Milestones in a career and life are a wonderful way of inspiring our emerging young leaders. Please share a proud or “magic moment” that shaped your journey?
Moving to Canada in 2015 was probably one of the biggest leap of faiths I made, and I haven’t looked back. Canada and the industry have been very kind to me.
Who were your major influencers/mentors (up to 2) and what were the key lessons you gained from them?
Mentor #1: Kristy Shortall, Kristy is an inspiring leader who fearlessly takes on any challenge put in front of her. I have never seen someone do their job with such drive, passion and leadership. She inspires me every day in my current role and provides tremendous support to me at work and in life in general. I will be forever grateful.
What do you think are the next big challenges we need to tackle as an industry and as a successful city-region? Are there specific things you think we should be doing to meet the challenges?
The Greater Toronto Area is facing some major challenges currently and the next 5-10 years will require some major investments if we want to ensure the City remains livable and attractive especially to young people and families. More Affordable housing, improved public transportation and measures to make the city safer and more welcoming are all areas that I am keeping an eye on as I am raising my own children in this city. As an industry, ensuring we create places that all people can thrive socially and economically are key.
Tell us how you champion others in the industry.
I remember being a young graduate unsure of the path in front of me, or that fresh-off-the boat foreigner who just needed a foot in the door to kick start my career in Canada. The struggles that comes in those early days are really challenging, therefore since I’ve been more established in my career, I like to ensure I give time back to help guide those young graduates and immigrants wherever I can. Additionally, I like to see and give merit where merit is due to my peers. So supporting, celebrating and showcasing their achievements is equally important for me.
What is your secret talent no one knows you have?
If I were to live an alternative life I would have been a fashion designer. I grew up making and altering clothes alongside my Mother and will forever have a passion for fashion design.
What is the best word to describe you? And Why?
Resilient. This is a tough one as it’s always hard to self reflect but “resilient” comes to mind when I think of the many challenges I have faced over the years – professionally, on projects and personally. I’ve always somehow managed to come out the other side. Remember – This too shall pass.
erin July 2nd, 2024
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Milestones in a career and life are a wonderful way of inspiring our emerging young leaders. Please share a proud or “magic moment” that shaped your journey?
I really struggled through first year architecture school. As someone who thought they would go into medicine or engineering, I found the creative aspect of the discipline incredibly challenging. Looking back, I can pin-point exactly when things clicked for me. First, for the first time, I had a female professor that made it possible for me to see myself in this profession. Second, it was the semester we took on the design of houses/housing, which has turned out to be the typology I have specialized in over the last ten years
Who were your major influencers/mentors (up to 2) and what were the key lessons you gained from them?
Mentor #1: My Grandfather, Although my grandfather was a television and radio repairman by trade [introducing the first color television to Sault Ste. Marie], in my opinion, he embodied basic characteristics essential to an architect; architect as dreamer, as problem solver, as craftsperson, as builder. Although I have known and admired many architects, my grandfather played a major
role in shaping my core values. He taught me to take pride in craft, to tinker, to search for answers in the details, to think with my hands, to see creation as a process and not only as an end product, and to always enjoy the work.
Mentor #2: Jennifer Luce, Luce et studio, During the time I spent with Jennifer in her creative design studio in southern California, she demonstrated every day what it was to be a strong female in a male dominated environment. And that sometimes as an architect you need steel toes and a hard hat and other days stilettos and a little black dress.
What do you think are the next big challenges we need to tackle as an industry and as a successful city-region? Are there specific things you think we should be doing to meet the challenges?
The profession and practice of architecture is changing. I am passionate about educating future practitioners and leaders to meet the opportunities and demands of our evolving discipline.
Tell us how you champion others in the industry.
I am committed to mentorship and advocacy for social and environmental justice in the profession. This is reflected in my work as a mentor with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) as well as Women in Design and Mentorship Collective (Harvard University) as well as my role with various task forces and organizations such as the Equity Diversity Inclusion and Justice Committee of the Chair (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) where I am currently serving as the chair of the Executive Committee.
What is your secret talent no one knows you have?
Amateur folk art collector.
What is the best word to describe you? And Why?
Rigour; as a former competitive athlete, my dedication to architecture evolved from a commitment to discipline and physical and mental preparedness.
erin July 2nd, 2024
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Milestones in a career and life are a wonderful way of inspiring our emerging young leaders. Please share a proud or “magic moment” that shaped your journey?
