Landscape Architect

FCSLA, FASLA

Since founding Virginia Burt Designs in 1996, Virginia has designed and directed healing landscapes for private residential, educational and public clients. VBD has established a reputation for creating gardens and landscapes of meaning. Virginia’s work has achieved international recognition receiving multiple awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects, Palladio, and Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. She is one of seven women in the world with Fellowships from both societies for outstanding contribution to the profession. Clients appreciate and value her deep respect for place and for the human dimensions of each project. Virginia gets things built — beautifully. 

Landscape Architect

OALA, CSLA

Sydney is a Landscape Architect with nearly a decade of experience. Motivated to create engaging spaces for folks to live, work, rest and play, she strives to craft transformative spaces that inspire social, environmental, and spiritual enrichment. As a mother and avid gardener, she sees the value in creating accessible, beautiful, and engaging spaces for people of all ages and abilities; drawing inspiration from her travels across Europe and North America, her designs are imbued with robust and beautiful plantings to ensure continued growth and interest throughout the seasons.

Before joining Virginia Burt Designs, Sydney worked in the private sector, contributing to all stages of the planning and design process from concept ideation and schematic design to design development, municipal approvals, and construction drawings. Her project experience includes intimate gardens, trail design, municipal parks, boulevard streetscapes, mid-rise and high-rise developments, rooftop amenity terraces, master planning and preparing urban design guidelines. She is thrilled to join the VBD team and looks forward to creating fabulous, and lasting places.

Office Director

Leanne is a cut flower grower and sculptor who lives within walking distance to our design studio. She is committed to inclusion for all, community investment, and healing with nature. Her experience in administration spans many sectors including automotive, horticultural, retail, and education. She brings an uplifting and empowering vibe to our office, supporting our team, clients, and collaborators. designers so they can focus on doing what they do best.

Architectural Designer

M.ARCH

Emily was born in Burlington, Ontario, and raised as a 5th generation vegetable farmer.  Questioning conventional methods of farming, dichotomies between urban and rural, consumption and production, Emily received an undergraduate degree in Environmental Design Studies and Master of Architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Emily distinctly explores and researches agricultural self-sufficiency and critical care for the earth through farming and building practices at individual, community, and global scales. Her experience includes residential, institutional, and health care projects that focus on accessibility and healing with nature. Emily has a passion for creating impactful local and bricolage architecture that resonates within communities while pushing boundaries on design solutions that are considered both modern and ancient. 

Landscape Designer

APALA Associate

Selena, a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Landscape Architecture program, is en route to becoming a Licensed Landscape Architect. Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Selena has an unwavering connection to salt air, coastal climates, and comes with over a decade of fine arts and design experience which informs her work. Selena specializes in projects featuring native plantings that harmonize with historical plant communities; her work emphasizes minimal environmental impact, seamlessly blending properties into the surrounding landscape.

At Virginia Burt Designs, Selena actively engages in all project phases, utilizing her skills in site analysis, construction supervision, and generating detailed site models for 3D walkthroughs and interactive interpretive content. Outside the studio, Selena enjoys foraging and crafting art with natural materials, showcasing her dedication to sustainable and artistic expression.

Landscape Architect

OALA, CSLA

Professionally involved in Landscape Architecture for over 15 years,  Brandon has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from small-scale and intricately detailed private gardens to mixed-use community masterplans. Brandon gains tremendous satisfaction when he is solving complex challenges throughout all phases of a project and has extensive hands-on experience in landscape construction.

This experience in construction corresponds to his passionate belief that the best learning is achieved through immersive experiences. Prior to continuing his career as a Landscape Architect with Virginia Burt Designs, Brandon lived on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada, visited all the Canadian provinces, and has explored the outdoors in areas of the United States, Asia, Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean; Brandon has an insatiable desire to expand his mind and understanding with new, creative, and cultural adventures. To Brandon, beautiful spaces and moments are created when our senses are engaged, and our minds are enlivened through human interaction and by learning with others.  

Junior Landscape Architect

MLA

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Western University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph, Ethan is on the path to becoming a licensed landscape architect.  Motivated to find the common grounds that link human and environmental agendas through mindful and functional design, Ethan has particular interest integrating outdoor recreation within existing green spaces; specifically, his academic research explored disc-golf course design and other creative alternatives to improving access to, and restoration within, nature. Working previously at a garden nursery and on residential and commercial landscaping crews, Ethan has hands-on skills in hydroseeding, tree planting, hardscaping, irrigation, and maintenance. Further, Ethan’s professional design experience extends to both public and private sectors – from intimate residential gardens to expansive urban plazas and provincial park master plans.

Intern Landscape Architect

BLA (Candidate)

A graduate from Fanshawe College, Jacob has an advanced degree in Landscape Design. Currently enrolled in the landscape architecture program at the University of Guelph, Jacob is completing his 4 month internship at VBD. We are thrilled to have Jacob on board as he explores innovative ways to integrate technology into our designs. With his exceptional creativity, technical, and strong academic background, Jacob brings a fresh and interesting perspective to our team – welcome aboard!

Landscape Lover