Donald J. Stastny is the personification of an International Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners who has impacted planning and urban design within Canada as well as appropriately representing the ethics and ethos of the Canadian Institute of Planners in the international arena.

Admitted as a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners in 1978, Don has been practicing urban planner and designer, architect, and process facilitator for over thirty years, rebuilding communities physically and culturally. Using design as a comprehensive and strategic tool, he works towards elevating the public’s understanding and expectations of planning and design locally, nationally, and internationally. Don has undertaken a range of projects including the planning of neighborhoods, cities, and regions, as well as the design of museums, multi-family housing, office buildings, historic renovations, and cultural centers. He has developed and managed over fifty national and international processes for competitions, commissions, and plans. He is a masterful facilitator, having worked with international governments, state agencies, city departments, tribal governments, and neighborhood associations to reach consensus and establish “common ground”.

Having co-founded his firm in 1975, Don has set high standards not only for his own work, but has taken equal care in creating environments for other planners and designers to excel. Don has been honored with Fellowship in the American Institute of Certified Planners, the Institute of Urban Design, and the American Institute of Architects.

Don has been recognized for his achievement in professional practice and teaching and mentoring planners.