About the Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence

Since 1983, the Canadian Institute of Planners has recognized planning projects for their excellence, innovation, impact on the profession, implementation potential, and overall presentation.

The newly refreshed Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence (CAPE) program celebrates submissions that demonstrate innovation in planning, positively impact the profession and the public interest, have good implementation potential, and stand out in terms of the quality of content and presentation.

Submissions are reviewed and evaluated by a jury of diverse professional planners who are responsible for making the final recommendation for the CAPE shortlist and award-winners. The shortlist and award-winners are recognized during the honours and awards ceremony at CIP’s national conference.

Key Dates

Project Summary Application Submission Opens	August 5, 2026
Project Summary Application Submission Deadline	October 5, 2026
Notifications sent to successful Project Summary Applicants	November-December 2026
Shortlisted Candidates Full Application Deadline	January 15, 2027
Successful Candidates Notified	May 2027
Public Announcement of Recipients	June 2027

Eligibility

Submissions can relate to communities of all sizes, as well as projects of all scales. Entries may consist of a plan or a policy; a physical design concept; planning research; or communication materials such as a publication or advisory document. Projects based outside of Canada will not be accepted.

To be eligible for this year’s awards, your project must be substantially completed within the past 2 years. This does not need to include council (or equivalent) approval.

The Award’s Committee recognizes larger projects may extend over several years. Applicants submitting work starting before the past two years or awaiting further work should provide an explanation for their submission dates.        

There is no cost to submit to the Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence; however, a maximum of three submissions per applicant is permitted.

Resubmissions from previous years are accepted as long as the bulk of the work was completed within the specified time period, and the application differs from the previous submission.

Conflict of Interest

In an effort to limit bias, the following individuals cannot submit a project for consideration:

• a member of the Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence Jury
• a member of the CIP Board of Directors

Jury members must report any real or perceived conflicts of interest involving them as soon as they become aware of their existence to the Jury Chair. Projects developed or directly funded by the Canadian Institute of Planners are ineligible.

Fees

There is no cost to apply. This program is offered as a core member benefit, supported by dedicated volunteers on the Jury and CIP staff.

Evaluation Criteria

Each submission must provide evidence that it meets the following criteria:

• Excellence: Overall level of project quality
• Innovation and Contribution to the Profession: Describe how the project is innovative and how it contributes to the planning profession by introducing an original concept, or a refinement of an existing technique or procedure, as well as the portability of ideas and ease with which they can be implemented.
• Methodology: Tell us about the project’s methodology, including how it was conceived and developed to the point of implementation, including challenges faced during the plan making/research process and how these challenges were addressed 
• Clarity of Goals and Objectives: The overall focus and degree of comprehensiveness relative to the subject matter. Describe the goals and objectives of this project, and how you have met, or plan to meet, these goals
• Implementation: Explain the implementation process, including how the project has been or will be implemented. If your project has been or is being implemented, the jury will consider the effectiveness of the implementation strategy and/or programming underway. For recently completed projects, the jury will consider the proposed implementation process
• Overall Presentation: Overall presentation will be evaluated, including the organization and clarity of the text, graphics, and layout, as well as completeness of research and recommendations. Consideration will be given to the ease with which the contents and style can be understood by the intended audience.

There is no limit on the number of Canadian Award for Planning Excellence awards that can be issued by category. Submissions that demonstrate excellence in all of the evaluation criteria, as well as national transferability of concepts and best practices, will be considered for a Canadian Award for Planning Excellence.

Submission Process

The Jury will review all eligible submissions and determine the shortlist. All applicants will be notified of the review status, and those which are shortlisted, will be made public. Lead applicants of the shortlisted projects will be invited to submit a full application.

Step Two: Shortlisted applicants will submit the complete application by the stated deadline. This should be one PDF, with a maximum file size of 400MB and no more than 150 pages.

Each PDF submission must include each of the following sections:

• Part A: Table of Contents summarizing the contents of the submission.
• Part B: A statement explaining how this submission relates to the selected main category (maximum 250 words). This can be a repeat of what was submitted in the summary application.
• Part C: An explanation demonstrating how the submission meets each of the required Evaluation Criteria (maximum six pages).
• Part D: A letter of support from the client. This letter is not required for publications or submissions by municipalities, provincial, or federal bodies. If you are exempt from this category, include a page stating that you are exempt with the reason (submit as Part D).
• Part E: Project documentation (should include or be supported by plans and/or other illustrative material(s)).

