Spring Newsbrief 2021

SPRING 2021 - VOL 30 ISSUE 1

INSIDE • Staff updates • 2022 'The Year of the Garden' • New Savings Programs • Garden Centre Updates • Updates to federal COVID support • Growers News

Canada's Green Industry News

HOPE IS GROWING Garden Centres to be featured in new national campaign to plant 'Hope Gardens' for 2021

SINCE 1922

ASSOCIATION NEWS

HR LEADERSHIP WELCOME NEW CHANGE STAFF MEMBER WELCOME TO 2021, with a new year comes new changes. This year, we see a change in the HR leadership with a new HR Chair. Mr. Harold Deenen has led the HR Committee for CNLA with class, grace and a strong drive to ensure the best for industry, but after many years in leadership he has earned a much-deserved break.

Thank you Harold, for all that you have done for CNLA and for the profession Jeff takes over leadership of the HR Committee with great ideas for continuing to advance HR issues facing the industry.

He comes with years of experience leading the professional development committee (PDC) in his role as Chair, and we look forward to seeing where his vision will lead us. Welcome Jeff!

THE CNLA HAS a new staff person joining the team! Jerry Lawlor is CNLA's new Director of Development. In his role, Jerry will be assisting CNLA's two Foundations, Communities in Bloom and the Green Cities Foundation, as well as with CNLA's Member Services Department.

"I have spent my entire professional life working with charities to generate revenue and market their brand to build awareness for their organization. I have raised funds adding to program development and enhancing infrastructure. I have held various executive positions with many charities focusing on social services, healthcare, education and scientific research. I acquired my CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) accreditation in 2005 and I attribute my success to the relationships I've built with so many community minded volunteers and high performing colleagues.

I am a highly energetic philanthropic professional with over 20 years of experience. I have been part of most aspects in fundraising but I've spent the majority of my career specializing in major gift fundraising/ sponsorship capital campaigns, strategic management and leadership.

I am excited about being part of a creative team that will have an impact across Canada adding green space and increasing the pride within our communities."

Welcome Jerry!

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President Phil Paxton, CLHT, CLHM - AB Past President Bruce Hunter, CLHT, CLD, CLHM - BC First Vice President Anthony O’Neill - NL Second Vice President & Bill Hardy, CLHM - BC Communications Chair Treasurer Anita Heuver - AB

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BCLNA Michael Kato - BC Landscape AB Jeff Oudyk - AB Landscape SK Aaron Krahn - SK MBNLA Guy Dowhy, RSE, CLHT, CLHM - MB Landscape ON Paul Brydges, CLD - ON Landscape NS & Robin Godfrey - NS Garden Centres Canada Chair Landscape NB/PEI & Kevin Nauss, CLHM - NB Member Services Chair & Insurance Chair Landscape NL Peggy Head - NL Climate Change Adaptation Chair Alan White - ON Landscape Canada Chair Leslie Cornell, RSE - SK Research Chair Vic Krahn, CLHT - SK Government Relations Co-Chair Christene LeVatte, CLD, CLHM - NS Government Relations Co-Chair Michael Murray - NL Professional Development Chair & Jeff Foley, CLHT, CLHM - BC Human Resources Chair Growers Canada Chair Jeff Olsen - ON

STAFF

Executive Director Victor Santacruz, CLHM CAE, victor@cnla-acpp.ca

Deputy Executive Director Rebecca Doutre, CLHM CAE,

rebecca@cnla-acpp.ca

Executive Assistant & Cheryl Gall, CAE

Office Manager cheryl@cnla-acpp.ca

Growers Manager Jamie Aalbers jamie@cnla-acpp.ca

Communities in Bloom Sonia Parrino

Program Coordinator bloom@cib-cef.com

Landscape & Retail Sector Anne Kadwell, CLHT

Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca

Industry Human Resources & Leslie Sison

Government Relations leslie@cnla-acpp.ca

Communications Dave Mazur

Specialist dave@cnla-acpp.ca

Communications Andrew Dmytrasz

Coordinator andrew@cnla-acpp.ca

Member Services, COPF Teagan Giddings (on leave)

& Special Projects teagan@cnla-acpp.ca

Member Services Megan Farias OPF Administration megan@cnla-acpp.ca

Professional Development Edith Oyosoro edith@cnla-acpp.ca

Lauryn Mullan lauryn@cnla-acpp.ca Environmental Policy Coordinator Frydda Sandoval frydda@cnla-acpp.ca

