1. President's Message With the New Year upon us, I look back at a most ambitious and successful 2008 year for the CSLA. And, we are anticipating that 2009 will be just as exciting and interesting for our members.
This past year there has been some significant changes to the CSLA Executive, Council and Committee members, and we have welcomed a number of new individuals who have brought fresh enthusiasm and perspectives. Your Board of Directors and colleague members are taking charge on new initiatives responding to issues that have been identified to really make a difference for our profession; continuing education, mobility, sustainability, profile and advocacy.
We have many achievements to celebrate this year as Landscape Architects; the CSLA/AAPC Bulletins, Landscapes Paysages and the website activities over the past year start to resonant the tremendous contributions and culmination of contributions precipitating in a positive outlook and continued success for our profession in Canada. I hope that you will enjoy and be inspired by this issue of the bulletin.
On behalf of the CSLA Board of Directors I wish you all a Happy New Year. Best wishes for peace, health and happiness to you and your loved ones
2. News, announcements and getting involved – contact our new Executive Director We welcome receiving your news, comments and information. Please contact our new Executive Director at or call her at 1.866.781.9799.
Paulette is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), the professional designation conferred by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). She is also an Honoured Life Member of CSAE and a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives.
Over her impressive career, Paulette has served as senior staff person for several associations including the Canadian Soft Drink Association, the Canadian Society of Association Executives, the Media Awareness Network and the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Paulette opened a federally incorporated consulting practice, Solution Studio Inc., in 2000 and has helped over 100 associations over the past eight years, working in both official languages.
Paulette has co-authored two publications on risk management for not-for-profit organizations, as well as dozens of articles on association management that are published on the Charity Village website.
The CSLA Board of Directors looks forward to working with Paulette who is committed to applying her organization management, governance, program management and interpersonal skills to enhancing the CSLA profile and member experience.
You can contact Paulette at or 1.866.781.9799. The CSLA address PO Box 13594, Ottawa ON Canada, K2K 1X6 remains unchanged.
3. CSLA Becomes Participating Organization for the Sustainable Sites Initiative The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects accepted an invitation from the partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) to be a Participating Organization for the Sustainable Sites Initiative (
http://www.sustainablesites.org).
As a Participating Organization, the CSLA agreed to:
- Inform our members regarding the Sustainable Sites Initiative, including publicizing calls for comments and other opportunities for review and participation.
- Provide input and share research and data that can help inform the development of the Sustainable Sites Initiative.
- Review and comment on the draft performance benchmarks and guidelines.
Adrienne Brown, BCSLA of Stantec Consulting held our consultation process with our members and is now formulating a response from the CSLA on the draft performance benchmarks and guidelines. Please take the opportunity to review the Sustainable Sites Initiative; you can contact Adrienne at
4. CSLA Awards of Excellent Program – January 23 is your deadline The CSLA Awards of Excellence recognize and showcase the remarkable innovation of our profession, and bring it to public attention. In 2008, the jury named 26 outstanding projects to our 2008 honour roll. Eleven projects took national prizes, and 15 earned regional recognition. The CSLA Awards of Excellence are given for outstanding accomplishment in landscape architecture at the national level. Awards are given in the categories of Design; Planning and Analysis; Landscape Management; Communication; Research: and New Directions of Professional Practice. Fill out your entry today – this year’s deadline is January 23, 2009.
5. World LA Month – April is coming For a second year, the CSLA-AAPC is pleased to be celebrating
World Landscape Architecture Month in April 2009. The celebration of Landscape Architecture Month in 2009 has great significance, as it is also the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the CSLA-AAPC. To recognize this milestone for our profession, we are encouraging each of you to
Celebrate Landscape Architecture in Canada. HELPING YOU PREPARE FOR THE CELEBRATION The CSLA-AAPC 2009 World Landscape Architecture Month campaign theme is
Celebrate Landscape Architecture in Canada, and we invite landscape architects, educators, interns and students in our profession to participate and embrace the month of April to share your work and our profession with the community.
To assist in the celebrations, the CSLA-AAPC is preparing a LA Month package that will be available to you through your CSLA-AAPC component organization. The package will include materials that will help you plan and deliver your LA Month activities. The materials in the package include a template letter about LA Month 2009, a template media release, ideas for activities and celebrations during LA Month, a template power point presentation, and copies of the 2009 LA Month poster. The LA Month package will be available February 2009.
