2011-2012 OALA Governing Council
Glenn A. O’Connor President
Glenn is a Principal of G. O’Connor Consultants Inc., an award winning Landscape Architect with 30 years professional experience. He is involved with multi-disciplinary teams on Healthcare, Institutional Campus projects for Colleges and Universities, with special skills in environmental planning, public meetings and as an expert witness for O.M.B., N.E.C., and consolidated board hearings. Glenn has served the OALA as Treasurer for three years and is in his second year as President.
Lawrence Stasiuk Past President
Lawrence is in his 7th year of service on OALA Council and in his 5th year as an Executive Officer. He was OALA President in 2009-2010 where he presided at the CSLA 75th Anniversary Congress in Toronto, and the 42nd OALA Conference in Ottawa. Lawrence has been a practising Landscape Architect in Ontario and British Columbia for 30 years in both the private and public sectors. He currently works for the City of Hamilton in the Landscape Architectural Services section with an emphasis on planning & development of parks, sports fields, trails, waterfronts and streetscapes.
Joanne Moran Vice President
Joanne joins the OALA with a breadth of Landscape Architecture experience. Currently with the City of Ottawa, she has worked on the park and open space continuum from preliminary system planning, acquisition, service level analysis, financing, asset management, production/delivery management to site renewal strategies, designs and implementation. Joanne is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Association’s members and is pleased to participate in many action items identified in the OALA strategic plan.
Bryce Miranda Treasurer
Bryce is an accomplished landscape architect who is an associate at DTAH, an award winning multi-disciplinary firm located in Toronto. His current work is directed towards the design development of urban environments including waterfronts, streetscapes, parks, brownfields and neighbourhoods. Bryce contributes to the OALA as Treasurer, webmaster and as marketing and communication committee member.
Morteza Behrooz Secretary
Morteza was elected to the OALA Council in 2010. He hopes to contribute to the membership by actively participating in Council meetings and performing duties as outlined in the bylaws or as assigned by the executive committee. He currently works with the Town of Markham, Planning and Urban Design Dept. as Parks Development Coordinator. Morteza graduated from a 6 year architecture and urban design program in 1998 and from a 2 year landscape architecture program in 2006 to earn his second master’s degree, both from reputable universities of Tehran, Iran. He has a passion for the convergence of physical processes and cultural meaning in urban and suburban contexts.
Johanna Evers Officer
Johanna is a landscape architect at du Toit Allsopp Hiller who holds a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph with past work experience in Canada, the United States and China. Johanna has a well rounded portfolio of resorts, theme parks, condominium landscapes and open space masterplans, but the majority of her professional experience has been focused on the design and implementation of large urban parks, transit facilities and streetscapes. Johanna is on the OALA Executive Council as an officer while also contributing to the marketing and communication committee and sits on the editorial board for Ground magazine.
Sarah Koeppe Councillor
Sarah achieved her Bachelors Degree at the University of Guelph and since then enjoyed the opportunity to work throughout Canada, US and Germany. Currently she is a landscape architect at Corush Sunderland Wright Ltd. in Ottawa were she has the opportunity to be engaged in a broad scope of projects.
In addition to being a Councillor, Sarah has also become involved with CLARB, being an active member of their exam writing committee. She is also active with a variety of OALA committees including the Social Committee.
Jonathan Loschmann Councillor
Jonathan Loschmann, OALA, CSLA, ASLA, LEED®AP is a member of MMM Group Ottawa. A Landscape Architect and LEED Accredited Professional, Jonathan specializes in ecologically sensitive site design and construction. His background includes work abroad, notably in the US in Boston and Arizona. Jonathan is acting as Councillor for the OALA, a two-year term, 2011-2013.
Linda Thorne Lay Councillor
Linda was elected to fill the position of Lay Councillor on the Board in November 2009. She comes from Ottawa where she owned Thorne & Co. (a store forgardeners) between 1990 and 2005. She was a member of the Executive of the Canadian Tulip Festival for 10 years and a judge for Communities in Bloom in 2007. Since 1998 Linda has organized and led garden tours abroad. Prior to opening her store, Linda worked for the Federal Department of Public Works in the areas of policy and planning.
Sean Kelly Appointed Educator (University of Guelph)
Sean is both a partner at SKA – Stempski Kelly Associates Inc and a professor at the University of Guelph. He is fascinated by rurally located places of destination whether they are premised on an area’s significant natural heritage, unique settlement pattern, or abundant recreational offerings. This has lead his firm, SKA, to become a leader in the design of rural, resort and amenity landscapes. He and his students work towards understanding how physical design and planning can serve rural communities, amenity migration, and destination environments. Sean is also a member of several ‘snow/resort’ area associations, is the University of Guelph’s Appointed Educator to the OALA and serves as council representative on the OALA’s Examining Board and Discipline Committee.
Elise Shelley Appointed Educator (University of Toronto)
As an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Elise Shelley teaches studio design, planting design and site technology courses in both the Architecture and Landscape Architecture programs. She is also an independent practitioner in landscape architecture in Toronto. Elise’s background and training in architecture influences her design philosophy as a landscape architect and her overall design approach. Her designs are spatial and functional with attention to craft and technical details. Elise’s role as the Appointed Educator to the OALA Council is an example of her desire to bridge the academic and professional realms of the discipline.
Neeltje Slingerland Associate Councillor – Senior (v) (1)
Neeltje joined the OALA Council in 2011 for a one-year term as Senior Associate Councilor. She currently works as a Landscape Architectural Intern at the MBTW Group in Toronto, where she contributes to both greenfield and urban design projects, from proposal writing through to detailed design. Neeltje holds a B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo and an M.L.A. from the University of Guelph, where she completed research on mine reclamation in Central Brazil. Her work experience spans across Canada including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. In addition to being an active member on the OALA Council, Neeltje is also a member of the OALA marketing and communication committee, and works closely with the social committee.
Jonathan Woodside Associate Councillor – Junior
Jon is a recent graduate from the MLA program at the University of Guelph as well as a certified arborist and LEED accredited professional. He is currently employed with Urban Forest Associates Inc. where his work focuses primarily on ecological rehabilitation and design/build projects along Toronto’s ravines. Jon is dedicated to engaging young professionals with the OALA; He is an active member of the OALA social committee and is spearheading many initiatives to link students and associate members with Landscape Architecture professionals
Najib NajjarStudent Representative – University of Guelph (v)
Najib is currently in the bachelor of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Guelph. Before this, he graduated from Sheridan College with a diploma in architectural technology and a certificate in project management. He was part of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority Terminal 3 redevelopment team and later worked with Oldcastle Glass an glass systems company. Najib has developed an interest in landscape architecture specifically to create better living environments.
Todd Douglas Student Representative – University of Toronto
Currently in his second year of MLA program at the University of Toronto, Todd applies his previous studies in urban planning and communication design. While at the Cities & Environment Unit, the applied research arm of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Architecture, he worked extensively with First Nation communities on issues related to planning and design. He is working towards becoming a licensed landscape architect with a focus on complex, large-scale urban environments.
