NWOSA had a strong turn-out of its 21 members this past year and once again a great turnout for the OAA
President’s Tour where we hosted a Luncheon with OAA President Toon Dreessen and Executive Director
Kristi Doyle at the Bight Restaurant Mariners Hall on the Thunder Bay Waterfront.
Our top priorities for 2015 were to advance a design sponsored by NWOSA for a local urban parkette and
to complete a promotional video about architecture, what inspires us and the importance of architectural
societies – both possible because of our OAA Special Funding. The promotional film can be viewed from
the NWOSA website and the urban parkette has been recommended by Thunder Bay’s Clean green
beautiful Committee to be considered for funding in support of the project.
This year also brought about the end of the terms for both the Society Chair (Cory Stechyhsyn) and
Secretary-Treasurer (Andy Puiatti). Both will continue to support the two members who have been newly
nominated for their three-year term, Brad Green as Chair and Vikki Drapeau as Secretary-Treasurer.
The local society continues to grow with its member’s support and is increasing its regular meetings in
2016 from four to six, along with the yearly OAA Presidents Tour. Members are participating on local
committees and continue to engage with local building and planning officials.
The priorities for
2016 are to
distribute the
Promotional Film to
local high schools,
advance the Urban
Parkette project
and to develop subcommittees of the
local chapter to
focus on the
maintenance of the
website,
communications,
sponsorships and
advocating the
profession.
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Held a meeting with the local Construction Association to discuss the “Change Order” process and an
agreed method of determining sub-trade charge out rates for extras on construction change orders.
A follow-up meeting is planned early in 2016.
Provided a $500 sponsorship to the “Janes Walk Thunder Bay” and have agreed to continue this
support in 2016 with thanks to OAA Special Funding in 2015.
Provided our final $500 sponsorship for the Lakehead University Fine Arts Student Art Show. NWOSA
members felt our dollars should be shifted to sponsorships more aligned with our mandate.
Completed the NWOSA Promotional Film with thanks to OAA Special Funding in 2014
Completed the schematic design for an Urban Parkette and have a $6,000.00 sponsorship for a Public
Art component with thanks to OAA Special Funding in 2015.
A local paper, Thunder Bay Business, dedicates a section four issues per year to “Design Local – Build
Local” to showcase local architecture, engineering, construction and trades – inspired by NWOSA’s
Design Local Build Local campaign.
The local society in conjunction with the OAA and Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, hosted the
“Architecture as Economic Driver” forum with guest speakers OAA president Toon Dreessen, John
Stephenson, Ahsanul Habib and Cory Stechyshyn speaking and participating in the round-table
discussions.
The OAA hosted a Pro-Demnity Seminar and OBC 5 and 6 Storey Wood Frame Construction Seminar
in Thunder Bay this past year.
Member Sean Serino has taken a seat on the Doors Open Thunder Bay Committee to represent
NWOSA.
Member Cory Stechyshyn will be participating in developing Site Plan Control guidelines for submittals
as part of his seat on the Developers Liaison Committee with the City of Thunder Bay and continues
to sit on the Clean Green Beautiful Committee for an eleventh year.
Held four local society meetings in addition to the OAA Presidents Tour.
Cory Stechyshyn, Chair from March 2011 to January 2016 passes the position on to Brad Green, for a
3-year term.
Andy Puiatti, Treasurer from 2013 to January 2016 passes the position on to Vikki Drapeau for a 3year term.
This year we saw the final release of a promotional film for NWOSA to showcase and advocate
architecture. The film was open to any members wanting to participate and aimed to focus on the
inspiration and dedication of architects who contribute to the built environment. Participating members
were as follow;
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John Stephenson, B.Arch, OAA, MRAIC
Cory Stechyshyn, OAA, MRAIC, NCARB, LEED AP
Andy Puiatti, OAA
Matthew Mills, Dipl. Arch. Tech, LEED AP
Kim McKee, B.F.A., OAA, MRAIC
Sean Serino, B.E.D., March, OAA, RAIC
Ahsanul Habib, OAA, MRAIC
Joanna Klein, B.I.D., M. Arch., OAA, MRAIC
Although not all members participated, the intent was to keep the film generic and not showcase any one
particular architect, firm or project. No firm names are identified and discussion is universal.
The Urban Parkette project has inspired a large group of local enthusiasts to participate in several
collaborative meetings and a design charrette to develop a vacant strip of city owned land adjacent a local
live performance theatre, at a busy intersection and along one of the cities newly defined “image routes”
into an active urban parkette. The project was well received by the Clean Green Beautiful Committee and
has their support to move forward to detailed design, drawings and construction if approved by council
and contingent on funding.
With thanks to the OAA Special Funding our local society have been able to make a mark and raise
awareness of the role of architecture in our local communities this past year. A reserve remains for 2016
to put toward a Public Art component of the Urban Parkette project and to continue to sponsor the Janes
Walk Thunder Bay event.
A detailed financial report is attached.
Cory R. Stechyshyn, OAA
Northwestern Ontario Society of Architects – Past Chair
President – i4architecture
Attachments:
2015 Financial Report
Urban Parkette Site Concept Plan
(6-Feb-2016)