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Saturday, September 25, 2021 to Thursday, March 31, 2022
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The Ontario landscape is emerging from over a year of turmoil, exceptionally hard work and, at times, exhaustion. So now what?
What will slide back into whatever normal is? How will what's emerging impact your current planning strategies, how they evolve and what happens next? The OPPI21 conference will help you, your team, and our profession identify and discuss solutions.
We'll focus on NOW - what is happening in economic development and sustainability and in the accelerated uptake of technology?
And WHAT - what will we do about it? How will we heal our communities and improve our ability to work for the good of everyone?
This fall, the OPPI21 conference will be jam packed with exciting sessions led by industry leaders and experts, all ready to stir up meaningful and proactive discussion.
Last year's virtual event was one of OPPI's most successful conferences ever. You came in your shorts and in your pajamas, you gained insights, you shared ideas, and we all re-connected with colleagues and friends from years past.
This year promises to be even better with a powerful line-up of speakers and topics that will enable everyone who attends to build back better. And while we can't 100% promise there will be an in-person event in Kitchener-Waterloo, we're working on it and will let you know.
Registration
Rock Chapel Sanctuary - 318 Rock Chapel Rd, Dundas, ON L9H 5E2
Join staff from the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) and the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark for a fall hike to learn more about the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark. The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is a collaborative initiative to protect, restore and connect more than 3,900 hectares (9,600 acres) of natural lands at the western end of Lake Ontario.
Staff from the RBG will be discussing the land management strategy, as well as highlighting some of the ecologically significant features of the area.
• Meet at the Rock Chapel Sanctuary Parking Lot - 318 Rock Chapel Rd, Dundas, ON, L9H 5E2 (parking is included in event registration fee)
• Wear appropriate footwear for a hike in the woods
• Bring your own water
• COVID requirements – RBG requires the completions of a contact tracing sheet prior to the tour. This will bedistributed at the hike, or prior to the hike via email. The RBG will retain this information for one month after the hike. Masks are required for times when physical distancing is not possible. A COVID-19 screening questionnaire will be sent to registered participants prior to the hike. Please do not attend the event if you have symptoms of COVID-19, have been identified as a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, and/or have been told to self-isolate by a public health authority.
Online Course
This online course is for the professional planner who is in a leadership role, a partner in a private firm, or managing others. You will have the opportunity to practice techniques and develop skills to both manage and lead others effectively. All practice activities are conducted in small groups.
At the end of this course you will be able to:
This course will involve two 90-minute virtual sessions.
November, Monday 1 (9:30-11:00)
November, Wednesday 3 (9:30-11:00)
Maximum number of participants, 15.
The information to connect will be emailed to you on October, Wednesday 27. Please, check your “spam/junk” folder if you do not see it in your Inbox.
OPPI wants you to go green! Please, note that OPPI does not provide printed resources for course registrants.
Course Instructor
Brodie Church is a facilitator and certified training practitioner with a passion for workplace performance and project management. He has more than a decade of experience within the financial services industry, having worked increasingly senior roles within retail, call centre, IT and HR environments. He now focuses his energy helping a wide range of industries and government bodies prioritize and execute their project objectives through instructor-led training solutions, specializing in project management and workplace communication.
Online event.
Information to connect to the session will be emailed to participants on November 2 at noon. Please, check your "junk/spam" folders if you do not see the email on your Inbox.
Grab a glass or a cup of your favourite beverage and connect with us online!
Join your colleagues from Durham, Peel and York Regions for a networking evening with the opportunity to catch up, share experiences on how the pandemic has changed your work-life balance, and suggest ideas for upcoming District events and workshops.
This is a free event, but registration is required by November 1, 2021. Space is limited (to 30 participants) and registration will close once at capacity.
Online course
Join us for this online course that will help you understand the importance of effective project management in ensuring the success of your project. You will come away with the basic knowledge and skills in managing various-sized projects in all areas of urban and rural community development, urban design, environment, transportation, health and social services, housing, and economic development.
This course will involve two 120-minute virtual sessions.
November, Monday 8 (9:30-11:30)
November, Wednesday 10 (9:30-11:30)
Information to connect will be emailed to you on November, Wednesday 3. Please, check your “spam/junk” folder if you do not see it in your Inbox.
OPPI wants you to go green! Please note that OPPI does not provide printed resources for course registrants.
