From July 8-10, 2025, CIP and OPPI hosted ACTION 2025, the largest national planning conference in Canadian history, in Toronto. The conference would not have been a success without the support of our student volunteers.
In this Q&A, we catch up with Benjamin Holt, a student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), who shares highlights from the conference, lessons learned, and advice for fellow planning students.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to study planning?
I’m entering my first year in TMU’s Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, but I’ve had an unorthodox path to get to where I am today. At 18, I attended the University of Ottawa to pursue my passion for competitive swimming, transferred programs three times whilst there, then took a break from school to work to figure things out. Now at 23, I’ve picked up on my love for cities and the planning strategies that make them thrive. I’m specifically interested in transit, and my goal is to leave a lasting impact on the people I’m able to help through my career in planning.
What motivated you to volunteer at ACTION 2025?
As ACTION 2025 was my first planning conference, I wasn’t familiar with the volunteer opportunity. Once I heard about it from a family member, I was thrilled about the chance to connect with other students and organizers. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but volunteering gave me a structure that made me feel like I was supposed to be there. If I wasn’t volunteering, I may not have been comfortable enough attending the conference, missing out on making so many great connections with such a wide variety of planners from all over the country.
Was there a moment or session at the conference that really stood out to you?
A few moments stood out to me from the conference. I took part in a workshop on AI in the planning profession, where I was one of the only students in the room, and had older professionals interested in my perspective on AI. That was a unique moment that showed me how valuable my perspective is. I also enjoyed a session about the plan for Downsview, creating a “city-within-a-city,” once the temporary Rogers Stadium is taken down. This stood out to me because of the recent headlines about the challenges Rogers Stadium has been facing since its opening.
What was your biggest takeaway from the conference?
The biggest thing I took away from the conference was how open professionals are to connecting and giving advice to students. I gained valuable insights that I don’t think I could learn in a classroom. I gained years of lessons and knowledge from small conversations with people I crossed paths with during meals, workshops, and meetings. I plan to put a big emphasis on appearing at conferences and events moving forward.
How has volunteering at the conference influenced your career goals?
Before the conference, I wasn’t sure where I’d fit in planning. Now I can say I feel as though I’m connected to planning in a way I wasn’t prior to the conference. I feel welcomed and the importance of the advancement of the planning profession. From this experience, I’ve developed a perfect foundation of knowledge and relationships to build my career.
Do you have any advice for other planning students considering volunteering at future conferences?
My first piece of advice is…do it! I truly believe there is no reason you shouldn’t volunteer if you’re a student. Show up each day and stay as long as you can, as you never know who you may meet or what you may learn. I met some pretty interesting people at the very last session of the conference I attended, which shows you should stay and do as much as possible. You’ll be exhausted by the end of it, but trust me, it will be worth it.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with CIP members?
I want to thank Wendy, Laurie, Hannah, and many more for organizing this event and all the other volunteers. I also want to give a shoutout to Lauren and Anita, CIP’s communications team, who were working exceptionally hard throughout the conference, sitting on their laptops in the exact same spot every time I entered the staff room. I hope they got to stretch their legs!
Want to get more involved in the planning community?
Join CIP as a student member for free! As a student member, you’ll gain access to volunteer and networking opportunities, events, and the latest planning news to help you grow your career from day one.
About the Author
Benjamin Holt is an undergraduate student in Urban and Regional Planning, and research assistant at Toronto Metropolitan University. Prior to TMU, he worked for a year as a business development representative at a commercial energy brokerage and nearly two years in retail financial services, including at BMO. Ben attributes his strong sense of focus and discipline to his years as a nationally ranked swimmer.