The Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians is governed by a Council, consisting of the Executive Committee and additional Council members, including student members, who meet periodically throughout the year to tend to the business of the Association.
Executive Director
George T. Zajac, CPT, MCIP, RPP
George has been active in the planning industry for over twenty years. He is a past Council member, including Secretary-Treasurer and Conference Co-Chair. He has also mentored many members throughout his tenure with the Association and is dedicated to serving in his role as Executive Director.
President
Lauren Kubilis, CPT
Lauren is a graduate of Fanshawe College’s GIS and Urban Planning program and this is her second year as President for the CACPT. Currently Lauren is working as a Transportation Planner for Durham Region Transit Services, in the Transit Design Services department. Previously Lauren was a Planning Technician with the City of Barrie, assisting with demographic analysis to support the City’s Growth Master Plan, providing mapping support to staff and assisting with the Official Plan Review. Prior to working at the City of Barrie, Lauren has also worked in the private sector where she provided site plan drawings, phasing plans, map creation and was actively involved in the phasing plan for the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her 2 Golden Retrievers and going on adventures with her partner.
Vice President
James Warren, CPT
James is a Certified Planning Technician through the CACPT and is currently the Senior Urban Designer / Project Manager at T. Johns Consulting Group Ltd. He has previous experience as a Part-Time Instructor at Mohawk College as well as a Planning Technician at Quartek Group Inc. He has 11 years of experience designing and reviewing conceptual plans and technical drawings for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, Site Plan Approvals, and Committee of Adjustment applications. He gained Diplomas as an Architectural Technologist, as well as an Urban and Regional Planning Technician (GIS) from Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.
Registrar
Joan Keating, CPT, MCIP, RPP (Ret)
Joan is a graduate of Mohawk College in the Municipal Planning Program and has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. Joan worked in consulting for four years and served as Planning Technician for the Town of Dundas for nine years. Joan joined the faculty at Mohawk College in 1989 serving as Professor, Class Advisor and Program Coordinator. Joan retired in 2017.
Treasurer
David French, BA, CPT
David is a partner in Storey Samways Planning Ltd. (SSPL) based in Chatham, Ontario, and is an advocate for common-sense planning, and believes that “with good communication…listening, considering, and speaking…you can always facilitate a win-win approach” to just about anything work – or life – throws at you. Also a Rotarian, David applies Rotary’s Four-Way Test to all aspects of his professional and personal life, the test being: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? David has been a member of the CACPT since 2007, and has held various positions within the organization including Director, Treasurer and Vice-President. David is extremely proud of this organization, its leadership and what it has done to further the recognition, acceptance and appreciation of its members within the Canadian planning community.
Secretary
Ashley Minns, CPT
Ashley Minns started on CACPT council as a student representative for 2 years and is now in her 4th year as CACPT Secretary. A McMaster University and Mohawk College graduate, Ashley has been a member of CACPT council for almost 7 years. Since receiving her designation, she has sat on many Committees and has helped in the organization and execution of many CACPT events. An employee of IBI Group (Hamilton), she works as a Project Coordinator on large-scale developments in the Greater Toronto Area and across the country.
Councillor at Large (Ontario)
Tage Crooks, CPT
Tage graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2016 with a MA in Applied Politics, and most recently graduated from Mohawk College’s Urban and Regional Planning Technician Program in 2019. In- between his schooling Tage first got his start in the planning field as a summer student with the City of Port Colborne, and from there was bitten with the planning bug. His current roles are Planner I and Planning Technician for the City of St. Catharines, where these positions have him working closely with both development and policy planners in a multifaceted role. He attributes the early success he has had in the field to the mentorship he has received from his colleagues and teachers. He believes firmly that the training in policy analysis he received from Wilfrid Laurier, in combination with the education on the legal framework of planning from Mohawk College are the foundations of his career. Tage has a passion for mentorship and its importance for strengthening our profession. Hoping to mentor those much like he was mentored; Tage teaches part-time at Mohawk’s Urban and Regional Planning Technician Program.
Councillor at Large (Ontario)
Candice Hood, CPT
Candice Hood graduated in Human Geography in 2010 at Brock University. It was at Brock University where Candice found an interest in Urban Planning and learned how development along with planning policies shape our communities. Candice then continued her studies through Mohawk College in Urban & Regional Planning – GIS (2012) and then at Ryerson University in Environment & Urban Sustainability (2016). After graduating, Candice started her work experience with an engineering firm by assisting with the Geotechnical, Environment and Infrastructure Departments. Candice’s current role at Corbett Land Strategies Inc., as the Senior Planning Technician, includes designing Conceptual Site Plans, site analysis to determine the Net Developable Area, reviewing planning policy, preparation of planning reports, and project management responsibilities.
Councillor at Large (Ontario)
Kris Orsan, CPT
Kris is a graduate of Fanshawe College and currently works for the Town of Gravenhurst. He also worked in the private sector for over 6 years where he provided a variety of technical design, drafting and graphical services for public and private sector clients. Projects include Land Budget Analysis, Aggregate Resource Act (ARA Site Plans, private sector site plans, subdivision design, condominium plans, various types of GIS analysis. Kris has been a member of CACPT since 2007 and has held various positions on council over the years including President and Vice-President.
