Marc Denhez, 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. As well as being HODI’s current president, he served in this role from 1986 to 2004.
L.A. (Sandy) Smallwood, former President – 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.
Louisa Carling Coates, Vice-President – Louisa is a bilingual communications advisor and former president of Heritage Ottawa with several decades of volunteering in the field of heritage architecture. Louisa worked to help save several Ottawa landmarks including the Aberdeen Pavilion, the Wallis House, the Jeanne D’Arc facade, 1 Nicholas St. and the Chelsea Club while also attempting to preserve key sites including the Daly Building, 44 Bolton St., the McCord Apartments, the former bank at Somerset and Bank St. and heritage residences in Centretown and Sandy Hill.
Eric Kirsipuu, 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.
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.
Carolyn Quinn has worked in Heritage Conservation for over 25 years as a research/consultant, Dir. Communications National Trust for Canada, and former Pres. Heritage Ottawa. She was Vice-Chair of Ottawa’s Built Heritage Sub-Committee, appointed member of Mayor’s Task Force on Heritage, co-founder of Doors Open Ottawa and is a member of its Advisory Council. Carolyn is a recipient of the City of Ottawa Civic Appreciation Award for Leadership in Heritage and Ontario Heritage Trust Achievement Award.
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.