July 2018 Issue

OPPI is pleased to announce Keith Marshall as our 2018-2019 Student Delegate, succeeding Alex Gaio, for a one-year term. Keith previously served on OPPI's Student Liaison Committee (SLC) as Ryerson's Undergrad second-year rep.

As OPPI's Student Delegate, Keith will chair the SLC, which serves as a leadership network linking students across the six accredited planning schools to OPPI. The SLC meets throughout the school year, and working with their student colleagues, Keith and the SLC will promote the benefits of membership in OPPI, and events and programs targeted to students: OPPI's student scholarships, participation in our annual event, the Student Case Competition, and nominations for student representatives and our next Student Delegate.

In addition, Keith will have the opportunity to participate in OPPI's Outreach Committee and help organize outreach events for students across the six accredited planning programs about the benefits of OPPI student memberships, becoming an RPP and careers in planning.

Please join us in welcoming Keith onboard as Student Delegate. We look forward to working with him and the SLC this year!

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On June 22nd, OPPI Council met with the Planning Program Directors to discuss aligning research priorities with their programs. In addition to meeting with the Planning Program Directors, the following items were discussed by Council:

• Approval of the Terms of Reference for OPPI's Indigenous Planning Task Force
• Strategic framework for OPPI's Policy and Public Affairs
• Technology and its impact on the planning profession

OPPI would like the thank the Planning Program Directors and Mackenzie Keast from NXT City Prize for joining us at Council to discuss a number of strategic issues and topics.

OPPI Council meets four times a year. Council approved agendas and minutes are available upon request to the OPPI office.

The goal is to engage members in shaping the direction and initiatives of OPPI, and continue to deliver on our INSPIRE OPPI Strategic Plan 2020. Members are encouraged to speak up and get involved, and stay in touch throughout the year through OPPI's many communication channels.

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OPPI would like to thank its members for your overwhelming feedback to our recent member survey about technology and its impact on the planning professions.

Some of the information emerging from your feedback includes:

• A majority of members have experience with day-to-day platforms such as email, word processing, presentation software and GIS as part of your planning work
• Where experience can be developed is with emerging technologies such as: 3D modelling, drone technology, augmented/virtual reality, and emerging techniques like interactive public consultation tools and web-based spatial mapping applications
• One of the discoveries coming from member feedback focused on disparity in three areas:
  • Between public and private sector organizations
  • Geographic locations and access to infrastructure
  • Between small and large organizations

Your feedback guided the discussion at June's Council meeting and will be used to determine the best methods to provide you with relevant, timely and practical learning resources.

In addition, on September 20, OPPI President Jason Ferrigan, RPP, will hold a Twitter chat with members and followers discussing the impact of technology on the planning profession. Stay tuned for more information in the near future.

At June's Council meeting, OPPI's updated Public Affairs framework was introduced to Council members. This framework advances the work of our INSPIRE OPPI Strategic Plan and focuses on three areas:

• Leadership on "mega issues": OPPI recognizes the planning profession requires future-forward planning guidance, solutions, tools and other useful outputs for the work done in communities across Ontario. OPPI will proactively identify, with member input, key "mega issues" upon which to focus on. These issues may vary from year-to-year but they will be impactful to the planning profession and beyond.
• Responding to current and emerging legislation and policy: OPPI's primary responsibility is to the integrity of the planning profession and the protection of the role of planners in serving the public interest. OPPI will take a position and "plant a flag" on planning and development issues if such issues or legislation directly impact the profession and the ability of planners in their roles. Through "planting a flag," OPPI will continue to position RPPs as vital and important to informing choices and inspiring communities.
• Ongoing support to knowledge development, exchange and learning: For "mega issues" and trending public affairs matters, OPPI will seek knowledge exchange and encourage member content development to share with the membership. OPPI will work with the six accredited planning programs across Ontario to encourage relevant research. Once new topics, practices and solutions are identified, OPPI can develop learning opportunities and educational programs for members.

OPPI's Public Affairs framework aligns with the development of our communications strategy and with the INSPIRE OPPI Strategic Plan. This is especially important now that Ontario has a new incoming government that will begin the process of implementing its election campaign and fulfilling its promises to the electorate.

​As a refresher, here are some of the announcements the incoming government has made related to planning. This list is not exhaustive and only highlights key announcements made during the campaign:

• PC Party Platform
• Promise not to touch the greenbelt
• Relief for rural Ontario
• Get people moving for commuters and transit users

OPPI looks forward to working with the new provincial government and is requesting meetings with members of the new government to discuss the issues related to the planning profession and members across Ontario.

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On July 11, OPPI President Jason Ferrigan, RPP and Executive Director Mary Ann Rangam will attend the Annual Meeting of the Signatory Parties as part of the Professional Standards Committee (PSC) with members from all PTIAs. This meeting is held annually to bring together the PTIAs, PSC and Professional Standards Board to approve the work plan and budget for the following year.

