Kìwekì Point, Janet Rosenberg & Studio

OALA Rotating Project Tour Program - Pilot (2026)

Overview

The OALA Rotating Project Tour Program is a new pilot initiative inviting OALA members, design firms, and public‑sector organizations to host guided tours of built landscape architecture projects from their portfolios. Tours are intended for the professional community and, where appropriate, the broader public.

Based on strong interest expressed through the 2025 OALA member survey, the program will launch in 2026 with one to two pilot tours.

Why This Program?

In 2024 and 2025, the OALA Social Committee organized sold‑out tours of the Royal Botanical Gardens Rock Garden, led by Janet Rosenberg & Studio in collaboration with RBG management and horticultural staff. Member feedback consistently highlighted the value of:

Hearing from multiple perspectives, including designers and site managers
Learning about design processes, challenges, tradeoffs, and post‑completion reflections
Experiencing built landscape projects in person

Survey respondents strongly supported expanding this model across Ontario, with an emphasis on learning, access, and community connection.

What Kinds of Tours Are Encouraged?

Proposed tours may include:

Public, institutional, municipal, or private projects
Large‑ or small‑scale works
Recently completed projects or mature landscapes
Single sites or tightly curated multi‑site itineraries

Tours that integrate multiple perspectives—such as designers, clients, municipal staff, contractors, or operations teams—are strongly encouraged.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are welcome from a broad range of potential hosts, including:

Private practice landscape architecture firms
Municipal or public agencies with in‑house design services
Interdisciplinary or collaborative teams

To ensure alignment with OALA’s mandate, applications must demonstrate that:

The landscape architectural design team is represented, and
The host (or a member of the host team) is an OALA Member

Timing and Format

Tours may take place in any season
Applicants are invited to propose an ideal time window
Tour details may vary by project and should be clearly outlined in the application, including:
- Ideal number of participants
- Duration
- Intended audience (OALA members only or open to the public)

Selection Process

Tours will be selected by the OALA Social Committee through an equitable review process, with consideration given to:

Educational value and relevance to current practice challenges
Depth of insight into challenges, successes, and lessons learned
Diversity of voices and perspectives
Geographic distribution across Ontario
Feasibility and accessibility
Variety of project types and scales

As this is a pilot program, not all applications may be selected. Depending on the success of the pilot, unselected proposals may be reconsidered for future program years, should the host wish to participate again.

Application Form