Director of Development Jerry Lawlor Jerry@cnla-acpp.ca

CNLA Special Projects & Christine Finn

Landscape NL ED

Minor Use/IPM Coordinator Peter Isaacson B.Sc. MPM peter@cnla-acpp.ca

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF SPONSORED BY :

INDUSTRY NEWS

CGC PROCLAIMS 2022 AS 'YEAR OF THE GARDEN'

“Canada a garden nation? A nation of gardeners? You bet,” says Alexander Reford, President of the Canadian Garden Council and Director of Reford Gardens Jardins de Métis. “Gardening is a shared passion from coast to coast to coast. Not only do our gardens allow us to enjoy the flavours and freshness of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers, our flowerbeds and forests nourish our health and happiness.

Our society needs more gardeners, and Canadians are leading the charge to garden to make a better planet.

WWW.STIHL.CA

MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS BC LANDSCAPE & NURSERY ASSOCIATION 19951 Fraser Highway Langley BC V3A 4E2 bclna.com 604-575-3500 LANDSCAPE ALBERTA 18051 107 Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5S 1K3 landscape-alberta.com 1-800-378-3198 LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN snla.ca 1-800-378-3198 MANITOBA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION PO Box 1755 Winnipeg MB R3C 2Z9 mbnla.com 204-661-6397 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO 7856 Fifth Line S. Milton ON L9T 2X8 horttrades.com 1-800-265-5656 LANDSCAPE NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR PO Box 8062 St. John's NL A1B 3M9 landscapenl.com 709-700-2165 LANDSCAPE NEW BRUNSWICK & PEI PO Box 742 Saint John NB E2L 4B3 landscapenb-pei.ca 1-866-752-6862 LANDSCAPE NOVA SCOTIA PO Box 28 Stn Main Dartmouth NS B2Y 3Y2 landscapenovascotia.ca 902-800-4321

CNLA OFFICE 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 1-888-446-3499 • 905-875-1840 info@cnla-acpp.ca | cnla-acpp.ca

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

sanctuaries, and research suggests that this trend is set to continue. According to a recent NANOS poll, four in five Canadians expect to spend the same or more time gardening in 2021 than they did in 2020.

THE CANADIAN GARDEN COUNCIL (CGC) is proud to proclaim 2022, Canada’s Year of the Garden to celebrate the centennial of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector on the occasion of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s 100-year anniversary. The Year of the Garden 2022 invites Canadians across the country to commemorate Canada’s garden heritage, celebrate today’s vibrant garden culture and create legacies for a sustainable future.

“We are very supportive of proclaiming 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden in celebration of CNLA’s centennial. Our members are dedicated to providing products and services that contribute to the quality of life of Canadians and a sustainable development of Canada.

We also believe that gardening and gardens will be an important factor in the post-COVID recovery; there could be no better time to celebrate Canada’s garden culture.”

Phil Paxton, President CANADIAN NURSERY LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

During the summer of 2020, Canadians sheltered at home and turned their yards into practical and beautiful garden

The Year of the Garden 2022 is an inclusive national celebration of what we are and where we are going — a nation of gardeners.” The legacy of the Year of the Garden 2022 will be an improved quality of life for Canadians through sustainable development to fight climate change, impart significant health and well-being benefits and drive economic growth.

Canadians who support the Year of the Garden 2022 are encouraged to express their support for an official designation to their local Member of Parliament.

You can visit www.yearofthegarden.ca for more information.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR CLS? Lorem ipsum

CANADIAN LANDSCAPE STANDARD

CANADIAN LANDSCAPE STANDARD SECOND EDITION THE GUIDE FOR LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACROSS CANADA

SECOND EDITION

CANADIAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS & CANADIAN NURSERY LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

THE GOAL. To have the Canadian Landscape Standard on the desk of every landscape professional in Canada.

If you design, build, manage or maintain the landscape, the CLS is a must have resource for your business.

WHY? Because as a part of our landscape horticulture industry value chain, you are in the position to influence landscape performance results with your clients, customers, allied professions and local government.

Because the CLS references our industry credentials including our Landscape Architects, CLDs, CLHTs and CLHMs. Because the CLS is referenced in our Municipal Specifications [National Master Specifications].

MEMBERSHIP ADVANTAGE: All members of CNLA’s provincial associations receive a FREE digital subscription as a member benefit – including students! Get YOUR copy!

