April 17, 2025
Wildfire Resilience: Protecting Your Home – Public Lecture
Presented by the South Shore Network of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
LECTURE BY GREGORY MACNEIL
Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m.
Climate change is leading to larger, hotter, and more frequent wildfires in Canada, extending the wildfire season to wider areas. This trend has significant implications for both ecosystems and infrastructure. To address these challenges, Canadians must strengthen their resilience to wildfires and minimize the risk of losing their homes and properties.
This lecture will focus on wildfires in wildland-urban interface (WUI) and intermix zones, emphasizing FireSmartTM strategies for safeguarding homes in areas where natural land meets residential development. This discussion will highlight practical, science- backed strategies you can implement to improve your wildfire preparedness and protect your home.
Gregory MacNeil is a licensed architect with dual membership in the Nova Scotia Association of Architects and the Ontario Association of Architects. Additionally, he is a qualified Maritime Lumber Bureau Grader and FireSmartTM Canada Advanced Assessor.
His education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Acadia University, a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies, and a Master of Architecture degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
He has been published and conducted historic building conservation in Canada, Germany, and the United States and presented papers in Canada, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
Gregory is a member of several committees, including the National Research Council Canadian Commission on Construction Materials Evaluation and the ICOMOS International Wood Committee Bureau. He chairs the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on Heritage Property.
The RAIC South Shore Network encompasses the federal electoral district of South Shore—St. Margarets. The Network offers a series of monthly evening lectures and presentations at the Lunenburg School of the Arts; which offers workshops led by professional art educators and working artists from their historic studio space in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
The public presentations by Network members and guests have included topics such as architectural restoration and restoration techniques, energy efficiency, history and culture, as well as profiles of specific architectural practice.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is a not-for-profit, national organization dedicated to representing architects and architecture since 1907. The RAIC is the only national voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada focused on providing Canada’s architectural community with the tools, resources, and education to elevate their practice. The RAIC is committed to showcasing how design enhances quality of life, while advocating for important issues of society through responsible architecture. The RAIC’s purpose is to create a better world for all by empowering Canada’s architectural community. Through our work, the organization envisions a strong architectural community that is valued and empowered to create change. The RAIC’s national office is based in Ottawa with a growing federated chapter model. Current chapters and networks are based in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia.