Vince Verlaan excels in designing and using participatory tools and creative processes to improve strategic planning, organizational development, public policy, applied research, community-level projects, education, and service delivery. With equal experience in Canadian and international settings, he develops and implements creative stakeholder engagement initiatives which effectively link community, non-profit, academic, business and/or government actors. Some of these initiatives have focused on land use planning and integrated design, including a neighbourhood design and planning project on the Sunshine Coast (www.gibsons.ca/gospelrock) and a restorative land use plan within the Islands Trust area (www.northdenman.ca). Vince maximizes engagement of the assets and knowledge of diverse people and groups in joint planning, action, and research/evaluation cycles. World Café, Open Space Technology, the 7-Step Planning Process, Participatory Action-Research, and Community Mapping are some of the tools used to increase participation and collaboration. Healthy communities, land use and built form, participatory governance, social inclusion, and sustainability are the areas of professional focus. Capacity-building with non-profit and community groups working in these areas is another passion and skill set.