Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
A new Bachelor of Community Planning program launching at Nipissing University in North Bay will focus on small and mid-sized communities, northern regions and Indigenous communities.
“Northern Ontario is central to our province’s economic advantage, and we need the highly skilled planners to support strong, resilient northern communities,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By investing in the next generation of planning professionals for the North, our government is ensuring this region has the homegrown talent it needs to build more homes, highways, hospitals and other critical infrastructure we need to thrive.”
Funding will support the development of Nipissing’s new Bachelor of Community Planning program, which is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in Fall 2027. In addition, the program will also receive an investment of nearly $190,000 to fund 60 seats, as part of the government’s $75 million investment in Budget 2025 to train 7,800 more students for in-demand jobs in construction and planning.
The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) called the move an important milestone for Northern Ontario.
“With a focus on community planning for small to mid-sized communities, northern regions, and Indigenous communities, the program will help prepare graduates with highly relevant skills and perspectives to support sustainable, respectful, and community-focused planning,” said Andria Leigh, chair, OPPI. “By creating a pathway to study planning in the North, the program will also help retain local talent and prepare graduates to contribute directly to the communities they know and understand.”
The program will include an experiential learning centre to equip students with hands-on experience using cutting-edge equipment and facilitate student collaboration with industry leaders, community partners and local government, so students can hit the ground running upon graduation.
Nipissing’s new program will be the first planning program in Northern Ontario.
“One of the biggest challenges facing Northern Ontario is attracting and retaining the skilled professionals our communities need to grow,” said Dave Plourde
President, Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM). “This investment in Nipissing University’s new Community Planning program helps address that challenge by giving students the opportunity to study, gain experience, and build careers in the North.
“By developing planners who understand the unique realities of northern communities, Ontario is helping ensure we have the local expertise needed to support housing, infrastructure, and economic development for years to come.”
Ontario has a ten-year, $236 billion infrastructure plan to build homes, highways, hospitals and community infrastructure across the province and recently announced $75 million to train up to 7,800 additional students at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across the province for jobs in construction and urban planning.
“Planning is one of the key professions behind housing delivery. From managing growth and coordinating infrastructure to navigating approvals and community building, planners help move projects from concept to construction,” said Kirstin Jensen
Vice President, Policy, Advocacy & Relationships, Ontario Home Builders’ Association. “As governments work to stimulate new housing activity and address Ontario’s housing supply challenge, ensuring we have a strong pipeline of planning professionals will be essential.
“This investment will help prepare the next generation of talent needed to support growing communities across the province.”