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OTTAWA, Ontario – June 25, 2020 – The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is pleased to announce two new inductees into its esteemed College of Fellows: Dr. Raphaël Fischler urbaniste, FCIP, and Dr. Sasha Tsenkova RPP, FCIP.
 
Recognition as a Fellow of CIP is the highest honour a planner in Canada can receive. It recognizes national excellence, identifies prominent role models, promotes advances in planning practice, and draws leaders to the forefront of planning in Canada. Only members of the College of Fellows are permitted to use the title of FCIP, which denotes Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners.   
 
“On behalf of CIP, it is a privilege to accept two planners who have had such an impact on professional planning and academia into our College of Fellows,” said Eleanor Mohammed, RPP, MCIP, President of the Canadian Institute of Planners. “Today, they join 139 previous inductees, all of whom have made remarkable and lasting contributions to professional planning in Canada and internationally.”
 
Chair of the CIP College of Fellows, Ann M. Joyner RPP, FCIP, further commented, “I am honoured to provide a warm welcome to our new Fellows, Dr. Raphael Fischler and Dr. Sasha Tsenkova. They each are exemplary educators, researchers, and mentors who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the profession. Their induction into the College of Fellows acknowledges their extraordinary contributions to Canadian planning and to city and community building in Canada.”

The induction of the 2020 Fellows  took place virtually during CIP’s online Annual General Meeting on June 25, 2020.
 
2020 Canadian Institute of Planners Fellows:
 
Dr. Raphaël Fischler, PhD, RPP, FCIP
Having taught and mentored students at both McGill University and the Université de Montreal for over 25 years, Dr. Fischler’s reach of influence has extended all over Canada, as well as internationally, through his role as an academic and researcher. As a research supervisor, he has guided and shared his knowledge with over 80 doctoral and masters’ students who have gone on to make their marks in the profession. In 2013, McGill University awarded him the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching when he was Director of the McGill School of Urban Planning. In 2018, he began his current leadership role as Dean of the Université de Montreal Faculté de l’aménagement.
 
While Dr. Fischler’s impact on students has been profound, it is his contributions to research in planning that reflect his mastery in the field. His expertise in the history of zoning is recognized throughout North America. His publications in this area have been extensive and continue to inform countless practitioners and students. Dr. Fischler has been the recipient of many awards for his expertise, including CIP, the American Planning Association, the International Planning History Society, and the Urban History Association. In 2019, his deep knowledge of planning history in Canada substantially shaped the marking of CIP’s centenary in his role as co-editor for the Plan Canada Centenary special issue edition.

Dr. Sasha Tsenkova, PhD, RPP, FCIP
With over 150 publications, Dr. Tsenkova is a prominent voice in the areas of housing policy, growth management, sustainable cities, and comparative urban development. While Dr. Tsenkova has made significant contributions to planning in Canada, her influence extends well beyond the Canadian context. In working with the World Bank, Council of Europe, and United Nations, Dr. Tsenkova has played a critical role in projects in 30 countries across Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Central Asia. Additionally, she has been a visiting scholar in Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Latvia, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States of America.
 
Dr. Tsenkova’s contributions to planning have continuously been recognized by her peers, having received many prestigious awards including the Killam Fellowship, Urban Studies Fellowship, Sasakawa International Fellowship, International Peace Scholarship, and the British Council Award. In 2019, she received CMHC’s President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research, and in 2014 was awarded Plan Canada’s Best Feature Article Award for her publication: Investing in New York’s Future: Affordable Rental Housing in Mixed-Income Projects.
 
Dr. Tsenkova has been an engaged member of CIP and the Alberta Professional Planners Institute. She has continuously volunteered with both organizations, including serving as Co-Chair of the CIP New Urban Agenda Committee.
 
Please see the full list of Fellows here.
 
Nominations Process for Fellows: to be eligible for nomination as a Fellow,  an individual must be a CIP member in good standing, with their nominator providing evidence that all criteria for Fellowship have been met or exceeded (see criteria here). All nominations are brought before the Honours Jury, which presents their recommendations to the CIP Board of Directors for review and approval.
 


Media Contact:
Sheena Jardine-Olade, MPlan
Communications Specialist
communications@cip-icu.ca
613.237.7526 ext. 505