The members of the former Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) / Regroupement des Ordres d’Architectes du Canada (ROAC) have incorporated as a new not-for-profit group, the Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada/Regroupement des Ordres d’Architectes du Canada (ROAC).
The ROAC includes the 11 provincial and territorial bodies responsible for regulating the practice of architecture. To serve the public interest, these regulators set qualifications and practice standards for entry into the profession, issuing registration and licences to those meeting them.
Headquartered in Vancouver, ROAC seeks to enhance the strength and diversity of the profession in the public interest, and to ensure modern, appropriate recognition of qualifications are maintained.
The national body will continue developing nationally recognized standards and programs to meet regulatory responsibilities as well as the needs of the public and the architectural profession. This includes improving professional mobility throughout Canada and internationally using tools such as Mutual Recognition Agreements to honour architectural credentials and qualifications, and provide a path for obtaining registration across participating jurisdictions.
ROAC membership, from west to east, comprises:
• Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC);
• Alberta Association of Architects (AAA);
• Northwest Territories Association of Architects (NWTAA);
• Saskatchewan Association of Architects (SAA);
• Manitoba Association of Architects (MAA);
• Ontario Association of Architects (OAA);
• Ordre des architectes du Quebec (OAQ);
• Architects’ Association of New Brunswick / Association des architectes du Nouveau-Brunswick (AANB);
• Nova Scotia Association of Architects (NSAA);
• Architects’ Association of Prince Edward Island (AAPEI); and
• Architects Licensing Board of Newfoundland and Labrador (ALBNL)
“It’s really great to have our regulatory partners working together to ensure only properly trained and accredited individuals are able to call themselves ‘architects’,” said Dr. John Brown, President of the RAIC. “As more provinces and territories look to create opportunities for internationally trained professionals, having national consistency will be important to protect the health and security of the general public from illegal practice.”
Under the new not-for-profit’s governance structure, each member organization appoints a director to represent their jurisdiction on the ROAC Board of Directors. These directors will meet regularly to oversee the organization’s activities, while member meetings with the broader regulatory bodies will happen at least annually.
ROAC will continue the former CALA’s work on a national level. This includes the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) and the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), as well as serving as the conduit between the regulators and the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB)
For more information, visit ROAC.ca.
