About Us
The Humans Behind Totemica
Once upon a time
The planets and the fates and all the stars aligned
And we ended up in the same engineering program at the same time…
In 2004 we both started the Environment Systems Engineering program at the University of Regina. We got along well in school but had NO idea what our futures would hold. We graduated in 2009 but it wasn’t until early 2017 that we reconnected, when Kelsey successfully recruited Andrea to join her mission as a building permit reviewer at the City of Regina.
The following eight months were filled with an incredible amount of belly laughs, and even more Building Code provisions discussed. We discovered we weren’t only a kick ass technical work team, but also the best of friends. A modern-day Garth and Wayne. Kelsey went on maternity leave, and Andrea moved on from the City right around the time of Kelsey’s return… an end of an era.
Our time working together at the City was over, but we stayed bffs over the years. Through rearing many children, a cross-country move (and back), a couple mental health emergencies, a pandemic, and a handful of career changes, we were by each other’s side every step of the way.
That brings us to spring 2023, six years after we started dreaming of working together (again) and building a company based on our own values and passions. One where we didn’t have to choose between our families and personal health, and having a thriving career. One built on a solid foundation of love and support, complimentary skills, and technical expertise.
The timing was finally right, and we officially renewed our work-wife vows and founded Totemica Consulting Inc.
Street Cred + Bios
Andrea and Kelsey have travelled similar Building Code paths, yet with their own twists and turns along the way. Both received their Building Official Licence Class 3 certification (allowing them to review and approve building permits for complex buildings), moved over to the consulting world to broaden their horizons (including work in Vancouver and other jurisdictions in BC), and pursued paths in teaching the Building Code to help bring clarity to unclear requirements to help users of every level.
They are industry leaders, and recently collaborated with Canadian Urban Institute by authoring a report, Canadian Codes and Existing Buildings, which outlined the major Building Code implications to consider when converting office space to a residential use. They are excited to take their knowledge east by presenting on their report at the National Trust for Canada Conference this October!
Andrea Nylen, P. Eng
Building Code Lead
Andrea is passionate about the Building Code and making buildings safe for their occupants. Her ability to view the Building Code from both the management and end-user standpoints allow her to create innovative and efficient solutions to meet Building Code standards, without comprising design or budget. After graduating from the University of Regina in 2009, she worked in water resources before discovering her love for Building Code in 2017. Andrea is a Registered Professional Engineer in Saskatchewan and teaches three advanced Building Code classes at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in the Architectural Technologies program. In her spare time, Andrea likes to water her many house plants, spend time at the lake and unplug with her family and pets.
Kelsey Longmoore, P. Eng.
Placemaking Lead
Kelsey’s enthusiasm for systems change altered her path from nitty-gritty Building Code application to trailblazing her own way in the industry and founded Kilo Lima Code in 2020. Kilo is Canada’s only cross-industry grassroots Construction Code community, providing educational blogs, resources, and online training taught by niche experts from across the country. The last few years have been full of soul exploration and change for Kelsey, and she has discovered a deep love for revitalizing the urban environment through placemaking and creating enchanting spaces. Outside of work, Kelsey loves to run amuck outside with her three kiddos, as well as starting and not finishing various books, crafts and diy projects.
We Find it Hard to Say No to Rad Things
Although being a Building Code nerd may not sound like much fun, we have a skill of finding great opportunities that take our noses out of the rule book.
Flexing our funny bones is one of our favourite past times, and we’ve been lucky enough to combine it with spreading the good news of the Building Code. We love to share our knowledge through associations and have provided Continuing Education to various groups such as the Interior Designers Association of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Building Officials Association, and the Manitoba Building Officials Association. If you’d like to have us spice up your next conference, reach out to us and let’s chat. As a bonus at no cost to you, we’ll chuck some taffy at participants at in person events.
Sometimes in person isn’t possible (although it’s our favourite form). We have led a number of webinars, and can be found on the educational platforms of two coolest grassroots communities in the industry, MeyersFire and Kilo Lima Code.
What's in a Name?
Totemica | the abridged version.
We are Building Code geeks, and thus love a good definition.
Totemic is defined as ‘regarded as being symbolic or representative of a particular quality or concept’.
When we decided to go for it, we knew that any company we built needed to align with our individual qualities, and what magic is created when we work together. Totemica is a symbol of our commitment to a better built environment for people and the planet. The qualities and concepts Totemica embodies are:
Building Code Consulting | Focused. Innovative. Effective.
Building Permit Support | Clarity. Precision. Methodical.
Placemaking | Enchanting. Connection. Interactive.
Creative Building Reuse | Vision. Passion. Opportunities.
The unabridged and curious version of our name will be available in due time. Follow along through our Instagram, LinkedIN, or sign up for our newsletter below if you’re interested in joining Kelsey down the rabbit hole into the full meaning. We’ll also explain why the ‘a’ was added on.