The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the winners of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture. The following built projects and the architects responsible will be honoured:

• 115 Studios - Cirque du Soleil - Les architectes FABG, Design Architect: Éric Gauthier (Montreal, QC)
• Bibliothèque Municipale de Châteauguay - atelier TAG et Jodoin Lamarre Pratte et Associés Architectes en consortium, Design Architects : Manon Asselin, Katsuhiro Yamazaki (atelier TAG) (Montreal, QC)
• Erindale Hall, University of Toronto at Mississauga - Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, Design Architects: Barry Sampson, FRAIC and Jon Neuert, MRAIC (Toronto, ON)
• Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec - Lapointe Magne + Ædifica, Design Architect: Michel Lapointe (Montreal, QC)
• "Structures d'accueil des jardins de Métis" - Atelier in situ, Design Architects: Annie Lebel, architecte et Stéphane Pratte, architecte (Montreal, QC)
• Maurer House - Florian Maurer Architect, MRAIC (Naramata, BC)
• SC3-Smith Carter Workplace - Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated (Winnipeg, MB)
• Schulich School of Business, York University - Hariri Pontarini Architects, Robbie/Young + Wright Architects In Joint Venture, Design Architect: Siamak Hariri (Toronto, ON)
• The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics - Saucier + Perrotte architectes, Design Architect: Gilles Saucier (Montreal, QC)
• Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne - atelier TAG et Jodoin Lamarre Pratte et Associés Architectes en consortium, Design Architects: Manon Asselin, Katsuhiro Yamazaki (atelier TAG) (Montreal, QC)
• Théâtre Espace Libre - Lapointe Magne et associés, Design Architect: Michel Lapointe (Montreal, QC)
• Unity 2 - Cormier, Cohen, Davies architectes (Atelier Big City) (Montreal, QC)

"Today, Canadian architects stand squarely with the best of their international counterparts as artists and craftspeople who strive not only for a physical expression of function and form, but also for an experience rooted in aestheticism and grace," said Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

The Governor General's Medals in Architecture recognize outstanding achievement in recently built projects by Canadian architects. This program, created by the RAIC, contributes to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increases public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society. These awards are administered jointly with the Canada Council for the Arts, which is responsible for the adjudication process and contributes to the publication highlighting the medal winners.

"The Canada Council's participation in the administration of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture is part of its ongoing effort to promote the excellence of Canadian architecture and make the public aware of the creative genius of our architects," said Karen Kain, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. "Since its creation in 1950, this competition has helped foster an understanding of the nature of Canadian architecture, and of the regional, cultural, esthetic and historical realities it reflects."

The Governor General's Medals in Architecture will be presented September 20, 2006 at 6 p.m. in Montreal at l'Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec by Her Honour the Honourable Lise Thibault, Lieutenant Governor of Québec.

"What can be said of this year's laureates? That there is a promising future for Canadian architecture with the breakthrough of a new generation of architects. That modest public buildings in smaller urban centres can demonstrate the value of architecture in our communities. That an architectural competition program, such as the one in the Province of Quebec, can successfully give rise to superior buildings," said Yves Gosselin, FIRAC, RAIC President.

The 2006 winners of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture were selected by a jury of the following distinguished architects: Amale Andraos (New York); Peter Busby, FRAIC (Vancouver); Adam Caruso (United Kingdom); Julien De Smedt (Denmark); and, Mario Saia, FIRAC (Montreal).

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is a voluntary national association established in 1907 as the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada. Representing more than 3,300 architects, the RAIC provides the national framework for the development and recognition of architectural excellence.