CALL FOR NEW MEMBER: Indigenous Design Expert

August 14, 2020, Toronto, ON - The Waterfront Design Review Panel provides expert, professional advice to Waterfront Toronto and City of Toronto Planning staff about projects within the Designated Waterfront Area. The role of the Panel is to advocate for the highest quality outcomes for the citizens of Toronto on their waterfront. Established in 2005, the Panel has become a renowned forum for advancing excellence in design and city-building.

Waterfront Toronto’s Design Review Panel is seeking one new member to provide perspective on Indigenous design issues and culture in the process. The candidate must have one of the following professional qualifications:

• Licensed Architect
• Licensed Landscape Architect
• Professional Planner with Urban Design Expertise

Architect applicants must have a track record of high-quality building design in an urban context.

Landscape Architect applicants must have a track record of high-quality design and place-making within the natural and the built environment.

Planner / Urban Designer applicants must have a track record of high-quality design and place-making within large-scale urban projects.

Waterfront Toronto acknowledges that the land upon which we are undertaking our revitalization efforts is part of the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Waterfront Toronto also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN). As such, MCFN will have a representative on the selection committee.

Eligibility and Qualifications

All applicants must satisfy the following general requirements:
 

• Knowledge of Indigenous communities, ideally those located in southern Ontario.
• Excellence in integrating Indigenous history, language, culture, and traditions into the design process
• Experience working with Indigenous Communities, including urban Indigenous Peoples currently residing within the Greater Toronto Area.
• A minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience
• Membership in a related professional association in Ontario or equivalent
• Ability to provide constructive comments and communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences including Waterfront Toronto and City staff, design professionals, and developers
• Ability to provide objective advice to Waterfront Toronto and City staff with integrity
• Comfort contributing to a critical dialogue in a public forum
• Ability to consistently attend Panel meetings
• Willingness to acknowledge potential conflicts-of-interest as per Panel policies
• Little to no history of participating as an OMB witness in litigation against the Waterfront Toronto and/or the City of Toronto

Time Commitment and Remuneration
 

The Panel meets monthly at the Waterfront Toronto offices during regular business hours, approximately 12 times per year. Each meeting is approximately 5-7 hours long with an average of 3-5 projects reviewed. In seeking appointment to the Panel, applicants acknowledge that they will be able to regularly attend full Panel meetings except in rare instances. Panel members serve on a voluntary basis, but are reimbursed with an honorarium and for travel expenses if residing outside of the GTA. Panel member terms are for two years, and may be renewed at the discretion of Waterfront Toronto.
 

COVID-19
Due to COVID-19 measures, Waterfront Design Review Panel meetings will continue to take place virtually until further notice.

For additional information on the Panel and its geographic jurisdiction please visit the Design Review Panel page.

How and When to Apply

By Friday, October 30, 2020 at 4 pm, candidates should submit the following:
A cover letter explaining why they are interested in participating and are particularly well-suited to serve on the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel

1. A CV summarizing their qualifications and experience
2. A brief portfolio of no more than five double-sided pages of relevant work samples (optional)

Submissions should be sent to Leon Lai, Manager, Design Review Panel, at llai@waterfrontoronto.ca. Selected candidates may be contacted to arrange an interview, and the selection process is expected to be completed by the end of December, 2020. Applicants involved in waterfront projects are not precluded from applying, provided they agree to abide by the conflict of interest procedures if they are selected to serve on the Panel.