Planner as an Expert Witness
Date:
April 29, 2026
Location:
WeirFoulds LLP Offices, Mason Room. 4100 – 66 Wellington St. W., PO Box 35, TD Bank Tower, Toronto, ON Canada, M5K 1B7, Toronto, ON
Time:
9:30 AM (EST)
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
Dates: April 29, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CPL: 6 Units
A light breakfast and lunch are provided.
Please Note: This workshop is offered three times a year. This is the second offering and the third offering, Planner as an Expert Witness - Nov 3, 2026, will take place in person at WeirFoulds Toroto office.
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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.
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: $325 + HST
OPPI Non-Member: $350 + HST
OPPI Student/Retired: $275 + HST
