Kyla Cullain

Co-Founder and Director, BuildAble
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Class of 2008

Kyla Cullain is an award-winning entrepreneur who knows taking risks can pay off. As the co-founder of BuildAble, Canada’s only nurse-managed construction firm, she makes a difference in the lives of people with accessibility needs every day. Kyla began a successful career in community health nursing, but left her accelerated senior level job as a Nursing Project Officer with Ottawa Public Health after she and her husband, an elevator mechanic by trade, helped an older couple install a chairlift in their home.

That got Kyla thinking about how many other people must be in this position, and so BuildAble was born. BuildAble makes life more accessible for people with mobility challenges, with registered health care professionals and renovation experts working together to create custom living spaces that are functional and safe.

Kyla and BuildAble have faced challenges along the way, stemming from etching out a new industry from scratch. Above all, however, being female in the construction industry has been one of the greater challenges. Kyla says, “I’ve met a lot of resistance when meeting with manufacturers and construction teams.” Kyla deflects with humour, but always has to be ahead of the game in terms of both building code and her nursing knowledge.

Kyla is not likely to back down from a challenge any time soon. “I know every day there are people wanting and waiting to get home to a safe space. You wake up each morning knowing you are going to make a difference, and that is what drives me.”