CONTACT YOUR PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION

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CLIMATE CHANGE & ADAPTATION

The Importance of Wetlands FEBRUARY 2ND WAS WORLD WETLANDS DAY, which marks the day when the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The Convention is an international government agreement acknowledging the importance and conservation of these critical ecosystems. Canada is one of the treaty's contracting parties and currently has 37 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance. The theme for the 2021 WWD is Wetlands and Water, which highlights the crucial function of wetlands as a source of fresh water and promotes actions to restore and stop the loss of this wetland function.

Wetlands act like giant sponges, soaking up rain and snowmelt and slowly releasing water in drier seasons.

Thus, they help to reduce floods and to ease the worst effects of drought. Draining ponds, sloughs, and marshes often lowers the water table and drys up wells. Wetlands also reduce soil erosion by checking or slowing the runoff from storms and thaws.

Without wetlands, we would no longer have a ready supply of fresh drinking water. These ecosystems filter the waters of our lakes, rivers, and streams, reducing pollution.

The vegetation removes phosphates and other plant nutrients from the surrounding soil, thereby slowing algae and aquatic weeds' growth, which is a severe problem in some of Canada's major waterways, where dead and decaying algae rob the deeper waters of their oxygen.

fish, birds, and other animals, meeting essential breeding, nesting, nursery, and feeding needs. Without wetlands, some wildlife species would disappear.

Wetlands also play an important role in our approach to climate change adaptation by capturing and storing carbon, keeping it from being released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, and providing resilience to hazards such as flooding.

Natural solutions as part of green infrastructure programming are becoming more familiar, and wetlands are an important component. This emerging shift is capitalizing on the green infrastructure services and establishes enjoyable green spaces for the communities.

In conclusion, World Wetlands Day reminds all Canadians that they help protect communities in multiple regions across the country. Therefore protecting them is essential to our communities' long-term health and prosperity.

The Climate Change & Adaptation committee is tasked with the research and promotion of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change through Canadian green industry solutions.

FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT: Frydda Sandoval, Environment Coordinator

These ecosystems support biodiversity; they are the home for at least some part of the year for many

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

1.888.446.3499 ext 8695, frydda@cnla-acpp.ca

Green Cities Foundation is a community connecting plants & people for a greener, healthier urban climate.

PROTECT:

We commit to protect the environment.

RENEW:

We commit to renew green spaces and to increase the amount of public green space in Canadian cities.

IMPROVE:

We commit to improve the climate in Canadian cities for the people who live and work in them, and for those affected by climate change.

Together we can

#GreenMyCity

One green space at a time.

For more information on getting involved in a project in your area, contact us at gcfdirector@gcfoundation.ca, or visit www.gcfoundation.ca

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

RBC Insurance is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence.

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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MEMBER SERVICES

NEW SAVINGS PROGRAMS EQUINOX ENVIRONMENTAL IS proud to announce their partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association as the Official Supplier of planters and waste management containers.

Equinox Environmental is offering all eligible CNLA members a 10% MRSP discount, plus a 2.5% CNLA partnership discount.

Membership confirmation will be required prior to purchase - contact member services for more information.

•

•

PARKLAND FUELS delivers gasoline, diesel, propane, lubricants, heating oil and other high-quality petroleum products to businesses and wholesale customers in Canada - locally, rurally and remotely.

•

Members of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association will be eligible for a 3.1 cents per litre discount on retail fuel, or 1 cent per litre off cardlock and bulk fuel.

•

E-mail CNLA@Parkland.ca, for special custom pricing.

MEMBERSHIP ADVANTAGE: For a complete listing of savings programs available log-on to: cnla.ca/savings

www.hortprotect.com

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

OFFICIAL SUPPLIER of

SELF-WATERING PLANTERS and IN-GROUND WASTE CONTAINERS for Equinox Environmental is proud to announce their partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association as the Official Supplier of planters and waste management containers.

Our mission is to provide environmental sustainability and beautification from Coast to Coast. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement.

Our partnership is designed to accomplish our mutual goals. Equinox Environmental is offering all Canadian Nursery Landscape Association members discounts on purchases.

To find out more or view our complete line of products, visit us at www.desertplanters.com or www.eqnx.biz.

www.desertplanters.com

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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SPECIAL FEATURE

HOPE IS GROWING Join us as we encourage all Canadians to plant yellow 'Hope Gardens' in 2021.

COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM (CIB) and its partners, including the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and Garden Centres Canada, are working together to summon everyone to create Hope Gardens for 2021.

