Strategic Plan Report Card (2021-2023)

The following summarizes the goals of the CSLA’s 2021-23 Strategic Plan and the actions undertaken in support of those goals.

Goal #1 : RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE PROFESSION

1.1     BE THE VOICE OF THE PROFESSION: The CSLA will be the voice of the profession nationally, and its voice will be sought and carefully considered in its position of leadership on issues relevant to the profession.

Actions:

  1. Common definition of urban canopy from the perspective of the profession developed by the Urban Canopy Workgroup (February 2021)
  2. LP magazine distributed to MPs across the country (Ongoing)
  3. Frederick Gage Todd named a Person of National Historic Significance by the federal government following a submission by CSLA (February 2021) and a plaque is planned for unveiling at Mt. Royal
  4. Established a 90th Anniversary Task Force to celebrate CSLA’s 90 years in 2024 with a focus on activities which illustrate the breadth and impact of the profession (January 2021)
  5. Produced a video on the Canadian Landscape Charter, hosted by Glenn O’Connor, to promote shared values of the profession (May 2021)
  6. In collaboration with provincial, territorial and regional component associations, issued regular check-in (or pulse) surveys to gauge how the profession was faring throughout the pandemic (throughout 2021)

 

1.2     ENGAGE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Landscape architects will become important collaborators on issues of policy development at the federal level. Work towards ensuring the importance of the profession, engaging with the federal government on policy development, and aim to become more recognized at the federal level.

Actions:

  1. LP magazine distributed to MPs across the country (Ongoing)
  2. CSLA participates on the Central Experimental Farm Advisory Council (Ongoing)
  3. CSLA participates on the Federal/Industry Real Property Advisory Council (FIRPAC) (Ongoing)
  4. CSLA participates in the virtual forum on Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy (June 2021)
  5. Submission made to the National Infrastructure Assessment (June 2021)
  6. With CNLA, partnered in an Expression of Interest for the 2 Billion Trees initiative (March 2021)
  7. Submission of a brief to the Standing Committee on Finance’s 2022 Pre-Budget Consultation (August 2021)
  8. Letter of congratulations to the Prime Minister highlighting the contributions of the profession (October 2021)
  9. Letter of congratulations to the Governor General highlighting the contributions of the profession (October 2021)

 

1.3     DEVELOP, MAINTAIN AND LEAD STRATEGIC PARNTERSHIPS: The CSLA will partner with strategic organizations to advance common goals and develop those partnerships to achieve tangible results.

Actions:

  1. CSLA joins the IUCN’s Nature for All program as a partner (March 2021)
  2. Martha Schwartz’ keynote address on climate change and Brett Huson’s educational session on Indigenous Knowledges and Ecology and Adaptation from the 2021 CSLA-OALA Congress were added to the IFLA Americas Virtual Congress presentations
  3. Congress Agreements made with OALA for 2021, APALA for 2022, SALA for 2023 and MALA for 2024 with 50/50 profit sharing 
  4. Extended and enhanced the CSLA Board and Component Presidents’ Roundtable by holding more frequent meetings and inviting CSLA Committee chairs to participate
  5. Grant Fahlgren participated in a session during AfterBASH where, with members of the Presidents’ Council, he presented the roles and benefits of the professional associations (April 2021)
  6. CSLA Component Grant increased from $15,000 to $20,000 (April 2021)
  7. Executive Director participates in quarterly roundtables with CIP, EC and RAIC (Ongoing)
  8. National Urban Design Awards call for submissions and award with RAIC and CIP (2022)
  9. With the Council for Canadian Urbanism, co-hosted a webinar on Urban Design: What Role for Landscape Architects (September 2021)

 

Goal #2 ADVOCATE FOR AND SUPPORT ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE PROFESSION

2.1     EDUCATION: Accredited landscape architecture programs in Canada will be available to students desirous of studying the profession and will produce a work force which will continue to advance the profession. Support and sustain new and existing landscape architecture programs in Canada and the students enrolled in those programs. Ensure that, through the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC), the standards of accreditation are up to date and aligned with the realities of current practice. 

