Season’s Greetings
The leadership of CSLA extends our very best wishes of the season to you, our readers.
(click on links for detailed information)
CSLA WLAM 2010 Poster Competition: Saturday, December 19, 2009
CSLA Awards of Excellence: Friday 22 January 2010
National Urban Design Awards: Thursday, February 11, 2010
CSLA Honours and Recognition Awards: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Information about the 2010 CSLA Congress which will be hosted by AALA is posted on the CSLA website – click here. Look for regular updates and mark your calendar now.
CSLA Congress 2010 August 19 - 21
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
CALL FOR PAPERS…it’s time
We invite submissions on a range of topics, including but not limited to the following subthemes. In addition to scholarly papers, we invite the presentation of planning and design work (built or theoretical), panel discussions, exhibitions and other activities.
Landscape Planning and Sustainable Environments
Cultural Landscapes
Places at Risk
Urban Design
Landscape Architecture -It’s Time for the Profession
Ideas, Technologies and Solutions
Submission Requirements
Paper presentations will be approximately 15-20 minutes, and depending on submissions, the sub-themes may be revised. Abstracts will be published in the congress program. Final paper submissions will be 1,500 – 2,000 words and will be published in the conference Proceedings CD-ROM. Please submit a proposal describing the presentation.
Include the following:
title
sub-theme
author(s) name and affiliation
author biography 75 word maximum
abstract 250 word maximum
postal and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers
statement of agreement to submit final work in the specified format for the conference proceedings.
All submissions will be required to be sent electronically to an address provided on the congress website.
For questions regarding the paper submissions contact:
Douglas Olson douglas@o2design.com or
Bev Sandalack sandalack@ucalgary.ca
Selection criteria include proposal clarity, relevance to the conference theme & sub-themes, and relevance to the profession of landscape architecture. CSLA membership is not a pre-requisite for submissions. Proposals from disciplines other than landscape architecture are encouraged, including interdisciplinary submissions. Review will be by a jury of Congress committee chairs and subject area experts.
Important dates
31 January 2010 Abstract submissions due
1 March 2010 Notification of selection of papers for program
15 April 2010 Last date for revisions to abstract for conference program
1 July 2010 Final draft of paper due for publication in the congress proceedings
19-21 August 2010 CSLA 2010 Congress in Edmonton
The CSLA Board appointed a new CSLA Advocacy Task Force to develop recommendations on CSLA advocacy strategies and activities.
They are working on:
1. Recommending strategic partnerships with related associations and organizations
2. Identifying federal government departments and agencies who should received CSLA’s magazine Landscape Paysages and other information about landscape architects across Canada
3. Developing CSLA position papers
4. Applying for a Governor General Medal/Award for landscape architecture.
Look for updates in future issues of the CSLA Bulletin.
If you missed the e-blast, click here to see the coverage of CSLA’s President Linda Irvine, OALA, CSLA, ASLA’s dining experience with HRH Prince Charles and Canada’s Governor General Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean and their spouses and guests, and ten Landscape Architects attended a tree-planting ceremony at Rideau Hall with them. They achieved live news coverage.
CSLA Past President Ron Middleton sent an Open Letter to the CSLA Board and agreed to allow us to share it with you.
Open Letter to the Board of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
from Ron Middleton, AALA, CSLA
Dear CSLA Board Members:
I wish to share with you some of my experiences at the 2009 Congress of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects in Toronto, and some of the thoughts it inspired.
The day I arrived, I attended a meeting where representatives of the provincial organizations across the country were struggling with the perennial problem of providing labour mobility opportunities for our graduates and professionals. The problem is one of how to define and maintain common professional standards while recognizing the diversity of the component associations. The delegates present were committed to finding a solution that works for all landscape architects across the country. While wrestling with the issue, people were sharing experiences and offering help to one another to achieve recognition for the profession in parts of the country where it is lacking. This is the hard slogging, day-to-day work of the society few members ever see, where progress is measured in small increments and takes years.
Later, in an editorial board meeting of Landscapes/Paysages, I sat with a group of volunteers who labour to compile and publish the CSLA’s national magazine for the benefit of their colleagues and their profession. They have worked with the same budget since the magazine was created many years ago. Over that time they have found a publisher and an editor who are committed to producing a quality publication that requires a level of effort well out of proportion to the revenue it garners. They have developed themes and solicited articles from talented professionals across this country, challenging our thinking and celebrating our successes. The magazine improves with every issue. The only disappointment is that the magazine has more content than it can afford to publish. A few more dollars would allow this group of volunteers to provide their colleagues with a larger and even more interesting professional publication.
In a meeting of the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation, there was another group of volunteers who raise money and disburse it to support research, education, and the values of landscape architecture. Like the previous group, they freely donate their time and none of their expenses are reimbursed. I am impressed by the range of projects supported and the number of individuals who have benefited from LACF funding.
In an Accreditation Council meeting I worked with individuals dedicated to the development and maintenance of standards for the education of landscape architects in Canada, giving freely of their time to do so. Their activities are critical to the maintenance and potential expansion of Landscape Architecture programs across Canada.
Throughout the congress there were informative and challenging presentations, and enjoyable tours all organized and supported by colleagues. These were interspersed with the renewal of old friendships and the making of new ones. I gathered knowledge and experience that I have been able to bring home and apply. I also participated in a plan to reinvigorate the drive to establish a Governor General’s award for landscape architecture.
I attended the presentation of the national design awards – a program sustained by the efforts of individuals at the University of Manitoba and volunteers from across the country. The program seeks out the most innovative and exciting examples of Canadian landscape architecture and recognizes and celebrates them.
I participated in a College of Fellows meeting and attended the ceremony to induct new members. It is inspiring to be involved with a group whose purpose is to identify and recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the profession through their works and activities.
I was able to exercise my pushy streak by assisting in an effort to raise funds for a scholarship, raffling off a painting generously donated by one of our members. I was delighted that attendees at the closing gala freely gave an average of twenty dollars each to support this cause.
I was also deeply moved to be recognized and honoured by a dear friend, President Cathy Sears, for simply taking advantage of the opportunities my profession has placed before me over the years.
I also couldn’t help but note people willingly lining up to spend nine dollars to buy a glass of wine.
I was, however, disappointed that there still appear to be a number of landscape architects who don’t understand what the national association is about and would choke it off. I witnessed several examples of this throughout the congress including the reaction to the suggestion of asking the members to contribute an additional sixteen dollars a year to allow their colleagues to provide them with a larger and better Landscapes/Paysages.
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects is not the federal government of landscape architecture. It is a mechanism that provides opportunities for landscape architects across Canada to collaborate and share for the benefit of each other, the public and the profession. Its successes are of clear value to the members. The CSLA also provides opportunities for individuals to donate some of their time and talent to activities that benefit their profession and their world, learning and growing as they do so. I fear that it is an indication of the immaturity of our profession that the question of the value of the national association continues to be raised.
In the years in which I have been a member of the CSLA, I have never thought my meagre dues were being squandered. I have always had the utmost trust in the integrity and good intentions of those who have given of their time to work on my behalf and have never been disappointed. I have always found excellent value in what I received from and, more importantly, what I gave to the CSLA.
History shows that nothing is to be gained by policies of appeasement. Negativity and fear are black holes that feed and grow on what is meant to assuage them. I thank you for your efforts and urge you to carry on unapologetically doing good things for landscape architecture in Canada. I, for one, will not begrudge giving you the resources you need to continue to tackle problems and deliver programs for the benefit of us all.
Ron Middleton, AALA, FCSLA
CSLA has enjoyed a productive year, thanks to its active leadership and supportive membership. Here is the year in review, at-a-glance
Issues Management
CSLA has been monitoring the impact of the Agreement on Internal Trade on landscape architects and reporting updates in the Bulletin. We also made a submission to the Sustainable Sites Initiative. A major effort was made to celebrate April is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM) across Canada. We held a Presidents’ Round Table meeting here Presidents of our ten component organizations were invited to discuss issues of common interest and provide input to CSLA. A new Advocacy Task Force, led by Gordon Smith, APALA, CSLA was launched to identify federal issues and develop strategies to recommend to the CSLA Board.
Twenty-three Awards of Excellence were won in 2009. For details, click here. Seven Honours and Recognition Awards were presented: Schwabenbauer Award to Cecelia Payne, OALA, FCSLA, FASLA; Lifetime Achievement Awards to Michael Hough, OALA, FCSLA and Macklin Hancock, OALA, FCSLA President’s Awards to Gérald Lajeunesse, AAPQ, OALA, FCSLA and Ronald Middleton, AALA, FCSLA; Teaching Awards to Charles Thomsen, MALA, FCSLA and Douglas Paterson, BCSLA, FCSLA. Our thanks to Alan Tate, MALA, CSLA, PPLI and Dean Spearman, MALA, CSLA for producing the Awards of Excellence program and to Chris Grosset, NUALA, CSLA for Chairing the Honours and Recognition Awards program.
Four CSLA Student Awards were also presented to Élise Gaudry (University of Montreal); Yasmine Abdel-Hay (University of Toronto); Amanda Yakiwcuk (University of Manitoba); Kari Daw (University of British Columbia).
CSLA Welcomed Eight New Fellows
Pierre Bouchard, AAPQ, FCSLA; Colleen Mercer Clarke, OALA, FCSLA; Heather Cram, MALA, FCSLA; Wendy Graham, AAPQ, FCSLA; Achim Jankowski, APALA, FCSLA; John Laird, NUALA, FCSLA; Jim Vafiades, OALA, FCSLA; Laurie Lamb Wagner, MALA, FCSLA.
Royal Experiences
CSLA reported on Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, BCSLA, FCSLA, FASLA receiving the Officer of the Order of Canada and Claude Cormier, AAPQ, FCSLA receiving " Knight of the Order" the highest distinction given by the Quebec government. Our new President, Linda Irvine, OALA, CSLA, ASLA dined with HRH Prince Charles and Canada’s Governor General Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean and their spouses and guests, and ten Landscape Architects attended a tree-planting ceremony at Rideau Hall with them. They achieved live news coverage.
National Congress
Over 200 members networked with peers and suppliers and gained knowledge from attending the 2009 CSLA National Congress in Toronto in August, hosted by the OALA. For a photo recap, click here. Thanks again Congress Co-Chairs Jim Melvin, OALA, FCSLA and Jim Vaviades, OALA, FCSLA for helping CSLA celebrate its 75th Anniversary in style.
Sharing Information and Knowledge
CSLA published four informative issues of Landscape Paysages magazine; five issues of our internal Bulletin; a content-rich CSLA / AAPC Annual Report; a Membership Directory; regular Job Postings; and regular announcements and new opportunities posted to our website www.csla.ca. Our thanks to Don Hester, MALA, FCSLA for Chairing the L/P Editorial Board and to Judy Lord, Editor-in-Chief.
International Presence
CSLA is an active member of IFLA. Canada was featured in IFLA News earlier this year. Our thanks to James Taylor, OALA, FCSLA, FASLA f4or representing CSLA at the Brazil Congress in October.
CSLA’s President, newly-elected President-Elect Neil Dawe, NLALA, CSLA and Executive Director participated in an ASLA Board meeting and the AGM in Chicago. Now Past President Cathy Sears, AALA, CSLA, ASLA attended the Presidents’ Council meeting in Arizona – a forum of North American LA organization leaders.
Accreditation Council and LACF
Both of these organizations are arms-length from CSLA however we do offer administrative support to the Accreditation Council; this year we welcomed new Chair John Buchko, AALA, CSLA. You can find a link to the LACF on the CSLA website.
Administrative Enhancements
Significant work was accomplished behind the scenes to indoctrinate new Executive Director Paulette Vinette, CAE and special thanks to Arnis Budrevics, OALA, FCSLA for leading the implementation of a new accounting process and website transfer and upgrades.
We wish our CSLA members and your staff and families a very health and prosperous New Year and thank you, in advance, for your continued support of CSLA.
Paulette Vinette, CAE
Executive Director
