2017 OALA Awards
OALA Jack Copeland Award for Associate Leadership And Contribution
This award recognizes the outstanding leadership, and contribution of an associate for going above and beyond to assist fellow associates. Activities include, but are not limited to, tutorials, LARE exam help, special tasks, OALA Library, Special Events, meeting associates and others, including being an associate representative on OALA Council.
Justin Whalen
Justin is an incredible addition to the OALA council as an Associate Representative. Even though he is only half way into his Council term, he has attended numerous OALA events, and ran multiple LARE study sessions. Not only has Justin worked hard to ensure that associates are involved within the OALA, he has been a great resource for study materials and any information regarding the LARE exams.
Justin has written exams, and understands first-hand the struggle of the LARE process. He’s currently working towards bringing awareness to recent graduates about the CLARB process, while encouraging current associates to strive towards becoming registered landscape architects. It is because of this that Justin has spoken with the BLA and MLA students about the examination process at the University of Guelph and Toronto. Not only does Justin provide insight to the LARE’s, but he enjoys the social aspect of the OALA. Justin is found at all the OALA events, including ski and golf day, the curling bonspiel, holiday parties and more.
We are pleased to note that a cheque for $500 also accompanies this award to help offset the cost of a LARE exam.
David Erb Memorial Award
The award is named after David Erb who was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of OALA and his example set a truly high standard. The award is the best way to acknowledge the one outstanding OALA member each year whose volunteer contributions over a number of years have made a real difference.
Sarah Marsh
This year Sarah Marsh is the outstanding and tireless volunteer who we recognize for making a real difference to the OALA.
Sarah Marsh has been a consistent and hardworking volunteer who has time and time again contributed at a high level of effort and effectiveness to the service of her fellow members of the OALA.
Some of Sarah volunteer efforts include:
- Mandatory Continuing Education Transition Committee: 2012 – 2015: Sarah’s volunteer contributions were instrumental in developing the Mandatory Continuing Education Program during her three years of active participation on the committee.
- OALA Councillor: 2014 – 2016: OALA council has a broad provincial mandate and on Council, Sarah often acted as a voice for Ottawa-area members and brought an important regional perspective to the Council table.
- OALA Social Committee: 2011 – 2015: She helped craft many events through her generous insight and experience. Her natural ability to lead helped her execute events and helped the committee fulfill its mandate by providing a voice for the membership in the Ottawa area. Over the past several years the local chapter, Landscape Architecture Ottawa, has benefited from Sarah contributions. This is most distinctly evident when Sarah assumed the leadership role as LAO chair in 2015. Under Sarah’s strong guidance and efforts, LAO is organized, productive and has seen a renewal in participation and relevance.
- Landscape Architecture Ottawa (LAO) Chair: 2015-2017
OALA Certificate Of Merit For Service To The Environment
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.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for: City Stream Watch Program
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities. City Stream Watch (CSW) program is a community-based partnership, which includes the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, Heron Park Community Association, Ottawa Flyfishers Society, Rideau Roundtable, Canadian Forces Fish and Game Club, Ottawa Stewardship Council, City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission to maintain and improve the natural resources in the Rideau watershed. The RVCA promotes an integrated watershed approach — one that balances human, environmental and economic needs. The ultimate goal of CSW is to improve water quality, protect water supplies, reduce flood risk, improve watershed habitats erosion hazard and increase conservation lands.
For over 14 years the goal of the program is to obtain, record, and manage valuable information on the physical and biological characteristics of creeks and streams in the City of Ottawa, while ensuring that they are respected and valued natural features of the communities through which they flow. City Stream Watch brings together a diverse group of volunteers from the Ottawa area both young and old including, students, professionals, retirees, and events that the entire family can participate in. Volunteer numbers have grown each year. In 2015, 315 community volunteers worked a total of 941 hours on a number of different projects on city streams!
OALA Award for Service to the Environment
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 OALA and the OALA Mission Statement and go beyond the normal levels of community action in preserving, protecting or improving the environment.
City of London for: Guidelines for Management Zones & Trails in Environmentally Significant Areas
The “Guidelines” were developed through a multi-year, community-engagement process led by a multi-disciplinary team of landscape architects and ecologists from the City of London with support from scientists and facilitators at Dillon Consulting Inc. to develop a science based, repeatable, and transparent trail planning policy and process that enhances the community engagement experience, stewardship and the protection of ecological features and functions.
The science first process outlined in the Guidelines provide an opportunity for community members and stakeholders to review the significant features and functions present in order to make informed decisions in the trail planning process, enhancing the understanding of the ESA and local stewardship.
The Guidelines and process are aligned with and emulate the fundamental OALA principles and OALA mission statement and are a strong contribution to the practice of landscape architecture providing direction for sustainable design for human use and protection of the environment.
To view the entire Guidelines document, please click here to view a pdf copy.
OALA Public Practice Award
This 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.
Alexander (Sandy) Bell
Sandy graduated in 1976 from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, and commenced working with Conservation Authorities immediately after graduation, where he practiced for nearly 40 years. He has also been involved with numerous professional associations, advisory boards and steering committees, notably the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System Council.
He has been a Full Member of the OALA since 1985.
Sandy will be retiring from public practice effective December 21, 2016. He has been an outstanding leader in the conservation community and deserving of this award for his career achievements.
OALA Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment
This award is given to individual landscape architects or a landscape architectural group to recognize and encourage special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment. This award is named in honour of Carl Borgstrom who of all OALA’s founders, was the most actively in tune with the natural landscape.
