“I Was the Only Woman”

Book excerpt: “I was the only woman.” These words appear again and again in the stories of women planners working in Canada from the 1940s to the 1970s. Despite their small numbers, women were active in the Community Planning Association of Canada and the Town Planning Institute of Canada (later called the Canadian Institute of Planners) during those years. This book tells their stories, expanding our understanding of what constitutes “planning” and who counts as “planners.” It challenges us to re-evaluate not only the profession’s past, but also its role in creating a more inclusive and equitable future.