The OAA’s 136th Annual General Meeting of Members (AGM) was held as a virtual event on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, with more than 250 people attending.

Hosted by OAA President Lara McKendrick and Executive Director Kristi Doyle, the Zoom meeting began with a listing of newly licensed OAA members; you can read the names of these Architects and Licensed Technologists by clicking here. To see the agenda for the AGM, along with various related documents, click here.

McKendrick’s Presidential Address can be read on the OAA Website. The entirety of the AGM can now be viewed on the OAA YouTube channel.

Celebrations and Reflections

The event began with a traditional land acknowledgment and the introduction of the members of OAA Council—the Association’s governing board of directors.

The AGM continued on a celebratory note, with brief video tributes to the newest Members of Long Standing—individuals who have been with the OAA for more than 50 years. This year’s impressive Class of 2026 comprised:

• David W. Oleson;
• Moshe Safdie;
• Henry Schefter;
• Youssef M. Tadros; and
• Michael H.K. Wong.

Check out their profiles on the blOAAg. 

Next, Doyle shared brief citations for past OAA Councillors Deo Paquette, Ted Wilson (last year’s President), and Marek Zawadzki. These individuals were thanked for their important contributions to the Association and to the profession during their time on Council. A more somber moment followed, as McKendrick then read out the names of those members who had passed away during the 12 months since the last AGM.

Voting on Motions

While anyone was able to attend the AGM virtually, only licensed OAA members—that is, Architects and Licensed Technologists—were able to vote on motions.

The first of these was acceptance of the Synopsis of the Minutes of the 135th Meeting of the Members, which passed with 99.1 per cent in approval.

The next motion concerned the appointment of BDO Canada LLP Chartered Accountants as auditors for the OAA. This, too, passed, with 99 per cent in favour.

After this, the next motion was the confirmation of a new amendment to the OAA Bylaws, amended 2025, Schedule A. The schedule had been updated to reflect an increase in fees of 1.25% for 2026. It also was amended to incorporate a $500 application fee that is payable to the host jurisdiction, in this case the OAA, by U.S. architects applying under the updated Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between the U.S. National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC). This motion passed with 92.4 per cent in favour.

You can find the current bylaws posted on the OAA Website. You can also learn more about the MRA between Canada and the United States by clicking here.

The final motion was the appointment of Eric Haldenby for Honorary Membership. Honorary Members are a class of persons whose interests are related to those of the Association as defined in Regulation 27 under the Architects Act as those who have “rendered to the architectural profession signal or valuable service or who have scrupulously upheld the objects of the Association.” OAA Council approved putting forth Professor Haldenby’s nomination at the AGM after it was suggested by a group of OAA members. (There will be an opportunity to suggest future nominees for Honorary Membership in early 2027—watch for the announcement in OAA News.)

OAA Councillor and Past-President Bill Birdsell shared a few words about Professor Haldenby, who received the Order of Canada for his contributions to the advancement of architectural education, as well as his efforts to preserve industrial and mid-century buildings. The motion passed with 98.1 per cent in support.

Financial Reports and Presentations

McKendrick then presented the 2025 OAA Annual Report, which was structured around the Association’s five-year Strategic Plan. It has four clear priorities—Regulatory Leadership, Governance and Operations, Member Competency, and Public Education. It also names two lenses—Climate Action and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—through which the OAA views all its work.

McKendrick then reviewed the OAA’s 2025 financial statements. While the following paragraphs summarize her presentation at a high level, it is important to note her full discussion, including several infographics, can be found in the recording of the AGM on YouTube.

The President relayed how the OAA Finance & Audit Committee, in its oversight role, worked closely with Association staff to address requests for more clarity and increased transparency around financial decisions. While it is Council’s responsibility to set the OAA’s annual budget, member feedback is important and considered carefully. 

In line with industry best practices and reporting standards, the expense categories shown in the financial statements now better reflect the OAA’s mandate, and the income category titles were updated to improve understanding and increased clarity regarding operational cashflows. The audited Financial Statements show a couple of significant capital projects were undertaken in 2025: the design phase of the landscape project continued in preparation for a summer/fall 2026 construction schedule and necessary capital investments in IT infrastructure upgrades.

This portion of the AGM also examined increases in the number of members, certificates of practice (CoPs), and interns over the last 20 years, as well as general operating budget expense changes over the last decade. The status of the members’ equity was also reviewed. Again, this information can be obtained in better detail by watching the AGM.

The OAA’s Senior Vice President & Treasurer, Anna Richter, then provided her report on the 2026 finances and related items. Richter was happy to share that, through prudent financial planning and management, the plan is on track to see the Association’s reserve funds at prudent and planned levels while also allowing for a paydown on the OAA mortgage.

The AGM then continued with the Chair of the Pro-Demnity Board, Paul Gogan, offering a brief overview of Pro-Demnity’s activities over the past year.

Discussion with the Membership

In addition to questions that were asked and answered during the meeting, and after President McKendrick delivered her address, the floor was opened to AGM attendees for questions. Questions and answers provided during the meeting are captured in the video recording, but some examples include:

• acknowledgment the OAA would review the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) against its own governance framework and policies;
• clarification that the goal of the unrestricted reserve is to provide the liquidity needed for day-to-day operations and unforeseen financial shortfalls and
• confirmation the OAA has divested from fossil fuel investments and continues to prudently pay down the mortgage on its headquarters.

In response to a member asking whether Pro-Demnity offered discounts for financially struggling practices, Gogan explained that premiums reflected the three-year average of fees reported in one’s annual renewal application, which means premiums follow the average fees earned over time. He also explained Pro-Demnity will work with practices to try to pace their payments to accommodate their cash flow to the extent it can. Last year, it did not increase rates for the first time in a decade, recognizing the challenges facing the profession.

The President, SVP & Treasurer, and Executive Director also took note of other comments that had been provided by individual members using the Q & A function, including suggested improvements to the voting process, such as posting individual outcomes on screen as well as making all questions visible to members in real time. This feedback will be incorporated for next year’s AGM as the OAA continues to refine this important annual event for efficiency and transparency.