As the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak continues to impact our communities, and our world, we at PIBC are continuing to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. We wanted to once again reach out to you and check-in. We encourage you to review the following updated and ongoing information and to work actively as individuals and planners to keep safe, work through the current situation, and take care to ensure your own and everyone's well-being. We continue our work and commitment to be here to serve and support you and the membership during this period.

WHAT'S NEW - PIBC MEMBER SERVICES

Online LinkedIn Group for Members

As was noted in our last update, we are pleased to have set up a new online group for PIBC members on the LinkedIn social media platform. 
 
This online discussion group will enable individual members to reach out, connect, share and engage together during this current situation (and beyond). Physical separation need not mean professional or individual disconnection. If you are looking for an online place where you can connect and engage virtually with other members, this group is designed to serve and assist you.

Follow these steps to join this new online PIBC members group:

• Log in to your existing LinkedIn account online (or create a new account if you do not have one)
• In the search bar within LinkedIn (top left), search for "PIBC Members Online" to locate our group
• Once on the group page, submit a request to join the group. Your request to join will be approved once we verify your PIBC membership.
• Once admitted to the online group, please click on the "About This Group" link, found on the right hand side of the group page, to review the rules and guidelines.
• You can begin posting, commenting and engaging online with other member participants within our group! Check back regularly to see the latest posts and updates.

Participation Tips & Suggestions: 
Here are some tips and suggestions for using the online discussion group.

• Post planning-related links, articles and other resources that you've come across that you think might be of interest to other planners
• Offer tips and advice that you would like to share with other members during the current crisis (be they personal or professional)
• Share your favourite planning book titles or recommendations for fellow planners during the current situation
• Pose open questions and seek advice from other members for any planning-related questions you might have (do remember that it is an open online forum).

Please Note: While we will be monitoring and moderating this online discussion group from time to time, if you have a specific question or inquiry with PIBC, please contact PIBC directly for prompt and direct assistance.

CPL Webinars

As previously reported, we continue to develop and deliver our online CPL webinars to members during this time. Special thanks to our webinar presenters and sponsors for their continued support and participation. 

With our 2020 CPL Webinar #3 - Legal Update: Water & Land & Trees, oh MY! on April 29th now already sold out, we appreciate the level of interest and support! We recognize there is an increasing demand for accessible online events and learning opportunities by members at this time and we are working to enhance our offerings and access to our learning resources.

CPL Webinar Archive - PIBC YouTube Channel:
We are now in the process of uploading most of our archived webinar recordings onto the PIBC YouTube channel which will enable all members and others to access these past webinar recordings. There are already three of our past webinars uploaded and available, including March's timely and relevant "CPL Webinar #2 - Coping Strategies, Health & Well-Being for Professional Planners".

Other archived webinars from the past two-three years will follow on the channel over the coming days and weeks. If you're looking for an opportunity to catch up or escape with some online planning learning, check out one of the past webinars you may have missed. And remember, if you did not already previously do so, you are eligible to report viewing a particular past webinar for the first time now for CPL credit. 

To access the PIBC YouTube channel online, visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/PlanningInstituteBC

Current PIBC CPL Webinars & Recordings:
As we recognize that demand for access to current webinars is increasing, we are working to expand access. While we are working on potential options to expand the simultaneous connection capacity of our real-time webinar presentations to reduce the incidence of webinars 'selling out', we are also expanding access for members to register and purchase complete recordings of each new current webinar in a timely fashion. This will include our 2020 CPL Webinar #3 on April 29th as well as subsequent 2020 webinar offerings. Again, viewing any PIBC webinar recording for the first time continues to be eligible for CPL credit reporting.

Watch out for the PIBC e-News or visit the PIBC Webinars page for current details on registering for complete recordings of our current CPL webinar offerings.

Ongoing Reminders & Resources

Members Helping & Taking Care

At an individual and professional practice level we of course continue to encourage everyone to observe best-practices to mitigate risk and support public health and well being, as well as to practice good self-care.

These would include: frequent thorough hand-washing, disinfection & sanitization, social & physical distancing, avoiding gatherings of groups of people, avoiding non-essential trips or travel, taking care with potentially vulnerable or at-risk individuals and groups, carefully monitoring any individual sickness and symptoms, staying home & seeking professional medical guidance or care when appropriate. In particular, as the situation is constantly evolving, we encourage you seek out and follow the latest and best advice from appropriate authorities and health officials.