START PLANNING NOW In April 2008, each of our component organizations and many of our members reached out to their communities with LA Month activities. Here are a few of their
suggested activities to celebrate landscape architecture this April 2009 in your community.
- Speak to students about your work and profession at a local school.
- Serve as a mentor to a student who may be considering landscape architecture among their career options, or to a student already studying in landscape architecture or a related program.
- Organize an exhibition at a library, school, museum or community hall that features landscape architecture projects in your community.
- Arrange and lead a design charette with youth, elders or any interested community group to look for solutions to a local design issue.
- Hold a tree planting or a clean-up campaign in your local park or along a riverbank with your municipality or local community associations. Aim to hold your event in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22nd.
- Donate a book on landscape architecture or a subscription to Landscapes/Paysages magazine to your local public library or school guidance office.
As you will discover, there are
no limits to the possibilities
for celebrating landscape architecture with your local schools, within your own school, with colleagues, family, friends and neighbours. Start planning and organizing your events today!
The CSLA-AAPC is committed to being your partner in outreach initiatives through programs such as LA Month. In the months ahead we will be sending you more information on LA Month 2009 including how to get your celebrations planning package. We welcome your collaboration now and for the future and encourage you to send us your ideas, comments and feedback on this program (info@csla.ca).
6. CSLA’s 75th Anniversary Congress, Toronto, ON Aug 13–15, 2009 
The first 75 registrants within the first 75 days of this year will qualify for the Super Early Bird Registration price of $475.00 (regular registration - $600). Check you inbox carefully.
CSLA/AAPC became a formal organization in 1934 and for the past three quarters of a century the Society has been advancing the art, science and business of landscape architecture. We invite you to join us as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary during our 2009 Congress to be held at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto August 13 – 15. The programme will look at the profession from a three hundred and sixty degree perspective. The historical roots, the current state of the profession and an exploration of the future. Look for event details in your inbox over the next few weeks. »
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8. CSLA to Offer Landscape Architectural Continuing Education System at 09 Congress
The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) is a collaboration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (LARB), Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) and the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF). It has been under development for the past two years.
LA CES will establish, maintain, and enforce standards for evaluating professional development and continuing education programs for landscape architects. It will guide the identification of courses that are appropriate for landscape architects and offered by legitimate organizations that have controls and processes in place to monitor quality and track attendance.
The intent of the program will be to assure landscape architects and licensing boards that courses provided by LA CES “approved providers” are of sufficient quality. “Approved providers” will register courses with LA CES that meet LA CES requirements. Registered courses will cover a broad range of subject matter and providers will be required to identify those courses that meet the LA CES standard of health, safety and welfare. LA CES will be administered thorough a collaboration of landscape architecture organizations (of which the CSLA is one) and will be responsible for program management and oversight.
President Elect Linda Irvine OALA is CSLA’s representative on the Administrative Committee and CSLA Board Director Carol Craig, AALA, is CSLA’s representative on the Application Review and Monitoring Committees. The ASLA will provide staffing and overhead for program administration, including: management and maintenance of the online searchable LA CES course database; committee and customer service support; and accounting, communications/marketing, and other professional/technical resources.
LA CES was successfully “beta tested” at the ASLA Conference in Philadelphia this past October. Further refinements to the program will occur early in 2009 with the intention of having the program fully launched by mid-year 2009. The CSLA intends to have the CSLA’s 75th Anniversary Congress in 2009 identified as an “Approved Provider” so that conference sessions, where applicable, can be registered with LA CES in order for attending landscape architects to receive “professional development hours” for courses that qualify in order to satisfy the particular continuing education requirements of their respective state or provincial licensing boards.
9. Highlights of the Last Half of 2008 Jim Taylor FCSLA, FASLA Honoured with ASLA President’s Medal
In October at the annual meeting in Philadelphia, ASLA President Perry Howard honoured Jim Taylor, FCSLA, FASLA, with the prestigious 2008 President’s Medal recognizing “unselfish and devoted service to the Society at the national level over a period of not less than five years”.
