2026 API Conference | Call for Proposals – Atlantic Planners Institute

The 2026 Annual Conference of the Atlantic Planners Institute (API) will be held from October 7th to 9th, 2026, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. As a historic city bursting with big energy, Charlottetown is fitting for this year’s conference theme – Historic Foundations, Reimaging Tomorrow. To help us create an educational and memorable experience for all attendees, we are pleased to invite submissions for inclusion in the conference program.

Please take the time to review the following Call for Proposals package to better understand the conference and what the API Conference Committee will be looking for in proposals. We hope you can join us in Charlottetown as we reflect on our Historic Foundations and Reimagine Tomorrow together.

The Conference Theme – Historic Foundations, Reimaging Tomorrow

The theme for the 2026 API Conference is inspired by the historic communities that have shaped Atlantic Canada, many of which are facing unprecedented pressure to support a rapidly growing population. Planners in Atlantic Canada are tasked with balancing pressures for heritage protection, development, and economic growth, while working to strengthen public trust, protect the public interest, and create an equitable future that meets the needs of all residents.

In the midst of all this pressure, planners are navigating these competing interests. Planners are equipped with the skills to listen to the stories of their community, and to help shape the next stage for the places that mean so much to East Coasters.

You don’t have to be from Atlantic Canada to know that here, place tells a story. Come join your colleagues as we learn how to shape what comes next and “reimagine tomorrow” together.

Conference Subthemes

The following subthemes have been identified to help focus proposals and highlight challenges the Committee believes to be topical or specifically relevant at this time. The subthemes include:

Building on Historic & Cultural Foundations: We want to hear about how communities are managing change and building on the historic and cultural assets that have shaped identity while accommodating modern community needs.

Not intended as a prescriptive list, possible topics to be considered in this subtheme include:

Heritage conservation and unique policy approaches to manage change
Balancing heritage protection with development pressure
Truth and reconciliation projects or Indigenous-led planning
Adapting historic industries (e.g. fishing, forestry, mining, agriculture)

Reimagining Housing & Growth for Tomorrow: Communities across Canada have had to be nimble and reactive in reimagining their approaches to housing, keeping up with competing pressures, and managing unprecedented growth. We want to hear how your community has been agile in planning for tomorrow, whether it be innovative approaches to housing, delivering services, and managing change.

Not intended as a prescriptive list, possible topics to be considered in this subtheme include:

Housing policy and implementation strategies to address demand (e.g. approaches through the Housing Accelerator Fund and what’s next? – sharing thoughts across communities)
Changing planning directives and politics
Affordability and the housing continuum (e.g. new approaches to encampments, homelessness, transitional housing, supportive housing, etc.)
Challenges and opportunities with intensification (both in rural and urban communities)
Balancing growth with infrastructure needs (e.g. approaches with Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund)
Innovative approaches to housing and neighbourhood design

Proactive & Inclusive Approaches for Tomorrow: Planners are facing complex problems that impact the future of our communities. How have practitioners and groups worked together through complex problems to achieve practical solutions and inclusive outcomes? We want to hear stories about innovations that have been proactive and made impacts on changing places and neighbourhoods. This subtheme is intended to focus on collaboration, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and inclusive approaches to planning.

Not intended as a prescriptive list, possible topics to be considered in this subtheme include:

Climate change adaptation and mitigation (coastal environments, environmentally sensitive areas, flood risk considerations, proactive development considerations, etc.)
Multi-disciplinary efforts, partnerships, or unexpected collaborations with exciting outcomes
Changing dynamics and expectations of public hearings, managing misinformation, and effective communication initiatives
Building capacity and resiliency for the profession and planning practitioners
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the profession and planning work
Accessibility in planning

New Planning Considerations for Tomorrow: Communities have had to quickly adjust to new realities in the modern world and new considerations that shape our approach to planning. This subtheme is intended to explore innovative planning approaches and procedures, new technology, and changing economic circumstances.

