Hi, I'm Alex Gaio.
This is my CV.

Degree conferred September 2020. Focussed on the interrelationship between the built environment and social, economic and institutional forces. Developed a profound and broad understanding of the multiple factors in sustainable urban development. Trained to alter planning and design practices to respond to the environmental conditions and societal needs of the future.

Study term completed January 2020. Intra-EU academic exchange to Delft University of Technology for Urbanism.

Qualification awarded July 2019. Graduate-level program on urban cycling. Program topics draw on historical and current affairs and engage with top Dutch and international experts and leaders. Acquired a variety of essential skills that support meaningful understanding, developing, and fostering of cycling cities.

Degree conferred June 2018. Passionate and engaged in city planning, transit, and transportation in Toronto and the world. Courses in Municipal Politics, Economics, Planning Process, Statistics, Geography, Regional Planning, Health Promotion, Community Development, and Public Consultation. Explored municipal finances, planning for climate change and disasters, two-tier regional planning, human rights law, and transit funding methods.

Provided GIS analysis assistance and project support for infrastructure, sustainable energy, and walkability projects in the Netherlands.

Supported planning, design, transportation, regional strategic planning, and municipal finance projects in southern Alberta and the Calgary Metropolitan Area.

Supported the development and roll-out of the University of Toronto’s Infrastructure Lab.

Implemented new network in West Auckland and provided service planning analysis.

Developed database of Complete Streets for Canada and associated web platform.

Prepared reports, analysed data, and played a role in developing ISO 37120: the international reference point for sustainable cities.

Instructor, mentor, and administrator for national youth program for ages 12-18 in leadership, team-building, instructional techniques, and public speaking. Under my direction, cadets qualified as provincial silver-medal speakers and were awarded the top drill team in British Columbia.

Built the brand and online presence for Ryerson University's Transportation and Land Use Research Lab, TransForm and coordinated the release and communication of reports and studies. Compiled database of environmental and sustainability organizations. Evaluated the use of open data and civic technology tools in over 150 organizations.

Worked on Calgary’s single largest rapid transit extension, the Green Line LRT. Green Line is one of North America’s first rapid transit projects to integrate transportation and land use planning from the onset of the preliminary design process. As a city-shaping project, the Green Line’s objectives are to provide fast and reliable public transit service that is easily accessible by multiple modes, to promote compact, mixed-use, mixed-income Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and to promote economic development. Worked with an integrated planning, architectural, urban design, transportation planning and project management team consisting of consultants and City staff. Primary duties included conducting research, project management, urban design, communication, and engagement.

I've been fortunate to travel around the world learning about different cultures and the successes and challenges of city planning. Here's an exhaustive map of the places I've visited.

Helped to develop the 2019 Young Leaders Summit hosted by Calgary Transit through the Marketing, Attract/Engage/Retain, and Programming teams.

Worked on the design team that published APA's biennial report on current topics in transportation planning.

Elected to lead the task force that is implementing the Youth in Transit National Strategic Plan for attracting, retaining, and developing the next generation of transit professionals in Canada.

Elected representative from an accredited planning program in Ontario for a one-year term to chair the 14-member Student Liaison Committee.

Emerging Leaders in Transit is a free lecture series for students and young professional interested in transit planning. Topics covered included suburban transit planning, customer experience, sound decision making, and service planning. Presenters included the chief planner of the City of Toronto, transit planners from TTC, Metrolinx, and Brampton, as well as Economic Analysts. Averaged 42 attendees per session and 162 unique registrants over 5 lectures.

Article on the challenges that waterfront motorways present to modern city planning.

Article on the adolescence of Toronto's slowly emerging transit smart card and what the technology promises.