It is with great pleasure that the RAIC announces the appointment of two directors holding seats on the Executive Committee of the Board. In addition, we are also delighted to highlight two new directors to the Board. These individuals embody the
values of the RAIC and play a pivotal role in empowering Canada’s architectural community.

Johanna Hurme is an architect and a co-founder of Winnipeg-based 5468796 Architecture. In the past twelve years, the firm has received numerous awards and recognition regionally, nationally and internationally and its work published in over 200
books and publications. In 2012, 5468796 represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in Architecture, and in 2013 was selected as the recipient of the 2013 Prix de Rome Award in Architecture for Canada by the Canada Council for the Arts.

In addition to practice, Johanna is an activist and an advocate, and seeks opportunities to facilitate and lead design-related events and programs that serve to improve the public appreciation of architecture. This includes projects Table for 12 + 1200, Chair Your Idea and Design Quarter Winnipeg, which she chairs. She is also the immediate past Chair of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a past Council member of the Manitoba Association of Architects.

Johanna is a member of the International Council of the Van Alen Institute, has taught design at the University of Manitoba’s FAUM, the University Toronto Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and the University of Montreal, and lectures extensively at universities, forums and festivals across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Most recently Johanna was named Visiting Professor-Morgenstern Chair at the College of Architecture, IIT, Chicago.

Johanna Hurme was appointed as President-Elect during the October 2023 RAIC Board Meeting and will be presented at the 2024 RAIC Annual General Meeting, for her election.

Sim’oogit Saa-Bax Dr Patrick Reid Stewart is a hereditary chief of Wilp Daxaan Nisga’a village of Gingolx. He is principal of Patrick R. Stewart Architect and adjunct professor at McEwen School of Architecture board member for BC/Yukon of the RAIC and co-chair of the RAIC governance committee member of the finance and audit committee chair of the indigenous task force and co-chair of the truth & reconciliation task force for the RAIC co-director of the indigenous peoples work programme of the union of international architects and chair of the provincial indigenous homelessness committee in British Columbia.

Co-editor of our voices: indigeneity and architecture (2018) and our voices ii: decolonizing practice (2021) and the upcoming our voices III : catalysts for change (2024). An exhibiting architect with unceded at the 2018 venice architecture biennale and a curatorial member of the exhibit not for sale with architects against housing alienation at the 2023 Venice Architecture biennale.

Simoogit Saa Bax | Dr. Patrick R. Stewart was appointed as Treasurer during the October 2023 RAIC Board Meeting and will be presented at the 2024 RAIC Annual General Meeting, for his election.

Reanna Merasty is an architectural intern at Number Ten Architectural Group based on Treaty 1 Territory. She is a Nîhithaw (Woodlands Cree) artist, writer, and educator from Barren Lands First Nation. Reanna received a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba (UofM).

Reanna advocates for Indigenous inclusion and representation in design education and is committed to empowering Indigenous communities and youth. While at the UofM, she Co-founded the Indigenous Design and Planning Student Association and Co-Edited the publication “Voices of the Land: Indigenous Design and Planning from the Prairies.” Additionally, Reanna is working with Portage & Main Press on a three-part children’s book series on Indigenous Architecture.

Her work continues to amplify Indigenous voices, community engagement, and land-based pedagogies in architecture locally and nationally. She is a member of the Indigenous Task Force with the RAIC, Chair of the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee with the City of Winnipeg, and a member of the local design advocacy organization Storefront Manitoba. Through this advocacy work, Reanna was recognized by CBC Manitoba with a Future 40 Award, by Women in Urbanism Canada as one of the 14 Mobilizing Women Impacting Urbanism in Canada, and named the 2023 Youth-First Nations Laureate with the Indspire Awards, which is considered the highest honor Indigenous people bestow upon its own people.

Reanna grounds herself in heart work, ceremony, community, and wellness, and she continuously works towards the resiliency and resurgence of Indigenous peoples in all that she does.

Reanna Merasty was presented and elected at the 2023 RAIC Annual General Meeting. Her term as Regional Director ends June 30, 2026.

Jonathan Monfries is an Intern Architect at Stantec and has a multidisciplinary academic and professional background in both architecture and urban design. His design leadership and passion for social change in our cities has benefited numerous city-building projects at all scales – from public art installations to district planning across Alberta and BC. Utilizing his diverse background in design, he strives to create projects that inspire change in our communities through the acknowledgement of issues affecting urban-life today. His published academic research on the topic of how urban design affects our mental wellbeing has inspired many projects and lectures now into his professional career.

With a passion for design at all scales, Jonathan is recognized as a driver of change in the industry; demanding we do more as designers to positively influence the future. He is currently undertaking ongoing research into climate resiliency and adaptation strategies with public art pilot projects throughout Alberta. He also regularly supports future designers as a returning speaker and guest-critic at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at University of Calgary.

Jonathan continues to advocate for architectural excellence through his involvement as a research partner with the SSHRC-funded project Quality in Canada’s Built Environment, a panel member of the Edmonton Design Committee, and the Intern Architect on Council for the Alberta Association of Architects.

Jonathan Monfries was appointed as Interim Representative of the Interns and Intern Architects during the May 2023 RAIC Board meeting. His term ends June 30, 2024, and he will be eligible to run for election.

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