Best Urban Planning Consulting Services in Canada

Canada Urban Planning Consultants

Canada is undergoing a profound transformation in how cities and communities are planned. From housing supply challenges to climate resilience, and from indigenous engagement to smart growth strategies, the urban planning landscape is marked by complexity and opportunity. In this environment, planning consultants are not just advisors — they are critical enablers of sustainable, people-centered growth.

This article curates a trusted list of research-driven, client-reviewed, and location-based urban planning consulting services in Canada. Each firm has been selected for its proven ability to deliver results, grounded expertise, and leadership that reflects radical authenticity.

Methodology: How We Chose These Canada-based Urban Planning Consulting Services

To ensure this list represents authentic, standout firms, we applied three transparent selection criteria:

🔬 Research-driven: Each firm demonstrates clear frameworks, published results, or project case studies that verify their expertise.

💬 Client-reviewed: Selection was informed by client testimonials, repeat engagements, and evidence of ROI in urban planning contexts.

📍 Location-based: Every consultancy featured has leadership and active projects rooted in Canada’s urban and regional planning environment.

🌟 Canada Urban Planning Consultants - Provider Highlights

Urban in Mind™

What they do: Urban in Mind™ provides urban and regional planning, land development, and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) services. Their style blends regulatory precision with a human-centered approach to create safer, more vibrant communities.

Who they work with: Municipal governments, homeowners, neighborhood associations, and developers across Ontario.

Operating model: A one-to-one consulting model where every client is treated as a trusted partner, ensuring projects are deeply personalized.

💡 Why they stand out:

🛡️ Specialized expertise in CPTED — integrating safety into design.

📈 Over three decades of planning experience with consistent client trust.

🤝 Holistic service model balancing safety, design, and regulatory alignment.

Terrance Glover, Principal & Owner of Urban in Mind™

Terrance has more than 20 years of professional planning and development experience, with a specialization in CPTED. His leadership style is collaborative and trust-driven, making him a sought-after partner for communities aiming to combine security with livability. Known for practical problem-solving and integrity, Terrance has established Urban in Mind™ as a go-to consultancy for both small-scale and large urban planning projects across Ontario.

Groundswell Urban Planners Inc.

What they do: Groundswell specializes in land-use consulting, approvals strategy, and project design management, working across complex urban and suburban developments.

Who they work with: Primarily developers and real estate organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

Operating model: A collaborative, stakeholder-oriented model that brings together clients, municipalities, and communities for balanced planning outcomes.

💡 Why they stand out:

🏗️ Over 300 successful projects since 2009.

🗂️ Expertise in navigating zoning, subdivision, and Official Plan approvals.

🎤 Strong record of expert testimony in public hearings and tribunals.

Brad Rogers, Principal Planner and President of Groundswell Urban Planners Inc.

Brad is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with nearly 40 years of experience. He is recognized for guiding multi-disciplinary teams through complex approval processes and for his ability to present confidently at public hearings. Brad’s leadership combines technical rigor with an inclusive approach, ensuring projects advance with both regulatory compliance and community support.

Q9 Planning + Design

What they do: Q9 provides urban planning and urban design services, with a particular focus on community building and sustainable growth. Their style emphasizes creative design backed by robust planning policy knowledge.

Who they work with: Municipalities, developers, and institutional clients.

Operating model: They adopt an integrated planning and design practice, ensuring creative outputs are always policy-compliant.

💡 Why they stand out:

🌱 Commitment to sustainable, people-focused urbanism.

📊 Dual focus on design excellence and policy navigation.

🧩 Ability to handle projects from concept sketches through to approvals.

Christine McCuaig, Principal Planning Consultant and Project Manager at Q9 Planning + Design

Christine is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with extensive expertise in urban design, land-use planning, and community development. She is known for her interdisciplinary approach, blending design creativity with deep knowledge of planning legislation. Christine’s leadership ensures Q9 delivers both visionary projects and policy-ready solutions.

Urban Options Planning Corp.

What they do: Urban Options specializes in land-use planning, zoning, and community engagement, providing clients with tailored strategies to unlock development potential.

Who they work with: Developers, municipalities, and community groups in British Columbia.

Operating model: The firm is known for its collaborative, engagement-driven model, emphasizing transparent consultation with all stakeholders.