Jim was cited for his international service as IFLA Vice President for the Americas and his current efforts as IFLA chair of the Africa Project to support the development of the profession in Africa. His work through the IFLA Education Committee related to international education has been significant and includes working with the ASLA, CSLA, IFLA and CELA in the advancement of the profession and professional education in Latin America, development of the UNESCO/IFLA Charter for Education in Landscape Architecture and contributions to the recent Guidance Document for International Accreditation and Recognition.
A Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph and a past president of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Jim currently serves on the board of the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation.
Photo caption: Jim Taylor accepts ASLA 2008 President’s Medal
Photo caption: Jim Taylor with members of the landscape architecture faculty at Jomo Kenyata University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya, Nairobi.
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Doug Paterson FCSLA, ASLA Honoured for his contributions to the Landscape Architecture Program UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
After 28 years with the Landscape Architecture Program, our esteemed colleague and friend Doug Paterson retired from UBC at the conclusion of 2008. Doug was one of the original faculty members, and the Program Director for more than twelve years (first in the ’80s, and then again in the early 2000s). Doug’s vision, direction and dedication has clearly shaped the program and his passion for human experience of landscape and place, particularly in the public realm, has influenced and enriched the work of many former students and colleagues and thus, we might say, the landscapes of Canada and the world. Beyond the New Year, Doug will continue to teach in the Program, work on articles and a book, and devote more of his time to his other avocation on Salt Spring Island, BC.
In November, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture [SALA] honoured Doug Paterson and his contributions to the Landscape Architecture Program over the last 28 years with a retirement party and fundraiser for the Douglas D. Paterson Scholarship in Landscape Architecture.
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Canadian Students Cathrin Winkelmann and Ellen Pond Receive ASLA Student Awards
Canadian students were well represented amongst the winners of the ASLA Student Awards this past year at the ASLA Annual Meeting and Congress, Student Award Ceremonies in Philadelphia. Cathrin Winkelmann accompanied by her University of Toronto advisor John Danahy accepted an honor award in the Analysis and Planning category for her design thesis project entitled: “Rethinking the Limits of Public Space: An Exploration of Urban Landscape Strategies for Street People as a Counter-discourse to Normative Design”.
Ellen Pond of the University of British Columbia accepted an honor award for her thesis “Revealing Climate Change Mitigation in the Landscapes of the Future”, advisor Stephen Sheppard in the Research category.
Ellen was also recognized by the ASLA as one of the three finalists for the inaugural Olmsted Scholars Program Award. Twenty-four University Olmsted Scholars were selected by their universities and nominated for the national award. The National Olmsted Scholar received a $25,000 scholarship.
Congratulations Cathrin and Ellen!
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The CSLA, CIP and RAIC presented the winners of the National Urban Design Awards at the RAIC Festival of Architecture President’s Dinner in Fredericton, NB June 27th.
The National Urban Design Awards promote public and private awareness of the importance urban design and architectural excellence play in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in Canadian cities. The National Urban Design Awards program has been established to recognize individuals, organizations, firms and projects that have contributed to the quality of life and sustainability in our Canadian cities. The Awards are presented every two years. The recipients of the 2008 program can be found at http://www.raic.org/honours_and_awards/awards_urban/2008recipients/index...
To purchase a copy of the 2008 National Urban Design Awards publication click here http://members.raic.org/practice_documents.php?product_category=7&produc...
Photo caption: CSLA President Sears presents awards to recipients at the National Urban Design Awards in Fredericton June 27, 2008
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CSLA attended session on the Growth of the Profession in Ashville, North Carolina
The CSLA President by invitation attended a session on Growth of the Profession in Ashville, North Carolina in July. More follow up from this session will be covered at the President’s Council meeting this month in Tucson, AZ.
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Cornelia Hahn Oberlander CM, FASLA, FCSLA, LMBCSLA adds two more accolades to her long list of honors
All in one fine week in May 2008, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander received two honorary degrees. The first was a doctor of laws from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the second was a doctor of science from McGill University in Montreal. Both degrees were given in recognition of Cornelia’s pioneering and inspirational work in the field of landscape architecture.
And it doesn’t stop there. Cornelia will be recognized in the Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Pioneers Volume II now in production for a 2009 fall release.
Cornelia our warmest congratulations! The CSLA is truly privileged, your work and passion has no boundaries and your embrace and endless enthusiasm brings vitality to our profession of Landscape Architecture.
