Fort St. John–based Landscape Architect Jeryn Mackey has been recognized with the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Emerging Professional Award, honouring early-career professionals who are already making meaningful contributions to the field.
For Jeryn, the recognition is both exciting and reaffirming.
“This was my second time attending the annual CSLA conference, and it’s always an amazing experience. The atmosphere is high-energy, the keynotes are inspiring, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with other practitioners—especially since there are so few Landscape Architects in Northern BC. It really reminded me why I do this work and how much I love it.”
Designing with Community in Mind
Much of Jeryn’s work is rooted close to home. Designing in Fort St. John, where she grew up, brings a unique perspective—and a tangible sense of impact.
“It’s very fulfilling getting to work in the place where I grew up. With FSJ being a small community, we really get to see the immediate impacts of our work. It is incredibly meaningful to see the community value and enjoy the spaces that we work on as a team, whether that is seeing kids using a new park following a redesign project or watching high school grads take prom photos under the catenary lights on 100 Street.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects with communities of all sizes. It has allowed me to learn, grow, and gain new perspectives — all of which is made possible by the strong connections within our LA practice across branches.”
Designing for inclusion
Jeryn’s approach to Landscape Architecture is shaped by a strong interest in equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Raised by strong female role models, she began thinking more critically about who public spaces are designed for during her time at university—where she focused her honours thesis on gender-sensitive design.
“I started to recognize how design influences how we feel in public space, how we move through the world, and how we’re treated by others. I want to advocate for voices that have historically been left out of the design process and help create spaces that reflect real, diverse experiences.”
Looking ahead
As she continues to grow in her career, Jeryn is interested in deepening her understanding of the social and well-being aspects of design and exploring opportunities for further education in this space.
She sees value in interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen project outcomes and better serve communities.
“I would love to find more ways to work alongside our Urban Matters team – I think the collaborative work we do with them is really important.”
Advice for emerging professionals
Jeryn encourages early-career Landscape Architects to stay persistent and trust the process.
“Some ideas take time for others to embrace. You may need to advocate for them more than once, but that persistence is how we stay innovative and deliver better solutions.”
