Award

DECEMBER 2017 | 5 PERSPECTIVE D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | V O L U M E 3 1 | N U M B E R 6 PUBLISHER Dan Chapman dchapman @ canadawide.com EDITOR Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli nbmenchelli @ canadawide.com ART DIRECTOR Scott Laurie slaurie @ canadawide.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angela Altass Robin Brunet Laurie Jones Jessica Kirby Stacey McLachlan Laura Walker Zuzanna Wodzynska PRODUCTION MANAGERS Kristina Borys Kirsty Senior PRODUCTION SUPPORT TECHNICIAN Ina Bowerbank IMAGING TECHNICIAN Mandy Lau ACCOUNT MANAGER Alexander Sugden asugden @ canadawide.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR + DESIGN Allie Davison adavison @ canadawide.com AWARD MAGAZINE HEAD OFFICE 604.299.7311 CHAIRMAN, CEO Peter Legge, obc, lld. (hon) PRESIDENT Samantha Legge, mba SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF INTEGRATION Brad Liski VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Rebecca Legge (on leave) VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT MARKETING Ryan McKenzie VICE PRESIDENT OF DIGITAL Kevin Hinton VICE PRESIDENT OF HR & ADMIN Joy Ginete-Cockle VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Sonia Roxburgh EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rick Thibert DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL AND CUSTOM PUBLISHING Michael McCullough DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Kim McLane DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Tracy McRitchie SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Brian Fakhraie APPLICATION SUPPORT ANALYST Eileen Gajowski ACCOUNTING Terri Mason CIRCULATION MANAGER Ashley Ringham (on leave) CIRCULATION Jacquie Aitken Rhiannon Jones Kelly Kalirai (on leave) Lori North EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/ MARKETING ASSOCIATE Heather Vince Award magazine is published six times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited. Head office: 230, 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. © 2012. 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 604.299.1023 or email: subscriptions@canadawide.com National Library No. ISSN 1202-5925. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental LGM Graphics. 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 architectural community today is engaged and passion- ate about addressing issues that matter such as sustainable architecture, inclusive design and healthy communities that positively impact the quality of life for Canadians. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) through the support of its nearly 5,000 members has rallied around advocacy initiatives over the past year to influence national policy decisions makers and shape public discourse. The challenges are significant and more support is needed if we are to effect real change. Last year, the RAIC was a signatory on a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change supporting the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, recommending several actions needed in the building sector, such as net-zero construction and accelerating retrofits and emissions reduc- tions in existing buildings. Early in 2017, the RAIC joined with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as numerous international architectural asso- ciations, to reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Agreement, wherein many countries plan and report their contributions to mitigate global warming. This affirmation was in response to the White House decision to withdraw the U.S. from the landmark agreement. Just as green building and environmental protection is a prior- ity for RAIC members, so too is preserving heritage buildings. The RAIC expressed strong support for Bill C-323, which would create a 20 percent federal tax credit for rehabilitation of recognized historic places. Knowing that such policies have demonstrated economic ben- efits such as job retention and creation, tourism and enhanced prop- erty values, the RAIC supports policies that promote preservation and re-use of historic properties. This fall, the RAIC was asked to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources to present research and recommendations for transitioning to a low carbon economy, as required to meet the Government of Canada's announced targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions. With input from leading experts of the RAIC's Committee on Regenerative Environments (CORE), key issues and barriers to inno- vation were identified and recommendations were proposed includ- ing revisiting current procurement practices that drive to lowest fee versus a qualifications-based selection process. Sustainability, inclusive design and healthy communities also drive the work of RAIC Indigenous Task Force (ITF), comprised of mainly Indigenous architects and designers. They know first-hand about the inadequate and inefficient building stock in Indigenous and Northern communities. The task force works to promote Indigenous design and architecture in Canada, and that includes improving living conditions in Indigenous urban and rural communities. In May, the ITF hosted its first Indigenous Architecture and Design Symposium at the RAIC's 2017 Festival of Architecture in Ottawa. Special international guests included designers from New Zealand, represent- ing the Ngā Aho, their national network of Māori design professionals. In June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the for- mer U.S. embassy, facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa, would become a space dedicated to Inuit, Métis and First Nations communities. The ITF became involved in the public conversation by declaring the Ottawa building to be a culturally insensitive space for an Indigenous centre. They issued a statement to the government questioning the appropriateness of the site, which resulted in extensive media cov- erage, as well as an invitation to participate in the programming and design process of a new centre. As Canada's population continues to age, new design solutions are required to ensure health, safety and well being. The Age-Friendly Housing Options Task Force is another member-driven group; its mandate is to advocate to government, health care professionals and service providers, and industry about the need for age-friendly designed homes and communities. Much work is still to be done to advance these issues and so the health of the next generation of practitioners is critical to the strength of the profession in Canada. The RAIC Emerging Practitioners (EP) group, formed by members in 2016, represents the interests of intern architects and supports a successful path to licensure through educational sessions, advocacy work and peer-to-peer networking. A representative from the EP group sits on the RAIC board of direc- tors and is directly involved in policy-making within the association. As the Canadian landscape is built and re-built, and we struggle with the complex issues of today, it becomes increasingly important for members of the architectural community to have a strong voice advocating for a better built environment. RAIC advocacy work has delivered some effective wins. However, more dialogue is needed to influence policy and promote the profession. Current efforts are the result of a community coming together to impact positive change. The work continues but only with support from the RAIC community and its partners. A Join the conversation @RAIC_IRAC Stand Up And Stand Together As Canada's population continues to age, new design solutions are required to ensure health, safety and well being. by ANGIE SAUVÉ Member Communications Specialist | RAIC

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