Phil Fenech

When he was eight years old, a book about Expo ’67 captured Phil’s imagination.  He was transported beyond his home in Toronto’s west end to a vibrant setting filled with fascinating displays of architecture where people from around the world had gathered.  The images within that small book sparked his youthful optimism and curiosity and set him on a path to architecture.

Phil understands that architecture can bring people together and strengthen communities, which is why he has devoted much of his career to the design of community centres and libraries.  He continues to be inspired by the joy on a child’s face lining up for her first ballet lesson, the relief that water therapy brings to an elderly community member, and the dignity preserved in a person with special needs by the inclusion of a universal changing room.  For Phil, these moments encourage him and inform his belief that we should continue to invest in the social infrastructure needed for communities to thrive.