The OAA exists to protect the public interest and govern the members and practice of architecture in Ontario. Its governing Council sets policy direction, making critical decisions regarding the future of the profession and directly affecting OAA members and practices.
OAA Council is the OAA's board of directors. It is currently composed of Architects who are elected, as well as up to five members of the public named by the Government of Ontario as Lieutenant Governor in Council (LGIC) Appointees.
Those participating on Council strengthen the profession’s capacity to self-regulate, and act in the public interest to ensure OAA members maintain standards of competency and conduct.
Councillors have the same role and duties as the directors of a corporation. They participate in decision-making that charts the direction taken by the architecture profession. As a regulator, the OAA’s primary objective is to protect the public, which it does using the legal powers granted to it by the Architects Act. Councillors, as directors of the OAA, owe the Association a fiduciary duty imposed on them by law, meaning they must put the OAA’s interests (i.e. the public interest, rather than the interests of the profession, who the OAA is tasked with regulating) before their own when acting as Councillors.
The duties of a Council member are set out in Section 7 of the Bylaws, and include:
- becoming familiar with the laws and rules that govern the profession;
- attending and participating in every Council meeting;
- serving on OAA Committees and Task Forces;
- taking an active role in one of the regional Local Architectural Societies; and
- performing such other duties as may be agreed upon.
Council is an opportunity to share your subject-matter expertise and help shape the future governance of the profession. It also allows you to learn about other aspects of the profession, regulation, the Association’s structure, as well as numerous programs and services.
There are five seats available for architects in the election coming this fall.
The members of Council whose terms expire on December 31, 2024 are:
Jenny Lafrance (Eastern Ontario);
Ted Wilson (Northern Ontario);
Greg Redden (Western Ontario);
Susan Speigel (City of Toronto); and
Christina Karney (Province of Ontario).
To view district boundaries, click here.
Being a Councillor is a voluntary position. Only the President and Vice Presidents receive a modest honorarium in recognition of the significantly higher workload of their positions within the Council.
Council generally meets six times a year for full-day Council meetings, but there are occasions when a special meeting is called to deal with a specific, usually complex issue. Council meetings begin at 9:30 am, and tend to run until approximately 4:00 p.m. Attendance at regular Council meetings is mandatory; a failure to attend three consecutive meetings without cause will disqualify the member from continuing to sit on Council.
Preparation for each of these meetings requires a considerable investment of time and energy. Meeting agenda and packages are distributed electronically to all members of Council one week ahead of the meeting date. In order to participate fully and constructively, Council members will have to review and familiarize themselves with the material. They can expect to spend the better part of a day reviewing the material in preparation for each meeting.
Councillors also participate in a yearly two-day retreat, as well as attend the annual OAA Conference. Additionally, Councillors participate in the various Committees and Task Groups of the Association—this particular time commitment varies widely, from calling in a few times a year to monthly meetings.
Architect seats are for three-year terms. An individual may be elected for up to three successive terms.
Architects are eligible for election to the Council if they:
- are Canadian citizens;
- are residents of Ontario;
- have an address of record in the Electoral District that they want to represent; and
- are members in good standing.
A member is in good standing in the Association where:
- they are not in default of payment of any fee prescribed by the bylaws, or any fee, levy, or costs imposed under the Architects Act or the regulations;
- their professional conduct or competence is not the subject of proceedings before the Discipline Committee; and
- their licence is not under suspension.
All candidates seeking to run for Council must be nominated by three members of the electoral district in which they are running. You can read more about the nomination process on the Election Procedures page.