Join us for this online course and learn how to apply key concepts of project management with a variety of hands-on group collaborations using real-world scenarios. This course is a continuation of the Project Management for Planners course, expanding on specific activities and best practices that can be applied when working through the project lifecycle. Although previous participation in the Project Management for Planners course is encouraged, it is not a prerequisite.
November, Monday 22 (9:30-11:30)
November, Wednesday 24 (9:30-11:30)
Information to connect will be emailed to participants on November, Wednesday 17. Please, check your “spam/junk” folder if you do not see it in your Inbox.
Brodie Church is a facilitator and certified training practitioner with a passion for workplace performance and project management. He has more than a decade of experience within the financial services industry, having worked increasingly senior roles within retail, call centre, IT, and HR environments. He now focuses his energy helping a wide range of industries and government bodies prioritize and execute their project objectives through instructor-led training solutions, specializing in project management and workplace communication.
Online workshop
Plain Language is an internationally accepted approach to communicating with a diverse range of people, from other subject matter experts to the least-engaged members of the public. It helps to provide information in a way that the reader can find, understand, and use.
This workshop introduces strategies for applying Plain Language techniques to a range of documents that planners need to prepare on the job. Introduction to Plain Language for Planners is designed to provide planners with the tools they need to:
· Apply Plain Language theory and techniques to improve communication,
· Address the disconnect with other experts, decision-makers, and the general public on influential, complex plans, projects, and programs,
· Provide engaging content that generates meaningful input and better outcomes, and
· Work more effectively with decision-makers and partners like local politicians, consultants, non-profits, and the general public.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
a) Gain appreciation of value of writing in Plain Language, to advance their profession and the communities they serve.
b) Apply the techniques to writing reports, studies, and other documents.
c) Analyze and evaluate documents to communicate in a more accessible and inclusive manner.
Session Content:
v What is Plain Language? How can it help planners communicate more effectively with decision-makers and the general public?
• Its value to city building professions
• Current environment and expectations (e.g., Ontario Land Tribunal)
• Common mistakes in planning reports, studies, briefs (with real examples)
• The science of readability
v Plain Language techniques
• Identifying the audience: Who your reader is, what they care about
• Defining your purpose and creating key messages
• Structuring your document for impact and clarity
• Integrating visual components to help make your case
• Do's and Don'ts: Inclusive language, jargon, spelling, grammar, voice, and tone
v Editing and proofreading for accessibility and polish
• Word choice
• Eliminating wordiness
v Resources for Plain Language writing
Instructor:
Lisa Orchard makes complex ideas clear for diverse audiences. As a technical communications professional with 20+ years of experience writing and editing strategic documents to advance city-building projects, she brings a big-picture, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach to her clients in industry, government, and non-profits. With a background in urban and transportation planning, policy and research, and consultation and engagement, she has been involved in many high-profile initiatives that will influence our cities for decades into the future. She launched her firm, Scribe Technical Writers and Editors, in 2019, to bring the best practices from technical communications to city building professions. It’s a unique combination!
Maximum number participants, 25.
Technical writing is fact-based, clear, and direct communication. It helps the complicated behind-the scenes work shine and make sense to non-experts. It can help planners develop winning proposals and higher quality products, and gain the buy-in needed to move project forward. Even an expert prefers a well-written document that lets them quickly find what they need and use it to advance their complicated technical work.
This workshop is designed to introduce planners to the principles and best practices involved in communicating more effectively with decision-makers through studies, plans, and reports. The session will introduce the field of technical communications and how it applies to the planning profession, addressing:
• How to improve the readability and clarity of documents,
• How to make documents more persuasive and defensible,
• How to cope with gibberish, jargon, and meaningless phrases,
• Editing tips to add polish to your documents,
• The key elements of an in-house style guide to streamline and simplify the development of planning documents, and
• Approaches to sharing technical evidence and analysis to reach project goals.
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
a) Gain appreciation of the value of technical communication and apply learned techniques to their professional practice to deliver top-quality plans and reports.
b) Analyze and evaluate their own writing.
c) Build an evidence-based planning case.
v What is technical writing? How can it help planners communicate their advice more clearly and effectively?
v Technical writing techniques to:
• Improve readability and clarity of your documents for readers
• Make documents more persuasive and defensible with decision-makers
• Cope with gibberish, jargon, and meaningless phrases
v Technical editing tips:
• Best practices to add precision and polish to planning documents
• Key elements of an in-house style guide to streamline and simplify the creation of planning documents.
v Share evidence and technical analysis to educate diverse audiences and generate buy-in.
v Resources for technical communications.
Maximum number of participants, 25.