2026 OALA Awards
We are excited to announce the recipients of the OALA 2026 Honours and Awards!
Throughout the week of September 21–25, we will honour and recognize individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the OALA and who embody the fundamental principles of our mission, vision, and core values.
Join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals and leaders on Friday, October 2, at the Walper Hotel in Kitchener, where we will recognize the award recipients in person during the OALA Awards ceremony.
Tickets to the ceremony are included with the OALA Full Conference Package or can be purchased separately here.
OALA Research and Innovation Award
This award recognizes scholarly activities and/or the development of innovative practices and the publication and dissemination of this knowledge for the betterment of the profession and the greater good. This may include: 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.
Virginia Burt, OALA
Virginia Burt has made significant contributions to research-informed practice and knowledge sharing in landscape architecture. Her work is known for combining interdisciplinary research, particularly on the relationship between the environment and human behavioural health.
Through projects such as Morgan’s Garden, the first therapeutic urban garden in North America designed for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, she developed evidence-based design guidelines based on literature review, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. These guidelines have advanced inclusive, neurodiversity-informed design and influenced both research and practice.
An internationally recognized practitioner, Virginia has received many awards, including multiple CSLA National Awards of Excellence and ASLA honours, which reflect the impact of her built work and research. Her work is widely shared through publications such as Landscapes | Paysages, as well as lectures and conference presentations.
Her 2025 book, A Story of Stone, extends these ideas to both professional and public audiences. Overall, her work provides meaningful public benefit while advancing the intellectual, ethical, and therapeutic foundations of the profession.
Nina-Marie Lister
Nina-Marie Lister, Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and an Honourary Member of the OALA, CSLA and ASLA, is recognized for her leadership of the Bylaws for Biodiversity (B4BD) research program. Through policy development, public education, partnerships, and advocacy, the program bridges top-down governance and grassroots community action.
By advancing applied research and practice in the design and management of naturalized landscapes, the program expands the role of landscape architecture in guiding complex, adaptive ecosystems that support climate resilience. It also challenges outdated, colonially rooted property standards and bylaws, creating opportunities to better protect and enhance biodiversity across public and private lands.
Through the translation of research into practical policy frameworks, tools, and resources, the program has strengthened the capacity of practitioners, municipalities, and educators to advance biodiversity objectives. Nina-Marie’s leadership has helped position landscape architecture at the forefront of biodiversity recovery, ecological stewardship, and long-term climate resilience.
Mark Schollen, OALA
Mark Schollen is a leading landscape architect, researcher, and innovator whose career has advanced stormwater management, Low Impact Development (LID), green infrastructure, and ecological planning in Ontario. For more than 35 years, he has bridged research, policy, and practice, transforming sustainability into widely adopted standards, tools, and built solutions.
As Founder and Principal of Schollen & Company Inc., Mark has established a practice that integrates landscape architecture, ecosystem restoration, and landscape planning to deliver innovative, evidence-based design solutions. The firm’s excellence is reflected in more than 30 Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Awards of Excellence.
Mark has authored and co-authored key guidance documents, including the Credit Valley/TRCA Low Impact Development Planning and Design Guide, Ontario’s Stormwater Management Planning and Design Manual, and the City of Toronto Green Streets Technical Guidelines, shaping policy across Ontario and beyond.
His work spans landmark projects such as the Honda Canada Campus, the Edmonton Energy and Technology Park development master plan, the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and TRCA Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plans across the GTA, as well as international projects in China and South Africa. As a lecturer at the University of Toronto and an expert witness, he advances knowledge sharing, mentorship, and public-interest decision-making.
Through his many contributions, Mark has elevated the scope and range of professional practice, strengthened sustainable design standards, and left a lasting legacy of more resilient and sustainable landscapes, and livable communities.
