A Meaningful Back-Story – the Westminster Project

Westminster Project Renders by REUBEN MOISES – December
2020
The pandemic touched every corner of the globe in its own way. In Cuba, where
my dear friend Reuben Moises lives, it hit especially hard. With hotels closed
and tourism halted, families were left without income, support, or certainty. I
had left Cuba just before the world shut down – on March 5, 2020 – wondering
why airport workers were wearing masks, not realizing that life was about to
change for all of us.
Months later, in Canada, another reality was unfolding. Home renovations were
booming, and one of our projects in Westboro needed detailed renderings. As
fate would have it, Reuben wasn’t just my friend – he was also a gifted 3D CAD
modeller. By day, he had worked in a hotel coffee bar. By night, on his capable
computer, he honed a talent that few outside his family had ever seen. He
showed me his work on his PC, (which he kept hidden under a sheet), and I was
awestruck!
I reached out to him over Messenger, inviting him to take on the kitchen
renderings. Reuben had few resources like ready-made libraries of fixtures or
cabinetry to draw from, so he built most from scratch. Together, we stayed up
late, me guiding him through revisions, him turning raw outlines into something
vivid and inspiring. Bit by bit, the vision for the project came alive on the screen.
The final result was more than just a set of images. It was proof of what
happens when opportunity meets talent, and when friendship becomes the
bridge that carries both forward. Reuben earned $500 USD for the
work—enough to feed his family for months—and in the process, he opened
doors to new projects while we deepened a lifelong bond.
The story didn’t end there. When Reuben learned that the project was named a
Finalist in the 2022 GOHBA Design Awards, he was ecstatic. For him, it was
validation that his work mattered on an international stage. For me, it was one
of those rare moments when professional achievement and personal connection
aligned perfectly. Together, we didn’t just create renderings – we created
memories and milestones that will last a lifetime.