July 2019 Issue

In it's June meeting, OPPI Council met with planning program directors from each of the accredited planning programs in Ontario for a lively and strategic chat on a number of topics within the planning profession.
 
At the meeting, taking place on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Council received a report from OPPI's Indigenous Planning Perspectives Task Force with a number of recommendations on how it and the Institute can move forward with incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the work of the organization and education for members. In addition, Council approved a motion that provided staff with funds to be able to start this work this year. Prior to this, members in attendance participated in a smudging ceremony delivered by Patricia Chrisjohn from the Peel Aboriginal Network. To learn more about smudging, please visit the Indigenous Corporate Training website. 
 
Council also received a report from OPPI's Planning Research Collaboration Group. This group has met several times over the last year and is compiled of Council members and planning program directors. Some of the issues identified by the group include improving access to appropriate peer-reviewed, academic planning resources, encouraging members to consult research to inform their professional service and gaining greater access to funding opportunities for academic research and how OPPI has a role to play in setting priorities to support academics in procuring research funding. Some of the next steps to progress this initiative forward include developing an "evergreening" framework to identify priority and emerging issues, identify current research areas and topics, and develop communities of interest for members. As this work continues, members will be updated by OPPI. 
 
With the planning program directors in attendance, along with OPPI's government relations firm StrategyCorp, Council took a significant portion of the meeting to begin a dialogue on the future of the planning system in Ontario. Members will recall being asked by OPPI to complete a member survey asking for enhanced planning practices. The discussion was framed with additional research comparing Ontario to several international jurisdictions (UK, Australia, New Zealand, US, France and Germany) and several provinces (Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia) and what the similarities and differences are. Discussion also took place on the changes to the planning system over the last year and what the key planning issues are. Led by Council Director, Matthew Cory, the last part of the discussion was facilitated to focus on the Planning Act, Provincial Policy Statement and general governance. As noted previously, this discussion may facilitate the development of a white paper in the future. As work continues on this subject, OPPI will update members. 
 
Council also took the opportunity to read a joint OPPI-CIP declaration celebrating the centenary milestone of CIP and 25th anniversary of the RPP designation in 2019. OPPI would like to thank the planning program directors for their attendance at this meeting. 
 
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 communications channels.

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OPPI would like to thank members and advertisers for your generous support of our Y Magazine publication in its first year. This first year would not have been as successful without your support and feedback. 
 
OPPI's 2020 advertising kits will be made available to existing advertisers this summer, so stay tuned for this. If you have never advertised and are interested in promoting your service or business in Y Magazine, please contact OPPI's Director of Finance and Administration, Robert Fraser. 
 
As we begin working on the last issue of 2019 on technology and its impact on planning, we are pleased to provide members a sneak peek at the issues Y Magazine will explore in 2020, they include:

• Winter 2020: Affordable Housing - As home and condo prices soar in Ontario, many communities are struggling to provide housing for residents, including a variety of housing types for a diverse population. Economic, social and political issues affect the ability of communities to provide housing, provide the conditions for housing to be built and ensure residents of all ages and abilities are properly housed. The Winter 2020 issue will look at the specific stories and work being done by planners to inform the choices made by local communities to address this issue.
   
• Spring/Summer 2020: Demographics - Aging residents, newcomers and immigrants, children, young adults, adults taking care of kids and parents and everyone in between - how do planners plan for communities that take into consideration a variety of different ages and abilities? What are communities across Ontario doing to accommodate aging populations or an influx of newcomers and still make their communities feel like home and not a community of strangers? Our Spring/Summer issue will look at how planners are addressing demographic challenges and what the opportunities are in focusing on this issue.
   
• Fall 2020: Truth and Reconciliation - Canada is undergoing renewal and change with respect to its relationship with Indigenous communities across the country. Ontario is home to many indigenous people and communities seeking a greater voice and place. Reconciliation by non-Indigenous Canadians is a multi-generational process and in order to begin that process, hard truths must be exposed, discussed and acknowledged. Our Fall issue will explore these truths and how planners play an important role in working alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities to begin walking down the path of Reconciliation together.

If you are interested in contributing, being interviewed, or have a project to promote that aligns with a specific issue, please contact our Editor, Carolyn Camilleri, expressing your interest.
 

OPPI's Indigenous Planning Perspectives Task Force (IPPTF) have been working hard to identify how OPPI can respond to the following: 

• Better understanding of Indigenous perspectives on planning and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action;
• How OPPI as a "regulator" can strengthen its institutional frameworks so the practice of professional planning more effectively acknowledges and supports Indigenous planning approaches and perspectives; and 
• How OPPI as a "member service provider" can support its members to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and individuals 

OPPI is pleased to announce that the IPPTF have produced a final report that has been received by OPPI Council. This report represents the culmination of several months of meeting and consultation with the IPPTF, a wider Advisory Group, related professions and professionals working with and for Indigenous communities and people, Indigenous organizations, as well as Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit Peoples. 
 
The report provides many short-term recommendations to OPPI on how to respond to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, as well as longer-term recommendations to take place over the course of several years. OPPI's next step will be to develop and implementation plan, which will be done later this year.
 
While the implementation plan is developed, members are encouraged to review the report and its recommendations.
 
Cover image: Danielle Desjarlais and Kateri Lucier-Laboucan, Indigenous Design Studio at Brook McIlroy Inc. The graphic is based on the Prophesy of the Seven Fires of the Anishinaabe and the idea that we are currently in the time of the seventh fire, when a choice will be made that will determine the future. This is highly relevant to the issue of planning and climate change. This is why the seventh fire at the top of the graphic is without colour. The outcome is up to us as a collective.

Representing OPPI this year at CIP's 2019 Conference and AGM, President Jason Ferrigan and Executive Director Mary Ann Rangam will attend CIP's centenary celebrations in Ottawa from July 3-5, 2019. OPPI would like to congratulate CIP on their centenary celebrations in Ottawa!
 
In addition to this, on July 3, the Planning Alliance Forum (PAF) will hold their annual in-person meeting. PAF members represent the PTIAs, Professional Standards Board (PSB) and Professional Standards Committee (PSC). On July 4 is the Professional Standards Board (PSB) Annual Meeting of the Signatory Parties as part of the Standards Committee (SC) with members from all PTIAs. This meeting is held annually to bring together the PTIAs, SC and PSB to approve the work plan and budget for the following year.

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In this month's Planning Exchange blog, The Greenbelt Foundation takes a closer look at how municipalities can protect against flooding by embracing municipal natural assets and naturalized stormwater management ponds. Learn more about this infrastructure and how The Greenbelt Foundation can help municipalities with some resources they provide. 

Click here to read more

 

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Please see the current active postings below:

• Policy Planner IV, Environmental - City of Brampton (full time)
• Active Transportation Planner (contract - 2 years) - The City of Brantford (contract)
• Junior & Senior Planner - Innovative Planning Solutions (full time)
• Manager, Land Use Policy & Stewardship - Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (full time)
• Senior Development Planner - City of Brantford (full time)
• Urban Planner - IBI Group (full time)
• Director of Planning & Building Services - City of Barrie (full time)
• Senior Planner - Township of Woolwich (full time)
• ...and many more!

• 2019-2020 Eastern District Book Club (starts July 1)
• OPPI Province-Wide Book Club (starts July 1)
• Western Lake Ontario Book Club (starts July 1)
• Toronto District Re-Imagine Galleria: Transforming Toronto's Tired Malls Walking Tour (July 11)
• Save the Date: Toronto District's Scavenger Hunt (July 20)
• Eastern District Mobile Rural Workshop (July 30)