Landscape Ontario - April 2016

April 2016 www.horttrades.com

PROMOTING

PROFESSIONS Brandon Gelderman (left) explains green careers at Canada Blooms.

PM 40013519

Page 4

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S’ LOGO

SUMERS’ RS’ LOGO , Website edia, etc.)

ON LOGO

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Positive energy fuels our profession

By Paul Brydges LO President

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lbert Einstein said “energy cannot be created or destroyed, in can only be changed from one form to another.” How very true this is. Sit in on an LO committee meeting to discuss a topic that everyone at the table is passionate about and the positive energy infuses the entire group with a sense of power and ability to accomplish tasks that seem daunting individually.

We are currently working on several committee projects at LO that will help to shape our association in the coming years and carry us that much further forward.

Members’ ongoing willingness to give their time and expertise for the greater good is humbling to say the least. Being a leap year, we have an extra day of energy this year. Tony DiGiovanni and I used that to our advantage to talk to about 50 landscape architecture students at my alma mater, the University of Guelph. Their

April, 2016 • Volume 34, No. 4 horttrades.com Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural industry in Ontario.

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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805

diverse interests and energy were infectious for both Tony and myself. Their reasons for choosing landscape architecture were as diverse as the students themselves. The one common theme that rung true with them all was the desire to help the environment as a major part of their career path. Making the world a better place through design is one of the founding principles of landscape architecture and all environmental or green based design.

Green infrastructure versus grey infrastructure is one of our major LO initiatives to help be part of the solution for continuing water management issues.

We discussed how many different opportunities LO has to offer for students to continue learning specific skills while at school and after.

As members, we continually talk about getting out in front of potential new members to show them the value of LO. Our new student category for members found a great response that day and the students had lots of varied questions. As mentors, we can easily create a welcoming opportunity for our future to come and ask us questions. Telling the group of students they are our future created such positive energy with them that it can’t do anything except have

Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Assistant editor Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Sales manager Steve Moyer stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-0708 Integrated solutions representative Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLM lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Erin Agro, Darryl Bond, Kim Burton, Myscha Burton, Rachel Cerelli,Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Sally Harvey CLT CLM CAE, Jane Leworthy, Heather MacRae, Kristen McIntyre CHT CEM, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Ian Service, Tom Somerville, Martha Walsh, Cassandra Wiesner

Views expressed are those of the writer concerned. Landscape Ontario assumes no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2016, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).

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them follow through with finding out more about LO and our association.

The many dedicated student volunteers that helped at GreenTrade Expo in Ottawa earlier in February had the same energy and passion. Bringing them together to set up and greet attendees gave them the opportunity to see our diverse profession and attend some very valuable lectures early in their green careers.

In many ways, LO is becoming the go-to place for professionals such as municipalities and diverse interest groups, to learn from and lead green design and environmentally responsible design. This is a direct result of all the positive energy our dedicated members put forth for so many years.

Our newest goal is to ensure we remember from within that we are all professionals and put this language forth to all our newest members and contacts. Already, our LO staff team have started to adjust their language on websites, in emails and in presentations to remind us all that we are an association of a vast number of varied professions and professionals.

The 20th edition of Canada Blooms is now over and in dealing with the powerful team that built and created the LO feature garden, I know that energy will create and energize a new group of LO members. A special thank you to everyone involved in the LO garden can never be said too many times. Your positive energy greatly influences us all and helps us to carry through the busy times.

Paul Brydges may be reached at paulbrydges.la@sympatico.ca.

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FEATURES CANADA BLOOMS AWARDS VOLUNTEERS WOMEN IN HORTICULTURE

ASSOCIATION NEWS MEMBER PROFILE SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE EVENTS NEW MEMBERS INDUSTRY NEWS COLUMNS AD INDEX CLASSIFIEDS

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Colourful plants and natural materials were all the rage at this year’s festival.

Green profession delivers wow factor at Canada Blooms The 20th edition of Canada Blooms, themed “It’s a Party!” featured a lot of new and inspiring ideas that attracted a large number of people from both the profession and the gardening public from Mar. 10-21 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto.

Canada Blooms general manger Terry Caddo said the 2016 edition of the 10-day festival was a huge success. “As Kathy Dembrowski, the co-founder of Canada Blooms said, ‘the wow factor is back in Canada Blooms.’” The crowds at the show were very large and many garden builders booked post-show consultations says Caddo.

The Landscape Ontario garden “Choose Your Garden Path,” designed by the team at Brydges Landscape Architects and built by a collective of over 30 member companies and dozens of volunteers (see page 7), showcased the many sectors that make up the landscape profession. The garden also included videos and literature for youth to consider a career in a profession that also makes a beneficial contribution to the environment.

“This year’s garden theme was very well received by both our professional members and the public at large,” says LO president

4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Paul Brydges. “Many adults approached me to ask questions about opportunities for a career change. Interestingly, many of those people were women or corporate professionals in marketing or project management. There were also many students from high school and college that were

interested in learning about career opportunities that can make a positive influence on the environment.”

One of the many elements in the LO garden was a large water feature built by Jackson Pond Management. Amanda Goddard was one of their four staff members who spent four days building the feature.

“The water feature has four different waterfalls within it. They are called tiers and we categorize it as a pondless waterfall so there is no pond feature. For some people this may be beneficial in their backyard if

This Victorian-inspired garden by Vandermeer Nursery and Earth Art Landscapes featured a ferris wheel and used many reclaimed materials.

they don’t want to include fish.”

The other appeal of the design, says Goddard is the use of natural wood and plant material to make the water feature look as though it was created by Mother Nature.

Goddard has been attending Canada Blooms for many years and says when owner Phil Jackson told her about being a part of the build team she was “over the moon excited.”

Being a part of a build team is “something that’s been a dream of mine that I’ve always wanted to do because I always come to the show to see it. To now see it start from a concrete floor to the finished product, then visiting the show was amazing,” Goddard says.

After the show, many of the elements of the LO feature garden were then sent to Ottawa as part of a 30,000 sq. ft. feature garden in the Ottawa Living Landscapes show where the “Choose Your Path” messaging lives on. (See the next issue of LO magazine for complete coverage).

Over at the “Carnival of Colour” feature garden by Vandermeer Nursery and Earth Art Landscapes, designer Regine Marsh echoes show co-founder Dembroski’s comments about a rejuvenated show. “A lot of the comments I heard about the show this year are people saying ‘this is what Canada Blooms used to be like,’” Marsh says.

She believes people walking through her garden are drawn in by the amount of plant material, and specifically, the amount of colour in her garden. “It’s a great way of showcasing what the nursery has in stock.”

Marsh says the interest level of visitors is very high for her services. She points out the large number of postcards people took from the garden. The postcards include a coupon that can then be taken to Vandermeer so the nursery can also track how successful their promotion was at the show.

In addition to the colour, Marsh’s Victorian-inspired design includes a popcorn cart, carousel horse and a ferris wheel. She also included an old dining room set that was completely covered in sedum which she began working on the week before Thanksgiving. The garden also made use of old barn board for the pergola, reclaimed wood around the window screens and reclaimed brick on the pathway.

Marsh says in her design she tries to use “little elements that people can actually visualize in their own garden” which provides mass appeal and provides interest to the garden. “It’s amazing how many people remember us based on the troll garden theme we had last year,” she adds.

