Planning shapes the communities we live in every day – often in ways we don’t even notice. From speeding up housing development to designing climate-resilient spaces and even ensuring the sidewalks beneath our feet are safe and accessible. This work is the backbone of our communities, and it wouldn’t be possible without informed and engaged members of the public.
As our communities continue to evolve, planners will remain central to shaping their future – including in guiding how and where we accommodate growth and development. Intensification has long been lauded as a sustainable alternative to the low-density, peripheral development that has dominated urbanization patterns since the 20th century. By directing growth towards mature neighbourhoods, intensification offers a clear pathway towards building the complete, compact, and connected communities that are envisioned in planning documents across the country.
In this Q&A, we catch up with Timurul Hoque Kazi about his experience in the Future Planners Program, the lessons and connections he gained along the way, and how the program has helped shape his next steps as a future planner.
In this Q&A, we catch up with Dylan Teply about their experience in the Future Planners Program, the lessons and connections they gained along the way, and how the program has helped shape their next steps as a future planner.
For the second year in a row, CIP hosted its Hill Day in 2026 to advocate for strong planning capacity across Canada. Members of the CIP Board and staff team divided into three groups and attended 11 meetings with elected representatives from both sides of the political aisle, as well as senior officials from key departments.
In this Q&A, we catch up with Braden about his experience in the Future Planners Program, the lessons and connections they gained along the way, and how the program has helped shape their next steps as a future planner.