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Across Canada and beyond, our goal is to see the land awash with gardens featuring yellow, the international colour of hope. Whether it’s flowers, fruits, shrubs or vegetables – just plant the seeds! From parks to playgrounds, front yards, back yards, balconies, baskets, boulevards, barrels and planters, wherever there’s an empty space to grow, there is room for a plant.

philanthropy and leadership within your community is commended. Communities in Bloom is a charity that promotes the horticulture, landscape and garden centre industries through the education and promotion of sustainable green spaces.

The team at CNLA and Communities in Bloom has created a web site www.hopeisgrowing.ca that will provide added information to you and to the country about the campaign. Please refer to the interactive map providing member retail garden centre locations as well as locations of people who have already committed to planting hope. If your Garden Centre is not pinned, please let us know and we’ll update the map to ensure your business in marketed properly.

Many Garden Centres, Landscapers, Designers and Growers across the country, are already partnering with charities in their community to offer support for worthwhile causes. Your

We’re also "hoping" that you, like the team at Communities in Bloom, see the opportunity of promoting hope within your community so that Canadian resiliency will be demonstrated

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

Hope whispers that things will get better.

DESMOND TUTU

you – colour posters, POS-signs and donation cards. s eeds collected will bring communities to life e h t All donations t n of education and community through environmental la ho both locally and nationally. p greenspace enhancement e

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Join us

As part of the Hope is Growing Campaign have added a fundraising element that will increase participation in the Campaign to spread hope across the country. Communities in Bloom is requesting Garden Centres (members of CNLA) use the month of May to solicit $1 from their customers as the community flocks to Garden Centres and purchases their yellow flowers/seeds/plants/trees.

If you would like to help us promote the campaign in your store, marketing materials can be shipped to

Share photos of your gardens on CiB’s social media platforms with the hashtag #hopeisgrowing.

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and applauded. Encourage your retail customers to plant a hope garden this year, design a hope garden for your residential or commercial customers, choose yellow flowers, trees and shrubs to plant hope for 2021!

It’s certainly been a tough year for many but we’re optimistic with our Hope is Growing Campaign that yellow will be seen from coast to coast and we would love for you to be seen for your leadership through your participation.

HOPEISGROWING.CA #HOPEISGROWING

SCAN HERE TO REGISTER

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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GARDEN CENTRES CANADA that consumers value most and are willing to pay a premium. The research will also look into how consumers’ prior purchase experiences impact the premiums they are willing to place on different features. Furthermore, we would like to compare online versus in-person buying to determine if consumers value plant features differently depending on the purchase scenario.

GCC IS TAKING ON A NEW LOOK! Professional branding is important to strengthen and celebrate the “Garden Centre” aspect of our association. It has been a strategic priority for many years, it has finally become a reality. This comes at a time when gardening, mental wellbeing and environmental awareness are at their highest. The pandemic brought people home and in touch with the earth through gardening. It brought them back to basics were getting grounded is taking on a whole new meaning.

Having a brand within a brand and under the CNLA umbrella will assist GCC in being publicly recognized and relevant. The end goal is to do our best to support our national independent garden centres across Canada through public outreach, national advocacy, education, employee training resources, peer networking opportunities, and more.

How can GCC support you as a retail garden centre? Please send in your ideas, as we are in the beginning stages of formulating an industrywide survey to ensure that you are getting the assistance you need.

CONSUMER VALUATION OF PLANTS PROJECT EARLY FINDINGS AND NEXT STEPS: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and the Marketing & Consumer Studies department at the University of Guelph have partnered to better understand the factors consumers consider and value when purchasing nursery plants.

The first part of the study was completed in the fall of 2020, with 44 qualitative intercept interviews completed at

An online survey will be conducted in March 2021 to explore the most valued plant features and consumers’ willingness to pay for these features when purchased online. In-store interviews will follow in May and June 2021. The online survey will focus on a potted indoor plant and an annual plant. Consumers will be presented with various features (such as colour, size, leaf shape, price, use, care) of each plant to enable the characterization of the features they value most.

garden centres in Southern Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Consumers were asked questions related to purchase intention before arriving at the store, impulse buying and impact of pricing on their buying decisions.

Results found that over 80% of consumers came to the garden centres with some purchase plan in mind, such as getting a plant for a specific location in their garden. Two-thirds of intercepted consumers, however, did not have a plant species or category pre-determined.

Their final purchase was found mainly based on aesthetic features, such as plant dimensions and colour, which could somehow be managed by garden centres. Interestingly, price was not a key driver of purchase intent as most consumers perceived the listed price as being “fair” and 68% of them did not make price comparisons.

