Wellesley Township’s junior planner Sarah Peck was officially awarded a membership into the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) on Monday.
The OPPI represents the province’s professional planning community and is an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners; a body that represents about 7000 planning professionals across Canada.
Membership is open to everyone involved in planning our lands and waters, natural and cultural resources and how facilities are allocated and used.
Coming into the fold of the organization is something of a milestone for professional planners and recognizes a combination of work experience and competency training in the profession. Membership is open to all who are involved with planning the use of the province’s lands and waters as well as natural and cultural resources provided that applicants pass a lengthy oral exam. A panel of veteran planners oversees and assesses correct responses to ethical scenarios and the management of professional responsibilities.
After successful completion of the evaluation, Peck, who has been a planner with the township for more than three years, was presented with the award by Mayor Ross Kelterborn.
“It’s an institute that most professional planners want to become a member of. It’s not mandatory, but they are considering making it mandatory for 2013,” Peck explained in a later interview.