The moment I realized that I should just ask questions without feeling embarrassed was a truly liberating feeling. The more I asked, the more I came to realize that not everybody had the answers and that more often than not, not everybody was on the same page!
Who were your major influencers/mentors (up to 2) and what were the key lessons you gained from them?
Mentor #1 – Fellow female directors in the Urban Division at Mattamy
Why?
All the female directors at Mattamy are carving out paths for themselves by putting their hard work, brilliance and dedication to leading their respective teams. In observing every single one of them, the grace and patience with which they carry themselves and lead their team members is admirable and awe-inspiring. All are well on their ways to taking over the Division 🙂
Mentor #2 – Former manager in the Urban Division at Mattamy
Why?
A former manager of mine has a way of balancing honesty with praise and productive criticism. He saw the great things that I was capable, even before I could see them in myself. I aim to be the considerate people leader that he is.
What do you think are the next big challenges we need to tackle as an industry and as a successful city-region? Are there specific things you think we should be doing to meet the challenges?
I think creating a more inclusive space for marginalized populations is the next biggest challenge. We need to have those tough conversations about how we can make our industry, City and Buildings, etc more inclusive for those that have mobility issues, those that recently immigrated to Canada and those that are BIPOC. We’ve made great strides but there are many who don’t know how to start these conversations or even know where to begin. The onus should be on city builders to educate themselves, seek out the learnings and ask questions where uncertain.
Tell us how you champion others in the industry.
Building connections and sharing resources! Sometimes, it’s just about knowing where to start that is the key. I’m always open to coffee chats and introductory calls where I can give advice. Further, I have all the time in the world for young women starting out in the real estate industry! Having honest conversations and providing productive feedback (where some may be too polite or uncomfortable) is the greatest service anybody could give me so I’m very happy to do the same for others as well.
What is your secret talent no one knows you have?
I used to partake in all types of dance since high school and I almost chose the BFA dance program at York University over the Planning program at TMU! I still like to take a drop-in class every now and again.
What is the best word to describe you? And Why?
Resourceful! I may not know all the answers but I know where to go/how to coax the answer out of people.
erin July 2nd, 2024
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Milestones in a career and life are a wonderful way of inspiring our emerging young leaders. Please share a proud or “magic moment” that shaped your journey?
The best part about being in the housing industry – whether that was through my role as Deputy Mayor, Chair of Planning and Housing at the City of Toronto, or through my current role at Dream – I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects that have had tremendous impacts on people’s lives. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the real-life impact of a home on people and their families and knowing that you contributed to that.
I have been privileged to have multiple magic moments throughout my career – one of them was back when I was a Toronto City Councillor. I had worked closely with the city to get the first modular housing units built in the City of Toronto, and I got to be there when we welcomed the units’ first tenants.
At Dream, one project in particular really stands out – the West Don Lands. When I was Deputy Mayor in 2018 I joined Ontario’s Minister of Housing to announce the RFP for these provincially owned lands. The partnership Dream, Kilmer and Tricon (DKT) was awarded the project which received financing from CMHC, and City of Toronto incentives through waivers of development charges and property taxes (open Door Program). Through this successful collaboration, residents were being welcomed into their new purpose-built rental homes by the summer of 2023. 30% of these units are affordable and have supports from several non-profits currently partnering with DKT. It was incredibly inspiring to see policies that I championed at City Hall be successfully implemented and I am thrilled to now be a part of the Dream team working to apply these success stories to other projects.
Who were your major influencers/mentors (up to 2) and what were the key lessons you gained from them?
My grandmother. She always told me, “Never forget where you come from,” because she believed in the importance of community so much. The community that raised you will always be there to support you and when you have the opportunity to give back, you should take it. I share her deep love and commitment to community. I definitely got it from her.
In addition to commitment to community, my grandmother was incredibly resilient. She came from quite modest means, but she worked so hard to give her daughters the best possible education and opportunities in life. She has always inspired me.
What do you think are the next big challenges we need to tackle as an industry and as a successful city-region? Are there specific things you think we should be doing to meet the challenges?