Even though nearly one-quarter of consumers browsed the store, only 16% made an impulse purchase. This is in contrast to 80% of impulse buying found at grocery stores according to a study by Nielsen in 2014. This difference could be due to the purposeful nature of garden centre visit, compared to more random purchases that take place at grocery stores.

Since price and impulse buying are not the key drivers of purchase intent for nursery plants, phase two of the project will focus on identifying plant features

Since garden centres have had to increase their online presence due to pandemic restrictions, findings will provide recommendations on how best to position their products for both in-store and online success.

THE RESEARCH TEAM: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre: Amy Bowen, PhD; Alexandra Grygorczyk, PhD; Mithun Shrivastava and Sasha Miller. University of Guelph: Juan Wang, PhD and Xuezhu Wang. THANK YOU TO Van Dongen’s, Sheridan Nurseries, Grobe Nursery, GardenWorks, and Cornell Design and Landscaping for letting us into your stores.

The research is supported by CNLA, Landscape Ontario, the American Floral Endowment Fund and the Floral Marketing Research Fund

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS OR JUST TO "TALK PLANTS!" - CONTACT: Anne Kadwell NPD,CLHT, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist 1.888.446.3499 ext 8695, anne@cnla-acpp.ca

EVENT CONFIRMATION ON APRIL 30

Read the CNLA e-News, or e-mail Anne for updates!

CONTACT ANNE KADWELL NPD,CLT FOR MORE INFORMATION. 1.888.446.3499 ext 8695, anne@cnla-acpp.ca

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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INDUSTRY HUMAN RESOURCES and provide housing and a living wage until they were able to return home or until the beginning of their next work term. The government opened up the 2021 LMIA process early to begin to process for these workers to ensure they had work permits that would allow them to legally stay in Canada. CNLA was involved in conversations with ESDC and the TFWP department, but the government was not open to suggestions on how to rectify the situation or to help with additional costs.

TFWP/SAWP THE TEMPORARY FOREIGN Worker Program (TFWP) and the Seasonal Foreign Worker Program (SAWP) continued to see challenges throughout the end of the 2020 season. In the early spring, CNLA joined alliances with other interested groups to request government reassurance that our industry would have access to workers and to allow travel exceptions to be made for the foreign workers.

This persistence paid off as exceptions were made and LIMIAs dealing with agriculture and agri-food were prioritized.

We hope to see this continued for the upcoming season and are confident as the government has acknowledged these workers as highly important to agriculture.

We cannot say the process was entirely smooth. As this is a tri-partisan agreement with other countries, there were issues with their closures as well. This was felt acutely at the end of the season for SAWP workers from Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago were late sending their workers here in the spring last year, and unbeknownst to Canadians, their workers were informed that they may face additional restrictions/ quarantines at their own expense following their return. This included a quarantine period at a government facility costing the worker $1,000 of their own money.

In November, Trinidad and Tobago then closed its boarders and refused to allow the workers to return home. The Canadian government then imposed the employers who hired these workers to keep them on

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

The 2021 season is starting off with uncertainty and complications as well. Newly set regulations are mandating that all travellers arrive with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72-96 hours of arrival. The host countries typically do not have the infrastructure to accommodate this and it comes at a time when some workers are expected to start arriving, especially in BC. This has the potential to impact the entire season for some primary producers.

It is compounded by the stop order from PM Trudeau on incoming and outgoing flights to the Caribbean and Mexico where a great number of the foreign workers reside. CNLA is in touch and working with various affiliate groups and working toward government granting exceptions for these workers with the government.

We expect quarantining rules that were implemented last year to continue until more people have been vaccinated around the world. There has been talk in some provinces about prioritizing these workers for the vaccines and it has been rumored that they will be listed as second tier in some areas already. At this time, we do not know how the quarantine rules will apply to workers arriving as the information seems to be changing almost daily.

Currently there is some monetary support available until March 31, 2021 through a government application process. To find the application, go to Canada.ca and search for “Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program” Lastly, it has come to our attention that the government has begun the process to make changes to the accommodation

requirements for the TFWP. The process began with a survey that was developed without consultation and was portly worded, causing confusion and potential gathering of misinformation. Various industries were then consulted after the fact, and Judith Andrew, former Commissioner for Employers ensured that CNLA was at the table to represent the industry. We were able to bring up a number of issues brought forward by our members and were advised these will be considered. The CNLA HR will continue to follow up on this.

FREE COVID-19 RAPID TEST KITS FOR RETAILERS RETAIL BUSINESSES CAN get free COVID-19 rapid test kits. These free kits are available to any retailer in Canada.

