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President's Message

A message from Jane Welsh, OALA President

In my landscape architecture studies at the University of Guelph, I participated in a semester abroad program to research the work of renowned landscape architect and former IFLA President Dame Sylvia Crowe, author of the influential “The Landscape of Power” (1958).

A charming trail-blazer, she confronted the challenges of new landscape issues in her writing and approach to design. As the first landscape consultant for the Forestry Commission, she revolutionized the approach to planting and harvesting forests in Britain. Her work was an inspiring example of the power of landscape architects, and how our profession can work with government to influence and change how we experience the landscape.

Landscape architects are working for and with all three levels of the government. They influence the landscape in profound ways at every scale. From Toronto’s Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan, to protecting natural features of the Niagara escarpment, and transforming strip mall parking lots to innovative plazas, the power of landscape architecture is evident every day. We have transformed the grounds of Parliament Hill with a grand staircase overlooking the Ottawa River, and transformed waterfronts across Ontario.

Building connections at the municipal level
OALA participated in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa in August, raising the profile of our profession, and meeting with municipal and provincial representatives from across the province.

OALA engages in provincial consultation
OALA remains engaged in a public stakeholder consultation for the Provincial Policy Statement review of the Planning Act through Bill 108, More Home, More Choice Act, 2019.

Working with allied professionals
In May, Eha Naylor represented the OALA at the Ontario Association of Architects conference in Quebec City. She participated in a panel presentation on Inclusive Design of Safety in the Public Realm. And I will attend the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) Annual Conference this fall, to speak about ensuring urban growth is climate resilient.

OALA’s new website
The new OALA website has been redesigned to allow for increased security, speed and added functionality. We’ll have upcoming events listed there, and other valuable information. Let us know what you think!

JANE WELSH, OALA, FCSLA
OALA PRESIDENT
[email protected]