Dakota Bacchus
Portal 02 — Leadership

Achievements
& Writing

Two years running the Waterloo Architecture Students' Association, five co-op terms and the evaluations that came back, and the academic record underneath it all.

Co-op evaluations

Studio MaNA Outstanding

Architectural intern across an eight-month placement. CMHC accessibility drawings, permit submissions and contractor-ready sets, working directly with the principal architect.

EMCO Corporation Outstanding

Sales and operations. Showroom management, client meetings, and full 360° business training across four departments.

John MacDonald Architect Excellent

Architectural assistant. Learned Vectorworks from scratch and used it on live residential work within the term.

Reference letters

Scan of a reference letter on John MacDonald Architect inc. letterhead, dated 15 January 2024.
Dakota contributed very effectively, and with tremendous grace, and was exposed to all aspects of our practice. He is responsible, careful, and able to identify what he does not know and needs to consult about.
John MacDonald, OAA MRAIC · John MacDonald Architect inc. · January 2024
Read the full letter ↗
Scan of a reference letter from The Ensuite Kitchener and EMCO Corporation, dated 11 July 2023.
He left such a positive impression on everyone he interacted with that, when we took him to our yearly regional conference, most people assumed he was in our Management Trainee Program and had been with us for years.
Tara Hotson, Showroom Manager · The Ensuite Kitchener, EMCO Corporation · July 2023
Read the full letter ↗
PDF
139 KB

Reference letter from Studio MaNA, following the 2025 internship.

Studio MaNA · Burlington
Open the PDF ↗

Recognition

President's Scholarship of Distinction

Awarded on a 95% academic average entering the University of Waterloo.

Valedictorian, Scholars' Hall

Highest average in the graduating class. Graduated with High Honours.

Excellent Academic Standing

Maintained across the Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

Leadership & service

President — Waterloo Architecture Students' Association

Responsible for preparation and maintaining termly budgets, student spaces, lounges, events, clubs, and advocacy within the city. Oversee orientation planning and operation, student governance, committee meetings and faculty/staff communication.

Assistant to the Vice-President — WASA

The exec term that preceded the presidency.

Assistant to the Director — Waterloo Orientation Team

University event organiser

End of Year Formal (December), Coffee House (November), Ping Pong Tournament (September).

Office of the President — identity system

Designed the letterhead and presidential nametag system for the office.

Writing & press

Waterloo Region Record

Featured on a 95% graduating average.

Earlier

President — Student Council, Scholars' Hall

President — Events Club, Scholars' Hall