Peter J. Martin was born in Alton, Hampshire, England and educated at Churcher’s College.  He was commissioned in the British Army in 1949.  After army service, he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and came to Canada in 1954 to work with Central Mortgage and Housing in the Maritimes as an appraiser.  Following a post graduate course in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Toronto, he began his career with the Metropolitan Toronto Planning Board in 1956.  During that period, he worked on the draft Metropolitan Official Plan and assisted many municipalities within the metropolitan area in the preparation of local plans. 

Between 1960 and 1970, he worked with Candeub and Fleissig and Associates, a leading planning firm in the United States, becoming a Vice President of the firm in 1965.  During this period, he headed up the mid-western office of the firm, based in Chicago, and subsequently worked in the head office in the New York area.

Returning to Ontario, he became a member of the firm Knox Martin Kretch Limited as Vice President and Director of Planning.  He worked on the planning of Bramalea City Centre and surrounding development in 1971-72.  He joined M.M. Dillon Limited in 1972, serving as Vice President and Director of Urban and Regional Planning and, later, as Senior Consultant in the Planning Division.  In these capacities, he contributed to the planning of many municipalities and provided planning advice to many organizations and senior levels of government.  During 1973-76, at the request of the Ontario Minister of Housing, Mr. Martin served as Executive Coordinator for the Ontario Housing Action Program which gave new impetus to the provision of housing in the Toronto Region, Ottawa, and elsewhere in Ontario. 

His many friends in planning and related professions will remember Peter for the time, energy and dedication he gave to the well-being of the profession through his involvement in many professional organizations.  Among his many professional affiliations, Peter was a President of the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Ontario Association of Land Economists, and the Association of Consulting Planners.  In addition, he was the Vice President and representative of the Americas and the Caribbean of the Commonwealth Association of Planners.  Peter had the vision and foresight to enhance the role of Canadian planners in the international field through this latter organization. 

Peter served at various times as a lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Guelph and Waterloo Universities and at Atkinson College and Environmental Studies at York University. 

Peter is remembered as one of the most energetic and dedicated planners and his work will continue in the future advancement of the professional associations he was involved with.  He passed away in 1989.