Viive joined the Vertechs Design studio in 2000. She has over 20 years of experience directing significant master plans, community redevelopment and infrastructure projects, including the Third Crossing in Kingston and several city blocks within Regent Park. Working in a small firm Viive has become skilled in all aspects of landscape architectural practice. Over the years she has formed important relationships with clients including many of the city’s best architectural firms, municipalities, school boards and healthcare institutions, lending to the firm’s diverse portfolio of work.

She has led several Alternative Financial Procurement (AFP) projects on both the Planning Design and Compliance (PDC) and Design Build Finance Maintain (DBFM) teams including Etobicoke General Hospital, ErinoakKids Centres for Treatment and Development and West Park Healthcare Centre.

Viive brings experience in coordination and management of projects from the initial stages of stakeholder consultation to final document preparation and contract administration. Viive is committed to addressing client requirements through the development of thoughtful landscapes that are accessible to all people.

Education

University of Toronto, B.L.A.

Major Projects

Centennial College
ErinoakKids
Etobicoke General Hospital
Murray Street Park
Nipissing Student Union
West Park

Mary Jane Lovering is a founding partner of Vertechs Design Inc., established in 1981. She practiced as a physiotherapist with a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Queen’s University prior to pursuing a career in Landscape Architecture. This background and experience, together with studies in Gerontology has led to the Firm’s planning of outdoor environments in the field of health care in Long Term Care and Acute Care Settings, Paediatric Facilities, Assisted Living and Mental Health environments.

She is committed to the creation of meaningful outdoor environments that contribute to the health and well- being of patients, staff and visitors to each facility. Areas of expertise include program development, design guidelines for special populations with a focus on accessibility.

She was instrumental in the directing of research into the relationship between function and outdoor spaces for Long Term Care facilities. Vertechs Design Inc. was the first landscape architectural firm to study this relationship and establish principles of design used as a primary resource for the Firm’s work today.

Education

University of Toronto, B.L.A. Hons.
Queen’s University, Diploma in Physiotherapy

Major Projects

CAMH
ErinoakKids
Holland Bloorview
Ron Joyce
Royal Victoria Hospital
St. Joseph’s West 5th
West Park

Yan joined the Vertechs Design studio in 2005 with a professional background in urban design, planning and architecture with experience gained in both Shanghai and Toronto. Prior to her practice in landscape architecture, she was exposed to a wide range of planning projects at regional and community scales, as well as site-specific projects in China. Her local and international experiences have shaped Yan’s efficient management of complex projects including South Niagara Hospital.

Yan’s love of the visual arts and gardening influence her creative, user-friendly solutions.

Education

Tongji University, Shanghai, China,
Bachelor Degree of Urban Planning
Master Degree of Urban Design

Major Projects

South Niagara Hospital
West Park Healthcare Centre
Centennial College A-Block Expansion

With over a decade of experience garnered in El Salvador and Canada, Rodrigo brings a unique perspective to the Vertechs Design studio. He has experience working on public and private projects, collaborating on commercial and institutional works from initial stages through to contract administration. With a background in architectural design, his multidisciplinary mindset and diverse skillset bring value to the large scale projects he is involved in. Through his work Rodrigo strives to develop sustainable landscapes that are accessible and user-friendly.

Education

Universidad Albert Einstein,
El Salvador,
Bachelor of Architecture
Ryerson University,
Candidate for Certificate
in Landscape Design

Major Projects

West Park Healthcare Centre
Trillium Health Partners New Mississauga Hospital
Thunder Bay Correctional Complex
Humber River Hospital LTC
Trillium Health Partners LTC
Nipissing University Student Centre

Irene is a landscape architect with a passion for enhancing social and physical well being through sustainable, resilient design. She believes that landscape architecture is a driver for fostering meaningful interactions and relationships between people, culture and land systems.

Irene holds a bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba and is a Master of Landscape Architecture graduate from the University of Toronto. Irene has project experience in Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

Prior to joining Vertechs Design, Irene was closely involved in Winnipeg’s design community, organizing and managing a wide range of design programs, competitions, exhibitions and events.

Education

University of Manitoba, B.Env.D.
University of Toronto, M.L.A.

Major Projects

CHEO 1Door4Care
University of Toronto Scarborough Academy of Integrated Health
Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre
Holland Bloorview
South Niagara Hospital

Kathleen is a Landscape Architect who first studied ecology and practiced as an environmental scientist before finding her passion in landscape architecture. She is constantly looking for ways to design solutions that spark and deepen human connection with our local landscapes. Kathleen believes that fostering relationships with our environment can help restore both human and ecological health and that often these connections are best made through storytelling. Whether it’s an illustration of the uniqueness of a landscape or the history of its use, Kathleen sees every project as an opportunity to tell a story and is most excited when working on a multidisciplinary team to bring it to life.

Kathleen graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Queen’s University and earned a Master in Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto where she received the John and Myrna Daniels Scholar Award, the Barry Lorne Ardiel Scholarship, and the CSLA Award of Merit.

Education

Queen’s University, B.Sc.H.
University of Toronto, M.L.A.

Major Projects

Centennial College A-Block Expansion
Queen’s University Indigenous Gathering Space
Trillium Health Partners New Mississauga Hospital
Thunder Bay Correctional Complex
South Niagara Hospital
Lakehead University Gichi Kendaasiwin Centre
West Park Healthcare Centre

Kelly-Breanne is driven with a passion for design and has a strong foundation in landscape architecture. Kelly-Breanne graduated with honours and holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph. She has cultivated experience in a variety of design projects including community parks, trails and large-scale community developments in the GTA. Since joining Vertechs in 2023, she has focused her attention on outdoor community and healthcare settings and appreciates the value of designing spaces that benefit and enhance people’s wellbeing.

Kelly-Breanne enjoys collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and has great experience with municipal approvals, while seeing projects through from initial concept to construction completion. Kelly-Breanne has a passion for plants, sustainability and the relationship between people and their environment. Kelly-Breanne continues to prioritize positive impact, accessibility, and wellness in the design of outdoor spaces.

Education

University of Guelph, B.L.A

Major Projects

Rockwood Terrace Long Term Care Redevelopment
Stevenson Memorial Hospital Redevelopment
South Niagara Hospital
CHEO 1Door4Care
Queens Home for Special Care

Wendy graduated with honors and holds a Bachelor of Landscape Studies from the University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Vertechs Design team in 2023, she has worked on various projects in Hong Kong, including public art installations, residential landscape renovations and large scale public open space design. Wendy enjoys exploring the process of unfolding design solutions that are site-specific and create positive impacts on the users. She also enjoys visualizing conceptual design to convey the design intent and smoothen the communication process when working in a multidisciplinary team.

Education

University of Hong Kong, B.L.S.

Major Projects

CHEO 1Door4Care
Queens Home for Special Care
Rockwood Terrace Long Term Care Redevelopment
South Niagara Hospital
University of Toronto, Scarborough Academy of Integrated Health