About Us

Civicplan helps people shape communities through award-winning participatory planning, public engagement and strategies.

 

Civicplan specializes in tailored public engagement and community planning solutions to help our clients better understand and plan for future opportunities. Our work includes award-winning and innovative community planning, public engagement, and strategy development services for a wide variety of clients. We work with civic leaders including municipalities, institutions, community organizations, citizens and the private sector.

Team

Led by our Principals, the Civicplan team brings a diversity of backgrounds to our projects, including urban planning, community engagement and facilitation, strategic planning, communication, and research. The breadth of our experience gives us a strong understanding of the mechanics of government, community outreach, the planning process, and political decision-making.

Sonja Macdonald, M.A.

Principal

Sonja Macdonald is co-founder and a Principal with Civicplan. She has over 15 years of experience in community-based research and engagement, project management, and strategic communication. Sonja designs and implements complex mixed method research projects blending quantitative and qualitative data. She has proven expertise in the design and coordination of various types of public engagement. Sonja’s work focuses on a diversity of sectors, including alternative transportation, community and social services, creative industries, municipal infrastructure, as well as women’s health, innovation and training.

Paul Shaker, MCIP, RPP

Principal

Paul Shaker is a Principal and co-founder of Civicplan. He has over 15 years of experience in the realm of progressive placemaking. His work blends strategic thinking, planning policy, research, and public engagement into concrete plans that help citizens shape their communities. Paul’s project experience includes the design and management of award-winning participatory planning campaigns, district development plans, economic development policy and planning, neighbourhood renewal strategies, and alternative transportation planning. The breadth of his experience spans the private, non-profit and public sectors at both the federal and municipal levels, which gives him an understanding of community planning in a variety of environments.