Awards Categories & Criteria

The Planning Institute of British Columbia annually recognizes the professional work and individual accomplishments of members across British Columbia and the Yukon through its awards and recognition programs.  The PIBC Awards Committee has developed the various awards categories to reflect the diverse range of excellent planning work undertaken across British Columbia and the Yukon.

Each year, PIBC welcomes and encourages submissions for the ...

Awards for Excellence in Planning [PDF]

Awards for Individual Achievement [PDF]

Review the information carefully and refer to the relevant Nomination Forms to make an awards submission under one of these awards categories. Please click on the links above to download a copy of the appropriate Call for Submissions and the Nomination Forms.

Awards for Excellence in Planning

These awards honour the best in professional planning work undertaken by members in communities and regions across British Columbia and the Yukon in five categories.

Categories

PIBC wishes to encourage nominations / submissions for excellence in planning in any one of the following five categories:

Research & New Directions in Planning

The Research & New Directions category includes original studies, reports, or papers that show thorough examination of a planning issue, policy or practice using analytical methods that support original findings that are of value to the profession. Submissions in this category may include investigations on a wide variety of planning topics from a local, regional, national or global perspective. Submissions should include a description of the research methodology, key findings and how the results are of importance to the profession.

Excellence in Policy Planning*

Small Town & Rural Areas, OR City & Urban Areas

The Excellence in Policy Planning categories seeks to honour the development and application of leading-edge planning policy. Submissions should include examples of effective initiatives and solutions that enhance the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities. The areas of excellence may be in environmental planning, social planning, transportation planning, climate change, and public consultation to name a few. Small town and rural area submissions, or city and urban area submissions, in this category could include Official Community Plans, regional plans, impact analyses or strategic plans.

*NOTE: Small town and rural areas are typically those with a population under 80,000, or outside a larger urban center or metropolitan area, whereas city and urban areas are typically those with a population of 80,000 or above, or within a larger urban center or metropolitan area. Submitters should identify the size of the population in the community/region for which the plan or policy initiative was developed as part of their submission.

Excellence in Policy Planning*

Small Town & Rural Areas, OR City & Urban Areas

The Excellence in Planning Practice categories recognize the efforts of planners to turn policy into reality, whether it is crafting a new urban space, protecting the industrial land base, using community partnerships to secure funding for much needed projects, engaging the public with creative approaches or new directions in project management.  Submissions in this category should highlight the inventive ways that planners are creating transformative change through ground-breaking actions. Small town and rural area submissions, or city and urban area submissions, in this category could include design guidelines, zoning by-laws, development permit guidelines and regulatory requirements, prohibitions and limitations consistent with and illustrating the direct implementation of official community plans, park plans, and other planning policy endorsed by Council or the Regional Board.

*NOTE:  Small town and rural areas are typically those with a population under 80,000, or outside a larger urban center or metropolitan area, whereas city and urban areas are typically those with a population of 80,000 or above, or within a larger urban center or metropolitan area. Submitters should identify the size of the population in the community/region for which the plan or policy initiative was developed as part of their submission

These categories are reviewed each year by the Awards Committee to ensure their relevance to current planning practice. On an annual basis the Committee may amend existing categories or develop new categories accordingly.

Awards for Excellence in Planning – Evaluation Criteria:

These criteria apply to all submissions, but will receive different weighting depending on the submission/category.

Innovation – Brings forward a new approach that has not yet been seen; and provides an original take on existing practice.

Transferability – Principles can be applied to many diverse planning scenarios and at several scales; offers ways in which it could be transferred to other locales, scopes, and regulatory or legislative structures; and can be used by different elements of planning practice (e.g.: social planning, development planning, etc.).

Contribution to the profession – Contributes to improving the standards of practice for the profession as a whole; brings attention and awareness of the Planning profession to new audiences; and evidences significant collaboration between planning and other disciplines.

