APPI Council Candour

Council met virtually over two nights before the Thanksgiving weekend for our first time together since our virtual orientation and first Council meeting last spring. The meeting began on a positive note, sharing the results of APPI’s first ever Virtual Conference, Beyond Success – Growth by Failure, which was held September 21-23, 2020. The Conference Committee, Administration, and all presenters must be commended for their delivery of a successful three days with thought-provoking presentations and an opportunity for 303 delegates to come together to learn at a distance. In keeping with the conference theme, Administration decided to manage the conference in-house, resulting in significant savings and virtual offerings delivery that can be applied to future virtual presentations, educational sessions, and conferences.

THANK YOU to the Conference Committee, presenters, sponsors, all who attended and APPI Administration. 

Financial Reports

• Council adopted the 2021 Budget based on no membership fee increases for APPI members in 2021 and no in-person Council meetings. Given these difficult and unprecedented times, Council thought it was appropriate to waive the annual increase to APPI membership fees for 2021.
• Council committed to maintaining a close watch over monthly income and expenses going forward, in order to track any emerging issues or financial trends and respond quickly and responsibly.

External Partnerships 

• Council discussed a few recent Government of Alberta initiatives:  MGA (Part 17) Red Tape Reduction, Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act amendments, and new Labour Mobility legislation. Council committed to reaffirm APPI’s status as a valued stakeholder and express concern regarding potential implications of these initiatives. 

Strategic Priorities – Equity, Diversity & Inclusiveness (EDI) and Truth & Reconciliation

• Council acknowledged that while EDI and Indigenous initiatives are interrelated, APPI has and continues to have a specific commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and advancing specific Indigenous focused activities. Any new strategic goal pertaining to EDI will be separate from and additional to the strategic goals pertaining to Truth & Reconciliation. 
• Council discussed the option to adopt a new strategic goal and corresponding actions that specifically demonstrate the Institute’s commitment to EDI. APPI will continue to support our members in their individual journeys for self-education in the realm of EDI, recognizing that every person is at a different place in their journey. APPI will continue to work on targeted EDI initiatives with the other PTIAs and CIP, and will communicate relevant opportunities to members as they arise.

2020 Awards Ceremonies, 2020 Events, and the 2021 Conference 

• Given the circumstances, all in-person events for the remainder of 2020, including the U of A and U of C Student Meet & Greets, the Celebration of Planning, and all in-person World Town Planning Day events have been cancelled. 
• Details regarding upcoming virtual events will be shared in the coming weeks, including the APPI Planning Awards Webinar to be hosted in November in conjunction with World Town Planning Day.
• A Call for Volunteers and Co-Chairs for the 2021 Conference Committee will also be released in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions or comments on what was shared in this Council Candour do not hesitate to contact APPI Council through [email protected].