The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2023. This year’s theme is “Ours to Tell”, highlighting the importance of representation and education in achieving a more equitable society that leaves no one behind.

This year, CIP is proud to share a joint statement, composed by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and supported by all of the Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations, which asserts our united belief that “listening to Black voices is fundamental to advancing the planning profession and transforming planning and decision-making processes and practices.”

Read the statement here.

By celebrating the accomplishments and perspectives of Black planners, and by raising awareness of issues of equity in planning, the profession can move towards a positive future. Guided by our Strategic Plan—1,835 Days of Impact—CIP is committed to achieving More Equitable Planning, Together, and a vision of inclusive and vibrant communities, respectfully connected to the natural world, for the well-being of current and future generations.

“Black History Month marks an important opportunity for the planning community to come together and celebrate the contributions of Black planners and allied professionals in creating more equitable communities for all. With this year’s theme of “Ours to Tell”, CIP recognizes that listening to Black voices and amplifying their stories and experiences is a fundamental component of allyship. This theme also reminds us that planners need to consider the inputs and realities of Black community members in order to remove the social and racial barriers that they experience, and to aspire to correct the historic injustices of social exclusion and discrimination that the profession has played a role in. With partnership and respect, planners can work together to build inclusive and vibrant communities for both today and tomorrow.”

Dan Huang RPP, MCIP

President, Canadian Institute of Planners

CIP has also partnered with OPPI on an upcoming live and on-demand virtual event with the Black Planners and Urbanists Association. Join us for “Inhibited Growth: Examining Public Investment Gaps in Black Infrastructure Needs” on February 17 at 9:00 a.m. ET. For more information on the FREE virtual event, or to register, click here.

To mark Black History Month, CIP and OPPI have assembled several resources on Black planning, anti-Black racism, and other relevant subjects. Explore our resource list below.

Resources:

Black History Month in Canada

CIP Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Resources

OPPI Resources

Guides and Articles

Literary and Multimedia Resources