To apply for free test kits, complete an Organizational Interest Form available at: https://cutt.ly/kxJtOZi Send the completed form to: hc.screening.kits-trousse.depistage.sc @canada.ca. (Any confidential information should be marked accordingly) Following your submission, Health Canada will review the information, request any clarifications and place a fulfilment order with Public Services and Procurement Canada. Test kits are expected to arrive within 3 to 5 business days from the fulfillment order date.

As part of the free rapid testing program, you’ll be asked to complete and submit a Data Reporting sheet. https://cutt.ly/PxJpN7s Unlike other provinces that require a medical professional to administer the test, Ontario’s antigen screening guidance allows for employees to self-administer tests. This means that the test kits are free and that the testing/processing can be done using existing personnel.

INDUSTRY HUMAN RESOURCES

AGRI-INSURANCE EXPANDING TO INCLUDE LABOUR SHORTAGE AS PART OF THE COVID-19 pandemic support, the government is working with the provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the agri-insurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest. No further details are available at this time but CNLA will continue to follow developments and will report as they become available. More information on the agri-insurance and other agricultural programs and services can be found on the Government of Canada website.

CHANGES TO THE CEWS PROGRAM CHANGES TO CEWS as of January 6, 2021: Details for claim periods 11 to 13 (December 20, 2020, to March 13, 2021): • Maximum top-up subsidy rate is 35% • Maximum subsidy amount for employees on leave with pay is $595 • Base revenue drop comparison months for period 11 will be the same as period 10 How the subsidy helps?

Get a percentage of your employees’ pay, per eligible employee, per week • The amount you get per employee is based on your revenue drop.

• You will be able to use the online calculator or downloadable spreadsheet to figure out how much subsidy you may receive for periods 11 through 13.

• For periods 11 to 13, the maximum subsidy rate is 75% (40% base rate + 35% top-up). (How you calculate your subsidy rate will be the same each period)

ECHO’S LANDSCAPER FLEET PROGRAM HAS JUST GOTTEN BETTER!  NEW TIER 1 FLEET

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OFFERED FOR $2,500 AND $5,000 INVESTMENTS

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TIERS 2 & 3 WITH DISCOUNTS UP TO 24 MONTHS

FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT: Leslis Sison, Industry HR Coordinator / Government Relations 1.888.446.3499 ext 8660 leslie@cnla-acpp.ca

cle

 EXPANDED PRODUCT RANGE

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SIGN UP FOR YOUR NO OBLIGATION DEMO TODAY AT DEMO@ECHO.CA

SINCE 1922

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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LANDSCAPE CANADA

WELCOME TO THE TEAM! LCC WOULD LIKE to take the opportunity to welcome Chris Draaistra to the Landscape Canada Committee.

It is great to have new people join our committee bringing fresh views and the opportunity to share innovative ideas. We asked Chris to tell us a little bit about himself, his company, how they support one another and the community. We like Chris’s fun crew huddles and his Code of Care!

It is a great time to acknowledge staff and celebrate the small victories that happen every day while also bringing up training opportunities and safety issues.

Being part of their community is also a big part of this company. This past November, they were able to work with a local hospice to give back to two families in their community, offering a much-needed fall clean up and planting numerous plants including a commemorative tree for each family.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in the horticultural industry (13 years as the Facilities Manager at Van Belle Nursery and 9 years as owner of the Grounds Guys of Abbotsford), he is excited about this new opportunity to serve on the board of the BCLNA and other national committees like Landscape Canada.

In his role with the Grounds Guys, Chris understands the importance of building a team of staff that enjoy working together and enjoy “having fun in the process”.

Every morning his team meets together in their morning huddle and recites their code of care together, talks about what happened the day before, and what is going to happen on that given day.

This was a great way to team-build, make a difference in their community, and give back through volunteering. It was a soggy day, but with great reward as the two families expressed their appreciation.

Thank you for sharing Chris, all the best in the spring season soon upon us.

SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS ARE YOU AS AN OWNER/OPERATOR and are you Social Media Savvy? Do you have the time and resources to set up informative posts to help with customer attraction, employee recruitment, and company awareness? In many cases the medium to small landscape companies do not have the time, or resources to do this in a consistent impactful way.

Creating and publishing content to several different platforms can be overwhelming.

We all know social media is a “thing” and it is here to stay and will become expected of companies in the very near future. At the moment the LCC committee is reviewing different types of social media management toolsith the intent to assist our membership by providing some vetted options and support. This tool would include one-on-one assistance and a webinar learning opportunity.

