Exciting New Educational Opportunities: OPPI’s 2025 Workshop Schedule

As 2024 comes to a close, it's a great opportunity to reflect on the year. We want to acknowledge the hard work of all our workshop facilitators. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we expanded our offerings, growing from 15 to 23 workshops. Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our workshops for 2025. As both an educator and a lifelong learner, I’m thrilled to see our continued growth with new workshops and an expansion of in-person sessions beyond the GTA. The Education & Events department understands that professional development is key for planners, and that our members come from across the province. As such, we will be hosting sessions in Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston, and Guelph in 2025.

In collaboration with the Planning Knowledge Exchange (PKE) Committee, we have created several new workshops to better serve our diverse membership:

Persuasive Writing in Practice: Document Preparation for the OLT – Lisa D. Orchard & David Sajecki (in-person Toronto & virtual)
This two-hour interactive webinar is designed to help planners enhance their written case preparation for Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings. Presented by Lisa Orchard and David Sajecki, the session will focus on creating clear and persuasive documents, such as witness statements, evidence outlines, and settlement affidavits. Through case studies, examples, and exercises, participants will learn key writing techniques to build strong, logical arguments that influence adjudicators. The webinar will also cover how to efficiently organize visual evidence books and document books, making it ideal for new or mid-career planners with little OLT preparation experience. By the end, participants will be better equipped to write effective documents that support a successful hearing outcome, with greater confidence in presenting expert evidence at the OLT.

Focus Management - Nance Macleod, PCC, CEC, C-IQ. HWC (virtual)
Effective time and focus management are key to achieving greater productivity and success. High achievers manage their time well, using techniques that help them remain efficient, even under pressure. This program helps you enhance your ability to focus, prioritize, and minimize distractions, leading to improved productivity, less stress, and increased opportunities for career advancement. By learning to enter a state of flow, you 'will be able to center your attention, manage pressure, and achieve important life and career goals more effectively.

Understanding Sources of Conflict and Conflict Management Styles - Danielle Blommestyn (in-person in Toronto and Kingston, virtual)
This  workshop is designed to help planners manage conflict, improve communication, and enhance team dynamics. The workshop focuses on identifying common sources of conflict in planning projects and applying different conflict management styles to achieve better outcomes. Participants will understand different conflict management styles, recognize their own style, and learn how to apply these styles effectively in conflicts to achieve better outcomes. By equipping planners with these essential skills, the training aims to promote constructive conflict resolution, clearer communication, and more effective collaboration in planning projects. 

Advanced Pro Forma for Planners – Steven Webber, PhD, RPP, MCIP (in-person Toronto & virtual)
This workshop aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model, a crucial tool used by developers to assess the time value of money in feasibility analysis. Building on Pro Forma Basics for Planners, the session focuses on using DCF to evaluate purpose-built rental developments, relevant for both private and not-for-profit projects. Participants will explore key DCF components such as the discount rate, capitalization rate, loan amortization, and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) to understand the financial assumptions and calculations. The session includes a hands-on case study based on a multi-period pro forma spreadsheet, providing practical insights into development economics and performance. Key takeaways include gaining confidence in discussing DCF pro formas with real estate professionals, understanding the impact of cost and revenue timing, and recognizing the economics of purpose-built rental developments.

Explore Agriculture and Agricultural Planning: Bridging Knowledge and Practice – Wayne Caldwell, Ph.D., RPP, FCIP  & Kate Proctor (in person in Guelph & Virtual)
Join Wayne Caldwell, a professor and experienced rural planner, Kate Procter, journalist and farmer, and OMAFA staff for an engaging session designed for municipal planners and related professionals. This workshop delves into agriculture’s vital economic contributions, its role in fostering vibrant rural communities, and the social dynamics of farming. Participants will gain practical strategies for building trust and effective partnerships with farmers, navigating land use challenges, and key planning tools to address agricultural challenges. Tailored for those new to agricultural issues, the session combines expert insights with interactive discussions, offering foundational knowledge and tools to foster stronger collaboration between planners and the farming community.

In 2025 we are launching customized training. Our experienced facilitators will a customize a version of OPPI workshops to fit your organization’s needs. They can facilitate groups of five or more either in-person or virtual. As part of that initiative Naama Blonder has created a planning specific workshop for group facilitation.

Shaping the Narrative: How to Communicate Affordable Housing Effectively - Naama Blonder, B.Arch, OAA, RPP   
This workshop offers a hands-on, structured approach to effectively communicating affordable housing projects. Participants will learn how to craft clear, compelling narratives that resonate with stakeholders, address objections, and build trust. Through guided activities, they will envision project success, map key stakeholders, and create detailed profiles to understand their needs and concerns. The workshop also covers how to develop tailored value propositions, map the stakeholder journey to identify critical engagement moments, and create a cohesive narrative plan for successful project communication.

Please reach out to us at education@ontarioplanners.ca if you are interested in learning more about our customized training options. 

We’re excited to offer a range of new workshops in 2025, alongside our popular returning sessions, to provide our members with engaging learning opportunities and help them fulfill their CPL requirements. In addition, we are working on a series of free webinars—stay tuned for more details.

•    For a full list of workshops, please visit our Workshops & Events webpage. 
•    To register for any of our educational offerings, simply visit our education calendar.

For even more learning opportunities tailored to our members, be sure to check out the Planning Exchange Blog, Y Magazine, and Digital Learning Platform. We also collaborate with our District Leadership Teams to organize both educational and social events across the seven OPPI Districts.

If you have any questions or suggestions for future educational offerings, feel free to email us at education@ontarioplanners.ca.
 
Karenza Sutton-Bennett, PhD
Senior Manager, Education & Events