Actions: 

  1. Grant Fahlgren participated in a session during AfterBASH where, with members of the Presidents’ Council, he presented the roles and benefits of the professional associations (April 2021)

2.2     CLIMATE ADAPTATION: To ensure a prosperous future within a changing climate, we must create a society which has an enhanced capacity for resilience, a willingness to transform to a better state, and a commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of environments, cultures and well-being.

Actions:

  1. Committee on climate adaptation members tasked with the role of scientific committee for 2021 Congress, selecting keynote speakers and evaluating abstracts. (Spring, 2021)
  2. Jane Welsh and Colleen Mercer Clarke presented to NRCAN’s Infrastructure and Buildings Working Group (March 2021)
  3. The Urban Canopy Workgroup issued a common definition of urban canopy from the perspective of the profession (February 2021)
  4. CSLA joins the IUCN’s Nature for All program as a partner (March 2021)
  5. White paper on Nature-based Solutions by Design released (May 2021)
  6. Jane Welsh represents CSLA on the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (Ongoing)
  7. Nicolette Theroux represents CSLA on the Pan-Canadian Strategy for Urban Forests Think Tank (Ongoing)
  8. Jane Welsh moderates the Municipal Roundtable which brings together municipally-employed landscape architects to discuss climate adaptation (Ongoing)
  9. Colleen Mercer Clarke represented CSLA in the National Adaptation Strategy workshops (Summer 2021)
  10. Liat Margolis represents CSLA on the Nature-Based Solutions on Commercial Roofs workgroup (Ongoing)
  11. CSLA first national association to endorse the IFLA Action Commitment (September 2021)

2.3     CULTURAL LANDSCAPES AND LEGACY: Canada’s cultural and historic landscapes will be both protected and celebrated.

Actions:

  1. Terms of reference for the committee was developed and approved by the Board (March 2021)
  2. Established a 90th Anniversary Task Force to celebrate CSLA’s 90 years in 2024 with a focus on activities which illustrate the breadth and impact of the profession (January 2021)
  3. Issued a letter of support for Scarboro’s application for heritage designation (March 2021)

2.4     RECONCILIATION: The CSLA, Component Associations, members, and Schools of landscape architecture acknowledge the histories, identities, cultures and rights of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples of Canada, achieve awareness and understanding of Indigenous peoples, landscapes, culture, rights and issues, opportunities and challenges and are effective participants in the process of reconciliation.

Actions:

  1. Reconciliation training offered to all component board members and 50% funded by CSLA (June 2021).
  2. CSLA booth at Soaring, a career-exploration trade show for Indigenous Youth (May 2021).
  3. Peter Jacobs Indigenous Scholarship awarded (via LACF) to Naomi Ratte (April 2021).
  4. Two Indigenous members welcomed to the Reconciliation Advisory Committee (Spring, 2021)
  5. Wrote a letter of endorsement for, provided a representative from the RAC and partnered with, the SSHRC, UBC grant proposal entitled Quality in Canada's Built Environment—Roadmaps to Equity, Social Value and Sustainability. (September 2021)
  6. CSLA observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and supported the day with a social media campaign (September 2021)
  7. Celebrated National Indigenous History Month by partnering with RAIC, National Trust, ULI, EC, UDI and CIP for two events: a film screening and conversation with Douglas Cardinal, and a panel entitled Indigenous Practitioner Perspectives where CSLA was represented by RAC member Naomi Ratte

2.5     HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING: Through the application of landscape architecture, ensure healthy, safe and meaningful places for people and communities.

Actions: 

  1. Terms of reference for the committee approved (April 2021)

2.6     RESEARCH: Recognize that the capacity of the profession of landscape architecture depends on research as well as practice.

