The OAA has announced the most recent recipients of its Public Awareness Funding program. Held twice a year, this program offers amounts from $500 to $10,000 to applicants working to promote awareness of the value of architecture in their communities.
This aligns with the OAA’s five-year strategic plan, which identifies public education as a key priority, with the goal to advance the public’s understanding and recognition that architecture is integral to the well-being of society.
Following a thorough review, the Communications and Public Education Committee (CPEC) has selected the following applicants to receive funding.

Urban Minds Planning and Design Studio – 1UP Conference 2026
1UP Conference is a youth conference that brings together secondary school students across Ontario to celebrate and incubate city-building ideas. The 2026 conference theme is Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, with a focus on developing community-focused solutions to climate adaptation challenges—from flooding and heatwaves to sustainable transit and resilient infrastructure.

The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) – Heritage Awards
The ACO Heritage Awards is an annual event that honours outstanding work in adaptive reuse and heritage restoration. This celebration honours nominees and recipients, celebrates their endeavours and accomplishments, and encourages more great work in the realms of heritage conservation and adaptive reuse.

Laurentian University of Sudbury – Archi·North Workshops
The Archi·North Workshops offer immersive sessions that introduce high school students from across Ontario to the fundamentals of architectural representation. The program was created to expand access to architectural training in Northern Ontario, particularly within Francophone and Indigenous minority communities. Offered in both English and French, these in-person half-day and full-day sessions provide an accessible and hands-on introduction to design thinking and the foundational techniques of architectural drafting.

Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism Students – Building 22
Building 22 is an annual student-initiated publication highlighting the works of undergraduate and graduate students from the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism at Carleton University in Ottawa. This publication, now in its 25th edition, showcases the interdisciplinary work produced of the Azrieli School student body, engaging academics, professionals, and the public.

Canstruction – Canstruction Toronto 2026
Canstruction Toronto is an annual design competition, bringing together the design and engineering community to build sculptures with canned goods. Participating teams donate the cans, and contributions go to the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Ottawa Architecture Foundation – Designing a Better City Panel Discussion
Hosted by the Ottawa Architecture Foundation, this panel brings together design leaders and experts for a discussion on how design policy and commissioning strategies drive better outcomes for communities, public spaces, and the built environment.

Espanola Public Library – Espanola Walking Tour
Espanola Public Library will develop a walking tour that highlights 10 significant buildings representing the community’s architectural history and development. Offered in guided, self-guided, and virtual formats, the tour will provide accessible opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with Espanola’s built environment.

Actual Media Inc. – The Brownie Awards 2025
The Brownie Awards event recognizes the builders, innovators and visionaries who are dedicated to the rehabilitation of brownfield sites that were once contaminated, under-utilized and undeveloped into vibrant residential and commercial developments.

winterstations inc. – Winter Stations Competition and Exhibition
Winter Stations is an annual free international design competition and public art exhibition held along Toronto’s eastern beaches. Launched in 2015, the event challenges architects, artists, and designers from around the world to transform the city’s utilitarian lifeguard stations into temporary, interactive art installations. This initiative brings warmth, creativity, and community engagement to one of the coldest times of the year, transforming dormant structures into playful, thought-provoking works of art.

YNOT Services – 17th Annual Youth Potential Recognition Award Gala
YNOT Services is youth-focused educational initiative empowering children from low-income families to reach their potential. The Youth Potential Recognition Award Gala recognizes outstanding youth and supports their career development. Through an interactive program, this initiative will introduce youth to architectural career pathways, and equip them with the skills to engage with their built environment.