Workshops & Events Calendar
Welcome to OPPI’s Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) Opportunities, your go-to destination for professional learning and development in planning. Each year, OPPI offers a dynamic lineup of Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) opportunities including in-person workshops, virtual workshops, lunchtime webinars, symposiums and OPPI district events.
Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) Opportunities
Current Workshop Offerings
OPPI workshops are designed for Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) and planning professionals to help you stay current with industry best practices, build essential skills and earn CPL credits. The content of the workshops are also relevant to other professions including architects, landscape architects, real estate professionals, developers, and engineers.
Our offerings cover a wide range of timely and essential topics aligned with OPPI’s educational priorities including Indigenous relations, Diversity & Equity in Planning, Climate Adaptation, Ethics and Rural and Urban Planning, supporting you to continue to grow, connect and thrive throughout your planning career.
Not an OPPI member but want to learn more about our workshops and events? Email us at [email protected] to be added to the OPPI Public Subscribers list and stay informed about upcoming workshops, webinars and events.
Advanced Pro Forma for Planners
Facilitator: Steven Webber, PhD, RPP, MCIP
Description: 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.
CPL: 3 Units
Aggregate Resources Planning: A Primer
Facilitator: James Parkin, RPP
Description: This professional development workshop, developed by the University of Waterloo School of Planning and supported by TOARC (The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation), is being offered through OPPI for members and allied professionals. Taught by James Parkin, BES, MCIP, RPP, a partner at MHBC and sessional instructor at the University of Waterloo, the course is designed for planners, particularly those in rural and resource planning. It is most relevant for those responsible for developing policies and guidelines, reviewing proposals near aggregate deposits, participating in consultations for Aggregate Resources Act license applications, or managing Planning Act applications for new or expanded mineral aggregate operations.
CPL: 8 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3, 10, 17 & 24 | 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Register |
ChatGPT for Planners: Transforming How We Write, Review, and Communicate – NEW
Facilitator: Lisa Orchard, (M.Sc.Pl.)
Description: This workshop introduces practical ways that ChatGPT can support planners in writing reports, studies, emails, and related content. Join us as we explore how AI can assist with drafting, summarizing, and tailoring text for different audiences, while also learning about its limitations and the essential role of professional judgment.
Through demonstrations with real-world examples, this session highlights how planners can leverage AI to sharpen their written materials and work more efficiently, without compromising accuracy or ethical standards.
CPL: 3 Units
(Please note: Our focus is on applied practices and not the underlying tech or model design.)
Development Pro Forma Basics for Planners
Facilitator(s): Steven Webber, PhD, RPP, MCIP
Description: This workshop introduces planners to the development pro forma that is 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.
CPL: 3 Units
Duty to Consult and Accommodate: Foundations for Reconciliation in Planning
Facilitator(s): Shared Path Consultation Initiative & Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), Carolyn King, David Stinson, RPP, MCIP, P.Ag., Susan Robertson, and Natalija Vojno, MSc, MA
Description: This workshop offers a foundational understanding of the Duty to Consult and Accommodate in the context of planning and development in Ontario. Delivered in-person, the workshop begins with an introduction to Indigenous histories and the Treaty relationship (Session 1), followed by an exploration of planning’s colonial legacy and constitutional context (Session 2), and an overview of the legal framework, responsibilities, and precedent-setting cases surrounding consultation and accommodation (Session 3). Following a question-and-answer period, small-group discussions will examine the application of consultation within planning processes and the tools, models, and strategies for building meaningful, cross-cultural relationships and advancing reconciliation in practice.
CPL: 3.5 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5 | 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m | OPPI Headquarters | Register |
Ethics and Professionalism for Planners: What Does It Mean to Practice in an Ethical Manner?
Facilitator(s): Brian Brophey, LL.B., former OPPI Registrar
Description: This workshop, facilitated by Brian Brophey, LL.B., former OPPI Registrar, will explore ethics and professionalism in the context of planning, and covers topics such as professional regulation, complaints and discipline, the Professional Code of Practice, and conflicts of interest. The workshop will also include the opportunity for participants to work through and discuss specific ethical scenarios.
