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November 01, 2019

November 2019 Issue

We Are OPPI


THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OPPI19
OPPI would like to thank members, speakers and sponsors for supporting and attending Ontario's most popular planning event of the year in the City of Toronto and the Beanfield Centre. We also want to thank members who joined us over livestream to participate in the great selection of sessions on offer. Without your support and attendance, OPPI19: Beyond25 would not have been as successful as it was.
 
OPPI would also like the extend its sincerest thanks to City of Toronto Councillor Brad Bradford for proclaiming October 1 as RPP Day in Toronto, and Gregg Lintern, MCIP, RPP, Ramona Pringle, Mikael Colville-Andersen and Dr. Dianne Saxe for providing outstanding keynote discussions. 
 
Thank you to members who attended our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and awards presentation on Day 2. OPPI welcomed its new President, Justine Giancola, RPP, and a new Council for the 2019-2020 term. Please visit OPPI's website to learn more about Justine and the members of OPPI Council. 
 
SEPTEMBER COUNCIL RECAP
On September 30, the 2018-2019 OPPI Council met for the last time and took the opportunity to discuss a variety of strategic issues. 
 
OPPI Council invited OCAD professor and Co-President of KerrSmith Design, Helen Kerr, to discuss strategic foresight and innovation, and how organizations like OPPI can use this viewpoint to be better prepared for potential threats and capitalize on hidden opportunities. 
 
Council also received several updates on the status of Bill 70, the Registered Professional Planners Act, staff implementation of the Indigenous Planning Perspectives Task Force report and the 2020 Financial Plan. 
 
OPPI's government relations firm, StrategyCorp, provided an overview on the next steps regarding the development of OPPI's white paper focusing on the future of the planning system in Ontario. Members who attended OPPI19: Beyond25 will recall our member engagement activity at the OPPI Hub that asked several questions to members to help inform the development of this white paper. Discussion also took place on the development of OPPI's response to the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. A response has been drafted and is now available on OPPI's website. 
 
OPPI would like to thank all our guests for attending and participating in the conversations around the Council table. 

NOVEMBER COUNCIL PREVIEW

OPPI's 2019-2020 Council
In the upcoming November Council meeting, on November 22, the 2019-2020 OPPI Council will hold their first meeting of the year to discuss a variety of strategic issues. Some of the topics that will be discussed at this meeting include:
  • 2020 Strategic Priorities
  • 2020 Business Plan
  • OPPI white paper update
  • OPPI Strategic Plan review discussion
  • Development of Communities of Interest update
OPPI Council meets four times a year. Council approved agendas and minutes are available upon request to the OPPI office. 
 
The goal is to engage members in shaping the direction and initiatives of OPPI and continue to deliver on our INSPIRE OPPI Strategic Plan 2020. Members are encouraged to speak up and get involved and stay in touch throughout the year through OPPI's many communications channels.

Your Professional Journey


RENEW YOUR 2020 OPPI MEMBERSHIP BEFORE JANUARY 2ND
As OPPI gears up to provide another exciting year of delivering valuable member programs and services to support your professional journey and lifelong learning in 2020, we look forward to your ongoing support, feedback and contribution. Members can expect to receive their membership renewal shortly. Renewals will be staggered throughout the second week of November.
 
Visit OPPI's website and click on the yellow "Login" button at the top right corner to log into your Member Profile to renew your membership. While you're logged in, don't forget to update your Member Profile and record your 2019 CPL activities for Full and Candidate Members. For more information and for any renewal questions, please contact OPPI at renewal@ontarioplanners.ca.
 
OPPI IS ACCEPTING 2020 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Attention all OPPI Student Members! OPPI has three scholarships available for students to apply for in 2020: the Ronald M. Keeble Undergraduate Scholarship, the Gerald Carrothers Graduate Scholarship and the T.P. Jason Ferrigan 2020 President's Scholarship. Visit OPPI's website today and put your name forward for a scholarship before March 1st, 2020. Be recognized by OPPI for your commitment and contribution to your local community!
 

Building RPP


ATTEND HOMEWARD "DEVELOPING THE MISSING MIDDLE" WORKSHOPS

OPPI is a partner, working with Parkbridge and the Rural Ontario Institute, for a series of workshops across Ontario discussing the "missing middle." OPPI members have the opportunity to register and participate in these workshops. To learn more about these workshops, please continue reading and click on one of the event links below.
 
The future success for towns and cities is inextricably connected to their ability to provide Missing Middle housing for their communities. It touches on economic development, community health, aging in place, resiliency and growth. At this workshop session, participants will hear presentations from economic development, planning, development industry, and government sectors, and learn about Missing Middle housing in small urban and rural communities. They will gain a more fulsome understanding of Missing Middle housing's characteristics, and tactics to developing it in their communities. Attendees will also participate in tabletop exercises that will inform a Touchstone report that will be published after the series is complete.

DON'T FORGET TO RECORD YOUR 2019 CPL UNITS!
The holidays and end of the year is quickly approaching - have you logged your 2019 Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) units?
 
Don't wait until December 31st to log your Learning Units, especially if you've completed them for 2019. Last year, over 91% of members met the CPL requirement, and we want to achieve the same or better compliance rate for 2018. 
 
As a reminder, 18 learning units are required annually. One learning unit equals one hour of direct planning related (with some exceptions). A minimum of nine learning units must be structured and a maximum of nine learning units may be individually directed. And, up to nine structured learning units may be carried forward to the following year.
 
One great place to collect CPL units is in OPPI's Digital Learning area. Members can log in and watch videos to collect learning units. 
 
