Leo spent eight years in refugee camps in Ivory Coast and Ghana,

having fled from civil war in his native Liberia. In 2006, he

resettled in Canada as a government-assisted refugee. In 2007,

Leo founded Empowerment Squared, a charitable organization

committed to building a world where everyone is empowered

with the tools and opportunities to thrive and contribute to

society through mentorship and access to education. Under Leo’s

leadership, the organization has assisted over 10,000 newcomer

youth and families with settling in Canada. The organization

recently completed the groundbreaking ceremony for Liberian

Learning Center which will house the only public library in the

West African Nation of Liberia. 

Tarisha is both a registered Architect and Interior Designer – allowing her to connect both disciplines holistically on all MJMA projects – delivering an integrated solution. With a researched-based approach, Tarisha guides the technical detailing aspects of interiors with a focus on finishes, materials, systems, and furniture with the specific performance and durability requirements of high traffic public buildings. Tarisha is instrumental in the leadership of the interiors team and plays an integral role in studio-wide mentorship. She is a frequent lecturer on Inclusivity in Public Design with a focus on creating community and campus spaces inclusive and accessible to all.

Tarisha graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Architecture in 2003. Since joining MJMA in 2012, she has been the Director of Interiors and rejoined in 2020 as Partner.

Janna Levitt co-founded LGA Architectural Partners with Dean Goodman in 1993 with a vision to help diverse and often under-resourced clients to realize places that spark positive cultural and environmental change. Through research, public consultation, and design Janna aims to improve lives: creating places that advance equity, wellness and community, educating and mentoring the next generation of designers, and collaborating with artists, scientists and others to draw attention to pressing issues impacting our world.

Janna has earned wide respect for her inquisitive, thoughtful and imaginative approaches that demonstrate fresh possibilities for everyday living. Her diverse initiatives – such as community hubs that foster arts and culture, public spaces that connect citizens with ecology, and residences that contribute to equitable cities -- underscore the expansive

role that architects play in redesigning our world.

Her noteworthy recent projects include the MABELLEarts Pavilion and Park that uplifts a historically underserved, highdensity neighborhood populated by newcomers to Canada with a dynamic hub for creativity and community; Evergreen Brickworks’ Kiln Building 16, that sensitively arrested the deterioration of a historic Toronto landmark and expanded its

purpose from artifact to a carbon-neutral event and education centre; Stackt, that transformed a pending development site into an ever-evolving shipping-container retail market and cultural hub; and Rehousing – an online resource that she developed with members of the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and Design at University of Toronto to empower

citizen developers to convert single-family homes into multi-unit housing.

Janna’s love of architecture extends to teaching, mentoring and community causes. She has held teaching appointments at University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University. She regularly lectures and serves on award juries across North America and abroad. She presently sits on Toronto’s Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel. In 2015 she led the creation of an annual scholarship fund for an Indigenous student entering Laurentian University's McEwen School of Architecture.

Janna was made a Fellow of the RAIC in 2009. She received the 2018 G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects. In 2019 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and she was named as one of the top 30 “Essential Women in Architecture and Design” by Azure Magazine.

Janna attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax and The Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston before finalizing her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Master in Architecture Program at University of Toronto.

Julie Lane is the CEO for the Deseronto Public Library. Since joining the team in the summer of 2022, Julie has had the pleasure of working through multiple major projects within the physical space of the Library. Her past experience in Library land was primarily in IT with a strong focus on education, but she has a passion for effective leadership, team building, and collaborative growth. When she is not in professional mode, you can find her volunteering with her local community theatre or Girl Guide Unit, outside in her gardens, walking her semi-visually impaired dog, or rock-hunting with her son.

As Facilities Manager, University Libraries, Dana oversees the libraries' physical infrastructure, focusing on flexible, inclusive spaces that support learning and collaboration. She is currently involved in planning the new Medical Library at theTMU School of Medicine in Brampton and redesigning a floor of the Main Library, to encourage innovation and experimentation. Dana has been a member of OLA Library as Place Committee since Fall 2022. 

