Six participants from Canada have been chosen to attend Veronafiere this year. The following Architecture Canada members, selected by the board, will receive scholarships allowing them to take part in this unique and enriching opportunity.

• Donald Davidson, MRAIC (Calgary)
• Stacy Dyck, MRAIC (Winnipeg)
• Lara McKendrick, MRAIC (Ottawa)
• Shawn Moscovitch, MRAIC (Montreal)
• Jonathan Rockliff, MRAIC (Edmonton)
• Kevin Weiss, MRAIC (Toronto)

The thirteenth edition of “Designing with Natural Stone” will run from September 19-24, 2011 in Verona, Italy, in conjunction with MARMOMACC, the world’s leading trade show for stone and design.

Participants of Architecture Canada and the Department of Architecture at the University of Ferrara six-day course  Recovering the Past to create a sustainable Future - were spotted in Italy prompting media reports of their activity. The course examines Architectural Conservation of Cultural Environmental Heritage and Sustainable strategies and installations of renewable energy including technical / economical aspects relating to energy efficient design.

• Articles [1], [2], [3] (in Italian only)

Architecture Canada | RAIC is hosting a web site to highlight projects that meet and exceed the 2030 Challenge. Last issue two projects were unveiled and now another joins it. Visit and see how it meets the challenge.

• 2030 Challenge Case Studies

Canadian Architect and Architecture Canada| RAIC are pleased to announce a significant research initiative is underway to produce the 2011 edition of the Benchmarking Study of Canadian Architectural Practices.

The survey will establish benchmarks across a comprehensive set of key indicators including demographics, financials and marketing activities and allow practices comparisons with other firms across the country as well as provide market trends relative to the 2009 results.

A call will go out shortly asking firms to participate in the 25-minute survey.

The detailed report of the amalgamated and analysed results of the survey will be made available in November to architectural firms across Canada for a fee. Firms participating in the study will be eligible to purchase the report at a significantly discounted rate.

Participation is greatly appreciated and very important to the architectural profession in Canada

Be sure and mark your calendar for your date on the rock!

Theme: Deep Roots in a New Energy City
Delta St. John’s Hotel and Conference Centre
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
June 12-16, 2012

Migrating Landscapes Organizer (MLO) has launched an open competition for young Canadian architects 45 and under as a key part of generating Canada’s official entry to the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture- MIGRATING LANDSCAPES.

The project explores the settling/unsettling dynamic of im/migration by combining individual cultural memories with new designs for housing that relate to these memories.

Seven regional competitions are planned across the country this fall, leading to a national competition to take place in Winnipeg next spring, and culminating in the Canadian exhibit to be featured at Venice during the 2012 Biennale for Architecture. Details are now available at www.migratinglandscapes.ca.

Watch this section for regular updates on the developing landscapes.

Please help support the Venice Biennale to enable Canadian architecture to shine worldwide.

• Donate

The highest award given in Canada are the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, which recognize and celebrate outstanding design in recently completed built projects by Canadian architects.

For the first time Submissions will be accepted electronically rather than in binder form.  Submission instructions will be included in the call for entries. Watch for more information and deadlines in September.

Meanwhile take a look at the 2010 recipients to get inspired and start planning your submission.

Edmonton, Ottawa and Calgary have issued their calls for entries to their local urban design awards – the first stage of Architecture Canada’s National Urban Design Awards process. Winners from these programs will automatically be submitted to the National Awards, administered by Architecture Canada, the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Ottawa

The attendance list for continuing education sessions offered during the AIBC/RAIC Festival of Architecture in Vancouver May 24-27, 2011 is now available online.

At AIBC’s request, AIBC members are not identified on the attendance list but their credits have been recorded directly in their system. Any questions from AIBC members may be directed to the AIBC Professional Development department. All other inquiries can be directed to Architecture Canada’s Professional Development and Executive Services Coordinator Nathalie Samson at nsamson@raic.org or 613-241-3600 x203.

The new College of Fellows Chancellor Barry Johns, FRAIC, has written a letter [95 KB] to all Fellows outlining a platform of priorities for the College that he intends to pursue during his term.  These include mentorship, regional activities, repairs to the Canadian Pavilion in Venice, the 2012 Venice Biennale, and fundraising for the RAIC Foundation.

Members of the College of Fellows wishing to name Architecture Canada members for Fellowship must have nominations to the Chairs of Regional Advisory Committees no later than October 21, 2011. Please take the time to consider nominating your colleagues and mentors.

• Guidelines
• Application Form [76 KB]

Past Chancellor Alex Rankin, FRAIC, a founding partner of grc architects, announced his retirement from full‐time practice effective July 1. He will continue on a part‐time basis as “Founding Partner Emeritus”.

Alex Leung, MRAIC – an Associate who has been with the firm for 22 years – will join John Cook, FRAIC, and Martin Tite, MRAIC, as one of three Principals at grc.

Fairmont is offering its 2011 Business Travel Rate to RAIC members at all Fairmont Hotels & Resorts locations.

For instructions on how to access your member discount with Fairmont, please contact the membership coordinator at membership@raic.org

Architect Tim Visser, MRAIC, from Calgary, was part of a team of architects and engineers from across North America who volunteered [215 KB] their time with Engineering Ministries International Canada to design a children’s village (orphanage) in the earthquake affected community Grand-Goâve, Haiti.

The design efforts behind the Vancouver Convention Centre West have been recognized with the AIA Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture.

re:place magazine has partnered with Spacing magazine to successfully transition to Vancouver Spacing. Read Sean Ruthen, MRAIC, latest book review of Fast-Forward Urbanism: Rethinking Architecture’s Engagement with the City in this new publication.

• Architect William Chalmers, MRAIC, has also passed away. His family has an online tribute to him.
• Architect Ants Elken, FRAIC, passed away in June. His obituary was published in the Toronto Star.
• Art Ferrari, FRAIC, passed away July 30 in Lethbridge Alberta. The University of Alberta marked his passing.
• Isobel Stewart, the only female to graduate in the Bachelor of Architecture program at the University of Toronto in 1946, is recognized in a piece in the Globe and Mail called Broke Ground for Women. She passed away in May at the age of 92.