Kayla Poch
Kayla Poch

Kayla Poch

LAT
Landscape Technician

Kayla Poch graduated from the Northern Institute of Technology in Alberta, and is a prairie-native. After 24 years of horizontal landscapes, she found herself drawn to Vancouver’s vertical offerings in the form of mountains, trees, and vibrant skylines. This fails to capture a significant part of the allure, however: the social aspect.

A common thread between her personal and professional lives, Kayla is a social being who relishes any opportunity to connect people to places, whether herself or others. She is thrilled to equally serve communities and the environment while working in an industry that satisfies her passions for architecture, botany, and the outdoors.

Sundays mornings are among Kayla’s rare solitary moments. On these occasions, she frequently finds herself by the ocean, “watching the waves roll in with a cup of dark roast coffee in hand, folk music in the ear buds, and feet in the water.”

Margot Long
Margot Long

Margot Long

BCSLA FCSLA ASLA LEED Associate
Principal

As one of the founding principals, Margot offers over 20 years of experience to the office. Her commitment to “setting the vision” involves both creating public space and healthy landscapes, and by challenging and inspiring the people around her.

“My father was an architect,” she explains, “so I was exposed to design at a young age.” Her father also used to take the family on trips off the beaten track; “it’s amazing we’re still alive!” she laughs. By experiencing these natural and cultural landscapes in such an honest way, “I developed a sense for what makes a place special and a memorable experience.”

On the rare occasion that Margot is away from the office, she volunteers on design panels, explores North Shore trails, enjoys time with her family, and spends time "walking the dog…obviously!”

Bruce Hemstock
Bruce Hemstock

Bruce Hemstock

BCSLA CSLA BSLA LEED Accredited
Principal

Bruce joined PWL in 1994 and became a principal in 1997. With over 20 years of experience working in cities across North America, Bruce offers expertise in planting design, construction detailing, and has been coined 'Mr. Living Roof' for his groundbreaking work on the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project and other green roofs.

Though Bruce has been a part of countless award-winning project teams, perhaps his proudest moment was winning 'Most Improved Player of the Year' for his hockey team on two separate occasions. “It reflects my belief that you can always improve at whatever you're doing.”

When he’s not generating cutting-edge technical construction details, Bruce visits art galleries and collects Canadian quarters. He is also passionate about his 1920s-era house where he and his wife recently installed a green roof on the new garage.

Chris Sterry
Chris Sterry

Chris Sterry

BCSLA CSLA
Principal - RETIRED

“A chance encounter with an enlightened school counselor told me about the profession when I was 14. I’ve known since that point that I wanted to be a landscape architect,” Chris reminisces. Born in Gloucester, England, he has lived and worked in England, the Middle East, Hong Kong and has now happily lived in Vancouver for over 15 years.

Chris is the managing partner at PWL and leads large-scale master planning and construction projects, public realm plans, streetscapes, waterfront developments, multifamily residential landscapes, public parks, and greenways.

Between winning the “Best Dad Award” and being a closet accountant, Chris can be found painting and sketching. He has had pieces shown in art exhibits in Hong Kong and various juried shows locally. “I play the guitar badly,“ he adds, “and I love gardening, hiking, camping, fishing, and traveling.”

Grant Brumpton
Grant Brumpton

Grant Brumpton

BCSLA CSLA
Principal

“Landscape architecture is a fantastic balancing act of creating meaningful experience, programming function, aesthetics, all the while serving the needs of the client, the public and the environment,” says Grant.

After completing a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Grant was drawn to Vancouver. As a recent partner at PWL, Grant continues to provide project leadership for many complex large-scale projects. Within the office, he is the partner responsible for information technology.

When not commuting to the office on his bicycle or testing a new smartphone app, Grant loves to travel. “I am inspired by not only the most urban of places, but also vast and remote landscapes and the powerful emotional response they evoke." Grant’s most memorable recent holidays have been in Tofino with his family where he spent hours playing with his children at the beach.

