List of our Awards and Publications | Landscape Architecture + Cemetery Design
AWARDS
2018 – ASLA Professional Awards – Honor Award for General Design
The Iqaluit Municipal Cemetery project received a 2018 Honor Award for General Design from The American Soceity of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
2017 – CSLA Awards of Excellence – National Award Winner
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) awarded LEES+Associates with a National Award of Excellence for work at Iqaluit Municipal Cemetery
2014 – VIVA Vancouver Robson Redux – Honourable Mention
Sandbox!
Viva Vancouver awarded LEES+Associates an Honourable Mention for our submission SANDBOX! for the Robson Redux international design-build competition
2014 – CIP Awards for Planning Excellence
Toronto Natural Environment Trail Strategy
The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) awarded LEES+Associates with a 2014 Merit Award in the category of Recreation Planning (Photo: City of Toronto)
2014 – CSLA National Award of Merit
Toronto Natural Environment Trail Strategy
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects awarded LEES+Associates a National Award of Merit for work on the Natural Environment Trail Strategy. (Photo: City of Toronto)
2013 – CLSA Regional Award of Merit
Komagata Maru Memorial
LEES+Associates received a Regional Award of Merit for work on the Komagata Maru Memorial for the Khalsa Diwan Society and the Vancouver Park Board.
2009 – CLSA Regional Award of Merit
Mountain View Cemetery Redevelopment
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects awarded LEES+Associates and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg a Regional Award of Merit for work on the Mountain View Cemetery Masonic Redevelopment for the City of Vancouver.
2008 – CSLA National Award of Merit
Air India Memorial
LEES+Associates received a CSLA National Award of Merit for the Air India Memorial in Stanley Park.
2006 – BCRPA Environmental Leadership Award
Everett Crowley Park Management Plan
The BC Recreation and Parks Association presented LEES+Associates and the Vancouver Park Board with an Environmental Leadership Award for exemplifying a leading role in contributing to the environmental health of a community.
2005 – BCACL Partnership Award
Woodlands Memorial Garden
The BC Association for Community Living presented LEES+Associates with a Partnership Award for their dedicated and creative design work on the Woodlands Memorial Garden during the BCACL 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration.
2005 – PIBC Awards for Planning Excellence
Still Creek Rehabilitation and Enhancement Study
The Canadian Institute of Planners awarded LEES+Associates with an Honourable Mention in the category of Environmental Planning, as part of their annual Awards for Planning Excellenc
PUBLICATIONS ABOUT OUR FIRM
City of Iqaluit Cemetery
- October 06, 2014 – City officials host opening ceremony for new cemetery (PDF) “New Iqaluit cemetery is consecrated” – Nunatsiaq News”
- August 19, 2014 – City almost ready to open new cemetery “Iqaluit considers burial fees at new cemetery” – CBC News
- August 19, 2014 – City considers how much to charge for burials (PDF) Iqaluit seeks to spare Inuit beneficiaries from cemetery fees” – Nunatsiaq Online
- June 12, 2013 – Public consultations on new Iqaluit cemetery design (PDF) Iqaluit City Council accepts updated cemetery design” – Nunatsiaq Online
- May 2, 2013 – Cemetery site to hold about 950 burial plots (PDF) Iqaluit wants new cemetery completed by year’s end” – Nunatsiaq Online
District of West Kelowna – Westbank Cemetery
- August 14, 2014 – LEES+Associates completes design for West Kelowna Cemetery (PDF) “Westbank Cemetery brought back to life” – Capital News
