Gaining Leadership Skills in Planning: Our Experience in CIP’s Emerging Leaders Program

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) created the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) to give mid-career planning professionals a unique opportunity to develop modern leadership skills. As two of the 15 participants chosen from over 100 applicants for this year’s cohort, we’re excited to share our experiences and reflections from the program.

We first learned about the ELP through word of mouth. Seeking personal and professional growth, we were drawn to the opportunity to enhance our leadership skills through this structured program. Attending CONNECTION 2024, CIP and APPI’s national conference, and joining a network of emerging leaders were also key motivators in our decision to apply.

The Structure of the Program

The Emerging Leaders Program was designed to broaden participants’ leadership perspectives while fostering connections with planners from diverse backgrounds. The program included:

• Completing The Path: Your Journey through Indigenous Canada, a six-module self-paced course on the history and contemporary issues of First Nations, Inuit and Métis People in Canada
• Three virtual foundational leadership modules
• Attendance at the CIP Conference: CONNECTION 2024 in Edmonton, located on Treaty 6 Territory
• A final reflection piece
• An optional virtual wrap-up session

Learning Indigenous History: The Path Program

A core element of the ELP was completing The Path: Your Journey through Indigenous Canada. This course aligns with CIP’s commitment to advancing reconciliation within the planning profession and is available to all members and non-members.

We appreciated how comprehensive The Path is as it covers key topics like colonization, treaties, residential schools, and reconciliation, fostering awareness, empathy, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities to deepen our understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary issues in Canada. We both learned a lot on Indigenous history and culture living where we live, and really enjoyed learning about Inuit and Métis history and culture.

Virtual Leadership Modules

The three virtual sessions provided us with a strong foundation in leadership development, covering topics such as emotional intelligence, self-care, and networking.

1. What Is a Leader? (Facilitated by Eleanor Mohammed RPP, MCIP)

Before the first session, we were all asked to share a leader that inspires each of us. During the session, Eleanor emphasized the value of involving, inspiring, guiding, and empowering others to achieve a common goal and reinforced the notion that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to being a leader. 

2. Self-Care and Emotional Intelligence (Facilitated by Natalie Persaud RPP, MCIP)

This session provided an opportunity to reflect on our personal experiences and professional goals and learn how to create habits and practices that support the life we seek. To be a successful leader, we have to take care of ourselves – physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally – to be able to show up and support others.

3. Networking and Building Relationships (Facilitated by Kristy Kilbourne RPP, MCIP)

We have a common sentiment on how we feel about the concept and notion of networking. It can feel overwhelming and emotionally taxing at times. During Kristy’s session, we discussed this specific issue, and she shared valuable insights on how planners can build a valuable support system, navigate and improve relationships, communication, networking, and collaboration within their teams and organizations. This reminded us that planning is a completely network-based profession, where we collaborate constantly with multi-disciplinary teams.  

4. Optional Webinar: The Power of Storytelling (Led by Andy Fillmore, MP)

The ELP program wrapped with an optional session in August, and included remarks from our planner in parliament, Andy Filmore. Andy spoke on the importance of storytelling and the power of planning in decision-making. As a municipal planner that seeks decisions from elected officials, Andy’s talk resonated as we recalled how projects can thrive or die because of politics.

CONNECTION 2024 National Planning Conference: Our Experience

Our CIP/APPI conference experience was thoughtfully curated with ELP in mind, starting a day earlier with leadership-focused programs and a few optional sessions. Natalie and the CIP team organized an extra day of programming, setting the stage for this year’s conference theme, CONNECTION. The first day started with a walking tour led by Jordan Reimer, an ELP participant from Edmonton and his colleague, Chelsea Whitty from Dialog. The tour illustrated the planning profession’s evolution in Edmonton – from segregating and separating communities (still visible through the built form east and west of 97 Street) to celebrating heritage and increasing Indigenous visibility on the land, as seen in kinistinâw Park. 

After the tour, we connected with the CIP Board of Directors over lunch, where we also shared our favorite ice-cream flavors (we like caramel swirl and pistachio) – a delightful way to build connections. Latosia Campbell-Walters then facilitated a workshop on personal success and the key to significance, prompting deep reflections on our personal passions, strengths, and values. We wrapped the day with Jennifer David hosting a kitchen table discussion to unpack our learnings and takeaways from The Path. 

During the conferece, the three keynotes provided valuable and lasting lessons.

Jennifer David opened the conference with, “All Our Relations: From Disconnection to Connection,” emphasizing the important role of leaders in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous communities across Canada, followed by an incredible performance by Notorious Cree.

Don Iveson, former Mayor of Edmonton, discussed the impact of urban density on climate outcomes and housing affordability, and how to prepare for the effects of physical climate risk on communities and economies.

The final keynote, “Unveiling Ikigai: Discover, Define, Empower” by Tim Tamashiro, was equally inspiring, offering deep insights on living with purpose and joy. Tim’s ideas on “How to Ikigai” and “Do More You” resonated deeply, encouraging us as planners to embrace our own ikigai and help our communities find theirs, fostering a collective sense of purpose and fulfillment. These presentations will be added to the CPL HUB in 2025. Look out for those!

Reflecting on Our Leadership Journey

At the program’s conclusion, we were asked to submit a reflection on how the ELP changed our perspectives on leadership and to offer recommendations for advancing reconciliation within the profession. Here are some of our personal takeaways:

Shirley’s Reflections

For me, the program reinforced the notion that change doesn’t happen overnight (watch the Transformative Incrementalism session!). The key to success is to identify the goal (gain leadership experience), ensure everyone is on board for the ride (get buy-in and support from your manager/supervisor), take advantage of opportunities (apply for programs like ELP), and recognize (and celebrate) the small steps taken to enact change (being a panelist during the speed networking event). 

Dali’s Reflections

One of my favorite sessions was the discussion on the evolution of case law in land use planning in the “Top Ten Planning Law Cases from Coast to Coast.” It is definitely worth reviewing! The speakers highlighted key cases that provide valuable lessons for planners in making decisions in the future. Another session that caught my interest explored mobility hubs as placemaking tools by enhancing connections to land uses and public amenities, while improving the accessibility, sustainability, and livability of our communities.

Overall, we are extremely grateful to have participated in the program, meet amazing peers who are working on incredible projects and to gain new perspectives on leadership, networking, the importance of self-care, and continue our Reconciliation journey.

Participants who have completed the Emerging Leaders Program receive a CIP Digital Badge (powered by Credly) to recognize their hard work and commitment to leadership development and we would definitely encourage anyone interested to apply. We are happy to connect with anyone who has questions or would like to learn more about the program.

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