News

The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Olmsted Scholars Program (named for Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture) recognizes and supports students with exceptional leadership potential who are using ideas, influence, communication, service, and leadership to advance sustainable design and foster human and societal benefits.  

The Landscape Architecture program, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph is proud to announce the following students are named as 2015 University Olmsted Scholars:

Professor Cecelia Paine was honoured during the 2015 Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Congress Gala in Mexico in May.  Cecelia is the recent past president of the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF) and was presented with the LACF Recognition Certificate in honour for her almost 30 years on the LACF Board. In 1987, Cecelia was chair of the task force charged with establishing the framework for rejuvenating and renaming the foundation.

Professor Wayne Caldwell's research project to transfer knowledge to create healthy rural communities received funding from the Knowledge Translation and Transfer research program.

This year the University of Guelph Alumni Association will recognize four exceptional alumni for their outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence on Alumni Weekend, for the Alumni Awards of Excellence Gala on June 12, 2015.  The evening will feature a gala dinner, awards presentation, silent auction, and much more!

Larry Harder, Professor in Landscape Architecture at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development hopes to address issues occurring in unofficial Syrian refugee camps across Lebanon through a locally initiated project that he is participating in. From May 22 to May 30 he will work with 50 other landscape architecture students and professors from across the world to address issues being faced in a specific camp in the Bekaa Valley, called Talyani. Talyani is near the Lebanese town of Bar Elias, which is about 10km from the Syrian border.

Seven years after receiving her undergraduate degree, Ashley Honsberger decided it was time to return to school. Her career focus on farm business management was missing the international development link she longed for. To reset her career path, she pursued a Master’s of Science in Capacity Development and Extension (CDE) at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.  Read her research story "Learning the Art of Adaptability"

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture alumni capture top prizes in the 'Lost Spaces 2015 Ideas Competition' through Design Talks Institute. The competition calls for alternatives to improving the use, public realm and ecological value of lost space in Calgary, Alberta.  

Jamal Nureddin (BLA '14) and Nadja Pausch (BLA '15) teamed forces with their submission titled "Pollen-Nation: Vacant Lots + Lost Spaces // Social & Ecological Catalyst" which responds to several vacant areas in Calgary and captured the top Parks Field Prize.  

Graduate Students Hosted 2nd Annual SEDRD Conference

As a unique interdisciplinary department at the University of Guelph, the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) brings together rural studies, landscape architecture, planning, and capacity development to look at rural development from various angles. Last year, the SEDRD annual conference served as a forum for student researchers from the four above-mentioned programs to present research, foster connections, and exchange ideas. The success of last year’s conference was repeated and topped this year.