Sudbury architect Ted Wilson takes helm as OAA president

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Mark Buckshon

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has a new president at its helm. Sudbury-based architect and Laurentian University master lecturer Ted Wilson was acclaimed to the one-year position at the OAA Council meeting in Toronto on Jan. 23.

Wilson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked with prominent Canadian architecture firms, including AECOM Canada Architects Ltd. He also coordinated engineering with LGA Architectural Partners for the design of Laurentian’s McEwen School of Architecture (MSoA), where he now teaches. His prior OAA involvement includes serving as Senior Vice President & Treasurer and chairing committees focused on governance, finance, and sustainable design.

“I joined Council to contribute to broader discussions about architects, the public interest, and the future direction of the profession,” Wilson stated. “As president, I’m committed to listening, using data-driven insights, and engaging thoughtfully and respectfully. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’m dedicated to doing it right. The public and the profession deserve that.”

The OAA’s mandate is to regulate architectural practice in Ontario, safeguarding the public interest by licensing architects and licensed technologists, setting and enforcing professional standards, and ensuring continuing education. Wilson’s priorities include advancing the OAA’s Strategic Plan, ongoing modernization of the Architects Act, supporting interns on their path to licensure, and strengthening ties with the 14 Local Architectural Societies across the province.

Wilson’s passion for architecture ignited in childhood, inspired by the design work of a friend’s father and further fueled by a visit to Expo ’67. “As an architect, the greatest joy is seeing the spark in someone’s eyes as you bring their vision to life,” he explained. He acknowledges the challenges inherent in every project, the “walls” that need to be overcome. His personal “walls” include the 14 marathons he has completed, drawing inspiration from the built environment around him.

A champion of sustainability, Wilson is a LEED AP and a Certified Passivhaus Designer. He and his partner restored their Sudbury heritage home, achieving a remarkable 90 percent reduction in energy consumption. He sees a strong connection between the OAA’s strategic priorities of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Climate Action. “Respect for others and care for the natural environment are intertwined,” he believes. “I call this environmental integrity.”

Wilson will continue teaching at MSoA during his presidency. He succeeds Settimo Vilardi, who served two one-year terms and now assumes the role of Immediate Past President. Joining Wilson and Vilardi on the OAA Executive Committee are Senior Vice President & Treasurer Lara McKendrick, and Vice Presidents Susan Speigel and Thomas Yeung. They will work alongside the OAA’s governing Council, comprised of elected architects and government appointees.

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