Calgary Cemetery
- May 2014 – LEES+Associates embarks on design of Calgary’s new cemetery (PDF) City plans to build Calgary’s 1st new cemetery in 74 years – CBC News
Komagata Maru Memorial:
- July 24, 2012 – Monument acknowledges Canada’s past discrimination (PDF) “Komagata Maru passengers remembered with Vancouver Monument” Vancouver Sun
- July 24, 2012 – The long-awaited unveiling of a memorial (PDF) “Komagata Maru Memorial helps heal old wounds” Metro
- July 23, 2012 – CBC’s On The Coast interviews Erik Lees about the design
- July 23, 2012 – 98 years later the city has finally erected a monument in remembrance of the Komagata Maru incident. (PDF) “Komagata Maru Monument Vancouver” Vancity Buzz
- January 27, 2011 – Plans for new memorial unveiled at Coal Harbour Community Centre on Thursday (PDF) “Ship Memorial Takes Shape” Metro Vancouver
‘A Walk to Remember’ at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum:
- October 29, 2012 – Cenotaph and first of 158 trees will be unveiled in Langley on Nov. 11 (PDF) “Students lead project to remember fallen in Afghanistan” – Vancouver Sun
- October 19, 2012 – A unique memorial created to honour Canadian soldiers (PDF) “Sacrifices honoured at Arboretum’s Walk to Remember” – Langley Today
- November 12, 2011 – A new memorial in Langley will commemorate Canadians who fell in Afghanistan “Langley Youth for the Fallen” – Langley Today
- November 3, 2011 – A memorial grove will commemorate every Canadian who has fallen in Afghanistan “Trees to honour Canada’s Fallen” – The Province
Green Burial:
- December, 2014 – Green Burial in Canada, by ELAC Associate Heidi Redman (PDF) “Green Burial in Canada: Here to Stay and a Growing Trend” – OACFP, The Journal
- May 2014 – Quest for a greener alternative (PDF) “Corporatization’ of funeral industry drives quest for alternatives”– CBC News
- May 2014 – Demand for more eco-friendly green burials (PDF) The last step in going green: British Columbians opt for eco-friendly burials – The Province
- May 2014 – LEES+Associates attends milestone meeting for Canada’s Green Burial Society (PDF) Green Burial Society of Canada Holds Inaugural AGM – The Funeral Chronicle
- June 2013 – Victoria’s Royal Oak Burial Park leading the way (PDF) “Green Burial’s a Growing Choice” Gunderson’s Funeral Journal
- November 2011, Municipal World, (PDF) “Green Burial Gaining Ground in Canada” by Senior Associate Catriona Hearn
- Fall 2011 – Going Green – Making a Difference, by ELAC Associate Heidi Redman (PDF) “Green Burial: From Concept to Reality” CCABC Fall Dispatch
- This is quite a good video on green burial with some compelling factoids: View Video on Youtube
- Jul/Aug, 2011 –How natural burials are “greening” funerals – with quote from Erik Lees
(PDF) “Eco-friendly cemeteries” Canadian Geographic - Mar 13, 2011 – Green Burial in North Carolina
(PDF) “Dust to dust: a natural cemetery gets back to basics” The State
- Jan 26, 2007 – The Toronto Star
The Green Goodbye - August 17, 2002 – Woodlands Burial
(PDF) “Going Wild” The Economist
Wood Buffalo Cemeteries:
- July 10, 2013 – Council approves land for Cemetery
(PDF) “Council makes decisions on cemetery” Fort McMurray Today - January 21, 2013 – Concept Design Unvieled for Proposed Real Martin Drive Cemetery
(PDF) “Residents Preview Plan for New Cemetery” Fort McMurray Today
- January 18, 2013 – Plans for a Real Martin Drive Cemetery
(PDF) “Municipality Silences Concerns Over New Cemetery” Mix News 103.7 FM - January 18, 2011 – New Cemetery Site Proposed
(PDF) “New gravesite to operate for next 30 years” Fort McMurray Today - August 5, 2010 – Fort McMurray Cemetery Land Needs