Actions:

2.7     EQUITY IN THE PROFESSION: The CSLA and component associations acknowledge that our profession is committed to the elimination of any form of systemic racism in our internal operations and professional activities. We will work to understand our role in fostering change and commit to working to make those changes within our areas of control and influencing those which are not.

Actions:

  1. A statement was issued (August 2020)
  2. The CSLA convened the provincial, regional and territorial component associations and the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation in the discussion of equity and diversity in the profession (June 2020 and onwards)
  3. The CSLA joined a cross-disciplinary discussion with other organizations from related professions (June 2020 and onwards)
  4. The CSLA added equity and diversity to its Strategic Plan, which was approved at the Annual General Meeting (June, 2020)
  5. The CSLA and provincial, territorial and regional component associations collaborated on a diversity survey in November 2020. This survey will be circulated to members every year to update the data on the profession.
  6. Black History Month (February 2021), Juneteenth (June 2020) and National Aboriginal History Month (June 2020) were recognized via social media campaigns.
  7. A change was brought to how the Awards of Excellence jury is assembled, ensuring that the jury is balanced in terms of diversity, age, gender, and geographic representation. (February 2021).
  8. A task force was formed by the CSLA (November 2020) and charged with hiring a consultant to guide the development of a national and provincial action plan for the profession. Capillary Consulting was hired to undertake the project (October 2021)
  9. Bev Windjack represented CSLA at the Equitable Cities Workshop to establish standards for public spaces (September 2021)
  10. A task force member was identified as a liaison with the Common Space Coalition.
Goal #3 PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEMBERS THAT BUILD PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY

3.1     PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: Landscape architects are supported by a collaborative continuing education structure which reflects the needs of the profession.

Actions: 

  1. Seven webinars given in collaboration with AALA throughout 2020 and 2021 with attendance ranging from 125 to 175 participants at each event.
  2. Celebrated National Indigenous History Month by partnering with RAIC, National Trust, ULI, EC, UDI and CIP for two events: a film screening and conversation with Douglas Cardinal, and a panel entitled Indigenous Practitioner Perspectives where CSLA was represented by RAC member Naomi Ratte
  3. ‘Resources’ section developed for every CSLA mission area, such as climate, equity, reconciliation, health, urban canopy, etc. (Ongoing)
  4. Urban Design: What Role for Landscape Architects webinar (September 2021)
  5. RFP issued to re-write the CLS Soils Section (July 2021)
  6. CLS video/webinar developed and made available on-demand (September 2021)
  7. With OALA, Ron Koudys and Nastaran Moradinejad gave a webinar on the CLS (September 2021)
  8. 2021 Congress delivered virtually for the first time in CSLA history using new technologies with greater access for members. In addition, two sessions from the Congress program were made available to all members free of charge (May 2021)
  9. 2021 WLAM campaign highlighted the books written by CSLA members as resources for professional development (April 2021)
  10. Resources for working remotely, or running a landscape architecture firm remotely, made available to members (Jan-May 2021)

 

3.2     COMMISISON A REPORT ON THE VALUE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS: Establish metrics on the value of the profession. Provide a report to illustrate, in a quantitative measure, the value of landscape architecture on the Canadian society, data which can be used by the profession to promote its benefits. 

Actions:

  1. Proposal for the study circulated to the profession’s leadership for feedback (September 2021)

3.3     CAPITALIZE ON HIGH MEMBER ENGAGEMENT: Membership which is connected, engaged and uses the services offered by the CSLA. Involve members in the development of meaningful policies and programs through participation in standing committees, taskforces and working groups. 

Actions:

  1. Volunteers recognized via a social media campaign (April 2021)
  2. CSLA-wide Calls for volunteers for:
    • 90th anniversary celebrations (February 2021)
    • 2022 Congress (February and September 2021)
  3. Call for LP magazine submissions circulated (4 times in 2021)
  4. Calls for LAAC evaluators circulated (January-October 2021)
  5. National call for volunteers for the 2022 Congress (October 2022)

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