As the current COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak continues to impact our communities and our world, we at PIBC continue to actively and carefully monitor the situation. We wanted to reach out to you again and check-in. We encourage you to review the following updated information, and to work actively as individuals and planners to keep safe, work through the current situation, and take care to ensure your own and everyone's well-being.

Members Helping & Taking Care

At an individual and professional practice level we of course continue to encourage everyone to observe best practices to mitigate risk and support public health and well being, as well as to practice good self-care. These would  include: frequent thorough hand-washing, disinfection & sanitization, social & physical distancing, avoiding gatherings of groups of people, avoiding non-essential trips or travel, taking care with potentially vulnerable or at-risk individuals and groups, monitoring any individual sickness (i.e. colds & flu), monitoring symptoms, staying home & seeking professional medical guidance or care when appropriate. 

In particular, as the situation is constantly evolving, we encourage you to seek out and follow the latest and best advice from appropriate authorities and health officials.

COVID-19 Information & Resources

For full up-to-date direct information from public health officials and sources regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation and advised current best-practices, guidance, and direction, here are some helpful resource links:

• BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC)
• BC CDC Information Regarding Event Planning
• HealthLink BC
• Government of Yukon (COVID-19 Information)
• Government of Canada

Members Professional Practice

As professional planners are often at the forefront in our communities and often leading public and stakeholder engagements as part of their work, we encourage caution and best-practices, including looking at lower-risk alternative ways to engage such as: virtual or remote meetings, online surveys, appropriately safe one-on-one engagement processes, and/or just postponing and rescheduling. Here are some resource links that you might find helpful:

• International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
• Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors - Legal Blog (COVID-19)
• American Planning Association (APA) - Planning During a Pandemic: 6 Resources for Planners

Members Self-Care & Personal Impacts

We again encourage all members to be cognizant of your own health and well-being during this challenging time. Members are being affected and impacted differently. We encourage you, as much as possible, to both seek out and provide support amongst colleagues and fellow professionals. Peer support and sharing is a valuable tool to assist everyone in getting through this difficult period.

Over the coming week, we at PIBC will be working to establish an accessible online PIBC social media discussion space to provide members with a collective place to share stories, information, support and keep connected during this time. Watch for more information and links to that in the coming days. Additionally, if you would like more information and assistance dealing personally with the stresses of the current crisis, here are some helpful resource links:

• Canadian Mental Health Association - COVID-19
• Government of British Columbia - Managing COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety & Depression

Also if you, your practice, or your family are experiencing any economic or financial disruption due to the current crisis (employment or income disruption, business disruption, issues with rent & housing, etc.), governments at both the Federal and Provincial levels have announced a number of recent initiatives to provide aid and assistance to those impacted. Please be sure to seek out options and explore the various supports available. Here are some helpful resource links:

• Government of Canada Economic Response Plan
• Government of British Columbia - Provincial Support & Information

PIBC Events & Activities

In keeping with direction from appropriate authorities and health officials and guidelines for social and physical distancing, PIBC has discontinued all in-person meetings, events and similar face-to-face activities until May 10th, 2020. PIBC related staff and volunteer travel is also discontinued for the same period.

MEETING & EVENTS
Meetings or events conducted entirely remotely (i.e. by teleconference, webinar etc.) will continue during this period. We will monitor the situation on an ongoing basis, including seeking and following guidance from appropriate authorities and health officials, and will revise our practices regarding in-person events as changing circumstances warrant. This may include adjusting the planned time-frame for this policy on in-person events, meetings and travel. We will work to keep you up to date and informed as anything changes.

ELEVATION 2020
Plans for this year's joint annual national conference, being co-hosted with CIP in Whistler in July, continue for the time being. Registration is open and continues; and we hope to proceed as planned, with heightened practices to mitigate any potential risk. 

We are aware however that this situation is ever-evolving, and circumstances may change. We will continue to closely monitor the situation, in partnership with CIP, and if significant changes to plans need to be made, we will be sure to make such decisions in a timely manner based on the best available information, and to inform everyone as soon as any such changes are decided. We would of course reach out and coordinate with all attendees and members accordingly. Updated information regarding COVID-19 contingencies for the conference can be found on the conference website: http://www.cvent.com/d/pyqw33.

PIBC 2020 CPL Webinar Series

We are again pleased to confirm that PIBC's CPL webinar programming for the Spring of 2020 will continue as planned and on schedule. In these times of adjusted activities and limited mobility, we encourage members to take the opportunity to continue to learn and network in a safe, accessible virtual manner.

Mark your calendars and save the dates for these upcoming PIBC CPL webinars:

• Wed. April 29th 12:00 pm - Legal Update
• Wed. May 13th 12:00 pm - BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing Update
• Wed. May 27th 12:00 pm - Housing
• Wed. June 17th 12:00 pm - Recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day

Additionally, in these challenging and stressful times for many members, we are pleased to be providing complimentary access to the full recording of our March 2020 webinar on the PIBC's YouTube channel:

PIBC 2020 CPL Webinar #2 (March 11, 2020)
Coping Strategies, Health & Well-Being for Professional Planners
Click here to view this webinar

For ongoing updated information on our CPL webinars, watch for PIBC e-News and visit the PIBC Webinars page.

PIBC Operations

As of Thursday, March 19, the PIBC office is closed and PIBC staff are continuing to work remotely from home until further notice. We will be re-assessing the situation at the end of March, though it is very possible that this arrangement will extend beyond the end of March. We will update members accordingly. During this time, email is the preferred and most effective communication method to reach out to us - please visit our staff contact page for details on how to contact the team. You can also send any general inquiries to info@pibc.bc.ca or office@pibc.bc.ca. 

Should you require any information or assistance from PIBC during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us. While PIBC is striving to keep operations running as smoothly as possible, due to this situation, there may be a shortage in our capacity to deliver all services in a timely fashion. But we are here to continue to assist and serve members. PIBC will also continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and including advice by the Canadian government, Government of BC, and world, national, and local health agencies. 

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience. We look forward to continue to serve members going forward.

Questions or Assistance?

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will continue to update you and the entire membership as circumstances warrant, and look forward to continuing to serve and support members during this challenging period.

Thank you. Take care and be well.

Dave Crossley
Executive Director
Planning Institute of British Columbia
(on behalf of the PIBC Executive & Board of Directors)