February 2019 Issue

OPPI's Governance and Nominating Committee is looking for interested members to join OPPI Council as Directors or as President Elect. In odd-numbered years, like 2019, OPPI's President Elect is nominated to OPPI's Council. Full Members who are interested in making a contribution to the planning profession have until April 1 to put their names forward as potential Directors or as President Elect. 

Nomination Information

---

OPPI is seeking non-planners for volunteer positions on OPPI Council (two-year term) or on our Complaints or Discipline Committees (three-year terms). These three positions will offer an external perspective on the deliberations of OPPI's Council and Complaints or Discipline Committees, enhancing transparency and ensuring the interest of the broader public is paramount. 

If you are interested, complete the online application form by visiting OPPI's website no later than April 1, 2019. 

---

---

This is the last call for OPPI student members to apply for our 2019 student scholarships, and to put their names forward for OPPI's Student Delegate. If you attend one of Ontario's accredited planning schools, let OPPI help you on your journey to becoming a Registered Professional Planner!

If you are an aspiring student leader, put your name forward to be OPPI's next Student Delegate and lead the Student Liaison Committee and a great program of student activities throughout the school year. 

Student members have until March 1 to apply. Please visit OPPI's website for more information.

---

Last February, OPPI asked you to respond to a survey on Indigenous perspectives in planning, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action (2015). Your responses informed a generative discussion held by OPPI Council on March 23rd, 2018 where Council approved the creation of the Indigenous Perspectives in Planning Task Force.
 
The Task Force is charged with exploring three main areas:

• Seek to better understand Indigenous perspectives on planning and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action
• Provide advice on how OPPI as a "regulator" can strengthen its institutional frameworks to better incorporate Indigenous perspectives on planning and the Calls to Action (e.g. member competencies)
• Provide advice on how OPPI as a "member service provider" can support its members to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into their planning practices

The Task Force is made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous volunteers whose work involves Indigenous communities on planning matters. Their work is supplemented by the input of the Indigenous Perspectives in Planning Advisory Group. 
 
The Task Force's first meeting took place on January 10, with future meetings scheduled throughout the winter and spring; their final recommendations are expected by OPPI Council at the June 2019 meeting.
 
For more information on the Task Force, or to share resources with the Task Force, please do not hesitate to contact OPPI by email at info@ontarioplanners.ca. 

OPPI's Outreach Committee representatives will be visiting the accredited planning programs in Ontario to speak with graduating students about their professional journey from student to RPP. 
 
Committee members draw on examples from their professional experience and tailor each presentation based on previous year's feedback and ongoing discussions with OPPI's Student Liaison Committee representatives. OPPI encourages students to participate and learn how to better prepare for their professional journey to become future RPPs. 
 
To learn when the visit is scheduled at your program, contact your program's SLC representatives.

At OPPI18, OPPI asked members to tell us in six words or less your thoughts on a number of questions OPPI posed to members on a number of topics. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing your responses as graphics. Member responses were insightful and diverse, and OPPI is looking forward to more meaningful dialogue at OPPI19: Beyond25 as we explore the topics of uneven growth, climate change and technology. 
 
Is there something missing from the list above? Email us at communications@ontarioplanners.ca if you would like to share your hobbies and interests that help you in your role as an RPP. 
 

In this month's Planning Exchange blog, Timothy Lee, RPP from the City of Hamilton, takes a closer look at his travels to the world's largest city, Tokyo, Japan, and provides an introduction into planning practices taking place on the other side of the world. Tim also provides case studies and lessons that planners in Ontario can use in their own practice.

Click here to read more

---

OPPI Members continue to meet a high standard of professional learning by continually updating and refreshing knowledge and skills on a variety of topics. This lifelong learning nature of members, assisted by OPPI's Continuous Professional Learning (CPL), is vital to the planning work done in communities across Ontario. Members can log into your Member Profile and sign up for CPL courses for Spring and Fall 2019. 
 
The required number of learning units for each year is 18, with a minimum of 9 learning units for organized and structured activities. 
 
For more questions about CPL and tracking learning units, please read our FAQ. Don't forget to keep track and record your learning units in your Member Profile. 

---

 

---

Did you know that Y Magazine is now on Instagram and Twitter? 
 
Follow Y Magazine on social media and learn about the regions across Ontario facing great challenges and opportunities, and how planners can help communities make informed choices towards a balanced, sustainable, long-term solution.
 
Followers will notice the articles spotlight initiatives in a variety of contexts - urban, suburban, rural and global - and highlight differing ways that planners tackle the challenges and opportunities we are discussing.
 
