Denis Shehu, the successful Albanian architect in Canada

Denis Shehu and his car

 We met Denis, a 30-year-old boy from Shkodra. Settled in Toronto since the age of 12, he has been fortunate to view life with positivity. Growing up with devoted parents to him and his sister, he says he is quite attached to them, while the mother certainly remains his weak point.

Today Denis has a degree in Architecture from Carleton University in Ottawa and has been practicing for 5 years. He believes that architecture may change society. Changing his home, a person changes a city, transforms society as a whole. Denis's main term is 'simplicity. This is the background of human feelings and experiences.

He is closely related to work, but of course, a temperament like him would not leave his passions behind. Cars, technology, are an integral part of his journey.

For Albanian Montreal Press, Denis will tell us more about the most beautiful from his profession and project-business that often connect him with Tirana.

Denis, what is your school journey?

I am happily the child of two well-educated parents. The mother is a cardiologist while the father has long been dedicated to business. In these circumstances, I have had enough examples of how to seek personal integrity in a safe way. I completed my undergraduate studies in Architecture at Carleton University in Ottawa. What I am proud of, but also my family, is my admission to a postgraduate institution at IAAC Miami University at the master level, also for Architecture, where out of 168 candidates only 8 were accepted, while I was in fifth place. Although it may seem cliché, I am personally pleased with my professional achievements.

What relationship do you have with your passions?

It is known that boys are by nature free types and quite attracted to innovation. I have a close relationship with technology, maybe this is related with my profession. My biggest passion are cars. I have a great desire for them. This past year may not have been ideal for strolling in beautiful Canadian nature, but it is a blood-born passion. As such, I have not left my passion for cars with that. Almost recently I have made a significant investment in Tirana for the opening of a showroom for the presentation of the BENZ-MERCEDES line in Albania. All cars are out of series. Europe seems to me the ideal place to develop and present special things. At the end of May, I am looking forward to the promotion of this showroom in Tirana, from which I have a sensitivity that in addition to being a fantastic celebration, but will offer a standard of technology and specialty for the Albanian market.

Is architecture your ideal profession?

After health and family, architecture remains my love for which I am committed to working every day. Maybe also because of the many trips, I have seen I believe enough from different countries and cultures, but I am at a stage where I have good productivity in relation to the profession.

What is your relationship with Montreal, how often do you visit it?

Canada has been my home for years. Montreal is a historic city which offers architecture, history, and a little Europe with its style. I will finally be there because of a collective project related to Montreal Airport. I will be there for a considerable time, it is a megaproject for which I am fortunate to be one of the leaders in the direction of new works.

What about Albania, how much space does it occupy in your life?

Toronto-Tirana is my favorite and most frequent travel line. Maybe also because of the opening of my business in Tirana, it can remain a station of at least every two months. Albania means a lot to me, I am very connected to my homeland, language, country, and culture, despite the fact that I have been living in Canada since I was 12 years old. These are the roots I can never ignore.