The Society of South Asian Architects Canada’s (SOSA) journey began with a group of five friends trying to navigate through their personal and professional lives as immigrants in Canada and especially in the building industry.
SOSA Canada is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a supportive environment for students, young professionals, and new immigrants in the field of architecture and design in Canada. An organization rooted in personal experiences as immigrants, SOSA Canada aims to serve as a comprehensive platform with a purpose of creating opportunities of networking, mentoring and advocacy for the South Asian architecture and design community in Canada.
SOSA was founded by Tushar Negi, Tejasi Gadkari, Saachi Padubidri, Aman Yousuf, and Kanika Kaushal. Each founder moved to Canada about five to eight years ago, each facing their respective yet similar challenges in navigating Canada’s architectural industry. This article is written jointly by the five founders to capture the organization’s journey to date.
They encountered so many questions and lacked a network to turn to for guidance:
- How do I write my resume for the Canadian market?
- What should my portfolio show?
- How do I become licensed?
- Where do I meet people?
- How do I get a job?
These are tough challenges to navigate in a new country. Before SOSA was established, many newcomers were reaching out to the team on LinkedIn with similar questions. Their experience having overcome these challenges coupled with their personal motivation to give back to their communities and build a stronger profession, brought them together in the formation of SOSA.
Now, after several years in Canada, through experience and learning things the hard way, the team had gathered answers to many of these questions. And, they wanted to give back to the community of new architects and designers entering this country. The initial vision for SOSA was to support the new-coming architects and designers immigrating to Canada. Hosting informative events, create networking opportunities, and provide useful resources have been central to delivering on this mission.
Every new immigrant should know that the skillset and knowledge that they bring irrespective of any Canadian experience is an asset that they should be proud of and leverage.
The most significant challenge that SOSA is working towards is to bridge the gap between an employer and a potential employee in terms of the skillsets and value add an employee may bring to the table. Every newcomer professional brings a unique skillset that can be built upon. While there is a learning curve and initial investment of time and effort, these individuals bring unique perspectives which are extremely valuable particularly in the field of architecture and design. The team understands that the successful integration of newcomers is not only beneficial for them but also contributes to the overall growth and vibrancy of society.
SOSA is driven by a shared vision of Canada where newcomers are embraced, supported, and empowered to achieve their fullest potential in their new home. The organization actively engages with community leaders, design professionals and other stakeholders to advocate for positive changes that will have a lasting impact on the immigrant experience.
SOSA aims to assist those looking to advance in their careers and attain leadership positions. They also support student communities in schools, advocating for the architecture profession, and aiding fresh graduates by providing tools and information they need to break into the job market. For those who experience barriers based on “No Canadian Experience”, the team offers they “should be confident to promote and market their capabilities as an architect with a holistic understanding of design”.
Each founder reflects on their personal motivation for founding SOSA and contributing to its mission:
Tushar Negi
Executive Director, SOSA; Manager, Design & Product Development, Marlin Spring Developments; Principal Architect, Think Architecture
Around this time, I had achieved a lot of professional goals that I had set for myself. Within 5 years of being in Canada, I got licensed as an Architect with the OAA, became a certified LEED AP BD+C and WELL AP professional, lead and chaired the Sustainability Committee, and worked on important retail/commercial and residential projects at my firm – WZMH Architects. I was also an Executive Member of the EGP Committee of the CaGBC. I had gained a lot of volunteering experience.
By this time, I had gained valuable knowledge and experience which I thought would be helpful to pass on to younger professionals and newcomers. I started mentoring a few Intern Architects and realized that there should be a bigger platform to help the community in big numbers. That’s how the initial idea of SOSA came to be. I proposed this idea to Tejasi and Saachi and they instantly agreed. Tejasi was my colleague at WZMH, and I knew Saachi through Tejasi as they had worked together previously at a firm in Mumbai, India
Tejasi Gadkari
Director of Outreach, SOSA; Project Manager, WZMH Architects
When I moved to Canada in 2016 to work, I joined various NGOs in the architecture industry to network, seek job opportunities, and learn about the Canadian architecture scene. Around the same time, I was pursuing continuing education courses at Toronto Metropolitan University to advance my career in Canada.
Soon after, I joined WZMH Architects and decided to pursue my licensing process with OAA. I realized there were not enough resources available to help internationally trained architects guide them through applications for their professional degree certifications with the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. I would often seek guidance from my colleagues from South Asia who had a similar educational background to help with my application documentation.
Driven by the motivation to address such challenges, I decided to contribute to an organization dedicated to the easier integration of design professionals into the Canadian context.
Saachi Padubidri
Director of Media & Marketing, SOSA; Senior Designer and Team Lead at Arcadis.
I was a new immigrant in Canada, barely 3 months into my journey when the initiation of SOSA began. The need to build a community and a safe space to be able to discuss one’s accomplishments as well as struggles was one of the core motivating factors. As a team, we recognized the unique challenges faced by individuals arriving in a new country, and we felt a responsibility to create a platform that would facilitate their transition and foster a sense of belonging.
