January 2019 Issue

Just as OPPI looked back on 2018 last month, this upcoming year brings opportunity and excitement in developing and executing a program for members that delivers on the four strategic directions in our INSPIRE OPPI Strategic Plan 2020:

• Promote and safeguard professionalism
• Build RPP as the recognized brand to planners, decision-makers and key stakeholders
• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise for the betterment of planning in Ontario
• Empower member ownership and community experience

OPPI has developed its 2019 Business Plan infographic outlining some of the exciting activities we will achieve this year that speak to each strategic direction. For more information, please visit our INSPIRE OPPI in Action webpage. 

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This year the planning profession in Ontario celebrates an important milestone - the Registered Professional Planner designation turns 25! We were the first jurisdiction to introduce legislation to offer the designation to professional planners in Ontario. Over the course of this year you will see references and opportunities to celebrate this significant milestone. 
 
Whether you are new to OPPI, been a member for a few years, or have been there, done that, and seen it all, we hope members will join OPPI in celebrating this milestone and its importance to the planning profession.
 
Over the course of this year, you will hear from new and old members about its importance to the planning profession, you will learn more about the planning profession through this milestone lens and have an opportunity to help celebrate with OPPI at our upcoming Beyond25 conference in Toronto. 
 
What are you doing to celebrate? OPPI would like to hear from members on how you plan to celebrate and mark this milestone in your community and District! Please email us your ideas and celebrations at communications@ontarioplanners.ca. 

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OPPI is seeking interested members to join our Planning Issues Strategy Group in an advisory role that is focused on influencing the planning profession for the betterment of planning in Ontario. 
 
Guiding the work of the Planning Issues Strategy Group is OPPI's new Public Affairs framework. In addition, a new Terms of Reference has been drafted that outlines responsibilities for volunteer members, including working with staff to proactively identify key "mega issues" that impact and transcend borders and advance these issues with decision-makers and stakeholders, monitor current and emerging legislation and policy and advises staff on responding, and advise staff on issues that are best suited for knowledge sharing and discussion across the planning profession. 
 
Members should ideally reflect geographical and professional practice diversity and ideally plan communities in small (under 50,000 residents), medium (between 50,000 and 200,000 residents) and large (over 200,000 residents) populations. If you are interested in joining OPPI's Planning Issues Strategy Group, please fill out our Volunteer Application Form. 

As of January 1, OPPI has an updated By-Law that splits up the complaints and discipline process aligning it with the best practices of other regulators. 
 
OPPI's Complaints Committee will screen and handle complaints made against members and then decide to refer complaints to OPPI's Discipline Committee who may choose to hold a formal hearing and render a decision.
 
As a result of these changes, members may be wondering how this new process will be applied moving forward. OPPI is committed to providing members with information and educational opportunities throughout the year so you can learn about this new process and answer any questions you may have. 
 
Members should stay tuned for more information, but in the meantime if you have any questions about the By-Law please contact OPPI's Registrar at standards@ontarioplanners.ca.

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This is the final reminder to renew your 2019 membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), which was due January 2, 2019. Please visit OPPI's website at and log into your Member Profile to renew your membership. If you need any assistance regarding the renewal process, you can contact OPPI's Renewal Administrator at renewal@ontarioplanners.ca or 1-877-320-8354. 

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Attention OPPI Student Members! OPPI is accepting 2019 Student Scholarship applications and if you attend one of Ontario's accredited planning schools, we'd like to help you on your journey to becoming a Registered Professional Planner!  Are you an aspiring student leader? OPPI Student Members can apply to become our 2019-2020 Student Delegate and lead the Student Liaison Committee and a great program of student activities throughout the school year. Network with planning students across Ontario and help OPPI reach students so they know more about student membership, student programs and events happening regularly. 
 
Scholarship applications and Student Delegate nominations close March 1. Don't delay, apply today! Please visit OPPI's website for more information and to put your name forward.

Coming soon to a mailbox near you...the inaugural issue of OPPI's Y Magazine! 
 
OPPI's new quarterly magazine will tell the stories that need to be told of the great work our members are doing in communities across Ontario. This magazine will include feature stories, profiles and opinion pieces that discuss and promote the value of the RPP designation to new and existing audiences. 
 
In our inaugural issue of Y Magazine, we will bring you stories of uneven growth in Ontario. Planning for growth, whether it is rapid or slow, often requires communities, local municipalities and/or regional governments to reimagine or revitalize existing spaces through savvy strategic planning. 
 
Learn more about what members are doing in communities like Milton, Grey County, Niagara Region and places beyond to address uneven growth. Read about how other jurisdictions are tackling this topic, and join OPPI in celebrating and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the RPP designation in our four 2019 issues of Y Magazine. Happy reading!

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In December, the Ontario Government introduced the Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act (Bill 66). This proposed legislation includes adding an "open for business" by-law to the Planning Act to expedite economic development opportunities and investments. 
 
OPPI reached out to the membership with a message from OPPI President Jason Ferrigan asking for member assistance in developing a response to the proposed legislation. OPPI followed that up with a survey to the membership to collect your thoughts and feedback on this proposed legislation. 
 
Since OPPI last communicated with members, we have asked our government relations firm, Strategy Corp, to provide government relations assistance in response to this legislation. OPPI was invited to a briefing by Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing staff to better understand the rationale behind this legislation that would assist in the development of our response to the government. 
 
In the meantime, the province seeks input and feedback on their proposed legislation, and members are encouraged to provide their feedback, advice and professional expertise to the government:

• Comment on the proposed open for business planning tool
• Comment on the new regulation under the Planning Act for the open for business planning tool 

OPPI continues to work with members who have expressed their interest to assist OPPI craft a response to the provincial government. Stay tuned as we continue with this important work on behalf of the planning profession.

