Better Together Attends OPPI Conference in July

In July 2025, Better Together participated in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Conference in Toronto, ON. BT partners hosted a booth highlighting the potential synergies and opportunities for co-creation between Early Years Child Care and the planning profession.

BT Attends The Ontario Professional Planners Institute Conference in conjunction with The Canadian Institute of Planners and Sparks New Partnerships.

Children’s Services leaders, Tonya Millsap, County of Simcoe & Lisa Taylor, Dufferin County

Building Connections & Inspiring Action

In July, the Better Together team hosted a booth at the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Conference in downtown Toronto. Over the course of the event, the team engaged with planners from across Canada including urban, rural, and remote planning professionals. The BT team was able to connect, share stories, exchange ideas, and spark new collaborations.

One of the most meaningful connections as a result of the conference was with Recreate Place, an organization that creates opportunities for children to shape the projects that affect their neighbourhoods and cities. From that initial conversation, a powerful partnership began to take shape. By November, Better Together partners representing County of Simcoe were working alongside Recreate Place to co-create a special initiative in honour of National Child Day (November 20th).

Image: It's 2035, and every 3-year old has access to a child care space - integrated into the fabric of every neighbourhood. How can Planners and Early Years Municipal Service Managers Collaborate on this vision?

This collaboration culminated in:

A two-day arts-based engagement program for preschool children, where young participants explored ideas, expressed themselves creatively, and began developing art projects that reflected their voices and perspectives.
A community celebration on November 20th, where children unveiled their art installation.

The journey from a chance meeting at OPPI to a vibrant community event demonstrates the power of connection and collaboration. This initiative reflects the shared commitment of Better Together and Recreate Place to center children’s voices and perspectives and, to build more responsive communities.

Representing Better Together at the conference were: Jeff Willmer, Past New Allies Lead, along with Children’s Services leaders Shannon Brown (Leeds Grenville), Tonya Millsap (Simcoe), Lisa Taylor (Dufferin), Lyne Labelle (Timiskaming), and Mary Smith (Chatham-Kent).