Empowering Indigenous Voices in Architecture, Planning, and Design
At WalterFedy, we recognize that creating built environments that are thoughtful, inclusive, and resilient begins with listening to and learning from a diversity of perspectives. As part of our ongoing commitment to support equity in design, we’re proud to play a role in supporting Indigenous students in their pursuit of a career in architecture, planning, and civil engineering.
We are pleased to introduce the WalterFedy Award, a new initiative dedicated to empowering Indigenous voices enrolled in the Bachelor of Design in City Innovation (BDCI) program at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL).
This scholarship offers support to Indigenous students at all stages of their undergraduate journey, providing two annual awards of $5,000 each. Over the course of five years, this initiative will contribute a total of $50,000, empowering recipients to shape the future of urban landscapes with their unique perspectives.
“Investing in Indigenous perspectives is essential to shaping inclusive and sustainable cities. This award reflects our belief that systemic change in city building begins with access, opportunity, and the amplification of Indigenous voices,” says WalterFedy’s Mike Brady, Vice President, Operations, Western Canada.
A Shared Commitment to Inclusive Education
This initiative builds on our growing partnerships with academic institutions across Canada, including the 2024 launch of the WalterFedy Indigenous Engineering Scholarship at the University of Guelph. Through these efforts, we are supporting Indigenous students across disciplines -investing in long-term success in both STEM and design fields.
At the University of Calgary, SAPL’s dedication to inclusive education, Indigenous engagement, and decolonized design practices makes this partnership particularly meaningful. Together, we look forward to celebrating future scholarship recipients and the leadership and innovation they bring to the built environment.