George McKibbon Receives the OALA 'Honourary Member' Award
The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects ‘OALA Honourary Member Award’ was presented to Mr. George McKibbon on Friday, March 28, 2014 at the OALA Conference and AGM at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. The Honourary category of membership is for non-landscape architects for whom the OALA Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions in their own fields to improving the quality of natural and human environments.
George McKibbon is a land use planner, who has worked on numerous projects with Landscape Architects as either a lead researcher, or co-author of many award winning reports and studies. George works tirelessly behind the scenes to improve the quality of life for people, making significant advances to Provincial Legislation, Policies for healthy communities, sustainable environments, climate change, air quality and walkable communities. The CV for George, which to date, spans over 35 years, has many significant accomplishments. Throughout his career, George has worked continuously with Landscape Architects in many different capacities.
While at the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority from 1974-1978, George worked as a conservation planner and enforcement officer and worked with planners, landscape architects, engineers and others. He was a senior planner at the Niagara Escarpment Commission from 1978-1987 and authored Part Two, Development Criteria of the Niagara Escarpment Plan. Many benchmark visual assessment studies, view shed analysis and other ground breaking documents were prepared, in conjunction with landscape architects to support the development criteria in the Plan. Since that time, the NE Plan has stood the test of challenges, tribunals, consolidated boards and NE hearings. Many who have worked closely with the plan, realized how comprehensive the vision was and still is today.
Since 1996, George has operated McKibbon Wakefield Inc. His career has taken him across the Province on environmental studies, First Nations advising cabinet on planning matters. He was Director of Policy Development, OPPI, the Canadian representative, New York State APA Board, CIP Healthy Communities Committee and contributes to the development of Heart and Stroke Canada’s Healthy by Design project. George has authored countless publications, has won numerous awards in collaboration with Landscape Architects and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph.
The roots of Landscape Architecture in Canada came from the Canadian Town Planners. The connection today between Landscape Architects, Land use planners is as strong today, or perhaps stronger than it ever has been. As an advisor on Provincial Policy and a strong ally of Landscape Architects, the influence George has had on the Province, on our members and on the environment is enormous. George exemplifies the cross-over of our founding roots and close relationship between the professions of Land Use Planners and Landscape Architects.
Congratulations to George for his hard work on behalf of the profession and the school!
George McKibbon (centre) receives the OALA 'Honorary Member' award from Glenn O'Connor, OALA Past President (left) and Joanne Moran, OALA President (right).
Photo credit: Henry Kortekaas.