Public process* – Engages stakeholders and/or the general public in meaningful ways; uses creative and appropriate engagement tools and techniques; and demonstrates the integration of the information gathered from the public process.

Implementation* – Has received the approval of relevant decision-making bodies (Council, Board, community group, etc…); and has a clear, thorough, and effective implementation strategy, including elements such as monitoring and evaluation, where applicable.

Sustainability – Demonstrates a deliberate integration of all aspects of sustainability (economic, cultural, social, environmental), as applicable to the scope and breadth of each project; and evidences incorporation of sustainability in original ways.

Overall presentation  – Submission is complete and summary is within page limitation; is well organized and ideas are clearly articulated; and the combination of text and graphics is appropriate, reasoned and organized in a clear manner.

NOTE: For the category, Research & New Directions in Planning, Research dissemination and Research methods will be additional criteria against which project submissions will be evaluated. Where appropriate, these criteria will be considered in lieu of Implementation and Public process.

Awards for Excellence in Planning – Eligibility Criteria:

Entries are encouraged from PIBC members with the following stipulations: 

The project must have been prepared by or under the direction of a Certified (RPP), Fellow, or Candidate Member in good standing of PIBC.

The submission must represent a completed plan, design, policy or research study.

The project must have started during the preceding two years and have been:

  • sanctioned by a board, council, planning department, educational institution, or firm, but not necessarily formally adopted by resolution, bylaw, or other legislation; or
  • implemented through physical construction; or
  • published by a recognized publisher or public agency.

Nominators must select the most appropriate category for their submission.

Nominators must provide basic budget information for their submission. Additional information may be requested for clarification purposes.

Letters of endorsement may be included but are not mandatory.

No amendments to a nomination will be allowed after the submission deadline.

An individual project may be submitted only once. However, nominating organizations and individuals may be associated with award submissions for multiple projects.

Awards for Excellence in Planning – Entry Requirements:

Completed Nomination Form

Written summary (maximum 10 pages) describing the merits of the entry, including how it meets the criteria listed above.

Additional descriptive material including plans, illustrations and supporting documents

A minimum of three (3) high-resolution electronic images (e.g. JPEG/JPG or similar format) illustrating the nominated entry, with appropriate image credits provided.

Submissions must be made in electronic form (e.g. PDF document, or similar), and may be submitted either by electronic mail, or on a digital storage device (e.g. CD, memory stick etc.). Paper or ‘hard copy’ submissions will not be accepted.

It is strongly recommended that the submission package be organized into appropriate files or folders such as:

  • Nomination Package (completed nomination form, cover letter, written summary, letters of support)
  • Project Documentation (relevant report, plan or research publication)
  • Supporting Materials (other display materials, newsletters, presentation materials, images, etc.)

Other display materials for presentation purposes may be requested from nominator(s) prior to the awards presentation ceremony.

All entry material shall become the property of the Planning Institute of British Columbia and shall be available to PIBC for reproduction, posting or distribution.

Jury & Submissions:

Jury: The Awards Jury for all PIBC awards is composed of a Committee of several experienced Institute members, appointed by the PIBC Council, representing a variety of planning backgrounds from across British Columbia and the Yukon. A Sub-Committee acts as the jury for each type of award.

Jury members cannot evaluate or vote on nominations for projects in which they directly participated or those submitted by the department or firm in which they are currently employed.

Awards for Excellence in Planning Sub-Committee Members (2016):

  • James Moore MCIP, RPP – City of Kelowna (Chair)
  • Catherine Berris MCIP, RPP – Urban Systems Ltd.
  • Lesley Cabott MCIP, RPP - Stantec Architecture
  • Lilian Chau MCIP, RPP – Port Metro Vancouver
  • William Corsan MCIP, RPP – City of Nanaimo
  • Raymond Young QC, MCIP, RPP - Local Government and Planning Law Chambers

Submissions:  The presentation of all awards is based on submissions received. The Awards Jury may choose to not present awards or to present more than one award in each category, as deemed appropriate.

