After reading an Ian McHarg book while studying third year Architecture at Montana State University, Ken Dockham immediately transferred departments - custom designing his own B.Sc.A. landscape and recreation design program - graduating in 1973.
Then, sponsored by his progressive Regina employer, Ken went on to study behavior-based design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated with a MLA in 1979, and then joined ASLA and NRPA. From an idea hatched in Regina with Jack Walker, FCSLA, Ken helped found SALA in 1980, becoming a member of the CSLA the same year.
He served as SALA President and Secretary, on the CSLA Board of Governors, and on many SALA committees. His fondest memories include helping organize the highly acclaimed Congress '85 in Saskatoon and numerous lively CSLA Board of Governors meetings.
Since arriving in Saskatchewan in 1973, when only a small handful of practitioners had a struggling existence, he has witnessed remarkable growth and respect in the profession. Ken's immigration from Montana to Canada was the start of a now 33-year career as landscape architect with the Wascana Centre Authority - steward of Regina's award-winning 2,300 acre urban park. He is the Authority's Director of Operations, with management responsibility for development, planning, design, project management and maintenance. But Ken is happiest when he is personally visioning, designing and building in Wascana Centre - publicly cherished as Regina's Gem: a place for people.