Blake Tubby from Arbordale Landscaping took time out to see the show and meet

On Mar. 16, Canada Blooms opened the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The countdown included members of LO, the Garden Club of Toronto and Canada Blooms. Pictured above (l-r) are Janet Ennamorato, Tony DiGiovanni, Paul Brydges and Ryan Heath.

with fellow LO members at Industry Night on Mar. 17. “I think it’s actually a great show,” says Tubby. “It’s a good opportunity for homeowners and for industry professionals to come together as well as for prospective industry professionals to come and see what the landscape profession really has to offer.”

Tubby also enjoys the diversity of the gardens, mixing modern styles and traditional styles and spotting new styles and materials introduced at the show. “It’s always refreshing to see what’s new and it’s also a great way to hone in on your own design skills and pick up tips and tricks for your own designs,” Tubby says.

The messaging in the LO feature garden of the industry really being a team of professions appears to be resonating with both the public and LO members. Tubby echoes those sentiments when talking about the use of landscape lighting at the show, “I think [lighting] has come a long way,” Tubby says. “We are no longer just landscape lighting. We are electricians now and lighting technicians. We are no longer

just sticking fixtures in the ground. Now lighting is just as much of a feature in the landscape as any other feature.”

Certified floral designer, Jennifer Harvey from Gatto Flowers says one of the main draws of Canada Blooms is the show’s ability to continue to inspire visitors. “I’m seeing a lot of ingenious things like a piano being used as a water feature and a lot of recycled wood — things you wouldn’t traditionally think of being used in a garden and when you can use or illustrate something like that in a different way it’s very inspiring.”

“I think it’s the busiest show I’ve ever been a part of,” Harvey says, also noting “There is more plant material and more colour this year and flowers everywhere.”

Any members interested in building a feature garden for the 2017 festival must submit a letter of intent to Canada Blooms by April 17. If you have any questions, please contact David Turnbull, Canada Blooms Director of Horticulture, at 416-447-8655.

A piano repurposed as a water feature drew a lot of attention in the feature garden by Near North Landscapes.

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ORCGA and Fern Ridge Landscaping • Outstanding educational garden Royal Stone Landscaping & Design and AquaSpa Pools Landscape and Design • Outstanding use of trees, presented by Gro-Bark Ontario • The W.E. Bridgeman Award for best overall use of hard landscape elements University Pro Landscapers, Paving, Pools & Spas • Outstanding use of lighting Feature garden builder awards were presented on Mar. 17 at Canada Blooms.

Feature garden award winners at Canada Blooms 2016 True to the “It’s a Party!” theme, the 20th annual Canada Blooms festival was a celebration of the green profession and the amazing possibilities the industry provides.

Garden displays continued to be a major draw for visitors, and the professionals behind the varied and beautiful displays were recognized at an awards ceremony held Mar. 17 at the Unilock Celebrity Stage during industry night.

Feature garden judges included: Alistair Johnston ISA, Strybos Barron King; Jeff McMann NPD, ISA, CHT, TRAQ, Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries; Martin Wade BLA, OALA, CSLA, Martin Wade Landscape Architects; Beth Edney CLD, Designs by the Yard; Carson Arthur, HGTV; Christine Gracey OALA, CSLA, DA Gracey & Associates; Michael Prokopow PHD, OCAD University; Peter Guinane, Oriole Landscaping. Conveners were Ron Koudys BLA, MED, OALA, CSLA, ASLA, RLA (MI), CLD of Ron Koudys Landscape Architects and Landscape Ontario’s Kristen McIntyre CHT, CEM. At the conclusion of final award selections, each judge voted on their favourite feature garden by secret ballot, to be included in the tally for ‘Judges Choice Award,’ renamed for 2016 to the Tony DiGiovanni Garden of the Year Award.

“I am inspired and encouraged by the level of detail and craftsmanship with the imaginative garden designs,” said Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of Landscape Ontario. “The builders expressed their creativity and interpretive, artistic vision of the theme of ‘It’s a Party’ this year in celebration of the 20th year of the festival. Our talented teams of feature garden builders impress me more each year.”

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The following results are the winning entries at Canada Blooms 2016.

B SQ Design Studio • Unilock Award for outstanding garden, small size Landscape by Lucin • The S.G. Ulbright Award for outstanding garden, medium size • Outstanding use of pre-cast pavers, presented by Permacon Genoscape • The Tony DiGiovanni Garden of the Year Award (Judges Choice Award) • The Gordon A. MacEachern Award for outstanding garden, large size • Perry Molema Award for outstanding use of water, presented by Aquascape • The Leslie L. Solty Memorial Award for best overall creativity in garden design Garden Retreats and QPS Landscape Professionals • Outstanding interpretation of the show theme “It’s a Party!” presented by Isuzu Commercial Trucks of Canada Bancheri Bros • Outstanding outdoor entertainment area Jacobs Gardenspace • Most imaginative garden design, presented

by Niagara Escarpment Views Near North Hardscape • Outstanding use of artistic elements in a garden, presented by Hortus TV • Outstanding outdoor living space

City of Toronto • Outstanding use of interior plants, presented by Jill Jensen Botanicals • The Garden Club of Toronto Award for best overall use of colour Egreen Design • Outstanding use of annuals and/or perennials, presented by Pick Ontario Brydges Landscape Architecture and the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association Team • Outstanding use of natural stone, presented

by Beaver Valley Stone Unilock • Outstanding use of walkways • The Dig Safe Builders Award, presented by Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance Julie Moore Modern Landscape Design • Outstanding use of innovative elements in a garden Who Does Your Garden in partnership with Vital Gardens • The Do-Up-The-Doorstep Award, presented

by Oaks by Brampton Brick Fresh Floral Creations • Outstanding floral use of artistic elements, presented by Gatto Flowers Opening Night Flowers • Best overall floral quality and workmanship, presented by Fiskars Alma Florist • Best use of floral theme, presented by Bayview Flowers Vandermeer Nursery and Earth Art Landscapes • The PemierTech Award for best overall use of plant material J. Garfield Thompson Landscape • The Landscape Ontario Award for best overall quality of workmanship

Building the LO feature garden at Canada Blooms requires dozens of professionals and students working together as a team.

Team effort required to showcase industry at Canada Blooms LO “CHOOSE YOUR PATH” FEATURE GARDEN Contributors

Brydges Landscape Architecture, Dean McLellan Stonework, Edengrove Landscapes, Envirolok Vegetated Environmental Solutions, Gelderlands, Ground Effects Landscapes, Highland Design and Build, Illumicare Group, In-Lite Design, Jackson Pond Management, Lawn Life, LIM Landscape, Nutri-Lawn, Patrick Callon Landscape Design, Saugeen First Nations #29.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centres, Weed Man Canada, Wentworth Landscapes, Whistling Dwarf Stonework.

Sponsors

Beaver Valley Stone, Durolawn, Envirolok, Ground Effects, Hutcheson Sand & Mixes, Immumicare Group, Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario, Turf Care Products Canada, Turf Systems, Unilock, Upper Canada Stone.

Teardown Team

Dreamscape Landscaping, Edengrove,

Ground Effects, Highland Design, Illumicare Group, Jackson Pond Management, TDA Landscape Services, TNT Property Maintenance, Weed Man.

