Photo courtesy Betz Pools Ltd.

This project by Betz Pools Ltd., in Stouffville, Ont., received a Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence in the residential construction category ($500,000—$1,000,000).

A number of landscape professionals in Ontario were recognized at Landscape Ontario's Awards of Excellence ceremony earlier this month with various awards handed out for construction, maintenance and design.

The awards ceremony took place in Toronto on Jan. 11 and was held in conjunction with the annual Landscape Ontario Congress. For the second consecutive year, more than 600 industry members were on hand to honour the achievements of their fellow professionals. A total of 56 companies received awards in the landscape construction category, while another eight companies were recognized in both the landscape maintenance and landscape design categories.

"Award entrants are judged on originality, effectiveness, harmony of design elements and integration of plants and landscape materials," said Denis Flanagan, Landscape Ontario's director of membership services and public relations. "Award-winning projects consistently show outstanding design sophistication and horticultural knowledge.

"Our members continue to reach new levels of craftsmanship and the award winners consistently raise the bar for the rest of the industry."

A number of innovative initiatives that occurred in 2011 were also recognized with special awards. The Environmental Award went to Royal Galipeau, MP, for National Tree Day; the Chapter Achievement Award went to Grant Harrison, Michael Martins and Barry Sandler of the London, Ont., chapter for the Veterans Memorial Parkway project; and the Special Achievement Award went to Kyle Tobin, Alan White, Peter Guinane, Pat Lamanna and Brad Vanderwoude for the St. James Park Renovation project (PSM Online, Dec. 22, 2011).

A full list of winners can be found at www.landscapeontario.com.

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Photo courtesy Landscape Ontario

Project co-ordinators involved in restoring Toronto's St. James Park, along with numerous other individuals and companies that contributed to the project were on hand to accept the 2012 Landscape Ontario Special Achievement Award, presented by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.