OAA Council serves as the board of directors for the Ontario Association of Architects. With election season kicking off later this fall, the OAA asked Councillors what made them want to run in the first place.  

Ted Wilson is a master lecturer at the McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University, a Sudbury-based Architect, and the President of the OAA’s governing Council. He will continue to hold the Northern Ontario seat in 2026. 

1. Why did you first decide to run for Council? 

It was part of a natural progression of my OAA involvement from being on the (now-sunset) Sustainable Built Environments Committee (SBEC) and then chairing that committee. I began to hear about an Architects Act modernization project, which I knew would be very interesting and foundational. I wanted to be part of those discussions to set the course for the OAA for the near future. 

2. What do you enjoy or appreciate about the experience? 

I really enjoy the President's Visits to the Local Architecture Societies across Ontario. Each group is incredible and doing so much interesting work in their respective communities. I appreciate the expertise and commitment of OAA staff—an amazing team! 

3. What would you say to someone thinking about pursuing a nomination for the very first time? 

Consider sitting on a Committee prior to running for Council. It is a very good way to compare your perceptions and goals with the reality of actually being involved. Build your path from there. It's a challenging, amazing, gratifying journey for someone at any stage of their career.  

This year, there are five seats for Architects and one seat for a Licensed Technologist to join Council and guide the Association in regulating the practice of architecture to protect the public interest. To learn more about running or the general processes, visit the Council Elections page.