Planner-in-Residence

Claire Basinski is a Registered Professional Planner, trained facilitator and certified public participation professional who has been practicing professional planning in the consulting space since 2008. Claire is passionate about planning as a unique set of skills that expertly combines process, policy, partnership, professional expertise and strategic practice. In her career, Claire’s primary focus has been on the strategic integration of infrastructure and service planning with more traditional land use planning and urban design underpinned by robust engagement, facilitation and strategic capacity building. Claire has managed or contributed to over 100 land use, transportation and mobility related master plans and developed, coordinated, and managed over numerous consultation and engagement related projects and programs for primarily municipal clients throughout the Province of Ontario but also throughout Canada. With her training and experience in planning process she is able to think strategically and innovatively exploring new ways to explore and enhance integrated long-range planning.

In 2024, Claire co-founded Take Consulting Ltd. with business partner Kate Whitfield. Take's core mandate is Planning with Purpose - a commitment to bringing the human element and integrated approach to planning projects - no matter the topic. Prior to that role, Claire held senior level positions at a number of engineering / planning firms within Ontario. Claire is a committed and passionate member of OPPI and supporting the next generation of planning. Claire served on OPPI Council from 2015 through to 2025 serving as the Chair of OPPI in 2023-2025. Claire is heavily involved in other national organizations and associations promoting the importance of planning and the role of the planner including the Transportation Association of Canada and the International Association of Public Participation. Claire is acknowledged as a leader in the field of integrated strategic planning and stakeholder engagement / management but at the core is a deeply passionate planner who believes our role is unique, important and critical to the future of communities no matter the professional path or role. 

Claire is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Planning with fond memories of the Planner in Residence Program having shaped her understanding and appreciation of the breadth and opportunities of this profession. She is deeply honoured to have been selected to fill the role for this term and looks forward to bringing inspiring stories and complex conversations to the table.