OAW 2026 - Panel Discussion

Our panelists and moderators will be discussing how water has shaped Ottawa – and how our relationship with it will shape the next 200 years Join us for an engaging evening during Ottawa Architecture Week, as we delve into the exciting world of urban design, architecture and city building at our panel discussion event titled "Currents of Bytown”. Our panelists and moderators will be discussing how water has shaped Ottawa – and how our relationship with it will shape the next 200 years. What do we make of industrial watershed infrastructure that’s original purpose no longer exists? What form of architectural interventions could transform the once critical infrastructure? How does Ottawa’s relationship with water look like in next 200 years? Whether you’re an architect, urban planner, or simply passionate about the future of our city, this is an event you won’t want to miss! MODERATOR Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco - Journalist and host of CBC Ottawa News at 6 PANELISTS Roberto Campos - Partner & Architect, Figurr Architects Collective Brandon Lind - Design Director, Brigil Chloe Dennis - Exhibition & Collections Manager, Bytown Museum Lisa MacDonald - Principal & Landscape Architect, Urbantypology Caitlin Harrigan - Director & Landscape Architect, NCC MORE ABOUT OUR MODERATOR & PANELISTS Omar Debaghi-Pacheco Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco is a celebrated journalist and the host of CBC Ottawa News at 6. Born and raised in Ottawa, with deep Ecuadorian and Lebanese roots, Dabaghi-Pacheco brings a wealth of experience to his role as anchor of CBC Ottawa’s flagship news show. As a reporter, Omar is known for his pursuit of documentary storytelling. This work has taken him across Canada and to remote areas in Africa including Malawi and Tanzania. He joined CBC Ottawa in 2010 and since then he has covered Ottawa's biggest breaking news stories. In 2010, Omar covered the abduction and killing of an Ottawa-area businessman. In 2016, he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for best local reporting on the 2014 Parliament Hill shooting. In 2018, he covered the 2018 Ottawa tornados which brought a wave of destruction to Ottawa and surrounding communities. From his background as a video journalist, to his time as a national breaking news host, to hosting network specials on Radio One – the common thread for Omar has always been his passion for telling stories from a community perspective and his ability to connect with people. Omar lives in Ottawa with his partner and children. When he’s not chasing the latest breaking news, you can find him giving lessons as a professional paragliding instructor. Roberto Campos Roberto Campos, OAA, MRAIC, ORSA, is a Partner and architect at Figurr Architects Collective with more than 25 years of experience across residential, cultural, educational, workplace, and large-scale urban projects. He brings particular expertise in community master planning, affordable housing, and adaptive reuse, including the conversion of two major Ottawa office buildings into vibrant residential communities. Roberto currently leads several sustainability-focused affordable housing developments in Ottawa, and has led projects at Zibi, Canada’s first certified One Planet Living community. As Partner-in-Charge of the Caivan and ABIC head office, he helped deliver an innovative workplace recognized in the Office category of Canadian Interiors’ 26th Annual Best of Canada Awards. Beyond professional practice, Roberto has maintained a strong commitment to architectural education and advocacy. He has taught several design studios at Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism and previously served as Chair of the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects. Brandon Lind Brandon is passionate about the design and sustainable growth of our cities. He uses his thorough architectural education to complement his wealth of urban design experience to bring “big-picture” thinking to every project. Whether it's in drawing an architectural detail or visioning a 30-year master plan build-out, Brandon is always focused on how the end user will experience his work. Brandon brings his knowledge and passion for city building to everything he does: joining local advocacy groups, writing op-eds, and engaging with the development community. He is dedicated to making the cities he works in places people want to be. He is currently the Design Director at Brigil where he oversees the design of their projects. Chloe Dennis Chloe Dennis is a trained Public Historian and the current Exhibition and Collections Manager at the Bytown Museum - Ottawa's community museum. She is passionate about local history, community, and accessibility and brings these to the forefront of all her work at the museum, including her latest exhibition "What's in a Frame? 200+ Years of Community Portraits." With 10 years in the field, multiple published works and media appearances, Chloe is committed to sharing the stories of the place she calls home with as many people as possible. Lisa MacDonald A passionate and rigorous practitioner of her craft, Lisa brings an intellect and sensitivity to her approach and vision in Landscape Architecture. Having had the privilege of working in a vast range of project types, her collaborative style emphasizes understanding before action, elegance over elaborate solutions, and function that resonates with meaning. With expertise in complex arboricultural issues and public design, she is renowned for her analysis and profound understanding of distinctive and historic sites. Lisa is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, descendant of the Historic Métis Nation in Region 7. Her experiences in the ancestral lands of the Great Lakes have informed her design sensibilities and are foundational to her professional values. Caitlin Harrigan Caitlin Harrigan, OALA, CSLA, is a Registered Landscape Architect with experience across both the private and public sectors. She began her career with award-winning consulting firms in Vancouver and Toronto, contributing to a wide range of landscape architecture, urban design, and city-building projects. She later served as Senior Manager of the Project Management Office at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), where she led major infrastructure projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Her work focused on balancing flood protection, ecological restoration, public access, and resilient city-building within regulated watersheds. Caitlin currently serves as Director, Design Services at the National Capital Commission (NCC), where she leads a multidisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, and industrial designers responsible for planning, conserving, and enhancing nationally significant public places across the National Capital Region. Her team's work advances transformative projects that create vibrant public spaces that inspire Canadians and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.