FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 13, 2009

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOIN THE PRINCE OF WALES ANDTHE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL IN MARKING ROYAL VISIT TO CANADA

(OTTAWA) – Yesterday The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall planted an oak tree on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa.  Joining Their Royal Highnesses in this commemoration of their 2009 visit to Canada was a delegation of landscape architects led by CSLA President Linda Irvine OALA, CSLA, ASLA.

“As CSLA President, I am extremely proud to have represented the profession of landscape architecture at the tree planting”, said Ms. Irvine, a landscape architect who works as Manager, Parks and Open Space Development in the Planning and Urban Design Department of the Town of Markham, Ontario. 

“Over the past 30 years The Prince of Wales has expressed great interest in how planning and urban design issues shape humanity’s interactions with our environment, whether built or natural. So it is fitting Their Royal Highnesses chose to fulfill the last major duty of their visit to Canada in the company of landscape architects.”

“As the national voice of landscape architects in Canada, the CSLA shares the interest of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in people and their environment.  It is our responsibility—and our pleasure—to do so.”

“Landscape architects are committed to improving our quality of life by applying creative, technical, and scientific skills to manage and create environments that are attractive, functional, innovative and appropriate.  The fruits of their labour are found in Canada’s urban centres, open spaces, waterfronts, scenic parkways as well as our heritage and historic sites.  Landscape architects focus on how people relate to their environment, and how matters like proportion, scale and appropriateness of building materials affect that relationship.”

In addition to Ms. Irvine, the delegation of landscape architects who attended the tree planting includes prestigious practitioners in both public and private practice: Lawrence Stasiuk, OALA, CSLA (City of Hamilton); Joanne Moran, OALA, CSLA and Nelson Edwards, OALA, CSLA (City of Ottawa); Claude Potvin, AAPQ, CSLA and Gérard Lajeunesse, AAPQ, OALA, FCSLA (National Capital Commission); Douglas Fountain, OALA, CSLA (F.D. Fountain Landscape Architecture); John Szczepaniak, OALA, CSLA (John K. Szczepaniak Landscape Architect); Diane Emmerson, OALA, CSLA (Diane Emmerson Landscape Architect) and Edward Veldkamp, OALA, CSLA (MMM Group Limited).

The 2009 royal tree planting follows in the wake of celebrations earlier this year marking the 75^th Anniversary of the creation of the CSLA in 1934.  It is the second tree planting on the grounds of the home of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, involving the profession of landscape architecture.  The 50^th Anniversary of the CSLA was marked in a similar fashion at Rideau Hall in 1984.

The CSLA bestowed honourary membership on His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 2001 for his interest in sustainability, preservation of communities, his commitment to land stewardship, quality of place and in making livable communities.

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For more information, contact Paulette Vinette (CSLA Executive Director) at 1-866-781-9799 or pvinette@csla.ca