Complaints

Members of the AAA are expected to maintain the professional practice standards established by the Architects Act, General Regulation, and Code of Ethics. Likewise, legislative requirements are in place to ensure that the public can confidently retain the services of a registered or licensed professional.

If you believe a registrant of the AAA has behaved in an unprofessional manner, contravened the Architects Act or bylaws, or is otherwise incompetent or unfit to practice, you may want to submit a complaint to the AAA.
 

Complaint Review Process

The complaint process is as follows:
 
  1. Complaint form is submitted online to the AAA. The Registrar reviews the complaint and may propose mediation.
    • If both parties agree to mediate, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) certified mediator is assigned. 
    • If the case cannot be settled by mediation or the parties do not agree to mediate, the Registrar refers the case to the Complaints Review Committee (CRC) Chair.

  2. Once the CRC Chair receives the case one of the following actions is taken:
    • If the Chair believes there is sufficient evidence, the case is referred directly to a hearing (see step 4).
    • If the Chair believes the complaint is frivolous or vexatious and dismisses the complaint, no further action is taken.
      • Complainant may appeal to Council.
    • The Chair collects more information from the complainant and the member.
      • If the Chair finds insufficient evidence of professional misconduct, no further action is taken.
      • The complainant can appeal to Council. 
    • The Chair does not have enough information to decide and therefore an investigator is assigned (see step 3).

  3. Investigation
    • The investigator conducts a review of the complaint and presents evidence to the CRC Chair.
    • The CRC Chair makes a decision based on evidence provided by the investigator and determines if:
      • there is insufficient evidence of professional misconduct, no further action is taken but complainant can appeal to Council.
      • the case is frivolous/vexatious, no further action is taken but the complainant can appeal to Council.
      • there is enough evidence to refer directly to a hearing (see step 4).

  4. Hearing (the member under investigation is entitled to be represented by legal counsel at the hearing)
    • A hearing panel determines merit of the complaint and may determine sanctions based on a review of the complaint.
    • The member can appeal the decision of the panel to Council and then proceed through the judicial system if unsatisfied with Council appeal.
 

Before You Make a Complaint

It is important to note that the role of the AAA is to govern the practices of architecture and interior design in the province of Alberta. The AAA does not have the mandate or resources to become involved in the ongoing contractual and business dealings of its membership. It is only in situations where a member of the public believes that an AAA member has engaged in unskilled practice and/or unprofessional conduct that the AAA should become involved. 

If you believe you have a complaint, check the online directory to ensure the architect, licensed interior designer, architectural firm or licensed interior design firm is registered with the AAA.

  • If they are registered/licensed and appear in the directory, we ask that complainants contact the member or firm involved directly and attempt to solve the dispute within the context of the projects contractual agreement.
 
  • If the party in question does not appear in the directory, please contact our office at 780-432-0224 or [email protected] to let us know that someone is misrepresenting themselves as a professional. You may then choose to retain the services of a professional mediator or legal counsel to assist with the interpretation and resolution of the issue.

Once you have confirmed that the individual in question is a member and/or have attempted to resolve the issue directly, you can submit a complaint to the AAA.