On Thursday, September 17, the Association’s governing board of directors, OAA Council, met at the Toronto headquarters, with some attendees joining virtually through Zoom. Reports from the President, Executive Director, Registrar, and Senior Vice President and Treasurer were shared, as well as recent financial statements and updates from the chairs of OAA Committees. Council also appointed its new member for the City of Toronto Electoral District vacancy: Architect Cecily Eckhardt will hold the seat until December 2028.

In addition to the items discussed below, the event offered a chance to celebrate former Councillor Elaine Mintz, whose term as a Lieutenant Governor in Council (LGIC) appointee has ended after 19 years.

The full agenda, minutes, and meeting package can be found on the OAA Website. The next Council meeting is Friday, December 4, and those interested in attending the open session virtually can contact the Association’s Tina Carfa to learn more.

Council and AGM Dates for the Coming Year

Council has approved the following dates for its regular meetings in 2027:

• Thursday, January 21;
• Thursday, March 11;
• Thursday, May 13;
• Thursday, June 17;
• Thursday, September 23; and
•  Friday, November 26.

Council also confirmed it will hold a strategic planning workshop at the OAA Headquarters on February 4–5.

Council has set Wednesday, April 14, from 1 to 2:30 pm Eastern, as the time for the Annual General Meeting of Members (AGM), an event held virtually over Zoom. (To see more from this year’s AGM, click here.)

Programming and Outreach in 2027

As the OAA Conference will not be taking place next year, Council had directed Association staff to explore alternate programming for celebrations, in-person networking, education, and raising the awareness and appreciation of architecture. Four tactics have now been identified:

• support for Local Architecture Society regional programming (including general out-of-the-box local events, as well as more bespoke assistance with venues, speakers, registration and experiential learning opportunities);
• amplified SHIFT Challenge programming (including a celebratory event in Toronto as well as expanded outreach with the Societies);
• Continuing Education (ConEd) lectures at the OAA Headquarters (including net-zero building and landscape architecture tours, sketching sessions, and Structured Learning talks); and
• increased engagement with the schools of architecture and architectural technology.

OAA staff will be working directly with Society Chairs over the coming months to identify tailored programming that fits their local members’ needs.


Conference Location for 2028

Council approved Mississauga, Ontario, as the location for the next OAA Conference, securing the necessary space at the Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale. The recommendation came from the Communications and Public Education Committee (CPEC), which cited the following reasons:

• the city’s rapid growth and numerous new builds offer plenty of interesting offsite and experiential learning opportunities;
• Mississauga is within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)—survey results continue to highlight the desire for Conference to return to the Toronto region;
• numerous options for accommodation mean the OAA could explore alternatives to the host-hotel model (which can be a costly barrier);
• proximity to not only Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) members (which has the largest concentration of OAA members in the province), but also other neighbouring Societies like the Hamilton-Burlington Society of Architects (HBSA), Grand Valley Society of Architects (GVSA), and London Society of Architects (LSA) means easier access for registrants from across Southern Ontario, as well as possibilities for collaborations between Societies;
• plenty of travel options to make accessing the Conference possible for a variety of participants—Pearson International Airport is within its boundaries, major rail lines like the GO and Via Rail have stops within or close to the city, and it is well-serviced by major highways; and
• proximity and easy access may unlock opportunities to offer “drop-in” or “a-la-carte” registration options to members, which has been a revenue booster in the past.

These location advantages are expected to make the event more enticing and accessible to Students, Interns, and newly licensed members who may otherwise face additional barriers with respect to time and financial commitment.

Improving the OAA Website

The current iteration of the OAA Website was launched in June 2020, following a comprehensive audit and redesign initiative. Now in its seventh year of operation, the site is a marked improvement over past incarnations, but given the breadth, depth, and constant influx of OAA content, challenges related to user experience (UX) and content organization remain.

As part of a mission to streamline and simplify the site to improve usability, accessibility, and alignment with the Association’s strategic objectives, Council has approved a UX audit through a third-party consultant to identify known and suspected issues, as well as opportunities for improvement. This first phase is now beginning with the development of an RFP; staff, along with the OAA President and CPEC Chair, will conduct the selection process for a consultant.

Engagement of Strategic Planning Consultant

Kathy McLaughlin & Associates was confirmed as the consultant for the OAA’s next strategic planning exercise, with this project’s commencement date adjusted to begin this fiscal year. The Association’s Executive Committee is tasked with responsibility for interfacing with the consultant during the process, in collaboration with the Executive Director. You can see the current strategic plan, which comes to a close after 2027, on the OAA Website.

Updates to Documents and Resources

Council approved amendments to a policy applicable to Association staff, Council, and committee volunteers accessing unlicensed AI tools for OAA business. The intent is to ensure expectations regarding AI use are clear and adhere to legislation and professional ethics while continuing to maximize efficiency and productivity. You can read the policy on the OAA Website.

Changes suggested by the OAA Finance & Audit Committee to update the Association’s reimbursement policy were also accepted. You can read more elsewhere on the OAA Website.

Council also accepted a minor edit to Regulatory Notice (RN).01 on Professional Seals. The revision removes the words “and date” to ensure strict alignment with the requirements established under the Architects Act and its regulations. While members are not precluded from including a date with their seal, the inclusion of a date is a best-practice option rather than a regulatory requirement. In support of this distinction, the Association’s Practice Advisory Services (PAS) team is preparing a new draft Practice Tip that will provide guidance on best practices for the use of seals, including the optional inclusion of a date.