Christopher Straka |
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Christopher Straka is dedicated to community-building. His work involves transforming spaces into places that help people better understand themselves and the world around them.
Chris understands the need to balance social, economic and ecological factors. He approaches planning, design and development projects with a wide scope of awareness. His significant experiences in the development and implementation of educational and recreational programs have sharpened his management skills. An ability to communicate effectively in graphic or written form is supplemented by his ability to speak both English and French. Chris holds a masters degree in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary, which complements his undergraduate degrees in Urban Geography, Education, and Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism. Chris has been a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and the Canadian Institute of Planners. He is currently registered with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to provide design services. Chris’s academic training is complemented by the practical expertise he has gained while working with FoTenn Consultants in Ottawa; Calthorpe Associates in Berkely, California; the Town of Banff; Garibaldi Alpen Resorts in Squamish; the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, and the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre. |
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With roots in Toronto, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Calgary and Ottawa, Chris’s life path has passed through British Columbia, Quebec, California and Catalonia (Spain) for extended periods of time. His perspective is informed by observations made during annual multi-week expeditions in Canada and abroad.
Equally comfortable in a design workshop, a Mexican market, a council chamber, or the stern of a canoe; Chris lives a dynamic lifestyle. Away from work, Chris enjoys chasing plastic, riding his steel steed, satisfying a penchant for black fingers, hydro-cruising, consuming culinary contrasts, gentrifying his neighbourhood, making mental maps and finding out what's around the next corner. Since 2006, Chris has led VERT plan.design.build, working on the leading (and sometimes the bleeding) edge of sustainable design. Chris lead the planning approvals, architectural design or construction management of the first five homes in the Ottawa region certified to the Passive House standard, as well as over 80 other high performance (resource efficient) buildings. When he isn't helping clients better understand their options, Chris enjoys sharing his experiences as an occasional public speaker. |
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In addition to his professional endeavours, Chris enjoys contributing to community-building efforts. He is currently the President of the Crichton Community Council in his New Edinburgh neighbourhood.
He has served in the past as a member of the Board for Passive Buildings Canada and the Canada Green Building Council’s Ottawa Region Chapter, as an Ambassador for the International Living Building Institute, as a technical reviewer for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Community Awards, as an instructor for Algonquin College's Green Architecture program and as a coach for his daughters' ultimate team.
He has served in the past as a member of the Board for Passive Buildings Canada and the Canada Green Building Council’s Ottawa Region Chapter, as an Ambassador for the International Living Building Institute, as a technical reviewer for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Community Awards, as an instructor for Algonquin College's Green Architecture program and as a coach for his daughters' ultimate team.
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