RAIC Congress on Architecture

About

The RAIC Congress on Architecture is a national gathering that brings together architects and industry leaders from across Canada to explore critical issues shaping the future of the profession. Led by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada—the country’s only national professional association dedicated to architecture—the Congress fosters big-picture thinking, collective action and meaningful dialogue.

Held annually in early October to coincide with World Architecture Day (the first Monday of October), the Congress event is designed to ignite action, inspire learning and strengthen connections across the architectural community.

Unlike traditional conferences, the Congress is not focused on continuing education or a variety of session offerings. Instead, it provides a focused forum to dive deep into a single issue of national importance to the profession, with an emphasis on collaboration, strategy and systems-level thinking.

The Congress is designed to:

IGNITE action and learning to advance architecture in Canada
CREATE and strengthen relationships across sectors and regions
SHARE bold ideas, strategies and best practices

Key outcomes may include:

White papers, reports or position statements
Strategic recommendations for the RAIC and other stakeholders
Inspiration for future Congress topics
Deeper engagement across the profession on timely, critical issues

Since its launch in 2020, the Congress has been a mix of virtual and in-person events, with recent editions held in Whistler (2023) and Saint Andrews (2024). The focus of Congresses to date have been on climate action and sustainability.

The event continues to evolve as a platform for national conversation and collective action on architecture’s role in a changing world.

Future Events

The RAIC is actively planning future editions of the Congress, with the next in-person gathering projected to happen in 2027. While details are still in development, the RAIC remains committed to convening the architectural community around topics of national significance and providing a space for bold visioning, strategic dialogue and collective impact. Updates will be shared as plans progress.