Volunteers

Paul Brydges, Laura Paaren, Tiffany Byrd, Dean McLellan, Kenneth Davies, John Hordyk, Stephen Kampen, Tyler Kampen, Justine Lodder, Josh McCarthy, Sean Kampen, Jason Beatty, Tyler Heemskerk, Russ Vanveen, Ryan Bosscher, Mike Bilotto, Jay Morgan, Brandon Gelderman, Boyan Shen, Tim Kreamer, Keith Heaton, Angie Fry, Natasha MacNiel, Robyn McEwan, Mark Fligg, J.P. Galle, Rob Rafferty, Dan Pigeon, Nathan Drumm, John Higo, Steven Hernandez, Jonathan Pink, Kerri Taylor, Kevin King, Rob Redden, Phil Jackson, Gord June, Amanda Goddard, Tiffany Lavender, Ken Pavley, Lucas Michaelson, Kevin Miket, Tom Szasnowski, Ben Szasnowski, Patrick Callon, Brian Bailey, Dan Voorkees, Richard Jacobs, Henry Mandawoub, Matt Wolfe, Mike Henry, Rohan Harrison, Steve Tschanz, Scott Wentworth, Jim Philip, Brian Ferreira, Natasha Egorenkova, Sian

Pritchard, Jay Middleton, Rhonda DeRue, Andrew Wilson, Cory Steenburgh, Dennis Grant, Matt Ferreira, Steve Ferreira, Menno Braam, Robert C. Tester, Robert A. Tester, Brian Tester, Missy Tester, Linda Tester, Twan Van Veghel, Israel Del Angel, Carol-Ann Betz.

Students

Tyler Nakagawa, Carter Maxwell, Morgan Whitehead, Elizabeth Lazar, Andrew Guay, Caleb Greisman, Abigail Turple, Mihali Schindle, Fuhao Xie, Jarrett Sim, Jenna Simpson, Victoria FitzGerald, Kiersten Lieske.

Canada Blooms 2016 Sponsors

Toronto Star, Unilock, Aviva Insurance, Bayview Flowers, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Fafard, Florist Holland, Gatto Flowers, Gro-Bark (Ontario), HortusTV, HUB International Insurance Brokers & Consultants, Intercontinental Toronto Centre, Jill Jensen Botanicals, Medallion Plants, Merit Travel, Oaks by Brampton Brick, Pick Ontario, The New Classical 96.3 FM, Zoomer Radio AM 740, Canadian Gardening, Garden Making, Harrowsmith, Homes Publishing Group, Pro-Mix, Zoomer magazine, The Garden Club of Toronto, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association.

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Humber College horticulture technician program graduates Elizabeth Tuntevska (left) and Jacqueline Silva served on the advisory committee for the advancing women in horticulture through mentorship pilot project.

Mentorship program supporting women on all levels Landscape Ontario is partnering with nonprofit organization MicroSkills to develop the “advancing women in horticulture through mentorship” pilot project.

Officially launched at Congress in January, the project recently matched 24 women interested in progressing in the green profession with experienced mentors.

“Compared to many other trades, participation rates among women in horticulture are quite high,” says Jane Wilson, director for women and newcomer services at MicroSkills. “However, when you start to look at who owns businesses and who is assuming leadership in professional groups and associations, there is a greater preponderance of men.”

This mentorship program, Wilson explains, is directed towards women already working or studying towards a career in horticulture, and is designed to provide them with the support they need to achieve their goals.

“This is a program that can be accessed at any point; you don’t need a goal necessarily, to benefit from mentoring, you only need to say that you want to grow and progress and that you are interested in having someone help you to do that. And on the other hand, mentoring is an opportunity for women to support other women in making that desire come to life,” Wilson says.

Funding for the project is provided by the Status of Women Canada federal grant program which aims “to achieve the full participation of women in the

8 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

economic, social and democratic life of Canada.” Funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of projects at the local, regional and national levels that address the following three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving womens’ and girls’ economic security and prosperity; and encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.

Since 2008, MicroSkills has guided over 150 women into the green profession through its support of Humber College’s pre-apprenticeship program, specifically designed for women. Now, the organization is hoping the new mentorship project

will foster a supportive community of green professionals, dedicated to helping each other move up in the industry.

“There are many more women working in the field than there are occupying management positions or owning their own businesses,” Wilson says. “We want to see more women advance into leadership roles or pursue entrepreneurship; the way to achieve that goal is to provide opportunities for women to gain technical training and education as well as supportive mentorship once they’re out in the labour force.”

Sally Harvey, manager of education and labour development for Landscape Ontario, says mentorship, both formal and informal, plays a pivotal role in career advancement.

“Like many other trades, horticulture was traditionally a male dominated profession,” Harvey says. “Over the last 10 years or so, we have seen a major shift in postsecondary participation, to the point where student ratios are 50-50 male and female on average.”

She adds, “Landscape Ontario has been involved with MicroSkills and the preapprenticeship program for many years and the feedback that we have received consistently from the women involved is that they need mentorship to be successful as they merge into the industry … Coaching and ongoing contact as well as engagement with Landscape Ontario helps keep new members of the profession focused on achieving their goals.”

Elizabeth Tuntevska, owner of Ladybug Gardening in Richmond Hill, Ont., serves on the mentorship program’s advisory board and was recently paired with a mentee.

“There are so many opportunities out there that women are not made aware of,” Tuntevska says. “This industry can lead to almost anything you want it to. We are see-

Women working or studying in horticulture have been paired with experienced green professionals for the program’s pilot year, which runs through September 2016.

ing new graduates going into horticulture therapy or maintenance or design; truly, it can lead to whatever path you want.

“Women need to know about those options and they need to understand the roadmap towards achieving their goals and I’m excited about being a small part of that process.”

While the green profession can provide varied and fulfilling careers for women, newcomers still face challenges in the field.

“One of the obvious obstacles facing women in this industry is that some men make assumptions based on your height, weight and appearance that you can’t do the job physically,” Tuntevska explains.

“They assume that you aren’t strong enough and you can’t lift 50 pounds, or whatever the case may be.”

It’s a physical industry she says, but those issues can be overcome.

Jacqueline Silva is a graduate of Humber College’s horticulture technician program currently working for Wild Rose Gardening. A member of the mentorship program’s advisory board, Silva is looking forward to working with a mentor this year.

Now entering her third season in the industry, she is amazed at how much she has learned.

e

While the number of women entering the profession continues to grow, the mentorship program also aims to foster growth into more entrepreneurial and management roles for women.

“Don’t give up because the job is hard,” Silva urges women who are new to the green profession. “Try to see the bigger picture because there is a lot of room to grow and to be a professional in the field.

If you want to do it, you can do it and you can make it work, but sometimes you need

guidance and somebody to give you advice and help you find what will work best for you.”

For more information on the Advancing Women in Horticulture Program, or to sign up to be a mentor or a mentee, visit womenmentoringwomen.ca.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

is important to be constantly learning new things, especially now, with how quickly technology is advancing and having an impact on the industry.”

Eric Miltner, an agronomist with Koch Turf and Ornamentals, opened with a session on optimizing nutrient management for turf with fertilizer technology.

A longtime academic researcher and professional in the field, Miltner’s lecture was based on the idea that not all fertilizers are not created equal.

“Choosing the right one depends on your local conditions, objectives, and your resources, including labour, equipment and budget,” Miltner advises.

Landscape architect Scott Torrance, University of Guelph’s plant manager Rodger Tschantz and Oriole Landscaping CEO Peter Guinane also led sessions.

ROAD CLOSURE AT LO MILTON OFFICE

Eric Miltner, Koch Turf and Ornamentals, opened the lecture event.