CPL: 3 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 18 & 20 | 12 – 1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Register |
Ethics, Professionalism, and Code of Practice for Planners Course – NEW
Facilitator(s): Justine Giancola, B.ES., MCIP, RPP, LEED AP
Description: This interactive workshop covers OPPI’s Code and Standards of Practice and replaces the former Ethics and Professionalism for Planners workshop. This workshop covers the situations that arise in everyday practice, understanding the public interest, the complaints and discipline process, and more. Bring your questions, dilemmas, and concerns, and engage with other planners in a safe space.
CPL: 3 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | OPPI Headquarters | Register |
Focus Management for Technical Professionals
Facilitator(s): Nance MacLeod, BA, PCC, CEC, C-IQ. HWC
Description: Effective time and focus management are key to achieving greater productivity and success. High achievers manage their time effectively, using techniques that help them stay efficient even under pressure. This program helps you enhance your focus, prioritize, and minimize distractions, leading to improved productivity, reduced stress, and greater opportunities for career advancement. By learning to enter a state of flow, you can center your attention, manage pressure, and achieve important life and career goals more effectively.
CPL: 4 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 & 8 | 9 – 11 a.m. | Virtual | Register |
From Reaction to Resolution: Communication Skills – NEW
Facilitator(s): Danielle Blommestyn
Description: This interactive three-hour workshop helps planners build confidence and skill in navigating challenging conversations with the public, stakeholders, and colleagues. Participants will learn how to respond instead of reacting under pressure, communicate assertively without defensiveness, and move discussions from entrenched positions to shared interests. Through reflection, real-life scenarios, and practical tools, participants will leave with strategies to foster constructive dialogue in even the toughest settings.
CPL: 3 Units
Indigenous Consultation & Engagement in Planning – NEW
Facilitator(s): Shay Colley – Barnes Management Group
Description: This workshop goes beyond compliance to equip you with the tools, insight, and humility needed for meaningful consultation. Learn from a First Nations facilitator with lived experience to deepen your understanding of reconciliation, trust-building, and inclusive planning practices.
CPL: 5 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 24 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | OPPI Headquarters | Register |
Introduction to Agriculture and Agricultural Planning: Knowledge to Practice
Facilitator(s): Wayne J. Caldwell, Ph.D., RPP, FCIP & Kate Procter
Description: Join Wayne Caldwell, a professor and experienced rural planner, and Kate Procter, a journalist and farmer, 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 using key planning tools to address agricultural challenges. Tailored for those new to agricultural issues, the session combines expert insights with interactive discussions to provide foundational knowledge and tools that foster stronger collaboration between planners and the farming community.
CPL: 3.5 Units Virtual, 4.5 Units in person
Introduction to Project Management
Facilitator(s): Nance MacLeod, BA, PCC, CEC, C-IQ. HWC, Emma Collyer, ACC, and Crystal-Lee Olson, MA, ACC
Description: Project management is important because it helps every part of the business run more efficiently and effectively. When done correctly, it enables leadership to plan and manage projects so that every objective and deliverable is completed on time and within budget. The objective of this workshop is to support participants in developing a foundational understanding of project management tools, skills, and best practices. This leads to greater consistency, clearer communication, easier onboarding and training, healthier risk management, stronger resource planning and allocation, and improved scalability.
CPL: 4 Units In-person, 4 Units Virtual
Introduction to SketchUp for Urban Planners and Real Estate Professionals
Facilitator(s): Naama Blonder, B.Arch, OAA, RPP
Description: Calling all urban planners and real estate developers in Toronto. It’s time to take your planning, design, and development skills to the next level by learning SketchUp. Learning how to build a 3D form in its context will allow you to understand the potential development of a given site and calculate its Gross Floor Area for the purpose of preliminary review and analysis.
