Ascend Planning is a
Vancouver Island grown planning,
land-use and development consulting team
Who We Are
Ascend Planning is a boutique land use planning, development consulting and project management firm. Our focus is on master planning, comprehensive development plans and multi-family residential projects where the client requires a quality, tailor made plan.
REACH OUTAbout Ascend
The Ascend Planning team prides itself on our ability to bring together municipal staff, community leaders, Indigenous partners and neighbours, members of the public and other specialists and consultants to deliver valuable community plans and projects that are practical, attainable and achievable. We are a Vancouver Island focused firm (based in Victoria) with experience developing master plans such as Royal Beach in Colwood, BC, University Heights Shopping Centre in Saanich, BC, ONE POINT Tower in Victoria, BC, Sandstone in Nanaimo, BC, City Gate in Langford, BC and the Lot A Land-Use Plan for the District of Sooke, BC. In other words, Ascend Planning acts as the “boots on the ground” and manages or assists our clients and communities in an inclusive and implementable way.
Our team brings a unique approach to their planning and development services by providing clients with personalized information, media and engagement opportunities and excellent customer service, all paired with the unique outlooks from our principal team members—a second-term municipal councilor and a former municipal planner. We know what questions to ask, the team members to bring in and how to seek the information required to highlight risks and challenges to move a planning or development project through the processes effectively.
Our Services
Our team brings a unique approach to land use planning and development consulting by providing clients with personalized information, media and engagement opportunities as well as application management, relationship management and land use planning advice. We provide client services ranging from management of small land use applications to large-scale comprehensive development and master planning.
Community Engagement + Consultation
We design a tailored and innovative plan to consult by identifying objectives, risks, stakeholders, the logistics and the budget. We have undertaken numerous consultation and communication plans and strategies that have created buy-in and helped our projects’ success. In addition to engagement and consultation we also plan events with our frequent collaborators to create excitement and understanding.
Land Use Planning
We understand the importance of managing, coordinating and communicating projects with regulatory agencies, stakeholders, Indigenous neighbours & partners, and the general public. Our team can provide master planning, comprehensive development schemes, urban design insights and coordination of rezoning and development permits applications.
Development Consulting
We have experience managing small residential permitting and construction projects to large multi-family and mixed-use design and construction projects. Our team can support your project wherever it is at, from the vision and concept phase to municipal approvals through to implementation and construction. We offer a wide range of project management, feasibility studies and site planning services.
Our Team
Our team is a small, but dynamic and mighty crew. With backgrounds in developing and site works, master planning, municipal planning, municipal governance, development consulting and not-for-profit housing development consulting.
Niall is a dedicated planner and leader who brings his pragmatic, entrepreneurial spirit to every project he encounters. In 2012 Niall was appointed to the Central Saanich Advisory Planning Commission and served as a citizen representative for two years before being elected to Central Saanich Council in 2014 at the age of 19. Now in his second term, Niall serves on his Official Community Plan Review Committee, Active Transportation Planning Committee and Peninsula Recreation Commission Board. Niall graduated University of Victoria with a degree in Economics and Public Administration and is now fulfilling his Canadian Institute of Planners certification.
Professionally, Niall has had the pleasure of working with a number of local and national clients to help lead and assist in the planning, administration and delivery of several large and mid-scale projects across the south and mid-island. As a born and raised Vancouver Island resident, Niall understands the importance of balancing social, economic and environmental demands all while continuing to walk forward with the general public and community representatives. His public and private experience and knowledge bridges the aspirational goals and vision of the community and/or client with the practical needs of the project to deliver a meaningful and deliverable plan.
Teunesha is a Registered Professional Planner with over five years of experience in affordable housing policy creation and implementation, development consulting and municipal planning. In 2017, Teunesha graduated from the Master of Community Planning program at Vancouver Island University. This accredited planning school has a focus on Vancouver Island communities and Indigenous planning. Her skills include housing policy, facilitation & public engagement, climate adaptation policy and project coordination.
Teunesha has coordinated affordable housing projects throughout the province for M’akola Housing Society, Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family & Community Services, Vernon Native Housing Society, Pathways Abilities Society and more. Formerly, Teunesha worked as a Planner II at the District of Sooke where she processed over sixty current planning applications and drafted a major updated to the Flood Plain Regulations. During her time there Teunesha also acted as the principal staff member for the Housing Needs Report and the Child Care Needs Assessment and Action Plan. Her municipal planning background in a small, but rapidly growing municipality translates well to planning and development projects of all scopes and sizes.