The RAIC is pleased to announce a new addition to the staff of the National Office in Ottawa. Donald Ardiel, MRAIC, will assume the full-time position of Director of Practice Support in September, but is already taking on responsibilities on a part-time basis over the summer.
Don is a licensed architect, certified project manager and educator with more than 25 years of experience in architectural practice – 18 of those as a sole practitioner. During his architectural career, he has specialized in public sector projects for health care, education, community services, as well as research laboratory facilities.
“I’m proud to say that Don is a longstanding member and volunteer for RAIC,” says Jody Ciufo, RAIC’s Executive Director. “This personal experience, along with his impressive grasp of architectural practice and culture, makes him the right person to lead the newly created Practice Support group at the National Office. This group will focus on programs that advance the profession across the country.”
As an adult and university educator, Don has coordinated the development of four post-graduate level and professional certification programs, including extensive involvement in the RAIC Syllabus redevelopment program and the Canadian Architectural Certification Board’s Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect program. He has facilitated dozens of workshops for six provincial associations of architecture and the RAIC.
As Director of Practice Support, Don will be responsible for programs, projects and issues that enhance architectural practice, services, and the profession. Existing programs, such as the Syllabus and the Canadian Handbook of Practice, will form a large part of his work. He will also support the Practice Support Committee, as well as multi-industry groups such as the Federal Real Property Advisory Committee and the Construction Industry Consultative Committee.
Don has recently begun a three-year term as a councilor for the Ontario Association of Architects where he has volunteered as part of the Continuing Education Committee and the Experience Requirements Committee. Until recently he was the Director of Certification and e-Learning at the Project Management Institute’s South Western Ontario chapter. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture with distinction professional degree from Carleton University and a Master of Distance Education from Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta.
Creating this new Practice Support group lets the RAIC expand into new policy and program initiatives that members want to be engaged in. “This will allow us to engage meaningfully in such pressing issues as, Sustainable Indigenous Communities, Responsible Environments and others down the road,” says Ms. Ciufo.