Demonstrated in our ongoing work to make the planning profession in Ontario more inclusive and just, the OPPI Opportunity Scholarship is offered in acknowledgement of the financial barriers to education that disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and other racialized people. This scholarship aligns with the recommendations of OPPI’s Indigenous Planning Advisory Committee and OPPI’s Anti-Black Racism in Planning Task Force along with INSPIRE: OPPI Strategic Plan 2025. 
 
This scholarship may be awarded to an Indigenous, Black, or other racially marginalized person currently enrolled in an accredited planning program in Ontario. This scholarship is a one-time award of up to $5,000 and may be awarded to undergraduate or graduate planning students. 
 
Application Criteria: 

• Must be an OPPI student member 
• Must be enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate or graduate planning program in Ontario 
• Must be actively involved in community-based activities as a volunteer in your local and/or cultural community 
• Must self-identify as Indigenous, Black, and/or from other racially marginalized communities 

The Ronald M. Keeble Undergraduate Scholarship assists in furthering planning education and recognizing undergraduate student members who are making a positive contribution to their communities. 

Application Criteria: 

• Must be an OPPI student member 
• Must be enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate planning program in Ontario 
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to the planning profession 

The Gerald Carrothers Graduate Scholarship assists in furthering planning education and recognizing graduate student members who are making a positive contribution to their communities. 

Application Criteria: 

• Must be an OPPI student member 
• Must be enrolled full-time in an accredited graduate planning program in Ontario 
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to the planning profession 

Southwest Ontario District Planning Student Scholarships are intended to promote excellence in relevant planning education, community service and personal achievement by student members of OPPI's Southwest District who are enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate or graduate university planning program for the academic year in which the application is made.

The successful applicants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

• Relevant academic interests a nd/or research activity to professional planning practice in Southwestern Ontario;
• Academic performance; and
• Current or past contributions to the activities of a community, club, volunteer organization, university, or, OPPI.

To Apply for the Southwest District Ontario Planning Scholarship a letter of application with full return mailing address, email address, and phone number must be accompanied by:

1. No more than a two-page statement of academic interests and/or career objectives;
2. Two letters of reference: one of which must be from either an university faculty who is a Full member of OPPI or a previous employer in a planning related profession; and
3. One copy of all academic transcripts for all completed post-secondary courses, which is a certified original or a photocopy of an original that is verified by a member of the university staff to be a true copy.

Submission Deadline: Applications must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer of the SWOD-OPPI Educational Trust Foundation on or before November 1 each year.

Only complete applications will be considered. Up to two awards will be presented at the November meeting of the Southwestern District OPPI membership. Successful candidates must supply their social insurance number to the Secretary-Treasurer to obtain the award.

Secretary-Treasurer of the SWOD-OPPI Educational Trust Foundation
Mr. Allan Rothwell, MCIP, RPP (Retired)
5251 Line 81
RR#4 Listowel, ON
N4W 3G9
phone: 519.291.9898
email: allanfrothwell@gmail.com

Caley is the recipient of the Gerald Carrothers Graduate Scholarship.

Caley Savage is an OPPI student member pursuing a Master of Planning (MPL) at Queen's University with a focus on land use planning. Her research examines the financialization of housing in university towns and the impact of student populations on local communities. As a Graduate Research Fellow with the Population and Place Lab, she explores the role of AI in participatory urban planning across Canada, the US, and the UK.
 
With dual undergraduate degrees in Geography and Business Administration from Western University, Caley's academic achievements include awards like the Suzanne Curtis Award and the Richard Ivey Case Competition. Professionally, she has excelled as a Private Equity Analyst and Commercial Account Manager, specializing in residential mortgage transactions.
 
Committed to community service, she serves as Co-President of the Queen's Graduate Association of Planning Students and holds leadership roles in several organizations, focusing on sustainability, housing rights, and professional development.

Ethan is the recipient of the Ronald M. Keeble Undergraduate Scholarship.

Ethan J. Birmingham, an undergraduate student at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Urban Planning, has cultivated a deep interest in urban design and environmental planning. His focus lies at the intersection of these fields, aiming to enhance urban sustainability, biodiversity, and green spaces. Inspired by the Portland waterfront redevelopment, which integrates natural infrastructure for soil revitalization and flood mitigation, Ethan is applying similar principles to his current project in the Don River Watershed. This theoretical project involves restructuring the community to protect natural infrastructure while creating accessible recreational spaces and mid-density housing along existing transit routes. Committed to community engagement, Ethan volunteers for the TMU Student Leadership Conference and serves on the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's youth council. His efforts reflect a dedication to urban ecological sustainability and public space management, positioning him as a promising contributor to the field.

Emma is the recipient of the OPPI Opportunity Scholarship.

A dedicated member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Planning program at the University of Waterloo, Emma O’Reilly is committed to enhancing inclusivity within Ontario’s planning profession. Her Master’s thesis explores how private planning consultants manage Indigenous land-based data, with the objective of developing a best-practice guide for handling GIS and spatial traditional knowledge. Through internships at Aubin Consulting, she gained valuable experience working with Indigenous communities, deepening her understanding of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge. An upcoming internship in Whitehorse, Yukon, will offer further insights into planning practices within the Territories, enriching her research. Emma’s Métis heritage and academic focus provide a unique perspective on planning processes, and she is dedicated to fostering greater inclusion within the profession. The OPPI Opportunity Scholarship will support her research and contribute to advancing inclusive planning practices.

Anika is the recipient for the Paul Lowes President's Scholarship.