OALA Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence

This award recognizes an OALA member and his or her professional work. It singles out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work which demonstrates outstanding
professional accomplishment.

George Dark, OALA

George Dark is an urban designer and landscape architect with more than 30 years of experience. He is a partner at an internationally renowned Toronto firm, Urban Strategies, where since 1987 he has led a variety of important planning projects in cities across North America and in the Caribbean. George is best known locally for his pioneering work on Toronto’s waterfront and in downtown Ottawa. He is a charismatic leader, a compassionate person, and a propelling force in transforming our cities into livable urban centres. George has brought Urban Strategies into the spotlight and is credited by his colleagues for making the firm into the successful, award-winning, and highly esteemed business it is today. His extensive portfolio of work includes the award-winning University of Toronto Open Space Master Plan, the Downtown Hamilton Design Strategy, a Master Plan for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the civic vision for Youngstown, Ohio (the first “Shrinking City” in the U.S.), as well as the Public Space Framework for Toronto’s Central Waterfront. George is a Past Chair of the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, Chairman of the Board of the Evergreen Foundation, and a Member of the City of Ottawa Design Review Panel. George has been instrumental in bringing about positive changes to myriad communities. From urban intensification challenges in Canada to shrinking towns in the U.S., George has helped to raise the profile of our profession and has single-handedly proven the worth of our work in city planning initiatives. George is perhaps most deserving of this award because he is a landscape architect who works as a planner, which is no doubt a big leap in landscape architecture as a whole. George is a most worthy recipient of the Pinnacle Award.

OALA President’s Award

The President’s Award is given in recognition of the contributions by an OALA Full Member who supports and advances initiatives and actions of the association and promotes the profession of landscape
architecture in Ontario. It is given in recognition of dedicated volunteerism, generous service to the association, and for leadership in the field of landscape architecture.

Arnis Budrevics, OALA

Arnis Budrevics has brought a tireless energy and leadership to the OALA and CSLA on many initiatives to further landscape architecture in Ontario and Canada. Arnis has served the OALA for more than twenty-five years on many committees, special projects, OALA Council, and the CSLA Board of Directors. His contributions far exceed what one would have imagined from a volunteer. He has given hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours each year. Arnis has served on the OALA Council and Executive Committee holding positions of Treasurer, Vice President (2 years), President (2 years), and Past-President. Arnis has contributed extensively to the organization and management of OALA budgets; to membership entrance requirements changes; to revitalizing OALA conference efforts; to office operations; and to many other OALA activities. He is the current OALA representative on the CSLA Board of Directors and a member of the CSLA Executive. Arnis is a strong promoter of the OALA and landscape architecture. He has elevated the professionalism of the Association and has guided the annual awards program to become a more dignified event. Through his great leadership he guided the OALA to become a more revitalized association. His vision, enthusiasm, and passion for landscape architecture has rallied the membership to get involved in their association. Arnis has left his mark on the OALA and the CSLA in so many ways. We have all benefited from his contributions.

OALA Honorary Member Award

The Honorary category of membership is for non-landscape architects whom Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields toimproving the quality of natural and human environments.

Raymond Moriyama

Moriyama & Teshima is an internationally renowned Canadian architecture, planning, and landscape architecture company. Founded in 1958 by Raymond Moriyama in Toronto, Moriyama & Teshima has built its reputation on distinctive landmark projects that have garnered numerous awards for innovative design and planning solutions. The company strives to seamlessly integrate building and site, creating environments that demonstrate an unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to caring for people and nature. Raymond is now a consultant to the firm. Raymond has applied his extraordinary vision and understanding to numerous projects including the Bata Shoe Museum, Bank of Montreal Institute for Learning, Saudi Arabian National Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Raymond is also a hero to many Canadians. His stories of being interned during the Second World War because of his Japanese heritage and his rise to become one of Canada’s most respected architects continue to inspire. He has received numerous honours including the Confederation of Canada Medal, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal, and honorary degrees from ten Canadian universities. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Order of Ontario.

