CSLA News
Message from Michelle Legault, CSLA Executive Director
Dear Colleagues,
As Executive Director of the CSLA and the LACF, I would like to share how thankful I am for the work of the CSLA and LACF members, partners, Board, committee volunteers, and staff. At our recent CSLA Board meetings in Ottawa (you can read the summary of our decisions, below), we discussed a number of issues to support the profession, such as business continuity planning for the component associations, energizing and further prioritizing the work of the Reconciliation Advisory Committee and the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, strategic partnerships to promote our work on climate and biodiversity, supporting components who are facing regulatory changes, compensation in the profession and more! I am constantly asked how the CSLA and LACF "get so much done", and my answer is easy - we have an amazing team. That's why I am thankful - for Board members who take time away from their work and families to attend meetings and take on projects, for partners who support our initiatives, for committee volunteers who donate selflessly of their time and effort, for the CSLA members who support our society through the dues they pay each year (and so many of these members who pay dues are the same who donate their time to volunteer!) and the jaw-dropping donations they make to LACF each year to support scholarship and research, and to the staff, Hope, Katherine, and Rebecca, who take the members' hopes for the profession and turn them into reality.
Thank you. Michelle
Summary of the Decisions of the CSLA Board: Two-Day Meeting in Ottawa (November 2024) and Motions Approved by Email (September-November 2024)
- Laureen Snook was appointed National Co-Chair of the Canadian Landscape Standard Committee for a three-year mandate.
- Jane Welsh's term as Co-Chair on the Committee on Climate Adaptation was extended to June 2025.
- The 2025 CSLA-OALA Congress budget was approved.
- A task force for the CSLA’s 100th anniversary was established.
- The Intersections Task Force disbanded and collaborative activities between schools through the LAAC and other existing initiatives are to be prioritized.
- CSLA staff were directed to perform a jurisdictional scan of Canadian research applicable to CSLA’s strategic priorities (e.g., climate resilience, biodiversity, health and wellness, AI innovations and technology) to inform the creation of a research resource library in 2026 and to subscribe the CSLA to peer-reviewed research publications to ensure ongoing monitoring. (e.g., Journal of Landscape Architecture, Landscape Journal).
- A succession task force was established for the CSLA to manage the Executive Director's 2027 retirement and replacement.
- A management contract with LACF was approved for 2025.
- Revisions to the employee manual were approved.
- Revised terms of reference for the Climate and Biodiversity Committee, the Cultural Landscapes and Legacy Committee, and the Municipal Roundtable were approved.
- Revisions to the committee manual were approved.
- A conflict of interest policy for the congress planning committee and a use of photos policy were approved.
- $10,000 was extended to the Student Travel Grant to support student travel to LaBash 2025 at the University of Guelph.
- The 2025 budget was approved.
CSLA Launches LandADAPT
The CSLA is pleased to announce a new continuing education program on climate change adaptation for Canadian landscape architects.
landADAPT will enhance the capacity of landscape architects by developing tools and communication resources tailored specifically for the profession. It will include a monthly webinar series, a series of climate change case studies, and a new online professional development course designed specifically for Canadian landscape architects.
Upcoming landADAPT Webinars
Working With Nature as Normal with Joanna Eyquem
Thursday, December 12th at 2:00 ET
Accounting for Landscape Architects with Kelly Alvarez Doran
See additional information on in-person Life Cycle Assessment workshop opportunities below.
Wednesday, January 15 at 2:00 ET
Parks in Action with Fadi Masoud
Thursday, March 27 at 2:00 ET
Find information about upcoming webinars here.
Supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program.
Life Cycle Assessment Workshop Opportunity
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has partnered with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to train members of the planning and design community through a high-quality, hands-on, case study-based Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) curriculum. The RAIC is proud to collaborate with Ha/f Climate Design (Kelly Alvarez Doran) to organize in-person workshops and has welcomed members of the CSLA to participate in these events.
Upcoming workshops include: Vancouver (Feb. 3), Calgary (Feb. 5), Regina (Feb. 7), Halifax (May 22), and Montreal (May 31).
Attend for free! The CSLA will support registration for up to 30 members (Full, Associate, and Students).
Contact Hope at advocacy@csla-aapc.ca for a registration code.
State of the Profession Report
This fall, the CSLA released a report on the state of the profession of landscape architecture by Winnipeg-Based Firm InterGroup Consultants. The report presents information which will:
- inform our advocacy and promotion efforts;
- quantify the profession's impact on Canadian society;
- monitor the growth and development of the profession;
- monitor the changes in the demographic composition of landscape architects;
and more.
CSLA Compensation & Benefits Study
The 2024 Canadian Landscape Architect Compensation & Benefits Study provides comprehensive documentation of compensation and benefits currently provided to landscape architects across Canada.
This report investigates all aspects of benefits and compensation and is useful in determining the appropriate level of compensation and benefits for landscape architects.
CSLA Student Travel Grant to Attend LaBASH 2025
The CSLA is pleased to announce that the Student Travel Grant Program was extended to support applications of students wishing to attend LaBASH 2025 at the University of Guelph. The deadline to submit your request for a travel grant of up to $1,000 is 1 March. Download the form here.
