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Article Types

Practice Tips
Practice Tips provide guidance on issues affecting the daily practice of architecture. They support members by helping them apply ‘best practices’ to meet the standards of the profession. Practice Tips are available to any interested party to promote better understanding of the services architects and other members of the OAA offer and to generally help clarify the expectations of those who work with architects.

Process Commentaries
Process Commentaries” are short writings commenting on CHOP or the design and construction process. They may expand on CHOP with considerations of additional procurement processes and contract types; discuss issues that arise as new or revised contracts or requirements by authorities having jurisdiction come into effect, provide insight into best practices or deal with topics not addressed elsewhere, but encountered in the real world.

Regulatory Notices
Regulatory Notices pertain to matters arising from the Architects Act, Regulation 27 and legislation such as the Building Code that directly impact professional practice. The notices discuss how members can comply with these requirements. Regulatory Notices are available to any interested party to promote better understanding of the services architects and other members of the OAA offer, the professional standards they must adhere to, the professional obligations they must fulfill, and to generally help clarify the expectations of those who work with architects. 

FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) have hypothetical answers to hypothetical questions, the general themes of which were posed to OAA committees or Practice Advisory Services. Questions and answers were reviewed by committee members who provided personal opinions and comments based on their own practice experience and the limited information provided in the questions. Readers should be aware that real situations have additional facts and nuances that have not been dealt with in this context. The reader is responsible for the appropriate use of the opinions expressed and the information provided herein.

The OAA does not provide professional legal, insurance or accounting advice. Readers are advised to consult their own legal, accounting or insurance representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.

Lessons Learned
The Lessons Learned are candid stories from the field that your peers have shared to enable you to learn from their mistakes and experience. The lessons do not represent OAA policy or guidance but rather are actual experiences that taught a valuable lesson from which others may benefit. 

Submissions are encouraged from anyone involved in managing projects or practices. The only criteria is that the lessons consist of knowledge gained from actual experience.

Alerts
Alerts are time sensitive communications of interest to practices. Included here are RFP Alerts. RFP Alerts are issued by the OAA to highlight any comments, cautions or advice related to Request for Proposals (RFPs).  (Member login is required to view RFP Alerts)

Documents/Guides/Publications
(i.e Management of the Project articles reside in this section)
This is a catch-all for information that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories.

Templates & Forms
Templates and forms come as Word documents, spreadsheets, PDFs and other formats. They were developed by a variety of authors including OAA, CCDC, EABO, and individuals. Some are industry standard documents and others are documents your peers have found helpful in their practices. Why reinvent the wheel when you can adapt a pre-designed template? The user is responsible for the appropriate selection and use of the documents provided herein.

Commentaries
Commentaries consist of material written by your peers who have provided personal opinions and comments based on their own practice experience. The intent is to provide insight into and clarification of the application of the source material being commented on or how it might be extended into others circumstances. The reader is responsible for the appropriate use of the opinions expressed and the information provided herein.

Reports
Reports are the deliverables produced by OAA staff, committees, consultants, Pro-Demnity, and others which may be of benefit to members. The reader is responsible for the appropriate use of the opinions expressed and the information provided herein. 

Presentations
Presentations are slide packs or PDFs of material that has been presented as part of a seminar, webinar, course or similar event which has been made available for reference. The content remains the responsibility of the authors. The viewer is responsible for the appropriate use of the opinions expressed and the information provided herein.

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OAA Contract Suite

Did you know the OAA offers free contracts for its members and the general public? These downloadable standardized contracts make it easier for all to enter into fair, balanced business relationships.

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BLOAAG - Queen's Park Picks

Check out our  2023 Queen’s Park Picks program—a collaboration with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) across the province who share a passion for our built environment in all its many forms.

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Events Calendar

Check out our events calendar for a wide array of online and in-person events. Also submit an event using our new online form.

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