The Professional Development Definition Program, responsible for the identification of professional development and information sessions required by the federal real property community across Canada, is undertaking the following key activities:

• Continue defining the RPIC Community of Practice, led by 2010 RPIC ADM Champion Scott Stevenson, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) at National Defence;
• Reinstate Seneca College’s survey for an environmental management learning program; and
• Determine the needs of the federal real property community and position the RPIC to best deliver its professional development program.

The Professional Development Delivery Program is focusing its attention on providing training and information sessions to the federal real property community across Canada and will be delivering annual national and regional events, including:

• Federal Contaminated Sites National Workshop for environmental professionals on May 10 - 13, 2010, Montréal, QC;
• Western Regional Workshop for real property managers scheduled for June 2010 in Calgary, AB; and
• Annual National Real Property Workshop for real property managers held outside Ottawa for the first time on November 23-25, 2010 in Toronto, ON.

The Community Development and Outreach Program strives to promote and recognize the professionalism and important contribution of the federal real property community across Canada. To achieve this objective, the Committee is implementing the following activities:

• Deliver a series of Breakfast Sessions on topics of interest to federal real property managers;
• Develop and maximize the new RPIC E-Zine, an email newsletter created to offer a streamlined and coordinated approach to providing information to the real property community on a scheduled basis;
• Continue to submit real property focused articles for publication in various magazines and media sources; and
• Continue to update the RPIC website to be a dynamic and user-friendly resource for the real property community.

The Fundraising Committee will focus its attention in continuing to raise awareness of the Real Property Institute of Canada and will be developing a comprehensive marketing package to further promote RPIC and its activities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Scott Stevenson, ADM (Infrastructure and Environment) at National Defence, who has graciously accepted to be the 2010 RPIC ADM Champion. Mr. Stevenson will play a pivotal role in promoting the Real Property Institute of Canada to senior federal leaders with an interest in real property management as well as promoting the annual “Federal Real Property Week” to be held during the week of November 22-26, 2010. The objective of the annual Federal Real Property Week will be to increase awareness of the importance of real property in support of the federal government’s programs and services.

2010 will be another exciting year for RPIC. I encourage members of the federal real property community to get involved in the aforementioned programs and other activities during the year. Your participation will continue to ensure the Institute’s vitality. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us atrpic@thewillowgroup.com

Sincerely,

Jean-Pierre St-Amand
President
Real Property Institute of Canada