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The OALA Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence acknowledges excellence in works by an OALA member and their exemplary overall body of professional work and accomplishments.
Singling out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work which demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment, this award promotes awareness of the recipient’s landscape architectural works and achievements among landscape architects, allied professionals, potential clients and the public.
Glenn Harrington is widely known for his innovative approach to environmental landscape design, and for his experience in collaborating with grassroots citizens groups on local landscape rehabilitation projects. He is the founding Principal of Harrington McAvan Ltd. (formerly Harrington and Hoyle, formerly Englar Harrington Leonard Ltd.), a member of the OALA/CSLA for 37 years, and a recipient of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects’ prestigious Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment.
As part of his ongoing commitment to community service, Glenn has participated in the review and development of many initiatives, such as: the Water Efficiency Strategy Advisory Group, the Stormwater Best Management Practices Steering Committee, the State of the Aggregate Resource Steering Committee, the Federal Government’s Great Lakes Strategic Advisory Committee, the Provincial Urban Drainage Advisory Committee, the Minister’s Mining Act Advisory Committee, and MTO’s Drainage Design Manual Review Committee. Glenn served as Chairman of the Water Task Force of the Conservation Council of Ontario, and was an active member of the Aggregate Resource Working Group of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for many years. He served as the OALA Representative on the Conservation Council and subsequently served a term as President of the Conservation Council of Ontario.
Glenn is an innovator and trailblazer. In 1982, he was instrumental in introducing soil bioengineering techniques to Ontario as a viable option for bank and stream stabilization. He pioneered the use of dormant cuttings of hardy, native plant material to stabilize soil. Building on the work of William E. Coates, Glenn was instrumental in developing the standards for site plans for pits and quarries in Ontario by preparing Generic Site Plans for the Aggregate Resources Act. He was instrumental in having landscape architects designated under the Act as pre-qualified to prepare site plans in Ontario. In addition to his ongoing design works, Glenn continues to pass on his knowledge through teaching and speaking engagements at Ryerson University’s Chang School of Continuing Education; at Trent University; introductory courses in bioengineering for the American Fisheries Society, and other organizations.
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.
Lawrence Stasiuk entered public service at the City of Hamilton in May, 1990, and at that time, he was the only landscape architect in the Parks Division of Public Works. Since then, he has seen the role of landscape architects expand from traditional areas of park design and civic beautification to include areas such as streetscape design. Lawrence has provided leadership in his workplace by developing the scoring mechanism for the City of Hamilton’s consultant roster. The Purchasing Department has indicated that the landscape architect roster evaluations are the most thorough of all roster categories.
He was also responsible for developing standard details for the City’s Parks Development Manual as well as developing play equipment criteria. An important aspect of Lawrence’s contribution to public practice is his strong belief in continuing education and lifelong learning. He was the Chair of the OALA Continuing Education Committee from 2005 to 2011 and led a renewed interest in the development of educational programs for members. At the same time, he has been known for organizing education sessions for landscape architects in his own department as well as organizing outreach sessions and inviting other disciplines in order to promote greater understanding of the role of all professionals on multi-disciplinary design and planning teams. Lawrence has served on the OALA Council as Vice-President, President, and Past President. He has chaired and participated in numerous committees and has been the OALA representative on the CSLA Board. In April, 2010, Lawrence led a delegation of professional colleagues at the OALA Day at Queen’s Park, and met and addressed more than 30 MPs, including five Ministers.
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.
Le’Ann has made an exemplary voluntary contribution to the work of the Association both here in Ontario and abroad. She is the current OALA representative to CLARB, and member of the OALA Examining Board. Le’ Ann is a former member of OALA Council who served as secretary on the executive committee. Le’Ann is probably best known for the OALA LARE Study Manuals. Although compensated for the first edition, she continues to volunteer her time to update this valuable resource, now in its 3rd edition. She conceived, developed and delivered the first LARE tutorial sessions at OALA conferences and LaBash 2008 to help candidates, and has visited Guelph and U of T regularly to give presentations on the content of the LARE and how to prepare for it. Le’ Ann’s voluntary efforts over the last ten years of service to the OALA and CLARB are extensive and have consistently elevated the professionalism and profile of landscape architects and the OALA both in Canada and in the USA.
The Honorary category of membership is for non-landscape architects who have performed notable service in advancing the course of landscape architecture in the Province of Ontario for whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.
Peter Simon, an architect who has been working at the City of Toronto for the past ten years in the Urban Forestry Department, has greatly contributed to improving Toronto’s tree canopy through many initiatives, including his direct overview of the Tree Planting Construction Details produced by the City of Toronto since 2001. He was also involved in the Steering Committee that directed the report “Every Tree Counts, A portrait of Toronto’s Urban Fores—2009,” which allowed the City to set long-term goals to increase the urban canopy. His direct involvement in the majority of streetscape projects throughout the city makes him a true steward of the urban environment.
The OALA Research & Innovation Award recognizes the outstanding leadership, research and/or academic achievements of a member(s), or non-member(s), who, through scholarly activities and/or the development of innovative practices, inclusive of academic papers, research, publications, books, e-applications or public presentations, which contribute to the knowledge base that furthers the advancement of the art, science and practice of landscape architecture.
Sam Benvie is a professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University and Academic Co-ordinator for the Landscape Design Program at the Raymond G. Chang School of Continuing Education. His research work has focused on the adaptive management of urban vegetation and he has provided research that is used by landscape architects in Ontario on the adaptive management of urban green space and vegetation, population- and community-level urban plant ecology, and the ecology of green roof vegetation. Sam has published many research papers and has developed a number of online courses in plant science and plant identification for both Ryerson and York Universities. Sam offers a number of popular guided plant tours throughout the city of Toronto on a regular basis that has a devoted following.
This certificate is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency In Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. Contributions may have had a local, regional, or provincial impact through policy, planning or design, or as an implemented project.
The design of the Spirit Garden features distinct environments, ecological systems, and sustainable designs that support both active and passive human use in a public park setting. The garden includes: a Living Shoreline, the Gathering Circle, Fire Circle, Medicine Garden, and a significant public art component. The Living Shoreline breathes life into a built environment. The original site—a constructed headland planted with trees and lawn— has been transformed into the kind of ecologically rich wetland typical to the Thunder Bay Region. Bioengineering techniques were used to rehabilitate a derelict, manmade beach into a fish habitat and naturalized shoreline. What were once sterile mineral soils have been replaced with four ecological zones to provide different habitats based on water depth to sustain fish and a diversity of shoreline plant and aquatic species. The Living Shoreline has reshaped the land within the Spirit Garden. Boulders and logs have been added, along with other natural minerals. Plants suitable to this inner harbour site have been introduced. There is a new adjacent path through this area as well as an intimate lookout space and educational signage.
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.
Education and civic engagement are necessary before people embrace an idea. This project, the creation of a series of books on the wildlife of the city, uses civic engagement through a vast network of volunteers with a high level of knowledge and field observation skills to write and illustrate comprehensive and accessible guides to the natural world. The series was initiated by the City of Toronto and, although the city does not fund the publication of the books, they provide staff to assist the volunteers and facilitate the writing process. They also design the graphic layout and coordinate the publication and distribution of the books. All text and illustrations are by volunteers.