Culture Talks 2023 continues conversations between artists, architects, designers, city builders, and urbanists, shining a light on exemplary buildings and public art projects, and exploring the future role of artists and architects as cultural placemakers.

About the speaker:
Both architect by training (University of Montreal and Yale University) and landscape architect by association, Peter Soland is an urban designer with more than 25 years of practice and a strong reputation in Quebec. In 2015, he co-founded Montreal-based civiliti after practicing for 15 years under the name Urban Soland. The award-winning studio of 20 professionals works at all scales of planning and design, from territorial masterplans to urban placemaking to commemorative landscapes. Observer and wanderer of all scales of public space, Peter’s work is anchored by a rational and poetic approach to the city and larger territory. His practice is centred on the creation of inclusive urban landscapes that carry the city’s identity into diverse built environments, and he is inspired to create contemporary spaces that are intelligently woven into their environment while shaping new forms and meanings. Peter Soland has experience managing seasoned multidisciplinary teams and is a strong and clear communicator on large urban design projects. He manages such projects with conviction, sensibility and respect for stakeholders, allowing for emblematic projects to be realized.

This event is hosted by the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) and sponsored by the Perimeter Development Corporation and the Grand Valley Society of Architects.