Hi! My name is Pam, and I am extremely proud to be a rural planner with nearly 25 years of Ontario experience. I am dedicated to the planning profession and look forward to continuing to serve the OPPI membership as a Director on Council.

I am currently the General Manager of Development Services at the County of Brant overseeing Policy and Development Planning, Development Engineering and Building. I have worked as a Planner and Economic Development Officer serving the County of Brant, Norfolk County and Haldimand County. I have also worked as the Director of Community Development & Planning in the Town of Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality in British Columbia. I hold experience in governance, senior leadership, municipal budgeting, strategic planning, communications, and project management. 

I have a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Urban and Regional Planning and a Masters of Applied Environmental Studies in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. I also hold a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Western and a Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership for Schulich Executive Education Center at York University. Most recently, I obtained a PhD in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph where I conducted research on agricultural preservation and on-farm diversification. You may have caught one of my many journal articles or presentations over the last few years on preserving the family farm through unique entrepreneurism while balancing land use planning principles and protecting agricultural lands. Rural planning is my passion, as my children are seventh generation on our cash crop family farm in Norfolk County. 

I am also a lifelong volunteer with OPPI and value the organization as the backbone of professionalism for Planning in Ontario. I have volunteered as a Southwest District representative and member, I was a member and chaired the Outreach Committee for over a decade, participated as a member of the Planning Issues Strategy Group, am currently a member of the Professional Standards and Registration Committee and have served as one of your OPPI Council Directors since 2021.

I have gained great experience over the last two years being part of OPPI Council and feel that my job has only begun in supporting the future direction of OPPI.  Now that I truly understand the dynamics of OPPI Council, I look forward to being a strategic voice for rural planning in Ontario and continuing to partake in professional discussions and macro level decision making on behalf of the Planning Profession. I am a dedicated RPP that is passionate about Planning and brings unique experiences and skill sets to the Council table which contribute to the voice of Planning in Ontario. 

I look forward to your vote and supporting OPPI!

Personal statements are a time for personal reflection, and I am excited with the amount of growth I have experienced I have gained in planning and economic development. I learned the power of spending more time listening to what was needed by stakeholders, and subsequently used my technical knowledge to advocate for my stakeholders.

What I can bring to the table in the Director role is both an internal and external perspective of how planning policies impact different aspects of community development. My over 10+ years of municipal experience in by-law enforcement, planning and economic development has prepared me to advocate for stakeholders and organizations especially when regulations and upper tier governments are approaching policy implementation from a top down approach.

Throughout this transition period OPPI needs to ensure that its value is known to the community, the profession and its stakeholders. It is imperative that we as planners continue to advocate for our profession and continue to ensure our revenue streams remain agile to adapt to the changing needs of the profession.

 have served on the OPPI Outreach Committee for over 2 years and truly enjoy interacting with students to help them understand the importance that OPPI plays in not only obtaining their RPP, but also the tremendous support and networking opportunities that are accessible. I have also served on the EDCO and EDAC boards as a Director and have a deep understanding of board operations.

I respectfully put my name forward for consideration as an Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) Council Director. I have been a member of OPPI for more that 25 years and an RPP since 2000. As a senior executive, I am the Vice President of the Planning practice at WSP, leading one of the largest private-sector professional planning services organizations in Canada. With a staff roughly 300, I manage the operational and capital aspects of the business, in addition to professional practice and client responsibilities. My direct experience in human resources, professional development, operational management, and strategic planning will be very helpful and supportive to the on-going advancement of OPPI’s Strategic Plan. Professionally, I have supported the private sector and all orders of government on a broad range of policy, design, infrastructure and community revitalization planning projects.

I am a very strong supporter of the planning profession in Canada, and deeply belief in the value and importance of our profession to the future of our communities and the environment. To this end, I have situated my volunteer time to advance the state of our profession. I presently sit on the OPPI Complaints Committee. For 6 years until 2021, I was OPPI’s representative on the national Professional Standards Committee and contributed to OPPI’s Professional Standards and Registration Committee. In the past, I participated in OPPI’s Nomination Committee and Policy Development Committee.

Much of my effort to support OPPI has focused on professional standards and membership policy. In addition to specific Committee roles, I have acted as a membership examiner, mentor and coach, and strategic advisor to planners and senior government officials. I strongly believe in my value as a volunteer and have positively contributed to the planning profession and the advancement of OPPI's Strategic Plan. In particular, I have advanced critical work on our ethical standard, accreditation standard and competencies, all of which promote and elevate the high standards of the profession.

I would like to continue to support on-going initiatives to raise the profile of Ontario Planners. I see the on-going development of our professional standards as critical to
advancing the legislative framework within which OPPI provides oversight to the planning profession in Ontario. Furthermore, I would like to support efforts to elevate the value and recognition of the Registered Professional Planner designation, and the planning profession as a whole. My skills and experience are directly applicable and transferable to a role on OPPI Council. I want to further contribute to OPPI and advance the planning profession by directly participating in the leadership of the Institute.

