Clément Demers urbaniste émérite, FCIP is an architect (OAQ, FIRAC), urban planner (OUQ, CIP), project manager (Governor of PMI-Montréal), honorary professor and accredited mediator (IMAQ, IAMC). He has pursued parallel careers in a variety of fields and has often been involved on a voluntary basis, making a significant contribution to the planning profession. His diverse experiences have shaped a unique transdisciplinary practice, enabling him to hone innovative approaches to the realization of high-impact urban and cultural projects. The projects realized under his direction are lasting legacies, from the enhancement of Old Montreal to the Quartier international de Montréal and the Quartier des spectacles de Montréal. He has lectured around the world and contributed to over a hundred organizations and expert committees, some of which he has chaired, such as the NCC’s ACPDR and the City of Westmount’s PAC.

Clément was named an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec in June 2023 for his outstanding contribution to architecture, urban planning, design and urban project management.

Eleanor Mohammed is a renowned Registered Professional Planner with over 20 years of transformative impact across the public-, private- and not-for-profit-sectors in Canada and internationally. She is a Partner at DIALOG, specializing in urban governance and land use planning. She is also the Chair of the UN-HABITAT Professionals Forum and a Board Director for Canada’s National Capital Commission.

A former President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners, Canadian Institute of Planners, and Alberta Professional Planners Institute, she has spearheaded diverse projects, from sustainable development advocacy and professional capacity development to multilateral international engagement. Eleanor has the distinction of being the longest-serving female President of the CIP and was responsible for leading a major rebuild of the Institute between 2016 and 2020. Since 2021, she has been an inspiring speaker for the CIP Emerging Leaders Program, kicking off each cohort with the exploration of ‘What is a Leader?’.

Eleanor has held senior executive municipal positions in eastern and western Canada, which has provided her with a Canada-wide perspective and approach to city-building and land use. Her expertise spans legal instruments, city-wide plans, strategic plans, and innovative projects, such as leading the City of Beaumont’s autonomous shuttle initiative – a first of its kind in Canada. She was also recognized on the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (U.K.) International Women of Influence list. Eleanor’s dedication to community service and the profession is evident in her work, her authentic relationships, and the lasting positive impact she has on the Planners and communities she works with.

Emilie K Adin is a trailblazer with 25 years of experience in various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Planning in Langford, Director of Community Services in North Vancouver City, and Director of Climate Action, Planning + Development in New Westminster. She has also served as a dedicated educator, including in the role of Adjunct Professor at the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC since 2018. Throughout her career, Emilie has demonstrated mastery in planning principles and has implemented impactful initiatives that have benefitted communities across Canada. She has garnered or shared in over 20 professional awards, including several national honors, for her leadership in areas such as housing, development, and green buildings. Emilie is also an avid volunteer and mentor, and has published insightful articles on mentorship. Her prolific writing includes dozens of publications, including her popular “PlanGirl Travels” series and her upcoming book “The Urban Curious Guide to Europe.” Currently serving as President of the Planning Institute of BC, Emilie continues to inspire and shape the future of planning through her dedication to the profession and her leadership.

Lindsay Chase is an accomplished local government planner, mentor and leader in the profession. For over two decades, she has dedicated countless hours volunteering with PIBC, CIP, and the Professional Standards Board, significantly advancing the profession through the Planning for the Future (PFF) Project. Lindsay played a key role in establishing new national standards for planners and accrediting university programs, ensuring the success of these initiatives through collaboration with ACUPP and CIP. She also contributed leadership to stabilize CIP during a challenging period.

In her professional practice she is passionate advocate for a career in the public sector, and has devoted her career to local government practice.  Lindsay is currently the Director of Planning at the District of Saanich leading a diverse team of professionals as Saanich grows its urban areas while continuing to protect rural lands. She previously worked with the Town of View Royal, the City of Victoria, and the Regional District of Nanaimo.

As a professor at Vancouver Island University, Lindsay integrates her extensive professional experience into teaching, mentoring students in the Master of Community Planning program at VIU for over 10 years. Her doctoral research also reflects her commitment to the profession, particularly in governance, ethics, and professional practice. In addition to her academic work, Lindsay actively contributes to professional development as a frequent conference presenter. She continues to serve the profession as a volunteer with the PIBC Professional Conduct Review Committee, ensuring the planning profession remains strong.

Dr. Pamela Robinson, PhD, RPP, FCIP is a Professor and Graduate Program Director at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and the Academic Director of City Building TMU. With over 30 years of experience, Pamela has significantly advanced the planning profession through her work as a practitioner, academic, and mentor. She has provided strategic advice on sustainable development, smart cities, and civic technology, influencing policy and planning frameworks at all levels of government. Pamela is recognized as a leading expert in climate change, urban sustainability, smart cities, open data, AI, and governance. Her current research explores questions around AI governance and smart cities, with a focus on public engagement. Pamela has supervised over 50 graduate students and mentored many early-career professionals. She is also a tireless advocate for evolving our profession and practice to be more sustainable, accessible and inclusive.