Derek Lee
Derek Lee

Derek Lee

BCSLA CSLA LEED Accredited
Principal

Derek is the Principal of Urban Design at PWL Partnership and a LEED® Accredited Landscape Architect. He brings over twenty years of experience in community master planning, regenerative urban waterfronts, and public realm design across North America, Asia, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.

Serving as the creative lead on design teams at PWL, Derek focuses on innovative placemaking with a view to improve people’s overall health and quality of life. Derek’s infectious passion for innovation is grounded by extensive experience in design, public engagement and providing oversight in project implementation. His experience and ingenuity is evident in all scales of work, from large-scale master plans to custom details that celebrate a site’s unique character.

Derek’s ability to quickly translate conceptual ideas into graphic form effectively bring ideas to life.

Jason Wegman
Jason Wegman

Jason Wegman

BCSLA CSLA
Principal

Jason strives to “improve environmental footprints and create habitable spaces for humans, animals and bugs.” He was the project manager for Dockside Green where he facilitated the achievement of world record-breaking LEED Platinum status for two phases.

Growing up on a 3.5-acre property in Ontario, it was impossible to keep Jason inside. He eventually earned a degree in landscape architecture from The University of Guelph and worked in Toronto before connecting with PWL.

When not sharing knowledge as an invaluable mentor, Jason spends time with his wife and daughters. Unable to stay away from the mountains for long, he hikes, bikes and snowboards, riding Blackcomb in search of sketchy entries to awesome chutes. He also volunteers on the Whistler Design Panel.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

Peter Liaw
Peter Liaw

Peter Liaw

BCSLA CSLA
Associate

“The goal is not to design something to look good in 2D, or as a piece of art on the wall, but to create a place to be used by people. Aesthetics are important but how one feels in the space is just as critical,” says Peter.

Since moving from Taiwan as a child, Peter has lived in many cities across Canada. After graduating from Ryerson University, he moved to Vancouver for work, and has never looked back. Peter has been with PWL since 2002 and believes that what really sets PWL apart from other firms is that “we don’t just provide great design, but also a high level of customer service. I strive to build and maintain relationships with our clients.”

In his free time, Peter plays his guitar, draws people in pen and ink, gardens and spends time with his family.

Katya Yushmanova
Katya Yushmanova

Katya Yushmanova

BCSLA CSLA BA
Associate

"I find landscape architecture to be one of the most fascinating careers. I love the balance between creativity and science," explains Katya, who was drawn to landscape architecture during her childhood years; months on end were spent at her grandmother's farm in Russia where she first felt a deep connection to the Earth.

Katya joins us from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she operated her own garden design company and worked at the University of New Mexico as a graduate research assistant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history of art with honors from the University of Culture and Arts in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and a Masters of Landscape Architecture with distinction from the University of New Mexico.

With a passion for gardening, Katya has found new interests in taekwondo, snowboarding, hiking and cooking some of her family’s favourite Russian recipes. Recently, Katya participated in an international garden festival in France where she and a team built their garden design, one of 20 designs chosen from 300 proposals.

"The path is the goal."-Mahatma Gandhi

Jenna Buchko
Jenna Buchko

Jenna Buchko

BCSLA CSLA
Associate

Born and raised in the Manitoban Interlake, Jenna holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba, in addition to a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia. An avid traveller, she has also spent part of her academic career studying at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Southern Sweden.

Jenna’s most memorable landscape experiences include epic thunderstorms on the Canadian Prairies and the expansive vistas of the Tibetan Plateau. These dramatic landscapes have had a great influence on her design aesthetic, where bold yet simple interventions work to reveal the true nature of a place. “The most fascinating aspect of the profession is the ability to work with the multiple systems and layers of a site in order to reveal a unique, informed design solution.”

On weekends, Jenna can be found exploring the BC wilderness on bike or skis, and is an avid proponent of the 20-centimeter powder rule.

Cheryl Bouwmeester
Cheryl Bouwmeester

Cheryl Bouwmeester

BCSLA CSLA BES
Associate

Cheryl Bouwmeester may be an Ontario native, but she has found her niche on the west coast. Upon arrival in Vancouver, she “fell in love with the neighbourhoods, the culture, and of course the proximity to the natural environment.”

