Voting is my duty

The awards season is upon us … and it seems everybody wants to know what we think. It’s not enough to let an esteemed panel of judges decide, they want OUR opinion, too.

But that’s okay. I like to vote. I consider it my civic duty. In fact, I consider the long-form census my civic duty, too. And I’ll answer questions of any pollster that calls or emails me. I even do those product survey things … I guess no one ever listens to me at home, so I think I have a better chance with Ipsos Reid.

So, I couldn’t resist when the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) recently sent me an email announcing the winners of their 2012 Design Excellence Award (there are 15 of them in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Waterloo, Mulmur, Nobel, Vaughan, Peterborough, Montreal and Phuket) and asking me which one I liked best.

But they want your opinion, too. You can click here to vote on your favourite architectural design before April 17 … but be warned, it’s tough to choose just one.

The rest of OAA’s awards will be announced at a ceremony in Ottawa Friday, May 11.

In keeping with the architectural theme — and industrial design and interior design — Azure magazine wants you to vote in 14 categories for their People’s Choice Awards. The winners will be announced in the magazine’s July/August issue. Just click here to enter.

BILD AWARDS

The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recently announced the finalists for their awards gala Friday, April 17 (where, I might add, I get to present Builder of the Year. A big honour for me. Will it be Aspen Ridge Homes, Geranium Homes, Mattamy Homes, Monarch or Tridel?).

You can read the full list of finalists here.

But BILD, too, is getting into the action with a People’s Choice Award.

The finalists are Aspen Ridge Homes for Studio on Richmond; Brookfield Homes for Pathways; Castel Homes for Allure at the Gates of Aurora; CentreCourt Developments for Peter Street Condos; Lifetime Developments for the Yorkville; Lindvest Properties for B.street Condos; Madison Homes for The Madison; Rosehaven Homes for Woodland Trails; Treasure Hill Developments for block; and Urban Capital & Shram Homes for Trinity Bellwoods.

Click here to make your mark.

And yes, just in case you were wondering, I voted in all three cases. Sometimes twice.