The 2023 Annual Conference of the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) will be held May 31st to June 2nd, 2023 in the stunning mountain resort of Sun Peaks, BC. To help us create an educational and memorable experience for all attendees, we are pleased to invite submissions of qualified proposals for inclusion in the conference program.

We want to hear from new, soon-to-be, academic, and seasoned planners about how your work is embracing the village concept aspect of planning. Whether your expertise is concentrated within the largest metropolitan area or extends into the most remote communities, we all move and navigate through the complex challenges facing communities, but we certainly don’t do it alone – it takes a village.

Please take time to read the Call for Program Proposals package to gain a better understanding of the conference and what the PIBC Annual Conference Committee will be looking for while reviewing proposals.

The theme for the PIBC 2023 Annual Conference is influenced by its location in Sun Peaks, a picturesque mountain village, and our profession’s commitment to embracing a collaborative “village” mentality. Our profession is rooted in a desire to improve the quality of life for all community members, respecting the diversity of needs, values, and aspirations. As planners, we are committed to advocating for the public good and continue to be propelled by the goal of strengthening our communities.

The term “village” in the context of this conference theme is used to describe the wide range of communities that we belong to, live in, work for, advocate on behalf of, or visit. Villages can be tangible, physical spaces, or intangible, like the bonds that tie communities together or intrinsic values we place on space. As you will see through the five sub-themes, we want to hear about how villages are dealing with the many challenges and opportunities they encounter.

Presenters are asked to submit proposals for presentations or workshops about planning topics related to the conference theme It Takes a Village. The following five sub-themes have been identified to help focus proposals and highlight challenges the Committee believes to be topical or specifically-relevant at this time:

For detailed descriptions and more information on the types of program elements and key submission criteria, please read the Call for Program Proposals package.

We are excited to learn more about your program proposals for the PIBC 2023 Annual Conference! After reviewing the Conference Call for Proposals package, visit our Submission Portal to submit your proposal online.

Please click on the "Need to Create An Account" link to enter an email address and password. You can then proceed to submit your proposal. If you have already created an account and made a submission, you can use your existing email and password to log in again.

Click here or on the button below to submit your program proposal by 11:59 PM on October 24, 2022. Successful proponents will be contacted regarding selected proposals by Friday, January 20, 2023.