The biggest challenge – and the biggest opportunity – for our industry is the fast-paced growth our region is experiencing without the right market conditions in place to accommodate that growth. Canada is growing at a record pace, which is fantastic for our country and the communities in it. But this growth is being met with roadblocks: high inflation and interest rates, a labour shortage, and a lack of infrastructure to support new and growing communities.
It is becoming increasingly challenging to build affordable homes, and once those homes are built, they are not being met with the infrastructure and services necessary to support the people living in them.
Our industry needs to continue working with government to reduce the cost of taxation and fees so that it costs less to build housing, we need to strengthen our partnerships with not-for-profit organizations, businesses and government to create more housing options, and we need to be more innovative in how we reduce construction costs.
Tell us how you champion others in the industry.
Encouragement, for me, is so important. Whether it’s young people just getting into the industry or leaders who have been doing this work for a long time, we have to lift people up whenever and however we can. I encourage people to take the lead and not be afraid to challenge themselves. It’s also important to empower people by giving them the opportunity to take a lead role on things and really learn by doing. Giving people visibility is also so helpful in this industry. Bringing people to events, showcasing their work on a broader scale and introducing them to more people in the industry are great ways to do help champion others.
What is your secret talent no one knows you have?
I play the ukulele! Back in university, my friends and I started a music group called Luso Can-Tuna to celebrate our Portuguese culture and bring people together through song. 26 years later and the group is still going strong!
What is the best word to describe you? And why?
I would describe myself as a bridge builder. At the end of the day, to get anything done, we need to work together. Right now, more than ever, we need to get housing built and push forward necessary policy changes so we can improve the lives of Canadians and the communities they call home. We do that by working as a team. I was a City Councillor for twelve years, working with people from every political stripe. We did this well because we all shared one common goal: get things done for Torontonians. I carry that same mindset with me at the current role at Dream.
erin June 24th, 2024
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Magic Moment: After completing my undergraduate degree in Montreal at McGill University, I moved back to Vancouver (where I grew up) to figure out my next steps. As a recent graduate, the future was notionally filled with endless opportunity, but was also so daunting, in that I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to interrupt established approaches to urban development by centering community voice and power in the process. It was daunting because there were no obvious entry points to do that work. Upon returning to Vancouver, I had gotten myself a job at the local mountain, printing out lift tickets, scheduling kids into lessons, and doing some administrative work for their ski school. In the quiet moments when it was less busy, I would daydream ways to bring this ambition I had to life: to build an organization that helped shift power from some to many, that would specifically focus on those who identify as multi-barriered, or equity-deserving. After a few months of daydreaming, I came home from one of my shifts, and went online to learn about the process of incorporating a company, and the next morning before heading to work, I went and filed the paperwork to incorporate my first company – at 22 years old – a social enterprise that would over its decade in business, would proceed to become the first of its kind in Canada to do deep participatory infrastructure and design with equity-deserving communities across Canada. I had few resources, and a lot of unknowns ahead, but my intuition was clear that – with all of the unknowns – I was on exactly the right path.
Key Influence:
Robin Wall Kimmerer (major influence): Her work has had a profound impact on how I practice decolonizing my own approach to city building, and opening the aperture of my focus beyond only engagement with humans, and recognizing the more-than-human, vital natural world that deserves an opportunity to be heard.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: We need to stop seeing social equity as an act of charity, or corporate social responsibility, but rather as a core part of the work of building resilient and thriving communities, cities, and regions. We’ve seen during the pandemic that “our collective liberation is bound” (Lilla Watson), and that social equity can’t come in and out of focused, but needs to be a central strategic imperative for the development industry.
On Championing Others…: Our organization has a mandate to “advance a fair and just world, raising others up as we rise.” As my access increases, I ensure that it’s distributed, and find ways to share it. This shows up in mentorship, sponsoring opportunities for others, investing in initiatives led (in particular) by young, racialized women, passing opportunities to folks in community to expand their platform, and sharing any learning I develop (on everything from business models to navigating the industry, on financial matters to mental health) with those I mentor and collaborate with.
Secret Talent: I’m a multi-disciplinary artist, currently focused on textiles and rug-making!
