Eric Kirsipuu, Co-President and Treasurer – Eric is a HODI Director and Treasurer. He is also President of Redevelopment Group and has over 30 years developing Ottawa infill sites and in the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings.
Louisa Carling Coates, Co-President – Louisa is a former president of Heritage Ottawa and a communications advisor. As a member of H.O. and local community groups, Louisa helped lobby governments and building owners to save Ottawa’s heritage architecture, including key landmarks such as the Wallis House. Louisa says: “There is more we can do to save threatened heritage buildings, especially in light of Ontario’s Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act 2022. Please contact HODI if you’d like to get involved or to learn more about Ottawa’s heritage architecture.”
Marc Denhez, former president – Marc is a lawyer, public speaker, and co-recipient of an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners. Marc chaired a national government-industry task force on Canada’s renovation industry, served on the Ontario Municipal Board and National Capital Commission, and conducted three program reviews at UNESCO. He lectured at some 30 institutions (e.g. Bauhaus University in Weimar, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Edinburgh, and Smithsonian Institution), and published over 250 articles on heritage as well as one book distributed by the World Bank. Marc served as HODI’s president from 2020 to 2025 as well as from 1986 to 2004.
Gouhar Shemdin is a conservation architect and has worked 25 years for the Government of Canada. While a resident of the Glebe in Ottawa, she worked to help save the historic 1912 Bank Street bridge, and on the restoration of Patterson Creek Pond’s stone walls. Gouhar worked internationally with UNESCO and the Getty Conservation Institute and has served on the boards of the Association for Preservation Technology, the International Council of Monuments and Sites, Heritage Ottawa and was a member of LACAC.
Barbara Myslinski is an architect, conservator, scholar and educator. She has worked internationally throughout her career with a range of projects in heritage conservation. She holds a PhD from Carleton University where she also taught at the Heritage Conservation Program, School of Canadian Studies. Barbara has served on the Ottawa Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee as Vice-Chair. She has been a jury member for the Ottawa Architectural Conservation Award and worked on the Building Sub-Committee, Doors Open Ottawa.
Lyse Blanchet is a Structural Engineer with a master’s degree in Wood Science and Technology who has worked for 40 years in the conservation field of built heritage. As former senior engineer and national heritage coordinator at Public Service and Procurement Canada, Ms Blanchet led conservation projects for the Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct, Judicial Precinct, Parks Canada Agency and Veterans’ Affairs Canada; led the development and implementation of federal legislations, departmental policy instruments and National Master specifications for the protection of historic structures and cenotaphs; and provided strategic advice to upper management. As a private consultant, Lyse provides heritage conservation engineering and advisory services and delivers training and technical presentations at the national and international levels. Lyse is a member of ICOMOS, APTI, National Trust Canada, CAHP, HODI and the APA.
Arthur (Art} Lamarche is a retired executive from the federal government who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in working with decision-makers to manage large projects. In his community of Kanata, was a driving force in building the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church; he was involved in the construction of the Ottawa Congress Centre and the replacement of the Lady Gray building at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre; and as a school board trustee, he worked to help construct several elementary and high schools. He has received awards for his work. Art’s connections with building and property owners in Ottawa will assist HODI in finding ways to preserve the city’s historic architecture.
Robert (Bob) Gauvreau is a retired senior manager of corporate security for the City of Ottawa. Bob has carried out market development for a wide range of security manufacturers and been a guest motivational speaker at national and international events. He was president of the board for the Ottawa-Carleton Condominium corporation # 567 and vice-president of the board for The Glebe Centre long-term care facility. Bob Gauvreau brings an expertise in building and project management to the HODI board.
L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood, former president and advisor to the board – Sandy has been president of Andrex Holdings since 1973 and is a longstanding member of HODI. He is a recognized leader and mentor in the restoration of landmark heritage buildings in Ottawa and has received six municipal heritage restoration awards. Sandy’s stewardship of heritage properties includes the Strathcona Apartments, the Windsor Arms, 190 Bronson Avenue which houses the National Trust of Canada, and the Wallis House on Rideau Street. Sandy was a member of the City of Ottawa’s LACAC (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee) and the built heritage subcommittee from 2013 to 2019, a member of the board of the Willowbank school from 2013 to 2015 and a member of the board of directors for The Ontario Heritage Trust from 2004 to 2015. Sandy received the Ontario Heritage Foundation Award for Achievement in 1996, the Heritage Canada Foundation Prize for Exemplary Stewardship of Heritage Architecture in 2007, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Award in 2012.
Chris Hahn, advisor to the Board – Chris retired in Fall 2024 from Algonquin College where he worked for 14 years. Chris served as Dean for the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, Ottawa Campus, and as Dean of the Perth Campus, which houses its Heritage Institute. As well, Chris spent 12 years working in the field of apprenticeship and skilled trades certification with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the government of Ontario.
Chris says his “respect for craftspeople and skilled tradespeople grew continuously” during his career in heritage restoration and conservation. Chris believes Canada needs trained craftspeople if the country wants to re-use its built environment. These skilled tradespeople are especially needed to manage the unique challenges associated with re-using historical buildings. HODI believes that much of Canada’s heritage architecture can be stabilized and re-purposed so that it lasts into the future. Chris’s career expertise will of great benefit to HODI due to his expertise in training students in heritage restoration, networking with employers to find work placements, and his broad knowledge of local, provincial and national networks to strengthen the field of heritage conservation.
Krista Rowan, advisor to the Board – Krista is an Engineer and Building Science Specialist (BSS) with a Bachelor of Engineering in Architectural Conservation and Sustainability and a Masters in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions (SAHC). Krista has a passion for both heritage conservation and building science, seeing the importance in understanding how we can effectively protect and adapt our existing infrastructure to support future needs. Krista worked for several years at an Ottawa engineer firm on building repair and restoration projects. Currently, Krista is persuing her PhD in Building engineering at Carleton University, focusing on assessing the hygrothermal impact of retrofits on heritage masonry buildings. (Ed: Hygrothermal refers to water and heat.) HODI is excited have Krista as an advisor to the Board and appreciates her strong background, experience and interest in the field of heritage building restoration.