Stay tuned for what is soon to come.

Digging in and getting dirty! The best part of the job!

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT: Anne Kadwell NPD,CLHT, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist 1.888.446.3499 ext 8695, anne@cnla-acpp.ca

7 Steps to

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

GET CERTIFIED!

R EC E NT C E RT I F I C AT I ON S A S OF MARC H 2021:

LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE

CERTIFICATION program

REMINDER TO RE-CERTIFY MEMBERS WHO WERE due to submit for recertification for 2019/2020, will have until the end of June 2021 to renew, after which a late fee will be charged.

Casey Norman, CLHT Softscape Installation - Manitoba Al Chapin, CLHM Top Spray - Alberta

to register for one CLHT module and $325 to register for the CLHM exams, CNLA members will now pay $300 and $225 respectively.

Hurry and take advantage of this limited time offer to earn your desired landscape horticulture certification.

Participate in activities for earning continuing education units (CEUs) and record a minimum of 24 CEUs in the recertification form (cnla. ca/training/recertification). Submit completed recertification forms with necessary supporting evidence.

Members earn CEUs for industryrelated education and service.

Details of activities that qualify for CEUs are listed on the form.

Renewals are valid for a two-year period. Certifications lapse if they are not renewed one year past the due date. To reinstate a lapsed certification, members are required to register, write, and pass the written exam components for their designation.

For more information on recertification or to find out if you are due to recertify, please contact the CNLA Professional Development team: certification@cnla-acpp.ca 905-875-1399 ext. 8620

CLHT & CLHM EXAM REGISTRATION DISCOUNT THE CANADIAN NURSERY Landscape Association (CNLA) is offering a $100 member discount for the new Certified Landscape Horticulturist Technician (CLHT) and Certified Landscape Horticulturist Manager (CLHM) exam registrations. Rather than pay $400

1

Choose the designation(s) and specialization(s) you would like to pursue. Visit the Landscape Horticulture Certification Program (LHCP) for guidance to make your selection.

2

Download the appropriate study manuals for your designation and specialization from the website, complete and email it to CNLA for processing.

3

Study to prepare for your certification exams

4

When you feel ready to commence the certification exams, download the correct exam registration form for your designation from the website.

5

Complete and email your exam registration form to CNLA.

6

Once your exam registration is processed,

CLHT CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE:

ACCESS THE NURSERY WORKER MANUAL THE CANADIAN NURSERY Landscape Association (CNLA) is offering the electronic Nursery Worker manual to members at no charge. The manual articulates industry standard for nursery workers and covers the following ten modules, namely (i) plant identification; (ii) plant propagation; (iii) integrated pest management; (iv) soil fertility & cultural management; (v) field harvesting techniques; (vi) irrigation scheduling, equipment repair & maintenance; (vii) staff management; (viii) grading, shipping & receiving; (ix) equipment operations & maintenance; and (x) maintain nursery structures. For a print copy, a $100 fee will be charged to print and ship the manual.

Contact CNLA Professional Development for more information: certification@cnla-acpp.ca 1.888.446.3499 ext. 8620 www.cnlagetcertified.ca

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021 17

• Email with login credentials and detailed guidelines for completing hands-on practical tests in Valid-8. Your Valid-8 subscription is valid for one year during which period you have unlimited access to submit evidence for assessment.

• One-time links and detailed guidelines for taking written tests in Mettl. You will receive new links to retake failed tests multiple times at no extra charge.

CLD CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE:

• Email with one-time links and detailed guidelines for taking written tests in Mettl. A retest fee is charged to issue new links to retake failed tests.

CLHM CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE:

• Email with one-time links and detailed guidelines for taking written tests in Mettl. A retest fee is charged to issue new links to retake failed tests.

7

Complete all assigned hands-on practical and written test units to earn your designation.

You are CERTIFIED when: CLHT CANDIDATES:

• Evidence submitted for assigned hands-on units are assessed to have met industry standards.

• Assigned written tests are passed with a score of 70% or higher.

CLD CANDIDATES:

• Assigned written tests are passed with a score of 70% or higher.

• Portfolio review of three landscape design projects in which the candidate played the lead design role is successfully completed.

CLHM CANDIDATES:

• Assigned written tests are passed with a score of 70% or higher.