I thank you for your consideration.

Hello, I'm Mike Sone and I’ve been a full member of OPPI and CIP for 20 years, long enough to be able fully
appreciate my career and draw on my experiences and lessons learned but still young enough to have the energy and vigour to serve and bring about change.  I am currently a member of the Disciplinary Committee, the first RPP and most prolific RPP sponsor at Metrolinx and a long time mentor to transportation planners at a time when there were less of us.  Virtually all of my career has been at Metrolinx/GO Transit, planning some of the its largest transit service expansion and capital projects in the GTHA’s history and with extensive experience in public consultation and outreach, particularly marginalized socio-economic and disability communities.
 
I love all of the planning roles I’ve served at Metrolinx and as I enter the senior phase of my career, I am reflective of my journey and inspiration that started it all.  For me that inspiration all began with my love of public transit.  As a kid it was all about the vehicles, tracks, stations and routes.  But as I grew *ahem*, older, public transit became my window of the world I lived in and the world I wanted to see.  At a cursory glance public transit in Canada's largest cities is microcosm of economic, social, gender and ethnic diversity, loosely representative of the cities they serve.  At a deeper level public transit represents the human need for both social connections with people for social cohesiveness and promoting kindness and patience and physical transportation connections that allow our communities to grow and thrive whether it be going to work or school, buying groceries, or visiting family and friends. It is also a litmus paper of people's dreams to make themselves better and support their families and communities.  And when there are delays and crowding on the system with anxious customers, it is the “canary-in-the-cage” that shows the stresses of lack of or ageing infrastructure, the vast distances between services/employment and low density single use suburban environments, and the lack of political and societal alignment on what Canada's (or the world's) priorities vis-a-vis the environment and climate change, human overpopulation, housing, wealth distribution, inflation and affordability, health (physical, including disease and pandemic controls) and mental health and conflicts between multiple publics and the neglect of marginalized communities.  

I know the above is a very unique way to look at the world but the planning profession is indeed the best place to share and re-think how we view current and future practices.  There are so many great ideas out there and points of views that are hidden or yet to be cultivated and considered and so I’m running on the platform of outreach to the publics we serve, particularly those under-represented in consultations or wanting to see improvements in their communities.  And looking to the future of the profession and the continued betterment of our communities, my outreach platform also includes reaching the young people in our schools, inspiring them to consider careers in Planning to help make a difference in their communities and the world. I’m also running on a platform on increasing diversity in terms of membership and points of views that come into our decisions as an organization as both a visible minority and a person with a disability.I kindly ask you for your vote as a Director on OPPI council.  Thank you.

For over 20 years I have dedicated my professional life to planning. From mentoring newly graduated planners to representing the profession in speaking and  writing engagements, I have sought to elevate the discourse, and raise the visibility of planning issues. I am seeking a seat on Council to represent you, the members of OPPI, because I want to ensure that OPPI remains in a strong, fact-based position to respond effectively to current industry challenges, and support new planners as they enter the profession.

It is clear that we have entered a new period of planning in Ontario. The changes introduced through Bill 23 and the proposed new Provincial planning policy instrument, among others, have created a level of controversy and debate not seen since the introduction of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2006. In many ways, the future remains as unclear now as it did then. And, as it was then and is now: OPPI has the opportunity to lead the profession though challenging times ahead.

I am excited about the potential of working with the team at OPPI to expand the voice of planners in the ever-changing context for growth and development. I envision a role that would assist OPPI in charting the course forward and believe that my approach to professional relationships and talent development makes me well-suited to contribute to decision-making over the years to come.

On balance, I have found that the most effective approach is to lead by example and build a positive team culture that fosters the growth of others through role modeling and mentoring, training, and coaching. I have also come to appreciate the transformative effects that can arise from challenging my colleagues to think for themselves, not only from a planning policy and governance perspective but also to better understand individual mindsets and capabilities. I would seek to apply this perspective to my role on Council and believe that continuous professional development and thought leadership strengthens the planning profession as a whole. I look forward to bringing my experience and passion for planning to Council.

A vote for me is a vote for a strong voice, backed by evidence and careful consideration. Thank you for considering my interest in serving on OPPI Council.
 

Hello fellow planners, my name is Kiran Chhiba. I am a practicing urban planner and designer with over 20 years experience. I am an Associate with O2 Planning + Design and a managing member of the Toronto Studio. My career path spans across Ontario and North America on complex and unique multi-disciplinary projects. Primarily in consultancy, I work on public projects related to planning policy with a focus on guiding the physical environment, major public infrastructure and public spaces. I have contributed as an adjunct instructor at both the University of Toronto and Pennsylvania and I continue to volunteer as a lecturer and design critic at the University of Guelph and Waterloo.

