approach and product that meets the needs of the individual community.
Award of Excellence
Meraki Community Planning was awarded the 2021 'Inclusionary Planning' National Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners. This award highlights our inclusionary, client-centred, relationship-based approach to Indigenous Planning with one of our long-standing clients, the Kitselas First Nation. We are honoured to share this achievement with the Kitselas people and dedicate this award to all of the survivors, and loved ones of survivors, of the residential school system across Canada, in an effort to work toward dismantling the power structure and oppression created by the eurocentric, patriarchal system and worldview.
meraki [may-rah-kee]
Rich in meaning and subtleties, meraki is a greek concept that means to do things with passion and utmost care. To place your full and undivided attention to the task at hand, and to do it with diligence and powerful desire for the person who requested the task of you.
Our Vision
Fresh and creative approaches to community planning that help build resilient, healthy communities with a strong sense of identity and pride.
Our Values
Meraki is a value-based, full-service community planning firm. From the clients that we work with, to the work that we do, every decision we make adheres to our core values:
Integrity
We do what we say we are going to do, building trust with our colleagues and clients.
Creativity
We love what we do and embrace different and innovative ways to achieve success. We understand a ‘one-size fits all approach’ is not the answer to our clients’ challenges.
Competence
We achieve excellence. We are the best at what we do, take deliberate action and are detail-oriented.
Life-Long Learning
We reflect on our work experiences to gain insight and knowledge for the future.
We understand that there is always something new to learn and we commit to lifelong learning, building on our existing strengths.
Collaboration
We work together with others to achieve results and share and exchange knowledge in the best interest of the company. We foster healthy relationships by listening, respecting and inspiring. We are active contributors/participators in maintaining successful business relationships and implementing successful projects.
Respect
We treat others with high regard and put them first.