(PDF) “Cemeteries full, new site needed within four years” Fort McMurray Today
Skeena Terrace Commemoration Park:
- May 23, 2009 – Dedication Ceremony
(PDF) “Arson victims commemorated at new Vancouver park” The Vancouver Sun
Air India Memorial:
- July 28, 2007- Air India Memorial Opening
Listen to Erik Lees’ interview with Kevin Sylvester, Courtesy of the CBC
Air India Memorial visitor review, link to blog
(PDF) “Wall of Honours Victims” The Globe and Mail
(PDF) “Wall of Remembrance” The Vancouver Sun - November 20, 2006 – “Air India Memorial Concept Revealed” CBC Blog
(PDF) Air India Memorial concept revealed
Mountain View Cemetery:
- January 10, 2014 – The modernization of Mountain View – (PDF) “Vancouver’s only cemetery in an innovator” – Vancouver Sun
- February 10, 2011 – Mountain View Cemetery may offer unused grave sites to the highest bidders – (PDF) “Dying to get in: Vancouver cemetery may seek bids for burial spots” – Vancouver Sun
- July 28, 2010 – Memoriam section: Infant Graves at Mountain View Cemetery:“In Loving Memory” – The Province
- July 8, 2010 – Take a look at the exciting revitalization taking place at Mountain View Cemetery “Making Cemeteries Relevant, Part 5” – The Daily Undertaker
- February5, 2010 – At Mountain View Cemetery people are choosing “green” burials “Back to Nature” – Vancouver Courier
- Winter 2009 – Rebirth of a Cemetery, by Erik Lees “From Ashes to Gardens: The Rebirth of a Cemetery” – Journal of Landscape Architecture, Volume 7, Issue 2
- October 2009 – Three new buildings at Vancouver’s cemetery “Respite and Ritual” – Canadian Architect
- October 2008 – Mountain View unveils new columbaria (PDF) “Stairway to Heaven” – Vancouver Magazine
- Winter 2008 – A View of the Future of Cremation Gardens, by Andrew Robertson (PDF) “Something is happening in one of BC’s oldest cemeteries” – The Cremationist
- March 1, 2008 – Memorial to lost babies a poignant new part of historic cemetery(PDF) “A Link to the past, and dear departed” – Vancouver Sun
- November 15, 2006 – Infant Graves Implementation
(PDF) Memorialization of unmarked infant graves – “A Grief Delayed” – Vancouver Courier - October 2, 2006 – Memorialization of Unmarked Infant Graves
(PDF) “Stones Will Symbolize Buried Babies” – Globe and Mail - (PDF) “Ashes to Ashes ” – Vancouver Courier
Royal Oak Burial Park – “Woodlands” Green Burial Area
- Decemeber 22, 2011 – with quotes from Stephen Olson, Joe Sehee and Erik Lees
(PDF) “Dust to Dust: the case for a green burial” – The Globe and Mail - January 15, 2009 – Canadian cemetery offers environmentally friendly burial
(PDF) “A green way to dispose of the dead ” – Vancouver Sun - December 1, 2008 – Royal Oak Burial Park opens green burial area
(PDF) “Old-fashioned burials offered as green alternative” – Vancouver Sun - November 28, 2008 – Green Burial at Royal Oak Burial Park in Saanich
(PDF) “Green burial reflects nature” – Victoria Times Colonist - February 18, 2008 – Green Burial is coming to Royal Oak Burial Park
(PDF) “Going most gently into the night” – Maclean’s
Woodlands Memorial Garden:
- June 22, 2007 – Woodland’s dedication ceremony
Listen to interview with former Woodland’s patients courtesy of Vancouver By Design - October 16, 2006 – Memorialization at a former institution’s cemetery site.
(PDF) “Restoring Identities for the Once Invisible” Globe and Mail
- October 12, 2006 – Memorialization at a former institution’s cemetery site.
(PDF) “Woodlands Memorial Taking Shape” Burnaby News Leader - July 18, 2005 – Memorialization at a former institution’s cemetery site.
(PDF) “Giving Dignity to the Dead” Globe and Mail - August 24, 2005 – Memorialization at a former institution’s cemetery site.
