Planner as an Expert Witness
Date:
January 19, 2026
Location:
Virtual - Zoom
Time:
9:30 AM (EST)
3-Part Virtual Workshop
Dates: January 19, 21, and 23, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
CPL: 6 Units
Please Note: This workshop is offered three times in the 2026 Education Calendar. The second offering, Planner as an Expert Witness - April 29, 2026, and the third offering, Planner as an Expert Witness - Nov 3, 2026, will take place in person at WeirFoulds Toroto office.
| Registration in this workshop is intended for one person only. Virtual and AI recording is not permitted. For accessibility requests or questions, please contact events@ontarioplanners.ca. |
One of the most critical roles that professional planners play in Ontario is acting as an expert witness at tribunals. In this interactive virtual three-part workshop, facilitated by Denise Baker and lawyers from WeirFoulds LLP, participants will learn about legislation that dictates how planning is done in Ontario including the Planning Act, PPS & Growth Plan and Official Plans, gain a better understanding about duties and responsibilities pre-hearing including steps from appeal to beginning of hearing and alternatives to hearings. Participants will also learn more about hearings including how they operate, how to prepare and understanding the role of the planner, how to write a witness statement, how to respond to questions, and cross examination.
This workshop will run as three sessions from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on January 19, 21 and 23, 2026. Participants are responsible for joining all three sessions as recordings are not provided.
Facilitator(s): Denise Baker, LL.B. and lawyers at WeirFoulds LLP.
Denise Baker, LL.B.
Denise Baker is the Co-Managing Partner at WeirFoulds. Her practice focuses on municipal and land use planning issues and related litigation.
She has acted on behalf of municipalities, private landowners and resident groups. She predominantly advises landowners and municipalities with respect to land use planning and development matters including municipal finance matters, Planning Act applications and appeals and Heritage Act matters.
Denise appears regularly before municipal councils, Committees of Adjustment, the Ontario Land Tribunal, as well as appearing before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Divisional Court. She is actively involved in using mediation and negotiation to effectively resolve disputes between parties.
Denise is a past Chair of the Municipal Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association and speaks at Law Society and Ontario Bar Association seminars. Denise has also taught Land Use Planning Law at the University of Waterloo and regularly teaches Expert Witness seminars to Members of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Fees:
OPPI Member: $275 + HST
OPPI Non-Member: $325 + HST
OPPI Student/Retired: $230 + HST
