www.linkedin.com/in/camarchitect
Provide a brief summary of your practice experience.
I am an Architect with over 31 years of professional experience operating my own firm. I currently split my time serving clients from my home office in the GTA and from an office in Orillia serving clients in South Central Ontario. I have operated a full-service architectural and consulting practice since 1995, completing numerous projects across the single-family residential, MURB, hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use sectors. My work focuses on delivering thoughtful, practical, sustainability-focused, and well-crafted design solutions. I guide projects through all phases from feasibility studies and conceptual design to approvals, construction documentation, and contract administration while navigating complex regulatory environments. I’m known for my collaborative approach, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving strong outcomes for clients.
I have also been involved in architectural and urban design education for the past 7 years. I bring my professional experience directly into my teaching, having delivered 32 course sections across 9 distinct courses while teaching in the Architectural Technology program at Sheridan College and in the Bachelor of Environmental Design program at OCAD University. These have included all levels of architectural design studio, urban design, and building envelope design. At Sheridan, I have held the position of Urban Design Program Coordinator, been responsible for new curriculum development, and I have also developed and led a study abroad program to Denmark focused on inclusive urban environments and global design practice.
I am a Certified Passive House Designer, a LEED Green Associate, and CAGBC ZCB-E certified.
Provide a brief summary of your previous governance experience (boards, councils, committees, advisory groups, etc.).
My volunteer governance experience includes:
Member, OAA Registration Committee for 8 years (2018-present).
Member, OAA Experience Requirements Committee for 2 years (2024-present).
Member, OAA Interns Committee for 3 years (2022-2025).
Representative, OAA representative to the Daniels School of Architecture, University of Toronto for 3 years (2022-2025).
Member of the Municipal Heritage Committee, City of Orillia, for 6 years (2020-present).
Why are you interested in serving on Council at this time?
After more than 30 years in practice and eight years on OAA committees, I want to help shape the OAA’s direction at a pivotal moment. The current strategic plan is ending, and Council will soon set priorities that guide regulation for years to come.
I see serving on Council as a professional responsibility and a way to give back to a profession that has shaped my career. I want to contribute my time and perspective to good governance, helping the OAA strengthen professional standards, public trust, and long-term sustainability.
Architecture in Ontario faces significant shifts: AI, procurement pressures, the housing crisis, shrinking fees, and changing public expectations. Council must understand these forces and show leadership for both members and the public we serve.
Modernizing the Architects Act is equally important. Our legislation must reflect current legal principles for professional regulators, new technology, and evolving methods of practice.
I support the OAA’s 2022–2027 Vision, Mandate, and Strategic Plan, and believe its themes of Climate Action and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion should carry into the next plan. My experience in practice, education, and licensure would help the Council carry that work forward.
What do you believe are the key challenges or priorities for Council over the next one to three years?
I bring four perspectives:
Practice. Since 1995, I have led my own practice, completing roughly 800 projects across residential, hospitality, and mixed-use work. I understand the regulatory, financial, and liability pressures facing small firms.
Education. For over 15 years, as a guest critic and teacher at Sheridan, TMU, Gerige Brown, and OCAD University, I have worked with students from first-year studio through OBC exam preparation. Their questions show me where the path into the profession could be clearer.
Licensure. Through the Registration, Interns and Experience Requirements committees, and as a former OAA representative to U of T’s Faculty of Architecture, I have seen where candidates progress and where they stall. Clear, rigorous, and equitable pathways protect the public.
Climate. I earned my Certified Passive House Designer and Zero Carbon Building credentials mid-career because I believe competency must keep pace with performance expectations. As climate action becomes part of the standard of care, Council must keep our requirements current.
Self-regulation is a privilege the profession must keep earning. I want to contribute to that work: listening to members, protecting the public interest, and helping the OAA lead through real change.
Questions and Answers