If you have any CPL-related questions, please contact OPPI at standards@ontarioplanners.ca.
 
 
OPPI20 CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Hot off the heels of a very successful OPPI19, starting November 12, members will be invited to submit a proposal to speak at next year's Conference - OPPI20: Finding a Place in Evolving Communities, taking place October 7-8, 2020 in London, Ontario. Stay tuned for more information. 
 
Through a variety of session types and formats, OPPI20 will delve into two very pressing and complimentary issues related to the planning profession and the public interest: demographics and housing. OPPI's conference is the most talked about planning event of the year and offers you a unique opportunity to showcase your work to colleagues from across Ontario, and to network with other professionals! 
 
Don't miss out on this opportunity; the call for presentations closes on December 9.
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWEST RPPs!
Each year, OPPI welcomes many new RPPs as members from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. Only Full Members of OPPI are authorized to use the RPP designation in Ontario.
 
Our newest RPPs followed and completed the certification process administered by the Professional Standards Board and will be receiving their certificates allowing them to practice as RPPs in Ontario.

We applaud your achievement, dedication and commitment to informing choices and guiding the public, decision makers and stakeholders on the journey to creating inspired communities. Learn more about our newest RPPs by visiting OPPI's website.
 

Knowledge Exchange


THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY OF UNEVEN GROWTH
Our November Planning Exchange blog post is from City of Waterloo Councillor Diane Freeman. She speaks about the importance of planners and planning to tackling the climate crisis and having these conversations, and what municipalities like the City of Waterloo and others can do to plan for growth during this climate crisis.
Click here to read more

NATIONAL AND ONTARIO COMPENSATION SURVEY
In conjunction with the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and the other provincial and territorial planning institutes and associations, OPPI releases the results of the first comprehensive compensation and benefits survey of professional planners in Ontario. National survey results can be found on CIP's website.
 
The survey was open from May 8 to June 9, 2019, and received over 1,800 responses, representing almost a quarter of regulated members of provincial and territorial institutes and associations. Members interested in reading the Ontario results can click here.
 
An English language webinar led by CIP on the national survey results was held on October 31, 2019. Members interested in viewing this webinar are asked to follow up with CIP as to when this can be made available to view.
 

What You Need to Know


Register for the 2019 Ontario Excess Soil Symposium
OPPI is a promotional partner of the 2019 Ontario Excess Soil Symposium. Construction and development in Ontario generate millions of cubic meters of excess soil that must be transported across the province each year. On December 4, the Canadian Urban Institute and experts from industry, government, NGOs and academia will convene to discuss how to work together to develop solutions for better excess soil management, including best practices for implementing the proposed provincial regulation. For more information and to register for this event, please visit the event website.
 
World Town Planning 2019
This year World Town Planning turns 70! Started in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Marla della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires, this day is meant to advance public and professional interest in planning. It is celebrated in more than 30 countries on four continents on November 8. In Ontario and Canada, many activities are taking place to celebrate. Events to highlight for members include the University of Waterloo Planning Alumni of Toronto holding their 29th annual Toronto Planning Dinner on November 7. CIP is holding a series of events during the week of November 4-8 to mark this day.
 
OACA 2020 Conference Call for Presentations
OACA would like to extend an invitation to members of OPPI to present a 1 hour and 15 minute workshop at the annual AGM, being held May 11 & 12, 2020 at the Sheraton on the Falls in Niagara Falls. Presentations, while generally geared towards the field of Committees of Adjustment & Consent Authorities, can cover a broad range of subjects given the various planning aspects and implications of Committee of Adjustment decisions in our communities. The significant role of professional municipal planners, as advisors to Council, the Committee, and as qualified experts before the Local Planning Tribunal, can provide delegates with valuable insight on a variety of modern topics and issues facing the development approval process. If you are interested in sharing your professional knowledge and insight with our delegates, please email Allison Goodwin, Conference Chair goodwina.oaca@gmail.com or check out the full Call for Presentations package at https://www.oaca.info/oaca-business/upcoming-events.

Latornell Natural Heritage Systems Workshop 
On November 18, the Latornell Natural Heritage Systems workshop will take place at the Nottawasaga Inn & Resort in Alliston, Ontario. OPPI is a promotional partner of this workshop. Participants in this workshop will be provided with tools to assist them in undertaking natural heritage planning. The workshop will be particularly useful to municipal planners as well as other professionals interested in applying ecology and environmental management to the land use planning process. For more information on this workshop and to register, please visit latornellnhsworkshop.com. 

Career Opportunities


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:
  • Planning Technician - Town of Caledon (full time)
  • Planner I - Township of Muskoka Lakes (full time)
  • Senior Planner - Community Planning - Region of Halton (full time)
  • Town of Whitby Comprehensive Zoning By-law study - Town of Whitby (RFP)
  • Land Use Planner (Intermediate) - Upper Canada Consultants (full time)
  • Planner - Middlesex County (full time)
  • Urban Designer/Senior Development Planner - City of Waterloo (full time)
  • Policy Advisor - Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (full time)
  • Toronto Local Appeal Body - City of Toronto (part time)
  • Planner II - Development - City of Burlington (contract)
  • Senior Planner, Municipal Liaison - National Capital Commission (full time)
  • Environmental Planner - Parsons Inc. (full time)
  • Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Urban Planning for Sustainable Cities - Concordia University (full time)
  • Planner - The Town of Gravenhurst (full time)
  • Director of Planning and Development - City of Thorold (full time)
  • Seguin Official Plan - 5-Year Review - Township of Seguin (RFP)
  • ...and many more!

Upcoming Events and Courses