Presently, I am member of the Metrolinx Design Advisory Panel, and most recently have been nominated as juror for the City of Brampton’s 2023 Urban Design Awards. I have been a regular speaker to OPPI’s conferences and symposiums, looking to continually advance our knowledge of planning and design as it relates to our work. It is at this juncture in my life that I feel I can offer the most to OPPI’s strategic directions, particularly in facilitating the exchange of knowledge to better planning in Ontario. My professional, academic, and life experiences have truly prepared me for the OPPI Council, and I would love to serve my profession. 
 
These are unprecedented times and the OPPI provides an avenue to show leadership in how planners can face these challenges to help our cities, towns, and communities throughout the province and across the country. New and emerging challenges to our built, rural, and natural environments have never been so pronounced. The values espoused by the Strategic Plan 2025 is a path I firmly believe will strengthen our communal agenda and bring our professional acumen to the mainstream. I want to be part of the journey to help grow our profession as I am committed to the important work we do throughout the province. A vote for me would be voting for a partner who is strongly committed to our progress now and into the future. I hope I can count on your support!
 
 

OPPI needs to be a leader in reconciliation.  As planners, most of our work impacts all of our relations
(water, land, people, plants and animals) for the next seven generations and more.  As an ally, I want to support  OPPI and Indigenous Peoples in addressing the challenges we face now, and the challenges ahead in being allies. Building genuine inner relationships with Indigenous Peoples will provide many more opportunities.  This means asking hard questions and looking at the truth of the history of our profession. Together, we can take stands on policy changes that could potentially negatively impact all of our relations. We need to engage with Indigenous Planners, support them and amplify their voices. I want to leverage my privilege to help do this. My diverse technical experience, passion and consensus building skills will benefit Council. 

I work for an Indigenous owned company (Indigenous & Community Engagement) and this has reinvigorated my commitment to reconciliation. My work has evolved from being an ally to an accomplice which takes a more active role in supporting Indigenous voices and being a change maker.  My work and personal life experiences have provided an appreciation of varied viewpoints, working tactfully and effectively with multiple and diverse individuals and organizations.

I have heard from many planners that they want to do more and do better with respect to reconciliation and working with Indigenous Peoples – but many do not know how or feel restricted based on various OPPI and employer policies.   OPPI has a role in providing guidance that will support our members and other planners.

I am planner and engineer with 21 years in consulting and 1 year in government.  I have diverse experience from Coast to Coast to Coast on environmental assessments, strategy, policy work, climate change, sustainability, infrastructure planning, land development, Reconciliation Action Plans and more.  I have worked with a wide range of clients including First Nations and Tribal Councils, government (Federal, Provincial and Municipal), Crown organizations, and Industry.  This has provided me with insights to the challenges and opportunities that planners across the country are faced with on a daily basis.

My volunteer experience includes being a contributing member of OPPI committees since 2019 (Indigenous Perspectives on Planning Task Force and Indigenous Planning Perspectives Committee), with CIP on the Indigenous Sub-Committee (2018-2019) and with PEO on the Professional Standards Committee (2012-2018).   I have also had various leadership roles through my work.

I have presented at conferences and other locations annually since 2013 on topics including relationship building, Duty to Consult and Accommodate, best practice in effective consultation and engagement, conflict mitigation, consensus building, inclusiveness, reconciliation, housing, climate change, renewable energy, incorporating Indigenous perspectives in design, and how to consider Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Assessments. 

Over my almost 20-year planning career, I have had the privilege of working in positions that span planning & development, land economics and property assessment, both in the private and public sector. My experience includes time spent as an analyst at an economics consulting firm, an in-house planner at law firm, a planner at a planning consulting firm and at a government agency, where I built the organization’s first planning department, from the ground up. I am currently the Director of land for a developer/builder, where I manage all aspects of the development process from acquisition through to approvals and construction. This variety of leadership experience has given me a unique insight into all aspects of planning and community building, from conception to construction.

As a longstanding member of OPPI, I have served in a variety of volunteer roles with the organization, including on the Professional Regulation Working and Advisory Groups, the Governance & Nominating Committee, the Outreach Committee and currently as a member of Council. Through these experiences I have met an array of talented passionate professionals and have seen the important part OPPI plays in providing industry leadership, professional training and support.

As Planners we play a fundamental role in the creation and maintenance of healthy, resilient communities of all sizes, for all people. We lead the placemaking process by navigating through a complicated web of regulations, policies, and guidelines, managing large teams and stakeholder groups and finding elegant solutions to seemingly impossible multidisciplinary problems. The role we play is vital, yet not universally understood.

As a profession, our work deals with crises such as climate change, the need for affordable housing, transportation/traffic congestion, and public health, sometimes all at once. OPPI’s Membership includes a vast array of skilled professionals from across the private & public sector and academia. Together, we are well-positioned to provide solutions-based leadership on a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues. I would like to continue to assist OPPI with its efforts to support and promote the ongoing contributions of our diverse membership and the crucial role that RPP’s play within Ontario’s increasingly complex planning landscape.