New OPPI chair, Andria Leigh. (Photo courtesy of OPPI)
Andria Leigh officially began her two-year term as Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) chair as she helmed her first council meeting, one of a series of OPPI events in September that also included the organization’s Annual Members Meeting (AMM) and an awards night to recognize excellence in the profession.
Leigh is the director of planning and growth at the Town of Innisfil and has over 30 years of experience, primarily in the public sector, where she leads and serves community stakeholders. Along with serving multiple terms on the council, she has held a long list of volunteer roles within OPPI, as well as with community organizations.
“Becoming chair of OPPI will without a doubt be one of the most challenging and hopeful volunteer roles I have held,” she said. “As the province, the industry and our members, work towards critical housing, mobility and environmental solutions, innovation and collaboration will be a crucial part of our success, and I will lead with this intent.”
OPPI is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, or council, who are accountable for the strategic and financial oversight of the organization, which represents some 5,000 members who work within Ontario’s planning profession, welcome five new council members.
The 2025-2026 OPPI Council members are:
- Andria Leigh, RPP, Town of Innisfil, Chair
- Bev Hillier, RPP, City of North Bay, Chair-Elect
- Chris Tyrell, RPP, WSP
- Dave Aston, RPP, MHBC
- Aimee Powell, RPP, Powell Planning & Associates
- Heather Swan, RPP, Swan Planning Consultancy
- Erika Ivanic, RPP, City of Toronto
- Rosa Bustamate, RPP, City of Kitchener
- Scott Taylor, RPP, Grey County
- Rajbir Sian, RPP, Dufferin County
- Regan Zink, Candidate member, OMAFRA
- Scott Thompson, retired ADM & DM from public service and
- Vicki Long, Public Appointments at City of Toronto
Also in September, the OPPI celebrated this year’s PlanON award winners and announced the Project of the Year, at their annual awards event in Kitchener, Ont.
PlanON 2025 Project of The Year Award: One Land, One Climate, One Future, Together – New County of Essex Official Plan. (Photo courtesy of OPPI)
The PlanON Awards are the highest honour OPPI bestows in the industry, and the organization cited 21 award winners this year for demonstrating excellence in creating thoughtful, innovative and well-planned communities across Ontario while demonstrating a commitment to advancing the planning profession.
“Our members work hard every day to plan great communities that have enough homes, community facilities, parks, transportation connection and other amenities while protecting farmland, natural heritage and water resources,” said Leigh. “As an organization we’re excited to honour this work through the PlanON Awards and are incredibly proud of this year’s winners.”
“The PlanON Awards recognize the ways our members work to advance the profession while improving the quality, livability and sustainability of Ontario communities,” added Susan Wiggins, executive director of OPPI. “Registered Professional Planners play a vital role in shaping future communities, and these awards recognize their challenging but rewarding work.”
Among the winning projects were the New County of Essex Official Plan, which earned Project of the Year, the City of Hamilton’s Creating a neighbourhood active transportation system project, and researchers Nina-Marie E. Lister and Sabrina Careri from Toronto Metropolitan University/Ecological Design Lab for their research on sustainable planning design and implementation of crossing infrastructure and improved landscape connectivity.
