Do you know about landscaping awards? It’s where excellence in the green industry is celebrated and recognized. These coveted accolades serve as a testament to the skill, creativity, and dedication of individuals and companies shaping the natural environment.
Join us as we explore the prestigious honours that drive innovation and set the standard for outstanding landscaping achievements.
The National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE)
The National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) is an annual competition that recognizes outstanding work in the Canadian landscape industry. The awards are presented by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) and are open to landscape contractors, designers, and maintenance companies from across the country.
The NALE is divided into five categories:
- Commercial Construction
- Residential Construction
- Landscape Design
- Commercial Maintenance
- Residential Maintenance
To qualify for the NALE, applicants must first enter their projects in their respective provincial association awards of excellence competitions. Then, the provincial associations submit up to three entries per category to the national competition.
The judges for the NALE are a volunteer panel of industry experts. They evaluate each entry based on a set of standardized criteria, which includes the following:
- The use of sustainable materials and practices
- The overall design and functionality of the project
- The quality of the workmanship
- The overall impact of the project on the surrounding environment
The winners of the NALE are announced at a gala dinner held each year. The awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence in the Canadian landscape industry, and they help to raise the bar for the quality of landscape work being done across the country.
Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence
An annual jury competition is held by the Ontario Horticultural Trades Association to honor members who go above and beyond, offer promotional opportunities, and enhance standards for the sector. All Association Active Members are eligible to participate in the program.
Entries are accepted into the following programs:
- Landscape Construction
- Landscape Maintenance
- Landscape Design
- Landscape Lighting
- Landscape Irrigation
- Interior Plantscaping
- Employer of Choice
During the times that entries are being accepted, all entries from Landscape Ontario members must be submitted online via LOawards.com. After entries are closed, a panel of judges evaluates each entry using a scorecard and the photographs and project descriptions that were submitted. Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence are given to entries that receive the necessary number of points.
Green for Life Industry Award
The Green for Life Industry Award is presented by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) to recognize an individual’s lifetime of achievement in the horticulture industry and their lasting legacy. The award is also given to outstanding volunteers who have made significant contributions to the industry.
The award is named after the CNLA’s Green for Life program, which promotes sustainable practices in the horticulture industry. The program provides resources and education to help industry members reduce their environmental impact.
To be eligible for the Green for Life Industry Award, an individual must have:
- Demonstrated passionate dedication to the horticulture industry, the CNLA, or a project well beyond that of the average volunteer.
- Made outstanding contributions to the industry, including but not limited to championing causes and/or projects with far-reaching and/or lasting effects.
- Provided exemplary volunteer service to the industry over an extended period of years (career), usually in multiple positions and/or in a variety of locales (local, provincial, national).
The award is presented during the CNLA’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence. The winning individual receives an engraved plaque, along with economy airfare, round-trip to the awards gala, one-night hotel stay, and one day of expenses. They also receive promotion through national press releases, the CNLA Newsbrief publication, CNLA Membership Update, and the CNLA website.
CSLA Awards of Excellence
The CSLA Awards of Excellence are the highest honours bestowed by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) to recognize outstanding landscape architecture projects and individuals. The awards celebrate work that is inspiring, exhilarating, and remarkably diverse. Award recipients demonstrate the ever-expanding range of landscape architecture in Canada today.
The Awards of Excellence are presented in these five categories:
- Governor General’s Medal in Landscape Architecture
- Awards of Excellence
- Recognition Awards
- College of Fellows
- National Urban Design Awards
- Student Awards of Excellence
In addition to the five category awards, the CSLA also presents a Jury’s Award of Excellence, which is given to one project annually that best demonstrates the CSLA’s vision – of advancing the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture.
The CSLA Awards of Excellence are a prestigious recognition of the best in Canadian landscape architecture. They are a testament to the creativity, innovation, and dedication of landscape architects across the country.
BC Landscape Awards of Excellence
The BC Landscape Awards of Excellence is an annual awards program that recognizes the outstanding skill and workmanship of British Columbia’s landscape professionals. The awards are presented by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA) and are open to all landscape professionals operating in the province, regardless of whether they are BCLNA members.
The awards are divided into 12 categories, each with its own set of criteria. The categories are:
- Commercial Landscape Installation
- Commercial Landscape Maintenance
- Residential Landscape Installation (Up to $50,000)
- Residential Landscape Installation (Over $50,000)
- Residential Landscape Maintenance
- Public Space Landscape Installation
- Public Space Landscape Maintenance
- Educational Landscape Installation
- Institutional Landscape Installation
- Sports and Recreation Landscape Installation
- Urban Forestry
- Sustainable Landscape Design
Projects are evaluated by a panel of judges who are experts in the landscape industry. The judges consider the following factors when evaluating projects:
- The overall design and execution of the project
- The use of sustainable materials and practices
- The functionality of the project
- The aesthetic appeal of the project
- The impact of the project on the surrounding environment
The BC Landscape Awards of Excellence are a prestigious recognition of excellence in the landscape industry. Winners of the awards are celebrated for their skill, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
The Landscape Awards Program
One of the best resources Landscape Alberta provides its members with is the Landscape Awards. It highlights projects that garner the respect and admiration of both peers and clients for their outstanding design, construction, and upkeep of Alberta landscapes. Projects that perform very well in our Alberta program are raised to participate in the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence.
The annual awards program is announced to all members, which encourages contractors to submit projects that showcase their skill and imagination. Supplier members are excellent supporters of the Awards program because they encourage participation from members who exhibit excellence with their goods and by offering priceless association sponsorships to recognize the top performers.
