Brian MacKay-Lyons appointed to the Order of Canada

MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects has announced that their Principal, Brian MacKay-Lyons, has been appointed to the Order of Canada. Brian is cited “For his contributions to architecture, notably through his vernacular designs that celebrate Nova Scotia culture.”
The Royal Architecture Institute of Canada has ranked MacKay-Lyons, alongside only 39 other architects who have been honoured with this investiture in Canadian history.

The 85 newest members of the Order of Canada were announced by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon on December 29, 2022. The Order of Canada, created in1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was made “to honour people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities”.

Brian MacKay-Lyons is best known for his simple, beautifully sited, planned and detailed houses scattered across the Nova Scotian landscape and beyond. His designs feature Atlantic Canadian vernacular materials and construction techniques.

His work is always strongly influenced by the region’s landscape, preceding architecture, and functionalist design in which it is built upon. As a teacher for 37 years, initially at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, and subsequently, its successor, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Brian has left a deep impact on the school’s philosophy, values and reputation.

MacKay-Lyons is a recipient of numerous awards including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal and a Royal Institute of British Architects International Fellowship. His practice is honoured with eight Governor Generals Medals of Architecture, and the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture from the French Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine.

Brian MacKay-Lyons will be presented with his insignia at a future investiture ceremony, with the date to be determined.

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