OPPI looks forward to sharing these stories with you so you can share them with your colleagues, friends and followers in your communities and tell them about Y Magazine.
 
Don't delay, follow Y Magazine on social media today!

Download the AllAccess Toolkit Today
AllAccess is a program dedicated to making Ontario's public spaces more accessible for everyone. The program is helping designers, planners, municipalities, property owners and others involved in the design and development of public spaces to better understand and implement the Design of Public Spaces Standards (DoPS), the design requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). OPPI is a promotional partner of the AllAccess Toolkit, which is a collection of resources to support the understanding and application of DoPS. Members interested in learning more can visit the AllAccess website and download the toolkit. 
 
Register for the 2019 LandPRO Conference and save 15%!
Join us March 5th at the 2019 LandPRO Conference. OPPI is pleased to announce that President Elect Justine Giancola, Mark Simeoni & Andrea Bourrie will be participating in the municipal planners panel discussion regarding: institutional capital and effect on approvals, unit mix requirements, everything about cars (parking visitors, sharing, EV), heritage and conservation and inclusionary zones. Register today by visiting landproconference.com and use the discount code OPPI15 to save 15% off your registration fee. 
 
2019 Farmland Forum
Get your tickets for the 2019 Farmland Forum on March 28, 2019. Members interested in attending can secure early bird prices until March 7. Come and enjoy a day of discussion and presentations by speakers from New York, Alberta, and across Ontario! For more information and tickets please visit the Ontario Farmland Trust website. 
 
2021 Census of Population Dissemination Consultation 
Statistics Canada is conducting a public consultation on the 2021 Census of Population from January 15 to March 31, 2019. They are encouraging participation in this online consultation and forward information about the consultation to other census data users. The online consultation questionnaire is designed to give data users an opportunity to provide feedback on dissemination strategies used for the 2016 Census of Population product and service line. Your feedback will help Statistics Canada measure user satisfaction and gather suggestions to provide input into the 2021 Census of Population dissemination product and service line and release strategy. For more information, please visit Statistics Canada's website. 

ARE YOU IN THE CONSULTANT'S DIRECTORY?
Are you listed in OPPI's Consultant's Directory? If you're not in, it's time to get in! If you're looking to do some consulting on the side or looking for RPPs to work with for that big project you're leading, and everything in between, OPPI's Consultant's Directory is for you. Sign up today and get listed!

LEARN MORE

---

ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER?
Advertise your available planning positions with OPPI's Job Postings. There is no better way to reach qualified planning professionals.


 

LEARN MORE

---

SEARCHING FOR A JOB?
Targeted to planners, search the OPPI Job Ads to save you time and effort when looking for a new position.

SEARCH NOW

Please see the current active postings below:

• Planner - Policy Planning - City of Vaughan (full time)
• Planner - Holzman Consultants Inc. (full time)
• Planner, Parks & Recreation - City of Toronto (contract)
• Assistant Planner - City of Toronto (contract)
• Manager of Planning Services - The Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg (full time)
• Planner I - Development - City of Markham (full time)
• Coordinator, Development - Town of Caledon (full time)
• Supervisor, Compliance & Enforcement - Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (full time)
• Senior Planner - Community Planning - City of Hamilton (contract)
• Planner I - Development - City of Hamilton (full time)
• Senior Planner - Municipality of North Grenville (full time)
• Senior Planner - Development Planning - City of Hamilton (full time)
• Planner II - Zoning By-law Reform - City of Hamilton (full time)
• Manager, Communications, Engagement and Facilitation - Hardy Stevenson and Associates Limited (contract)
• Director of Development Services/Municipal Planning - Township of Georgian Bay (full time)
• Land Use Planner - Wood Bull LLP (full time)
• Planning Student - King Township (contract)
• Senior Analyst - Watson & Associates Economists (full time)
• Watershed Planner - Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (full time)
• Permits Manager - University of Toronto (full time)
• Intermediate/Senior Planner - MHBC (full time)
• Manager, Development Planning - Town of East Gwillimbury (full time)
• Planner II - Community Planning and Design - Municipality of Clarington (full time)
• Content Writer - Ontario Professional Planners Institute (full time)
• ...and many more!

• Southwest District Bonspiel in support of student education trust fund (February 1)
• 2018 Brampton Urban Design Awards (February 4)
• Sitting the Professional Exam: Upcoming Primer and Networking Session for Candidate Members (February 12)
• Lakeland District 2019 Ski & Snowshoe Day (February 15)