2023 Awards of Excellence

The submitting company's personal residence may not be entered in to any categories.  Projects entered must be your customer's property.

Judges will be using the following criteria: Originality, overall impact, quality of turf cut, turf health, edging and trimming, evidence of IPM/best practices, cleanliness of site, (ie. debris), pruning (proper technique) plant health and vigour and design. Close-up photos of work are necessary to judge accurately, i.e. edging, pruning, trimming, etc. Immediate disqualification for volcano mulch and poor quality photos. See the judges' score sheet

• Residential (Single Family Homes)
• Multi-Residential (condominiums, senior/nursing homes, townhouses, apartment buildings)
• Corporate Building Maintenance (Industrial Complexes, Public or Retail Buildings)

Green Stamp: The judges will also award ‘Green Stamps’ to projects that exemplify green practices, using quality construction, maintenance and design, in sustainable landscapes. Best practices such as use of permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, green roof technology, energy conservation strategies, etc. will be considered. Please include information on how you incorporated these practices in your project summary, and highlight your sustainability efforts in your photos. May include Carbon footprint, input for lighting and irrigation, proof of electric equipment usage, onsite composting.

Construction projects must have been completed no more than four years ago.

Judges will be using the following criteria: Originality, effectiveness and harmony of design elements, integration of plants and landscape materials, installation techniques and craftsmanship, execution of construction details, overall quality, horticultural compatibility and correctness, installation challenges encountered/site problems solved, appearance and ease of maintenance, unique use of plant material and overall impression. Projects must comply with building codes.  See the judges score sheet

Green Stamp: The judges will also award ‘Green Stamps’ to projects that exemplify green practices, using quality construction, maintenance and design, in sustainable landscapes. Best practices such as use of permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, green roof technology, energy conservation strategies, etc. will be considered. Please include information on how you incorporated these practices in your project summary, and highlight your sustainability efforts in your photos. May include Carbon footprint, input for lighting and irrigation, proof of electric equipment usage, onsite composting.

1. Residential Installation Categories

• Under $25,000
• $25,000-$75,000
• $75,000-$150,000
• Over $150,000

2. Commercial Installation Categories

• Under $25,000
• $25,000-$75,000
• $75,000-$150,000
• Over $150,000

3. Special Interest: A focus on one specific area of the landscape project. Unique or unusual use of concepts and materials — examples of hard or soft landscaping. Entries are limited to this category only and not overall commercial/residential construction categories, i.e. If a full project is entered into the $250,000-$500,000 category, you cannot enter just the cabana portion of the project into this category.  The judges have the right to move a project from the overall construction category to this one if they feel the project as a whole is not award winning, but a specific portion of it is.

Clearly define what special interest category you are submitting:

• Water Features: Unlimited (eg. waterfalls, fountains, water & fire, rain gardens, retention ponds, bioswales etc.)
• Place of Business: Your own business entrance as seen by your customers; including your personal/private residence area if it is the same location. 
• Rooftop or Balcony Garden: Entries will be judged on feasibility of construction, best practices and overall visual impact. May be a residential or commercial project.
• Theme Gardens: This must be a permanent installation. Please state the intended theme. (eg. Butterfly Garden, Knot Garden, Native Planting and Biodiversity Planting, etc.) Theme must be predominant in overall appearance/design intent.

Design only; does not have to be built.

Design entries will not be required to submit design boards. A copy of the landscape design will be required and will need to include the following elements to be judged;

• Project name
• Statement of design intent
• Detailed plant list — proper nomenclature
• Indicate north and include the city name for reference within the title block
• Must include full set of working drawings to scale
• including construction details and grading plans
• Drawings in colour are strongly encouraged
• Before pictures may also be included and after photos if applicable — for reference only
• Designs should comply to building code and Canadian Landscape Standards
• Projects that include your company name will not be eligible for judging

Design Categories: total project cost, including design

• Under $75,000
• $75,000-$150,000
• Over $150,000

Judges will be using the following criteria: Overall design impact, execution of problem/solution employed, creativity/innovation, horticultural compatibility and correctness, aesthetic appeal, technical hardscaping aspects, elements and detailing, plant selection, organization and completeness. PDF or JPG of your designs are required for judging reference, as well as in the case that your project receives an award, we will use the photos of your designs to showcase your work. See the judges' score sheet

Green Stamp: The judges will also award ‘Green Stamps’ to projects that exemplify green practices, using quality construction, maintenance and design, in sustainable landscapes. Best practices such as use of permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, green roof technology, energy conservation strategies, etc. will be considered. Please include information on how you incorporated these practices in your project summary, and highlight your sustainability efforts in your photos. May include Carbon footprint, input for lighting and irrigation, proof of electric equipment usage, onsite composting.

Lighting projects must have been completed no more than four years ago.

Entries must promote the use of landscape lighting, both low and line voltage, as an essential extension of the landscape plan, well integrated into its environment.  See the judges score sheet

1. Under $25,000
2. Over $25,000
3. Holiday Lighting: Use of decorative lighting to enhance the property for festivals or holidays. 

Judges will be using the following criteria: Quality of planning and analysis; effective use, presentation or programming of irrigation techniques and best practices; relationship to conservation initiatives, environmental responsibility; relevance to the irrigation profession; the public interest and the environment, functionalism, relationship to high efficiency context.

Only one award will be given in each category at the discretion of the judges, and reserve the right not to award in either of the categories.

Superior professional accomplishment using reclaimed or potable water. Construction site-specific works of irrigation consulting, design, and installation for commercial or public projects. For large incremental/phased projects, the first phase must be completed to be eligible for the award.

Green Stamp: The judges will also award ‘Green Stamps’ to projects that exemplify green practices, using quality construction, maintenance and design, in sustainable landscapes. Best practices such as use of permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, green roof technology, energy conservation strategies, etc. will be considered. Please include information on how you incorporated these practices in your project summary, and highlight your sustainability efforts in your photos. May include Carbon footprint, input for lighting and irrigation, proof of electric equipment usage, onsite composting.

1. Water Conservation, Potable Water
2. Water Conservation, Non-Potable Water

Award for these categories will be ready for the 2024 season.  Keep your eye out for details!

These awards are given only in exceptional circumstances, and are not necessarily awarded annually. The Special Awards Program is a means of recognition for the many volunteers and friends of the association that have spent countless hours working to better our great industry.

Winners are determined through a nomination process. If you would like to nominate someone for an award listed below, please submit your nomination in writing via email in 800 words of less. Please include reasons for nomination, as well as your relationship to the nominee. You may not nominate yourself or an employee of your company. Nominations are open from July 1 to November 1 each year.

This award will be given to a member who makes a significant contribution to the community through their horticultural work. Reasons for nomination should include several examples of community based projects that the nominee has been instrumental in.

This award goes to an organization or individual for outstanding contributions and achievement in maintaining or promoting a sustainable healthy environment. This award provides an opportunity for the horticulture industry in Ontario to recognize environmental stewardship and leadership.

This is the highest honour bestowed by Landscape Nova Scotia and is presented to distinguished individuals of outstanding accomplishment and contribution to the horticultural industry or association. It is reserved only for those members who have consistently contributed their time, passion, enthusiasm and energy over a period of many years. Those who are given this tribute have committed a lifetime to furthering the mission of Landscape Ontario. This award is not given out every year. This award is determined by the Landscape Nova Scotia Board of Directors.
(Not open for nomination).

A committee of three past presidents of Landscape Nova Scotia present this award to an individual who, over many years, has made outstanding contributions to the association.
(Not open for nomination).

This award recognizes a member for outstanding achievement in establishing and growing a successful horticultural business and is under the age of 35 years.