Diane Matichuk
During her 30 year career, Diane Matichuk, Senior Landscape Architect at Civitas Architecture Inc., has helped create sensitive landscapes which are well-rooted in the cultural and environmental values of their sites and successfully integrate aesthetics and innovation. Diane blends her studies in environmental sciences and the creative practice of landscape architecture to bring about contemporary cultural landscape that enrich our communities and safeguard our environment and heritage landscapes.
In 2008, Civitas Architecture was engaged by Infrastructure Ontario to perform a feasibility study for the replacement of the Ottawa Courthouse roofing system. In assessing the requirements for a roof replacement, the design firm proposed the idea of converting the conventional inverted roofing system to a green roof. Completed in 2012, at the time it was one to the largest if not the largest green roofs in Ontario. Diane was the lead designer on the green roof project.
Diane Matichuk is a passionate advocate for the natural environment, she understands the importance of its role in the urban setting and finds creative ways to achieve sensitive and sustainable landscape designs. Her work is deeply rooted in the site context and design which informs and enhances the landscape.
OALA Research & Innovation Award
This award recognizes the outstanding leadership, research and/or academic achievements of a member(s), or non-member(s), who, through scholarly activities, including academic papers, research, publications, books, e-applications or public presentations, contributes to the knowledge base that furthers the advancement of the art, the science and the practice of landscape architecture.
Pierre Bélanger
‘Extraction’, a multimedia project lead by OALA member, Pierre Bélanger, is a response to the International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (2016) curator, Alejandro Aravena’s call “to improve the quality of the built environment and consequently people’s quality of life”. The ground-breaking exhibition received the support of Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) as a special project.
‘Extraction’ won the support of the Canada Council for the Arts to exhibit at the 2016 Venice Biennale. “Extraction intends to develop a deeper discourse on the complex ecologies of resource extraction. From gravel to gold, across highways and circuit boards, every single aspect of contemporary urban life today is mediated by mineral resources. Through the multimedia language of film, print and exhibition, the landscape of resource extraction, from exploration, to mining to processing, to construction, to recycling, to reclamation; can be explored and revealed as the bedrock of contemporary urban life.”
The exhibit is a visual installation at the Biennale. Through a multimedia exhibit, it continues later this year, celebrating Canada’s 150th with a book launch and tour across Canada and North America.
OALA Honorary Member
The Honorary category of membership is for non-landscape architects for whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.
Craig Applegath
Craig Applegath is the founding principal of DIALOG, a Toronto architectural studio. He is a passionate designer who believes in the power of built form to meaningfully improve the well-being of communities and the environment they are part of. He was a founding Board Member of Sustainable Buildings Canada, a Past President of the OAA and the current moderator of Symbiotic Cities.net. He is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada for his contributions to the profession of architecture.
While Mr. Applegath is a well-respected architect in Canada and elsewhere with many award winning projects in architecture, urban design and environmental challenges, the focus of this honourary member award recognition is his deep respect for our profession. His presentations at the 2016 Grey to Green Conference and the 2017 Landscape Ontario Certified Landscape Designers Conference advocate for landscape architects and landscape architecture.
His message conveys his deep understanding of the work and capabilities of landscape architects and landscape architecture. He refers to landscape architects as the leading professionals of the 21st Century. As an architect in urban design, he recognizes the vital part that landscape architects contribute to the health, resiliency and sustainability of our environment.
OALA Honorary Member
The Honorary category of membership is for non-landscape architects for whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.
Arthur Potts, MPP (Beaches – East York)
MPP Potts is being recognized for his notable contribution to the profession of landscape architecture through support of the OALA in its quest to achieve a Practice Act. Mr. Potts was the first MPP to write a letter of support for the OALA to the Attorney General and Government House Leader Yasir Naqvi. In his letter, he noted that he was impressed with the extent of impact landscape architects have on the sustainability and livability of our local environment. He also noted that Ontario should be the first jurisdiction in Canada to have Practice legislation. He is also a sponsor host for the upcoming OALA Queen’s Park reception.
Arthur Potts was first elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Beaches–East York on June 12, 2014. He is currently the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, working to find solutions for the challenges of sustaining Ontario’s while creating opportunities for the green technology industry.
OALA Emeritus Member
Emeritus members are full members of OALA who have ceased full time practice and who are nominated by another full member in recognition of their years of service to the profession.
Robert Hilton
Rob Hilton, OALA member since 1981, is recognized with this esteemed emeritus status as an acknowledgement of his tireless promotion of our profession through practice for four active decades. Members who have had the honour of working with Rob have commented that they trust Rob’s consistent enthusiasm, wit, integrity and big-picture thinking style as integral to his impact in our field.
The landscape architectural path he forged, intentionally following the needs of the ‘baby boomer’ population, took him to the forefront of design for emerging demographic trends on provincially significant large-scale projects in the realms of amusement/attraction parks, residential and retirement communities, and lastly to hundreds of cemetery commissions across Canada. Rob’s contribution to the profession became rooted in both his design intelligence and his day-to-day representation of landscape architects – with a genuine interest in and care for his colleagues and Clients.
Rob has continually been effective in educating those outside the profession about the importance and function of landscape architecture. The driving force behind his effectiveness in creatively promoting the cost benefits afforded by good landscape architectural planning and design was his passion and aptitude for land economics, demographic trends, and the business of landscape architecture. Rob has never shied away from being proactive and making land development opportunities happen when none otherwise existed).
Rob has been an influential ambassador of landscape architecture and a true professional in every sense of the word throughout his time as an OALA member.
