Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture Across Canada

"Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture Across Canada” is a 2-day symposium at Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Architectural Science, 6 & 7 March, that brings together students, architects, academics, advocates, historians, journalists, policymakers, statisticians, and others to share knowledge and experiences, advance essential conversations, and spark systemic, embedded change in pedagogy, practice, and policy for women in architecture.

This event is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), researchers from Laurentian University, McGill University, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto Metropolitan University, and University of Toronto, as well as partners Black Architects and Interior Designers Association, Building Equality in Architecture North, Building Equality in Architecture Toronto, KPMB Architects, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, South Asian Society of Architects, and Together Design Lab.

Historic and contemporary conditions will be probed through four moderated panels with presentations. The event is intended to culminate in a fifth session, Taking Stock | Insight to Action, which will identify paths for moving forward and implementation of new frameworks and possible policy change.

PROJECT TEAM:

We have assembled a team of cross-institutional leaders to coordinate the event.

• Dr. Annmarie Adams (McGill University)
• Ramona Adlakha (KPMB Architects)
• Anne-Marie Armstrong (University of Toronto and AAmp Studio)
• Maya Desai (OCAD University and Moriyama Teshima Architects)
• Jennifer Esposito (Toronto Metropolitan University and Place of Work)
• Amina Lalor (Laurentian University)
• Dr. Shelagh McCartney (Toronto Metropolitan University and Together Design Lab)
• Rhys Phillips (Architectural Writer)

Student Research Assistants include Heba Al-Fayez (TMU), Rachel Kysen (OCAD), Sammi Ku (UofT), Elaine Nahli (TMU), Saskia Scarce (TMU), and Nina Zabojnikova (TMU).

The Pit, Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Architectural Science
325 Church Street, Toronto, ON

The event will feature two distinguished keynote speakers:

• Dr. Annmarie Adams, Professor, McGill University [Day 01]
• Marianne McKenna, Founding Partner, KPMB Architects [Day 02]

• Session 01: Women in Academia
• Session 02: Intersectional Barriers, the Politics of Design, and Rethinking "The Body" in Design

• Session 03: Indigenous Women in Architecture
• Session 04: Women in Practice
• Session 05: Taking Stock | Insight to Action

Please review the agenda for more information on each session!

Taking Stock qualifies for OAA Structured Learning hours. Keynotes qualify for 1 hour of Structured ConEd each. Sessions 1-4 qualify for 2 hours of Structured ConEd each. Session 5 qualifies for 1 hour of Structured ConEd.

Coffee/Tea and Lunch will be provided on both days for ticket holders. Please bring a reusable water bottle—in support of our sustainability goals, we will not be providing single-use bottled water. Water refill stations will be available, and a limited number of cups will be on hand if needed.

A limited number of tickets are available to join a Networking Night with Session Speakers and Organizers. Light refreshments will be served. Location will be confirmed soon!

Info: Nearly 35 years ago, sociologist Peta Tancred and I interviewed a generation of Canadian women architects and wrote a book about it. Reviewers of the book lauded the main argument, which was basically an upheaval thesis. We showed that women come to the fore in periods of concentrated economic, political, and religious change. We illustrated how the trajectory of Canadian women architects differed from those in the U.S.; and we told a tale about how the Quebec story was distinct. Change is slow. We still count women architects. We still note that schools have majority women students and we wonder why or when these numbers will ever translate to the profession. Can students even name a woman architect, let alone a Canadian woman architect. Thankfully, some things have changed. The #metoo and #blacklivesmatter movements made us better. Queer theory and intersectionality have enhanced feminism. The future is bright, and feminist.

Info: This panel foregrounds current research and leadership that interrogates identity, pedagogy, and institutional frameworks within architecture and design schools. Together, these perspectives provide a critical view of how academia can both entrench traditional hierarchies and serve as a site for rethinking the future of architectural education and practice.

Info: This panel reframes equity as core to how architecture is taught and practiced, centering underrepresented women’s lived experience to move from representation to structural change. It surfaces intersectional, under-documented barriers — licensure pinch points, caregiving and
economic pressures, credential and language hurdles, and the gap between mentorship and sponsorship — while tracing how bias is embedded in briefs, studios, hiring, licensure, and procurement.

Info: Step into the world of architecture through the lens of Marianne McKenna, an inspiring leader who has not only left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape but has also shattered glass ceilings along the way. As a prolific leader and iconic architect, Marianne will share her career trajectory and insights gained throughout the course of her 35+ year career. Marianne will draw on her personal experiences and educational trajectory to provide valuable insights into the evolving role of women in the field and the transformative impact they bring to the profession.

Info: This panel will bring together the voices of Indigenous women within architectural pedagogy and practice from across Turtle Island. The discussion will centre on the unique challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous women in architecture, the navigation of cultural and community roles and responsibilities, and visions for the future of Indigenous-led design in the Canadian context.

Info: This panel investigates the practice of architecture and frameworks that either support or undermine women’s progression from graduation to leadership. Mentorship, advocacy, culture, flexibility, and policy will be examined to build a shared understanding of the barriers and opportunities, leading to actionable guidelines for firm adoption and systemic change.

Info: The event will culminate in a fifth session focused on next steps and implementing frameworks/policies to advance equity in the field.

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Host or Publisher BEAT Building Equality in Architecture Toronto