Our Team
Stefan Szczerbak, M.Sc, MCIP, RPP
Principal, Senior Planner
As Principal, Stefan draws on his lengthy municipal and conservation authority experience to provide professional planning advice to all our private and public sector clients. Having worked in smaller municipalities, he has a solid understanding of the intricacies within a municipal environment when processing all types of development applications.
Stefan is an expert in Community Planning Permit Systems (formerly known as Development Permit) and Recreational Cottage Country Planning. He played an integral part in implementing Ontario’s first Development Permit System for waterfront properties and fully understands how to navigate change management at both municipal and private property perspectives.
He has extensive experience in negotiating and processing development applications from development permits, minor variances and re-zoning to subdivisions and commercial developments. He has also prepared and provided evidence as a qualified expert planning witness at many Ontario Land Tribunal Hearings (formerly OMB and LPAT), pre-hearings, and has successfully negotiated settlement agreements.
Stefan has a Masters Degree in Rural Planning and Development, and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Guelph.
Rick Hunter, MCIP, RPP
Senior Associate
Rick effectively utilizes his extensive background in policy development to provide professional planning advice to various municipalities, special interest groups, government agencies and private landowners.
He is a specialist in demographic analysis, policy development and municipal planning programs. Rick is an expert in the preparation of official plans, zoning by-laws, and community plans, and is involved in a full range of municipal planning activities from research and policy formulation to processing development applications.
He has a solid record with private sector planning, development subdivisions and condominium proposals, consents, zoning and official plan amendments, site plans and site evaluation reports.
He is an effective witness at the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly OMB and LPAT).
Rick has an Honours BA from Brock University in Geography and Urban Studies, and completed coursework in Planning at the Masters level at Queen’s University.
Margaret Walton, M.Pl, MCIP, RPP
Senior Associate
Margaret draws on her extensive experience in community and land use planning to provide professional planning advice to municipalities, government agencies and private clients.
She is considered a leading expert in agricultural planning, with a focus on promoting protection, management, and support of this vital land use in the face of development pressures and a changing economy.
Margaret has a broad range of experience in the public sector, coordinating the preparation of strategic plans, official plans, and zoning by-laws. She is a skilled presenter, speaker, negotiator, and facilitator, and has been consistently successful in defending her work before the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly OMB and LPAT).
Margaret has a Masters Degree in Planning and a Bachelors Degree in Geography from Queen’s University.
Rian Allen, M.Sc, MCIP, RPP
Senior Planner
Rian joined the Planscape team in October 2020 in the capacity of Senior Planner, bringing 12+ years of municipal planning experience. His previous experience includes Manager of Planning/Senior Planner at the Township of Muskoka Lakes, as well as Junior Planner at the City of Waterloo and County of Huron in southern Ontario.
Rian has worked as a research associate with Neptis, where he engaged in/co-authored the first comprehensive independent examination of the implementation of the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
His background adds leadership and research skills, as well as a new perspective for support of our public and private clients.
Rian has a Masters of Science, Rural Planning and Development from University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography from Laurentian University.
Debbie Vandenakker, MCIP, RPP, PMP
Senior Planner
Debbie joined Planscape in 2022 as a Senior Planner bringing with her 13 years of project management and planning experience. Her previous roles include environmental, transportation, watershed and municipal planning.
Debbie specializes in policy planning and community engagement, with a diverse portfolio of facilitation experience that supports strong change management and process improvement objectives. Constructively engaging stakeholders to foster excellent project solutions is a priority in Debbie’s work.
Her background, experience and commitment to effective planning solutions provides excellent support for our clients. Her extensive project management experience provides our clients with creative, effective and efficient solutions to their needs.
Debbie has an Honours Bachelor of Environment and Resource studies, with specialties in Business and Environmental Law from the University of Waterloo and earned her PMP designation through studies at the University of Toronto.
Matt Somerville, MCIP, RPP, CAHP
Senior Planner
Matt is a Senior Planner who brings a wealth of practical experience to Planscape. With over 16 years of combined public and private sector expertise, he blends his entrepreneurial spirit with a deep-rooted passion for agriculture.
As a fifth-generation farmer, Matt intimately understands both the rich legacy and the challenges facing the agricultural sector. He has transformed his family farm into a thriving rural tourism destination by creating a successful farm-based craft cider and orchard business from scratch.
Matt’s qualifications extend beyond farming with a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto, he has a strong design foundation as well. His architectural background allows him to craft innovative, design-forward solutions for complex site planning and urban design projects.
His breadth of experience extends into cultural and heritage planning where he recognizes the vital connection between preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. His unique perspective enables him to offer comprehensive guidance to municipalities and private clients regarding on-farm diversification policies and uses that respect and enhance cultural heritage.
Ryan Lloyd, B.E.S.
Planner
Ryan joined Planscape in 2023 as a Planner bringing with him 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and eight years as a public educator. Ryan's diverse background provides excellent problem-solving abilities that allow him to efficiently present creative solutions for both public and private sector clients.
Ryan's commitment to good land use planning has been demonstrated through his long-standing leadership on community development projects that increase a sense of place and belonging for residents. He has a keen interest in public housing and transit-oriented communities and solutions.
Ryan has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Honours Planning from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor.
Jennifer Thomson, BA, CPT
Planning/GIS Technician
Jennifer has provided computer aided drafting and design (CAD) and GIS support since joining Planscape in 2001. Her work includes mapping support for Official Plan and Zoning By-law projects for various municipal clients, as well as mapping support for our private and development clients.
She has expanded her expertise to include agriculturally related statistical profiles and mapping for a wide range of studies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.
Jennifer obtained her BA (Hon) in Geography from Laurentian University and is a graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning Technology Program (GIS and CAD) of Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology.
Nancy Houghton
Business Manager
Nancy joined Planscape in 2012. She brings 20+ years experience as a manager from the financial services industry focusing on operations and support.
Having worked as an Office Manager for a high-end property management company before joining Planscape, she has insight into the challenges facing our clients in the planning process. In the Business Manager role, she manages all the financial responsibilities of the firm pertaining to daily operations.
Carol Fraser
Executive Assistant
After 25 years of service Carol has retired.
We thank her for all her hard work & dedication over the years.
Enjoy your retirement!
Wanda Roloson
Executive Assistant
Wanda has been an integral member of the Planscape team since 2003. Her calm nature and strong organizational skills help the whole team stay organized.
She brings a range of experience acquired during her 12 years working in the public services sector.
Wanda is one of the first contacts you will make at Planscape as she is one of the friendly voices on the other end of the phone and face of our front office. She has extensive knowledge of software applications and is a key member in producing final proposals and specialized reports, as well as public sector documents. She provides assistance with day-to-day office administration, the completion of research, and the completion and filing of various municipal applications.