CSLA News
April is World Landscape Architecture Month!
April is World Landscape Architecture Month, and this year CSLA is marking the occasion by launching a brand new webpage designed to bring landscape architecture to life for the next generation. The "Discover a Career in Landscape Architecture" page outlines pathways to the profession, and compiles ready-to-use resources for educators, guidance counselors, and landscape architects engaging with the community.
Images: O2 Planning and Design, CCxA Architectes paysagistes, civiliti, Paul Sangha Creative
2026 CSLA-APALA Congress Registration is Now Open!
Join us from June 4-6, 2026 in Halifax for the CSLA-APALA Congress. This year's event features keynote speakers David Godshall and Tony Spencer, a trade show, a selection of tours every day to explore Halifax, an awards gala, a College of Fellows investiture ceremony, two afternoons of education sessions, two FREE reconciliation training sessions on cultural awareness,
and much more!
Call for Nominations: 2026 Governor General’s Medal in Landscape Architecture
The Governor General's Medal in Landscape Architecture (GGMLA) is the highest honor bestowed on a landscape architect by the CSLA.
The medal is intended to honor exceptional landscape architects whose lifetime achievements and contributions to the profession have had a unique and lasting impact on Canadian society.
Deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026 at 4 pm ET
Webinar: Leading with Landscape: The Port Lands Flood Protection Project
Shannon Baker and Herb Sweeney IV
Thursday, April 30, 3:00-4:30 ET
Two complementary perspectives—one from project delivery, the other from design leadership—come together to examine the Port Lands Flood Protection Project, one of the most ambitious landscape infrastructure and climate adaptation initiatives in Canada.
Did you miss a webinar? Don’t worry! The recordings are available on our website, and you can watch (or rewatch) them anytime. Closed captions are available in both English and French. Visit the webinar archive here.
2025 Annual Report
We are pleased to release the 2025 CSLA Annual Report, which summarizes the work the association undertook in 2025 in the promotion and advancement of the profession.
Announcement of the Federal Strategy to Protect Canada’s Natural Environment
On March 31, Prime Minister Carney announced a $3.8 billion investment in Canada’s new nature strategy, aimed at protecting the country’s natural environment. The new strategy aims to protect and restore essential habitats, ensure that industrial strategies complement our conservation efforts, and mobilize new capital for nature.
Member News
Have you or your firm won an award or do you have other news to share with your CSLA colleagues? If so, please send a news bite and any relevant photos to coordinator@csla-aapc.ca.
Bird Names: CSLA Member Produces CBC Documentary
CSLA member Aliza Sovani's new film produced for the CBC's Short Docs series premiered in March. In Bird Names, a Canadian-led film crew—who are also BIPOC and Queer birders—take flight on a journey through culture, history, and ecology to explore why this unprecedented renaming matters: for conservation, for equity, and for the future of the planet. The film is available to stream on YouTube.
LACF News
Upcoming Deadlines:
Frederick Gage Todd Scholarship: May 7, 2026 at 4pm ET
Robert N. Allsopp Urban Design Fellowship: June 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET
New Research Report
Corey Dawson submitted a final report for the project Automating green space design concepts and habitat quality indexing with an AI generative model:
"In this project, we developed the PHI-AI Landscape Design Tool that is proposed as an innovative generative AI system that helps landscape architects collaboratively explore greenspace design options while prioritizing ecological value. The tool rapidly produces alternative landscape layouts and ranks the habitat quality of each variation using an integrated Pollinator Habitat Indicator (PHI). By combining AI-generated design scenarios with ecological indicators and human-guided evaluation, the project presents an interactive design decision-making workflow that can enhance biodiversity, pollinator conservation, and community engagement. The tool leverages the efficiency of generative AI while keeping a human-in-the-loop approach to concept design. This work illustrates how landscape architects can integrate emerging digital tools with ecological science to support collaborative planning and problem-solving."
Partner News
Free Webinar: The Envision® Framework for Landscape Architects
Wednesday May 13th at 2:00pm EST
Under the Envision Canada Partnership, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) is offering a free a webinar for CSLA members exploring how the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework can support landscape architects in advancing sustainable project outcomes.
Landscape architects play a vital role in addressing today’s most pressing challenges, including climate resilience and community sustainability. Envision® provides a powerful tool for embedding sustainability and resilience into all types and sizes of infrastructure projects, including natural assets, green infrastructure, and parks. With over 8,000 Envision credentialed professionals globally, including nearly 1,000 in Canada, the framework is becoming an essential tool for professionals across disciplines.
This session will include:
- A high-level overview of the Envision framework
- A case study of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Envision Platinum Guichon Creek Restoration Project
- Reflections on how landscape architecture practitioners can leverage Envision and can benefit from ENV SP credential training
Information Session: University of Calgary Doctor of Design
The Doctor of Design is a unique three-year degree that allows mid-career and established architects, planners, and landscape architects to stay embedded in their professional practice, while leveraging their expertise in a specific research area to create solutions with real-world impact. Through this research framework, students identify and develop innovations that make ideas 'project-ready' for integration into practice and continue to elevate their career.
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards Submissions Open
Architects, designers, studios, manufacturers, and multidisciplinary teams worldwide are invited to submit their work to the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards, an international competition recognizing excellence in the disciplines shaping the built environment. Projects are evaluated by an international jury composed of leading architects, designers, academics, and industry professionals.
Projects completed within the past three years are eligible. Firms and studios are welcome to submit multiple projects. Submissions remain open until May 1, 2026. Use promo code MediaGPD19 to receive 10% off submission fees.
2026 RAIC Conference on Architecture
The 2026 RAIC Conference on Architecture is taking place May 5 to 8, 2026 in-person at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in Vancouver, BC.
The conference brings together hundreds of architectural professionals, thought leaders and industry providers from Canada and abroad for innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. As architecture faces the challenges of climate change, digital transformation, and evolving societal needs, the conference provides a vital platform for exploring solutions, sharing best practices, and shaping the future of the built environment.
« The Art of Leadership Women » revient en 2026
Prête à améliorer vos compétences en leadership ? La conférence « The Art of Leadership Women » revient à Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver et Calgary ! Cette conférence d'une journée propose une brochette inspirante de conférencières qui partageront des stratégies concrètes et des idées sur les défis les plus importants auxquels sont confrontées les femmes leaders aujourd'hui. Ne manquez pas cette occasion inestimable de développer vos leaders, de mobiliser vos talents et de constituer des équipes hautement performantes. Rejoignez-nous pour une journée enrichissante consacrée à l'apprentissage, au réseautage et au leadership féminin. Utilisez le code promotionnel CSLA45 et économisez 50 $ par pass, ou économisez 100 $ par pass pour les groupes de 5 personnes ou plus. Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd'hui en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessous !