Creatively Courageous

CIP was proud to host Navigation 2023 in partnership with the Atlantic Planners Institute (API) in Halifax, NS, from June 27-30, 2023. 926 people participated online and in person. We were also pleased to have a full student conference program and the gathering of our first in-person Emerging Leaders Program cohort. We’re looking forward to growing our career support stream at CONNECTION in Edmonton from July 9-11, 2024.

CIP recognizes and celebrates planning career achievements at every stage, with our commitment to providing Career Support for Life. We are proud to amplify member achievements—as well as share information on how they were earned—through a digital badge program, supported by Credly and verified by CIP. Learn more about the digital badge program here.

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is an interactive hybrid program for early-to-mid-career professionals that covers everything from goal setting to building professional relationships to self-care and stress management.

The program introduces skills and concepts related to meaningful leadership and provides opportunities for peer-to-peer network building and mentorship through online modules and a specialized program at our national planning conference.

In 2023, the program was highly competitive, attracting 99 applicants for 15 in-person openings.

On December 20, CIP and the PTIAs released the results of the Canadian Professional Planners National Employment Survey. In January, a free National Employment Survey Report webinar highlighted the results of the 2023 report, identified trends, and drew comparisons to the results from 2019. The webinar recording is available to all CIP members through the CPL HUB.

Over the past year, 280 job opportunities were published on the CIP National Job Board.

CIP continued to offer complimentary job postings for student and recent graduate positions to support the next generation of planners. In June, we also began offering complimentary job postings for those positions seeking Indigenous planners, related to an Indigenous project or community, or published by an Indigenous employer.

In 2023, CIP significantly expanded our career services offerings by establishing new professional development features at the national planning conference. This included the Professional Development Lounge, with free professional headshots and one-on-one resume clinics, as well as the Meet & Mentor workshop with the College of Fellows, a first-time delegates gathering, and career-related sessions for all employment stages. CIP extends its appreciation to Urban Systems for its support of the Professional Development Lounge.

CIP released our first edition of the CIP Planning Schools & Education Reference Guide. In the Guide, there are listings of all accredited university planning programs across Canada and learning opportunities that meet Continuous Professional Learning requirements. Information is also provided on getting into the profession, ethics, and employment trends.

Through our annual member survey, we know that free webinars and learning opportunities are a top priority for our members. In line with our strategic plan, the CIP team has focused on offering learning opportunities and tools related to our five action issues: climate change, healthy communities, housing, reconciliation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Watch Webinar Recordings on the CPL HUB

The CPL HUB is accessible to all CIP members, on demand, with no additional fees. This centralized site includes recorded webinars and conference presentations, resources, and documents.

Nicholas is a Planner with O2 Planning + Design in Calgary, where he specializes in infill master planning, development approvals, and growth planning for regional, urban, and community planning projects. He is also a Sessional Instructor at the University of Alberta’s Applied Land Use Planning program and volunteers his time coordinating the University of Calgary graduate planning students as part of the Citizens + Students program. He was central to the development, adoption, and implementation of the Habitat Professionals Forum’s Roadmap to Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which he presented and assisted in officially unveiling at the 2022 World Urban Forum in Poland. Currently serving as Director of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI), Nicholas has also served on the CIP Board of Directors and Co-Chair of CIP’s Student Affairs Sub-Committee. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Queen’s University and degrees in Geography and Education from Brock University.

Joëlle is a Project Manager with L’Atelier Urbain in Montreal. She has contributed to diverse projects in urban design and sustainable development, urban planning and resilience, and innovative regulation. These projects have included a development plan for a former factory site, a design concept for a municipal park and beach, a master plan for a campus, transportation-oriented development projects, eco-districts, city center development projects, and pedestrianization plans. Joëlle’s volunteerism includes serving as a committee member with the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (OUQ)’s Relève en urbanisme, which promotes the planning profession to young people, and MTL Green, which promotes sustainable development in Montreal. She also works with community organizations that address food security and other daily life issues. Joëlle holds a Baccalauréat en urbanisme from the Université du Québec à Montreal, is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Montreal, and has received training as an Architectural Technologist.

Bruce has played key roles in the Ontario Public Service on a variety of noteworthy planning initiatives including the development of the Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, both of which have since been recognized for their contributions to excellence in the planning profession. For several years, Bruce was a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario, and a guest lecturer at the Universities of Waterloo and Guelph, where he also contributed as a graduate advisor. After serving on the Accreditation and Legislative Task Forces during CIP’s Planning for the Future review, Bruce was a Founding Director of the Professional Standards Board (PSB), serving as its first Treasurer. Bruce has also been a tireless volunteer with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), serving as a Director and Chair of various committees. He is a recipient of the Amethyst Award, Ontario’s highest order of recognition for excellence in the Ontario Public Service.

Pierre has distinguished himself as one of Canada’s leading scholars, whose teaching and research has made significant contributions to planning practice in Canada and abroad. Whether through his courses, lectures, or as an advisor and mentor, Pierre has been a leader in advancing planning course curricula for almost four decades. He is a leading expert in downtown and inner-city planning, metropolitan regional planning, and the interaction between land use planning and transportation. His many publications and books include, “Canadian Cities in Transition”, now in its sixth edition, which is a staple for planning students across the country, as well as practicing planners who seek to better understand the transformations underway in Canada’s urban centres. Pierre’s expertise on complex urban issues has led to collaborations with government (local, provincial, and federal) and non-government agencies.

Samantha is a planning consultant based in Prince Edward Island (PEI). After commencing her career as a small-town planner, she was engaged by the Province as the Senior Provincial Planner, then Manager of Municipal Affairs. As Manager, she undertook a transformative role as a key leader in the development of a new Municipal Government Act. Her work in modernizing legislation, policy, and governance to strengthen PEI’s municipalities will benefit communities far into the future. Samantha also championed a new PEI Planning Act and Registered Professional Planners Act, all the while continuing to serve as the ‘go-to’ planner for advice on governance and planning issues. She has served on the Boards of the Prince Edward Island Institute of Professional Planners (PEIIPP), Atlantic Planners Institute (API), and CIP. Samantha’s lasting impact on these organizations also includes being a key contributor to the major restructuring of both CIP and API.

Eric is a Partner with Urban Strategies. As a planner, urban designer, and architect, he has led on projects such as the University of Ottawa Master Plan and Design Strategy, Ottawa Downtown Master Plan and Design Strategy, Toronto’s CAMH Master Plan, the landmark Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, as well as many projects across Canada, the UK, and Ireland. His membership or chairing of Design Review Panels (City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, City of Brampton) has provided a valuable contribution to improving the quality of important city-building initiatives. Eric is a founding member, Director, and President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism. He is also a past member of Ontario’s Urban Design Working Group and is active in his own community of Roncesvalles in Toronto. Many of his projects have received national and international recognition and awards, including from CIP and Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI).