Last spring, standing at an Alberta Association of Landscape Architects networking event, I watched a young intern sketch a courtyard layout on a napkin while three senior members debated stormwater retention codes nearby. That contrast — quick creative instinct next to careful technical scrutiny — is basically how my brain works too, split between two habits: drafting narrative notes in a battered notebook, and building spreadsheets to track which policy changes actually move the needle for practitioners.

Where the Curiosity Comes From

I get genuinely excited tracking shifts in professional standards, testing how new guidelines play out in real project reviews, and translating dense regulatory language into something a first-year member and a thirty-year veteran can both use without rereading three times.

• Read association bulletins as closely as design journals
• Interview practitioners before writing a single conclusion
• Cross-check claims against actual case outcomes
• Rewrite for clarity until a non-specialist gets it

Why the Fieldwork Matters

Sitting in on committee sessions, walking completed sites, and asking blunt questions of licensed architects keeps my writing honest — it's easy to sound authoritative from a desk, harder to earn it. That grounding is what I try to bring to every piece I publish here.

If you're curious about how the profession is evolving in Alberta, or just want a clearer explanation of something confusing, drop by /contact — I'd love to hear what you're working through.