From July 8-10, 2025, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) hosted ACTION, the largest national planning conference in history, in Toronto. The event brought together thousands of professionals dedicated to shaping the future of Canada’s communities. Its success would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners.
In this Q&A, we caught up with Ian Morrow, Program Manager at BuildingIN, one of our valued partners and exhibitors, to learn more about their experience at the conference and their ongoing connection to the planning community.
Can you tell us a bit about your organization and your connection to the planning community?
BuildingIN is a data-driven urban planning program that partners directly with municipalities to forecast, plan, and enable low-rise multi-unit housing opportunities within existing older neighbourhoods. Our work focuses on practical implementation, which bridges the gap between policy goals and buildable results. By combining geospatial data analysis with hands-on municipal collaboration, we help communities understand their capacity for growth and unlock underutilized land for infill development. Our approach empowers planners and local governments to make evidence-based decisions that align with housing goals and community objectives.
What motivated you to become a partner at ACTION 2025?
We were drawn to the ACTION 2025 Conference because it creates a space where planners, policymakers, and innovators can come together to share actionable ideas for solving Canada’s housing challenges. BuildingIN’s mission aligned closely with this agenda — Turning policy into practice through municipal collaboration and data-informed decision making. Partnering with the conference allowed us to engage directly with planning professionals who are shaping the future of their communities. It was an opportunity to both share our methodology and learn from others tackling similar challenges across the country.
Our goal was to connect with municipal planners and practitioners who are looking for implementable solutions to the housing crisis, and the conference delivered exactly that. The conversations deepened our understanding of local planning challenges and affirmed the need for tools like ours that help move from strategy to construction. We left with a stronger network of peers, collaborations, and municipal partners who share our vision for enabling growth within the existing urban fabric. The event also reinforced the importance of planners as central actors in achieving housing goals.
What was your biggest takeaway from the conference?
A recurring theme was the need for actionable planning — bridging visionary policy frameworks with tangible, on-the-ground results. We were inspired by how many planners are eager to translate big-picture housing goals into feasible local strategies, especially through gentle density and infill. The dialogue around implementation — how to make plans work in real communities — resonated strongly with our mission. We came away energized by the collective commitment to finding pragmatic, scalable pathways to housing supply.
How do you see your organization continuing to engage with the planning community after ACTION 2025?
We’re continuing to build partnerships with municipalities across Canada to help them apply data-driven planning approaches that translate housing goals into real units. Our team is expanding its municipal partnership program, offering collaborative implementation support and sharing learning opportunities. We’re working to share case studies and best practices that highlight how infill and low-rise multi-unit housing can be effectively integrated into existing neighbourhoods. The insights gained at ACTION 2025 will inform how we continue supporting planners and turning ambition into action.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with CIP members?
We’d like to extend our thanks to the Canadian Institute of Planners and the ACTION 2025 organizing team for fostering such a thoughtful and solutions-oriented event. It was encouraging to see so many planners championing innovative, data-informed approaches to housing delivery. One of our favourite moments was connecting with municipal teams who are already putting ideas into action — proof that change is happening at the local level. We look forward to continued collaboration with the planning community as we work toward a more achievable and equitable future.
About the Author
With over a decade of experience in operations and project management, Ian Morrow specializes in building agile, creative, and scalable systems that support meaningful outcomes—especially in housing, planning, and civic innovation.
Ian’s background in operations, marketing, and hospitality gives me a multidisciplinary lens that I bring to every project. He has previously worked in creative industries, managing branding initiatives, design workflows, and client communications, and now applies that same rigour and flexibility to the housing sector.
Currently, Ian leads operations and project delivery at BuildingIN, a national housing solutions program helping municipalities unlock the potential of low-rise, multi-unit infill development. His role spans business development, team leadership, implementation strategy, and client success—working directly with planners, designers, and GIS analysts to meet housing targets and support municipal growth.
Ian is passionate about clear systems, better cities, and building relationships that make both possible. Connect with Ian if you’re working at the intersection of housing, design, and civic impact.
Join Us as a Partner at FUSION 2026
CIP and OUQ are thrilled to host the next national planning conference, FUSION, in Montreal from July 7 to 9, 2026. FUSION is expected to bring together over 800 senior leaders, mid-career professionals, emerging planners, and students from across the country who are eager to engage and learn over the course of three days.
