Rachel Lea

Controller
Originally from Great Britain, Rachel emigrated to Canada as a child. Worked for three years as Administrator for a 125-suite apartment complex in Pointe-Claire, QC. Worked for 23 years as General Manager for hotels in Rivière-du-Loup and Gatineau, QC and for two years as Regional Revenue Manager for 21 hotels throughout Québec. Joined TRACE architectures in 2018.

Exploring architecture, urbanism and conservation

With 25 years of business management experience, I am one of TRACE’s fully bilingual members, who enjoys problem solving through creative solutions to any challenges.

Besides the built environment, I have developed a love of nature and the outdoors. I love nothing more than spending my free time exploring and enjoying being outside. I have walked the Camino de Santiago and through that experience, feel strongly about living in harmony with the land and waters around us. The varied countryside of Spain has inspired me, as has Barcelona, my hands-down favourite city.

When not working, hiking, photography, kayaking, and paddle boarding are some of the ways I enjoy communing with nature. An avid gardener, I am always keen on deepening my knowledge of the relationships between plants and people and love the active physical aspect of working outdoors.

My role within the team

Some of my favourite projects, where I have gained an admiration for Heritage buildings and historical changes, include TRACE’s Conservation Plan for the Willson Estate in Gatineau Park, QC and the adaptive reuse of the House of Commons Hall of State (former Bank of Montréal) by Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON.