January 24, 2025 New in 2025: Customized Team Training The mission of OPPI is to leverage knowledge, resources, and relationships to facilitate excellence in planning by professional planners. Part of fulfilling that mission is to offer exceptional workshops taught by experienced facilitators. We understand the unique challenges faced by planning professionals and the industry in Ontario. This year we have expanded our offerings to include innovative, customized training workshops designed to support the strategic goals of planning organizations. You can choose from our roster of workshops, and work with our facilitators to tailor specific training for your organization. Customized Training Package Highlights • collaborate with a team of trained educators to customize workshops for your workplace • specific planning content • qualified instructors for program delivery • receive administrative support • receive group registration discounts • flexible hours and length of workshops • in-person or virtual sessions for utmost flexibility • participants will gain CPL hours Here are some popular workshops that we have been asked to customize for organizations: Plain Language Practices & Techniques for Planners This workshop provides planners with the tools they need to apply plain language theory and techniques to improve their reports, plans, studies, memos, and other documents. This course introduces planners to the plain language techniques they need to know to prepare quality documents. The workshop is in-depth, engaging, and transformational, drawing on current technical communications theory and planning practice, and can refer to workplace specific documents. The session is suitable for new and experienced professionals. • Up to 30 particpants per in-person session • Up to 50 participants per virtual session • Minimum 3-hour session • Lisa D. Orchard, Technical Editor & Urban Planner (M.Sc.Pl.) • Scribe Technical Development Pro Forma for Planners: Basic & Advanced Basic Level: This workshop introduces planners to the development pro forma used to evaluate the financial feasibility of real estate investments. A static residential pro forma provides the framework for reviewing revenues, costs and project performance metrics using condo and purpose-built rental scenarios. A sensitivity analysis is included to account for the potential risk faced by developers. The session concludes with a hands-on exercise that gives planners the opportunity to explore a straightforward pro forma model. Advanced Level: The Advanced Pro Forma Workshop for Planners aims to deepen participants' understanding of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model, a critical tool used by developers to assess the feasibility of projects by factoring in the time value of money. Building on previous Pro Forma basics, this session focuses on applying the DCF method to evaluate the performance of purpose-built rental developments and other commercial properties, such as office, retail, and industrial spaces. Participants will learn about key DCF components like the discount rate, capitalization rate, loan amortization, and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), with a hands-on case study to reinforce learning. The workshop is ideal for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of pro formas, especially in the context of rental development economics. Key takeaways include the ability to discuss DCF pro formas with professionals, recognizing the impact of cost and revenue timing, and gaining insights into the financial dynamics of purpose-built rental projects. • Up to 30 participants per in-person session • Up to 50 participants per virtual session • 3-hour workshop per level • Basic & Advanced can be taught back-to-back or separately • Dr. Steven Webber, PhD, RPP, MCIP • Urban Formation Impactful Presentations Impactful Presentation skills are essential for business or personal success. In this workshop, you will go beyond presenting just the facts and figures to craft impactful presentations that will motivate others, inspire action, and enable buy-in. By understanding your audience, preparing what will be important for them to know, you will learn to create presentations that are both meaningful and memorable. Gain the confidence and skills it takes to create impactful presentations. • Up to 30 participants per in-person session for in-person • Up to 50 participants per session for virtual • 4-hour session • Nance MacLeod BA, PCC, CEC, C-IQ. HWC • Career Compass Canada IAP2's Public Participation for Decision Makers P2/Engagement for Allied Professionals looks at the perspective of those working in other professions who may be responsible for ensuring that P2/engagement is conducted, or who provide support or oversight to P2/engagement processes. It explores the underpinning models and frameworks of public participation and engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community, specifically in terms of what it is, who is involved, standards of practice, why it is important to be practiced ethically and effectively and the unique and critical role that allied professionals serve. • Up to 30 participants per in-person session • Up to 50 participants per virtual session • 3.5-hour session • Dr. Tracey Ehl, PhD, CPF, MCP3, MCIP, RPP • Ehl Harrison Consulting Inc. Understanding Sources of Conflict and Conflict Management Styles In this workshop participants will explore how conflicts arise in planning environments due to differing objectives, priorities, or stakeholder interests. Participants will recognize the common sources of conflict specific to planning projects (e.g., resource allocation, timelines, roles). They will delve into the five conflict management styles with an emphasis on how each can be applied in planning scenarios and learn their own style. • Max 30 participants per session • 3-hour session • Danielle Blommestyn • Meditation International New Workshop! Shaping the Narrative: How to Communicate Affordable Housing Effectively We are excited to partner with Naama Blonder to offer this new workshop, specifically designed for workplace groups. This workshop provides a hands-on, structured approach to communicating affordable housing projects effectively. Participants will learn to craft clear and compelling narratives that resonate with stakeholders, address objections, and build trust. Through a series of guided activities, they will envision their project’s success, map out key interested parties , and develop detailed profiles to understand their needs and concerns. It also focuses on crafting tailored value propositions, mapping the interested parties journey to pinpoint critical engagement moments, and creating a cohesive narrative plan. • Minimum10 participants • 3-hour session • In-person (highly recommended but virtual option available) • Naama Blonder, B.Arch, OAA, RPP,MCIP • Smart Density FAQ on OPPI Customized Workshops 1) What does the workshop(s) cost? As each workshop is customized it will depend on a few factors including size of group, length of workshop, and facilitator fee, travel/accommodation costs. We will strive to work with your budget. 2) Are there other costs involved? Yes. If you are doing an in-person session, you will host the session at your workplace or place of your choosing that you organize and provide refreshments for attendees and the facilitator(s). 3) Is it only for Planners? No, our facilitators can customize the content to groups that include adjacent professions such as architects and engineers. 4) How does it work? Please email education@ontarioplanners.ca with the following information: • Which workshop or workshops are you interested in • How many are in the group • What level/positions are in the group – we do not need specifics, just let us know if you have all senior planners, a mix of different levels of planners and/or a mix of planners and other professionals. • Your preference for in-person or virtual training • When would you like to hold the customized workshop • The length of time you would like to the workshop to run • Do you have a budget in mind We will then set up a meeting with you to discuss further and put you contract with one of our experienced facilitators. Drop us an email if you are interested, we’d love to hear from you! Karenza Sutton-Bennett, PhD Senior Manager, Education & Events The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author(s), and may not reflect the position of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Post by Karenza Sutton-Bennett, PhD cpl, customized, education, workshops Print FaceBook Share Link LinkedIn Share Link Twitter Share Link Email Share Link Back To Home Recent Posts Link to: Who Takes Carriage of Public Participation and Does it Matter? Who Takes Carriage of Public Participation and Does it Matter? February 21, 2025 Link to: Who Takes Carriage of Public Participation and Does it Matter? Link to: New in 2025: Customized Team Training New in 2025: Customized Team Training January 24, 2025 Link to: New in 2025: Customized Team Training Link to: Brantford’s Digital Leap: Modernizing Planning with Cloudpermit Brantford’s Digital Leap: Modernizing Planning with Cloudpermit January 15, 2025 Link to: Brantford’s Digital Leap: Modernizing Planning with Cloudpermit