Volunteers make up a large part of APPI as a professional organization. APPI's Volunteer Recognition Program recognizes individual dedication and contributions to APPI and the planning profession more generally. The recipients are honored at the Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Celebration.
Volunteer Recognition Awards
You have the opportunity to nominate one of your colleagues for the contributions that they have made to the Institute in one of the following categories.
Outstanding Contribution to the Profession Award
This prestigious award is the highest honour awarded to an APPI RPP member, recognizing long term commitment to the Institute, profession, and volunteerism. The recipients have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the planning profession and have contributed to the Institute in a number of capacities. The APPI membership at large nominates their peers for the award and a volunteer adjudication committee selects the winning recipients. Nominations are restricted to APPI RPP members who have a minimum ten years of service.
Congratulations to all Recipients of this Award! View past award recipients.
2025 Recipients of the APPI Outstanding Contribution to the Profession Awards
Erin O'Neill RPP
Erin O’Neill earned her Master of Science in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph in 2007 and began her Alberta career with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Since receiving her RPP designation in 2009, Erin has been a steadfast advocate for professional certification and ethical practice. She has mentored numerous Candidate members, offering guidance, and encouragement and her contributions to the Institute’s professional development offerings, have significantly deepened the members’ understanding of the Professional Code of Practice and fostered ethical decision-making within the profession.
Erin has been a committed leader of APPI, serving two terms on Council, including holding the Office of President. Erin has and continues to serve on many of the Institute’s committees, including the Planning Awards Committee, various Conference Committees, the Discipline Committee, and the Registration Committee. Her involvement has strengthened APPI’s programming, governance, and professional development initiatives, making a lasting impact on the Institute and its members.
Erin has also championed planning outside of APPI, with service on the Board of the Community Planning Association of Alberta (CPAA), as co-chair of multiple CPAA conferences, and as a past member of the Canadian Institute of Planners Board. Her influence extends across local, provincial, and national levels, underscoring her deep and sustained commitment to strengthening the planning profession in Alberta and Canada.
Erin's visionary leadership, long-standing volunteerism, and dedication to professional integrity have significantly shaped both the Institute and the broader planning profession. Erin has, and continues to, enrich the profession, elevate the Institute, and inspire a generation of planners to follow her example.
Tribute to Volunteerism Honouring
Marilyn Hooper, APPI Public Member
Marilyn Hooper was appointed as APPI’s Public Member on Council in 2017, and continues to serve in that capacity, with a profound commitment to the responsibility of representing the public with fairness, transparency, and pride.
Marilyn champions APPI, professional planners and the planning profession 24 hours a day. She is always willing to lend a helping had with the little details, but never declines the opportunity to roll her sleeves and do the heavy lifting when required.
Marilyn holds a number of other volunteer positions in support of her community, including but not limited to Public Member of the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals and Director of the Homestead Investment Co-operative. She has long been a champion of democracy and is committed to volunteering in support of the electoral process in municipal, provincial and federal elections.
Marilyn’s volunteerism is a testament to the idea that leadership is about service, and that true change happens when we listen deeply and act with care.
Martin Frigo, RPP In Memory Of
It was with profound sadness that Martin Frigo, a cherished and valued member of our Institute passed away in October 2024. Martin was a dedicated member of APPI and had served on Council, Registration Committee, and a number of Conference Committees. He also mentored many Candidate members through the RPP certification process, as he took very seriously his professional obligation to provide support and assistance to less experienced members of the Institute.
Martin also loved his community, and was an active member of the St. Albert Kinsmen Club where he supported that organizations various activities including their play therapy program for children impacted by family violence and the Rain Maker Festival.
Martin always showed up with a big smile and his sleeves rolled up. He led with curiosity, compassion, kindness and a tremendous heart for community and service. The planning profession and our community is a richer place due to Martin’s contributions and his memory challenges and inspires us all to do better and to remember that positive change can happen with each, and every act of kindness.
Long Term RPP Service Recognition Program
The Long Term RPP Service Recognition program recognizes and celebrates APPI RPP members, their service and dedication to the Institute and the profession.
The recipients are honored at the annual APPI Volunteer Awards and Appreciation Celebration.
The objectives of the Long Term RPP Service Recognition Program are to:
- recognize long-term membership with the professional planning organization as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) or its equivalent in Canada at key milestone years of 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, 35 years, and at 40 years and annually thereafter, and Retired Long Term Members at 40 years and annually thereafter;
- increase the level of pride and satisfaction of membership amongst APPI members;
- promote the contributions of planners to the profession and them building awareness of the Institute.
2025 Long Term Service Recognition
2024 Long Term Service Recognition
2023 Long Term Service Recognition
2022 Long Term Service Recognition
Council Service Awards
The Council Service Awards are given to outgoing members of APPI Council. APPI acknowledges the following former members of APPI Council, whose Council terms ended May 1, 2025. We thank them for their dedication to the profession and leadership of the Institute.
2025
Matthew Boscariol, RPP
Matthew Boscariol served a two-year term on Council and provided exemplary leadership with the new Strategic Plan, and served on both the Finance and Governance Committees.
Nabil Malik, RPP
Nabil Malik served a two-year term on Council, and during that term he provided leadership on the Institute’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Working Group, tasked with developing policy to guide APPI on its journey to becoming a more equitable and inclusive organization.
Volunteer Appreciation
We are proud to celebrate each one of you that spend your time volunteering for APPI. APPI‘s volunteers serve in many capacities such as the Annual Conference Committee, Registration Committee, Regional Events Committees, Discipline Committee, adjudicating awards, serving as mentors and sponsors for those Candidate members seeking RPP certification, or serving as APPI’s representatives on a variety of external bodies such as the Safety Codes Council, Professional Standards Board, the Calgary Planning Commission or the Edmonton Design Committee.
Approximately 12% of our members volunteer in some capacity. This is something the membership should be very proud of and we thank all of you for your contribution.