CPL: 3 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 25 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Virtual | Register |
Microsoft Copilot for Planners: Practical AI Skills You Can Use this Week – NEW
Facilitator(s): Lavesh Chattlani
Description: In the face of Ontario’s “polycrisis,” Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer optional; it’s essential. This hands-on workshop moves beyond the hype to deliver practical, ready-to-use AI workflows using familiar Microsoft and Google tools.
Participants will learn how to streamline high-impact planning tasks, including policy research, public consultation summaries, and drafting zoning rationales, freeing up time for more strategic work. The session emphasizes accuracy and accountability, with a strong focus on quality control and “human-in-the-loop” practices.
Grounded in professional responsibility, the workshop also explores AI ethics, bias, and the risks of hallucinations. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap to become a “Centaur” planner, combining the efficiency of AI with the critical judgment and expertise of human decision-making.
CPL: 4 Units
On-Farm Diversification
Facilitator(s): Wayne J. Caldwell, Ph.D., RPP, FCIP, Pam Duesling, Ph.D., MCIP, RPP, EcD, CMM3, and Emily Sousa, MSc (Pl), RPP
Description: The On-Farm Diversified Use (OFDU) online workshop, led by Dr. Wayne Caldwell, Dr. Pam Duesling, and Emily Sousa, will introduce the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFA) Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas, focusing on how planners can create responsible OFDUs. The instructors will share their award-winning research on OFDUs, examining their effectiveness in farmland protection, farm diversification, and economic benefits. Participants will explore current OFDU examples, learn to use a new assessment tool, and gain insights into best practices for Official Plan policies, zoning provisions, and site plan control.
CPL: 3 Units
Persuasive Writing in Practice: Document Preparation for the OLT
Facilitator(s): Lisa D. Orchard (M.Sc. Pl) and David Sajecki, RPP
Description: This interactive workshop is designed to help planners enhance their written case preparation for Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings. The workshop will focus on drafting clear and persuasive documents, including 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.
CPL: 2 Units Virtual, 3 Units In Person
Planner as an Expert Witness
Facilitator(s): Denise Baker LL.B. and WeirFoulds LLP Lawyers
Description: One of the most critical roles that professional planners play in Ontario is acting as an expert witness at tribunals. In this interactive virtual three-part workshop, facilitated by Denise Baker from WeirFoulds LLP, participants will learn about legislation that dictates how planning is done in Ontario, including the Planning Act, PPS & Growth Plan and Official Plans, and gain a better understanding of duties and responsibilities pre-hearing, including steps from appeal to the beginning of hearing and alternatives to hearings. Participants will also learn more about hearings, including how they operate, how to prepare and understand the role of the planner, how to write a witness statement, how to respond to questions, and how to cross-examine.
CPL: 6 Units
QGIS for Planning and Local Government – NEW
Facilitator(s): Cliff Patterson
Description: This workshop is a hands-on, tutorial-based training workshop designed to help municipal and regional staff harness the full potential of QGIS, a free, and open-source GIS application used by local governments around the world. Through a combination of guided instruction and practical exercises, participants will learn how to perform common spatial analysis tasks, create and manage data, and produce high-quality maps and reports tailored to municipal needs. This workshop emphasizes real-world applications—such as mapping demographics, analyzing urban walkability, identifying suitable sites for development, and assessing environmental hazards—to demonstrate how QGIS can support data-driven decision-making across.
CPL: 6 Units Virtual, 6 Units In Person
Smart Mobility and Growth: Digital Tools for Tomorrow’s Cities – NEW
Facilitator(s): Adam Beck and Gavin Cotterill
Description: The session will also feature a panel of local transportation planners, providing real-world perspectives. Participants will learn how digital tools are enabling smarter decision-making, better collaboration, and more inclusive, sustainable mobility outcomes for Canadian communities.