(PDF) “Landscaper specializes in monumental projects” Vancouver Courier - August 5, 2002 – Private Loss, Public Memory and the Passionate Art of Erik Lees (PDF) “Our Honoured Dead ” Vancouver Courier
Maple Ridge Cemetery:
- March 1, 2008 – Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
(PDF) “Consultant also recommends cemetery expansion” – The Maple Ridge News
Lacombe Fairview Cemetery:
- March 31, 2010 – LEES+Associates to complete Master Plan Design and Cemetery Plan
(PDF) “Lacombe Fairview Cemetery Expansion to Proceed in 2013″ The Lacombe Globe - July 28, 2014 – Council approves the Fairview Cemetery Master Plan
2013 Fairview east cemetery expansion” – the City of Lacombe
Lethbridge Cemetery:
- August 27, 2013 – City celebrates opening of Royal View Memorial Cemetery
(PDF) “Cemetery Celebration” The Herald - December 12, 2006 – Shortage of Cemetery Space
(PDF) “The Plot Thickens” The Herald
Niagara Falls Cemetery:
- June 25, 2013 – LEES+Associates completes study on cemetery services
(PDF) “Cemetery fees on rise in Niagara Falls” Niagara Falls Review
Penticton Cemeteries:
- August 22, 2013 – Penticton Cemeteries Master Plan approved by Council
(PDF) “Cemetery upgrades need now” Penticton Herald
Powell River & Texada Cemeteries:
- March 31, 2010 – A new plan for the area’s cemeteries
(PDF) “Burial Options Expand” The Powell River Peak
Salmon Arm Cemetery:
- July 25, 2012 – Plan for a new cemetery
(PDF) “New cemetery in City of Salmon Arm’s plans” Salmon Arm Observer
Cemetery Mapping Publications:
- June/July, 2011 – Washington Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (WCCFA) Newsletter (PDF) Integrating GIS Mapping at Your Cemetery – WCCFA Insider by ELAC Associate Damian Bradley
- November 17, 2010 – Ontario Association of Cemetery & Funeral Professionals (OACFP) Newsletter (PDF) Cemetery Mapping: What can GIS do for you? by ELAC Associate Damian Bradley
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
- September 10, 2011 – Resurrecting A Landscape: Creative Interpretive Programming in Cemeteries, by Lara Davis. Published in MUSE Magazine.
- January 11, 2011 –Erik Lees interviewed on blog Making Cemeteries Relevant, Part 5: LEES + Associates posted by Patrick McNally
- December, 2010 – Excellent article about cemeteries and parks in Landscape Architecture magazine(PDF) Cemeteries Alive: Graveyards are resurging as green spaces for the public by Peter Harnik and Aric Merolli
- August 5, 2010 – Cemeteries as laboratories for biodiversity – Audobonmagazine.org
- December, 2007 – The following link includes an article submitted by Dan Bellan to MB News. Dan Bellan, commemoration artist, carved the inscriptions on the Air India Memorial.
(PDF) Are we there yet? Cemeteries of the former Yugoslavia - August, 2007 – Globeandmail.com
(PDF) ‘Til death do us part’ - April 14, 2006 – Victoria Times Colonist
(PDF) Skill-testing question required before buying burial plot - March 17, 2006 – Globeandmail.com
(PDF) A dream lies buried here - March 17, 2006 – (PDF) “Cemeteries Big Draw for Condos” Financial Post
- February, 2004 – (PDF) “Going Green” Network
- A Night For All Souls, 2006 at Mountain View Cemetery mento Mori:
The following link and volumes include stories of interesting people buried in the cemetery, the new infant area dedication, as well as a wrap up of the All Souls event.
(PDF) Newsletter of Mountain View Cemetery
- August 5, 2004 – TheVancouverCourier.com
Ashes to Ashes
- March 01, 2002 – Vancouver Sun
(PDF) Peaceful places – The serenity and reverential tone of a cemetery garden can be an inspiration to all gardeners
ELAC CEMETERY SYMPOSIA
LEES+Associates’ commitment to advancing sustainable cemetery design and management practices in Canada extends to our hosting of symposia focusing on contemporary cemetery issues. ELAC has hosted two symposia to date.
- 2008 – Art & Meaning in the Modern Cemetery, ELAC 10th Anniversary Symposium – On October 16th 2008, LEES+ Associates hosted a day-long symposium on art, performance and public engagement in the modern cemetery. (PDF) Art and Meaning in the Modern Cemetery – Summary Proceedings
- 2006 – The Role of Green Burials, Sustainable Cemeteries Symposium Organized and hosted by LEES + Associates this symposium was initiated to provide an opportunity for those associated with public cemeteries, including cultural and environmental advocates, to take a detailed look at all the issues relating to sustainability, as well as to share ideas, information and experiences. (PDF) The Role of Green Burials – Summary Proceedings