Magic Moment: I began my career as a planning consultant in Edmonton and one of my first projects was leading the development approvals for a mixed-use high rise development located near an LRT station. I returned several years later and visited this site, which was fully constructed and occupied at the time. This was the first moment I really understood the impact we can each have on the built environment and it inspired me to continue to do more to create livable vibrant communities.
Key Influence: Misty Sklar and Lorraine Huinink
Misty Sklar: Misty was one of my first mentors and was a great role model of positive leadership. She truly cared about her work and team, and sought to bring out the best in everyone.
Lorraine Huinink: Lorraine is an amazing leader, she always has a positive attitude and finds a way of helping others build on their strengths. She has been a wonderful source of support and guidance for me as my career has progressed.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Our challenges are and will continue to be the supply and affordable of housing and access to good transit for many years. I believe the best way of tackling these will be through incremental change, each new project and development should build upon the latest best practice and push the boundaries a bit more. These are incredibly complex issues without an easy fix, which requires a bespoke approach to each project to properly address the unique context. I think we need to be more open about what is working well and not working well in the industry, to learn what we can continue to improve upon.
On Championing Others… I have been very fortunate to have many champions throughout my life and career, and hope to do this for others. I actively seek opportunities to participate in formal and informal mentorship, and have learned that seemingly smaller things such as one-off conversations can have a significant impact. Making younger or newer members of the industry feel welcome and included is important to me, it can be very intimidating to join the development community. With my own team, I strive to provide them opportunities that will serve them later in their career and beyond their current role.
Secret Talent: I really like to draw, mostly buildings and landscapes. I took a drawing class when I lived in Scotland and found I really enjoyed it.
One word that captures you: Motivated. I truly enjoy the work I do and people I have the privilege of doing it with. The impact of our work and the responsibility we have to improve our communities motivates me to push projects forward and seek the best possible outcomes.
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: As Canada’s representative, being elected Chair of the World Green Building Council in 2018.
Key Influence: My Dad. Focus on purpose in your career and work will be delightfully fullfilling.
Queen Hatshepsut. As a woman Pharaoh, it is believed she was the Architect of her own funerary temple during her reign. She dressed in men’s clothing to do so but stuck to her passion.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Climate change impacts. No basement in Toronto is properly, if at all insured with rising waters and underground streams. Invest in infrastructure. The public transit expansions, bicycle lanes and public open space development are amazing but our main sewer trunk lines, especially Coxwell, are beyond their end of life and we cannot ignore the buried infrastructure we do not see.
Secret Talent: I was born with no embarrassment gene.
On Championing Others… I would be most interested in hearing the opinion of others but I hope it is that I am approachable. I welcome connecting people and organizations to the information and answers they are looking to find. I am a life long learner. I mentor a lot of next gen future leaders and I learn from them every day!
One word that captures you: I yelled out to my son and girlfriend and they yelled back just now ’empathetic.’
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: While I have been so fortunate to be part of a number of exciting moments and initiatives in my career, one of the landmark or most ‘magic’ moments remains the opportunity that I had in 2011 to showcase my hometown of Windsor-Essex as one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities of the Year. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the wonderful achievements that the region had been working so diligently on for so many years, spanning innovation, health care, international collaboration and education. It was a moment to celebrate so much that, until that time, was under-recognized. To have that chance, to tell the story of the region was remarkable. It not only celebrated the achievements of the past, but it also sparked a reimagining of the art of the possible for the area, catalyzing many of the high-impact programs that are still delivering amazing results today! Ona personal level, it was a pivotal moment that provided me with a pathway to then move into my role at Waterfront Toronto -which is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to work on a project that will have a long-term legacy of national significance.
Key Influence: Marisa Piattelli and Meg Davis.
Key Lesson: Marisa always encouraged her team to strategically explore challenges with integrity. She had a grace and professionalism that was unwavering. Her kindness and gentle nature consistently demonstrated leadership through patience and integrity.
Meg embraces new team members at Waterfront Toronto to ensure they understand the goals and objectives of the organization as well as grows competence and confidence in her team at all times. Meg is diligent, tenacious and tireless in her efforts to always act in a way that respects the public good. As someone that came in from outside of the traditional fields associated with Waterfront Toronto’s revitalization efforts, Meg has helped (and continues to help) me understand underlying issues and concerns from other disciplines. Her approach with her team is one that focuses on empowerment and trust, which I have long admired and have tried to employ in my own teams.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: In order to be successful in the next chapter, it is my belief that we need to have a significant focus on climate resiliency and inclusive community development. Ensuring sustained investments in infrastructure, including transportation, will be vital as will designing and investing in communities that provide access to essential needs and opportunity for all. Having a thoughtful and intentional approach to inclusive prosperity will be necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.