One word that captures you: Polymath – because my practice and interests are incredibly lateral!
erin June 20th, 2023
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Magic Moment: I have been lucky enough to have a number of memorable moments, but would like to mention three. The first is being hired by Omar Gandhi as an Associate to lead his Toronto studio. He believed in me and had confidence in me and my abilities before I had confidence in myself. The second is when my first OAA mentee, now a licensed architect, asked me to be his mentor. I strive to mentor openly and honestly and I do my best to share knowledge and skills in a profession that can be unnecessarily competitive. My first mentee and I had worked together when he was a co-op student, and I was humbled to know I had made an impression. The third is a DesignTO tour at Prime Seafood Palace that I gave with Stephen Dalrymple of Coolican and Company where we spoke about the design of the space and our process. It was incredible to give an honest, intimate overview of this project I had poured my heart into for six years, to an audience of people who felt inspired by the project and wanted to know more.
Key Influence:
My parents: My dad taught me humility, kindness, passion and the importance of laughter. My mom imparted creativity, strength, resilience, motivation and commitment.
My Aunt Karen: Remember from a young age her sitting and drawing with me – back then it was always rainbows, that’s the only thing I wanted to draw. I looked up to her then, and I still do today. She was a role model of what a successful, smart, independent, career-oriented woman looked like, and she provided me countless opportunities throughout my life that I continue to look back on fondly. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her support and generosity.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The housing crisis and lack of affordable housing. The right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right. We need to improve access to housing, a problem that disproportionately impacts marginalized and equity-deserving groups. We need to recognize this as an emergency and act accordingly.
On Championing Others…: I am a founding member of Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) and am currently Chair of the Executive Committee. BEAT is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to empowering women in the design profession by creating opportunities for community building, advocacy, networking and mentorship. I also mentor several OAA interns on the path to licensure and volunteer my time at post-secondary institutions.
Secret Talent: Spotting greyhounds! Anyone who knows me, understands my deep love for those beautiful creatures with their tiny heads. I’ve developed a sixth sense for them, and I can spot them a mile away. I will always stop to say hi, and I have no qualms about chasing perfect strangers down the street to meet their sweet pups.
One word that captures you: Determined. When I set my sights on something, I will not give up until I reach my goal. I don’t cut corners or take shortcuts – when I sign up for something, I make sure it completed to the best of my ability without compromising the original vision.
erin June 20th, 2023
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Magic Moment: A major milestone in my career was the grand opening of Guelph Market Square in 2012. Watching people gather, interact, and find joy in the space was incredible. Seeing people enjoy the projects we build affirms my contribution to enhancing their quality of life, fostering a sense of community, and creating an environment that promotes well-being. This milestone moment fills me with pride, fuels my passion, and reinforces my commitment to making a positive impact through creative and sustainable designs. The great thing about what I do is that I get to continue creating new places and revisit built works, bringing myself that joy all over again.
Key Influence:
Janet Rosenberg: I have learned many lessons from Janet working with her over the last 17 years, ranging from big picture strategic thinking down to very specific plant selections. Early in my career Janet’s ability to quickly review a design and recommend improvements helped me to develop a quick and considerate design eye. Her acumen for client relations was also very formative, as she expanded my network by bringing me along to meetings and client presentations. But perhaps my most favorite lesson would be Janet’s ability to quickly action things to get them moving or unstick a problem just by picking up the phone and putting things in motion. Her commitment to each individual staff member over the years and her concern for their advancement as Landscape Architects has been inspiring.
Jill Hutcheon: Now retired, my mother worked tirelessly for the Ontario Public Service for over 35 years, creating policies that impacted the public and made governmental changes for the betterment of society. From a young age, I witnessed her dedication to her career and the public she served. As an Assistant Deputy Minister in Education and Transportation and a Deputy Minister in Labour, her work directly impacted me and my daily life, and I began to see the power of policy along with the great efforts it took to come to a consensus. She certainly had to make sacrifices due to her demanding work, but without that I wouldn’t have the passion and dedication I have towards my career today. In the final 7 years of her career, she served and President and CEO of WSIB, where I learned more about her leadership in team building, commitment to advocacy for injured workers, and equity and inclusion in the organization itself.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing challenges, and urban development can take the lead in prioritizing innovative solutions. From a landscape perspective, nature-based technologies and green infrastructure can be a big part of the solution. This approach not only combats climate change but also supports human activities sustainably. Recognizing the interconnectedness of humans and nature is crucial, and implementing higher performance green infrastructure within our projects is a must. By embracing green infrastructure, we can create resilient urban environments that mitigate climate change and promote coexistence with the natural world.
