Spring on the Prairie: Kiyoshi Izumi and the work of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama is the first comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the work and legacy of Kiyoshi Izumi (1921–1996), a pioneering figure in Canadian architecture. This landmark exhibition will provide a deep dive into the 32-year career of Izumi, whose innovative designs have left a lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s architectural landscape.
Kiyoshi Izumi, the first known Canadian architect of Japanese descent, overcame significant social and racial barriers in the post-war era to become a celebrated architect both provincially and nationally. Born in Vancouver to Japanese immigrant parents, Izumi’s life took a dramatic turn following the introduction of Canada’s War Measures Act in 1942, which led to the forced relocation of Japanese Canadians in coastal British Columbia. Izumi was able to avoid internment camps and eventually settled in Regina, where he became a leading figure in modernist architecture.
Izumi’s architectural career is marked by a series of iconic projects that have shaped the cultural and civic landscape of Saskatchewan. With partners Gordon Arnott and James Sugiyama, Izumi and the architectural firm of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama were responsible for significant landmarks such as the expanded College Avenue Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Regina Public Library Central Branch, and the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts (now Conexus Arts Centre). In Saskatoon, the firm contributed to the postwar expansion of the University of Saskatchewan campus, including notable buildings like Marquis Hall and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Izumi’s career was his collaboration with British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond and Canadian biochemist Abram Hoffer. Together, they reimagined psychiatric hospital design, leading to the construction of the Yorkton Psychiatric Centre in Saskatchewan. To ensure his designs were sympathetic to patients, Izumi engaged in unconventional research methods, including experimenting with psychedelics. This unique approach allowed him to gain insights into how space and environment could affect patients’ experiences, leading to architectural innovations that earned international recognition.
