Congratulations to all those honoured with 2019 OALA Recognition Awards
Special thanks to the OALA Honours, Awards and Protocol Committee:
Doris Chee (Chair), Sarah Culp, Nelson Edwards, Stefan Fediuk, Mark Hillmer, Jim Melvin, and Jane Welsh.
OALA HONORARY MEMBER:
The Honorary category of membership is for non-landscape architects whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improve the quality of natural and human environments.
Nathan Perkins
Nate Perkins has been working at the University of Guelph for more than 25 years and is now retiring after 18 years as Program Coordinator. A fellow of the ASLA, Nate is a strong advocate for students moving through the LARE process to become full members of the profession, and he worked with CLARB on a pilot project whereby OALA students were permitted to complete LARE exam(s) while completing their degree requirements. Nate has contributed directly to the OALA, including his work on ushering in a continuing education policy and program in 2007 and implementing the first digital membership survey.
OALA RESEARCH & INNOVATION AWARD:
This award recognizes the outstanding leadership, research, and/or academic achievements of a member(s), or non-member(s), who, through scholarly activities, including academic papers, research, publications, books, e-applications, or public presentations, contributes to the knowledge base that furthers the advancement of the art, the science, and the practice of landscape architecture.
Nadia Amoroso
Nadia Amoroso, an Assistant Professor in Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, is internationally acclaimed as a pioneer in research on creative and analytical modes of visual communication in landscape architecture and education.
OALA SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD:
This award is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency in the Province of Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment by non-members of the OALA.
Michael Harrison
A strong advocate for Toronto-area rivers and watersheds, Michael Harrison has dedicated more than two decades to researching, communicating, and advancing the cultural and environmental history of the GTA’s lost rivers and associated landscapes. His writings and research have led to many positive environmental and landscape changes along the waterfront and watersheds. He has served on several local NGOs and heritage committees and was a founding member and president of the Citizens Concerned About the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront.
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT:
This award is given to a non-landscape architectural individual, group, organization, or agency in the Province of Ontario to recognize and encourage a special or unusual contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment by non-members of the OALA.
Friends of West Toronto Railpath Project
Established in 2001 as a non-profit, community-based, citizen-led group, and founded by Scott Dobson, the goal of this group is to assist the City of Toronto in the creation and stewardship of a 6.5- km, automobile-free, multipurpose linear corridor running along an abandoned railway line from Toronto’s west-end Junction neighbourhood into the heart of the city. The 2.4-km first phase was officially opened in October 2009, and the second phase is currently in development.
CARL BORGSTROM AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE ENVIRONMENT:
The Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment is given to an individual landscape architect, or landscape architectural group, organization, or agency (as recognized by the OALA) to recognize and encourage a special or remarkable contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design for human use of the environment.
There are two recipients this year.
Linda Laflamme
Linda joined the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) as the only landscape architect with NEC, and through her dedicated, consistent, and creative input, has had a lasting impact on the direction of many policies and planning and design decisions of the organization. Linda has developed processes and procedures to make development and planning applications environmentally sound, sustainable, and equitable. Linda has been integral to the creation of visual assessment guidelines that NEC uses to ensure that changes in the landscape are in keeping with the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and Niagara Escarpment Plan.
Stefan Bolliger
Influenced by Emil Van der Meulen and then, later, Walter Kehm, Stefan became an advocate for cooperative environmental design as the foundation for landscape architecture—the concept that ecological, natural-resource-based planning and design forms are the very basis for sustained survival in our rapidly changing environments. In 1975, the Open Space Plan for Townsend became the successful test subject for his environmental philosophy. In addition to a 40-year practice in landscape architecture, Stefan’s eagerness to teach evolved into an adjunct professorship at the University of Guelph.
JACK COPELAND AWARD FOR ASSOCIATE LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTION:
Jack Copeland was an enthusiastic advocate for Associate members.The Jack Copeland Award for Associate Leadership and Contribution recognizes the outstanding leadership and contribution of an Associate for going above and beyond to assist fellow Associates, including being an Associate representative on OALA Council.
Mark Hillmer
Mark has contributed significantly to the OALA through his volunteer efforts as the Junior Associate Representative on Council, a member and Council liaison on the Marketing Committee, and as an Associate member of the Honours, Awards and Protocol Committee. Mark has also given his time towards LARE exam information sessions to prepare fellow Associates for exam writing, and volunteers his time providing guest reviews for students.
DAVID ERB MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY VOLUNTEER SERVICE:
David Erb was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of the OALA. The David Erb Memorial Award for Exemplary Volunteer Service is the best way to acknowledge the one outstanding OALA member each year whose volunteer contributions over a number of years have made a real difference.
Todd Smith
Todd has been a tireless volunteer within the OALA for many years. He has had a long and sustained involvement on the Editorial Board of Ground magazine (including as Chair from 2014-2016), led a LARE workshop to assist candidate landscape architects, and engaged with the OALA’s Legacy Task Force, compiling video interviews with notable Ontario-based landscape architects.
PUBLIC PRACTICE AWARD:
This award recognizes the outstanding leadership of a member of the profession in public practice who promotes and enhances landscape architecture by working for improved understanding and appreciation of the work of landscape architects in both public and private practice.
There are two Public Practice Award recipients this year.
Barbara Magee Turner
In 1991, Barb left private practice with Moorehead Fleming Corban and Partners to start her career at the City of Waterloo in a management role in Engineering Services. She was one of the first landscape architects hired by the City of Waterloo. During the course of Barb’s 28 years at the City of Waterloo, her contributions have been integral to the city’s transition to a metropolis with height and density targets that focus and direct future growth.
Steve Bodrug
After several years in private practice, Steve in the early 1990s switched to a career in public practice, progressively moving up to his current position of Manager of Parks Projects & Central Operations at the City of Brampton. As a landscape architect with 30 years of public service, Steve constantly strives for the improvement of city-building and quality of life for Bramptonians by working to improve design standards and seeking to elevate the discussion of landscape architecture from “what can be” to “what should be.”
OALA PINNACLE AWARD FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE:
This award recognizes an OALA member and his or her professional work. It singles out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work that demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment.
Carolyn Woodland
Carolyn Woodland has accomplished much in her 43 years of practice. Her time as a landscape architect includes 26 years as a private practitioner with the award-winning firm Hough Woodland Naylor Dance Leinster. From 1992 to 2002, she was the president of the firm and responsible for, or contributed significantly to, most of the firm’s groundbreaking assignments. She left this practice to carry on her work for another 17 years at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Carolyn was the Chair of the Advisory Committee for Planning, Design and Realty for the National Capital Commission and was an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto in the joint architecture/landscape architecture program in the 1990s. Carolyn Woodland has made a profound difference towards the environment, her community, and the profession of landscape architecture over a long professional life.