A Celebration of BEAT’s Founders
Thursday November 26, 6:30 - 9:00
Location: KPMB Architects, 351 King Street East, Suite 1200
Please join us in celebrating Shirley Blumberg, Brigitte Shim, and Betsy Williamson’s work in founding BEAT, and their contributions in stewarding the organization through its first decade!
On the heels of being invested as a Member of the Order of Canada, Shirley Blumberg first conceived the idea of a Toronto-based group that would support the career advancement of women in architecture. She shared that idea with Betsy Williamson and Brigitte Shim, who worked with young women leaders in their networks to put together Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT)’s first event.
The group has since hosted over 127 events, with a total of over 6,200 registered attendees, and featuring over 90 women as speakers.
As Shirley, Brigitte, and Betsy step back their formal involvement in BEAT, we hope you will join us in raising a glass in celebration of all that they have done for the community of women architects in Toronto!
About the honorees:
Shirley Blumberg (CM, OAA, FRAIC, AIA) is a founding partner of KPMB Architects. In 2013, she was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to architecture and for her commitment to creating spaces that foster a sense of community.” She received the RAIC Gold Medal in 2025.
Brigitte Shim (OC, RCA, Hon. FAIA, OAA, FRAIC) is a founding partner of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, and a professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto. She received the RAIC Gold Medal in 2024, alongside her partner Howard Sutcliffe.
Betsy Williamson (OAA, FRAIC) is a founding partner of Williamson Williamson. Betsy was named a finalist for the Architects’ Journal 2015 Emerging Woman Architect of the Year Award. Her office’s work has been awarded the RAIC’s 2014 Emerging Architectural Practice Award and the Architectural League of New York’s 2014 Emerging Voices Award.
Time:
Doors open 6:30 pm
Remarks at 7:30 pm
Tickets:
$20 General
$10 Student
Your ticket includes a glass of bubbly and bites. Please drink responsibly.