For those who know her, this may come as no surprise. In Cheryl’s case, a biophilic appreciation was instilled at a young age. Some of her fondest memories recall moments spent playing outside with her sisters and enjoying the distinct seasonal transitions of her home climate.

Her interest in landscape architecture reflects this evident appreciation for the capacity of place to influence people. She views the profession as the art of place-making: “the understanding of people, the environment, and their interconnection.”

Even Cheryl’s weekend endeavours revolve around landscapes; namely, camping trips to the Okanagan Valley. These are countered with ceaseless condo renovations at home in the city.

Jim Moore
Jim Moore

Jim Moore

IT Manager

After relocating from Atlanta, Georgia in 2009, Jim now happily calls Vancouver his home. “I love the natural beauty of Vancouver and strong feeling of community,” he says.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Jim moved south to explore several career options before landing a position at an internet service provider. A combination of natural skill and dedicated work led him to the role of Director. While he reminisces fondly about the experience, Jim is happy to find himself at PWL. “I like this family-style business, which is focused on giving back to the community and creating amazing environments. And, although people might not realize it, the key to success in IT is really the human element,” explains Jim.

Although his main passion is music and he dreams of one day owning a record store, Jim seeks adventure by stepping out into nature, often equipped with his camera, or by playing tourist in parts of British Columbia’s vast landscape that are still unknown to him. Jim also spends time volunteering.

Richard Sheehy
Richard Sheehy

Richard Sheehy

Administrative Manager

You might mistake Richard Sheehy for a mild-mannered office accountant, but that is most certainly not the case. A billing manager by day starkly contrasts an out of office persona that has been known to party with rock stars and guest host freaky jazz radio shows.

This LA native is a rock and roll junkie to the core, capable of spinning a yarn to effortlessly relate to nearly any band of the past 50 years. Richard is an accomplished instrumentalist himself, with a massive personal collection of guitars at his disposal.

Beyond a life steeped in music, Richard is a baseball aficionado upon whom a Simpsons or Seinfeld reference is never lost. He is also a proud father whose son Jacob shares each of these affinities and more, serving as Richard’s ‘mini me.’

Emily Blair
Emily Blair

Emily Blair

MLA
Landscape Designer

Bio coming soon!

Belinda Chan
Belinda Chan

Belinda Chan

BFA B.Env.Des
Communications Design Manager

Belinda holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Environmental Design (Landscape Architecture) and a Diploma in Fashion Design. She balances her skills and interests by working as PWL’s Communications Designer as well as working for a local Vancouver Fashion Designer.

Prairie born and raised, Belinda became inspired by design and landscape architecture through a landscape-focused studio trip to France and the U.K., where she lived for part of the summer in a new barn on an old farm.

Involved in numerous creative pursuits, Belinda also takes time to appreciate coastal living. During her spare time, Belinda can be found designing and sewing in her home studio, practicing photography or exploring the local art scene. But on the sunny days she steps out of the heart of design culture and heads seaside, “I like to nap on the beach!” she laughs.

Tyera Lentz
Tyera Lentz

Tyera Lentz

MLA Candidate
Landscape Designer

Bio coming soon!

Zhiwei Lu
Zhiwei Lu

Zhiwei Lu

BCSLA CSLA
Senior Landscape Architect

Zhiwei has a clear idea of the work he strives to achieve in landscape architecture: “My responsibility is to improve livable spaces without interrupting the balance of the environment.” Originally from Guangzhou, China, Zhiwei enjoys traveling, music, and soccer.

Following studies in Urban Planning at Sun Yat-Sen University in China, Zhiwei intended to continue his education in urban design and architecture when he stumbled upon landscape architecture almost accidentally. When he realized the contributions that the field could make to complex environmental and social issues, he determined to pursue a career as a landscape architect, obtaining a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia.

Zhiwei contributes his skills in design and drafting to his projects at PWL, and is especially excited to contribute to sustainable and urban redevelopment projects. This work, combined with his travels in the Pacific Northwest, are going a long way towards making him feel at home in this part of the world.

