Alumni Q&A: Strengthening communities with care
TRU alum Shaminder Parmar (MBA ’25) was recognized as one of Edmonton’s 2025 Top 40 under 40 by Edify. He is a senior urban planner for Edmonton Public Schools and chair of a committee that brings together all of Edmonton’s public planning bodies to collaboratively tackle infrastructure challenges.
How does it feel to be recognized as a community leader?
It’s genuinely humbling. Much of the work I do involves navigating complex negotiations, planning workshops, and long timelines where progress isn’t always visible, but the outcomes matter deeply. What I appreciate most is that recognition like this creates space to highlight forms of community care that don’t always sit neatly within formal systems, whether that’s advocacy for more inclusive neighbourhoods or hands-on work like animal rescue. Both are rooted in the same belief: that communities are strongest when we take responsibility for those who don’t always have a voice and honour them with action.
How did your early years shape the path you chose professionally?
My early years were shaped by strong interdependence. Growing up in various inner-city neighbourhoods meant relying on extended family, strong relationships and community support to thrive. That experience made me deeply aware of how much people depend on public systems like neighbourhood schools, transit and social infrastructure; often without having a say in how they’re designed. This drew me to a career focused on improving the systems that shape people’s daily lives, especially for families who rely on them to get by.
You’ve spoken about noticing disparities faced by racialized people at a young age. How did that realization influence your understanding of community and belonging?
It became clear early on that real belonging is influenced through decisions being made at the highest levels. Who are spaces designed for? Whose voices will be heard in the decision-making process? Whose needs will be prioritized? Watching disparities being played out gave me a lasting awareness of how exclusion can be built into everyday systems. That understanding has stayed with me and continues to inform how I think about equity, representation and responsibility in public decision-making. I see the world differently than most. My daily walks are spent observing and asking whether a sidewalk is wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass, whether a bench can offer rest to someone experiencing housing insecurity, or whether a child feels safe crossing an intersection. Then when I’m helping design a neighbourhood or sitting across the table from developers and other stakeholders, I carry those voices with me because I know they are counting on me to not just advocate for them, but to ensure that what they need is actually delivered.
What does it mean to you to help shape the spaces where children and families gather?
It’s a responsibility I take seriously. Schools and community spaces are often a family’s first connection to public life, particularly for newcomers. When these places are planned well, they become anchors — places of stability, safety and connection. Knowing that my work can influence how children experience their neighbourhoods, and how families build community around them, is what gives the work its meaning.
What motivated you to pursue an MBA, and why did you choose TRU?
I wanted to strengthen my ability to lead within complex systems. Urban planning increasingly demands fluency in governance, finance and organizational decision-making. TRU’s MBA stood out for its applied, practical focus and its respect for working professionals. The program also gave me the opportunity to work closely with faculty, including Dr. Sal Barragan, on research grounded in real-world challenges in the planning profession, which deepened how I approach decision-making in practice.
How do you think your MBA will enhance the work you do in urban planning?
Urban planning sits at the intersection of policy, finance and public trust. The MBA education I received at TRU sharpened my ability to assess trade-offs, manage risk and navigate competing priorities. Those same skills extend beyond my professional role; they’ve strengthened how I support animal rescue organizations, particularly in areas like governance, fundraising strategy and long-term sustainability.
For current TRU students or alumni — especially those from underrepresented backgrounds — what advice would you offer as they navigate their own careers?
Your lived experience is expertise. It gives you judgment, perspective and insight that can’t be taught in a classroom. Seek mentors, stay curious and don’t measure progress only by titles or timelines. None of that matters in the grand scheme of making a difference. Many of us have imposter syndrome because the world is constantly telling us to ‘fit in.’ Tell yourself that you belong. Push the boundaries with confidence. Future generations are counting on us to raise that glass ceiling!
Finally, when you look ahead, what kind of impact do you hope your work will have on future generations?
I hope future generations inherit communities where opportunity and their identities are reflected in the places they live. From their schools and neighbourhoods to public spaces and even place names. If my work contributes to cities that are more equitable, more responsive and more humane, then I’ll feel I’ve done my part.