Ottawa, ON – The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), which regulates the practice of architecture to protect the public interest, is excited to bring its 2025 Conference, Reshaping Communities, to the Westin Ottawa from May 14 to 16. The three-day event will welcome more than 550 delegates, including Architects and other experts, to Canada’s capital for a comprehensive agenda of learning, networking, and celebrating Ontario's architecture profession.

Attendees will have access to an extensive lineup of Continuing Education sessions led by leading thinkers and presenters, with many sessions focused on Climate Action—a required component of the mandatory learning program for all Ontario Architects.

Bookended by plenaries exploring community engagement and net-zero Indigenous cultural spaces, the event’s dynamic programming also features classroom education sessions, experiential learning at building sites throughout Ottawa, and special evening celebrations, offering attendees additional opportunities to connect and engage.

Highlights of the Conference include the Opening Night Party on May 14 at the Ottawa Art Gallery, presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA). Guests will enjoy the celebrated architectural venue—whose expansion, led by Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. and KPMB Architects (advocate architects), was a 2022 finalist for an OAA Design Excellence Award.

The SHIFT Challenge Celebration will take place on Thursday, May 15 at the Westin Ottawa to honour the six jury-selected proposals for the biennial aspirational concepts program. This year’s edition asked members of the architectural community to show how they could approach the theme of Reshaping Communities to address pressing societal issues. The event will be followed by the annual Archifête party at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Beyond its robust lineup of professional development offerings, the 2025 OAA Conference remains a premier opportunity to celebrate the role of architecture in reshaping communities while fostering meaningful connections across the field. The Association will also be hosting a meeting of its governing Council and the chairs of its Local Architectural Societies during the week.

For more information, visit the OAA Website.