Call for Volunteers: Local Conference Task Force

The OALA is looking for volunteers to participate in a “Local Conference Task Force” for the 2026 OALA Conference happening in Kitchener next October 1^st-3^rd.

For the past few months, the OALA Vice President, Justin Whalen, has been working with OALA Staff and the Continuing Education Committee to determine initial details on the Conference, such as the theme title and description, as well as the venue and a draft schedule.

This Local Task Force group will come together to help the OALA and Continuing Education Committee to lead the development of the conference with respect to speakers, promote the Call for Abstracts, evaluate proposed sessions and determine tours of local projects and/or sites that both relate to landscape architecture and the conference theme. For your information, the draft theme title and description for the 2026 OALA Conference will be as follows:

• TITLE:

"Designing for JOY: The Power and Purpose of Place"

• DESCRIPTION:

"Live, Work and Play”. This is a classic phrase that is universally utilized, including by Landscape Architects, when designing spaces in the public realm. But, ... what would happen to the design of those spaces if we were to shake things up a bit and reversed the prioritization of those concepts, on occasion, to "Play, Live and Work"?

Landscape Architects are uniquely positioned, through a combination of technical expertise, artistic vision, and creatively thoughtful design skills to shape environments that can be functional, while at the same time inspire joyful connections between strangers that can result in healthier communities.

It is through PLAY that our profession can and does create moments of collective JOY through the intentional design of public urban places.

This year’s OALA Conference, titled "Designing for JOY: The Power and Purpose of Place", will explore bold ideas and innovative solutions that demonstrate how OALA members are leading the way in designing more vibrant and joyful environments that have the potential to heal social division and strengthen our societal resilience.

Join us in Kitchener, October 1–3, 2026, to share stories, spark your imagination, and celebrate the joyful potential of landscape architecture.

The Task Force meetings will be held virtually, which are scheduled to begin in February, with exact dates and times to be determined, so stay tuned!

If you are interested in joining the Task Force, please contact Olivia Godas, OALA Coordinator, at [email protected], by Friday, January 30^th.