Grounds management added to popular lecture series Despite a wintry blast of snow and freezing rain on the day of the event, the annual Landscape Ontario contractor’s lecture series provided participants with valuable information on a range of important industry topics.

Held Feb. 24 at the Mississauga Grand Banquet and Convention Centre, the event included educational sessions led by green industry professionals, punctuated by networking opportunities during a reception and dinner service.

New to the event this year were a number of speakers focused on the grounds management sector.

Brad Paton, owner of Shades of Summer Landscaping in the Hamilton area, was a proponent of the addition of maintenance education into the annual lecture series.

“This is something that LO’s grounds management sector group was certainly interested in,” Paton explained. “There is a lot of new information out there and we want to see members taking advantage

10 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

of the best practices and strategies that are going to help them be successful over the long term.”

A 25-time LO Awards of Excellence recipient, including three Don Salivan awards for best overall maintenance score (2011, 2013, 2014), Paton discussed strategies to “set your business apart” in the competitive field.

Alex Scott of Scott’s Garden Centre in Orillia was glad to see grounds management topics added to the event.

“It’s a perfect time to get out to something like this, because the spring and summer season will be starting up soon and it’ll be nice to have some fresh tips at the top of my mind,” Scott said, adding that he was particularly interested in learning strategies related to staff management.

James Irwin, founder and president of Wild Rose Gardening in Toronto, agreed.

“If I can take away even one or two pieces of information from an event like this, it’s well worth attending,” he said. “It

Bridge construction on Fifth Line S. by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has closed all access to Landscape Ontario’s home office from the south (Main St., Derry Rd., etc.) until late November of this year. The LO site is only accessible from Steeles Ave. to the north. This first stage of bridge construction is part of the future widening of Hwy. 401.

Halton Region has also started the next phase of watermain construction in the area, which saw a closure of Fifth Line S. between Main St. and Derry Rd. back on Mar. 28. That section of Fifth Line S. is open to local traffic and emergency vehicles, but is not an option to access the LO site, since the bridge work

by MTO (noted above) has closed Fifth Line on the north side of Hwy. 401. The watermain construction by Halton Region is expected to be completed Jan. 1, 2017.

Another phase of the same watermain project also has Fifth Line S. closed from Derry Rd. to Britannia Rd. until Sep. 1, 2017.

Motorists are being detoured along James Snow Parkway (to the west) or Trafalgar Rd. (to the east) and up to

Steeles Ave. to then enable access to the LO site.

A detour map is available at horttrades.com.

IN MEMORIAM - EVA KRAUS

Eva Kraus (nee Viravska) passed away peacefully in her 87th year in the comfort of her home on Feb. 26.

Beloved wife of the late Vratislav (Victor), much loved mother of Eva (George) Joao of Carlisle, Irene (John) Kraus-Picado of Mountsberg, Linda Kraus of Carlisle, Sylvia Kraus of Toronto and Olga Kraus (Romeo D’Agostini) of Carlisle. Cherished grandmother of Lisa, Robert, Trevor, Mikaela, Kieran, Milan, Allegra, and Tesiana. Special thanks to Dr. Cindy Donaldson and the entire healthcare team that made it possible for her to be cared for at home.

A visitation was held at the Kitching, Steepe & Ludwig Funeral Home in Waterdown, on Mar. 1 followed by a funeral service and reception the following day.

Born Jan. 2, 1930 in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), Kraus lived

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ASSOCIATION NEWS through the many atrocities of the Second World War, helping to hide Czech soldiers from invaders and losing her father who died in a concentration camp.

A college graduate, Kraus fled the country shortly after the Russian occupation in 1948 and in the company of a few friends ended up being sent to Canada from Germany partly due to her ability to speak English, French and German.

In 1951, Victor and Eva Kraus were married and acquired 5.5 acres of land in Carlisle, Ont. and began V. Kraus Nurseries. By 1961 the family grew to include five children (all daughters) and the nursery grew to 28 acres.

With a penchant for organizational wizardry, Eva Kraus managed the office duties until 1975 when daughter Irene became her first full-time assistant. Upon retiring from the family business, Eva continued to help out in busy times.

If desired, donations to the Hamilton S.P.C.A. would be sincerely appreciated by the family.

12  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Seedy Saturday in Milton The Milton & District Horticultural Society held its first-ever Seedy Saturday event in Milton at the LO home office on Feb. 27. A fun time was had by the over 150 attendees who arrived to swap seeds, visit with over 20 horticulture exhibitors and attend any of the 12 seminars ranging in topics such as toxic plants, worm composting and attracting butterflies to the garden. Special thanks to LO’s Cassandra Wiesner and David Turnbull for helping to make the event possible.

M. PUTZER HORNBY NURSERY LTD Prizes were awarded during the après ski at Osler.

ANOTHER GREAT DAY ON THE SLOPES

The Georgian Lakelands Chapter of Landscape Ontario held another successful day on the slopes at the Osler Bluff Ski Club in Blue Mountain, Ont. on Feb. 25.

The group of over 40 skiers and snowboarders had fantastic snow conditions at Osler while another group headed over to the Scandinave Spa for some relaxation.

The fun race, sponsored by Ideal Landscape Services, saw Rob Vogel take top honours with the fastest run, and Peter Guinane in first place for the matched time event.

The Chapter would like to thank the following additional sponsors: Event sponsor: Braun Nursery Lunch at the ski hill: Solty Garden Centre Lunch at the spa: Dearborn Designs & Associates Après ski sponsor: Cast-n-Stone Additional sponsors: Christine’s Touch Gardening, Gro-Bark Ontario, LA Gardens, Myke/Premier Tech and Syn-Lawn. Shuttles to and from the spa were supplied by Mike Jackson GM of Collingwood.

CALL TODAY TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY 7314 Sixth Line, Hornby, Ontario Phone: 905-878-7226, Fax: 905-878-8737 Email: yard@putzernursery.com

Canadale kicks-off spring Canadale Nurseries held its ninth annual Spring Garden Show in St. Thomas, Ont. on Mar. 18-20. Featuring vendors, landscape displays, seminars, workshops and lots of fun family activities, the popular event also raises funds for charity.This year, Canadale is pleased to announce $4,300 was raised for the St. Thomas Hospital.

www.putzernursery.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 13

MEMBER PROFILE

2015 Casey van Maris Award winner John D’Ambrosio regularly invests in professional photography as well as online advertising for his business, Pro-Land Landscape Construction.

Sky’s the limit for Pro-Land Landscape Construction Pro-Land Landscape Construction owner John D’Ambrosio calls his first year in business “the typical landscape story.”

Indeed, like many green industry professionals, he started out with little more than a pickup truck, some tools and the willingness to work extremely hard.

But while the beginnings of the business were humble, the outcome has been anything besides ordinary.

Now, with more than two decades of experience under his belt, D’Ambrosio and his Brampton and Bolton-based design and build company are perennial contenders in the high-end construction categories Landscape Ontario’s annual Awards of Excellence Program. This year, Pro-Land picked up a pair of awards for projects in the $100,000-250,000 and $250,000-500,000 ranges. The year prior, they earned the prestigious Casey van Maris Award for a stunning project designed by Ronald Holbrook that earned “the highest marks for execution of unique and innovative design in landscaping,” from a panel of experts.

It all started in the early ‘90s when D’Ambrosio, the ink still wet on his Humber College civil engineering diploma, decided he had no interest in pursuing an office job.