On Championing Others… I feel it is essential to always provide support for colleagues as well as ensure that they have platforms to further their work – be that by encouraging them to voice their contributions and concerns, or promoting them for opportunities to showcase their expertise in more public forums (e.g. conferences and events). When working with junior staff, I feel it is important to provide them with moments that they can meet in terms of challenges that they can successfully navigate through practically honing their skills, encouraging continued professional development, as well as sharing candid, honest feedback with them in real-time, so that learning and development is ongoing as opposed to simply a part of a formal evaluation process. As part of that growth, it is important to be present in conversations, listening to learn where they have needs for support and then respond as appropriate to help them become increasingly more successful in their work.
One word that captures you: Authentic – I approach my work without pretense, with honesty and integrity.
Secret Talent: Admittedly I’m a *bit* of a trivia buff – especially movie trivia…
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: As a consultant, I have to say several of my most proud moments come from being the successful bid on an assignment I really wanted. There is something about the challenge, trying to uncover the client’s needs, bringing a custom team together, working around various obstacles and effectively communicating our unique approach that can be both the most difficult and exciting part of the job. After putting yourself out there and all of your energy into submitting something you are truly proud of for a project you really want to work on, to find out you won the assignment and get to deliver on your promises can be exhilarating.
Key Influence: Ann Joyner, Ron Shishido and my parents.
Key Lesson: As early career mentors, they introduced me to the profession, showed me that I could be successful and were there to guide me when I needed support.
My parents have taught me to be passionate about what I do and that I can do anything (but not everything).
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The changing climate, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the need for adequate housing and better support of our most vulnerable. We are in a unique moment where COVID has impacted the way we live, work and play, and there is an opportunity to set up new more sustainable habits moving forward. The pandemic has also exposed and exacerbated many of our existing societal inequalities. We must do better.
On Championing Others… I have been fortunate to work with so many exceptional people and have the opportunity to mentor, advise and coach many of them towards their career aspirations. Many of my most proud moments are when those I have mentored or advised achieve one of their career goals. I see my most important role as a leader is to cultivate the leader in others.
One word that captures you: Driven. I am fortunate that I have been able to find joy and passion for what I do. I have many interests and am easily motivated
to achieve results.
Secret Talent: I can touch my tongue to my nose 😛
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: The birth of our daughter was magical and blessed.. She was delivered by 9 people. What a community experience. What a collective, impromptu, common interest moment. Thanks to the Village for showing that day the spirit of collectivity. July 1st is a special day for me and I am happy our daughter has chosen the great profession of midwifery.
Key Influence: My grandmother Edna Walcott. She was an entrepreneur, understood the market place and had a great sense of humor.
My grandfather. He had vision, was a builder, used his hands, could design anything, make anything. He was kind and community engaged.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Moving courageous conversations into action and tangible items. Re-thinking avenues of access into the industry. Affordability of homes and space.
Secret Talent: It’s a secret.
On Championing Others… By modeling, networking, inclusion of others and new ideas, access to new opportunities.
One word that captures you: Engaging. I see life as Call and Response. The world, history, the moment calls and the spirt asks, how will you respond? Engagement.
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: July 19th, 2004. The day I opened the doors of my own architecture practice. At that point I had been working in architectural firms for 25 years, but this was my initiative, my firm, I owned its future successes or failures. I was very excited, and a little bit afraid. I had somehow persuaded 11 incredibly talented people to join me. Many of them are still with me as we have grown the firm to 60 people in three cities. The energy that day was electric.
Key Influence: My father, Francis J. Martin. Architecture is in my DNA. It runs in the family, from my grandfather and uncle to my great-grandfather. But the person who influenced me most was my own father, he was not an architect, he was a craftsman with a great love of art, music – classical and jazz – and architecture. He taught me how all of those intersect, but most of all he taught me the value of work done well.
MaryJane Dekort. I came to know MaryJane during her many years at Mattamy Homes. At Mattamy she went from sales to lead their marketing department and eventually became executive vice president of the home building company. As architect to Mattamy I worked directly with MaryJane and Peter Gilgan as Mattamy grew to become the largest homebuilder in Canada. MaryJane’s children were grown then, and my children were still young, she never minded the interruptions as I tried to be both a mother and an architect. She gave me a lot of valuable advice over the years but most importantly she was an excellent role model in the great value of building strong teams and in mentoring young women and working mothers.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Access to safe, clean, and adequate housing is a basic human right. It is not a privilege. And it cannot be only for the privileged – particularly in a country as wealthy as Canada. So many in our region are under-housed or neglected, in overcrowded “warehouses”, with unsafe drinking water, in apartments infested with mold, or living below ground in poorly ventilated basement apartments. People yearn to buy their first home but are out bid by a market that favours investors. We must understand the value of giving everyone a voice in solving our housing crisis. At Q4A we are listening to people, we are listening to our clients, and we are looking for changes in our work that will create real solutions.
