The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) announced the recipients of the 2025 Awards of Excellence. This year, 15 projects received a national award. Kìwekì Point – Big River Landscape by Janet Rosenberg & Studio (JRS) is Awarded the Jury’s Award of Excellence, which is given to one project annually which best demonstrates the CSLA’s vision – of advancing the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture.
These award-winning projects are preeminent examples of Canadian landscape architecture. They illustrate the range of what landscape architects do and how landscape architects are helping to reshape our communities by defining the places where we live, work, and play.
Winners were selected by a national jury of landscape architects. They were Claude Potvin (Chair), Elaine vanTol Smit, Travis Martin, Doug Fountain, Carol Craig, and Connor Budd. A total of 75 submissions were received. Criteria applied by the jurors included:
- demonstration of a deep understanding of the craft of landscape architecture and attention to composition and detail,
- demonstration of excellence in leadership, project management, breadth of work, new directions, or new technology,
- innovation in concept, process, materials, or implementation,
- promotion of the discipline amongst related professions, clients, and the general public,
- demonstration of exemplary environmental and/or social awareness.
National Awards are for work that demonstrate excellence against all judging criteria. These projects are nominated for the Jury’s Award of Excellence, which is given to the project that best demonstrates the CSLA’s vision (advancing the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture).
The Awards of Excellence Ceremony will take place during the 2025 CSLA-OALA Congress in Ottawa from June 5-7, 2025.
2025 Jury’s Award of Excellence and a National Award
Kìwekì Point – Big River Landscape (Ottawa, ON) – Janet Rosenberg & Studio (JRS)
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
The 2025 National Award Recipients
Land Acknowledgement Project (Calgary, AB) – City of Calgary
Category: Communication
Love Park (Toronto, ON) – CCxA Architectes paysagistes
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Naskapi Community Boardwalk (Kawawachikamach, QC) – CCxA Architectes paysagistes
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (St. John’s, NL) – Mills & Wright Landscape Architecture Inc.
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Parc des Gorilles (Montréal, QC) – civiliti
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
Parc Fluvial – Musée maritime du Québec (L’Islet, QC) – Pratte Paysage
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville de Québec (Québec City, QC) – Stantec + Lemay + Ville de Québec
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Riverside Ranch (Bayside, NB) – Brackish Design Studio Inc.
Category: Residential Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect
The Sara Jackman Playground (Toronto, ON) – PLANT Architect Inc.
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Sp’akw’us Feather Park (Squamish, BC) – Hapa Collaborative & Anchor QEA
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
Square Viger Redevelopment (Blocks I and II) (Montréal, QC) – NIPPAYSAGE
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
Tatlow and Volunteer Parks Creek Restoration (Vancouver, BC) – Paul Sangha Creative
Category: Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (1 to 5 ha)
Vaughan Complete Streets Guide (Vaughan, ON) – DTAH
Category: Planning and Analysis | Large-Scale Design
Yarmouth Main St. Streetscape Phase 2 (Yarmouth, NS) – Fathom Studio
Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Image Credits: Courtesy of CSLA | AAPC