Inaugural Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award presented at 2026 OPPI conference  

A year after Thomson Rogers LLP marked its 90th anniversary with a historic $30,000 donation to the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), the firm’s commitment to the planning profession reaches a milestone moment. The inaugural Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award was presented on September 17 during the awards ceremony at the 2026 OPPI Conference. Denitza Koev, Partner at Thomson Rogers LLP, presented the award and announced Aimee Powell, MCIP, RPP, as the winner.  

Why this award matters  

Mentorship is central to the Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation, yet mentors often give their time and expertise with little recognition beyond their mentees’ gratitude. The Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award celebrates mentors who go above and beyond, with nominations coming from current or former mentees and the prize fund is passed on to a mentee or mentees chosen by the winning mentor.  

“Having personally benefited from remarkable mentorship throughout my career, I view mentorship as one of the most meaningful ways to share knowledge, support the next generation of professionals, and help them grow with confidence,” said Koev, a municipal and planning lawyer herself.  

Recognizing a mentor who leads by example  

The first Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award went to Aimee Powell, the Chief Planning Officer of Powell Planning & Associates. Since 2023, Aimee has supported 15 early-career planners through their certification process, and as a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, she gives students practical exposure to the profession. Through Powell Planning & Associates, she also offers co-operative and internship opportunities, reflecting her belief that mentorship is essential to the profession’s future. Congratulations Aimee.  

A commitment to supporting mentorship   

Thomson Rogers is honoured to have worked with OPPI to create and support this award. The firm has long held mentorship as a core value, both within its own legal practice and in the broader communities it serves. This award carries that belief into Ontario’s planning community, recognizing the value of those who help guide the next generation.  

The firm looks forward to seeing this award grow into a lasting tradition over the next 15 years, one that recognizes the quiet, essential work of mentorship in Ontario’s planning community for years to come.  

About OPPI  

The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) is the recognized voice of the province’s planning profession. OPPI serves and supports over 4,000 members working in government, private practice, academia, and not-for-profit sectors. OPPI members are committed to building healthy, sustainable communities across Ontario.  

About Thomson Rogers LLP  

Thomson Rogers LLP is a Toronto-based law firm with nearly a century of experience representing individuals in municipal, planning and expropriation as well as family and personal injury law. Founded in 1935, the firm is committed to giving back to the communities it serves through initiatives like the Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award.