Award

by GIOVANNA BONIFACE and LISA JIBSON D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 5 PERSPEC TIVE DECEMBER 2023 VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 4 PUBLISHER Dan Chapman dchapman@canadawide.com 604.473.0316 EDITOR Natalie Bruckner nbruckner@canadawide.com SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Scott Laurie slaurie@canadawide.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robin Brunet Laurie Jones Jessica Kirby Stacey McLachlan SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES 604.299.2116 1.800.663.0518 subscriptions@canadawide.com CEO & GROUP PUBLISHER Ryan Benn GROUP VP, PUBLISHING & OPERATIONS Nina Wagner GROUP VP, FINANCE Conroy Ing, cpa, cma VP OF FINANCE Sonia Roxburgh, cpa, cga GROUP VP, EDUCATION & ADMINISTRATION Jane Griffiths VP OF SALES Anna Lee GROUP DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Devin Steinberg EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rick Thibert DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Tracy McRitchie MANAGER, HR & ADMINISTRATION Ava Pashmchi ACCOUNTING Eileen Gajowski Terri Mason CIRCULATION Kelly Kalirai AD TECHNICIAN Kim McLane EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Hanna Dewar PUBLISHER EMERITUS Peter Legge, obc, lld. (hon) Award magazine is published four times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited. Head of fice: 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, BC V5C 6S7. Phone 604.299.7311, Fax 604.299.9188. Send covers of undeliverable copies to address above. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065475. © 2023. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Award is distributed to architects, interior designers, landscape architects, consulting engineers, specification writers, development companies and major construction companies throughout Western Canada and Ontario. For subscription information call 604.299.2116 or email: subscriptions@ canadawide.com. National Library No. ISSN 1202-5925. Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press. Award magazine welcomes your letters, corporate announcements or company information. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors and publication shall not be deemed to mean that they are necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Canada Wide Media Limited. The acceptance and publication of advertisement of products and services does not indicate endorsement of such products or services. The publishers cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. T he Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) recently hosted a two-part online event to mark the 2023 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Collaborating with NVision Insight Group Inc., and the RAIC Truth and Reconciliation Task Force, this event served as an opportunity for architects to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical and ongoing impact of Canada's residential schools and to contemplate the role architects can play in the reconciliation process. HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND NOTEWORTHY INSIGHTS Part one of the event, held on September 26, 2023, provided a historical overview of residential schools and the Indian Act and examined the intergenerational trauma affecting Indigenous communities. An important acknowledgment was made regarding an award given by the RAIC in 1965 to the design of a residential school, as well as the presentation of an interactive map highlighting the locations of historic residential schools across Canada. Additionally, James Bird, a residential school survivor, member of the RAIC Indigenous Task Force and PhD candidate, shared his experiences and his academic pursuit of understanding architectural form through Indigenous languages. A notable revelation emerged regarding the architectural and planning community's role in the construction and alteration of residential schools, spanning several decades. This awareness, as evidenced by historical articles and journals from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sheds light on the moral responsibility carried by architects today. EMPOWERING ARCHITECTURE FOR RECONCILIATION Part two, held on September 27, 2023, shifted the focus to how architects can reconcile with the land and incorporate Indigenous values and traditions into their designs. Naomi Ratte's (intern landscape architect and consultant with NVision Insight Group) presentation included a documentary about a residential school survivor and showcased the transformation of former school sites into places of ceremony and remembrance. Additionally, Ratte urged the federal government to develop a reconciliation framework, amending the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include Indigenous representation. An interactive map from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation emphasized the significance of land in Indigenous culture and sustenance. Throughout the event, a central theme emerged: architects must acknowledge their historical involvement in Indigenous trauma and work towards a more inclusive and empathetic future through architecture. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS Over 700 members of the architectural community participated in the event, a significant milestone for the RAIC in relation to an educational opportunity regarding Indigenous values, history, and the role of design in their connection with the land. Long-term impacts include the RAIC's commitment to identify meaningful actions for the organization to engage in annually in furtherance of reconciliation efforts. The RAIC also plans to make these webinars available on-demand, enabling more of the architectural community having access to education about critical issues. RAIC's dedication to engaging in reconciliation efforts remains steadfast. This is the 2nd commemoration activity the RAIC has hosted in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This year's events strengthen the groundwork for architects to play an integral role in the reconciliation process. By addressing their historical involvement and reimagining the future of architecture, these professionals aim to pave the way towards a more inclusive, empathetic, and equitable built environment that honours the diverse cultures and values of Indigenous communities. A Tracing the crucial links between architecture and Indigenous healing

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