Awards For Individual Achievement

The Awards for Individual Achievement are intended to allow colleagues and the profession to recognize the broader, personal achievements and contributions of individual PIBC Members separate and apart from any one particular plan, policy, project or other work product. These awards recognize and celebrate the overall impact of individual members’ work and personal commitment to planning, and the effect they have in their community and within the profession.

Categories

PIBC wishes to encourage nominations / submissions for individual achievement in any one of the following three categories:

Award for Distinguished Professional Contribution 

The Award for Distinguished Professional Contribution is intended to recognize the efforts of individual PIBC Members and is based on the overall impact of the nominee’s work and personal commitment to planning, and the effect they have in their community and within the profession. The award recognizes leading volunteers in the planning profession who give back to the Planning Institute of British Columbia and the planning profession and contribute to the ongoing success of PIBC and the planning profession.

Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation

The Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation is intended to recognize the efforts of individual PIBC Members, specifically, a planner who demonstrates outstanding leadership, tenacity and advocacy on planning issues either in their community, provincially, or more broadly. The award honours the advocates, and the game-changers whose persistence and/or innovation contribute to the ongoing success of PIBC and the planning profession.

Award for Young Professional Leadership

The Award for Young Professional Leadership is intended to recognize the efforts of young and new planners who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement at an early stage in their career. The award is based on the overall impact of the nominee’s work and personal commitment to planning. The award recognizes leading young members within the planning profession who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and who give back to the Planning Institute of British Columbia and the planning profession, and contribute to the ongoing success of PIBC and the planning profession.

These categories are reviewed each year by the Awards Committee to ensure their relevance to current planning practice. On an annual basis the Committee may amend existing categories or develop new categories accordingly.

Awards for Individual Achievement – Evaluation & Eligibility Criteria:

Award for Distinguished Professional Contribution – Criteria

The jury will evaluate the nomination of Members for the Award for Distinguished Professional Contribution based on the following:

  • The nominee’s ongoing and continued mentoring and guidance of PIBC members.
  • The nominee’s utilization of unique and innovative approaches to planning in their community and/or planning area.
  • The nominee’s promotion of the planning profession.
  • The nominee’s personal addition to the profession of planning through outstanding individual effort in their community and/or planning area.
  • The nominee’s commitment to the betterment of their community and/or planning area through the implementation of sound planning practices and process.
  • The nominee’s leadership by example, and their known high ethical standards.
  • The nominee’s work to raise the profile of their community and/or planning area.
  • The nominee’s work to document and preserve the planning history of their community or planning area.
  • The nominee’s other community work or community-related efforts that are indicative of a high professional standard.

Award for Distinguished Professional Contribution – Eligibility

Nominees for this award must be a Certified (RPP) Member, or Fellow, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia.

Nominations should include a thorough synopsis highlighting the nominee’s career as well as describing how the nominee has shown excellence in planning, commitment to their community and/or planning area and dedication to the profession through one or more of the criteria listed above.

Each nomination must be endorsed/supported with the signature of: at least three Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia; or at least two Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia and one community member.

(See below for specific entry / nomination requirements)

Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation – Criteria

The jury will evaluate the nomination of Members for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation based on the following:

  • The nominee’s commitment to advocating or innovating around a planning issue (i.e.: heritage retention, energy conservation, community engagement, etc.) to raise awareness, encourage action and prompt a key change or new direction.
  • The nominee’s utilization of unique and innovative approaches to planning in their community and/or planning area.
  • The nominee’s personal addition to the profession of planning through outstanding individual effort in their community and/or planning area.
  • The nominee’s commitment to the betterment of their community and/or planning area through the implementation of sound planning practices and process.
  • The nominee’s leadership by example, and their known high ethical standards.
  • The nominee’s work to raise the profile of their community and/or planning area.

Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation – Eligibility

Nominees for this award must be a Certified (RPP) Member, or Fellow, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia.

Nominations should include a thorough synopsis highlighting the nominee’s career as well as describing how the nominee has shown excellence in advocating for key issues or pursuing innovation, through one or more of the criteria listed above.

Each nomination must be endorsed/supported with the signature of: at least three Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia; or at least two Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia and one community member.

(See below for specific entry / nomination requirements)

Award for Young Professional Leadership – Criteria

The jury will evaluate the nomination of Members for the Award for Young Professional Leadership based on the following:

  • The nominee’s utilization of unique and innovative approaches to planning in their community or planning area.
  • The nominee’s personal addition to the profession of planning through outstanding individual effort in their community or planning area.
  • The nominee’s commitment to the betterment of their community and/or planning area through the implementation of sound planning practices and process.
  • The nominee’s leadership by example, and their known high ethical standards.
  • The nominee’s work to raise the profile of their community or planning area.
  • The nominee’s other community work or community-related efforts that are indicative of a high professional standard.

Award for Young Professional Leadership – Eligibility

Nominees for this award must be a Candidate, Certified (RPP) Member, or Fellow, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia and aged thirty-five years or younger, normally having ten years or less experience in professional planning practice.

Nominations should include a thorough synopsis highlighting the nominee’s career as well as describing how the nominee has shown excellence in planning, commitment to their community and dedication to the profession through one or more of the criteria listed above.

Each nomination must be endorsed/supported with the signature of: at least three Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia; or at least two Certified (RPP) Members, or Fellows, in good standing, of the Planning Institute of British Columbia and one community member or one Candidate Member in good standing.

(See below for specific entry / nomination requirements)

Awards for Individual Achievement – Entry Requirements:

Completed Nomination Form.

Written summary (between 2-5 pages maximum) highlighting the nominee’s career as well as describing how the nominee has shown excellence in planning, leadership, innovation, commitment to their community and dedication to the profession through one or more of the criteria listed for the particular category.

Additional letters of support or endorsement for the nominee and her/his suitability for the award in the particular category.

In the interests of reducing our impact on the environment, and supporting sustainable practices, submissions must be made in electronic form (e.g. PDF document, or similar), and may be submitted either by electronic mail, or on a digital storage device (e.g. CD, memory stick etc).  Paper or ‘hard copy’ submissions will not be accepted.

Please Note:  All nominations for the Awards for Individual Achievement are treated as confidential, and are typically made by colleagues, associates, and community members with knowledge of, and experience with the member nominee. Such nominations are typically made confidentially, without the direct knowledge of the member nominee. Unsuccessful member nominees are not contacted or notified by the Jury.

Jury & Submissions:

Jury:  The Awards Jury for all awards is composed of a Committee of several experienced Institute members, appointed by the PIBC Council, representing a variety of planning backgrounds from across British Columbia and the Yukon.

Jury members cannot evaluate or vote on nominations for individuals with whom they have any personal or professional conflict of interest.

Awards for Individual Achievement Sub-Committee Members (2016):

Suzanne Smith MCIP, RPP - City of North Vancouver (Chair)

Jagdev Dhillon FCIP (Ret.)

Lisa King MCIP, RPP - Corporation of Delta

Margaret Ann Thornton MCIP, RPP - Fraser Valley Regional District

The Jury, by unanimous vote, may move a submission from one category to another. A Jury Selection Award may be granted to recognize submissions that reflect excellence in planning without fitting into one of the three nomination categories. The Awards Jury may choose to not present awards or to present more than one award in each category, as deemed appropriate.

Questions?

Tel: 604.696.5031 | Toll Free: 1.866.696.5031 | Email: info@pibc.bc.ca

Student Awards

For more information on PIBC's Student Awards and funding opportunities for Student members, click here.

For more information in this section, please follow the links below:

Recent Award WinnersAwards Categories & Criteria Honourary & Life Members

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