Please take a moment to read through and give us your feedback on the new Bulletin format by completing a three-question on-line survey: click here or insert http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8j6Wk4hTrUniiMq9Iu1wcw_3d_3d in your browser.
Cindy Williams and Ron Middleton
Canada’s Agreement on International Trade ( AIT) is the new labour mobility provision that, effective April 1, 2009, requires people with a specific profession or occupational certification in one province or territory that is regulated to be recognized as qualified to practice their profession in other provinces and territories where their profession or occupation is regulated. For landscape architects this currently affects British Columbia and Ontario .
At its recent Vancouver meeting, the CSLA Board talked with Cindy Williams, Director, AIT, Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development about ways landscape architects can foster labour mobility across Canada . The Board is creating a position paper on how to foster Reciprocity and will be asking our ten Component Organizations for feedback over the next few months.
The Government of Canada has a multifaceted plan to ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program is a new infrastructure fund that will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. Click here to read how you can access this program.
Public comments on the Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 are now available. Over 350 respondents commented after the release of the draft report on November 10, 2008. A diverse group of professionals responded through an online comment form posted at www.sustainablesites.org, including landscape architects, arborists, ecologists, government employees, and employees of non-profit organizations. One third of the public comments were on behalf of organizations. The CSLA accepted the 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 and provided comments.
All comments are currently under review by Sustainable Sites Initiative committees and staff. Public input is critical to the development of final guidelines and performance benchmarks report, which will be released in late 2009.
Read more about the GENERAL comments on the latest draft here (PDF).
Read more about the CREDIT-SPECIFIC comments on the latest draft here (PDF).
As part of Canada’s program supporting World LA Month (WLAM) this past April, the CSLA posted a YOU TUBE© Video Contest on the internet. We are looking for a prize-winning video that promotes the landscape architect profession. Click here to get to CSLA’s home page and then click on the You Tube Video Contest announcement for details. Contest ends July 31st and the winner will be celebrated during the Aug 13 – 15 CSLA Congress in Toronto .
The CSLA Board of Directors responded to the CSLA You Tube Video Contest (see previous article) and created a “You Tube” video explaining why each of them became a Landscape Architect. This is their challenge to you to create an even better video and help us promote our profession on the internet. To view their effort, click here to get to the CSLA homepage and click on the CSLA Board Challenge frame.
Members will have recently received a request to complete a labour market survey from APALA Consultant Thomas McGuire. APALA, in conjunction with the CSLA, has engaged Tom to collect labour market information to support an assessment of the need for programming in Landscape Architecture and its potential to be offered by an Atlantic Canadian Post Secondary Educational Institution. Information being collected includes current and future Landscape Architect staffing and training needs. To contact Tom, write to him at e. mcguire@solutions-inc.ca or p.902.431.6972
CSLA will now require a fee for posting jobs on the CSLA website; click here to see. Members will pay the reduced rate of $150 per 3-month posting; non-members will be required to pay $300 (plus GST). We are working through the technological requirements of enabling job posters to post their jobs and pay online and expect to be ready by July 1st.
(L/R back: Linda Irvine, Cathy Sears, Mary-Ellen Tyler, Jane Durante, Liane McKenna, Paulette Vinette, John Buchko; L/R bottom: Carol Craig, Irène Cinq-mars)
Congratulations to John Buchko of EDS Group in Edmonton on being selected the new CSLA Accreditation Council Chair. A special thank you goes out to Ron Middleton for his dedication and tireless efforts as past Chair of the Accreditation Council.
The Accreditation Council is an arms-length body supported by CSLA that is responsible for accrediting professional university undergraduate and graduate degree programs in landscape architecture. The newly appointed five members of the Accreditation Council are:
The CSLA Congress Planning Committee recognizes that these are tough economic times for many people and companies. We are offering an economic stimulus package: Register for the CSLA/AAPC August 13 – 15 Toronto Sheraton Centre, 75th Anniversary Congress before June 30th and enter code CSLA75 to be eligible for a reduced fee of $525.00 (regular fee $595.00). Be certain to book your hotel room too.
In addition to keynote speakers Ken Smith and Mark Rios, the following are workshops congress delegates can access
For complete Congress details, click here.
Glenn O’Connor, OALA, Marion Rabeau, COB, Peggy Lei, COB, Becky Ellis, COB, Leslie Seal, COB, Ingrid Vanderbrug, COB, Paulette Vinette, CSLA
There were many celebrations of World Landscape Architecture Month across Canada . Some featured displays on LA work and career opportunities. Others involved presentations to students, and some involved presentations created by LA students. As this is only our second year of engaging our members in WLAM events, we will be working with our Component Organization leaders to evaluate what we have done so far and identify new ways CSLA can support them and our members to orchestrate WLAM events before, during and after April.
The CSLA Board is working with our NuALA members to plan to hold our 2011 National Congress in Iqaluit. Watch for updates in future issues of The Bulletin. Thank you to all our members who participated in the NuALA survey regarding this Congress.
In accordance with Bylaw 10.2.1, at least 60 days' notice of annual or special general meetings shall be given in writing and/or by electronic means. Consider notice duly served and expect to be reminded again. CSLA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in the Toronto Sheraton Centre hotel at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 15th and an agenda will be circulated in advance along with a proxy form which Voting members can complete and file with the CSLA Executive Director at least seven days prior to the meeting.
2009:
August 13 – 15 CSLA ‘s 75th Anniversary Congress, Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel
August 15 - CSLA AGM: 2:00 p.m., Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel
2010:
August 19 - 21 - CSLA’s Annual Congress – Edmonton, Alberta
All members should have received their copy of the 2009 CSLA Membership Directory. If you want extra copies, contact Executive Director Paulette Vinette at paulette@csla.ca or 1.866.781.9799.
1987 CSLA President Cornelia Oberlander and current CSLA President Cathy Sears in Vancouver
CSLA Board of Directors
The twelve members of the CSLA Board (click here to view list of Board members) attended a two-day meeting in Vancouver May 1 and 2, 2009. To read meeting highlights, click here.
