LACF Congratulates Lea Papillon
About Lea
Lea Papillon is entering her final year of the dual Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of British Columbia. Born in Quebec and raised in Ottawa on the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, she grew up with a love for visual arts, environmental care, and social advocacy. This foundation led her to complete a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at McGill University before moving to Vancouver to work in landscape architecture and pursue her graduate studies in both disciplines. She now resides on the unceded and unsurrendered territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaɬ Nations, whose stewardship of these lands and waters continues to guide her work.
For Lea, advocacy has never been separate from her academic pursuits, they are symbiotic expressions of her core belief that the spaces we inhabit should serve everyone equitably. Her commitment to inclusive design manifests through multiple roles: Advocacy and Education Coordinator for For a Feminist Architecture at UBC where she co-founded the Notes monthly newsletter amplifying feminist ideas in design education, design media teaching assistant, and research assistant for Architects Against Housing Alienation. The same ethos for social justice informs her directed studies, where she has undertaken feminist research in both disciplines to challenge dominant narratives.
Lea's values consistently guide her approach to landscape architecture. Through her research on accessibility in transit environments with UBC's Sustainability Scholars program and studio work exploring non-visual forms of design, she finds deep purpose in expanding who design serves. She believes the public realm and accessibility shape sustainable behaviors, enable equitable access to resources, and support climate resilience, and hopes to carry these perspectives into practice as both moral and technical challenges. With over six years working intermittently with architecture and landscape architecture firms across Canada, she is dedicated to growing her interdisciplinary skills and contributing them toward projects centered on community empowerment.
Driven by her unwavering belief in design as a tool for equity, Lea aspires to expand who the built environment serves and advocate for landscapes that embody justice, inclusivity, and shared belonging.
Jury Statement
The 2025 Frederick Gage Todd National Scholarship jury praised Lea Papillon's strong application of the Canadian Landscape Charter and her evident passion for the profession. She demonstrated excellent communication and technical skills, along with an impressive research background and solid design talents, as shown in her diverse portfolio. The jury also particularly appreciated Lea Papillon's community work, her efforts with the visually impaired, and her dedication to social justice and equity in her projects.
Lea's Video Statement
Selected Projects
