To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, has agreed to establish the Governor General’s Medal in landscape architecture (GGMLA).
The medal, which will be the highest honour bestowed by the CSLA, will be presented every two years. It is intended to honour a landscape architect whose lifetime achievements and contributions to the profession have had a unique and lasting impact. It will also recognize exceptional landscape architects who have made significant contributions to Canadian society.
“The GGMLA will highlight the long history of landscape architects’ role in shaping, preserving and protecting the Canadian landscape through a collaborative, design-based approach. In developing solutions, landscape architects work with the interests of their clients and the public, and synthesize information from a wide range of specialists such as engineers, architects, social scientists, biologists, geologists, hydrologists, foresters, artists and ecologists,” said CSLA president Peter Briggs. “Canadian landscape architects have made, and will continue to make, significant contributions to the quality of life in Canada and the world.”
In terms of eligibility, individuals must be a landscape architect and a member of the CSLA. Those who have received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ also qualify. Current CSLA board members, however, are ineligible to receive the medal. Finally, an individual may only receive the GGMLA once in their lifetime. For more information on the nomination guidelines, click here.
The first competition for the medal will be in 2015, with the first recipient being named in 2016.