Byungjun Kang is a senior planner with Halifax Regional Municipality who has significantly advanced the planning profession through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and community engagement. He has led key projects, including drafting a secondary strategy and land use by-law in Lunenburg and advancing regulatory changes in Halifax to support equitable housing and density under the Housing Accelerator Fund. Byungjun has also trained dozens of emerging planners, creating a 120-page guidebook to help them write and interpret land use by-laws in plain language, fostering an informed and inclusive profession. Regionally, he hosts lunch-and-learn sessions, sharing insights like “Lessons Learned from the Housing Crises in Seoul” with LPPANS. Externally, he mentors urban planners through Planuyemo Razom and guest lectures at Dalhousie School of Planning. Byungjun is also the founder of PLANifax, a student-run non-profit dedicated to planning education, which won the Atlantic Planners Institute’s Public Outreach and Communication Award for its impact on public engagement.

Teunesha is a dynamic community planner with a strong background in both public and private sectors. She earned her Master of Community Planning degree from Vancouver Island University, where she demonstrated leadership by founding various student-led organizations/roles and receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship for her thesis on community involvement in land use planning in Belize.

Professionally, Teunesha began her career development consulting for a social enterprise that develops affordable housing throughout BC, she then moved on to be a municipal planner in a fast-growing community in Greater Victoria and eventually returned to development consulting for the private sector. Today, Teunesha is an Owner and Principal at Westplan Consulting Group where she works on development approvals, with a focus on master-planning and Indigenous collaboration.

A strong advocate and ally for women’s and LGBTQIA2S+ equality, she mentors young planners, sponsors student interns, and contributes to educational initiatives such as the ADAPT Toolkit, demonstrating a lasting commitment to both her profession and her community. Teunesha would like to dedicate this award to her late father, who would have been so proud.

The Chet wa í7sun “We Pull Together:” Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Elder’s Program Plan was developed to address the exclusion, isolation, and inequity faced by Elders, including those in care homes and living away from home. This Elder-led initiative reflects a culturally grounded, participatory process designed to prioritize healing, cultural authenticity, and community involvement. Over two years, more than 400 Elders aged 55+ contributed to shaping the plan, guided by the Xwí7ski (“Let’s Go!”) group in collaboration with Beringia Community Planning. The plan emphasizes decolonization, trauma-informed approaches, and strengthening Elder inclusion and decision-making, with implementation supported by Council approvals, budgets, and community collaboration.

Team members:

• Tselkwilem’t Byron Joseph
• Sisolia Donna Billy
• Lats-mat Mary Jane Natrall
• Sxwch’alten Kevin Rivers
• Wendy Lockhart Lundberg
• Sulseelsamat Gladys “Flo” Williams
• Sesaxwalia Aggie Andrews
• Barry Cordocedo
• Ketaxtenaat MJ Jacobs
• Mason Gamley
• Tsawaysia Dominique Nahanee
• Kw’x’aliya Josie Harry
• Thlee kul wut Monica Jacobs
• Sxwélhchaliya-t/ Tłaliła̱łg̱awe’ Jordan Ann Joseph
• Glenda Gibbon
• Samaya Jardey
• Bob Sokol
• Tlatlakwot Christine Baker
• Austin Chandler
• Yataltenat Kelley McReynolds
• Kate Kittredge
• Jeff Cook
• Paula Hay
• Lucie Neliba
• Justine Jordan
• Kiyúls Waylon Bo Baker
• Shawn Turgeon
• Celestino Silveira
• Laxelwet Evangeline Nahanee
• Sandra Jacobs
• Teresa Andrea Harry
• Jenny Guss
• Heather Spence
• H’wopey Gwen Baker
• Cyndi Baker
• Shanda Dosanjh
• Francis Baker
• Chanelle Lewis
• Jacinthe (Jazz) Gosselin
• Ruby Carrico
• Lesley Campbell
• Mackenzie Gomez
• Sharon Roling
• Susan Leon
• Bruno Marques
• Dana Bayne
• Laura Hillis

The City of Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative modernizes zoning regulations to support housing diversity, affordability, and equity. This initiative simplifies zoning by reducing zones from 46 to 24, streamlining approvals and permitting up to eight dwellings on a standard lot. Innovative features include a “Small Scale Flex Residential Zone” with approval timelines as short as one day and the use of a Gender-Based Analysis Plus Toolkit to promote inclusive, equitable planning. City-wide rezoning, an improved online interface, and educational resources ensure a smooth transition. Early results show increased multi-dwelling housing approvals, meeting evolving community needs.

