The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects “Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence” was presented to Professor Cecelia Paine on April 1, 2016 at the OALA AGM and Conference at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  This prestigious award recognizes an OALA member for their professional work.  It singles out specific projects to draw attention to a body of work which demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment.

Cecelia Paine has been an active member of the OALA thirty-five years and during that period has made a substantive and remarkable contribution to the profession of landscape architecture and to the related landscape architectural associations, namely the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) and the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF). Cecelia is clearly a passionate landscape architect who has been committed to the profession over her long career, serving as President of the OALA, CSLA and LACF. Her significant service to the profession was acknowledged with special recognitions including the prestigious national Schwabenbauer Award in 2009. Also, in evidence of her recognized commitment and contributions, Cecelia has been made a Fellow of both the CSLA and the ASLA.

Prof. Paine has been a faculty member in Landscape Architecture in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph since 1990.  She has been engaged in the education of countless students, often acting as a mentor to aspiring professionals. Her contributions as a distinguished academic to professional education in landscape architecture have been recognized by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, the University of Guelph Faculty Association and the CSLA.

Professor Cecelia Paine.  Photo courtesy of the OALA.

A summary of Prof. Paine’s significant body of work includes:

• Design: Cecelia served as principal of Cecelia Paine and Associates from 1982-1990. Most notable among the projects she led were the master plan for heritage restoration and development of Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park and the design for redevelopment of Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa. Other projects included the Billings Estate in Ottawa, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in Alberta, the Queen’s Park Legislative Assembly grounds, the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, Stony Creek Battlefield Park as well as heritage district plans for Ottawa neighbourhoods.
   
• Communication: Cecelia led a task force to investigate the resurrection of what is now Landscapes/Paysages and served as the founding editor from 1999 to 2004. Other contributions include serving as editor of the proceedings of the 50th Annual Congress of the CSLA in 1984 and the 25th Annual Meeting of the OALA in 1993 and producing the CD-ROM, Canadian Impressions/Impressions canadiennes profiling Canadian landscape architecture for the 2011 ASLA/CSLA Annual Meeting.
   
• Research: Cecelia has been a strong supporter of research during her tenure on the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation Board, a role that has extended from 1987 to the present. She established the basis for the very successful granting program and provided for its promotion throughout Canada. To date, LACF has funded 119 research grants, while providing support to students, academics and practitioners on a wide diversity of topics.

Cecelia’s record speaks for itself.  Her lifelong passion for the profession of landscape architecture, her relentless commitment to its advancement and growth and her significant contributions throughout her successful career spanning 43 years quickly brings one to surmise that Cecelia Paine, educator, mentor, administrator, editor, writer and accomplished landscape architect is well deserving of the OALA Pinnacle Award.

Congratulations to Cecelia for her hard work on behalf of the profession and the school.