Selected winning projects will be required to submit a video, 90 seconds maximum, for use at the CIP Awards Ceremony.

Helpful hint: It can be a time-saver to collect project-related documents when developing the Executive Summary submission, since the applicants of shortlisted projects will have 60 days to submit a full application once notified. You are able to download a copy of your application through your Submittable account.

Categories

Submissions must be submitted under one of the following categories that reflect CIP’s Strategic Plan priorities. The jury will only review a project under the category criteria in which it has been submitted. CIP understands and acknowledges that many projects (which is inclusive of plans, studies, publications, tools, media, etc.) will incorporate topics or items from multiple categories; however, applicants are requested to select the category that best fits the submission.

Reconciliation

“CIP envisions a future in which reconciliation is meaningfully embedded in planning practice in Canada and planners build relationships with Indigenous peoples based on mutual respect, trust, and dialogue.”

This category recognizes projects that exemplify CIP’s Policy on Planning Practice and Reconciliation, and demonstrate consideration for the principles of reconciliation put forth by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.

Examples may include, but are not limited to, projects where Indigenous community leaders/ partners/ governments are working together, or with other partners and collaborators, to improve Indigenous community conditions. It could also include projects demonstrating sustained action toward relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples based on mutual respect, trust, and dialogue. Submissions that employ Indigenous knowledge systems and methodologies, and/or submissions that feature the work of Indigenous planning practitioners, are encouraged.

Climate

“CIP envisions a future in which Canadian communities are planned, designed, developed, and managed to contribute to climate stability and to be more resilient in the face of unavoidable changes in the climate, and in the process, to become more liveable, prosperous, and equitable.”

This category recognizes projects that focus on climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience within natural systems, which exemplify CIP’s Policy on Climate Change Planning. Examples may include, but are not limited to, plans for climate change adaptation and/or mitigation initiatives, such as those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce disaster risk, and restore, enhance, or protect natural systems.

Healthy Communities

“CIP envisions a future where all communities and cities are planned, designed, developed, and managed to foster vibrant environments and active lifestyles that promote and protect the health of all Canadians, increasing the social and health equity of our communities.”

This category recognizes projects that focus on healthy communities and exemplify CIP’s Policy on Healthy Communities Planning. Examples may include, but are not limited to, plans and projects at a neighbourhood, city-wide, or regional scale that support healthier lifestyles (inclusive of physical and mental well-being), such as walkability, active transportation, food security, and social cohesion.

Housing

“CIP envisions a future in which the planning and development of housing in Canada allows for a diverse supply of affordable, accessible, and adequate housing across the spectrum, and accommodates the needs of our multi-generational society.”

This category recognizes projects that focus on increasing the supply of affordable, accessible, and adequate housing across the spectrum and exemplify CIP’s housing aspiration. Submissions should be solutions-oriented projects that relate to rural, Northern, and urban communities, and reflect Canada’s diverse and growing population. Examples may include, but are not limited to, projects that address the planning, financing, and building of appropriate, sustainable, and equitable housing.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility

“CIP envisions a future in which the planning profession helps to sustain inclusive and vibrant communities through the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, both within and beyond the planning ecosystem.”

This category recognizes projects that focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and exemplify CIP’s EDI Roadmap. Examples may include, but are not limited to, initiatives that address the planning profession’s gaps and deficiencies, as identified in the EDI Insight Survey, such as workplace mentoring and anti-racism training. Projects that apply an intersectional lens to engage and empower historically marginalized communities, and initiatives that support vulnerable populations, providing dignity in addition to structure, are encouraged.

Presentation of the Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence

Winning projects receive one crystal award per project, as well as a digital badge and certificate for each member of their team, as well as a certificate for each organization, company or group submitting. The awards ceremony will be held at the CIP national planning conference. Additional crystal awards are available for purchase. CIP does not cover the cost tickets to the awards ceremony, travel, accommodation, or conference registration.

Winning projects will be announced on the CIP website, publicized in a news release, and recognized through social media, Plan Canada, and in an e-newsletter distributed to our membership and interest-holders.

Archive of the Award Submissions

CIP makes digital copies of the winning submissions available on the CIP website, including the jury’s statement.