News

Networking for social and environmental change globally is the motivation for the Glocal Online Classroom.  We are four universities on four continents who have decided to build a global platform for collaboration and interchange in web-based learning, Starting in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in March, continuing in Guelph, Canada, in May, Malmö, Sweden, in September and ending at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, in November, we shall be carrying out a world series of seminars hosted by the participating universities.

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 2014 University Olmsted Scholars:

At the recent 2014 Rural Research KTT Day:  Rural Networking-Research into Action Conference two students from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development received the following awards:

Professor Robert Brown's recent blog article "Patio Season Starts Earlier in My Yard" appears online in the April 25, 2014 Island Press Blog of Island Press Field Notes, Washington, D.C.  

Professor Brown is a Professor in Landscape Architecture, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph and is the author of "Design With Microclimate:  The Secret to Comfortable Outdoor Space".

Professor Glen Filson, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is mentioned in the April 2014 digital magazine Country Guide. The article is entitled "World Crops", a story of ethno-cultural vegetables which is the hottest trend in food crops.

Congratulations to Keisha Davis, MSc student in the Capacity Development and Extension program, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development who won the graduate student poster competition on April 15, 2014 at the 4th Annual Knowledge Exchange Day held in joint collaboration by OMAF, MRA and UofG. Keisha presented a poster about her thesis research, 'Crossover effects of ethno-cultural vegetables (ECV): Examining Guelph consumers' ECV preferences'. Her poster received the largest number of votes for the day, making her the 1st prize winner.

Students in the second year of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program focus on design interventions for Downtown Guelph as part of their design studio.  For full article please see the At Guelph news story.

The Student Senate Caucus and the Undergraduate Academic Information Centre held its ‘Recognition of the Contribution of Teaching’ reception on Monday, March 31, 2014 at the University of Guelph.  Professor Sean Kelly was one of the recipients who was acknowledged for his contributions to the academic experience of students.  Sean was nominated by BLA Student Senator, Justin Whalen, a 4th year BLA student.

The nomination praises Professor Kelly as someone who:

“embodies the exceptional qualities expected of an educator”;

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.

The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects ‘David Erb Memorial Award’ was presented to Professor Sean Kelly on Friday, March 28, 2014 at the OALA Conference and AGM at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton.  The award named after David Erb who was an outstanding volunteer in furthering the goals of OALA and his example set a truly high standard. This prestigious award is considered 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.