Robert Lockhart, Hons B.A. (Urban Geography); M.E.S. (Environmental Studies - Urban Recreation Planning)
Mr. Lockhart is a partner with RETHINK Inc., the Ontario arm of Canada's RETHINK GROUP.  He is widely recognized as a skilled planner and for his successful direction of over a hundred and fifty projects in the field of parks, recreation and leisure services over the past thirty-six years.  He also has a rich base of experience in strategic planning and visioning; civic engagement; facilitation; market research; trend analysis; operational reviews; social policy; tourism; and arts, trails and waterfront projects.  Robert has lead and been the lead consultant for almost all of the leisure services planning and management projects, as well as many of the visioning and strategic planning assignments completed through our Ontario office.

Career Overview

Robert has been with the RETHINK GROUP since its inception in 1979. From 1975-1979, he was a Senior Recreation and Tourism consultant with Balmer, Crapo & Associates Inc., a firm specializing in leisure and tourism planning.  From 1983-88, Robert was Executive Director (part time) of the Peterborough Social Planning Council.

Education

M.E.S. Environmental Studies - Urban Recreation Planning - York University, Toronto, Ontario, 1975
B.A. (Hons) Urban Geography, York University, Toronto, Ontario, 1973

Selected Project Experience

Leisure Services Planning and Management

  • City of Ottawa People Services Facilities Study & Plan
  • City of London, Comprehensive Recreation Plan
  • City of Windsor, Culture & Recreation Master Plan
  • City of Oshawa, Parks, Recreation and Culture Strategy
  • City of Oshawa, Arena Services Study
  • City of Oshawa, Peer Review - Market Research & Business Operating Plan - Civic Complex Field House & Outdoor Artificial Turf Field
  • City of Nepean, Plan for Ben Franklin Regional Park
  • City of Gloucester, Parks & Recreation Master Plans for Three Growth Areas
  • City of Gloucester, Public Consultation Program to Revamp the Leisure Service Delivery System
  • City of Mississauga, Strategic Marketing Plan for Parks & Recreation
  • City of Mississauga, Garden Park Study
  • Mississauga Garden Council, Vision Workshop for the Mississauga Public Garden - 'Vision 2015'
  • City of Burlington, North East Burlington Community Centre & Library Feasibility Study
  • City of Scarborough, Recreation & Parks Master Plan
  • City of Calgary, Recreational Needs and Preferences of the Citizens of Calgary
  • City of Vaughan, Parks & Recreation Master Plan & Arena Feasibility Study
  • City of Vaughan, expert witness & consultant re: OMB hearing for a major mixed use development
  • City Kitchener, Master Plan for Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • City of Orillia, Master Plan for Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • City of Peterborough, Master Plan for Parks, Open Space and Recreational Facilities
  • City of Peterborough Strategic Plan for Recreation, Parks & Culture
  • City of Peterborough, Functional Review of Del Crary Park
  • City of Peterborough, Investigation into Alternative Sites for the Peterborough Marina
  • City of Peterborough, Sports Field Study
  • City of Peterborough, Recreation Plan & Environmental Study of Little Lake & Environs
  • City of Sudbury, Master Plan for Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • City of Sudbury, Conceptual Designs and Planning quidelines for Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • City of Guelph Strategic Plan for Recreation, Parks and Culture
  • City of Guelph, Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan
  • City of Welland Parks, Recreation and Culture Strategic Plan
  • City of Cornwall, Comprehensive Recreation/Arts Plan
  • City of Cornwall, Aquatic/Fitness Centre Feasibility Study
  • City of Cornwall, expert witness re: OMB hearing to defend a proposed municipal community centre
  • Borough of East York, A Comprehensive Study of Existing Services & the Leisure Needs of Seniors
  • Town of Milton, Feasibility Study for an Indoor Artificial Turf Facility
  • Town of Markham Recreation, Culture and Library Facilities Plan
  • Town of Markham Rouge River Community Centre Study
  • Town of Markham Older Adult Recreation & Library Services Study
  • Town of Halton Hills, Master Plan for Parks, Open Space and Recreation Facilities
  • Town of Ajax, Parks & Recreation Master Plan
  • Town of Ajax, Combined Feasibility Study for Two Major Leisure Centres & a Seniors/Recreation Centre
  • Town of Aurora, Parks & Recreation Master Plan
  • Town of Aurora Operational Review - Creation of the Leisure Services Department
  • Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Services Master Plan
  • Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Long-range Strategies for Selected Outdoor Recreation Facilities
  • Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Leisure Facilities Strategy
  • Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Leisure Programming Strategy, Cultural Strategy, Volunteer Engagement Strategy (three integrated strategies)
  • Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Master Plans for Memorial Park & Bethesda Park
  • Town of LaSalle, Culture and Recreation Master Plan
  • Town of Bracebridge Community Centre Feasibility Study
  • Town of Midland, Recreation Facilities Feasibility Study (arena expansion/multipurpose community centre, & the future of the Civic Recreation Centre)
  • Town of Newcastle, Arena & Community Centre Feasibility Study
  • Municipality of Brighton, Community Centre Feasibility Study
  • Municipality of Port Hope, Fitness Facility Needs Assessment
  • Municipality of Trent Hills, Community Recreation & Wellness Centre Feasibility Study
  • Municipality of Trent Hills, Facility-fit Analysis for the Potential Redevelopment of the Campbellford/Seymour Fairground
  • Township of King, Parks and Recreation Master Plan & Leisure Centre Feasibility Study
  • Township of Oro-Medonte, Leisure Facilities Strategy & Feasibility Study for a Multi-use Recreation Complex
  • Township of Oro-Medonte, Parks and Open Space System Analysis and Policy Development
  • Township of Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan, Municipal Services Complex Feasibility Study
  • Township of Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan, Culture, Recreation and Library Needs Assessment, North Monaghan Ward
  • Township of Delhi, Parks & Recreation Master Plan
  • Township of Delhi, Arena/Community Centre Feasibility Study
  • Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, Recreational Facility Needs Assessment - Haldimand Memorial Arena & Ball Park
  • Township of Beckwith, Indoor Soccer Facility Feasibility Study
  • Township of Uxbridge Trans Canada Trail Plan
  • Township of Ennismore Waterfront Park Plan
  • Township of Smith, Arena Feasibility Study
  • Township of Douro-Dummer, Arena Feasibility Study
  • Village of Lakefield, Parks & Recreation Master Plan
  • Royal Botanical Gardens, Visioning, Community Input & Needs Assessment for the Trails Master Plan
  • Whitchurch-Stouffville Soccer Club, Indoor Soccer Facility Feasibility Study
  • Cobourg Family YMCA, Strategic Plan
  • Brockville YMCA/YWCA, Strategic Plan
  • Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres, "Destination 2010" Strategy
  • Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres, John Street Branch Revitalization Study
  • Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres, Membership Diversity Research & Policy Development
  • Crombie Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront, "A Green Strategy for the Greater Toronto Waterfront" and input into "Watershed" - the Commission's Second Interim Report
  • The Cabinet Office, Toronto Waterfront Development, "The Waterfront Trail: First Steps from Concept to Reality"
  • Canadian Parks Service, Central Kawartha Lakes Water Recreation & Shoreline Development Study
  • Vision and Strategic First Steps, The Panel for the Future of the Trent-Severn Waterway
  • Trent-Severn Waterway Strategic Marketing Plan
  • Welland Recreational Waterway Master Plan
  • Ontario Ministry of Tourism & Recreation, Strategic Review: Ontario Camp Leadership Centre, Bark Lake
  • Ontario Ministry of Tourism & Recreation, A Provincial Study of Youth Recreation Needs & Services
  • Golden Horseshoe Conservation Authorities, Joint Outdoor Tourism Marketing Strategy
  • Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, The Ganaraska Forest Study and Business Plan
  • Metro. Toronto & Region Conservation Authority - Review of Role, Policies, and Strategies re: the Public Use of Authority Lands
  • Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, Outdoor Recreation Role & Strategy for the Public Use of Authority Lands
  • Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, Vision 2005
  • Algonquin Snowmobile Alliance, Bus. & Marketing Plan

Other Assignments

  • Lanark County Community Vision & Corporate Strategic Plan
  • Norfolk County Vision, Strategic Plan & Official Plan
  • Strategic Plan, City of Kawartha Lakes
  • Guelph, assistance with Corporate Strategic Plan
  • Strategic Plan, Peterborough and District Chamber of Commerce
  • Downtown Strategic Action Plan, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
  • Strategic Plan, Historic Downtown Georgetown
  • Peterborough-Lakefield Community Police Service Strategic Business Plan (Three Plans: 2004-06, 2007-09, 2010-12)
  • City of Gloucester Police Services, Comprehensive Public & Stakeholder Consultation Program to Help Implement Community-based Policing
  • Vision and Strategic First Steps, Peterborough Heritage Committee
  • Strategic Plan, Community Living Peterborough
  • Strategic Plan, Peterborough Housing Corporation
  • Strategic Plan, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
  • Junior Achievement of Kawartha-Lakeshore, Vision 2003
  • Peterborough Community Access Centre Board, Visioning & Strategic First Steps
  • Hospice Peterborough, Strategic Plan
  • Guelph Services for the Physically Disabled, Vision 2001
  • SmartGuelph - Building Tomorrow Today (growth management strategy)
  • Toronto Consortium of Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities, An Innovative Model for Inter-agency Partnership in Employment Service Delivery
  • Bancroft Retirement Residence Feasibility Study & Business Plan

Selected Publications

  • "A Green Strategy for the Greater Toronto Waterfront: Background and Issues", Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront, 1990; with Bob Woodburn and Ron Reid
  • "Watershed" Second Interim Report of the Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront, contributing author, 1990
  • "The Waterfront Trail: First Steps from Concept to Reality", with Bob Woodburn and Ron Reid, 1991
  • "Public Input and the Police/Public Partnership ... A Two-Way Street", The Police Governor, (Spring/Summer, 1994) OAPSB, with Bob Woodburn
  • "Future Outlooks on Recreation: An Environmental Perspective", Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation; with Paul Wilkinson, Jean-Marc Daigle, Ken Balmer, Bob Woodburn, Lee Fraser, Michael Hough, and Alex Murray, 1991
  • "A Time to Refocus on Youth", Recreation Canada (Special Issue, 1985)
  • "The Winter Use of Playgrounds", Recreation Canada (No. 3, 1981); with Paul F. Wilkinson and Ethel M. Luhtanen
  • "The Winter Use of Playgrounds", Innovation in Play Environments, Croom Held, London, 1980; with Paul F. Wilkinson and Ethel M. Luhtanen
  • "Safety in Children's Formal Play Environments", Innovation in Play Environments, Croom Held, London, 1980; with Paul F. Wilkinson and Ethel M. Luhtanen
  • "The Joy of Winter", Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation, 1977; with Paul F. Wilkinson and Ethel Luhtanen
  • "Winter Outdoor Use of Urban Parks in Ontario", Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation, 1977; with Paul F. Wilkinson
  • "Community Use of Recreation Facilities in Canada", National Advisory Council on Fitness and Amateur Sport, 1975; with Ken Balmer



 
 
© The Rethink Group