Team Members:

• Livia Balone RPP, MCIP
• Trevor Illingworth RPP, MCIP
• Christian Lee RPP, MCIP
• April Gallays RPP, MCIP
• Darbi Kinnee
• Jason Syvixay RPP, MCIP
• Calvin Chan RPP, MCIP
• Michelle Neilson RPP, MCIP
• Katherine Pihooja
• Samantha Buccino
• Robert Rutherford RPP, MCIP
• Arthur Poon
• Marco Beraldo
• Daniel Morin RPP, MCIP
• Alisa Oum
• Felipe Canavera RPP, MCIP
• Michelle Yip
• Stephen Cooke
• Jennifer Becker
• Monika Tulipan
• Beth Frigo
• Jennifer Renner
• Kalina Broda
• Michael Doyle RPP, MCIP
• Thomas Lippiatt, RPP, MCIP
• Jessy Inkpen
• Brandon Dyck
• Caroline Barlow
• Azure La
• Christine Lee RPP, MCIP
• Christine Lachance
• Amanda Sheehy
• Corina Ganton
• Gabrielle Donoff
• Georgina Campos
• Trevor Devlin
• Kenji Johnson
• Gabriella Dunn
• Claire Wasel
• Michael Withers
• Dustin Tanton
• Green Space Alliance
• Populus Community Planning Inc.
• Opticos Design Inc.

The District of Saanich recently developed two innovative strategies to strengthen the District’s climate resilience and protect its natural assets: the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS) and the Urban Forest Strategy (UFS). The BCS prioritizes protecting and restoring natural habitat, connecting ecological corridors, and enhancing ecosystem services. The UFS focuses on strengthening urban forestry practices, maintaining the District’s tree canopy and improving tree equity. These two strategies used advanced LiDAR and GIS technologies to develop accurate mapping and targets, and incorporated Indigenous knowledge through collaboration with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. These strategies promote sustainable land use planning and community stewardship, and align with global biodiversity goals.

Team Members:

• Alison Kwan
• Matthew Shields
• Cassandra Cummings RPP, MCIP
• Amelia Needoba
• Mike Coulthard
• Aubrey Butcher
• Nguyet-Anh Nguyen
• Eva Riccius
• Nathalie Dechaine
• Alix Link
• Vlad Romanescu

Growing Together is an equity-driven framework to transform Kitchener’s Major Transit Station Areas into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities. It enables over 100,000 new homes, including 20,000 “missing middle” units and 4,500 affordable homes through inclusionary zoning. The plan eliminates parking minimums and density caps, introduces flexible zoning, and supports diverse housing types like multiplexes and purpose-built rentals. Innovative tools, including 3D-printed models, ensured community feedback shaped policy. By fostering mixed-use developments, aging-in-place options, and multigenerational housing, Growing Together advances Kitchener’s housing goals while setting a national standard for equitable, sustainable growth.

Team Members:

• Adam Clark
• Rosa Bustamante RPP, MCIP
• Natalie Goss RPP, MCIP
• John Zunic RPP, MCIP
• Richard Kelly-Ruetz RPP, MCIP

The Imagine West End Waterfront Vision Plan is a transformative 30-year strategy to address sea level rise, climate impacts, and population growth along Vancouver’s iconic West End Waterfront. Spanning Stanley Park to Burrard Bridge, the plan reimagines the waterfront with nature-based, climate-adaptive solutions like habitat islands, salt marshes, and terraced beaches. Centred on Truth and Reconciliation, it integrates Coast Salish Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. The plan emphasizes environmental restoration, cultural inclusivity, and equitable access, guiding the creation of resilient, interconnected urban parks that balance ecology, heritage, and recreation.

Team Members:

• Jordan McAuley
• Catarina Gomes RPP, MCIP
• Doug Shearer
• Tiina Mack
• Paul Storer
• Lindsay De Leeuw
• Kelty McKinnon
• Michelle Delk
• Nastaran Moradinejad
• Kate Larsen

The jfm+ project is a progressive, private planning initiative for Jane Finch Mall, located in one of Canada’s most multicultural neighbourhoods. Led by Urban Strategies Inc. alongside a local engagement team, the two-and-a-half-year process established a long-term planning framework for the Mall Site that would benefit both existing and new community members by increasing density along the new Finch West LRT. Engagement with over 2,000 residents and 35 organizations shaped the plan prior to submission, ensuring historically excluded voices were heard and community benefits were prioritized and delivered early. This equity-centered approach sets a new standard for inclusive urban planning.

