This award is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency in the Province of Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. The contribution must emulate the fundamental principles of the OALA and the OALA Mission Statement and go beyond the normal levels of community action in preserving, protecting, or improving the environment.
This award is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency in the Province of Ontario to recognize sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. This year’s award recipient is being recognized for their success in planning, designing, and constructing the Newberry Wetland Restoration Project. The Newberry Park Wetland is situated at the toe of the Oak Ridges Moraine and was originally developed as a sports field, but over the years proved difficult to maintain. The emphasis in the Newberry Park Wetland is on natural systems in planning and design and has resulted in the restoration of this local, regional, and even provincially significant wetland resource. The local community was involved throughout this significant shift from parkland to natural site for interpretive and passive recreation.
The OALA Public Practice Award recognizes the outstanding leadership of a member of the profession in public practice who promotes and enhances landscape architecture by working for improved understanding and appreciation of the work of landscape architects in both public and private practice.
This award recognizes the outstanding leadership of a member of the profession in public practice who promotes and enhances landscape architecture. Maurice Nelischer is an accomplished landscape architect who has turned his talents to research and teaching. He currently serves as Director of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph. He has also served as Director of the University’s School of Landscape Architecture. Under Maurice’s leadership, SEDRD’s reputation has grown within the university and beyond. Recognized for his passionate teaching, Maurice received two teaching awards in 2004 and was named as a finalist in the TV Ontario Best Lecturer competition in 2010. Maurice has been instrumental in creating and mounting a one-year Masters Program for landscape architecture, and in increasing the size of the BLA program at University of Guelph. He is a strong promoter of the OALA and the profession of landscape architecture both on campus and off.
David Erb was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of OALA. The David Erb Memorial Award is a prestigious way to acknowledge an OALA member whose outstanding volunteerism over the years, has contributed to furthering the goals and strategic plans of the OALA as well as, making a real difference to the OALA and its members.
Named after David Erb, who was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of OALA, this award acknowledges one outstanding OALA member each year whose volunteer contributions over a number of years have made a real difference. Victor Ford has made an exemplary voluntary contribution to the OALA over the past twenty years. He has served as a member of Council, the Promotion Committee, the Continuing Education Committee (where he has been Co-Chair since 2009), examiner for the Oral Senior Examinations, advisor to a number of Landscape Architectural Interns, and as a guest critic at the schools of landscape architecture at the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto. Victor’s volunteer efforts consistently elevate the profile of landscape architect and the OALA.