COVID-19 Information & Resources

The COVID-19 outbreak situation continues to evolve and change. For full and up-to-date direct information from public health officials and sources regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation, and advised current best-practices, guidance, and direction, here are some helpful resource links:
 
- BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC)
- BC CDC Information Regarding Event Planning
- HealthLink BC
- Government of Yukon (COVID-19 Information)
- Government of Canada

Members Professional Practice

As previously noted, professional planners are often at the forefront in our communities and often leading public and stakeholder engagements as part of their work, we encourage caution and best-practices, including looking at lower-risk alternative ways to engage such as: virtual or remote meetings, online surveys, appropriately safe one-on-one engagement processes, and/or just postponing and rescheduling. Here are some resource links that you might find helpful:

• International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
• Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors - Legal Blog (COVID-19)
• American Planning Association (APA) - Planning During a Pandemic: 6 Resources for Planners

Members Self-Care & Personal Impacts

We again continue to encourage all members to be cognizant of your own health and well-being during this challenging time. Members are being affected and impacted differently, and those impacts evolve as this crisis period continues. We encourage you, as much as possible, to both seek out and provide support amongst colleagues and fellow professionals. Peer support and sharing is a valuable tool to assist everyone in getting through this difficult period.

Stay connected with colleagues and fellow members - consider joining our new online group for PIBC members on LinkedIn (see above for details). Additionally, if you would like more information and assistance dealing personally with the stresses of the current crisis, here are some helpful resource links:

• Canadian Mental Health Association - COVID-19
• Government of British Columbia - Managing COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety & Depression

Also if you, your practice, your organization, or your family are experiencing any economic or financial disruption due to the current crisis (employment or income disruption, business disruption, issues with rent & housing, etc.), governments at both the Federal and Provincial levels have announced (and continue to update and expand) a number of recent initiatives to provide aid and assistance to those impacted. These include direct financial aid for individuals with disrupted employment or income, support for businesses & employers with financial impacts, assistance for renters and individuals with disabilities, and more. Please be sure to seek out options and explore the various supports available. Here are some helpful resource links:

• Government of Canada Economic Response Plan
• Government of British Columbia - Provincial Support & Information

PIBC Events & Activities

In keeping with direction from appropriate authorities and health officials and guidelines for social and physical distancing, PIBC is maintaining the postponement or cancellation of all in-person meetings, events and similar face-to-face activities until May 10th, 2020. PIBC related staff and volunteer travel is also still discontinued for the same period.

MEETINGS
Meetings or events conducted entirely remotely (i.e. by teleconference, webinar etc.) are continuing during this period. We will monitor the situation on an ongoing basis, including seeking and following guidance from appropriate authorities and health officials, and will revise our practices regarding in-person events as changing circumstances warrant. As the crisis progresses and updated information and guidance from government and public health officials is provided, we will continue to re-evaluate our practices with respect to events, meetings and travel. We will work to keep you up to date and informed as anything changes

2020 CONFERENCE - ELEVATION
While plans for this year's joint annual national conference, co-hosted with CIP in Whistler in July, continue for the time being, we are also very cognizant of the ever evolving circumstances of the current COVID-19 crisis and possible impacts on those plans. We are actively working on contingency planning as may be required.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation in partnership with CIP. If and when significant changes to plans need to be made, we will be sure to make such decisions in a timely manner based on the best available information, and will inform everyone as soon as any such changes are decided. We would of course reach out and coordinate with all attendees and members accordingly, with detailed information. Please watch for further updated information very soon. 

The most current information regarding COVID-19 contingencies for the conference can be found on the conference website.

PIBC Operations

The PIBC office continues to be closed and PIBC staff are continuing to work remotely from home until further notice. We will be re-assessing the situation at the end of April, though it is very possible that this arrangement will extend beyond the end of this month. We will update members accordingly.

During this time, email is the preferred and most effective communication method to reach out to us - please visit our staff contact page for details on how to contact the team. You can also send any general inquiries to info@pibc.bc.ca or office@pibc.bc.ca. 

Should you require any information or assistance from PIBC during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us. While PIBC is striving to keep operations running as smoothly as possible, due to this situation, there may be a shortage in our capacity to deliver all services in a timely fashion. But we are here to continue to assist and serve members. PIBC will also continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and including advice by the Canadian government, Government of BC, and world, national, and local health agencies. 

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience. We look forward to continue to serve members going forward.

Questions or Assistance?

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will continue to update you and the entire membership as circumstances warrant, and look forward to continuing to serve and support members during this challenging period.

Thank you. Please continue to take care and keep well.

Dave Crossley
Executive Director
Planning Institute of British Columbia
(on behalf of the PIBC Executive & Board of Directors)