“The first year was 1993,” he says. “I

14 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

bought a pickup, a tamper and a quick-cut and off I went. I always had an interest in construction, and while I never studied it directly in school, my background in civil engineering and knowledge in structures, surveys, heights and elevations obviously helped out a lot over the years.”

What he lacked in industry experience — in fact, D’Ambrosio had never worked a day in landscaping before starting the business — he made up for with youthful enthusiasm.

“I would work during the day and at night and on Sundays I would run around with

flyers and lawn signs I made myself with a stencil and spray paint,” D’Ambrosio recalls, adding that in those days, he wouldn’t shy away from door-to-door cold calling.

Before long, it was clear he had taken the right career path.

“I just really had a knack for it from day one,” he says. “It was a heck of a lot of work at first, because I only had so much money to work with; it was all hand digging and loading up the pickup truck, but I found after the first eight months or so, I really didn’t have to look for work anymore.”

Over the next 10 years, Pro-Land grew at a steady pace.

One of the biggest challenges every burgeoning landscape construction company faces is landing its first few high-end clients, D’Ambrosio says. How do you close the deal on a luxury job before you have a portfolio of comparable projects to show the client what you can do?

For D’Ambrosio, it came down to confidence and perseverance.

“I was never scared; I just wanted to get my foot in the door,” he explains, looking back on Pro-Land’s transition from start-up to industry heavyweight. “Even though I was doing $20,000 patios, I was still meeting with people who were looking to spend several hundred thousand dollars.”

The key to closing deals and building positive relationships with clients that lead to word of mouth business is the same now as it was then, D’Ambrosio says.

“I explain the building process, because the overall finished product is something that a lot of guys can do. It’s critical to pass on that knowledge about proper strengths of concrete, depths, drainage materials and so on.”

He adds, “I always put myself in the client’s position. If I was spending two, three hundred thousand dollars on a backyard, I’d want to make sure that three years later I don’t have stuff that’s cracking and falling apart.”

(L-R) Landscape designer Hailee Moynihan, estimator Brent Wilde, owner John D’Ambrosio and project manager Frank Addario work closely together to make every project smooth from the first consultation through completion.

John D’Ambrosio runs Pro-Land Landscape Construction alongside his brother Anthony, the company’s construction manager, and brother-in-law Paolo Bacchin, who has been with the business for 18 years.

Then, in the earlier 2000s, Pro-Land got a big break: a major condo developer spotted a Pro-Land lawn sign and gave D’Ambrosio a call.

“Things really started to ramp up when we got into commercial work for condo developments and we became a preferred contractor for Home Depot,” D’Ambrosio says.

From that five dollar lawn sign, D’Ambrosio says Pro-Land has received some $15 million dollars in commercial construction work. “(The developer) loved us because I’m as straightforward as possible,” he said.

“You can always count on us to make the openings and closings for sales centres; it doesn’t matter what the weather is like or what the timeline is, we’ve never failed them once.”

Empire Communities has been a commercial client of Pro-Land for over 10 years.

Co-founder Paul Golini says the relationship has grown over the years as a result of the quality of their work and service, as well as D’Ambrosio’s ability to head off potential issues during the planning stages of a project.

“We saw right away that John was someone that is very easy to work with,” Golini says. “He’s someone that takes a lot of pride in delivering not only on quality, but on service as well.”

Over the years, the scope and scale of work Pro-Land has undertaken with Empire Communities has grown from the landscaping of model homes to luxurious rooftop gardens for high-rise condominiums.

“There’s an element of trust and a relationship that builds where you know that he can get the job done,” Golini says. “John also always comes to the table with suggestions, so when he bids on a landscape architect’s plan, he often says he can deliver

the same look and feel, but that there will be less problems doing it a different way. Or, he finds ways to cut costs in a smart and effective manner, and that’s music to a developer’s ears.”

Currently, Pro-Land employs 35 workers during peak season and 10 year round. The workload is split 70/30 between residential and commercial projects.

In spite of all of the success and accolades, D’Ambrosio’s passion and creativity for overcoming obstacles and meeting his client’s needs continues to grow.

“The harder the project is, the more interested we become,” he says, recalling a number of rooftop condo projects the company has undertaken. “When you’re hiring pump trucks and cranes and working 17 stories up and raising trees 100 feet in the air, you start to realize the possibilities in this industry.”

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SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE Denise Hostrawser Growing up in an agricultural family in Bellwood, Ont., Denise Hostrawser understood the importance of the land from an early age.

“I guess I always knew that growing your own food is one of the smartest things you can do,” she says, thinking back on her grandparent’s dairy farm where they grew corn and wheat and had large, beautiful gardens.

Now, Hostrawser is focusing her attention on caring for flowers, shrubs and trees as a student in the horticulture technician program at Niagara College.

But her path to the green profession wasn’t a straight line.

After high school, the small town girl left home to study photography at Fanshawe College in London, Ont. That led to a series of jobs working

independently, for studios and finally for Princess Cruises, where her passion for plants came to life.

Already an avid gardener with a growing collection of house plants and a vegetable garden at her family home, travelling the world on a cruise ship gave Hostrawser the chance to see “the plants that were lining my window sills at home in their natural environment.”

Visiting some 40 countries gave her a glimpse at the possibilities in the field of horticultural, she adds.

“One spot that really stands out were the fruit orchards in New Zealand; there were orchards of apples, peaches and apricots that were so vast they seemed endless.”

Inspired, Hostrawser has become one of the top students in her class at Niag-

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PROUD MEMBER OF LANDSCAPE ONTARIO 16 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Denise Hostrawser.

ara College, where she works part-time in the greenhouse.

For her hard work, she earned a $1,000 scholarship in 2015 from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation.

She says the scholarship was, “a huge reassurance to me that I am in the right program and that I am pursuing the right career for my future. To know that I am being recognized for my schooling and my grades and the passion I have is amazing.”

She adds, “When I opened the cheque, I was in the elevator at my apartment and I actually started crying.

Going to school full-time makes it really difficult to work enough to make ends meet with rent and tuition, so it is truly helpful.”

After graduation in April, Hostrawser hopes to find work either in arboriculture or in the grower sector, though she is keeping her options open.

“The ideas are kind of bouncing around in my head right now,” she says, when asked about her plans for the future.

Hostrawser then thought back to some of the practical experience she’s gained so far at Niagara College.

“We had a chance last semester to do tree pruning on our campus. We were up on the pruning ladders using the loppers and pruning saws and actually learning about the physiology of the trees so that we could prune them properly and give them the best chance to thrive. That’s one area that I’m really interested in.”

EVENTS Full details and registration for certain events at horttrades.com/comingevents

A dry stone festival is being held this August.

June 1-4

Grey to Green Conference

Ryerson University, 325 Church Street, Toronto Presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, this event will help you to understand the value of green infrastructure (bioswales, green roofs and walls, urban forests) at Ontario’s leading forum for designers, policy makers, manufacturers, and the landscape professions. Featuring a full day of professional training courses, two days of networking events and a day of tours, the conference also includes a trade show. Full details and registration online at greytogreenconference.org.

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July 17

Waterloo Chapter Family Day

Bingemans Water Park, Kitchener Bring the family and spend a full day at the water park with the Waterloo Chapter. The day includes lunch, prizes, face painting and volleyball.

Details at horttrades.com/waterloo.

July 21

Toronto Chapter Golf Tournament

Nobleton Lakes Golf Club Save the date for this annual event that enables the Toronto Chapter to raise funds for projects that make a difference in the lives of people living in their community. Details at horttrades.com/toronto.

