Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture Across Canada Symposium

“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.
 

EVENT SCHEDULE:

The event will feature two distinguished keynote speakers:

• Dr. Annmarie Adams, Professor, McGill University (external link)  (DAY ONE)
• Marianne McKenna, Founding Partner, KPMB Architects (external link)  (DAY TWO)

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.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite HERE (external link) . Follow us on Instagram @takingstock_canada. 
 

DAY ONE: March 6th

Session 1: Women in Academia

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.

Moderator: Anne-Marie Armstrong, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, University of Toronto (external link) 

Panelist 1: Dr. Tania Gutiérrez-Monroy, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia (external link) 

Panelist 2: Dr. Lisa Landrum, Chair, Professor, Architect, Toronto Metropolitan University

Panelist 3: Dr. Despina Stratigakos, Professor, The State University of New York (external link) 

 

Session 2: Intersectional Barriers, the Politics of Design, and Rethinking “the Body” in Design

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. 

Moderator: Maya Desai, Chair, Associate Professor, OCAD University (external link) 

Panelist 1: Farida Abu-Bakare, Associate Principal, Director of Global Practice, WXY  (external link) 

Panelist 2: Lori Brown, Distinguished Professor, Syracuse University (external link) 

Panelist 3: Annie Boivin, PHD Candidate, UC Berkeley (external link) 

 

DAY TWO: March 7th

Session 3: Indigenous Women in Architecture

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. 

Moderator: Amina Lalor, Assistant Professor, Laurentian University  (external link) 

Panelist 1: Harriet Burdett-Moulton, Senior Architect (Retired) (external link) 

Panelist 2: Tiffany Shaw, Architect, Reimagine (external link) 

Panelist 3: KaaSheGaaBaaWeak | Eladia Smoke, Principal Architect, Smoke Architecture Inc. (external link) 

 

Session 4: Women in Practice

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.

Moderator: Jennifer Esposito, Assistant Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University 

Panelist 1: Roxanne Gauthier, Executive Director/Partner, EVOQ (external link) 

Panelist 2: Johanna Hurme, Partner, 5468796 Architecture (external link) 

Panelist 3: Brigitte Shim, Principal, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects (external link) 

 

Session 5: Taking Stock | Insight to Action

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

Moderator: Dr. Shelagh McCartney, Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University

Panelist 1: Dr. Annmarie Adams, Professor, McGill University (external link) 

Panelist 2: KaaSheGaaBaaWeak | Eladia Smoke, Principal Architect, Smoke Architecture Inc. (external link) 

Panelist 3: Marianne McKenna, Founding Partner, KPMB Architects (external link) 

Panelist 4: Rhys Phillips, Architectural Writer (external link) 

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

 

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), Nina Zabojnikova (TMU).