Tarisha is both a registered Architect and Interior Designer – allowing her to connect both disciplines holistically on all MJMA projects – delivering an integrated solution. With a researched-based approach, Tarisha guides the technical detailing aspects of interiors with a focus on finishes, materials, systems, and furniture with the specific performance and durability requirements of high traffic public buildings. Tarisha is instrumental in the leadership of the interiors team and plays an integral role in studio-wide mentorship. She is a frequent lecturer on Inclusivity in Public Design with a focus on creating community and campus spaces inclusive and accessible to all.

Tarisha graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Architecture in 2003. Since joining MJMA in 2012, she has been the Director of Interiors and rejoined in 2020 as Partner.

Janna Levitt co-founded LGA Architectural Partners with Dean Goodman in 1993 with a vision to help diverse and often under-resourced clients to realize places that spark positive cultural and environmental change. Through research, public consultation, and design Janna aims to improve lives: creating places that advance equity, wellness and community, educating and mentoring the next generation of designers, and collaborating with artists, scientists and others to draw attention to pressing issues impacting our world.

Janna has earned wide respect for her inquisitive, thoughtful and imaginative approaches that demonstrate fresh possibilities for everyday living. Her diverse initiatives – such as community hubs that foster arts and culture, public spaces that connect citizens with ecology, and residences that contribute to equitable cities -- underscore the expansive

role that architects play in redesigning our world.

Her noteworthy recent projects include the MABELLEarts Pavilion and Park that uplifts a historically underserved, highdensity neighborhood populated by newcomers to Canada with a dynamic hub for creativity and community; Evergreen Brickworks’ Kiln Building 16, that sensitively arrested the deterioration of a historic Toronto landmark and expanded its

purpose from artifact to a carbon-neutral event and education centre; Stackt, that transformed a pending development site into an ever-evolving shipping-container retail market and cultural hub; and Rehousing – an online resource that she developed with members of the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and Design at University of Toronto to empower

citizen developers to convert single-family homes into multi-unit housing.

Janna’s love of architecture extends to teaching, mentoring and community causes. She has held teaching appointments at University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University. She regularly lectures and serves on award juries across North America and abroad. She presently sits on Toronto’s Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel. In 2015 she led the creation of an annual scholarship fund for an Indigenous student entering Laurentian University's McEwen School of Architecture.

Janna was made a Fellow of the RAIC in 2009. She received the 2018 G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects. In 2019 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and she was named as one of the top 30 “Essential Women in Architecture and Design” by Azure Magazine.

Janna attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax and The Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston before finalizing her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Master in Architecture Program at University of Toronto.

Chad Roglich is the Director of Facilities and Sustainability at Hamilton Public Library (HPL), where he oversees a diverse portfolio of library facilities, mobile library services, business performance and analytics. He currently spearheads HPL's comprehensive Facilities master planning process and is working alongside a creative, collaborative team on Hamilton’s first Net Zero Library project.

With over 25 years of experience managing large commercial and retail assets across Ontario, Chad brings valuable insights into the evolution of public spaces and the critical role libraries play as community hubs.

Beyond his professional role, Chad demonstrates his commitment to community building through his service as past Chair and Director of a local nonprofit board focused on housing solutions for Hamilton's vulnerable populations. His approach to library space management emphasizes the intersection of operational excellence, sustainability, and community engagement - key themes that resonate with library professionals focused on creating a welcoming, efficient, and future-ready spaces.

As Facilities Manager, University Libraries, Dana oversees the libraries' physical infrastructure, focusing on flexible, inclusive spaces that support learning and collaboration. She is currently involved in planning the new Medical Library at theTMU School of Medicine in Brampton and redesigning a floor of the Main Library, to encourage innovation and experimentation. Dana has been a member of OLA Library as Place Committee since Fall 2022.