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Whether your audience is decision makers, project partners, or members of the public, clear and compelling writing helps your expertise shine through, builds trust, and drives better outcomes for your projects. In this in-person workshop, you will learn how to turn complex ideas into crisp, effective communications that get noticed. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you will sharpen your business writing skills, strengthen your plain language toolkit, and elevate the impact of your reports, plans, and presentations.

Objectives:

Principles of Plain Language: Write with Clarity, Brevity, and Precision

An introductory overview of key considerations in delivering reports that are effective, with professionalism and polish:
- Help your reader find what they need, understand it, and use it!
- Understand how people read: the science of readability
- Eliminate wordiness and say what you mean – even about the most technical subjects

Plain Language in Practice: Techniques for Writing Clear, Readable, and Effective Planning Documents

An opportunity to learn key techniques for delivering effective reports that gain buy-in and advance your projects:
- Identify the main reader: who it is, what they care about, what they need (example: planning justification reports)
- Structure your document logically: the storyline (key messages), flow (consistency), and organization (paragraphs, sentences, bulleted lists) (examples: memos and emails)
- Clarify your purpose: focus on outcomes, saying what you mean (example: public materials)
- Clear writing essentials: Jargon and technical terms, compelling headings, word choice, active voice, brevity; editing for wordiness
- Presenting facts and data for impact
- Using design and visual elements to advance your case

Facilitator(s): 

  

Lisa Orchard, (M.Sc.Pl.)

Lisa D. Orchard is an urban planner skilled in technical communications. It’s a unique combination! As an editor, writer, and instructor, she helps others tell their stories with documents that are clear, engaging, and effective. Since launching Scribe Technical in 2019, Lisa has worked with clients in government, industry, and non-profits who are changing the ways we think about and shape our communities.

Fees:

Members: $225 + HST

Non-Members: $250 + HST

OPPI Student Member/Retired Member: $190 + HST

Writing Skills Package - SPECIAL DISCOUNT:

This workshop is part of the three-workshop Professional Writing Skills Package. When you register for any 2026 workshop in the package (Writing Skills, Persuasive Writing, or ChatGPT for Planners), you will receive 5% off your next Professional Writing Skills Package workshop in 2026.

1. Document Preparation for the OLT - May 20, 2026

2. ChatGPT for Planners NEW - July 22, 2026

Email us at events@ontarioplanners.ca 

to get your promotional discount code. 

Please note that registration in this workshop is intended for one person only. The Zoom link will be emailed upon registration. Participants must attend live as session recordings are not provided. Please check your email (including spam folders) for Zoom links and any additional resources. When registering, we suggest clicking on the option to add this event to your calendar for convenient access to the date and time of the workshop. Workshop Zoom links will be emailed upon registration and again the day prior to the first workshop. If you have not received a Zoom link 12 hours prior to the workshop, please contact events@ontarioplanners.ca.

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR OPPI EVENTS

• Full refund: requires a minimum of one month's notice
• 75% refund: requires 2-4 weeks' notice
• No refund: if less that 2 weeks' notice