August 12

Upper Canada Chapter Golf Tournament

Colonnade Golf and Country Club, Joyceville Save the date for this annual event held at a new location this year. Details at horttrades.com/uppercanada.

August 19-21

Upper Canada DryStone festival

Madoc Presented by Upper Canada Stone Company and LO’s Upper Canada Chapter, this two-day introductory DryStone course will be led by Dean McLellan and other professional DryStone wallers. The event also includes social events and entertainment in the evening. Early bird rate for LO members (before July 23) is $270. See horttrades.com/uppercanada.

August 19

Golden Horseshoe Chapter Golf Tournament

Willow Valley Golf Club, 8475 English Church Rd. E., Hamilton Save the date for the annual chapter golf tournament. For registration, sponsorship and full details, stay tuned to the chapter webpage at horttrades.com/goldenhorseshoe.

T 905.689.1749 • TF 1.888.867.1925 F 1.866.689.6222

www.millgroveperennials.ca WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 17

NEW MEMBERS DURHAM Badger Daylighting Inc

Carrie Power 340 Marwood Dr, Oshawa, ON M1H 8B4 Tel: 905-433-0003 Membership Type: Associate

Buckhorn Sand & Gravel

Jeffery Chesher 134 Melody Bay Rd, Buckhorn, ON K0L 1J0 Tel: 705-657-9311 Membership Type: Associate

Collins Landscape Maintenance Inc.

Jeff Collins 2880 Brock Rd N, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R4 Tel: 905-649-1046 Membership Type: Active

GEORGIAN LAKELANDS Adept Construction & Landscaping Steve Doucette 1990 Skead Rd, Garson, ON P3L 1V5 Tel: 705-222-3378 Membership Type: Interim

Crockford Landscape Construction Ltd James Crockford 1084 Sherwood Forest Rd Bracebridge, ON P1L 1X3 Tel: 705-644-9415 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Duivenvoorden Haulage Limited John Duivenvoorden 3425 9th Line, Innisfil, ON L9S 3Z6 Tel: 705-436-4999 Membership Type: Associate

Garden Maintenance Only

Ken Adair 282 - 5 Minet’s Point Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 8J8 Tel: 705-627-7630 Membership Type: Active

GoliathTech Ontario

Nicole Ford 1232 Laurand St, Innisfil, ON L9S 0E6 Tel: 705-294-8800 Membership Type: Associate

HDVS Landscaping

Hans-Dieter van Schayck 91 Seldom Seen Rd, Massey, ON P0P 1P0 Tel: 705-865-1506

Northern Plumbing Systems Inc.

Chad Brooks 42A Ferndale Dr, Barrie, ON L4N 7W1 Tel: 705-720-0581 Membership Type: Associate

Penetang Sand & Gravel (2014) Ltd

Christopher Ealey 9854 County Rd 93, Penetanguishene, ON Tel: 705-549-7153 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Prestige Construction

Greystone Landscaping

Shorline Construction Ltd

Klutch Landscaping & Design

Shawn Martinez 9 Michael St, Angus, ON L0M 1B5 Tel: 705-817-6070 Membership Type: Interim Grant Watkinson 1104 Eveleigh Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0 Tel: 705-644-3248 Membership Type: Associate

GOLDEN HORSESHOE Brian’s Automotive

Brian Kuzee PO Box 417, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0 Tel: 905-658-9905 Membership Type: Associate

Cinmar Embroidery & Sales

Mark Edwards 19 Chudleigh St, Waterdown, ON L0R 2H6 Tel: 905-689-1565 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Holiday Lawncare

Mike Bax 401 Limeridge Rd W, Hamilton, ON L9C 2V6 Tel: 905-971-4090 Membership Type: Active

Tonelli Electrical Services Inc

Chris Tonelli PO Box 336, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-580-6562 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

LONDON Lovell Landscaping & Grounds

Maintenance Ltd. Pete Lovell, 1915 Fanshawe Park Rd W London, ON N6H 5L3 Tel: 519-852-2348 Membership Type: Active

TSP Safety Training

Cam Edgar 6 Marla Cres, London, ON N6C 2N3 Tel: 519-671-5094 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

OTTAWA Postcard Perfect Turfgrass Specialists Ltd. Adam Kittle 6240 Fernbank Rd, Stittsville, ON K2S 1X5 Tel: 613-831-4246 Membership Type: Active

TORONTO Cambium Site Contracting Inc. Frank Williams 277 Nipissing Rd S, PO Box 241 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 Tel: 519-927-3766 Membership Type: Active

Classic Construction Company

Alan Blake 403 - 3583 Sheppard Ave E Toronto, ON M1T 3K8 Tel: 416-750-0349 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Patrick Klacza

8311 Islington Ave, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1X1

Tel: 647-922-6654 Membership Type: Interim

Kreitmaker Inc

Peter Ntakos 31 Industrial S, Toronto, ON M4G 1Z2 Tel: 416--423-9090 Membership Type: Associate

Porcupine Lawn Care

Alexander Fromunda 131 Olde Towne Pl, Markham, ON L3T 4K9 Tel: 647-920-8745 Membership Type: Interim

ROYAL Decks Co. Inc.

Miro Simecek B10 - 996 Westport Cres Mississauga, ON L5T 1G1 Tel: 647-625-0592 Membership Type: Active

Rollinghills Landscape Services Inc / Steve Chamalidis Steve Chamalidis 79 Ruscica Dr, Toronto, ON M4A 1R5 Tel: 416-717-7878 Membership Type: Active

Simple Solutions Maintenance Inc

Brian Withey 25 Glenelia Ave, Toronto, ON M2M 2K6 Tel: 416-271-3503 Membership Type: Active

TGA General Contracting & Restoration Inc.

Johnny Gagliano 31 Densley Ave, Toronto, ON M6M 2P5 Tel: 416-247-7474-x235 Membership Type: Active

Tara Landscaping and Property Service Ltd

Brad Morrison 3171 Stornoway Cir, Oakville, ON L6M 5H8 Tel: 289-681-0154 Membership Type: Interim

Toronto Auto Sales & Leasing Ltd

Javed Haidary 6745 Pacific Cir, Mississauga, ON L5T 1S6 Tel: 905-564-1066-x25 Membership Type: Associate

TurtleCreek Landscape Inc.

Roberto Imbiscuso 43 Browns Cres, Acton, ON L7J 3A4 Tel: 416-410-9922 Membership Type: Active

Steve Rupert

Toronto, ON Membership Type: Horticultural

Matthew Wrabko

Franco’s Landscaping & Plowing Inc.

Brampton, ON Membership Type: Horticultural

5318 Shackleton Way, Mississauga, ON L5R 3S1

WATERLOO

Fabio Franco

Tel: 416-989-5314 Membership Type: Active

Greenbloom Landscaping Yahel Nov 54073 - 500 Lawrence Ave W Toronto, ON M6A 1B7 Tel: 647-500-5263 Membership Type: Active

18 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Peter Perzia 46 Newell Crt, Etobicoke, ON M9A 4V2 Tel: 416-676-5909 Membership Type: Active

MoonGlow Lightscapes John Perriman 788 Drumbo Rd, RR 3 Ayr, ON N0B 1E0 Tel: 888-992-3770 Membership Type: Interim

Monique Lee

Fergus, ON Membership Type: Horticultural

INDUSTRY NEWS

Over 100 industry professionals attended two days of educational sessions, networking and social events at the leaders summit in February.

