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Canadian Rockies Landscape Receives National Award for Green Innovation

Cranbrook, BC — Canadian Rockies Landscape (CRL) has received national recognition for its work in the Kootenays, earning the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award for Green Innovation for its Off-Grid Oasis project.

The award was presented on August 11 at the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The event brought together 130 industry members from across the country to celebrate outstanding achievements in Canada’s landscape and horticultural industry.

2026 Outstanding Achievement Award for Green Innovation plaque presented to Canadian Rockies Landscape
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Green Innovation
Project
Off-Grid Oasis
Year
2026
Darren and Jenn Krotz holding the 2026 Outstanding Achievement award for Green Innovation
Darren and Jenn Krotz

National Recognition for a Kootenay Project

For CRL, the national recognition is especially meaningful. The 3.8-acre Off-Grid Oasis was created for a remote mountain property in the Kootenays and designed around the homeowners’ desire to live simply, beautifully and sustainably within the surrounding landscape.

“To have this project recognized nationally for Green Innovation is incredibly meaningful for our entire team,” said Jennifer Krotz, Manager and Designer at Canadian Rockies Landscape. “From the beginning, this project challenged us to think carefully about how every part of the landscape could work with the property, rather than against it. We wanted to create something beautiful and functional while respecting the environment and the realities of building in a remote mountain setting.”

Perched high in the Canadian Rockies, the property presented challenges ranging from remote access and colder growing conditions to water conservation, drainage and wildfire resilience. These considerations helped shape a landscape that balances beauty, function and environmental responsibility through resilient plantings, natural stonework, water-conscious design and fire-smart principles.

View photos and learn more about the Off-Grid Oasis project

Building on Provincial Recognition

The national award builds on previous recognition for Off-Grid Oasis at the 2025 BC Landscape Awards of Excellence, where Canadian Rockies Landscape received both a Landscape Design Award and a Green Stamp Award recognizing the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The project was also named a finalist for Single Family Residential Exceptional Execution of Landscape Installation.

Founded in 2001, Canadian Rockies Landscape has built a strong reputation throughout the Kootenays for thoughtful, client-focused landscape design and construction. This latest recognition provides an opportunity to showcase not only the CRL team’s work, but the calibre of landscape design and craftsmanship coming from the Kootenay region.

2026 National Awards of Landscape Excellence honourees gathered on stage
2026 National Awards of Excellence honourees

Canadian Rockies Landscape Recognized with Provincial Award of Excellence

Cranbrook, BC — Canadian Rockies Landscape (CRL) has received provincial recognition for its work in the Kootenays.

At the 2025 BC Landscape Awards of Excellence, held January 15 in Langley, BC, CRL received the Landscape Design Award for its 3.8-acre Off-Grid Oasis project. The awards are presented annually by the BC Landscape Nursery Association (BCLNA), which has served as the voice of British Columbia’s landscape industry since 1953.

Provincial Recognition Among a Competitive Field 

This year’s awards included 24 entries from 12 companies across the province, with just 10 companies receiving awards. CRL is proud to be among them — a notable recognition for a Kootenay-based company.

In addition to the Landscape Design Award, the project also received a Green Stamp Award, an additional distinction recognizing projects that demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Additional Recognition 

CRL was also recognized as a finalist for two additional awards:

  • Single Family Residential Exceptional Execution of Landscape Installation finalist for the Off-Grid Oasis project and,
  • A Design Award finalist for the Healing for Health Garden, designed to provide a restorative outdoor space for patients, families, and staff at the Creston Valley Hospital & Health Centre.

Projects considered for the Landscape Awards of Excellence are evaluated by a panel of highly accredited industry judges and assessed against rigorous criteria, including quality of workmanship, material selection, site suitability, and the overall impact of the finished landscape on the property. 

“This recognition from our peers means a great deal to us,” said Jennifer Krotz, Manager and Designer at Canadian Rockies Landscape. “We poured our heart and soul into this project for the last two years, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that effort acknowledged.”

The Off-Grid Oasis project was completed in collaboration with several valued partners, including Ram Creek Log Homes, Aquascape, In-Lite / BOLD, Alpha & Omega Architectural and Interior Designs, Zinco Canada and Belgard.

The project will now move forward for national consideration at the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association Awards of Excellence, with recipients to be announced later this summer.

Founded in 2001, Canadian Rockies Landscape has built a strong reputation throughout the Kootenays for thoughtful, client-focused landscape design that reflects both place and purpose. For the CRL team, this recognition represents not just an award, but a reflection of their commitment to their clients, their craft, and their community.

The award-winning Off-Grid Oasis project was created for a remote mountain property, with a focus on outdoor spaces that feel like a natural extension of the land. Designed and constructed over two seasons, the project reflects a thoughtful balance between beauty, function, and sustainability, shaped by the client’s desire for simple, intentional living in a rugged and isolated setting.