Tracey Hesse AAPQ, CSLA
Tracey Hesse holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (1994) from Concordia University and a master’s degree in Design (Landscape Option) from the University of Montreal (2000). She acquired practical experience in both design and execution early in her career, working as a landscape contractor in her own company for eight years. Today, she has over 20 years experience in landscape architecture in the public and private sectors. She has worked for EDAW, an international landscaping firm based in the United-States, in Atlanta, GA and several larger landscape architecture firms in Montreal. From 2015 to 2022, she was an associate at HETA (Hodgins & Associates), a firm specializing in residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
In 2009 and 2010, she worked as an administrative assistant for the AAPQ. This opportunity allowed her to familiarize herself with the daily operations of the Association. Subsequently, she was part of the Admissions Committee until 2019. In addition to serving on her provincial board, Tracey is involved in other activities within the association, including the congress planning committee. She also sits on the board of the CSLA.
Tracey is known for her excellent drawing skills and landscape designs. She is proficient in plant selection for residential and urban projects. In 2015, she was awarded 1st Ex-aequo Prize and the Prix Coup de cœur in the category of small garden spaces from the APPQ (Association des paysagistes professionnels du Québec) for her collaboration for Le filigree. More recently, in 2022, her collaboration with Cohlmeyer Architecture for the Montauk Sofa flagship store in Montreal received a Platinum certification in the 15th edition of Les Grands Prix du Design as well as the Milan Havlin Award from the APPQ.
One of Tracey’s first jobs was working for a tropical plant wholesaler. This experience was put to good use, as in 2023, her collaboration with Affleck de la Riva architects for the restauration of the Westmount Conservatory was awarded a Platinum Certification as well as a Gold Certification for heritage enhancement in the 16th edition of Les Grands Prix du Design.
Tracey is currently working at KAP, a firm specializing in public and municipal projects based in Laval, Québec.
Connor Budd, BCSLA, CSLA
Connor Budd, MLA (UBC, 2025), BDes (ECUAD, 2021), is a landscape designer and the 2024 recipient of the Frederick Gage Todd National Scholarship. His academic work examined human-plant relationships in Pacific Northwest ecosystems, climate change’s impacts on those relationships, and ecological grief. Now working with MDI Landscape Architects in Victoria, BC, he focuses on planting design and creating robust and complex ecologies.
Doris Chee, OALA, CSLA, IFLA, CPTED, MCPM
Doris is a Landscape Architect who has 40+ years of professional experience in a wide variety of projects and environmental works. She has worked in various locations throughout Ontario from landscape architectural firms to engineering centric offices.
Currently she is the Landscape Architect for Hydro One Networks Inc., the largest electrical transmission company in Ontario. She provides advice, planning, design and technical details for environmental stewardship, enhancements, biodiversity, sustainability, climate adaptation and mitigation. She works with various groups of professionals within the company to delivery projects and community benefits through environmental and land designs.
She was the president (2016-2018) and past president (2019 to 2021) of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) and is currently engaged in the committee pursuing a professional practice act with the provincial government. As a mentor to students and interns, she advises and assure the development of their professional skills and knowledge through the Professional Development Program of the OALA. She has also served as the Chair of the Honours Awards and Protocol of the OALA revising the award requirements and standardizing the submission process. She has served on the Board of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and adjudicated the 2019 Awards of Excellence and as the Chair of the adjudication in 2020. Other volunteerism includes her service to the College of Electors (2021 – 2025) of the Governing Council of the University of Toronto. A committee that receives, review and advise on top candidates for the University’s Governing Council. Currently she is on the Board of the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) (2021 to present) and serving as the Secretary of the Board. As well, she is a member to the committee steering the expansion and renewal of the TBG.
In the past years before the Ford government, she had served as the representative of the OALA to the Ministry of Environment Tourism, and Sports on the William G Davis Trail and the east park. She has also volunteered on various public groups and committees such as Grey to Green Coalition, Green Infrastructure and other environmental stewardship public groups.
In recent years, she’s been honoured to work with indigenous artists to enhance the Hydro station in mid town Toronto, using their artistic interpretation and cultural heritage to reconcile the long history of Davenport Road. The experience had mirror and supported her personal believes and how engagement between humans and other living species is profoundly connected and effects all levels of being. Her interest in landscape architecture lies in the believe that we are gifted the stewardship of the land. Knowing and understanding our natural systems, the built environment and our heritage will enhance our lives and sustain our future growth while encouraging healthy living for all species.