Face Change and Move Forward

This year, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation. As past President Tony Usher said, “[Planners] have an enormous influence on life in this province…a lot of people outside OPPI would like to hear what we have to say and take us seriously.”

I know first-hand all of Ontario’s Registered Professional Planners are the experts our elected officials, stakeholders and the public need to help inform choices and inspire communities across the province. Many of us would not be here without the actions taken by many past Presidents, and I want to thank my predecessors, members and OPPI staff for their stewardship of the profession over the past 25 years.

This past year has been one of great change in Ontario. The pace of this change offers opportunities to look forward to renewing the profession. As your outgoing OPPI President, I want to reflect on what OPPI has worked on this past year and how it positions the planning profession to guide Ontario into the next quarter century.

• OPPI seeks an update to its professional regulation legislation. Bill 70, the Registered Professional Planners Act, 2019 , builds on our current legislation and provides an enhanced framework to regulate the profession in Ontario.
• Council approved the creation of the Indigenous Perspectives in Planning Task Force. This group has done invaluable work for the Institute in crafting a report with several short and long-term recommendations to better understand Indigenous perspectives on planning, strengthen institutional frameworks and provide support to members in incorporating these perspectives in your practices.
• OPPI is developing a framework for a comprehensive “evergreening” process to ensure the Institute remains responsive and visionary in its role to advance and promote the role of planning and professional planners.
• With the creation of the Planning Research Collaboration Group, OPPI seeks to develop “communities of interest” and identify areas and topics for research. Coupled with the “evergreening” process, the work of this group has the potential to develop and provide members with valuable information and encourages greater participation.
• We’ve begun implementing OPPI’s Public Affairs framework, and are using this framework to monitor, evaluate and follow up on the updates to the planning system.
• Working with OPPI’s government relations firm, StrategyCorp, OPPI is building strong ties and deeper relationships with the provincial government and ministries to become a trusted stakeholder. In addition, StrategyCorp has challenged OPPI Council to think about the future of the planning profession and how members fit into this future and the role it plays.

These achievements position OPPI to be able to lead in the years ahead, enhance member participation and lifelong learning, and help identify emerging issues so the profession can stay ahead of the curve.
 
In my closing remarks, I want to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues on OPPI Council for their tireless work and leadership in the profession. I also want to welcome our next President, Justine Giancola, and thank her for her support over the past two years as President Elect. I wish her all the best as she assumes leadership of OPPI in October. As the Institute’s next President, her experience and colleagues on Council will serve her well as she leads the Institute.


Jason Ferrigan, RPP
President, Ontario Professional Planners Institute