Not intended as a prescriptive list, possible topics to be considered in this subtheme include:

Shifting dynamics of local economics and industries (e.g. impacts of politics on planning, US-Canada relations, impacts on tourism/industries, etc.)
Rural or remote economic challenges and/or opportunities
Investing in our communities
Planning considerations with changing immigration approaches/policies
Integration of AI
New technologies and tools in the planning profession (e.g. new development management systems, e-permitting)

The Conference Committee will be looking for presentations in these themes that go beyond a simple “show and tell” format and display innovation in planning theory and practice.

While submissions on the themes listed will be given priority, other topics may also be submitted.

Who’s Coming?

The 2026 API Conference in Charlottetown will attract professional planners, planning students, municipal staff, elected officials, those in interconnected fields and others with an interest in planning. The conference will provide an important opportunity for professionals from diverse fields to come together to network and explore ways to further integrate the relationship between planning, our communities, and the new environment.

What We Are Looking For

The Conference Committee is seeking diverse, original, practical, and engaging proposals to support the following program elements, which collectively provide a range of learning opportunities for attendees. Proposals for conference content may include the following:

Concurrent Session (60-90 minutes): a complete 60 to 90-minute presentation or panel presentation exploring examples or best practices related to one of the conference sub-themes.
Workshop (2-4 hours): deeper explorations of a conference sub-theme providing an opportunity to learn about best practice, develop skills, and engage with your colleagues. Workshops may extend from two hours to a half day.
Learning Tour (2-4 hours): a less formal learning activity, which takes place off-site. This may be a walking or bus tour that visits one or more sites.
Walking Workshop (2-4 hours): This conference strongly encourages submitting complete workshops that combine learning with exercise and an opportunity to explore the city on foot.
Mobile Workshop (2-4 hours): get conference attendees further afield and outdoors to explore the region.
Poster Gallery: an opportunity to highlight successful projects and research in a gallery setting.
Fast or Funny Planning Presentation (10-30 minutes): an opportunity to present a fast and/or funny planning presentation – make ‘em laugh or make ‘em think (10 minutes).

The Committee also encourages student presentations.

Selection Criteria & Review Process

It is the API Conference Committee’s goal to design a conference that provides interest and value to all attendees. While we strive to include all proposals submitted, the Conference Committee reserves the right to select those proposals that best reflect the conference theme and format. The Conference Committee will review all proposals, and selection will be based on the following criteria:

Relevance and alignment to the conference theme and sub-themes.
Describe how your session will challenge, engage, and allow attendees to contribute to the discussion. Demonstrate how the conversation will offer practical solutions to challenges facing planners today.
Submit a clear and concise proposal that highlights the top learning outcomes for participants. Be sure to adhere to the minimum information and format requirements listed under ” How to Submit a Proposal”.
Ability to exemplify and articulate a specific activity or approach and have real world application.
Provide content that will be appealing to an Atlantic audience.

How to Submit a Proposal

The API Conference Committee invites proposals from all interested proponents. Potential presenters should:

Review this Call for Proposals carefully, including the criteria listed above.
Be sure to coordinate and collaborate with colleagues to fully explore your topic, including related professionals and those who represent different stakeholders, specialties, and perspectives.
Propose content for an entire conference element; a complete concurrent session, workshop, etc. Proposals for a panel of speakers may be submitted without the full panel of presenters included, but if selected, the proposer (working with the Conference Committee) will be responsible for identifying the full slate of panellists.

An individual should submit, or be involved in, no more than two proposals.

All submissions must include the following information:

Contact Details (include all presenters): Name, Any Designations (RPP, MCIP, etc.), Job Position/Title, Email, Phone
Type of Content: indicate the type of session for your topic (concurrent session, workshop, learning tour, walking workshop, mobile workshop, poster gallery, fast or funny planning presentation)
Session Title: include the name of the session that would be used in the program.
Length of Session: Indicate how long your session would be so that the conference committee can schedule out the program accordingly.
Presenter Biography: 100-word maximum per presenter (to be used in conference program)
Session Description: 250-word maximum (provide a brief and captivating overview of your topic, to be used in the conference program).
Include a photo/headshot of the presenter(s) to be used in advertising the conference program.

Apply online at: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/82002/submitter

The deadline for receipt of all proposals is April 17, 2026.

Successful proponents will be contacted regarding selected proposals by May 15, 2026. Only online submission will be considered. The Atlantic Planners Institute thanks you for your interest in our conference.