Congrats!
Welcome to the Canadian Institute of Planners
Welcome
Thank you for joining the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)! You are now part of a national network of planners and students who strive to effect positive change and are dedicated to the advancement of excellence in the planning profession.
There has never been a more important time to be a planner. As the national voice of the planning profession, we are working diligently to ensure that the planning profession is actively shaping and contributing to the most critical issues of today and tomorrow.
We are stronger when we work together and our team is excited that you are with us!
Laurie Langlois
Manager, Member Engagement
Matthew Klaas
Specialist, Member Experience and Systems
Hannah Whitworth
Officer, Recognition and Member Engagement
About You
see blurb non-accredited student on types and fees page
About Us
CIP works on behalf of over 9,000 diverse planning professionals and has served as the voice of Canada’s planning community since 1919. Planners safeguard the health and well-being of urban and rural communities by addressing the use of land, resources, facilities, and services with consideration to physical, economic, and social efficiency.
CIP respectfully acknowledges that our office is located on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. CIP values the ongoing stewardship of all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
Our Commitment to Impact
With optimism and pride, CIP rolled out a five-year Strategic Plan in 2022. Our strategic plan—1,835 Days of Impact reflects our intention and commitment to using our collective powers for good, and creating positive change every day.
We’re Taking Action on Issues That Matter to Our Members
Career Support for Life
We support planners in all stages of their careers through our extensive educational and professional resources.
Move down to advance your career (re-order things)
Continuous Professional Learning
National Conference
CIP’s annual national conference combines professional planning education and research, experiential workshops, networking, career development, and fun over three days.
Free Webinars
Discover all upcoming webinars, workshops, and more, offered by CIP and Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations (PTIAs) on our national events calendar.
Learn On-Demand for Free
Access our extensive range of on-demand educational multimedia resources and tools available 24/7 through the CPL HUB.
The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada
The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada is an acclaimed six-module online course that explores the historical and contemporary realities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
The course was created by NVision Insight Group – a majority Indigenous-owned consulting company, and we are proud to be working with them to offer a version of The Path for our members at cost ($95 + tax).
Planners have an essential role to play in the journey towards reconciliation. Learning (and unlearning) about the lived experiences of Indigenous communities is your first step in building relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and meaningful dialogue with Indigenous peoples. Learn more about the course content here.
The Path is eligible for six unstructured and self-reported continuous professional learning (CPL) units. Upon completion, you will also receive a certificate from NVision and a CIP digital badge.
In this interview, Jennifer David reflects on how The Path was created to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
Fun Fact: Not only did Jennifer develop the course, but she also narrates it.
Advance Your Career
National Job Board
CIP hosts the only national planning job board – your top resource for qualified planners across Canada.
Emerging Leaders Program
The CIP Emerging Leaders Program is an interactive program designed for early-career members to develop personal growth and career success.
National Employment Survey
Knowledge is power! Our national employment survey is here to inform your negotiations for salary, benefits, and more.
Planning Publications
Plan Canada Magazine
Plan Canada is Canada’s national planning magazine, published quarterly by CIP with the editorial leadership provided by the Plan Canada Editorial Committee. The magazine is available in an online accessible format to all CIP members and magazine subscribers.
Get Published
Plan Canada is read by 90% of Canada’s registered professional planners. We invite submissions of short papers, research reviews, notes on practice, book or film reviews, and more. Submissions on planning-related topics are always welcome, regardless of the theme.
Canadian Planning and Policy Journal
The Canadian Planning and Policy Journal is the planning profession’s scholarly publication, undertaken by CIP and the Association of Canadian University Planning Programs. It is an open-access, digital, peer-reviewed, bilingual journal with a double-blind review process run by an editorial team of distinguished scholars. The Journal regularly publishes manuscripts reflecting the scope and diversity of planning theory and practice in Canada.
Get Involved
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As a CIP member, you have access to volunteer opportunities to represent CIP on committees, juries, and external projects on the national or international stage.
Tip: Keep your member profile current throughout the year to be considered for more opportunities. In your profile, you can indicate your specialties and skills, which may be used for issue-based volunteer opportunities.
You can also join our two LinkedIn groups on general and international planning which provide additional networking, volunteering, and learning opportunities.
Student Volunteer Opportunities at Our National Planning Conference
ACTION 2025, our next national planning conference, will be held in partnership with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) in Toronto, ON from July 8-10, 2025.
As a student member, you have the opportunity to volunteer on-site at Canada’s largest national planning conference. In exchange for volunteering, student are reimbursed for some of their conference costs.
Recognition
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Digital Badges
CIP digital badges are issued in recognition of professional achievements, including those gained through professional experience, competency, and learning outcomes, including:
- Membership status (e.g., MCIP® and Candidate)
- Volunteerism (e.g., Board of Directors, committee members, student representatives, presenting at the national conference)
- Honours and awards (e.g., College of Fellows, scholarships, bursaries)
- CIP-recognized professional development programs (e.g., Emerging Leaders Program, The Path)
Find out more about all of CIP’s digital badges and how to earn them here.
Honours and Awards
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College of Fellows
Fellowship in the Canadian Institute of Planners is the highest honour the Institute can bestow upon a planner. This distinction recognizes excellence, identifies prominent role models, promotes advances in planning practice and draws leaders to the forefront of planning in Canada. Such professional attainment and experience must be significant at a national or international planning level. Fellows proudly use the designation FCIP to denote Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
CIP Emerging Planner Award
The CIP Emerging Planner Award celebrates the leaders of tomorrow. It recognizes the outstanding professional success and achievement – including leadership and/or service to the profession – of a Canadian planner within their first ten years of professional planning experience.
Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence
Since 1983, CIP has been honouring outstanding planning projects for their excellence, innovation, and impact on the profession. Now, as we enter a new era, we’ve reimagined our awards program to reflect the evolving landscape of planning. Over the past 40 years, the world around us has transformed, but our unwavering commitment to celebrating excellence in planning remains steadfast. The Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence will continue this tradition by recognizing submissions that showcase innovation, make a positive impact on the profession, and demonstrate implementation potential.
National Urban Design Awards
The Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada established the National Urban Design Awards program in 2006 to recognize individuals, organizations, firms, and projects in Canada that have contributed to the quality of life and the sustainability of Canadian communities. This program encourages the submission of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary projects in six categories involving planners, landscape architects, architects, and/or other disciplines.