Cecelia Paine fonds

Born in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1950, Cecelia Paine received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1972. She completed her Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Michigan in 1980. Cecelia Paine began her remarkable career working for a Chicago firm until 1974 before moving to Ottawa. In the next 16 years, Cecelia worked for two landscape firms as well as the National Capital Commission. In 1982, she created the firm, Cecelia Paine and Associates Inc., thus becoming one of the first female landscape architects in Canada to work under her own name. In 1990, she moved to Guelph and is currently Professor and coordinator of the graduate program in landscape architecture at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph. Her work as a professional landscape architect also continues.

Professor Paine’s work has been acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards. In 2006, she was the recipient of the University of Guelph Faculty Association Teaching Award. In 2004, she received the President’s Award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. Her work has also been recognized with numerous National and Regional Citation Awards for Planning from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. Her publications include books edited, chapters in books, technical reports, papers in refereed journals, and articles. She has received juried professional awards, has offered workshops, and has been invited to make presentations world wide. During a sabbatical leave from the University of Guelph, Professor Paine lectured in Brazil, Argentina, the Czech Republic, and China. She also has served in executive positions in landscape organizations in Canada and internationally. Numerous projects designed by Cecelia Paine have centered on natural and pedestrian areas and parks. However, she has demonstrated a particular interest in heritage landscape conservation and restoration. She enjoys adapting historic and old sites for contemporary uses.

The Cecelia Paine fonds consists of original material from more than 175 projects. The collection dates back to the year 1969 when Cecelia was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois. Material includes drawings, plans, contracts, slides, photographs, and correspondence. A large part of the fonds includes master plans for the National Capital Commission involving five thousand hectares of land in the Ottawa Greenbelt. Another of Paine’s larger projects was the $5 million redesign of Sparks Street Mall in downtown Ottawa. A few other notable projects include: the restoration of the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park, restoration of the landscape of the Queen’s Park Legislative Assembly building in Toronto, and landscape development for the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in Alberta.

The Cecelia Paine fonds is significant both nationally and internationally. Professor Paine was one of the first female landscape architects to work under her own name and to focus on large public landscapes. Her love for restoration, conservation, and planning for natural areas contribute to her unique and considerable collection.