Liz Nguyen
Liz Nguyen

Liz Nguyen

BCSLA CSLA LEED Accredited
Senior Landscape Architect

"I had an urban upbringing, with limited exposure to nature," says Liz, who was drawn to landscape architecture and design once she had the opportunity to travel and explore natural areas. “My parents, who immigrated to Canada, were completely unfamiliar with the Canadian traditions of hiking and camping!” Originally from Toronto, she attributes her interest in interior landscape design to her experience of long winters and the time spent indoors.

Liz has long been interested in design, and pursued landscape architecture to apply this interest to fostering an understanding of the natural and built environment. She earned a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia, and has worked in private landscape architectural practice in Vancouver for several years.

Liz is inspired by Vancouver’s unique combination of urban and natural settings. An early riser, she enjoys exploring Vancouver’s breakfast scene, as well as squeezing in island getaways, snowboarding, and hiking whenever possible.

Joe Zhou
Joe Zhou

Joe Zhou

BLA
Senior Landscape Designer

For Joe, Landscape Architecture is ever-evolving. “Today people are able to put landscapes on top of buildings or vertically mounted on building surfaces.” In today’s increasingly dense and globalized cities, “professionals are forced to continually reevaluate the position of landscape architecture in terms of how it influences the future shape of artificial environments,” laments Joe.

Joe earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture in Nanjing City and moved to Vancouver in 2005. Joe has been involved in numerous projects from city planning and resort design to garden and street furniture design both Canada and China.

Being of a philosophical mind, when Joe is not contemplating the future of landscape architecture or masterminding his next project, he can be found hiking, reading, or discovering new playgrounds to test out with his daughter.

Erin Ramsay
Erin Ramsay

Erin Ramsay

MLA BFA
Landscape designer

Erin Ramsay is our bona-fide resident ‘Maritimer’, born and raised in the salty sea air of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. With a BFA in sculpture and drawing, Erin was initially attracted to landscape architecture due to its plethora of material possibilities, and hasn’t looked back, completing her MLA at UBC in 2014.

Despite finding herself on the opposite end of the country, Erin perceives many parallels between her native coast and new home. She acknowledges that beautiful surroundings, readily accessible nature and endless opportunities for adventure certainly help to keep the homesickness at bay.

From working for a Northwest Coast Native art gallery to exploring the Gulf Islands by bike, Erin has fully embraced West Coast culture since moving to BC. She remains true to her roots, however, regularly educating friends and colleagues on the quirks and cuisine of the Maritimes. Don’t make her belt out a sea shanty.

Jergus Oprsal
Jergus Oprsal

Jergus Oprsal

BCSLA Intern MLA MFA
Landscape Designer

Jergus Oprsal brings a unique perspective to PWL, having completed an MFA in set and lighting design prior to his MLA at the University of Toronto. A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Jergus is well versed in cultural landscapes, and it is this experience in part that inspired his study in this field.

It is immaterial phenomena that have maintained a sense of intrigue for Jergus. His scope of fascination with ‘the unseen’ includes the ability of landscape design elements to trigger the human sensory system, and subterranean infrastructure that, despite being out of sight, has important connections to and implications on the world above.

Away from the office, Jergus often finds himself visiting strange, exotic playgrounds with this two children, or ski touring through the Coastal Mountains in the winter months.

“Having an experience is taking part in the world. Taking part in the world is really about sharing responsibility.” – Olafur Eliasson

Logan Cairns
Logan Cairns

Logan Cairns

BDes BLA
Landscape Designer

Logan Cairns hails from Auckland, New Zealand and brings eclectic experience in art and design, landscape architecture, and permaculture to his work at PWL.

It was Logan’s initial degree in art and design that, coupled with his passion for the outdoors, inspired the pursuit of a degree in landscape architecture. Logan views the profession through the lens of Donella Meadows’ systems thinking ideology, with practice revolving around core components, their function, and the interrelationships that exist between them.

Since visiting as a child, Logan was intrigued and eventually drawn back to Vancouver by the many parallels and diversions he perceives between the Lower Mainland and his native New Zealand. As a newcomer to the region, he is eager to explore all that the city’s culture and surroundings has in store. When not adventuring, his Kiwi self-expression manifests itself on golf courses, field hockey pitches, and in cocktail glasses.

Justin Neufeld
Justin Neufeld

Justin Neufeld

BCSLA OALA CSLA APA
Senior Landscape Architect

Justin Neufeld is a part of the prairie contingent at PWL. He was born and raised in Southern Manitoba, and received degrees in environmental design and landscape architecture respectively from the University of Manitoba.

Justin admits that the humble landscapes of his home province – the “fields, orchards and gardens” – played an integral role in shaping the perception and sensibilities that he draws upon readily today.

Justin is particularly enamored by the innate ability of landscape architecture to transcend professions such as architecture, engineering, art, horticulture and ecology. His pursuits have been fuelled by this reality, and led him to gain work experience throughout Canada and in Shanghai, where he spent two formative years.

Away from the office Justin counts gardening, cycling and photography among his favourite pastimes.

“The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answers as ask the right questions” - Claude Lévis-Strauss

Joelle Sept
Joelle Sept

Joelle Sept

MLA BFA
Landscape Designer

Joelle represents the rare breed of Lower Mainland locals! She has spent her formative years in and around Vancouver, and continues to be intrigued by the juxtaposition of “a city in a rainforest.”

The element of intrigue is consistent in Joelle’s approach to life, and her profession. The fanciful notion that initially attracted her to landscape architecture – envisioning the inherent complexities in designing a fountain – has revolved around increasingly bigger questions as she gains further expertise and experience.

When not tackling the world’s problems with a collaborative approach, Joelle is just as capable of introspective craft: throwing pottery, sketching, and fermenting foods are among her favourites.

Miyo Takeda
Miyo Takeda

Miyo Takeda

BCSLA CSLA
Landscape Architect

Miyo took what might be considered a less conventional path to landscape architecture, first learning the ins and outs of fabricating sculptures and working in the arts prior to taking the MLA plunge at UBC. Perhaps that’s where her soft-spoken nature and people skills were honed? Her diplomatic demeanour is offset by a wry sense of humour, though; much to the delight of her office colleagues.

In Miyo’s spare time she is frequently active and outdoors, whether exploring BC’s wild nooks, cycling, or maintaining her backyard garden. Her more sedentary weekend endeavours include cooking with friends, and picnics in the park.

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

Amanda Leppi
Amanda Leppi

Amanda Leppi

BFA Human Centered Design, MAA Design
Marketing and Proposal Coordinator

Amanda Leppi is PWL’s Marketing and Proposal Coordinator. Her keen eye for detail was honed over the course of two degrees: a BFA in Human Centered Design from Northern Michigan University, and MAA in Design from Emily Carr University.

Academic credentials aside, the first designs Amanda studied and celebrated were naturally-occurring. Growing up in Michigan, her childhood was spent immersed in the wild blue and green landscapes of “The Great Lakes State”, and an innate fascination with the natural world was the lasting result. She also brings a sense of stewardship to her work, seeking ecologically-minded low-tech solutions that evoke and engage people with “the beauty of the natural and built environment.”

On weekends she leads the charge into Vancouver’s surrounding wilderness, with husband Kurt, son Norden, and dog Charlie in tow. Naturally.

Mick Hayden
Mick Hayden

Mick Hayden

Administrative Support

Mick Hayden rounds out PWL’s increasingly cosmopolitan front desk. Representing the Emerald Isle (did the fiery beard and brogue give him away?), he’s here to “make sure everybody has what they need, and gets to where they need to go.”Mick will be the first to admit that landscape architecture was entirely new to him upon arrival. But therein lay the appeal for someone whose work has spanned four continents, and included odd jobs in New Zealand, a stint as a volunteer librarian in Honduras, and high stakes number crunching at Ireland’s largest bank.

A veritable international man of mystery, Mick’s truest passion is travel. Along with his trusty rucksack, which he considers to be his most prized possession, he has set foot in 43 countries… and counting.

