March 29, 2005

Award winners announced

By Patricia Williams

staff writer

The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) has recognized several individuals and a conservation authority for their contributions to environmental and design excellence over the past year.

The OALA presented its Award for Service to the Environment to the Grand River Conservation Authority in recognition of its “special contribution to the sensitive, sustainable design” for human use of the environment.

“The conservation authority’s work over the last 60 years has brought the Grand River back from the brink of disaster to one of the healthiest in North America,” the association said.

The OALA awarded its Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment to landscape architect Michael Hubicki for the home, barn and eco-pool he built near Cobourg, Ont., using reused and recycled materials.

Hubicki, who also identified creative solutions to take advantage of passive solar energy benefits, uses the house as an educational tool for school children and university students.

The association conferred honourary membership on former City of Toronto chief planner Paul Bedford and on Charles Waldheim, director of the landscape architecture program at the University of Toronto.

The OALA said Bedford “championed new visions which emphasized the city’s physical form and continues to inspire planners and landscape architects with his vision of a dynamic, people-oriented city.”

The association said Waldheim, who assumed his current position two years ago, believes that landscape architecture “is one of the most interesting contemporary design professions and actively promotes this belief to students.

“Since his arrival at U of T, he has successfully increased enrolment in the masters of landscape architecture program.”

Founded in 1968, the association represents accredited landscape architects in Ontario. It has 900 full and associate members.

The OALA’s mission is to promote, improve and advance the profession of landscape architecture and maintain standards of professional practice and conduct consistent with the need to serve and to protect the public.

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