b'PRESIDENTS MESSAGEThe Role of Landscape Architects in Public SafetyBY STEVE BARNHARTG reetings from the president of the OntarioNow is the time for landscape architecture to create Association of Landscape Architects (OALA)! It isan attractive and interesting walking environment by our privilege to share OALAs 2021/2022 Productapplying appropriate standards, increasing pedestrian Directory with our 2,000 members. Published digitally andactivity and maintaining personal safety within outdoor in print once a year, it is a valuable tool of products andpublic spaces that provide an engaging connection to the services in place for the profession.naturalenvironment.IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELL-BEINGOUR SUCCESSES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURENow more than ever, the landscape architecture professionIn order to support our members and demonstrate the in Ontario is facing a call to action, and collectively, ourvalue of our profession, OALA has been hard at work on a members, with the support of our industry partners, arevariety of projects. responding. Across the province and the country, theWe are dedicated to raising our profile with the public and pandemic has forced millions to shift to the outdoors forofficeholders. We continue to push for a Practice Act and mental and physical health. As a profession, we needhave been regularly meeting with a number of players at to respond quickly to the design challenge of improvingQueens Park, municipalities and other stakeholders. Were public spaces. Our mission of promoting public safety andmaking every effort to ensure all parties have an enhanced protecting public interest rings true during this immediatescope of practice in their platforms. Our message is clear: crisis. Landscape architects also play a significant rolethe time for change is now in order to protect public safety. in addressing larger societal issues such as mental health, accessibility and equity. These current conditionsOur Practice Legislation Committee (PLC) and Municipal require the focus of our profession to look at how weOutreach Committee (MOC) are preparing tools and utilize nature to help achieve healthy living goals withinmessaging to help members engage in the June 2022 ourenvironments. Ontario provincial election and the October 2022 municipalelections. Public space serves many functions and must support all of societys needs, providing a respite for the individual andAdditional projects for association improvements include the group. Demand for outdoor spaces is growing as citiesa JEDI Action Plan being created with the support of continue to intensify their populations within the existinga consultant, updating the OALA Strategic Plan and urban boundary, without available green space to expandCommunications Strategies and improving the member proportionately. Land is in short supply, and through thedatabase system. vision and skills of landscape architects, public spaceWhile our Annual General Meeting will be held virtually can be re-envisioned through tactical projects such ason April 28th, 2022, we remain hopeful that in-person re-imagining the function of streets to support increasedconferences and social events can resume when it is safe pedestrian use. to do so. With a world more conscious of climate change and theYours truly,impacts of fossil fuel vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are returning to the streets in greater numbers, demanding safer, more sensible and engaging urban environments where their needs are considered first. Streets need to become extensions of modern-day living, where safety and individual well-being are prioritized. We need spaces for healthy living that support efficient and sustainable communities, where people choose to walk without fear ofSteve Barnhart, OALA, CSLA vehicle collisions and fatalities. President8 2021/22 OALA SOURCE GUIDE'