“The world is a book, and those who don’t travel only read one page.” – St. Augustine

Sara Ahadi
Sara Ahadi

Sara Ahadi

MLA
Landscape Designer

Sara Ahadi took a typically atypical path to landscape architecture, obtaining a degree in psychology from UBC prior to completing an MLA at the University of Toronto. In her view, these fields are not so divergent; she enjoys contemplating their common ground!

Reminiscing about her early childhood evokes fond memories of her grandparents’ summer villa near the Caspian Sea. The beguiling host of animals – hens, roosters, and German Shepherds – and environments – orchards and treehouse – was a kid’s dream, with endless opportunities for playful adventure. Sara cites these experiences, as well as weekends spent exploring the beautiful landscapes of BC, as inciting her love of nature, and ultimately shaping her career path.

In her work, Sara is fascinated by both the rich histories that are embedded in a place and the process of uncovering these layers: “revealing the landscape that once was, understanding what the uses and needs of a given space are today, and envisioning what it has the potential to look and behave like in the future.”

Kayla Poch
Kayla Poch

Kayla Poch

LAT
Landscape Technician

Kayla Poch graduated from the Northern Institute of Technology in Alberta, and is a prairie-native. After 24 years of horizontal landscapes, she found herself drawn to Vancouver’s vertical offerings in the form of mountains, trees, and vibrant skylines. This fails to capture a significant part of the allure, however: the social aspect.

A common thread between her personal and professional lives, Kayla is a social being who relishes any opportunity to connect people to places, whether herself or others. She is thrilled to equally serve communities and the environment while working in an industry that satisfies her passions for architecture, botany, and the outdoors.

Sundays mornings are among Kayla’s rare solitary moments. On these occasions, she frequently finds herself by the ocean, “watching the waves roll in with a cup of dark roast coffee in hand, folk music in the ear buds, and feet in the water.”

Sophie MacNeill
Sophie MacNeill

Sophie MacNeill

BCSLA CSLA
Landscape Architect

Raised in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, Sophie MacNeill was greatly influenced by the “riverscapes” that define her hometown. Now, with three degrees in tow – a Diploma of Fine Arts from Langara College, and a Bachelor of Environmental Design and MLA from UBC – she is keen to create places that afford similarly formative human-nature experiences for others.

In landscape architecture, Sophie views the mutual dependence between human and ecosystem health as behooving “vibrant and engaging spaces that nurture social and environmental sustainability.” She is thrilled to work in a profession that allows her to serve as an advocate and steward while employing creative problem solving to achieve these goals.

Outside of work, many of her wilderness forays are driven by foraging. Sophie often combines her love of hiking and textile arts, seeking out plants that offer enticing colour palettes for natural dyeing experiments.

Pearl Yip
Pearl Yip

Pearl Yip

MLA B.Sc.Ag.
Landscape Designer

Pearl Yip is, in her own words, “Hong Kong born, Richmond raised, Vancouver grown.” She holds a BSc in Agroecology from UBC and an MLA from the University of Manitoba.

Pearl is enamoured by the opportunities for chance, fleeting encounters offered by landscapes. She relishes the fact that such ephemeral experiences may leave the most lasting memories, and can personally attest to this capacity. A childhood camping trip revealed soothing natural wonders that starkly contrasted the bold urbanity of Hong Kong: glistening dew drops, bird calls piercing the fresh air, and a moon that was bigger and brighter than anything she has seen since.

A casual foodie and photographer, in her spare time Pearl continues to pursue inspiring sensory experiences around Vancouver and beyond.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

Roxy - In Memoriam (2018)
Roxy - In Memoriam (2018)

Roxy - In Memoriam (2018)

“Arf, arf…arf!” exclaims Roxy, PWL’s official ‘designer mutt.’ Part Wheaton and part Bearded Collie, she was born and raised in Vancouver. Roxy loves landscapes and is especially into place making. When not sharing her perspective on PWL’s newest park designs with Margot, she is running the North Shore mountain trails, surfing, watching suspense films, and staring at the Bickies jar.

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