Today is the beginning of National Volunteer Week – and we would like to start the celebration with a big thank you to all AIBC volunteers! Without your dedication and generosity, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish all that we do as the regulator of the profession of architecture in British Columbia.
To provide a snapshot of the hard work our volunteers contribute – by the numbers, we have more than 25 AIBC committees, panels and working groups, which are comprised of nearly 200 volunteers, who generously donated over 8,500 hours cumulatively to the Institute in 2018. Truly phenomenal!
Meet our AIBC Volunteers
Our volunteers have a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, along with different reasons to volunteer, and we want to share their experiences and stories with you. We have introduced a ‘Volunteer Profiles’ section on the website, which features AIBC volunteers and details their involvement with the Institute in their own words, as well as advice for others interested in volunteering with the AIBC. Here is a sample profile from Neil Prakash Architect AIBC, Vice Chair of the Design Panel Committee and AIBC volunteer since 2014, who speaks to the value he has received from his volunteering:
“I enjoy the discourse with my fellow volunteers. We are often exposed to situations outside of our individual professional practices that we can discuss and learn from as a group. It helps me understand the nature of our profession more fully.
Volunteering is a great way to gain a sense of community through the AIBC. It increases your interaction with other members and diversifies your perspective on the profession. My advice would be to get involved!”
New Opportunities!
There are many ways registrants can get involved with the Institute, share their expertise, and contribute to the profession. Currently, there are several opportunities available which range from mentoring an Intern Architect AIBC to participating on a Municipal Advisory Design Panel. Volunteering is critical to furthering the mandate of the AIBC; we encourage you to explore all of the opportunities posted on the aibc.ca and see where you fit.
AIBC Recognition Ceremony & Awards
The AIBC hosts an annual Recognition Ceremony, which recognizes individuals and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the profession, community, and Institute. There are two prestigious staff-nominated awards: the Award for Lifetime Volunteer Achievement and CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service.
There are also peer-nominated professional awards: the AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award, AIBC Special Recognition Award, and the Barbara Dalrymple Memorial Award for Community Service. The professional award nomination process has been updated and streamlined – if you know of a worthy individual, we encourage you to recognize their contributions. Nominations will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on June 21, 2019.
If you would like to learn more about the AIBC Volunteer Program and how you can get involved, or about the AIBC Recognition Ceremony, please visit the AIBC website or email volunteers@aibc.ca.
On behalf of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia – thank you to all our dedicated volunteers!
Sincerely,
Danica Djurkovic Architect AIBC
AIBC Council President
Mark Vernon CPA, CA, CPA (IL)
AIBC Chief Executive Officer