Secret Talent: Numbers. I have an uncanny ability to do rapid mental math, or to draw to scale without a scale, or to gauge room sizes without a tape measure.
On Championing Others… I designed Q4 Architects as a firm where everyone can thrive. Rather than making women choose between family or career, I promote a flexible work environment where no two solutions are the same. Mothers can help chart their own course to help find balance between work and the home. We encourage skills upgrading and professional development by offering all employees opportunities to pursue further education.
One word that captures you: Invested. I have an unbridled interest in people and how they live.
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: The adoption of the Northeast False Creek Area Plan by Vancouver City Council in 2018. This was the culmination of 2 years of intense and ground-breaking community engagement and cultural policy development work. This process engaged the general public and multiple stakeholder groups over two years and included deep engagement with the Hogan’s Alley Working Group and representatives from the region’s Black community ultimately leading to a co-developed design for the Hogan’s Alley block and the inclusion of a Reconciliation and Cultural Redress chapter in the final Area Plan, a first for the City of Vancouver.
Key Influence: Every community that has trusted me to be a part of their process.
Key Lesson: Everything I know and use in my practice has been fundamentally shaped by the people and communities I have worked with. From learning how to listen deeply, how to own my mistakes and apologize in the moment, how meaningful engagement is not transactional and doesn’t end when the ‘project’ is over. And most importantly- that relationships you make when working in community should transcend projects, timelines, and geographies.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: For me, the two big challenges are: rethinking how and when we do engagement – and how in order to ensure equity in cities we need to de-centralize decision-making power. As for specific solutions: we need to rethink the system that affords a small group of angry letter writers/meeting attendees the power to dictate where affordable housing or other critical civic and/or social infrastructure is built – and we need to value, prioritize, and give true power to people and organizations who have intrinsic community knowledge and lived experience rather than relying solely on hard data, technical expertise and political direction.
On Championing Others… One of the biggest perks of having lived and worked all over North America is that I have had the opportunity to work with super smart and amazing people from across the continent. I work hard to leverage my networks across both geographies and disciplines to connect people who I think will benefit from working together or knowing each other – particularly emerging professionals or folks working hard to address equity and accessibility in their practice.
One word that captures you: Determined. I’ve always been someone unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Secret Talent: Convener. I like to bring rad people together – for fun, capacity building and good (and hopefully challenging) conversations.
erin June 18th, 2021
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Magic Moment: Arts in the Parks was launched 5 years ago as part of my vision for a Creative City, Block by Block. This initiative, accomplished through Toronto Arts Foundation with the support of the Mayor and many corporate donors, creates access to the arts in communities outside the downtown core, many of which have few cultural amenities. Everyone deserves access to the arts. Moreover, the arts foster connections and understanding among people, and build thriving neighbourhoods. With a scarcity of cultural space, particularly outside the downtown area, the park system has become a welcome venue hosting hundreds of talented artists per year. Seeing local residents and community organizers engage with our first Arts in the Parks event brought me great joy.
Key Influence: One of my early influencers was the fearless Billie Bridgman, who was my artistic counterpart at an experimental opera company.
While we were very different, we brought out the best in each other, allowing each other to dream big and to tackle complex challenges. We trusted each others’ instincts while forging ahead with innovation and experimentation. Billie later became the first Executive Director of Artscape, which has since made Toronto a world leader in placemaking through the arts.
From a very early age I was either my own boss or served a board of directors as the company leader. While it afforded me incredible learning experiences, there were few role models. Moving on in my career, I looked for mentorship and advice from many different colleagues, in Canada, USA and Europe.
In a number of cases, as colleagues and competitors, we voluntarily formed work groups to tackle challenges facing our organizations and our sector, and we made significant gains. It taught me that collaboration and joint advocacy can be very effective.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Toronto truly is an amazing city, particularly in its rich diversity and its vibrant arts scene. The success of arts-based placemaking, leading to city building and gentrification has also made it increasingly unaffordable for artists, and others, in which to live and work. We need to design a city that respects the environment, that embraces humanity, that sparks connections, and fosters tolerance and understanding.
Secret Talent: Very few people know that my earliest vocation was that of an actor. The work ethic of the theatre, the power of storytelling, the need to both trust one’s instincts and to collaborate in a team, while valuing the audience, has informed the work culture that I
try to nurture.
On Championing Others… I believe in celebrating accomplishments and potential. I hosted the first annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch 15 years ago to celebrate those in the arts who deliver so much to Toronto’s success. It is always an inspiration. I also enjoy mentoring, and have learned much myself through this and have developed wonderful friendships by doing so.
One word that captures you: (more…)
erin June 18th, 2021
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