Garden City / City Beautiful / Cité-Jardin: Second Installment in the Landscape Architecture in Canada Video Series Available to Watch Now
In this second installment in the series celebrating the history of the profession, Ron Williams takes us through the Garden City / City Beautiful / Cité-Jardin movement in Canada.
December 12 Deadline for Abstracts for the 2025 CSLA-OALA Congress
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) together with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) invite qualified experts to submit abstracts for presentations and sessions to be presented at the upcoming 2025 CSLA-OALA Congress.
The Congress theme is: Outside the Box: Challenging Traditional Paradigms in Landscape Architecture
Submission Deadline: December 12th, 2024 at 4pm ET
CSLA Mourns the Passing of Senator Murray Sinclair, Honorary Member
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) mourns the loss of the Honorable Murray Sinclair, Anishinaabe lawyer, judge, and senator, and a distinguished champion for justice, equity, and reconciliation. Senator Sinclair, whose Spirit Name was Mizhana Gheezhik (The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky), was a member of the Peguis First Nation. We extend our deepest condolences to the Sinclair family and all those who were inspired by his vision and wisdom.
The CSLA had the honor of recognizing Senator Sinclair’s contributions by bestowing upon him an Honorary Membership at our annual congress hosted in Winnipeg in May 2024. His belief in the interconnectedness of all life and the respect owed to the land aligns deeply with the values of our organization and inspires our members to engage more meaningfully with Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship. The CSLA remains committed to upholding his values in our ongoing journey toward truth, reconciliation, and respect for all. His unwavering dedication to justice and reconciliation will live on, and his legacy will continue to guide our work.
Join the CSLA's Municipal Roundtable
Next month, join us for a discussion on Parks, Gentrification, and Justice: Spotlight on Homeless Encampments in Toronto’s Allan Gardens.
Are you a landscape architect working for a Canadian municipality? If so, we invite you to participate in the CSLA's Municipal Roundtable. Formed in 2019, the Municipal Roundtable has been a valuable platform for landscape architects working across Canadian municipalities to come together for monthly presentations and discussions on climate change and adaptation. And starting this fall, we have broadened our scope to explore a wider range of topics that are crucial to public practice landscape architecture.
Interested in joining? To register, simply complete this short survey. We look forward to your involvement in shaping the future of landscape architecture in Canadian municipalities.
LACF News
Apply for the 2025 Robert N. Allsopp Urban Design Fellowship
The Robert N. Allsopp Urban Design Fellowship is intended to provide a practicing landscape architect, whose work and exploratory interests are in urban design, with funds for research or pursuing a specific area of inquiry over a five-to-six-month ‘sabbatical’ or with funds to direct a research project.
The Fellowship will provide support for urban design research which elevates the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture, contributes to the knowledge base of the profession and is beyond the scope of the projects in their office or practice.
Deadline: May 1st, 2024
Partner News
Yellowhead Institute Treaty Map and New Special Report
The Yellowhead Institute has launched an interactive Treaty Map, and released a new special report titled From Risk to Resilience: Indigenous Alternatives to Climate Risk Assessment in Canada. The Treaty Map depicts over 250 years of treaties, from 1763 to the present, while the report argues that Indigenous approaches to relationships to the land and water can indeed offer an alternative but more effective approach to understanding and responding to climate change and the corresponding risks.
Explore the Map Read the Report
Call for Speakers: The University of Guelph is Bringing LABash Home!
We are excited to announce that LABash, a student-led conference celebrating the future of landscape architecture, will be coming back to Canada in March 2025! The conference will be hosted at the University of Guelph on March 12th - 15th 2025. This year's theme is “Reimagine,” focusing on innovative responses to new technologies and environmental stresses during the changing climate. LABash is currently calling for speakers–if you’re passionate about shaping the future of landscape architecture, we encourage you to submit your proposals!
Reimagine–LABash 2025 Conference: March 12th - 15th, 2025
Speaker Application Deadline: December 15th, 2024
Call for Speakers: We are currently seeking dynamic speakers to share their insights and expertise at LABash 2025. Whether you are an academic, a practitioner, or an expert in a specific area of landscape architecture, we invite you to apply and contribute to the conversation about the future of our profession. Speaker applications are now open!
The LABash conference is a fantastic opportunity for students and professionals alike to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of landscape architecture. For more information about the conference, including sponsor details and meeting the conference team, visit our website: labash.org
Stay connected and up to date by following us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates and insights as we gear up for this exciting event! We look forward to seeing you in Guelph!
New RAIC and Parks Canada Open Access Course: Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada: Integrating Accessibility
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), in partnership with the Parks Canada, is offering a new module building on the Introduction to the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Part of the RAIC’s Heritage Conservation Series, this second module focuses on the integration of accessibility in heritage conservation projects in Canada. This course explains how to apply the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (2010) to accessibility projects in historic places.
17th Grands Prix du Design Award Recipients Celebrated at Galas
The 17th edition of the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN celebrated excellence during two galas highlighting award recipients on October 3 and November 6 in Montréal. The winners' work is featured in special issues of INT.design magazine showcasing creativity and excellence across the various competition disciplines.
Entries for the awards' 18th edition are now open.