LMN and LO empower professionals at Leaders Summit Landscape Ontario and LMN partnered to host a Leaders Summit for green professionals Feb. 16-17 at the Blue Mountain ski resort in Collingwood, Ont. The retreat style event addressed challenges facing landscape business owners and suggested solutions to problems based on proven systems and processes.

Over 100 green industry professionals enjoyed a busy docket of educational sessions along with numerous social events, designed to promote networking and provide opportunities to check out Blue Mountain’s renowned selection of outdoor recreational activities.

“The Leaders Summits are a series of new events hosted by LMN around North America and what better place to kick off the inaugural event than here in Ontario with our longstanding partners and supporters, Landscape Ontario,” said Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN and TBG Environmental. “We wanted this event to be different. Not only did we want to show

proven processes and systems that successful landscape companies use, but we wanted to have attendees leave with meaningful workbooks and forms that create the systems and training aids to implement these new systems.”

Breakout sessions covered a range of topics, including: finding, hiring, training and motivating the right people at the right time; how to plan a project to maximize profitability during the execution phase; making money with a values based culture; assessing your company’s profitability with six key performance indicators using a simple job costing system; how to create a waste elimination program and turn waste in profit; and how to make 2016 the year to get better.

Jacki Hart and Tim Kearney from LO’s Prosperity Partners Peer to Peer Network ran a breakout session that showed business owners and key managers how to evaluate the success of their role within their own companies.

The first keynote speech was provided by Scott Kress, an author, leadership consultant and adventurer who was the 51st Canadian to reach to summit of Mount Everest.

Jeffrey Scott, a successful green industry professional turned business consultant, gave the second keynote speech on relationship-based upselling and cross-selling.

Scott’s talk aimed at helping business owners increase their sales numbers and profit margins by learning how to sell more maintenance work to design and build clients, as well as high-profit add-on products and services. Scott also shared war stories and case studies from his own landscaping days back in Connecticut.

Wentworth Landscapes and Gelderman Landscape Services were also on hand to talk about family-owned businesses in the landscape industry.

LMN says they plan to host another leaders summit in the winter of 2017, and they are working to bring the event across North America in the future.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 19

INDUSTRY NEWS

Photo courtesy Sod Solutions

business grow into an industry leader. In retirement, Goodfellow built his dream home on Lake Huron in the community of Bradley Harbour with his life partner Brenda Morton. The couple also ran a private management consulting firm specializing in horticulture.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lion’s Head’s Hospital Auxiliary in Phil’s memory. A celebration of life will be held Sun., May 1, 2016 between 2 and 4 p.m., at the Best Western Inn on the Bay, 1800 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound.

IN MEMORIAM — CHARLES VANDER KOOI

SPREAD THE LAWN CARE MESSAGE IN APRIL

For many years the green profession has recognized April as National Lawn Care Month. The start of the spring season is the perfect time to harness the public’s excitement about the outdoors and remind them about the benefits of a well cared for lawn.

Now, there’s an online toolkit to help green professionals get the word out to consumers through social media. Promoted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the online materials include photos, articles, infographics, tips for homeowners and activities for kids.

Consider speaking with your clients or using your professional social media accounts to share interesting facts like:

a 50 by 50-ft. lawn provides enough oxygen for a family of four. Or, lawns trap more than 12 million tons of dirt and dust annually.

Use the hashtag #lawncaremonth to join the conversation and visit landscapeprofessionals.org for tools and information.

IN MEMORIAM — CHARLES “PHIL” GOODFELLOW

Phil Goodfellow passed away on Jan. 29 at Owen Sound Hospital after a six-year battle with melanoma. He was 72.

Goodfellow was a valued manager with Valleybrook Gardens from the spring of 1994 to December 2010, helping the

Green profession consultant and author Charles Vander Kooi has died. He was 68.

Well known in the green profession for his Colorado-based estimating and consulting firm Vander Kooi and Associates and for launching HardScape magazine, Vander Kooi was a regular speaker at Landscape Ontario’s Congress.

“Charles Vander Kooi wrote his first seminar over 25 years ago on a plane to his very first speaking engagement,” his company website says. “An instant success in front of an audience, he made an impact on people when he coupled his true-life experience as a professional estimator and contractor with stand-up comedy and a little fire and brimstone.

Since that first seminar, he presented over 2,000 seminars and averaged over 80 programs a year in numerous industries around the world … Charles was

Serving the landscape industry for nearly 50 years

4765 Old Scugog Road Bowmanville, Ontario T: 905-263-8814 F: 905-263-4431 E: sales@kobesnurseries.com

www.kobesnurseries.com 20 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

involved in the construction industry for over four decades as an estimator and upper management employee of companies as well as professional speaker and consultant. He bid over a billion dollars in work over his career. As a private consultant, he helped over 1,500 companies in their estimating and bidding systems and lectured over 200,000 people nationally and internationally. Constantly in demand, Vander Kooi spoke at an average of 80 trade shows, conventions and associations each year, teaching his philosophy across the United States, Canada, Latin America, England and Australia. He consulted with an average of 50 clients annually, assisting in and improving their performance. He authored several books to the industry and his seminars are available on audio as well as video. In 2003, he created HardScape magazine. For this, Charles envisioned a new magazine to serve as a resource providing a knowledge base for hardscape installation while also addressing the business needs of companies doing the installing.”

Vander Kooi is survived by his wife Hazel and two daughters. A memorial will be planned for April.

144798 Potters Road, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4G7

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P: 519-688-0437 • F: 519-688-6359 info@pottersroadnursery.com

Pottersroadnursery.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 21

INDUSTRY NEWS OAKVILLE REQUIRES CONTRACTORS TO OBTAIN A LICENCE

Under By-law 2015-075 any lawn care operator, property maintenance company or landscape company doing work in Oakville (regardless of their home base), is required to attain a licence from the Town. Charges may be laid without notice to companies who fail to obtain a proper licence.

The fee for a lawn care only company is $180.45 and a landscaping or property maintenance company pays $507.00.

Once a licence is received, it then expires on April 30 the following year, regardless of when the licence was applied for. The first application may not be for a full year.

In addition to the fee, the application process also requires a company to carry liability insurance of $2 million and have a Canadian Criminal Record Check conducted within 30 days prior to the application.

For a full list of requirements, an application and a full list of businesses affected by the by-law, see oakville.ca/ townhall/business-licence-applications.html

NATIONAL LANDSCAPE STANDARD IS HERE

The Canadian Landscape Standard was launched in March. This document shows clients that your work meets a nationally recognized standard. Industry will be able to refer to the standard during the bid pro-

updated as new sections are available and revisions are made.

Developed by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), the CSL is based on the highly successful British Columbia Landscape Standard and will be a single, authoritative resource for landscape construction projects across Canada. Costs of the Canadian Landscape Standard is $199 for a digital download or hard copy, or $259 for both. To order, visit csla-aapc.ca/standard.

CNLA LAUNCHES NURSERY WORKER MANUAL

cess. It is intended to be user-friendly, and available in both hard copy and digital formats. The Canadian Landscape Standard will be a living document that will continually be reviewed and updated to remain current. A subscription will keep users

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is pleased to announce the release of the Nursery Worker Technician Manual, first edition. This manual serves as a study guide for the Nursery Worker certification program, now available across Canada. The first of its kind, the manual is designed to help technicians in the nursery sector understand and meet minimum standards for the industry. The Nursery Worker Technician Program will be added to the CLT program this year, with testing beginning in July.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, the project was undertaken in partnership with CNLA’s provincial associations.