💡 Why they stand out:

📜 Trusted expertise in navigating BC’s planning frameworks.

👥 Strong emphasis on community engagement in all projects.

📌 Proven success in rezoning and development permit processes.

Birte Decloux, Business Owner of Urban Options Planning Corp.

Birte is an RPP and MCIP with a reputation for delivering transparent, community-sensitive planning solutions. With a background in both public and private sector planning, she is known for creating clear pathways through regulatory challenges. Birte’s leadership is collaborative, emphasizing respectful dialogue with municipalities and stakeholders.

Urban Reform Consultant

What they do: Urban Reform Consultant provides policy advisory, planning reform strategy, and governance consulting, focusing on modernizing outdated planning frameworks.

Who they work with: Municipal governments, non-profits, and advocacy groups across Canada.

Operating model: A policy-first model, rooted in data analysis and reform advocacy, ensuring cities adopt planning approaches that reflect today’s realities.

💡 Why they stand out:

🏛️ Expertise in planning policy reform and modernization.

🔍 Strong research base with published studies and frameworks.

🌐 Focus on inclusive, equitable planning governance.

Dr. Alaa Al Tamim, Owner / President of Urban Reform Consultant

Dr. Al Tamim is an urban policy expert with a PhD in urban reform. His career bridges academia and consulting, with a specialization in governance structures and equitable planning policy. Known for his rigor and analytical approach, Dr. Al Tamim has advised municipalities on modernizing planning laws, ensuring cities are both equitable and adaptable to growth.

VH Urban Planning & Design Inc.

What they do: VH Urban Planning & Design specializes in urban design, land-use planning, and sustainable city strategies, blending consulting with education and capacity building.

Who they work with: Municipalities, educational institutions, and community organizations.

Operating model: A design-and-teaching hybrid model, where projects are paired with capacity-building initiatives for planners and community leaders.

💡 Why they stand out:

🌿 Focused on sustainable and climate-resilient urban planning.

📖 Author-led practice, backed by influential books and teaching.

👩‍🏫 Dedication to training the next generation of urban planners.

Michael von Hausen, President of VH Urban Planning & Design

Michael is a globally recognized urban planner, educator, and author. His consultancy career spans decades, with projects ranging from urban centers in BC to international planning initiatives. Known for his thought leadership and teaching, Michael has written extensively on sustainable cities and continues to influence the profession through both practice and education.

Happy Cities

What they do: Happy Cities is an interdisciplinary consultancy focused on designing cities that promote happiness, well-being, and human connection.

Who they work with: Municipal governments, NGOs, public health institutions, and developers.

Operating model: A research-to-implementation model, where findings from behavioral science and urban design are directly applied to planning projects.

💡 Why they stand out:

😀 Pioneers of “happy city” frameworks grounded in behavioral research.

🧪 Evidence-driven: projects backed by academic and real-world studies.

🌍 Internationally recognized thought leadership in planning for well-being.

Charles Montgomery, Founder, on writing sabbatical of Happy Cities

Charles is the author of Happy City, the groundbreaking book that inspired the consultancy. As a planner and storyteller, he is recognized globally for making the case that cities can — and should — be designed around happiness. His leadership ensures Happy Cities remains a global thought leader.

Batory Urban Planning & Project Management

What they do:
Batory is a Toronto-based consultancy specialising in urban planning, project management, and development approvals. They provide services such as rezoning, land use policy, development applications, and strategic planning guidance.

Who they work with:
They work with developers, landowners, municipalities, and community stakeholders to deliver successful planning and development outcomes.

Operating model:
Their model combines technical planning knowledge with project management expertise. They guide clients through regulatory processes, community engagement, and approval frameworks to ensure projects align with policy and community needs.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏙️ Expertise in navigating complex planning approvals in the Greater Toronto Area.
🤝 Strong relationships with municipal planning authorities.
📑 Integrated planning and project management services under one roof.

Paul Demczak, Principal of Batory Urban Planning & Project Management

Paul is a seasoned urban planner and project manager with over 15 years of experience in both public and private sectors. Before founding Batory in 2014, he managed development applications for municipalities and later guided multi-disciplinary teams in the private sector. A Registered Professional Planner (RPP) and Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP), he has expertise in land use assessments, rezoning, site planning, and approvals, and has appeared as an expert witness at the Ontario Land Tribunal. His leadership balances regulatory knowledge with practical delivery, ensuring client goals align with community needs.

