OTTAWA, May 29, 2023 – The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is pleased to announce four new inductees into its esteemed College of Fellows: Bruce Curtis, Pierre Filion, Samantha Murphy, and Eric Turcotte.

Designation as a Fellow of CIP is the highest honour a planner in Canada can receive. This special status recognizes national excellence, identifies prominent role models, promotes advances in planning practice, and draws leaders to the forefront of planning in Canada. Only Fellows are permitted to use the title FCIP, which denotes Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners. 

“It is my privilege to recognize and induct these four distinguished planners into the College of Fellows for their contributions to the planning profession in communities across the country and beyond,” said Dan Huang RPP, MCIP, President of the Canadian Institute of Planners. “This honour recognizes each of their significant professional contributions to planning practice in the public, private and academic sectors, as well as their volunteer contributions to the Institute and mentorship of the next generation of planners throughout their respective careers.”

Co-Chairs of the College of Fellows, Pamela Shaw and Paul Bedford commented “We want to extend a very warm welcome to our new Fellows. These planners have all made a unique contribution to the public, private and academic environment in their respective provinces. They have taken a leadership role in championing new ideas, mentoring Canada’s next generation of planners, and making a difference in how the planning profession is valued on a local and national level. They bring many decades of knowledge, expertise and passion to the College. We very much look forward to getting them actively involved in the work of the College of Fellows.”

Bruce Curtis RPP (Ret.), FCIP
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 Filion RPP (Ret.), FCIP
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 Murphy RPP, LPP, FCIP
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 Turcotte RPP, FCIP
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).

View the full list of Fellows: cip-icu.ca/about-us/College-of-Fellows

Learn more about the nomination process: cip-icu.ca/Honours-Awards/Honours

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Media contact:

Lauren Murray (she/her)
Manager, Communications
800.207.2138 x 207
communications@cip-icu.ca

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) works on behalf of over 8,000 diverse planning professionals and has served as the voice of Canada’s planning community since 1919. Planners safeguard the health and well-being of urban and rural communities by addressing the use of land, resources, facilities, and services with consideration to physical, economic, and social efficiency.