b'December 2020A component organization of the Canadian Society of Landscape ArchitectsWhy Ontario Needs a Practice Act for Landscape ArchitectsParliament Hill Escarpment Stairway and Site Rehabilitation, Civitas Group - Ottawa, ONA Practice Act would allow landscape architects to better ensure public health, safety and well-being by:Designing public features such as sidewalks, Utilizing their specialized knowledge andtrails and plazas to meet safety and experience with green infrastructure toaccessibility standards, ensuring adequateEmploying unique knowledge in plant address public health and safety concerns inlighting, appropriate surfacing and thecharacteristics to design spaces that reduce the built environment resulting from climatedesign and siting of public space elements,environmental hazards (solar radiation, air change.This would provide solutions toincluding circulation management devicespollution) and discomforts to people (heat, reduce flooding, urban heat island effect andand site amenity, such as seating, bollards,wind) while increasing the ecological services air pollution, as examples, which are known tosignage, bike racks, planters and wasteand wellness opportunities in public spaces.cause illness or death. receptacles; all ensuring safe, appropriate clearances to minimize conflicts and hazards.Employing specialized technical knowledgeSpecifying the design & layout of playgroundDesign of site grading, drainage conveyance to design site elements, increasingequipment to ensure standards for falland erosion mitigation to ensure slope accessibility, experiential satisfaction andzones are met, encourage wellness benefitsstability and dissipation of stormwater, wellness, including stairs, ramps, guardrails,of exposing children to nature and ensuregrading design to minimize slip and fall boardwalks, and viewing platforms, withappropriate materials and surfacing are usedhazards maximizing protection to public and compliance to the Ontario Building Code. to reduce injury. private property.Creating equity and inclusion for all peopleDesigning recreational, leisure, and openDesigning safe and efficient streetscapes that by designing supportive accessible spaces,space facilities including parks, sports fieldsaccommodate multi-modal traffic, increases for users requiring mobility aids, such asand courts, trail systems and tracks andhealthful opportunities through active scooters, wheelchairs and strollers andcourses, with layout and orientation thattransportation, and adheres to road safety others having sensory challenges, such as thereduces conflicts, and materials and finishesstandards; minimizing conflicts between visually impaired. that mitigate risk and harm to the public. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.The OALA is a member of the Construction Design and Alliance of Ontario. Members include: Association of Registered Ontario Electrical League Interior Designers of Ontario Ontario General ContractorsConcrete Ontario AssociationConsulting Engineers of Ontario Ontario Home Builders AssociationHeavy Construction AssociationOntario Road Builders Association of TorontoOntario Sewer & WatermainMechanical ContractorsContractors AssociationTOcore Downtown Parks and Pubilc Realm Plan Association of Ontario Ontario Society of PUBLIC WORK - Toronto, ON Ontario Association of ArchitectsProfessional Engineers Ontario Association of Certified Residential and Civil ConstructionFor more information, contact:Engineering Technicians andAlliance of Ontario TechnologistsResidential Construction Ontario Association of Council of OntarioAina Budrevics, OALA Executive Director Landscape Architects Surety Association of Canada executivedirector@oala.ca'