President's Message
Summer 2010
Chers / Chères collègues,
Dear Colleagues,
The AIBC’s Annual Meeting was three months ago, council has had its planning session, and summer is well upon us. The time is right for an update to all members and associates.
Click here for more.
Save the Date:
2011 AIBC /
RAIC Conference and Festival of Architecture
May 24 – 27, 2011
Vancouver Convention Centre
Save the date for next year’s AIBC Annual Conference, held in conjunction with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s annual Festival of Architecture. Over four days, this event will bring together architects and allied professionals from across the province and around the country. The conference / festival theme, Architecture on the Edge, acknowledges the many ways in which west coast architects continue to push the boundaries in such areas as form and design, sustainability, community development and social awareness. Further information will be posted beginning this Fall; please check back regularly.
Bulletin 61 (Second Edition): Seal of an Architect
The August 2010 revision to AIBC Bulletin 61 is now published and in effect (click here). This substantive revision provides comprehensive, practical advice and interpretation regarding the use of the architect’s seal, including specifying which instruments of service must be sealed, such as development permit drawings. The revision replaces the first (1994) edition of AIBC Bulletin 61 and Directors Chair 004 - An Architect’s Seal: Its Care & Control. The architect’s seal is a solemn confirmation and representation to the public that the architect who applied it not only takes responsibility for the document, but that the document was prepared by that architect under his/her direct supervision and control. The use of the seal is governed by the Architects Act, as supplemented by AIBC Bylaw and AIBC Council rulings found in the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. For information and advice on the electronic seal option, consult AIBC Bulletin 60: Signature, Seal and Delivery of Electronic Documents. Feedback and questions are welcome to the attention of Professional Conduct Coordinator Gayle Roberts at groberts@aibc.ca.
Formal Response to Questions and Concerns Expressed Publicly at the 2010 AIBC Annual Meeting
During the AIBC Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 8, 2010, some members raised questions and/or made assertions for which formal responses are in order. Those responses have now been formulated and provided to the originating parties. Given the nature of the questions and concerns raised before membership in a public venue, they are also being made available to all registrants, by clicking on the items below:
2010/2011 AIBC Council Priorities and Working Groups
Following an extensive planning session, the newly-elected AIBC Council has identified four main initiatives for the coming year. Each is of significance to the future directions of the institute and the well-being of the profession.
More...
Motions from the Floor at the 2010 AIBC Annual Meeting
During the Members’ Forum portion of the AIBC Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 8, 2010, nine Motions from the Floor (MFTF) were moved, seconded and voted upon by those members in attendance. Four were carried while the other five did not obtain the necessary votes (Note: the complete text of all nine MFTF can be found in the draft minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting). Three additional motions were submitted too late for review during the forum. However, the council has committed to reviewing those motions and responding at a future date.
More...
Alert: Mandatory Training Programs
Recently, the AIBC has heard from firms concerned about the marketing of certain occupational safety and health training or professional development offerings. In at least one case, high-pressure tactics were used to induce a firm into signing on, including untrue statements that the training was mandatory under provincial labour laws. The institute has followed up with WorkSafe BC, which has confirmed that one or more private sector service providers may be misleading businesses into signing up for training programs that are not mandated by law. The matter is now being investigated on a national level by occupational health and safety authorities.
Members and firms are reminded to be wary of exaggerated claims made by any potential service provider, and to follow up with the proper authority or seek independent advice to confirm claims regarding mandatory training of any kind.
Architectural Walking Tours
This summer, discover the architectural details of B.C.'s two urban centres
through the AIBC architectural walking tours. Six scenic tours
are available in both Vancouver and Victoria from July 2 - August 28, 2010. More...
Competency
Standard and Assessment
Over
the past two years the AIBC has
done considerable work in developing
an outcomes-based competency standard
and assessment methodologies for
registration as an architect. These
standards and methodologies work
in concert with the existing “credentials-based” system,
providing additional tools for assessment
of candidate architects applying
for registration under sections 36
and 37 of the Architects Act.
At its September meeting, AIBC Council
formally adopted these standards
for use. To view the document, click here.
The standards will
be used to help assess foreign-trained
and broadly
experienced architects applying through
the alternative qualifications provisions
of the current Architects Act. The
AIBC has been assessing and registered
such candidates for many years, and
has been developing better tools
for assessment over that time. These
standards are just the latest in
a series of refinements to existing
measures. It should also be pointed
out that this is very much a “living
document” which will evolve
as the practice of architecture evolves
and our understanding of competency-based
assessment deepens. To that end,
members are invited to continue to
review the document and share their
insights and comments through Jerome
Marburg, Director of Registration/Licensing
and General Counsel.
These new standards
are the product of a great deal
of work undertaken
by the AIBC’s Registration
and Licensing Board and its Qualifications
Committee. They are also the result
of extensive consultation with practitioners,
academics and clients. Recently,
each AIBC member was also invited
to review and comment on the document
through a comprehensive on-line survey.
The institute wishes to thank those
who took the time to complete the
survey.
Jerome Marburg, LL.B. MBA
Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel
|
