Ronald Miles Veitch

Biography

Ronald Miles Veitch was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 31, 1931. He obtained a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba in 1952 and, after working in the profession for several years, returned to school and graduated with a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon in 1971. Throughout his career, Veitch embraced design theory that focused on the relations between people and places.

Veitch’s early career included acting as Head of the Interior Design Department at Moody Moore & Partners between 1945–1964. He then began his academic career and taught in the Department of Interior Design at the University of Manitoba. Veitch worked at the university for thirty-four years. When he retired, he held the rank of Professor.

While teaching, Veitch continued a professional practice. He was an Interior Design Consultant to Moody Moore between 1964–1970 and to the Associated Architects Consortium between 1965–1970. Working with the consortium, he was the Project Manager (Interiors) for the Centennial Concert Hall and the Planetarium. Other projects included the interiors of Lockhart Hall at the University of Winnipeg and the Plant and Office Building for Greater Winnipeg Gas Company. Veitch was the designer for the Marcel Breuer Exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1982.

Veitch served the profession throughout his entire career. He was one of the founding members of the Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba (now The Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba) where he held numerous positions, including four terms as President, for over thirty years. Veitch was one of the leaders who worked to pass the Interior Designers Act in the 1980s. His contributions to the profession were far-reaching and extended beyond Manitoba. Veitch was one of the founders of the Interior Designers of Canada and active in the organisation for over thirty years; a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications; and he consulted on Curriculum Philosophy and Development at various universities in the United States in the 1980s. He co-authored a textbook on professional interior design practice and authored a textbook on detailing for interior design.

Veitch is a Fellow of the Professional Designers of Canada, The Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba, the Interior Design Educators Council, and the Design Centre, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Melbourne, Australia).

Ronald Miles Veitch passed away on December 24, 1998.