CPL: TBD
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 10 | 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | TCC Canada – The Collaboration Centre | Register |
Sustainability & Resilience by Design – NEW
Facilitator(s): OPPI and CanU Experts
Description: This interactive session will examine urban design techniques that support climate-resilient development in both urban and suburban contexts.
Participants will work through real-world scenarios using sites currently under development, applying climate mitigation and adaptation strategies to practical planning and design challenges. Through collaborative exercises and expert guidance, attendees will gain insights into how policies, plans, and emerging technologies can be translated into actionable design solutions.
The workshop aims to equip planners and professionals with a practical toolkit of ideas and strategies that can be applied in their own work to support resilient, sustainable communities.
CPL: 7 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Dialog Design Studio | Register |
Understanding Ontario’s Planning Legislation – NEW
Facilitator(s): David Ashbourne, RPP
Description: With facilitation from experienced practitioners, we will explore the policy and regulatory framework, including at the Federal, Provincial, and local municipal levels, how decisions get made, and the role that planners play. Whether you are just starting your career, want a refresher, or work in an adjacent field and are looking to learn more about planning, this course is for you!
CPL: 3 Units
| Date | Time | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 14 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | OPPI Headquarters | Register |
Understanding Sources of Conflict and Conflict Management Styles
Facilitator(s): Danielle Blommestyn
Description: Effective conflict resolution is critical for planners and working professionals, where collaborative planning and decision-making are essential. This training will equip participants with the skills necessary to manage conflict constructively, enhance assertiveness, and improve communication—vital tools for any team. By participating in this workshop, you will gain valuable conflict-management techniques that promote clear communication and stronger working relationships, ultimately leading to more effective project outcomes.
CPL: 3 Units
Writing Clearly and Strategically: Non-Technical Language for Business and Planning
Facilitator(s): Lisa D. Orchard (M.Sc. Pl)
Description: Whether your audience is decision makers, project partners, or members of the public, clear and compelling writing helps your expertise shine through, builds trust, and drives better outcomes for your projects. In this in-person workshop, you will learn how to turn complex ideas into crisp, effective communications that get noticed. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you will sharpen your business writing skills, strengthen your plain language toolkit, and elevate the impact of your reports, plans, and presentations.
CPL: 3 Units Virtual, 3.5 Units In Person
Events, dates, and times are subject to change without notice.
Customized Team Training
We offer customized training options for your organization led by experienced facilitators. You can choose from our existing roster of workshops and work with our facilitators to tailor them for your organization.
OPPI Conference
The OPPI Annual Conference is a cornerstone of professional development at the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Bringing together planning professionals from across Ontario, the conference offers in-depth learning, timely policy discussions, and practical insights from leading experts. Attendees gain valuable knowledge and tools they can apply directly in their work while earning CPL hours and expanding their professional networks.
Virtual Planner’s Forum
OPPI along with RPPs and subject-matter experts, will take a deeper dive into specific issues that are impacting our communities and your ability to inform choices right now, in real time.
How to join a webinar:
- Check the OPPI Event Calendar for more details
How to watch a webinar:
- Webinars are recorded so you can watch them on demand
- Members will be prompted to log in to watch recordings on the OPPI Digital Learning platform
Digital Learning Library
We’re excited to let you know that our Digital Learning Library is now available to all members! You can access it anytime using your OPPI login. The library features hundreds of videos from past OPPI conferences, webinars, and more.
OPPI Districts
OPPI’s seven districts bring the planning community together across Ontario. Led by dedicated volunteers, each district hosts educational and social events that help you stay connected, learn, and grow locally. From walking tours and book clubs to PSB study sessions, panel discussions, networking socials, and even trivia nights, district events offer opportunities to build relationships and gain practical insights outside the classroom or workplace.
Voices in Planning
Planning Exchange Blog
Your monthly source for must-know insights, inspiring stories, and cutting-edge ideas from Ontario’s planning community.
Place Magazine
Our biannual magazine delivers more planning insights, more expert voices, and forward-thinking perspectives shaping Ontario’s communities.