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As part of OPPI's work to build the RPP brand to the public, decision-makers, elected officials and stakeholders, we are profiling case studies on our new website that position RPPs as community leaders, experts and focusing on inspiring communities across the province. We need your help to spread the word!
 
We have two case studies up on our website with more to come in 2019:

• Uber, Meet Innisfil: The unlikely partnership that sparked an innovative transit solution
• The Revitalization of Church Buildings: How new life and purpose can be brought to these historical resources

Do you know someone who is grappling with these issues right now? Is there someone at your office/municipality/consultancy that would benefit from knowing what RPPs are doing? Share our members' success stories with your colleagues, friends, key contacts at your workplace and everywhere else! 
 
This isn't a moment to be shy about the inspiring work and results that are being achieved across the province by Registered Professional Planners! Our stakeholders, elected officials, the public and stakeholders should know what members are doing. 
 
Feel free to share each case study on social media and via email as they are published. More case studies will be developed in 2019, so stay tuned for another batch of great examples of planners inspiring their local communities! If you have any questions or would like to share your story, please email communications@ontarioplanners.ca. 

In this month's Planning Exchange blog, Michelle German, senior lead for policy and partnerships at Evergreen takes a closer look at Toronto's affordable housing strategy, including the actions taken recently. In addition, Michelle introduces readers to Evergreen's Ontario Affordable Housing Calculator that visualizes the incentives that would be needed to build mixed-income, mixed-use communities, and the feasibility of affordable housing projects in rental and ownership buildings.

Click here to read more

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OPPI is excited to introduce its new weekly District eblast for members in the new year! The way members receive District event information will be changing starting later this month. Instead of receiving individual event eblasts, they will be consolidated into one weekly eblast for members to read. 
 
The reason for the switch is to give greater promotion to OPPI District teams and events. This format provides an opportunity to write event articles, and it should foster ideas and greater collaboration for co-creation events between Districts! 
 
Here's how it will work:

• Members in Districts that are featured, promoting an event or sending out an event reminder, in a given week will receive the weekly eblast. 
• If your District is not being featured, not holding an event, not sending out a reminder or thank you note to members for attending an event, you will NOT receive the weekly District eblast.
• OPPI will take the opportunity to profile its District Chairs and Vice Chairs and districts through short articles introducing them to the membership. In addition, OPPI will endeavour to develop and write articles on District events for inclusion in the weekly eblast.

Members will start receiving our weekly eblasts later this month. If you have any questions about this new format, please contact OPPI at communications@ontarioplanners.ca. 

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Are you busy wrapping up your 2018 CPL and are a few units short? Or would you like to get ahead of your 2019 CPL and bank a few learning units right off the bat? Either way, good news for members! 
 
Livestream recordings from OPPI18 are now available on OPPI's Digital Learning portal. Members can revisit and review many popular sessions from and claim this time towards your CPL. 
 
Log into OPPI's Digital Learning portal to see the available videos. Please note: Jesse Wente's keynote session will not be made available on Digital Learning. 

Volunteers Needed for PSB Professional Examination French Translation Testing
The Professional Standards Board (PSB) for the Planning Profession in Canada has begun translating all of its certification material. Becoming a fully bilingual organization in order to service both English and French speaking planners is a strategic priority of the PSB and they are working towards offering the Professional Examination in both English and French. PSB is seeking a number of bilingual Registered Professional Planners who would be interested in forming a cross-country, diverse working group to review and test the question bank for accuracy and clarity, and to ensure the rigour of the Examination is maintained in French. Volunteers have until January 25 to sign up and assist. More information can be found on the PSB website.
 
2019 LandPRO Conference
OPPI is an educational partner of the 2019 LandPRO Conference taking place on March 5, 2019 in the City of Vaughan. Members may be able to claim CPL learning units by attending. In addition, members may receive a 15 per cent discount off the regular price of registration (can't be combined with other offers). For more information and to register, visit landproconference.com.

ARE YOU IN THE CONSULTANT'S DIRECTORY?
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!

LEARN MORE

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


 

LEARN MORE

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

SEARCH NOW

Please see the current active postings below:

• Urban Designer - City of London (full time)
• Ecologist - City of London (full time)
• Planner I - City of London (full time)
• Economic Development Supervisor - Region of Waterloo (full time)
• Senior Project Manager, Urban Renewal - City of Hamilton (full time)
• Senior Development Planner - Niagara Region (full time)
• Planner II - Community Planning and Design - Temporary (approximately 14 months) - Municipality of Clarington (contract)
• Assistant Manager of Property and Planning - Simcoe County District School Board (full time)
• Development Implementation Technologist - The Corporation of the Township of Clearview (full time)
• Manager, Planning Strategies - City of Mississauga (full time)
• Approvals Planner - Loyalist Township (full time)
• Director Planning and Building Services - Town of Collingwood (full time)
• Senior Planner, Municipal Liaison - National Capital Commission (full time)
• Project Manager - Sustainability, The Corporation of the Town of Whitby (full time)
• Planner - City of Mississauga (full time)
• Community Engagement Coordinator - City of Mississauga (contract)
• Manager, Urban Design - City of Brampton (full time)
• Community Planner - City of Owen Sound (full time)
• Manager of Planning Services - City of Quinte West (full time)
• Manager of Planning and Development - Town of Canmore (full time)
• ...and many more!

• Eastern District Book Club "Arrival City: The final migration and our next world" (January 23)
• The Principles of Traffic and Transportation - 20-week Evening Lecture Series (ends January 30)
• 2018 Brampton Urban Design Awards (February 4)