Call for proposals is open from January 22 to March 4, 2024.

OPPI members and individuals from allied and related professions are encouraged to submit a proposal to speak at the conference. This year, the conference will be exploring two central themes:

• The Pressures of Planning
• Housing

Proposals are encouraged, but not required to align with one or both conference themes. To guide prospective speakers in aligning their sessions with these themes, OPPI has developed a list of essential questions for each theme. These questions identify specific areas of focus within each theme; you are encouraged to review the essential questions and consider them when submitting your proposal.

Additionally, as a result of member feedback, OPPI-led task forces and wider societal conversations, OPPI has identified major educational priorities in the delivery of new learning materials for its members:

• Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives, unceded, unsurrendered Land, Treaties and other reciprocal agreements, sovereignty and self-determination, inherent Indigenous and Treaty rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
• Anti-Black racism, systemic discrimination, and institutional racism
• Equity, diversity & inclusion principles, and representation in planning
• Women and gender diversity in planning
  
• Climate change, climate science, mitigation, and adaptation

We are accepting content in the following delivery methods:

1) Concurrent Sessions: Individual or panel presentations. Presentations can vary in length between 30-45 minutes in length. Sessions typically begin with a presentation/panel discussion followed by a 15-minute question period. Submit either a pre-form panel of 3 or 4 presentations, or an individual presentation. In some cases, shorter (30-minute) individual presentations will be combined to create a full session.

2) Research/Academic Presentations: Individual and panel presentations on the latest research in planning. Each presentation is typically 15 minutes, followed by a question period. Submit either a pre-form panel of 3 presentations, or an individual presentation. For the latter, 3 presentations (not all academic) will be combined to create a full session.

3) Student Presentations: Individual presentations should be 15 minutes in length. Student presentations may include student-led research, as well as studio projects, and will be combined with up to 3 other presentations to create a full session.

4) Workshops: Hands-on, interactive skill development, and training. Workshops are generally 2 hours. Submissions should be geared for hybrid interaction with in-person and virtual attendees participating.

5) Guided Excursions: Less formal learning activity, which takes place offsite. This may be a walking, cycling, or bus tour that visits one or more sites for 2-3 hours.

6) Student Posters: Poster should showcase engaging and innovative work being undertaken by current students. Students will present their poster with a 5-minute presentation followed by a question period. Posters will then be displayed in the exhibitor area during the conference, allowing students the opportunity to interact and answer questions from delegates.

7) Lightning Talks: An exciting session with the opportunity to present a fast and/or funny planning presentation. Talks should be 10-15 minutes in length, followed by questions. Up to 3 presentations will be combined to create a full session. 

Finally, all proposals submitted to OPPI are subjected to a rigorous jurying process. The first step of this process is a peer review of each proposal by three separate Planning Knowledge Exchange (PKE) Committee members. This rubric is used as a guide by the PKE Committee as they jury each proposal. Upon completion of the peer review process, the average score of each proposal is calculated before being considered further.

We encourage that all presentations are geared towards hybrid audiences, as all sessions will be both in-person and live-streamed for virtual audiences. Please consider delegate accessibility needs in your proposal.