NPG Planning Solutions is honoured to announce that our work on the County of Essex’s New Official Plan has been awarded Project of the Year from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI). This recognition comes in addition to receiving the PlanON 2025 Vision Award for Excellence.
These prestigious awards were presented at the PlanON Soirée on September 18, OPPI’s annual celebration of planning excellence. The Vision Award recognizes outstanding achievement in planning practice, and the Project of the Year distinction reflects the project’s exemplary impact on the community, planning profession, and broader public interest.
The foundation of the County of Essex’s New Official Plan is captured in its guiding theme:
“One Land, One Climate, One Future, Together.” Led by Mary Lou Tanner and the NPG team, in collaboration with County of Essex Planning Staff, the project reflects a unified vision that places people, environment, and economy at the centre of growth management. The growth strategy emphasizes building complete communities that provide a full mix of housing and employment opportunities, support active transportation, and focus growth in transit-ready areas with higher housing and job densities to reduce impacts on agricultural lands and natural heritage systems. The Official Plan also stands as a hallmark of collaboration between the County, its local municipalities, and First Nations.
We are proud to have played a role in shaping a plan that will guide the County of Essex for years to come. The awards underscore the importance of bold, integrated, and community-driven planning.