In anticipation of the OAA’s 2023 Conference, Designing for Dignity, we reached out to local folks from across the Sudbury region to share what they think makes it a great place to live, work, and play. In our ‘Faces of Sudbury’ series, we share their responses, in their own words.

These personal reflections shed light on the richness of the region, and celebrate the many facets that will be showcased at the bespoke Conference event in June. For the first time, the OAA is holding its annual conference at the gateway to Northern Ontario—a place of resource extraction and regeneration, of remoteness and richness, of communities and design challenges. The setting prompts us to have new conversations as well as to learn from and collaborate with local communities about the role the profession must play in supporting dignity for all.

1. Who are you and what do you do?
I am an architect and lecturer at the McEwen School of Architecture in Downtown Sudbury. I focus on building environmental performance, collaborating with the Anishinaabe community on making buildings, collaborating with neighbourhoods on making northern places, and bringing professionals to meet with graduate students to learn about the practice of architecture.

2. What excites you about living in the Sudbury area?
At a global level, the rebirth of confidence in a community that has met the challenge of patiently and persistently restoring local land, water and habitat beyond the industrial challenges of the past century. This success was most recently shared with the world at COP 15 in Montreal. At a local level, the informal, always hospitable, and very creative weaving together of the Anishinaabe, Francophone and Anglophone community stories.

3. What makes Sudbury "home" for you?
Knowing the beauty of nature is always so close at hand. Ten minutes to the dip of your toe in a lake and the beginning of a paddle. Running your fingers across the water's mirror surface. Silence.

4. What's your favourite building or structure in the city? Why?
The McEwen School of Architecture. It is my second home, after the heritage home that my partner, Deb, and I are restoring just uphill from the school in Haute-ville. I had the privilege of being part of the project consulting team led by LGA Architectural Partners that designed the school. I have wonderful memories of touring our first students through the construction. And 2023 will complete 10 years of running the architecture program. The project has significantly contributed to the vitality of Downtown Sudbury.

5. What is Sudbury's best kept secret?
A spectacularly hospitable place in a breathtaking northern landscape. Over 300 lakes. Amazing food. Awesome art. And no end of trails. Alone or together. Gone for a paddle...