The 2025 President’s Award of Recognition
was presented posthumously to
PETER R. WALKER
in recognition of his outstanding contribution to to the advancement of Land Economics
Peter R. Walker was a long-time member of Lambda Alpha, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and for many years head of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Discipline Committee. He was a pioneer and leader in the field of urban planning consulting. He was one of the founding partners of Walker Wright Young Associates Limited in 1973, which ultimately became Walker Nott Dragicevic Associates Limited (WND) in 1992. Peter loved his work and enjoyed a prestigious 54-year career, contributing to the development of the urban landscape across Ontario and Canada through his work at WND as an expert consultant for countless planning projects and clients. His career led to the creation of tens of thousands of homes, hundreds of thousands of square metres of commercial space and employment uses, and countless other achievements in the field of planning, facilitating transformational growth throughout our province.
Peter began his well-earned retirement in 2014, leaving the firm in the capable hands of Wendy Nott, FCIP, RPP, Robert A. Dragicevic, MCIP, RPP, and later Andrew Ferancik, MCIP, RPP. WND is committed to honouring his legacy by continuing the work that Peter started and never ceasing to pursue the achievement of “good planning”.
The Peter R. Walker First Year Planning Scholarship, which was created through the efforts of the Planning Alumni Committee of the U of T Association of Geography Alumni and named for its key benefactor, is granted to students entering the second year of the M.Sc.Pl. Program. The recipients are individuals who have made significant contributions to planning practice through applied work and thus exemplify the “best all-round planner.”
Peter passed on Christmas Eve in 2023, and this year’s President’s Award is given to him posthumously to honour his extraordinary career and contributions to the Advancement of Land Economics.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD:
2024 Cynthia MacDougall
2023 Lindsay Dale-Harris
2022 Leslie M. Klein
2021 Douglas R. Annand
2020 Robert G. Glover
2019 Ian James Lord
2018 Robert E. Millward
2017 John W. Livey
2016 Robert W. McBride
2015 Robert E. Jarvis, QC*
2014 Susan de Avellar Schiller
2013 Edward J. Levy
2012 Raymond J. Simpson*
2011 Frank A. Clayton
2010 Neal A. Irwin
2009 H. Ian Macdonald
2008 Larry S. Bourne
2007 Stanley B. Heidman*
2006 Diana L. Santo*
2005 Kenneth Rotenberg*
2004 Eberhard H. Zeidler*
2003 Len Gertler*
*deceased