CIP in conjunction with MPPI will be holding their annual conference, SOUL 2018 from July 19-22, 2018, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. OPPI President Jason Ferrigan, RPP and Executive Director Mary Ann Rangam will be attending CIP's conference and AGM on OPPI's behalf. In addition, a meeting of the Planning Alliance Forum (PAF) will be held during the conference. PAF members represent the PTIAs, Professional Standards Board (PSB) and Professional Standards Committee (PSC). The meeting discussion will focus on the five-year comprehensive review of the certification and accreditation standards, and enhancing advocacy efforts with external stakeholders (the general public, government agencies and related professions).

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In case you missed it: CIP announced their Awards for Planning Excellence recipients and newest College of Fellows in June. Some of the award winners come from Ontario. OPPI would like to congratulate the RPPs and everyone else involved in receiving awards for submissions from Ontario. For more information on the Awards for Planning Excellence recipients, please visit CIP's website.

In addition to this, OPPI would like to congratulate Dana Anderson, FCIP, RPP for being named to CIP's College of Fellows. Dana's career as a professional planner spans 30 years and has seen her make significant contributions in both the private and public sectors. In her role as the Director of Planning for Oakville, Ontario she delivered one of the first approved Official Plans and Zoning By-laws to implement the Province of Ontario's 2006 Growth Plan. Dana is also a previous OPPI Member Service Award winner for her extraordinary service and significant contribution to the Institute.

Congratulations Dana on this honour!

Up Here Mural Tour: The Up Here festival and We Live Up Here urban arts organization have created and curated over 20 pieces of public art in Sudbury since 2013. Members can join Up Here's mural coordinators, Nico Glaude and Alexandra Berens-Firth, on a walking guided tour of the murals in Sudbury's downtown.

Planning to create public realm improvements: Take a tour of two recent public realm improvements in Greater Sudbury - the Brady Green Stairs and Downtown Capreol Waterfront - that were realized through the adoption of the Downtown Sudbury Master Plan and the Capreol 2018 Community Improvement Plan. Members can gain knowledge of how master plans and Community Improvement Plans can help realize public realm improvements and understand how public art can be incorporated into infrastructure planning.

Stay tuned as more mobile workshops, interactive training sessions and keynote speakers are announced for #OPPI18: Community Readiness.

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Save the Date: Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM)
OPPI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, October 11, at Science North in the City of Greater Sudbury. The AGM will be held prior to the evening reception. Members do not need to register for #OPPI18: Community Readiness in order to attend the AGM.

AllAccess Public Space Initiative
AllAccess is a new initiative dedicated to making Ontario's public spaces more accessible for everyone. The program aims to help planners, designers, municipalities, property owners and others involved in the design and development of public spaces to better understand and implement the Design of Public Spaces Standards (DOPS), the design requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Program activities, including a workshop series in Fall 2018 will be eligible for Learning Units under OPPI's Continuous Professional Learning program. AllAccess is a joint initiative of the Canadian Urban Institute and Human Space, a division of Quadrangle. For more information and to join the AllAccess network visit: www.allaccesspublicspace.ca.

Are you listed in OPPI's Consultant's Directory? If you're not in,
it's time to get in! If you're looking to do some consulting on the
side or looking for RPPs to work with for that big project you're
leading, and everything in between, OPPI's Consultant's
Directory is for you. Sign up today and get listed!
 

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Advertise your available planning positions with OPPI's Job Postings. There is no better way to reach qualified planning professionals.

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Targeted to planners, search the OPPI Job Ads to save you time and effort when looking for a new position.

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Please see the current active postings below:

• Senior Policy Planner and Planner - Development - Town of Georgina (full time)
• Junior Planner - City of Sault Ste. Marie (full time)
• Trails Coordinator - City of Vaughan (full time)
• Director, Downtown Revitalization Project (Contract - 5 years) - City of Brantford (contract)
• Transportation Project Manager/Engineer - City of Vaughan (contract)
• Manager of Policy Planning - The County of Simcoe (full time)
• Planner I - City of Pickering (full time)
• Director of Planning & Development - Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands (full time)
• Planner 1 - Region of Durham (full time)
• Senior Planner - Policy - Town of Richmond Hill (full time)
• Manager of Development Approvals - City of Greater Sudbury (full time)
• Planner - Town of Oakville (full time)
• Planner - UrbanSolutions Planning & Land Development Consultants Inc. (full time)
• Planner II - City of London (full time)
• Manager of Development Services - Town of Carleton Place (contract)
• Manager of Planning & Lands - City of Iqaluit (full time)
• Project Manager - Traffic Engineering - City of Vaughan (contract)
• Senior Consultant - Sierra Planning and Management (full time)
• ...and many more!

• Toronto District Book Club: The Well-Tempered City (July 1 - August 31)
• Toronto District Laneway Walking Tour (July 4) - SOLD OUT
• Ontario Traffic Council Environmental Assessment Workshop (July 18)
• Lakeland District Neighbourplan: Vision for Jackson Park-Brookdale Neighbourhood (July 26)