Members can enter projects into nine different categories covering construction, maintenance and design. Each entry is evaluated using a set of criteria; the submissions are not judged against each other. There are two award levels: a Merit Award goes to an entry that earns 70-84 points, and an Excellence Award goes to an entry earning 85 or more points.
The Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada Awards
The Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada (PHTCC) Awards is an annual competition that recognizes excellence in pool and hot tub design, construction, and service. The awards are open to all members of the PHTCC, as well as non-members.
There are a variety of award categories, including:
- Outdoor Vinyl Pool
- Outdoor Concrete Pool
- Outdoor Fibreglass Pool
- Indoor Pool
- Hot Tub
- Spa
- Commercial Pool
- Public Pool
- Residential Pool
- Renovation
- Dealer of the Year
- Service Technician of the Year
The winners of the awards are selected by a panel of judges who are experts in the aquatic industry. The awards are presented at the PHTCC’s annual convention.
The PHTCC Awards are a way to celebrate the achievements of the pool and hot tub industry in Canada. They also help to raise the standards of design, construction, and service in the industry.
OALA Honors and Awards
The greatest honors and awards that the Association can give to its constituents and the public are the OALA Honours and Awards. Through the identification and nomination of deserving candidates for the various awards, each OALA member contributes significantly to the integrity and success of the program.
Each year, OALA members are invited to submit nominations for prizes and honors that will be given out during the organization’s awards ceremony. There are a number of awards to take into account, such as:
- OALA Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence
- OALA Emeritus Member
- OALA President’s Award
- OALA Public Practice Award
- The David Erb Memorial Award
- OALA Honourary Member
- OALA Research & Innovation Award
- OALA Award for Community Service to the Environment
- The Carl Borgstrom Award for Service to the Environment
- The Jack Copeland Award for OALA Associate Leadership and Contribution
Kafko “Platinum Award”
The Kafko Platinum Award is an award given by Latham Pool products to recognize excellence in pool design and construction. The award is named after the late Kafko Kaluzny, a pool builder and industry pioneer. The Kafko Platinum Award is considered one of the highest honors in the pool industry.
To be eligible for the Kafko Platinum Award, a pool must meet strict criteria, including:
- Superior design and construction
- Use of innovative materials and techniques
- Attention to detail
- Outstanding finished product
The Kafko Platinum Award is only given to a select few pools each year. The award is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the pool builders who create these outstanding pools.
Unilock® Award of Excellence
The Unilock® Award of Excellence is an annual award given to contractors in the United States and Canada who create extraordinary outdoor spaces using Unilock products. The awards are judged by a panel of design experts and industry professionals based on overall design concept, originality, craftsmanship, and integration of Unilock products.
To be eligible for the award, contractors must submit photos and a description of their project. The projects are then judged on the following criteria:
- Overall design concept: The project should be well-designed and functional, and it should make use of Unilock products in a creative and innovative way.
- Originality: The project should be unique and stand out from other projects.
- Craftsmanship: The project should be well-crafted and of high quality.
- Integration of Unilock products: The Unilock products should be used in a way that enhances the overall look and feel of the project.
The Unilock® Award of Excellence is a prestigious award that recognizes the best of the best in outdoor hardscaping. Winners of the award receive a variety of prizes, including cash, travel, and product discounts.
SIMA Snow & Ice Awards
The SIMA Snow & Ice Awards are presented annually by the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) to recognize outstanding achievement in the snow and ice management industry. The awards are open to all SIMA members and are judged by a panel of industry experts.
The awards are divided into three categories:
- Best Companies to Work for in Snow & Ice: This award recognizes companies that have created a workplace that is supportive, rewarding, and engaging for their employees.
- All-Stars of Snow & Ice: This award recognizes individual employees who have made significant contributions to their company’s success. Employees are eligible to be nominated in four categories: Office Professional, Sales Professional, Snow Ops Employee, and Snow Ops Manager.
- Alan Steiman Scholarship: This scholarship is presented to a student who is pursuing a career in snow and ice management. The scholarship provides the recipient with free registration to the SIMA Snow & Ice Symposium, as well as travel expenses and hotel accommodations.
The SIMA Snow & Ice Awards are an important way to recognize the hard work and dedication of the people who make up the snow and ice management industry. The awards help to promote excellence in the industry and to attract new talent to the field.
Consumer Choice Award
The Consumer Choice Award Canada is a business awards program that recognizes excellence in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Canada. The award is based on an independent market research survey that measures brand reputation, customer satisfaction, and business excellence.
The Consumer Choice Award Canada was established in 1987 and is the only organization in North America to conduct statistically accurate independent market research surveys to determine brand reputation, customer satisfaction and business excellence. The award is open to all SMBs in Canada, regardless of industry or size.
To be eligible for the Consumer Choice Award Canada, businesses must be nominated by a customer or client. The nominees are then evaluated by an independent research firm, which surveys a representative sample of consumers in the relevant market. The survey measures the following criteria:
- Brand reputation
- Customer satisfaction
- Business Excellence
The businesses that receive the highest scores in each category are awarded the Consumer Choice Award Canada. The award is presented annually at a gala event in Toronto, Ontario.
Conclusion
In the realm of the green industry, coveted Landscaping Awards stand as symbols of excellence and innovation. These prestigious honours recognize the dedication, creativity, and environmental stewardship of exceptional landscapers.
Through their pursuit of these awards, professionals push boundaries, elevate standards, and inspire a greener, more beautiful world for all to enjoy.
