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.
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.
Exceptional Mentor Award
This award acknowledges RPP members who have gone above and beyond in supporting the growth of a Candidate member(s) or student(s), in their professional development, planning practice and competence.
Geurt (Giyan) Brenkman, RPP
Liisa Tipman, RPP
Volunteer of the Year Award
This award recognizes a significant contribution made in the previous year. This award is open to any regulated member. Nominees must have made an outstanding contribution to the Institute serving on an APPI Committee or initiative, or alternatively representing APPI on a specific project or initiative at the national level.
Christine Lee, RPP
2026 Recipient of the APPI Outstanding Contribution to the Profession Award
Jamal Ramjohn, RPP
Jamal Ramjohn has been a dedicated volunteer with APPI for over 20 years. From serving on both APPI Council and CIP Council; being the Returning Officer, serving on the APPI Awards Committee to serving on the APPI Discipline Committee; when Jamal offers his expertise in these rooms, he doesn’t just speak to hear himself speak, he speaks to ensure APPI is considering how it can help to support, mentor and move the organization in ways that support planners junior to senior.
Jamal has helped countless of planners looking for become RPP. He dedicates his time, he is never too busy to lend an ear, and he provides his wisdom about career growth and career aspirations. In the letters of support from his planning colleagues the submissions each included similar words – mentor, leader, integrity, generosity with his time, dedication, humility, kindness and finally lasting contribution. These words clearly demonstrate that Jamal
Ramjohn is deserving of APPI’s Outstanding Contribution of the Profession Award.
Below is a summary of Jamal’s contribution to the profession:
APPI Council Service
• 2001- 2004 – APPI Councillor for three years (two years a Secretary and this was a tuff gig back then as they prepared the Council meeting packages)
• 2004 - 2005 – President Elect
• 2006 - 2007 – President
• 2008 – 2009 – Past President and CIP Council
APPI Additional Volunteer Roles, not including Mentoring
• Returning officer 2017 to 2025
• Served on APPI Planning Awards Committee
• Served on Discipline Committee – Since 2017 to present and will become Chair of the Discipline Committee in May 2026
• 2013 Bruce Duncan and Jamal Co-presented the Calgary AGM Education Session Coaching and Mentoring of Planners –The focus was the importance of mentoring and provide some tools and ideas of effective mentoring of fellow planners.
Other contributions to the profession
• Board Governor, Alberta Real Estate Foundation 2014 to 2016
• Board Member, Community Planning Association 2010 to 2012
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 April 30, 2026. We thank them for their dedication to the profession and leadership of the Institute.
2026
Susan Holdsworth, RPP
Susan Holdsworth was elected to Council in April of 2024 and served a two-year term. During her time on Council Susan willingly provided support to her fellow Council members and served on the Executive Director Review Committee and provided valuable leadership to the Institute’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) working group and initiative.
Nicholas Kuhl, RPP
Nicholas Kuhl was first elected to Council in April of 2022 and served two two-year terms. During his time on Council Nicholas demonstrated his dedication to advancing the planning profession and the Institute and served on the Governance and Finance Committees, and also served on the Student and Inspiration Awards Committee and the Calgary Events Committee.
Khalid Mohammed, RPP
Khalid Mohammed assumed the role of President Elect in 2022, and then transitioned into the APPI President position for 2023 and 2024, ending his term on Council in April 2026 as Past President.
When Khalid assumed the role of President, and throughout his term, the Institute continued to face the challenge of adapting to a changing world and finding new ways to support the membership, and advance the planning professional. In keeping with the theme of the successful 2023 APPI Conference in Jasper, Khalid was “Navigating an Uncertain Future”.
Marilyn Hooper, Public Member
In 2017, Marilyn Hooper was appointed to a TWO-YEAR term as APPI’s Public Member on Council. In 2019 the Government of Alberta placed a hold on the recruitment of new Pubic Members, and Marilyn continued to serve as Public Member, until she officially offered her resignation in the fall of 2025.
APPI has been extremely fortunate to have Marilyn serve as its Public Member. Marilyn went above and beyond in championing the planning professional, while simultaneously seriously upholding her responsibility and obligation to represent and serve the public interest as a member of Council.
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.