TBD Architecture + Urban Planning

What they do:
TBD Architecture + Urban Planning is a Canadian design studio focused on architecture, master planning, and urban design. Their portfolio includes recreation centres, mixed-use districts, sports facilities, and community hubs across Canada and internationally.

Who they work with:
They work with municipalities, developers, universities, and community organisations to create spaces that support culture, recreation, housing, and community life.

Operating model:
Their model blends design excellence with functionality, delivering projects that are community-driven and context-sensitive. They often collaborate with specialists in recreation, culture, and sustainability to create enduring public and private spaces.

💡 Why they stand out:
🎨 Award-winning designs that shape civic and community life.
🌍 International reach, including projects in Canada and the Caribbean.
🤝 Deep experience in recreation and cultural facilities, making them leaders in community-focused design.

Matthew Roper, Partner of TBD Architecture + Urban Planning

Matthew is a partner at TBD with extensive experience in sports, recreation, and mixed-use projects across Alberta. He has led major developments such as the Lewis Farms Facility + Park, Edson Multiplex, and ICE District towers. Known for his collaborative and solutions-driven approach, he guides projects from concept to completion, balancing design excellence, sustainability, and technical performance. His leadership ensures that projects are not only innovative but also responsive to community needs and long-term functionality.

Brian Bengert, Partner of TBD Architecture + Urban Planning

Brian is a founding partner with over 30 years of experience in sports, recreation, and civic architecture. He co-founded TBD to provide client-focused, high-quality design solutions. Known for his expertise in sports facilities, master planning, and educational projects, Brian combines functional design with community impact, ensuring projects are innovative, cost-effective, and responsive to user needs.

Urban Formation

What They Do:

Urban Formation specializes in integrating land economics with urban planning to inform real estate development and policy decisions. They provide empirical analyses that bridge the gap between planning objectives and financial feasibility, focusing on housing, growth management, and land-use policy. 

Who They Work With:

Urban Formation collaborates with municipalities, developers, housing agencies, and planning professionals. Their services are designed to support informed decision-making in both public and private sector projects.

Operating Model:

The firm combines rigorous land economics research with practical planning expertise. They offer development pro forma analyses, housing needs assessments, and policy studies, often conducting workshops to enhance understanding among stakeholders.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

📊 Data-Driven Insights: Utilizes empirical analyses to inform planning decisions.

🏘️ Housing Expertise: Specializes in affordable and market-rate housing strategies.

🎓 Educational Approach: Offers workshops to demystify development economics for planners and stakeholders.

Steven Webber, Founder & Principal of Urban Formation

Steven Webber is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with extensive experience in both practice and education. He has taught at institutions like Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Toronto, and now leads Urban Formation in providing insightful analyses that guide urban development. 

Building Canada’s Future Through Urban Planning Excellence

Urban planning consultancies across Canada are reshaping communities with expertise that blends policy, design, and sustainability. These firms lead projects that strengthen housing supply, modernize planning frameworks, and prioritize safer, more livable spaces. From Ontario to British Columbia, they support municipalities, developers, and community organizations with models that emphasize collaboration, research, and advocacy. Their approaches prove that successful planning is not only about approvals, but about creating long-term value for people and places. The relevance of their work lies in advancing strategies that keep Canadian cities adaptable, inclusive, and future-ready.

At Digital Reference, radical authenticity is not just a principle — it is the standard for distinguishing expertise worth trusting. It matters because organizations today need clarity and credibility to make decisions that shape outcomes with confidence.

Explore more from Digital Reference to access insights that connect leadership and strategy across disciplines.

• Real Estate Consultants & Construction Consulting Experts: What Do They Do?
• Real Estate Professionals: What Are They and What Do They Do?
• Operations Consulting Services in Canada
• Process Improvement Consulting Services in Canada

The future of Canadian cities depends on planning that aligns vision with practical execution. These consultancies demonstrate how evidence, engagement, and expertise drive meaningful results in shaping urban growth. In the same way, leaders in every industry require trusted frameworks to guide their most critical choices. That’s why professionals across sectors turn to Digital Reference.