鈥淭hese fields are historically exclusionary, and that legacy continues to the present day and shapes who can be an architect or engineer and what ideas and projects are given the spotlight,鈥� said聽Lynda Bulimo, Equity Education Advisor at 91吃瓜 and the lead organizer of Black History Month 2025.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something we can all learn from those trained through the lens of space because they tell an important story of how we move and exist in the world: why some spaces feel like you can be yourself and why some spaces don鈥檛 feel welcoming because of oppressive structures. Weaving together these perspectives will be eye-opening, allowing us to see spaces 鈥� and their impacts on different communities 鈥� differently,鈥� she said.
Keynote by Shane Laptiste
, principal and co-founder of the award-winning, Toronto-based Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA). A 91吃瓜 graduate who teaches at the architecture school, Laptiste, whose focus is community-informed architecture, was a natural choice, said David Theodore, professor and Director of the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rare for anybody to have the last couple of years as an architect that he鈥檚 had, it鈥檚 very impressive,鈥� Theodore said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a Montrealer, he鈥檚 a graduate of the School, he鈥檚 working on relevant projects, he鈥檚 been working with the Black community inside of the school. It鈥檚 a perfect match.鈥