2025 President's Reception and SHIFT Challenge Celebration

OAA President Ted Wilson hosted this reception honouring our winners and special guests. We also welcomed our valued sponsors and delegates. The reception was followed by the SHIFT2025 Celebration and presentation.

At the SHIFT2025 Challenge Celebration, OAA Senior Vice President & Treasurer Lara McKendrick introduced the project teams behind the six jury-selected submissions for this year’s aspirational ideas competition:

Subdivillage (team led by Architects Naama Blonder and Misha Bereznyak);
The City Limits: Rethinking a 100-year-old Toronto Suburb (team led by Architect Tim Scott);
Swansea Park: A Development Concept for the Former Swansea Mews (team led by Architect David Peterson);
Parkdale Commons: A Living Food Bank (team led by Architects Luc Johnston and Nancy Chao);
The Living Core: Designing for Resiliency at Home (team led by Architect David DiGiuseppe); and
Speculative Assemblies: From Pine Needles to Pressed Coffee (team led by Architect Jerry Hacker).

The biennial OAA Awards program aims to show the public how architectural thinking can offer new approaches to societal issues, with the current focus on communities. A digital version of this year’s SHIFT book will be made available next month, and another in-person lecture event is being planned for Toronto in the fall.

SHIFT2025 Challenge Celebration Image Gallery:

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Ryan Francoz

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Close up SHIFT2025 Awards plaque

OAA Senior Vice President and Treasurer Lara McKendrick welcomes the crowd

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Ryan Francoz

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OAA Senior Vice President (VP) and Treasurer Lara McKendrick welcomes the crowd.

Naama Blonder accepting SHIFT award from OAA Vice President and Treasurer Lara McKendrick

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Ryan Francoz

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Naama Blonder accepting SHIFT award from OAA VP and Treasurer Lara McKendrick.

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Ryan Francoz

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Naama Blonder delivering her presentation.

Tim Scott accepting SHIFT award from OAA Vice President and Treasurer Lara McKendrick

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Ryan Francoz

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Tim Scott accepting SHIFT award from OAA VP and Treasurer Lara McKendrick.

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Ryan Francoz

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Tim Scott delivering his presentation.

David Peterson, Eunice Leung and Avery Peterson accepting the SHIFT award from OAA Vice President and Treasurer Lara McKendrickk

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Ryan Francoz

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David Peterson, Eunice Leung and Avery Peterson accepting the SHIFT award from OAA VP and Treasurer Lara McKendrick

David Peterson delivering his SHIFT presentation

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Ryan Francoz

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David Peterson delivering his SHIFT presentation.

Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston accepting their award from OAA Senior Vice President and Treasurer Lara McKendrick

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Ryan Francoz

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Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston accepting their award from OAA Senior VP and Treasurer Lara McKendrick.

Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston presenting their SHIFT idea.

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Ryan Francoz

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Nancy Chao and Luc Johnston presenting their SHIFT idea.

Senior VP Lara McKendrick poses with award with from left to right: Cameron McKay, Melissa Favas, David DiGiuseppe, Frances DiGiuseppe and Marcelo Graca.

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Ryan Francoz

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Senior VP Lara McKendrick presents award to (from left to right: Cameron McKay, Melissa Favas, Frances DiGiuseppe, David DiGiuseppe and Marcelo Graca)