On Championing Others…Encouraging women entering the profession to look for mentors and advocate for career advancement is a particular interest. Supporting them in feeling that they are active drivers of their career is an important message I like to pass along. I champion others in the industry by advocating for their success, supporting their growth, and promoting their achievements. Much of this is done within the realm of the Studio where mentoring team members is a significant part of everyday, but I also attend various educational and networking events at the Daniel’s School of Architecture where I share my knowledge and experience and provide advice regarding the student’s professional development.
Secret Talent: A much-loved talent not many people know about is my passion for planning backcountry canoe trips for my family and friends. As a landscape architect, I understand the significance of reconnecting with nature and the inherent value it holds. Exploring the wilderness through canoe camping allows me to immerse myself in the natural environment, gain inspiration, and appreciate the intricacy of living landscapes. Moreover, embarking on these adventurous trips presents a sense of challenge and excitement, pushing me to overcome obstacles and fostering my spirit of adventure. This unique combination of planning, passion for the outdoors, and thirst for challenge fuels my ability to create memorable experiences that bring people closer to nature. This past fall I had the joy of introducing my two nieces (ages 15 and 8) and my 3-year-old daughter to the backcountry.
One word that captures you: Passionate – I am driven by a deep desire to acquire knowledge across a wide range of subjects. My curiosity often leads me down intricate paths of exploration, delving into rabbit holes to uncover more information and broaden my understanding.
erin June 20th, 2023
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Magic Moment: Finding times and moments to self-advocate for what you know you can do. When you can sit at a table and say ‘I think I am capable of this; Give me the chance to show you.’ Those moments are terrifying but have led to some of the best forks in the road of my career and my life. I usually just repeat to myself that the worst thing that can happen is they can say ‘No’ and I’ll be in the same position I would have been had I never asked at all.
Key Influence:
Katherine Latimer: Katherine encouraged me to just keep asking questions. She saw questions as doing two things (1) giving me a chance to really learn and make sure I understood so that I could turn out really strong work product that met the goals of the team, and (2) as a way to understand what someone else might want and why they might want it – this was often powerful in negotiations; if instead of saying ‘we won’t agree to x’, she taught me to say ‘can you tell me why x is so important to you’; this led to learning about the other person, sometimes they realized it wasn’t important to them, or that what was important to them we could achieve in a different way.
Jessica Sisk Roehle: Jess gave me the freedom to pursue what I thought was right. She often said ‘Don’t come to me with problems; come to me with ideas and solutions and a plan on how you will implement them. She helped me begin to think about problems as things I was empowered to solve, instead of things I need to present to her to solve. She gave me a lot of leeway to put ideas into action. She gave me room to both succeed and fail. In doing so she let me hone my leadership skills and let me understand the consequences of taking risks in trying to make changes and achieve goals.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Affordable housing is a major crises. But understanding how complex and multilayered it is will be critical to tackling it successfully. It’s not just ‘set rent control’ or ‘stop building condos’. It’s everything from financing requirements for new developments, construction costs, labour costs, insurance costs, planning process bottlenecks, navigating incentive programs at multiple levels of government without any coordination between those different levels. There’s mental health issues, there’s the definition of what affordable, there’s cost of living issues. Working together for holistic approaches instead of short sighted quick fixes is necessary.
On Championing Others…: Working collaboratively instead of combatively to achieve goals. The industry is both big and tiny. Over the years we will work together over and over. Treating each other with respect, with compassion and with honesty should be a baseline for all interactions.
Secret Talent: I’m amazing with cranky babies. Hand me one, and it will be cooing or sleeping soon after.
One word that captures you: Enthusiastic. I am generally excited about life, about learning new things, about making things happen.
erin June 20th, 2023
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Jennifer leads First Capital’s national development and construction strategy, overseeing all activities across the portfolio. Her mandate focuses on creating value through the redevelopment of existing retail assets alongside the execution of strategic mixed-use and purpose-built rental projects in Canada’s largest cities.
Jennifer brings over 15 years of experience in development strategy, project underwriting, and stakeholder and partner engagement. Leading a team of 32 professionals, she is a dedicated mentor who prioritizes building high-performing teams and driving long-term enterprise value through disciplined execution and design excellence.
erin June 20th, 2023
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