Our world is strategically shaped by creative, passionate Planners like V3’s Kristen Harder, whose curiosity for how people and places interact creates impactful community growth. Discover how her love for art, travel, and the social sciences channels into meaningful work.
Stepping outside the bubble
Kristen’s love for urban planning began during her first trip to Europe. As a high schooler from a small Canadian town, she was fascinated with seeing how different cities lend themselves to different ways of life. Exploring the world sparked her interest in archeology, sociology, and art, but none of these individual specialties satisfied her desire to learn about how people and cities interact.
After researching her options, Kristen discovered the Urban Studies program at the University of Calgary, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts. Her first job out of school found her enforcing municipal regulations, but she quickly realized a longing to make the plans, not just carry them through. This led her back to school to earn her Master of Planning, Urban & Regional Development from Toronto Metropolitan University: a perfect fit.
“Travel helped me see how our cities are informed by millennia of building before us, but the people side of it was just as interesting to me. I wanted a career that married the two; I didn’t know there was an entire profession devoted to it! Planning allows me to explore the human experience in the physical landscape and help make things better for all.”
Once she found the career path that combined all her passions, Kristen eventually found her way to V3. The firm’s breadth of planning work was tempting, and after meeting the team, she jumped at the opportunity.
“There’s an overall excitement that reverberates in the office. The Planning team’s dynamic skillsets create innovate solutions to very timely issues—it’s a good energy to be around.”
It’s a small world after all
As a Senior Planner, Kristen applies her talent and passion across varied responsibilities, from working on high-level policy development to designing and organizing community engagement events. Public feedback is crucial to the planning process, so connecting with residents, business owners, and politicians is a regular occurrence. Hearing these voices keeps Kristen nimble, as plans can pivot based on shifting community needs.
She also gets to flex her expertise and deepen her knowledge base by working on both Canadian and US-based projects.
“There are many differences between Canada and the states, yet the issues that plague our cities are similar. I learn so much from working in other places; exposure to the nuances and commonalities allows us to explore innovative ideas.”
Kristen’s work has taken her from rural communities to bustling cities and even tropical islands. One of her favorite projects was in Dominica, where she contributed to a marine and coastal master plan to guide future development in response to climate change. As a young planner, the experience further opened her eyes to cultural differences and how to positively impact people and the planet.
“It’s so important to me to get out and explore the world. Planning has allowed me to meet wonderful people and visit places I may not have seen otherwise, from rural Canada to the Caribbean. Being a part of community growth is really exciting, and every experience helps me build my abilities and apply this knowledge to my everyday work.”
Wrapped in wanderlust
Unsurprisingly, Kristen prioritizes travel in her personal life as well. She’s visited 20 countries to date; her last adventure was aboard a sailing catamaran in Croatia. But she also loves exploring locally, diving into new restaurants, camping, and attending music festivals with friends and family. The newest love in her life is her Doberman puppy, Rosie, who shares her love for trying new things.
In 2025, Kristen will hit her one-year anniversary at V3 and is ready to hit that milestone and beyond.
“I’m looking forward to building new connections and expanding into new markets. The way our team has been put together is very intentional: our varied skillsets fill in any gaps to create a well-rounded experience for us and our clients. It’s something I haven’t encountered before and am excited to be a part of.”
Work with Kristen and V3’s Planning experts
Our planning team utilizes its diverse local, national, and international experience to provide professional advice that results in pragmatic, actionable plans. Connect with our team to learn more.