Aman Yousuf
Treasurer at SOSA; Manager of Design and Product Development at Marlin Spring
The motivation behind starting SOSA stems from a combination of professional expertise and personal experience. With a decade of experience in the architecture industry and having immigrated to Canada five years ago, I gained insights into the challenges faced by South Asian immigrants in their journey. This understanding fueled my desire to give back to the community, leading to the establishment of SOSA.
The organization aims to provide a supportive network, addressing the specific needs of South Asian immigrants in Canada by offering resources, guidance, and fostering a sense of community to help them navigate and thrive in their new environment.
Kanika Kaushal
Director of Public Relations, SOSA; Senior Cultural Heritage Specialist, WSP Canada Inc.
My journey in Canada began in 2014 when I started studying at the University of Waterloo to pursue M.Arch. After completing my Masters, I decided to return to India to start my own practice and teach in Delhi.
During this time, I was approached by a lot of young professionals who wanted to study or work in Canada but did not know have access to any resources or were simply unaware of the process of becoming an architect. This together with my professional journey motivated me to start an online platform called I-CAN Design that guided students, architects and designers from South Asia on the profession of architecture in Canada and the local regulatory bodies. The intent was to not just provide support or a direction but also build empathy and bring together a group of people who are facing similar challenges.
Shortly after I launched I-CAN design, I joined SOSA as the Director of Public Relations and have been working with an inspiring group of individuals who are committed to this cause and establishing a platform for South Asian representation for Designer, Architects in Canada.
South Asians are often characterized by a strong sense of dedication, community, and a robust work ethic.
South Asians, encompassing a diverse group of people with origins from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are often characterized by a strong sense of dedication and a robust work ethic. This collective trait is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of South Asian societies, where values such as perseverance, diligence, and commitment to one’s responsibilities are highly emphasized.
The dedication and hard work exhibited by South Asians can be attributed to a combination of cultural values, upbringing, and the socio-economic contexts in which many South Asian communities find themselves. From a young age, individuals in these cultures are often instilled with the importance of education and the pursuit of excellence in various facets of life. This emphasis on achievement and success becomes a driving force that propels many South Asians to strive for maximum output in their professional and personal endeavors.
One noteworthy aspect of South Asian communities is their strong emotional connection to their roots and cultural heritage. Regardless of geographical distance or time spent living in different parts of the world, South Asians often maintain a deep attachment to their cultural identity. This emotional bond is reflected in various aspects of life, including celebrations of festivals, practices of traditions, and a profound pride in their cultural heritage.
The SOSA team offers suggestions to colleagues who aim to support inclusion for South Asian colleagues.
- Learn about their cultures, be respectful, and talk openly about experiences.
- Use inclusive language and celebrate special holidays.
- Support each other’s growth through mentorship and equal opportunities.
- Include diverse voices in decision-making and treat everyone fairly.
- Learn about different cultures and join supportive groups.
This approach fosters a happy and supportive office where everyone feels valued and strong.
SOSA, like any other non-profit entity, faced various challenges in its operations in the early stages of its inception.
Building visibility and public awareness of a newly-launched organization’s mission was essential for attracting support. In the first year, volunteer recruitment was still pending, it was just the executive team trying to market SOSA effectively via social media platforms, connecting with architectural firms and other Not-for-profit organizations active in the industry to reach a wider audience. In subsequent years, a competent team of volunteers was recruited to bolster the organization further to support its initiatives.
Constantly seeking and securing funding was crucial for the sustainability of SOSA. Developing effective fundraising strategies and maintaining sponsor relationships was laborious and challenging. Limited financial resources, relying on grants was competitive and was a significant hurdle to overcome in the initial days. The SOSA team has worked on multiple funding proposals and was successful in securing scholarships. This process involved several iterations of fine tuning SOSA’s sponsorship document and reaching out to various firms in the industry to create lasting partnerships.
SOSA notes the early support and partnership of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Ontario Association of Architects, WZMH Architects, Arcadis IBI, Toronto Society of Architects, and Russell Pollard of Framework Leadership with appreciation. These organization helped them raise awareness, focus limited resources, and raise awareness of the organization and its initiatives.
The Executive also notes the importance of volunteers, who are the backbone of the organization. Every idea, cause and initiative by the executive team is executed to its full potential and scale by the volunteering team. Their efforts help in expanding the reach and impact of the organization’s mission. The board and volunteers at SOSA are predominantly South Asian or of South Asian heritage, all sharing a passion to give back to their communities.
SOSA’s efforts have seen tremendous growth in their community since its inception three years ago.
While continuing to build further on the development of our mission and goals, SOSA’s plan for the near future is to establish ground in other regions of Canada outside of the Toronto-GTA area. This strategic move reflects SOSA’s commitment to broadening its impact and reaching communities outside its initial geographic focus.
Furthermore, this geographical diversification can offer SOSA new opportunities to engage with regional partners, industry stakeholders, and governmental bodies. Establishing roots in different parts of Canada allows SOSA to better understand and address the unique challenges and opportunities present in each region, tailoring its programs and initiatives to suit local needs.
They have built a supportive network for immigrants, fostering a sense of belonging and connection through social events, networking, and mentorship programs. SOSA has established a support system for immigrants by establishing a network with some of the biggest organizations in the country as well as leading professionals who have helped and assisted in SOSA’s journey.