GROWERS CANADA

APP- $100K INTEREST FREE, UP TO $900K AT PRIME The Advance Payments Program (APP) is a federal program which supports the provision of operating lines of credit to growers across Canada. Under the APP, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) provides a loan guarantee on advances taken by growers and covers the interest on the first $100,000 in advances taken by each grower under the program. The Advance Payments Program provides up to 18 months of financing for over 4,000 different commodities including nursery (container shrubs, evergreen and deciduous trees), sod, potted plants and cut flowers. Eligible farms can receive up to $100,000 interest-free, with an additional $900,000 available at Prime Interest Rate.

If you are in BC, ON or QC, contact the Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC) to apply for an APP loan (www. agcreditcorp.ca). For growers in other provinces, contact the Agri-Commodity Management Association (ACMA) to apply (www.agricommodity.ca). The ACMA offers an additional ¼ point off the prime interest rate for the additional $900,000 available. Nursery, sod and floriculture growers must be enrolled in AgriStability to access the program.

At the ACC Annual General Meeting, held on February 24th where Brent Mooney of Golden Spruce Nurseries in Langley, BC was elected as a director on the AAC Board.Brent becomes the first director for ACC from outside of Ontario, bringing national representation to the administration and delivery of this national program.

18

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

THE NEW PLANT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TAKES ON BLACK KNOT RESISTANCE BREEDING Black knot caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa is a very common disease of plants in the genus Prunus.

The most distinguishing symptom of Black knot is the characteristic black, tar-like swellings that develop on branches of the infected plant.

Black knot is the major reason why chokecherries are no longer being sold or planted in the landscape. If they could be bred to be more resistant, it’s quite likely chokecherries would have a comeback, particularly Schubert or purple leafed varieties since, especially in prairie province climates, we have very few purple leafed choices for landscaping.

the new research project will start. Dr Bob Bors, a respected ornamentals and small fruits breeder at the University of Saskatchewan will lead the research, with the initial goal of identifying techniques to successfully and repeatably inoculate trees with black knot and that can be used over much of the growing season or under greenhouse conditions. Evaluation methods will be refined to measure the degree of resistance or infection that is exhibited by an inoculated specimen.

Success in these two objectives will mean that germplasm of chokecherry can then be assessed for resistance and it is hoped plants with a high degree of resistance can be found in natural populations and/or from populations available from nurseries across Canada. From there, cross breeding of the germplasm and selection for the resistance in the offspring can begin.

Following much deliberation and discussion with industry and researchers, CNLA’s New Plant Development Committee is at the beginning of a new research project, that will lay the groundwork for a breeding program for black knot resistant chokecherries.

Similar techniques are used in CNLA’s rose breeding program to inoculate, measure and breed for black spot disease in roses. With the roses however, Vineland successfully identified a genetic marker for black spot resistance in the rose genome. They can now identify seedlings with or without that marker right after germination and only plant seedlings in the field for testing that have the gene for black spot resistance. This has greatly increased the efficiency of the selection and testing process in rose breeding.

It is hoped that a similar marker can be found and used to breed for black knot resistance in chokecherries in the future.

Research is first needed to develop reliable and repeatable inoculation methods for black knot. This is where

FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT: Jamie Aalbers, Growers Manager 1.888.446.3499 ext 8630 jamie@cnla-acpp.ca

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Reliability that counts ƒ FS 91 R BRUSHCUTTER WEEDS AND BRUSH HAVE NOWHERE TO HIDE. The consistent performance, dependability and effortless feel of the FS 91 R brushcutter makes this unit a must-have in a landscaper’s fleet. The FS 91 R is built with STIHL’s unbeatable quality and is extremely easy to maintain. With the low-emission engine and the large 710 mL fuel tank of the FS 91 R, you increase production with long runtimes. Built with a starting system that can be relied on is key for a landscaper who has a demanding day.

The starting procedure on the FS 91 R is a simple process with an easy-to-operate stop switch with standby mode. It also features a redesigned guard to reduce weight, a superior air filtration system that allows an extended service life, as well as an improved rubberized loop handle design that offers extra comfort with fewer vibrations. It’s the ideal tool for working on large areas of tough grass.

SPECIFICATIONS DISPLACEMENT

28.4 CC

POWER OUTPUT

0.95 KW

WEIGHT ①

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① Weight without fuel, cutting attachment or deflector.

PRO-FLEET COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM STIHL’s Pro-Fleet Commercial Landscape Program is designed to provide commercial landscapers a volume discount on major purchases of five or more landscaping power tools. Visit your STIHL Dealer today to find out more and take advantage of the savings!

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SPRING 2021

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