Update:
Registered Educational Provider Program
and AEC Daily

The AIBC’s Registered Educational Provider Program allows the institute to extend a wide variety of valuable professional development opportunities to architects and associates throughout the province. Providers pay an annual fee to take part in the program. In turn, they enjoy the benefit of connecting directly with the architectural community. AIBC attendees benefit from knowing each associated learning activity has been pre-approved for AIBC learning units, with the assurance that their AIBC transcripts will be automatically updated upon successful completion of each provider activity and submission of attendance lists.

From time to time, registered providers may choose to not renew their participation in the program, for a variety of reasons. In such cases, the AIBC asks that the provider alert people to this change via their web site and other related promotional activities, specifying that AIBC attendees must now self-report their learning activities.

Recently, AEC Daily (http://www.aecdaily.com/) opted out of the Registered Educational Provider Program. A notice to this effect now appears on the AEC Daily web site. AIBC participants can still benefit from the learning opportunities offered by AEC Daily. The only change is that they must now self-report their participation in such courses, and as with all self-reported activities, the institute will review each learning activity and assess the claimed learning units as appropriate.

Final Notice of Annual Fee Payment Deadline

This is a reminder to all members, associates and firms that your annual fees must be paid by Wednesday, February 1, 2012. To pay your fees online, go to http://aibc.memberpro.net and log on. Those registrants who have both a personal registration and a firm licence (certificate of practice) are reminded that you will need to log on to two different accounts. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact Registration & Licensing Administration Assistant Emily Tyler or Licensing Coordinator Kim Underwood at accounts@aibc.ca immediately.

2012 AIBC Operational Survey

Dear Architects, Honorary Members and Associates,

You are invited to take part in a comprehensive online survey concerning the operational programs, services and directions of the AIBC, as well your opinions on the state of the profession. The wide range of topics covered includes AIBC bylaws, conduct and discipline, jurisdictional reciprocity, work situations and compensation patterns, and the Internship in Architecture Program.

The goals are to identify areas that need attention and reinforce those which are effective, as well as to help determine future priorities for the institute. Note: while some personal information and views are invited, the results will be compiled in an anonymous way and personal privacy will be protected throughout.

To participate in the survey, simply go to here .

Please complete the survey before Wednesday, February 1. Your prompt and thoughtful response is appreciated. Most participants should be able to complete the survey within 20 minutes. In appreciation of the time and effort involved, those who complete the survey are eligible to be entered in a random draw for one paid registration at the 2012 AIBC Annual Conference.

Thank you for your participation.

Michael A. Ernest  Architect MAIBC
Executive Director

Oral Reviews

Wednesday and Thursday, February 22 and 23, 2012

Oral reviews assess your ability to practise the profession of architecture in British Columbia in accordance with local practice requirements. They are open to those Intern Architects who have... (Read More)

AIBC Response to Provincial Government Proposals For a Modern Building Regulatory System

As architects and other design and construction industry participants are well aware, the provincial government has re-initialized its Modernization Strategy apropos improving the building regulatory system. In that regard, it has conducted a number of public consultations to gather observations, concerns and suggestions from various vested parties. ... (Read More)

HPO Bulletin on Fenestration Energy Performance

The Homeowner Protection Office, Branch of BC Housing, has issued a new bulletin on “Fenestration Energy Performance” for residential buildings, including information on energy performance requirements for windows, glazed doors and skylights, and a “roadmap” for compliance. Energy performance requirements for fenestration have become more stringent in recent years. This bulletin (Builder Insight #9) will help clarify BC Building Code and BC Energy Efficiency Act requirements and the supporting standards. Note: this is of high importance to architects; AIBC members are encouraged to read it. To access this bulletin as well as past issues of Builder Insight, go to http://www.hpo.bc.ca/builder-insight-bulletins.

BCBC Part 10 Survey

The province’s Building and Safety Standards Branch is conducting a survey of industry professionals to gather feedback on the implementation and compliance with Part 10 of the British Columbia Building Code. Areas of particular focus include the City of Vancouver’s energy efficiency requirements and the BC Energy Efficiency Act. AIBC members are encouraged to complete the survey, which can be found online here.

AIBC Response to Proposed BCBC Revisions

This fall, proposed changes to the BC Building Code have been out for public review with open invitations extended for individuals and organizations to submit feedback. In addition to the individual responses provided by AIBC members, the institute has submitted a formal response that is the product of thoughtful, thorough input from experienced practitioners, topic experts and advisors... (Read More)

Closed: Call for Presentations -
2012 AIBC Annual Conference

The deadline for presentation submissions for the 2012 AIBC Annual Conference is now closed. The response was strong and impressive; thank you to all who took the time to bring forward a submission prior to the December 15 deadline. The AIBC’s Annual Conference Professional Development Committee will now be reviewing the proposals received in building the program for the conference, May 9-11 in Vancouver. Notification will take place by late January.