A new book about Cornelia’s life and work, titled Love Every Leaf, by Kathy Stinson, was recently published by Tundra Press.
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CSLA President at the CiB National Awards Ceremony
Last September, CSLA President Cathy Sears attended the Communities In Bloom (CiB) National Awards Ceremonies and Awards dinner in Lethbridge, AB. Sears addressed the delegates with greetings from CSLA and extended congratulations from the CSLA to all the National Award winners. CSLA Board of Directors are presently looking are ways to strengthen our organizations’ relationship and for future opportunities to partner on new initiatives.
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CSLA President Addresses ASLA Board of Trustee at ASLA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia
CSLA President, Cathy Sears attended and represented the CSLA at a number of meetings this past year at the ASLA Annual Meeting October 3-7 in Philadelphia. Sears presented to the ASLA Board of Trustees, President Perry Howard and CEO Nancey Summerville an overview of the CSLA, CSLA activities and reflected on the profession of Landscape Architecture in Canada. In her presentation the description of Canada’s far north amplified how inter related the issues are in landscape architecture, how diverse the profession is and that fundamentally, the challenges facing our community of practice are common and resonant across the continent. Those of climate change, resource development and land use, creating and maintaining liveable and sustainable places and the impacts of urbanization on the cultural landscape are indeed serious issues in Canada’s far north as they are in communities and cities throughout North America..
And more from the CSLA on the Conference....
CSLA President Elect Linda Irvine and CSLA President Sears continued to make a presence at the ASLA conference to meet with new colleagues and renew friendships on behalf of the CSLA. They were recognized at the Women in LA reception, attended the Student Awards Presentation and reception to congratulate our Canadian student recipients and enjoyed a special invitation to the ASLA Honourary Member Reception.
CSLA President Cathy Sears joined Perry Howard, ASLA President and his wife, at the ASLA President’s dinner for an evening honouring ASLA members for their outstanding accomplishments. It was an exceptional moment when our own Jim Taylor, FCSLA was recognized by Howard as the recipient of the ASLA President’s Award. This award is not made public until the evening of the dinner. CSLA President Sears, CSLA President Elect Linda Irvine, CSLA Past President Sara-Jane Gruetzner and BCSLA Past Director Adrienne Brown were all there to cheer Jim up to the podium. What an evening to make memorable CSLA’s visit to Philadelphia!
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CSLA at Opening of the Helen Mary Kippax Garden, Royal Botanical Gardens, ON
CSLA Director Arnis Budrevics attended the official opening on September 17, 2008 of the Helen Mary Kippax Garden extending congratulations and thanks to the Royal Botanical Gardens and Mary Stedman on behalf of the CSLA. Helen Mary Kippax was one of the founding members of the CSLA (1934). She was an associate of Carl Borgstrom, designer of the Royal Botanical Garden’s iconic Rock Garden and notable landscape architect of the day. In the 1940s, Helen Mary introduced her nieces, Mary Stedman and sisters Margaret and Ruth to the Royal Botanical Gardens. In 2005 the sisters decided to support the development of a native garden to commemorate the life and legacy of their aunt. .
Photo caption: Mary Stedman, niece of Helen Kippax and Arnis Budrevics, President OALA.Photo Credit to : Lawrence Stasiuk, OALA
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CSLA President Attends RAIC Governor General Awards in Ottawa
By invitation from Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, CSLA President Sears attended the presentation ceremony of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture held at Rideau Hall, Ottawa October 16 2008. Sears was able to spend some time after the presentation of laureates with RAIC President Ms. Paule Boutin and CSLA colleague Gérald Lajeunesse, National Capital Commission. The CSLA extends congratulations to all CSLA members who participated in the winning awards. The Governor General Awards celebrate outstanding design in recently built projects by Canadian Architects and are awarded every two years.
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University of Montreal - Marilyne Fleury receives CSLA Student Award of Merit
CSLA Past President, Myke Hodgins attended on November 1 2008, the University of Montreal Convocation Ceremonies to present Marilyne Fleury with the CSLA’s Student Award of Merit certificate and $500.00 scholarship. Each year the CSLA recognizes top graduating students from landscape architecture programs in Canada’s accredited Universities. Congratulations Marilyne! For all the 2008 Student Award of Merit recipient names go to the website – Awards.