OALA David Erb Memorial Award

This award is named after David Erb, who was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of the OALA, and his example set a truly high standard. The award is the best way to acknowledge the one outstanding OALA member each year whose volunteer contributions over a number of years have made a real difference.

Doug Fountain, OALA

Doug Fountain has been a cornerstone to landscape architecture in the Ottawa region, and beyond, for 12 years, not only as a volunteer with the OALA and its Eastern Ontario Chapter but with grassroots community groups as well. Doug has given his time to the OALA as a PDP Reviewer and Proctor, and was instrumental in the planning and delivery of a successful 2000 CSLA conference in Ottawa. In the community, Doug has taken the lead in developing strategies and implementing solutions when issues have arisen. A recent example is the formidable work on the research concerning sensitive marine clay soils and the restrictive approach to managing these in urban development lands. Doug has assisted community groups with an initiative to develop community vegetable gardens in lesser used corners of city parkland. He has also made arrangements for James Urban to present a symposium this fall on exploring alternatives to regressive streetscapes and, from that, present findings to the City of Ottawa— findings that will benefit landscape architects internationally. Doug’s volunteer efforts consistently elevate the profile of landscape architects and the OALA.

OALA Public Practice Award

This award recognizes the outstanding leadership of a member of the profession in public practice who promotes and enhances landscape architecture by working for improved understanding and appreciation of the work of landscape architects in both public and private practice. This year, three Public Practice Awards are being presented.

1: Janet Ward, OALA

Janet Ward’s career in landscape architecture began upon graduation as a member of the University of Guelph’s first MLA graduating class in 1977. Early in her career Janet worked in New Zealand for the City of Manukau where she was instrumental in the preservation of a number of historically significant sites and the opening of these sites for public use. Janet now works with the City of Oshawa Planning Department and has been integral in establishing many design standards and urban development policies. She has always been a strong advocate of good design while ensuring the protection of natural heritage. Janet has been involved in many urban design projects and has been a key member of many design committees including the City of Oshawa Streetscape Committee, Queen’s Market Square, and Community In Blooms. Janet is a tremendous advocate for landscape architecture and continues to be a leader for the profession in the Durham Region.

2. Nelson Edwards, OALA

Nelson Edwards has been a constant and welcome figure as a public-sector landscape architect around the City of Ottawa for the past seventeen years. As a public servant, he has always been able to garner his energy, humanitarian attitude, design sensitivities, and intellectual reach for the advancement of the landscape architectural profession. Nelson returned to Ottawa in 1992 and he was able to introduce a brilliant approach to the financial and disposal pressures facing the National Capital Commission regarding the Greenbelt Land holdings. His vocational assessment approach to the lands permitted civil discourse on the lands considered surplus. Nelson continued to elevate the profile of the profession when he became a driving force behind Urban Form, a series offering networking and dialogue opportunities for landscape architects and associated professionals alike.Now, as part of Urban Design and Community Planning at the City of Ottawa, Nelson has contributed significantly to the creation of a collective vision for downtown Ottawa towards the year 2020.

3. Kelly Pender, OALA

Kelly Pender graduated as a landscape architect from the University of Toronto in 1983 and has been a full member of the OALA since March 1985. He also has a planning certificate and an MBA. Kelly began his career as the Supervisor of Planning and Development for the City of Belleville where he was responsible for all open space and facility planning. He subsequently moved on to become the Acting General Manager for the Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority in Trenton. Kelly then spent seven years as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Perth. He is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Huntsville and he continues as a full member of the OALA and identifies himself as a landscape architect— wonderful recognition for the abilities of our profession. Kelly has spearheaded significant planning and design projects in Belleville, Perth, and Huntsville that have created new residential neighbourhoods, parks and recreation complexes, enhanced waterfronts, downtowns, streetscapes, and urban corridors. His role has contributed to sustaining vibrant, healthy communities. As a full member, with a 25-year career working in the public sector, Kelly is deserving of our Association’s Public Practice Award.