OAA Council may nominate persons outside the architecture profession who have nevertheless rendered significant and valuable service to it as Honorary Members of the Association. You may submit names, the reasons for your nomination, and as much background material as possible for Council’s consideration. Submissions must be received by February 17 for consideration by Council at its March 2 meeting. Council will then propose individuals for election as Honorary Members at the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Honorary Membership is one of the highest honours the OAA can bestow on a person outside the architecture profession (or an individual who previously held a licence under the Architects Act).

They represent a “class of persons whose interests are related to those of the Association” defined in Regulation 27 under the Architects Act as “...persons who have rendered to the architectural profession signal or valuable service or who have scrupulously upheld the objects of the Association...”

In accordance with the Regulation, the election of an Honorary Member occurs at the annual meeting of members based on a nomination by the Council. The individual is then acknowledged to both the OAA membership and the general public after the AGM.

An Honorary Member is entitled to receive general information issued by the Association and to attend the AGM, but is not entitled to vote at such meetings. If the Honorary Member was previously the holder of a licence, they may use the title “architect (retired).” An Honorary Member is also eligible to serve on non-statutory committees and task groups.

Invitation for Suggestions

A notice is placed in the January and February editions of the OAA News e-newsletter each year, inviting all members to suggest to Council the names of those who might be appropriate for nomination as Honorary Members. A specific deadline is provided within the notice, which coincides with the preparation of materials for the March meeting of Council. Council members are also invited to suggest individuals for Council’s consideration.

Required Materials for Submission

Suggestions for nomination must include the following items:

• a letter to Council requesting consideration of an individual for nomination that describes the contribution to the profession which is the basis for the nomination;
• four additional letters of support from members of the profession; and
• a draft citation for the individual that would be read during the Annual Meeting of Members.

Please email completed nominations to Tina Carfa, Executive Assistant, Executive Services at tinac@oaa.on.ca.

Circulation of Suggestions

All suggestions, including those of Councillors, must be received by the February 17 deadline specified in the OAA News. The deadline allows for the material to be included in the in-camera package for the March meeting of Council. This ensures adequate opportunity for individual Councillors to review and consider the suggestions prior to the meeting. All information as noted above must be submitted.

Nomination at the March Meeting of Council

Suggestions for Nomination will be considered during the in-camera portion of the meeting. Only those individuals whose name and required information were circulated with the meeting package will be considered. A majority vote of those present is required to carry the nomination.

Preparation for Election at the Annual Meeting

The individual who suggested the nomination is contacted and asked to move the motion for election at the upcoming AGM. One of the individuals who supported the suggestion will be asked to second the motion.

Election at the Annual Meeting

The nomination for election is moved and seconded, the citation is read, and the question is called. A vote of four-fifths of the members present at the meeting is required (Regulation 27 subsection 28[3]).

Guidelines for the Nomination

In making a decision with respect to the nomination of an individual for Honorary Membership, Council will take into consideration the following principles:

1. The award is not intended to recognize an individual’s industry or success within that industry. Care should be taken to avoid awarding Honourary Membership in circumstances that may be perceived as self-interest on the part of the profession or the individuals making the suggestion/nomination for personal advancement.

2. Care should be taken to avoid awarding Honorary Membership to individuals whose contribution to the profession has been primarily motivated by self-interest.

3. The honour is not intended to recognize one-time or short-term activities of an individual related to the architectural profession, but rather recognize and honour contribution and commitment to the architectural profession over a long term.

4. The honour is intended for individuals that will truly appreciate being recognized and honoured by the architectural profession in this manner.

5. Councillors should have regard for conflicts of interest when suggestions for nomination are being considered by Council.

6. There is no requirement that any nominations be made in any given year.