b'VICE-PRESIDENTS MESSAGELearning to Navigate Through Uncharted WatersBY AARON HIROTAG reetings on behalf of OALA Council. It is with greatSETTING SAILpleasure that the Ontario Association of LandscapeAs we move into 2025, there are many initiatives ahead that Architects brings you our 2024/2025 Source Guide.will require our collective effort and attention.We are excited Published annually, this guide is a valuable resource thatto welcome landscape architects from across the country to provides landscape architects with a trusted source for productsOttawa for the CSLA-OALA Congress, taking place from June and services. 5 to 7, 2025.REFLECTIONS The theme for the 2025 Congress is Outside the In my career, I have tried to live by the motto learn somethingBox: Challenging Traditional Paradigms in Landscape new every dayduring our early stages of practice as we soakArchitecture. This theme encourages us to think beyond up everything like a sponge.Getting older, there are times whenthe boundariesre-imagining placemaking in a way that complacency gets the best of us, and we do what we know best,is both inclusive and responsive to the critical issues of using our previous experience to guide our work. Over the lastour time, equity, reconciliation, affordable housing, the rise of new technologies including AI-driven design processes few years, I have recognized the need to explore, learn andand the growing need for biodiverse and sustainable urban grow.The questions remain why and how? environments.Landscape architects play a vital role in designing and creatingWe look forward to gathering as a profession to learn sustainable and healthy environments for our communities.and grow in our nations capital.The Congress organizing The effects of climate change, social unrest and the pandemiccommittee is already hard at work to make this a have raised the visibility and importance of our profession tomemorableevent.the world.As a result, different levels of government, allied professions and the public have become more aware of ourCouncil is currently focused on restructuring the associations profession and its positive impact on communities. OALAcommittees to help streamline its operations and allow members and landscape architects across the globe arecouncillors to concentrate on broader strategic issues. becoming sought-after leaders who are well-equipped to ensureThis will improve the efficiency of meetings and decision-a healthy and green future for generations to come.As such,makingprocesses.we must continue to seek knowledge and personal growth toOur collective voices continue to raise the profile of landscape maintain our position as leaders. architecture and the value of our work.OALA members are At our 2024 OALA conference, Ripple Effect, we witnessed anraising important issues with public officials to advocate for impressive breadth of knowledge within our profession. Thissustainable environmental solutions, tackle climate-related wealth of expertise was inspiring and provided much-neededissues and build communities where people want to live, educational opportunities for our members.Our Continuingwork and play.The Practice Legislation Committee has Education Committee is dedicated to regularly offering lecturesreceived extensive support from MPPs from all parties and is and webinars to keep members informed and engaged. making significant progress towards the introduction of the Landscape Architects Practice Act. We remain committed to Additionally, we have built strong relationships with productthis goal.developers and created our annual Source Guide, allowing allOn behalf of staff and Council, I want to thank our members our members to access valuable information tailored to theirwho have been so generous with their time and efforts in respective areas and regions of the province. The associationsupporting our various committees. We hope the association also offers numerous other learning opportunities throughcontinues to meet the needs of our ever-growing membership.various channels, including our communications, the website, Ground: Landscape Architect Quarterly magazine and otherAaron Hirota, OALA, AAPQ, MALA, SALA, CSLA supported events. OALA Vice-President6 2024/25 OALA SOURCE GUIDE'