OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment

The Award

This public outreach award recognizes and encourages special or unusual contributions for culturally sensitive and inclusive, sustainable design solutions leading to the improvement of environmental health, community livability and human interaction in the environment. The award may also recognize work that contributes to addressing climate change and supports nature-based solutions.

There are two levels of recognition that may be given at the discretion of the HAP Committee:

1. OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment (recognizing excellence in the work by a person(s), group, organization or agency)
2. OALA Certificate of Merit for Community Service to the Environment (recognizing notable work by a person(s), group, organization or agency)

NOTE: OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment recognizes community contributions while the Carl Borgstrom Award recognizes the contribution of landscape architects.

The Nominee

The award is to be given to a volunteer or a not-for-profit group, organization or agency. The award recognizes community contributions of those beyond the profession of landscape architecture. The nominee may be a member of a related profession, or an external group or agency, such as a not-for-profit (as recognized by the OALA). This award does not preclude any group, organization, or agency that may have an OALA member (in any category) participating as a part of the team.

Nominator and Endorser

The nominator can be a member from any category of the OALA membership or a Committee of the OALA.

In addition, a minimum of 1 letter of endorsement is required from either a member in any category of the OALA, or from a non-member.

Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

The submission should highlight the accomplishments of a specific project, action or a body of work:

• The submission should describe the nominee including such things as the group’s purpose, mandate, years of operation, number of members and scope of project or actions. If the nomination is intended for an individual(s), their role(s) and contributions are to be highlighted and emphasized.
• The work to be honoured should be located within the province of Ontario.
• The contribution will have local, regional, or provincial impact through policy, planning or design, or as an implemented project.

The contribution of the nominee(s) distinguishes itself by preserving, protecting or improving the environment through successful community engagement.

Note: The Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment recognizes the contribution of landscape architects while the OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment recognizes community contributions.

Submit your nomination

Previous Recipients

Recent recipients of the OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment (est. 1995) are:

• 2024 - Trees for Guelph
• 2024 - Friends of Allan Gardens
• 2023 – Plenty Canada
• 2022 - Friends of Small’s Creek Ravine
• 2021 - Dave Harvey and Park People

Recent recipients of OALA Certificates of Merit for Community Service to the Environment are:

• 2020 - ReForest London
• 2019 - Friends of West Toronto Railpath
• 2017 - Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for: City Stream Watch Program
• 2016 - Town of Milton in recognition of The Restoration Framework
• 2015 - Lorraine Johnson