ASHRAE Requirements for City of Vancouver

In line with its 2020 energy targets, the City of Vancouver has recently expanded its building permit documentation requirements to include ASHRAE standards for all new construction covered under Part 3.  Submission requirements for this new documentation will be phased in starting with a voluntary submission... (Read More)

New UBC Rep on Council

Matthew Soules MAIBC, a full-time faculty member at the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is now the designated UBC SALA representative to the AIBC Council. He replaces Professor Leslie Van Duzer, who has removed herself from council due to teaching commitments. Soules has been invited to join AIBC Council’s New & Diverse Members Working Group. Professor Van Duzer will continue to sit on the AIBC’s Registration Board.

President's Message

They say that architecture is a profession that eats its own young. Sadly, the numbers seem to bear that out. At the 2011 AIBC Annual Conference this past June, members of AIBC Council’s New and Diverse Members Working Group presented on the theme of “The Elephant in the Room”. The presentation included statistics on membership, internship and registration patterns. The statistics revealed that, among other things, the average length of internship in B.C. is seven years, and that while women account for 50% of students of architecture, they only represent 11 % of registered architects...(Read More)

Update: Consensual Resolution Amendments
to Architects Act

The AIBC has been seeking legislative amendments to authorize consensual resolution since the autumn of 2009, when a B.C. Court of Appeal decision involving the professional engineers led AIBC Council to put the institute’s successful consensual resolution process on hold pending statutory reform. Since that time, all charges of unprofessional conduct have been heard at formal disciplinary inquiries as the only statutory mechanism available. On November 3, 2011, Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto introduced Bill 18: The Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act for first reading. In doing so, she stated: “In this bill we will ensure the Architectural Institute of British Columbia may continue to engage in efficient and effective means of resolving disciplinary matters.”  This new bill would enshrine consensual resolution as an option to disciplinary inquiries for resolving professional conduct matters.  Bill 18 must now proceed through second reading, Committee of the Whole and third readings stages prior to coming into force. If enacted, the amendments would require AIBC members to pass a bylaw relating to consensual resolution practices and procedures.  Such procedures were previously established by AIBC Council in 2001 within the “Rules for the Professional Conduct Process of the AIBC”.  Updates on the status of this bill will be provided as it proceeds through the legislature. Questions can be directed to Director of Professional Conduct and Illegal Practice Thom Lutes at tlutes@aibc.ca.

Licensing Requirements Across Canada

In response to ongoing confusion amongst practitioners about cross-jurisdictional registration and licensing requirements, as well as related concerns around compliance, Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) has issued the following memo:

The Canadian architectural regulators do have a reciprocity agreement in place which facilitates individual registration/licensing in another jurisdiction, if individual architects are already registered/licensed in one or more Canadian jurisdiction. Two important factors must be noted and addressed:

1. An application must be made in each and every jurisdiction in which registration/licensing is required; and
2. Individual registration/licensing alone may not (and often does not) permit you to practise architecture. Many jurisdictions require that the business entity through which you intend to practise (whether as a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation or variants of these entities) must also be licensed/registered before you can legally practise architecture in that jurisdiction.

What do architects need to do if they plan on working in another Canadian jurisdiction?

1. Contact the licensing body to obtain details on its licensing structure and obtain the necessary application forms for both you personally and (where required) for your intended business entity. In some jurisdictions, licensing may be required as early as the “Request for Proposals” stage or for any form of promotion or representation.
2. Complete the application forms and submit them in ample time for approval through their approval processes.
3. Once approval is granted, architects and their firms (if approved and applicable) are able to offer architectural services to the public in the jurisdiction.

In Canada, architects licensed in one jurisdiction cannot use the term “Architect” or offer architectural services to the public in another Canadian jurisdiction unless they are personally registered/licensed in that other jurisdiction and their business entity is also registered/licensed.

We trust you will find this clarification beneficial and that it will assist you in ensuring you are always compliant with the licensing requirements across Canada.

Bylaw Review Committee Update

The AIBC’s Bylaw Review Committee has been tasked with a comprehensive review of all AIBC bylaws in order to make recommendations to AIBC Council for amendments, repeals and new bylaws. Chaired by Janet Lutz MAIBC, the committee is now up and running, and will meet monthly with a goal of providing initial recommendations by February 2012. Over the coming weeks and months, the committee will develop information material for posting on the AIBC web site and will also update members and associates via eNews. Any proposed changes to AIBC bylaws must then be approved by a 2/3 majority vote of members.  Those interested in AIBC bylaw matters are invited to submit questions, suggestions and general feedback to the Bylaw Review Committee as the review process unfolds. For further information and to provide feedback to the committee, please contact Professional Conduct Coordinator Gayle Roberts at groberts@aibc.ca or Director of Professional Conduct & Illegal Practice Thomas Lutes at tlutes@aibc.ca.