2020 RAIC Foundation Scholarship and Bursary Recipients

CaGBC Scholarship

Alix Lanyon-Taylor, of University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba is the 2020 recipient of the RAIC Foundation’s CaGBC Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship was established through an endowment from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) to promote and encourage sustainable research and design in Canadian schools of architecture and nurture the next generation of “green” designers.

“I am honoured to receive the 2020 Canadian Green Building Council Scholarship. I am indebted to my educators at the University of Manitoba and the research of Canadian-Indigenous architectural scholars: thank you for teaching me the history of the Red River in Treaty 1 Territory and advocating for a more equitable and sustainable built environment.”

The jury noted that “the research project sets up an ambitious and important direction for sustainable design practice in Canada.  In the words of the applicant: “Perhaps architecture has an opportunity to renegotiate land use practices by offering an ecological approach to urbanism where the interface between person and environment encourages a reevaluation of our collective responsibility to community and sustainability.”

Kiyoshi Matsuzaki Scholarship

Jessica Gibson of Regina, SK is the recipient of the 2020 Kiyoshi Matsuzaki Scholarship. This $3,000 endowment, open to students of the RAIC Syllabus Program, was established in honour of the late Kiyoshi Matsuzaki PP/FRAIC. It represents his l belief in the future of the profession of architecture and his support of the next leaders of the profession.

“Receiving the Kiyoshi Matsuzaki RAIC Endowment Fund and Scholarship will allow me to complete my diploma during a very uncertain time around the world, and has helped ease the financial burden of those final classes.  I greatly appreciate the support from the RAIC in the pursuit of my dream to be an Architect, and look forward to giving back to the RAIC Syllabus program in the future.  The Syllabus program is an integral key to the success of many Students and Architects across the country, and I thank you for your support and generosity.”

The jury noted “Jessica’s academic record demonstrates a long commitment to the program, completing academic and studio courses on a progressive basis since her start in 2012. Jessica’s combined portfolio of design-studio and office work show not only a clear passion for design but also an ability to bring creative project elements together to create a cohesive whole.” 

Foundation Bursary

Kellie Chin (Project Co-Lead)	Naomi Shewchuk (Project Co-Lead)

Kellie Chin and Naomi Shewchuk of Toronto, ON, are the recipients of the 2020 RAIC Foundation Bursary. The RAIC Foundation Award has been established for a project that relates to Architecture in its broadest sense that encourages public education or makes possible significant scholarly research that results in publication, exhibitions, symposia, lectures, and/or conferences.

“The financial support provided by the RAIC allows our work to continue in immediate term, but the long term benefit of a program like this allows for more: it says this work matters.”

The jury commented “we support the energy of this proposal, its timeliness, and relevance. The open-endedness of their research is to the purpose and the focus on policy is astute. Addressing the issue of public health and housing in the under-housed population is more than a design issue; it is directly related to public policy. By disseminating the work to the public and targeting policymakers, this kind of applied research can affect change.”

These awards are just three of many sponsored by the RAIC Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the next generation of Canadian architects and their valuable contribution to the quality of communities and community life across Canada.

RAICF Executive Director Jim Taggart adds: “We consider this support to be critical and would like to extend our reach to offer more scholarships, awards and grants.

We would also like to support the participation of architectural students, interns and young practitioners in local, national and international events that will amplify these emerging voices and contribute fresh ideas to contemporary architectural discourse.” 

If you share this vision, please support the RAIC Foundation with a monthly donation at www.raicf.ca, or contact Jim Taggart for more information by e-mail at raic.foundation@raicf.ca or by phone at 604-874-0195.