Government House in Winnipeg provided a warm and gracious setting for the Governor General’s Medals in Architecture awards ceremony on September 13.

“I am honoured that today, for these national honours, you have come to Manitoba and I will have the privilege of bestowing these awards on behalf of Her Excellency Julie Payette,” said Her Honour Janice Filmon, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.

The remarkable beauty, innovation, and diversity of projects being honoured today tell us a great deal about the profession in Canada,” she said of the 12 projects receiving medals.

Read the full speech.

More than 100 people attended, including the Mayor of Winnipeg, the Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press, representatives of the Winnipeg Construction Association, the Manitoba Association of Architects, and the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) as well as guests of the laureates.

The RAIC unveiled a new design for the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture at the ceremony.

On September 12, the previous evening, the award recipients presented their projects at a public lecture titled 12 Architects on Architecture.  About 300 people attended the event at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

For the second time, the RAIC shared the ceremony and lecture with the recipient of the Governor General’s Medal in Landscape Architecture, given by the CSLA.

He RAIC gratefully acknowledges the support and sponsorship of the Manitoba Association of Architects, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, the Winnipeg Construction Association, Nova 3 Engineering, and the Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute.

View the photo gallery

RAIC regional director for Quebec, Jonathan Bisson, spoke to Radio Canada about the awards and the public event. LISTEN HERE (interview starts at 17:20)

Submit your projects for the 2019 edition of our prestigious awards program. Enter your work or nominate a colleague in a wide range of categories that honour design excellence and contributions to the profession.

• Awards of Excellence

• Architectural Firm Award

• Emerging Architectural Practice Award

• Prix du XXe Siècle

• Young Architect Award

Nominations a peer or colleague for the RAIC’s Gold Medal! This is the RAIC’s highest honour, which recognizes a lifetime of professional excellence. Past Gold Medalists include  Bing Thom, FRAIC, Peter Busby, FRAIC, and Brian MacKay-Lyons, FRAIC.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has created a new insurance program that is designed specifically for architects and will provide comprehensive professional liability coverage, as well as additional coverage options, at highly competitive rates.

“The RAIC is proud to support members with an insurance program that is cost-effective and provides extensive coverage and exceptional service,” says RAIC President Michael Cox, FRAIC. "It’s an example of the work we are doing to add value to membership.”

The RAIC has partnered with BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. (BMS) to provide this exclusive benefit for RAIC members which will available starting on October 1. Full packages or top-up options to supplement existing or mandatory coverage will be available.

Read the new Risk Insight magazine

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is offering project management courses for architects, interns and project managers in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. These courses will provide project management knowledge in the context of architectural practice as well as prepare participants for the Project Management Institute’s PMP® certification exam.

More courses for Toronto have been added!

Don’t miss your chance to register for the RAIC EP NBC Part 3 and Part 9 webinars, happening in September and October!

RAIC Emerging Practitioners (RAIC EP), is offering two continuing education webinars on the National Building Code of Canada Part 3 and Part 9 (in English). These courses are designed to bridge the path between architectural education and practice; providing practical knowledge and experience aligned with the Internship in Architecture (IAP) program’s requirements.

NBC Part 3 Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility (English)

Part 3 will be presented by Jensen Hughes Consulting Canada Ltd, fire and safety code specialists. The one-day session will provide a wealth of information condensed into a six-hour format.

Watch the live broadcast online or attend in-person in Vancouver on Saturday, September 29 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) from Vancouver.

Deadline for registration is September 26.

Nominate your colleagues and peers for Fellowship in the RAIC. Fellowship is bestowed in recognition of outstanding design excellence represented by past awards; outstanding scholarly contribution represented by research, publications, and education; or distinguished service to the profession or the community.

The deadline for nominations is October 31.

RAIC members save 10 percent on registration for this Lunch & Learn. Hear about the Stantec project team’s recent experiences designing a low-energy and low-emission building. Discover how they designed and built a high-performance, market-driven, cost-effective building that is on track to achieve LEED platinum certification, and how end-users act within the space.

You'll get:

• 30-45% off membership rates*
• Access to over 250 GoodLife Fitness Clubs across Canada
• Corporate rate extended to four additional family members
• State-of-the-art cardio equipment
• All free weights and weight machines
• Group Fitness classes
• Professionally trained staff to assist you in achieving your goals
• Towel Service (where available)
• Child minding (where available at an additional fee)
• Access to the LifeChanger health and fitness assessment program
• 24 hour locations (select clubs only)
• Access to the GoodLife Fitness Rewards Program - savings and special offers from
over 100 popular brands.

(*depending on province and type of payment plan)

Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2018 edition of POP // CAN // CRIT: The Business of Architecture in Canada! This year’s event will take place in Vancouver, BC on October 19 and will be live-streamed as a webinar across the country.

NEW THIS YEAR: All attendees will be eligible to receive structured continuing education credits structured continuing education credits for the event through the RAIC. Special RAIC member pricing applies.

The Canadian Red Cross is recruiting for casual construction delegates, shelter and settlement delegates, and water, sanitation and hygiene delegates for its international roster, all roles where an architect’s skills are needed.

The skills of an architect can be put to various uses in humanitarian responses, from supporting reconstruction efforts after a natural disaster or for those displaced by conflict, to working with local communities to improve access to clean water.

Neil Bauman, MRAIC, a registered architect from Saint John, New Brunswick, has worked on shelter projects around the world for the Red Cross since 2005. This work has taken him to many countries including Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Haiti, and Nepal, providing aid after natural disasters.

According to Bauman, architects are particularly well suited for humanitarian work because they can “apply their existing skills to look at large, complex problems and find practical, effective solutions.” They can also break down technical construction knowledge to effectively engage and consult with the local community.

Bauman often finds that some of the most difficult projects are the most interesting. In Nepal, following the devastating earthquake in 2015, he helped develop emergency shelter solutions for affected families, overcoming “numerous logistical challenges” including difficult terrain and road access. He and his team worked closely with the local people to understand their needs and were flexible with the support they gave, offering housing materials, cash or masonry training.

Those interested in exploring this rewarding career path can visit www.redcross.ca/delegates for more information and to apply.

The Sixth Annual Best of Design Awards, presented by the Architect’s Newspaper, is a project-based awards program that showcases great buildings, building elements, interiors, and installations.

Winners and Honorable Mentions will be featured online and published in a special edition of the magazine, distributed at industry events and conferences throughout 2019.