Team Members:

• Emily Reisman RPP, MCIP
• Craig Lametti RPP, MCIP
• Yasmin Afshar
• Maxine Cudlip
• Keisha St. Louis-McBurnie
• Shannon Holness
• Troy Budhu
• Stephanie A Lucas
• Carmen Smith
• Sean Meagher

The Le Relais redevelopment plan in Trois-Rivières transforms a former industrial site into a sustainable neighbourhood. After the closure of the last factory in the Bas-du-Cap sector in 2008, leaving behind an 18.5 ha wasteland, the city initiated a public consultation and planning process. The plan integrates innovative design practices and emphasizes public participation, redefining the role of planners as facilitators of major urban projects. With a higher density than the surrounding area, the project aims to build 1,000 units, balancing urban consolidation with accessibility, quality of life, and financial sustainability for infrastructure and amenities.

Team Members:

• Louis-Michel Fournier-Renaud urbaniste
• Louis Mazerolle urbaniste, MCIP
• Marie-Eve Milot
• Joëlle Ouellette urbaniste, MCIP
• Paula Galeano
• Pamela Soto urbaniste
• Steven Hill Paquin

Project Lunenburg is a transformative planning initiative that developed a Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP), Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS), Land Use By-law (LUB), and Subdivision By-law (SUB) to shape the future of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage town. The project balanced the preservation of Lunenburg’s historical character with modern needs for housing, transportation, and environmental sustainability. Through an 18-month engagement process, over 400 community members contributed to a shared vision for the town’s future. A key innovation was the introduction of a modular zoning system that simplifies planning by applying Lot, Use, and Form Zones to each property, allowing for nuanced and flexible land use. This initiative has set the stage for future projects that align with the community’s values and long-term objectives, ensuring inclusive, sustainable development for the future.

Team Members:

• Steffen Kaeubler LPP, MCIP
• Ian Watson LPP, MCIP
• Bruce Mans LPP, MCIP
• Paul Dec LPP, MCIP
• Erica Brook
• Juniper Littlefield
• Kevin Cooper
• Neil R. Lovitt LPP, MCIP
• Wendy Shearer
• Emanuel Nicolescu LPP, MCIP
• Jason Genée RPP, MCIP

Sea2City was an innovative collaborative planning and design competition to rethink the future of Vancouver’s False Creek to adapt to rising sea levels while accommodating urban development and supporting ecological revitalization. The project fostered a collaborative, decolonized approach to planning, engaging two international multidisciplinary teams, City staff, local experts, and local First Nations (Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh). A bold vision for the beloved waterfront was crafted with extensive community engagement and was supported with a detailed adaptation pathway and planning tools to help realize it. Two Sea2City pilot projects are currently underway that are testing new approaches to more resilient coastal development.

Team Members:

• John Ingram RPP, MCIP
• Angela Danyluck

The Halal Housing Lab addresses the urgent need for affordable, culturally appropriate housing for Muslim families in Canada, particularly larger and multigenerational households. Integrating Islamic design principles, Shariah-compliant financing, and holistic development principles, the project developed scalable models that reflect Muslim values while meeting industry standards. Over 18 months, the Lab collaborated with the Muslim community and industry experts, securing a site in Edmonton, creating replicable housing and financing frameworks, and launching an Open-Source Guide. This work demonstrates how culturally inclusive housing solutions can strengthen communities and provide innovative approaches to meet diverse needs across the country.

Team Members:

• John Lewis RPP, MCIP
• Jay Heule
• Alastair Wycliffe-Jones
• Omar Yaqub
• Lena Awwad
• Anna Bubel
• Sherri Shorten
• Shafraaz Kaba

The ʔəy̓alməxʷ/Iy̓álmexw/Jericho Lands project is a transformative 90-acre redevelopment in Vancouver, guided by the cultural values of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. With plans to house 13,000 households, the project integrates Indigenous knowledge, prioritizing cultural expression, sustainability, and inclusivity. Key elements include honouring the land and water, and recognizing the site as an important place of gathering. The development will offer diverse housing, public spaces, and community amenities, all while delivering affordability, prioritizing active transportation, and celebrating xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlílwətaɬ cultures through collaborative planning

Team Members:

• Sxeláltenaat – Adrienne Charlie
• Charleen Grant
• Whonoak – Dennis Thomas
• Ts’kanchtn – Calvin Charlie-Dawson
• Hunas – William George Thomas
• Brennan Cook
• Elisa Campbell
• Matt Shillito
• Melanie Hare RPP, FCIP
• Michel Trocmé
• Sirous Ghanbarzadeh
• Chris Philips
• Tatjana Trebic RPP, MCIP
• Emory Davidge
• Kelty McKinnon