Margot Long wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Published
Margot Long is a founding partner of PWL Partnership and a respected leader in Canadian landscape architecture whose work has helped shape the public realm across British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada
A graduate of the University of Oregon, she began her career in Calgary working with Lombard North, Corush Larocque Sunderland, and Carson McCulloch before moving to Vancouver in 1985 to contribute to Expo 86' as part of Don Vaughan’s The Landscape Collaborative. This early experience helped define a career grounded in collaboration, design excellence, and lasting impact.
Over more than four decades, Margot has played a central role in building PWL into the award-winning practice it is today. What began as a studio of two has grown into a team of over 40, with four partners, as the firm celebrates its 50th year. Her leadership has established a culture of design excellence and a reputation for thoughtful, innovative work grounded in cultural, historical, and ecological understanding.
Her work includes waterfront reclamation, civic and community spaces, Indigenous schools and facilities, and large-scale neighbourhood planning. She has played key roles in leading sustainable developments such as Dockside Green in Victoria and Southeast False Creek in Vancouver, projects that have influenced approaches to environmentally and socially responsible design in Canada.
Margot is recognized for her leadership in guiding complex projects from vision through implementation and for her commitment to meaningful community engagement and long-standing, collaborative relationships with First Nations. She has contributed extensively to the profession through service on the BCSLA Board, CSLA committees, participation on the Vancouver Urban Design Panel and Squamish Nation Design Panel, and teaching professional practice at UBC.
Her practice continues to advance the profession through a focus on Indigenous partnerships and climate resilience, supporting lasting and meaningful change in urban and natural environments.
