PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.

A few weeks ago, on a very rainy Thursday, some members of our team stepped out of the studio and into to the mud to volunteer at Sole Food Street Farms in Olympic Village. On their third annual Gleaning Day, the Sole Foods team invited community members to help close out the fields in the final days of the farming season. Founded in 2009, Sole Food Street Farms transforms vacant urban land into productive agricultural landscapes, creating employment opportunities for residents from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside who face complex barriers to employment. Individuals are given a chance to work with living soil, grow fresh food, and develop new skills in a healing, hands-on environment that fosters connection and purpose. Thank you to the Sole Foods team for the opportunity to step away from our desks and get our hands dirty while helping support an inspiring and impactful cause. To learn more about Sole Foods, visit their website here: https://solefoodfarms.com

Recently, our CAD team members, Alf Escuin and Tyera Lentz, had the pleasure of attending Vancouver’s Vectorworks Design Day 2025 💻 As long-time Vectorworks users, the event was a valuable chance to connect with staff and fellow designers to exchange ideas on IFC and BIM integration and explore the new sustainability features in Vectorworks 2026. We’re looking forward to applying what we learned, exploring new ways to track project performance metrics and strengthening our impact on the environment and communities we design for. #VectorworksDesignDay #PWLPartnership #LandscapeArchitecture

We are honoured to celebrate the incredible achievement of our team members, Tory Michak and Hongyu (Lucia) Li, who recently earned their BCSLA registration! Tory received a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of International Relations from Boston University in Massachusetts. She has an innate ability to visually communicate complex ideas in an effective and authentic manner. Her fascination with cities, public space, and the natural world took her career from graphic design to the field of landscape architecture. Balancing creativity with a precise eye for details, Tory works hard to bring bold creative visions to life. Her practice is driven by creating spaces that promote community well-being and contribute to a sense of belonging. Lucia holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the HeFei University of Technology. She brings an infectious enthusiasm to every project, applying it through her creative design approach and mastery of technical programs. Lucia truly appreciates a collaborative design process, supporting her project teams wholeheartedly and lending her technical expertise to others. She strives to enrich people’s everyday lives by bringing joy and meaning to everyday spaces. Congratulations Tory and Lucia, on your outstanding accomplishment! We are thrilled to celebrate this new chapter of your professional journey and look forward to seeing you succeed. To learn more about our team, visit our website here: https://lnkd.in/gC-JRtAt

Our team is excited to celebrate the soft opening of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park! Starting tomorrow, on November 1st, the public will be able to explore and connect with nature in one of Metro Vancouver's most ecologically rich areas. Visit the link below on how to get there: https://lnkd.in/gNUsQKDQ

Last week we surprised our CAD team with a pancake breakfast to thank them for everything they do, guiding us through upgrades, answering technical questions, and troubleshooting under pressure. Their patience and expertise keep our projects running smoothly, and we’re so grateful. #PWL #CADTeam

Our team will conclude our month of reflection with an afternoon of films and discussion courtesy of the National Film Board’s selection of films on the topic of Residential Schools. These films are an opportunity to experience the stories, voices, and histories of survivors, families, and communities impacted by Residential Schools. https://lnkd.in/ggj8hpzR We acknowledge with respectful gratitude the generosity, fortitude, and dignity of the Residential School Survivors who have given Canada the gift of their stories and their truth. We recognize that the journey towards Reconciliation would not have existed without their contributions.

We’re proud to share this video from Simon Fraser University highlighting the new First Peoples’ Gathering House. As the landscape architect for this important project, our team at PWL Partnership is honoured to have worked alongside SFU and their partners to help bring this space to life—a place for ceremony, community, and cultural connection. Watch SFU’s full video here: https://lnkd.in/guAC6pmc

PWL Partnership feels deeply honoured to have served as the Landscape Architect for Simon Fraser University's new First Peoples' Gathering House on the Burnaby campus. This longhouse-inspired space pulses with life beyond its walls, it's a cultural heartbeat and gathering place where Indigenous students, faculty, staff, and community members can truly belong. From day one, our role was to weave Indigenous ways of knowing and being directly into the landscape, crafting outdoor spaces where ceremony, learning, and daily rhythms flow together like water finding its natural course. Working hand-in-hand with SFU, the four host Nations — xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) — alongside Indigenous students and community members, we shaped ceremonial pathways that guide footsteps with intention, gathering spaces that invite connection, and native plantings that whisper ancient stories while nurturing tomorrow's growth. The Gathering House stands as a living milestone in SFU's commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and we're grateful beyond measure to have contributed to a project that celebrates Indigenous voices, identity, and the profound joy of coming home to the land. https://lnkd.in/gaq6azhH

Next week our team will be participating in Lunch & Learns hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing impact of the Residential School System. https://lnkd.in/eMDKukxp Together, we will share insights, explore what we’ve learned, and continue these important conversations as a part of our commitment to Truth & Reconciliation. We acknowledge with respectful gratitude the generosity, fortitude, and dignity of the Residential School Survivors who have given Canada the gift of their stories and their truth. We recognize that the journey towards Reconciliation would not have existed without their contributions.

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We acknowledge with respectful gratitude, the generosity, fortitude, and dignity of the Residential School Survivors who have given Canada the gift of their stories and their truth. We recognize that the journey towards Reconciliation would not have existed without their contributions. Each September, we take time to learn and reflect in recognition of the history and ongoing impact of the Residential School system. This year, our team will engage in several meaningful activities: Reconciliation Library: Staff brought in meaningful books to share on Indigenous histories, cultures, and resilience. The library will be active throughout the month of September. PWL will also take this opportunity to add titles to its permanent library. Lunch & Learns: through the week of September 22-26, our team will engage in sessions hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. https://lnkd.in/eMDKukxp Film Screening Snack: we’ll wrap up the month with an afternoon of film viewing and discussion, courtesy of the NFB’s curated selection of films on the topic of Residential Schools. https://lnkd.in/ggj8hpzR These moments remind us that reconciliation is an ongoing journey—one that starts with listening, learning, and acting within our own workplaces and communities, guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. https://lnkd.in/gkmKKFr