Councillor at Large (Ontario)
Justin Sharp, CPT
Justin is a Planner and Planning Technician with focus on Urban Design within The Biglieri Group. His years of experience includes the design of large scale subdivision projects, draft plans, block plans, site plans, streetscapes, planning justification reports, and urban design guidelines. His academic and professional career includes work in several non-profit organizations wherein he gained experience for development strategies, critical-thinking, personal interaction, and engaged team collaboration. Several years of related planning and external volunteer experience have granted him the ability to evaluate necessary planning documents, work exceptionally well with the public, and allowed him to sustain continued growth in planning theory and practice. Justin holds a University of Waterloo in Honours Planning (with a focus on Urban Design), a double major in Film and English from Wilfrid Laurier University, and Diploma from Mohawk College in Urban and Regional Planning. His strive for creative solutions has been articulated through the range of technical drawings, 2D and 3D drafting skills, and multiple platform artistic renderings – resulting in multiple awards for his submission work. Justin is also heavily involved within the planning community, being current Vice Chair of OPPI Toronto District as well as on the board of Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians. His current interest have been exploring the hidden and forgotten areas of Toronto while on bike, recording his exploration with photography.
Councillor at Large (Ontario)
Mohammad Kamruzzaman, CPT
Since his graduation in 2016 from Mohawk College’s Urban & Regional Planning – GIS Program, Mohammad has been working in the planning and land development fields. Mohammad is currently woking as a Technician with Better Neighbourhoods Inc., a large development consultant based in St Catharines, Ontario. He is main responsibilities are to draft the concept plan, site plan, draft plan of subdivision, draft plan of condominium and landscape plan. He assists in the submission of different development applications and researching the planning policies, zoning and title search for the potential development sites for clients. Mohammad worked with IBI Group in Hamilton as a planning Technician Intern where he provided drafting services. This is his first year as Councillor at large at CAPT. Mohammad is an internationally trained professional and a loving father.
Councillor at Large (Alberta)
Gbemi Alalade, CPT
Gbemi Alalade is a highly organized and self-motivated Planner with more than 15 years of progressive experience in municipal planning, community development, telecommunication planning, construction and project management. He has expertise in environmental planning regulations, housing and infrastructural development. In the last 6 years he has consistently work in the telecommunication industry, developing strategies for land developments, right of way, facilities development and maintenance of telecommunication structures. He has a strong familiarity with Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) programs and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications. He holds a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Master of Science degree in Housing Management and Development and a Post Graduate Diploma in Geographic Information System. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, researching into physical development and camping with his family.
Councillor at Large (Alberta)
Ben Misener, CPT
Benjamin Misener is the former Manager of Land & Environment for Brazeau County, Alberta. After graduating from the Land & Water Resources diploma program with a major in Rural Land Use Planning at Olds College, Benjamin accepted a position as the Development Officer for Brazeau County. Shortly after starting, he took on the Manager position in an acting role, which lead to accepting the position permanently in October 2013. Benjamin oversaw subdivisions, rezoning, environmental programming including the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program, and other land related matters. He is currently back at school at the University of Alberta, working towards a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences majoring in Conservation Biology. In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys camping, hunting and reading and looks forward to continuing to represent CACPT in Alberta.
Councillor at Large (Alberta)
Justin Wick, CPT
Justin brings over 20 years of experience in land planning and urban design that he combines with a detailed technical planning knowledge. Having worked on projects located across the country, he has developed a diverse level of experience and understanding of individual challenges faced by a variety of projects. Justin is currently an Associate with Stantec Consulting in Calgary, Alberta, where along with his expertise in planning and design he helps manage a team to use the latest technology in 3D modeling and animation to provide new and exciting avenues for presenting designs to clients and the public. He has been a member of CACPT since 2010.
Councillor at Large (British Columbia)
Mercedes Braun, CPT
Mercedes is a graduate of Fanshawe College and currently holds the position of Planning Technician with Urban Systems in Richmond BC. She has been a member of CACPT since 2001 and has been a BC Western Representative since 2004/5. She was instrumental in organizing half-day seminars at Langara College and was involved with organizing the first full day seminar held in 2011 in Maple Ridge BC. Mercedes has travelled to attend our Annual Professional Development Conferences and CACPT regular Council meetings where she has been a welcome contributor to the discussions.
Councillor at Large (Atlantic)
Celene Palmer, CPT
A recent council member of the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians, Celene Palmer is eager to introduce herself as one of the associations Maritime members. Living in the hub of Nova Scotia, she is currently working as a Planning / Civil Engineering Technician in her home town for a local company PDI Engineering Group Inc., a modern and energetic firm with a fresh approach to work. She is a 2014 graduate from the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. During her time at college, Celene represented student council as student president and to this day volunteers in her local community as a council member.
Associate Councillor
Jacqueline Savoie, CPT
Jacqueline grew up in the West Kootenay region of B.C. and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours from Queen’s University in Kingston majoring in Geography, minoring in French Studies. After taking a year off to live in Squamish B.C and spending time with family, she returned to Ontario for Mohawk College’s Urban and Regional Planning Technician program where she sat on council as a student member in her 2nd year and graduated from the program in 2017. Jacqueline now works for IBI Group Waterloo and is responsible for supporting planning staff with all technical needs such as creating report figures, brainstorming concepts, designing draft plans, site plans, turning movement plans using AutoTURN, aggregating pit/quarry plans, ensuring submissions meet the required digital submission standards, and coordinating with sub-consultants and City staff.
Student Representatives
Fanshawe College
First Year: Clive Reis Do Nascimento, Anthony Fletcher, Carson Kalp, Avery Vanwynsberghe, Sean Bender
Second Year: Rayne Jones, Rachyl Macphail, Robert Wojtalski
Mohawk College
First Year: Dakari Genmaro, Arden Goldrick
Second Year: Anthony Mancini
Langara College
Alex Altamura, Hamidreza Aslankhani, Rosha Budathoki, Clarice Ivory Celeste, Luciano Fernandes Caria, Erin Lloyd, Shaun O’Dea, Geetanjali Rana, Daniella Natalie Savaria Smith