A calm, reflective view from Dow’s Lake in Ottawa. A dense line of green trees and shrubs stretches along the opposite shore, their shapes softly mirrored in the still water below a pale sky made hazy by forest fire smoke.

Part of our team is in Ottawa this week, on unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory, for the 2025 CSLA Congress. We are excited to be learning, making new connections, and contributing to important conversations about issues that affect our neighbours and communities.

#BCSLA

As landscape architects, we work every day to bridge policy and place. We remain committed to designing spaces that honour cultural histories, restore ecosystems, and support future generations.

#BCSLA #cdnpoli

To the incoming government: we urge you to prioritize reconciliation initiatives and Indigenous sovereignty, not in name only, but in action. Centre climate adaptation, invest in projects rooted in equity, and support policies that empower communities and care for the land.

#BCSLA #cdnpoli

Landscape architecture doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Our work is shaped by the policies, priorities, and leadership chosen by voters. Decisions made today influence how we address climate resilience, housing, Indigenous sovereignty, urban design, and infrastructure for years to come.

#BCSLA #cdnpoli

As the results of the Canadian federal election settle in, we reflect on what this moment means for our profession and on our responsibility as landscape architects to the land, to communities, and to future generations.

#BCSLA #cdnpoli

Bev Windjack | CSLA

✨ We’re thrilled to share that Bev Windjack, LADR's Founding Principal, has been inducted into the CSLA College of Fellows for her decades of leadership, climate advocacy, and service to the profession.

We’re so proud — and so lucky — to work alongside her.

#WomenInDesign #VictoriaBC #BCSLA #CSLA

Wide-angle photo of a large, modern playground. The playground is filled with children and adults enjoying various wooden play structures, swings, and slides. The space is enclosed by fencing, with pathways and young trees surrounding it. In the background, rows of new houses and construction sites are visible, with a clear blue sky and distant mountains providing a scenic backdrop.

We had a great time last week at the Quarry Park playground opening! Great weather, great turnout, endless fun for all ages. Check it out by the Quality Foods in Royal Bay.

#BCSLA

🌎 This Earth Day, we reflect on what it means to design with the land.

Let’s move from sustainability to regeneration, from ownership to responsibility.

Together, we can root design in justice and grow a future where every community thrives in reciprocity with the Earth.

#earthday #bcsla

A side-by-side comparison of a playground construction site before and after the installation of poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing. The left image shows a dark rubber base with bright orange spray paint markings indicating the design layout. The right image showcases the completed, colorful rubber surfacing with blue, beige, and yellow sections, along with circular stepping elements integrated into the design. The wooden playground structures remain the same in both images, with accessible ramps and railings visible. A white arrow between the images highlights the transformation.

Checking in on a PIP rubber install 🌈

✔️ Impact-absorbing for softer landings
✔️ Seamless & accessible for all abilities
✔️ Low maintenance (bye, wood chips)
✔️ Custom colors, shapes & designs 🎨
✔️ Play elements built right in

It's not just about safety, it’s part of the #play experience too!

#BCSLA

Resilience Pathways Report | Insights for Disaster and Climate Risk Management The whole of society approach to defining the resilience pathways for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in BC, Canada.

LADR Founding Principal Bev Windjack, BCSLA, & Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng., explore how PAs can lead the charge in DRR & climate adaptation in their article, "The Role of Professional Associations in Disaster Risk Reduction," part of Chapter 3 of the Resilience Pathways Report (2022).

#BCSLA

Strengthening resilience requires ongoing learning, collaboration, & innovation. Professional associations provide the foundation for this work, ensuring that climate risk knowledge & skills continue to evolve.

#BCSLA #climateadaptation #climatechange

Grow Me Instead - Invasive Species Council of British Columbia

🌿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

Avoid invasive plants like English ivy, butterfly bush, and foxglove. Instead, 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 to support biodiversity & prevent escape into BC’s forests!

Check out this resource for ideas what to plant instead ⬇️

#InvSpWk #NativePlants #GrowMeInstead #ISCBC #BCSLA #gardening

🐦🍇 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲

Birds and animals are nature's couriers!

English holly, spurge laurel, & Himalayan blackberry produce berries that wildlife eat & 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, planting invasives deep in BC’s forests & parks.

#InvSpWk #BCInvasives #BCParks #BCSLA

🌿🏡 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Many invasive plants start as ornamentals. Plants like English ivy, periwinkle, foxglove, & yellow flag iris 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, & 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, where they outcompete native species.

Some garden favorites are BC’s biggest invaders.

#InvSpWk #BCSLA #PlantNative

🚣‍♀️ 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀 & 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿

Aquatic invasives like Eurasian milfoil & zebra mussels 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀, & 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿. Even tiny fragments can survive & spread between BC’s lakes & rivers, disrupting native ecosystems.

#InvSpWk #InvasiveSpecies #BCSLA #Boats #CleanDrainDry

🚗 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀

𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀, & 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 from knapweed, Scotch broom, & tansy ragwort, spreading them along roads & trails.

#InvSpWk #InvasiveSpecies #BCSLA #Biking

🚶‍♂️ 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘀

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, & 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗿! Plants like burdock, Scotch broom, & garlic mustard spread as hikers & dogs move through trails, parks, & forests.

Even a short walk can carry seeds into new areas.

#InvSpWk #InvasiveSpecies #BCSLA #Hiking #Pets

A digital Valentine's Day card with a pale green background and a decorative border resembling a postage stamp. The card features a playful message in dark green text: 'Are you an invasive species? Cuz I’d like to take you out.' Above the text, two small black hearts float. Below the message, an illustrated cluster of green leaves represents an invasive plant species. The Natural Lands logo is positioned in the bottom left corner.

Day 2 of #InvSpWk! 🌱🚫

How do invasive species spread across #VancouverIsland & #BC? From boats to boots, gardens to gear, these unwelcome travelers hitch rides in surprising ways:

🚶‍♂️ Hikers & pets
🚗 Vehicles & bikes
🚣‍♀️ Boats & gear
🌿 Gardening
🐦 Birds & wildlife

#BCSLA #ProtectBC #InvasiveSpecies

#𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗦𝗽𝗪𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱

Together we can protect the beauty and biodiversity of our region—one native plant, one informed decision, and one community initiative at a time.

Here are some resources to get started ⬇️

#bcsla #victoriabc #vancouverisland #nativeplants

Fast-tracking projects without thorough environmental assessments and genuine collaboration with First Nations undermines ecological integrity and Indigenous Sovereignty.

@davidebybc.bsky.social
#bcsla #britishcolumbia #reconciliation

While economic diversification is essential, we want to amplify Indigenous voices reminding us that it cannot come at the expense of environmental stewardship or the sidelining of Reconciliation initiatives.

@davidebybc.bsky.social
#bcsla #britishcolumbia #reconciliation

Both Canada and the U.S. contribute to emissions, land dispossession, and environmental degradation. Landscape architects have a responsibility to advocate for policies that prioritize #environmentaljustice, particularly for Indigenous and marginalized communities.

#bcsla #designjustice #equity