OUR VALUES
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OUR TEAM
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we are a collaborative team of advanced and diverse professionals making this complex work possible.
We understand the issues. We care about the solutions. We align with the obligations and create opportunities.
We understand the issues. We care about the solutions. We align with the obligations and create opportunities.
Professional Planners | Engagement Professionals | GIS and Database Specialists | Graphic Design | Development Experts | Pipeline Regulatory Experts
Russ Leedham (he/him)
President & Director of Planning
RPP, MCIP, GISP
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Land use planning and development decisions, processes, and issues are driven by geographic, social, regulatory, and economic complexities. Russ' multidisciplinary experience turns these complex obligations into an opportunity for clients and stakeholders.
Russ is a Professional Planner and Geographic Information Systems Professional by trade and co-founded ProACTIVE Planning in 2019. His evolving 15 years as a land surveyor to a GIS specialist to a land-use planner has allowed him to gain a comprehensive background in all components of land use planning and development through hundreds of unique projects. His industry experience ranges from community planning, geomatics engineering, environmental regulatory, transportation planning, regional planning, and pipeline regulatory. He takes an analytical and logical approach by applying his technical background to the big picture needs of land development and infrastructure planning to achieve optimal outcomes for his clients. As Director of Planning, Russ manages ProACTIVE's corporate development, strategic vision, land use planning and development portfolio, and all GIS mapping and programming. |
Blaise Fontaine (she/her)
Vice President & Director of Engagement
BA Hons. IAP2
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Engagement isn't an obligation, it's an opportunity to make a project successful by initiating powerful connections and nurturing meaningful relationships with stakeholders. Blaise brings people together through genuine communication and her diverse engagement toolkit.
Blaise is a highly-regarded Indigenous and public engagement professional, and she co-founded ProACTIVE Planning in 2019. Blaise’s career began in 2007 with Canada’s first public engagement consultancy, and she has established her career in the field through experience with the BC Provincial Government, Indigenous communities, oil and gas companies, and community planning firms. As a leader and innovator in stakeholder engagement, she brings a collaborative and comprehensive toolkit to ProACTIVE. Blaise has contributed to the success of nearly 250 projects across Canada, and has developed and maintained relationships with hundreds of stakeholder groups and Indigenous communities. As Director of Engagement at ProACTIVE Planning, Blaise provides leadership to her team on all Indigenous and public engagement projects. Blaise also regularly partners with other firms to support Indigenous and public engagement on a diversity of projects. |
Jessi Fry Jackman (she/her)
Senior Planner
RPP, MCIP
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Jessi is a Registered Professional Planner with over six years of experience in municipal planning and development. She brings an array of skills from prior work experiences with the City of St. Albert and as a consultant, including application review, bylaw, and policy development, written and visual communication, and plan implementation. Jessi takes a strategic approach to municipal projects, optimizing processes and communications to mitigate risk and drive successful outcomes. She is passionate about planning as a means to build relationships and engage residents in co-creating healthy, equitable, and inclusive communities.
At the core of Jessi’s practice is the belief that planning is for everyone because every person has a stake in the future of their community. Successful plans are grounded by technical and political inputs while harnessing stakeholder feedback to inspire and achieve shared goals for a better future. Jessi approaches each project as an opportunity to make planning engaging and accessible. |
Mike Sullivan (he/him)
Energy Industry Advisor
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Mike is a household name in Oil and Gas in Canada. Mike's damage prevention experience stems from a 25 + year career with the National Energy Board, Alliance Pipeline Ltd. , Vice-President and General Manager with HMA Land Services Ltd. and Canadian Common Ground Alliance, and Alberta One-Call Corporation. Mike has extensive experience in pipeline regulatory governance, damage prevention, emergency response, security, public awareness and education, communications, land matters, public consultation, inspection, pipeline construction and operations.
Mike brings an unrivaled wealth of oil and gas industry knowledge, strategy, business development, and innovation to the team. If there is someone in the industry 'in the know', it's Mike. He oversees the key relations with pipeline operators, assists with education and collaboration with municipal stakeholders, and assists in the review and understanding the implication of developments in the vicinity of pipeline systems. |
Ed Plant (he/him)
Senior Right-of-Way and Development Advisor
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Ed provides key advice on the Municipal Relations work of ProACTIVE Planning. His municipal experience with all levels of statutory and development plans, coupled with his technical background makes him an extremely valuable asset to the team.
Ed's career includes 34 years of municipal experience from roadway and interchange design to right-of-way management. He currently sits as the Chair for the CSA Z663 Land use planning in the vicinity of pipeline systems standard and is a technical committee member of the CSA Z247 Damage prevention for the protection of underground infrastructure standard. He is one of the few Canadian members of the Utilities and Public Works committee of the American Public Works Association / Canadian Public Works Association. He is also a member of the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers. |
Mark Murray (he/him)
Senior Advisor
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Mark was employed for 24 years with Enbridge Gas Inc. in roles ranging from Senior Legal Counsel, Manager Regulatory Projects & Land Acquisition, and Supervisor, Permitting and Lands. In these roles Mark provided strategic land, construction and development advice regarding pipeline growth, to Enbridge management. He has successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams with applications before the Ontario Energy Board resulting in approval of transmission and distribution pipeline and natural gas storage facility projects.
Mark’s involvement with landowners and understanding their concerns regarding the impact of pipelines and pipeline construction to land was significant in achieving agreements with national landowner associations and provincial ministries for pipeline easement, crossing and construction agreements. Mark’s pipeline industry and regulatory experience supports ProACTIVE clients’ understand and management impacts of municipal development, in the vicinity of their pipelines, and obligations under CSA Z663, especially for Ontario pipelines. Mark is currently Vice-Chair CSA Z663, land use planning in the vicinity of pipeline systems standard and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. |
Jenn Brown (she/her)
Development Advisor
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Jenn is a civil engineer by trade with over 25 years of experience in real estate development combining experience from both the developer and engineering consultant perspective of land development. She understands the big picture implications and small intricacies of land use planning and development for all stakeholders involved.
Jenn oversees developer relations and her experience as a civil engineer and a developer allows her to provide a comprehensive insight on how the development industry is impacted by development and regulations. She has a pulse on the development industry and brings a strategic vision of how to address the collaboration between pipeline operators, developers, and municipal stakeholders. |
Jennifer Richards (she/her)
GIS Technologist, 3D Graphics and Visualization
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Jenn is a creative and innovative GIS technician and landscape designer with diverse and evolving experience in technical GIS and conceptual design roles. She provides GIS mapping support, graphic drawings, 3d visualizations and renderings for ProACTIVE's clients. Her GIS background has exposed her to unique work with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Parks Canada Climate Change Department, and Natural Resources Canada. She has an aptitude for solving complex problems related to climate change, wildfire prediction modeling, emergency response, and agriculture. Currently completing her Master's in Landscape Architecture, she has developed beautiful, well-crafted designs and plans at a large neighborhood scale that reflect the engagement and technical requirements of development projects.
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