The Canada Council for the Arts has recently announced that Calgary-born Marc Boutin is the winner of the 2002 Prix de Rome, an award which recognises the talent and work of an architect actively engaged in the field. Established in 1987, the CA$34,000 award enables the winner to pursue independent work in Rome, and make an original contribution to the development of their discipline. Boutin was selected by an independent peer assessment committee appointed by the Canada Council and, whilst in Rome, will study the city’s water infrastructure – its aqueducts, fountains and related public space. ‘Fundamental to the understanding of Rome is its relationship to water,’ noted Boutin in his competition proposal, ‘Infrastrucutural transformations have recorded the social history of Rome.’ Biographical information on Marc Boutin is available online at:www.canadacouncil.ca/news/pressreleases/co0221-e.asp