To obtain a copy of the Nursery Worker Manual, please visit the Certified Landscape Technician website: gfl.me/h2Rg

Show your member pride!

Promote your company as a professional LO member with decals, window clings and more.

Order FREE promotional materials online at horttrades.com/promo 22 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Boxwood.

Buddleja.

Serviceberry.

Ontario woody plants: A designers and growers initiative

By Christopher Clayton OALA, CLD This initiative began one dark and stormy winter’s night last November. Fellow landscape designer Chris Mace and I were asked to talk at the annual growers’ dinner about what plants to grow for our designs. A lively conversation ensued.

As the growers began to tell us the problems they had and what we as designers should be aware of, I realized that a collection of information useful to designers and growers on all woody plants grown in Ontario would benefit all of us. After subsequent conversations with growers, I organized the information into a framework of five categories: Commercial and Industrial, Municipal, Residential, Restoration and Naturalizing, and Highways.

Each month, we are asking LO members to comment on a short list of woody plants as follows: • Their suitability for each of the five categories

Proudly growing fine perennials

• The need for more of these plants (or the reasons why there is a need for less of them) • Any problems with them (diseases, growing restrictions) • Underuse or overuse of them in designs • Successful alternatives • Desirable characteristics No detailed descriptions of height, colour, flowering time, etc. are necessary. We will collect and edit these comments into a searchable database for LO members and the industry. For example: • Gymnocladus/Kentucky coffee tree is a native tree that should do well in the future. However, it’s an ESA tree, which means you have to stay away 25 metres from it, so be aware you should include instructions on where to plant it when you specify it.

• Picea/blue spruce is over-planted.

Suggested alternatives are Serbian spruce and balsam fir.

27

for over

Your input is needed

The success of this initiative requires feedback from you. Each month, we ask you to visit horttrades.com/ontario-woodyplants to provide feedback on the plants listed at the end of this article. At that link you will find the complete plant list, with each plant linked to a short online feedback form (see bullet points earlier in this article). As the list grows each month, more feedback forms will be active online.

This month, we need your input on the first group of woody plants: Abies balsamea/balsam fir Abies concolor/white fir Abies koreana/Korean fir Aesculus/chestnut Amelanchier/serviceberry Betula nigra/river birch Betula papyrifera/paper birch Azalea/azalea Buxus/boxwood Buddleja/butterfly bush Ceanothus/New Jersey tea The full plant list is available online.

To see the list or provide your input, visit horttrades.com/ontario-woody-plants.

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EXECUTIVE DESK Canada Blooms — 20 years of celebrating our profession Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

K

athy Dembroski from the Garden Club of Toronto arrived unannounced to our office (then located on Matheson Blvd. in Mississauga) some 22 years ago. The Garden Club wanted to celebrate their 50th anniversary by staging a world-class flower and garden show. Dembroski was wondering if Landscape Ontario would be interested in partnering for the event. I opened up our strategic plan and in it was the idea of starting a worldclass flower show to celebrate Landscape Ontario’s 25th anniversary — this was the genesis of Canada Blooms.

After two years of planning, fundraising and mobilizing hundreds of volunteers, suppliers and supporters, the first Canada Blooms opened its’ doors at the Toronto Congress Centre. It was an immediate success. So much so, the traffic reports repeatedly told the public to stay away from Canada Blooms because of the traffic congestion. We were all surprised at the beauty, creativity, skill and passion of our respective

members. The displays were stunning and inspiring.

20 years later, the event still showcases our profession better than any other medium can. Millions of people have been inspired to create a little paradise of their own based on what they see at Canada Blooms. Lifetime memories have been created. Thousands of ideas have been generated. The event has provided joy and wonder for visitors of all ages.

I would like to share this excerpt from my brief welcome at “Professionals Night” during Canada Blooms because it reflects why the event has been so successful.

“I am proud and thankful to work in this profession, because I am constantly in the company of the most wonderful, passionate, creative, visionary, inspirational and contribution-oriented family of members, staff and volunteers.

“You are known throughout the horticultural world for your professionalism, positive energy and character. Your work raises awareness for the environmental, economic, social, recreational, lifestyle, health and spiritual benefits of our profession.

“You are community builders, outdoor living specialists and landscape and garden professionals.

“Next years’ industry night event at

Canada Blooms will be renamed ‘Professionals Night.’ Landscape Ontario’s new president, Paul Brydges, has inspired this new direction.

“Canada Blooms has inspired millions of people to connect with nature, gardens and plants, and has helped to improve our profession, as well as made a positive contribution to the broader community.

“Gardens and nature are the universal language that bring ‘Green for Life’ benefits to all cultures and all ages.

“Each year, the association’s collaborative garden building effort enables our professional and student members an outstanding opportunity to showcase their work and professionalism to the public. And each garden builder deserves credit for their commitment, industry leadership and beautiful final results… not to mention sponsors who supported materials and supplies.

“You help the industry to inspire students through mentorship, build our network, and provide consumers with ideas and motivation to secure our professional services.

“On behalf of the association, I would like to thank all contributors including industry, students, suppliers and sponsors for their tireless passion for the industry, and commitment to volunteerism that made the gardens possible.”

Please visit canadablooms.com/ gardens and gfl.me/h2Q8 to recognize those responsible for promoting our profession with passion, skill, creativity and character.

Tony DiGiovanni may be reached at tony@landscapeontario.com.

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24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Client references

Having at least three written references in your presentation portfolio is a great tool for earning the confidence of a new client.

A circle check for your company

By Denis Flanagan CLD Manager of Membership and Public Relations

D

uring March, all of our chapters held their ever-popular MTO meetings which involve a review of how to conduct a proper 360-degree truck inspection.

It’s timely information for getting vehicles geared up for another busy season. It’s also a good idea to apply that same philosophy to your entire company.

Our message to the public this year, through our popular Garden Inspiration magazine and various press releases, focuses on why they should hire a professional member of Landscape Ontario and what questions they should be asking prospective companies. This is a golden opportunity for you to review your company policies with your staff and ensure you are in sync with what your association is promoting. The following documents prove your professionalism.

Proof of WSIB

Make sure your employees and clients know you have coverage and have your Certificate of Clearance visible. Let clients know that if they hire contractors

Human and equipment resources

Demonstrating to a client through previous job examples that you have the capability to fulfill the needs of the contract again instills confidence in your abilities and professionalism.

without WSIB and proper safety standards, the client can be held liable for workplace injuries that occur on their property.

Proof of liability insurance

Employee experience and education

Again, make sure your staff and clients know you carry the appropriate insurance (a minimum of $1 million) and have your current certificate of insurance visible.

You should be proud of employees who have degrees, diplomas, industry training and certifications. This helps to demonstrate your level of professionalism. Keep copies of the qualifications in your portfolio and on your website.

Supplier references

These are great to have in your presentation portfolio to show clients you are respected in the industry and pay your suppliers on time. This protects your clients from possible creditor liabilities.

Company profile

Complete your company profile on landscapeontario.com and use it as a selling feature.

Contracts

Make sure your contracts are up-to-date and cover all aspects of the work and responsibilities involved, ie: permits, locates, changes to orders, payment schedules, etc. A written and signed contract protects the interests of both the homeowner and the contractor.

Warranty

Warranties/guarantees should be in writing and clear as to exactly what is covered. It’s important to specify responsibilities, ie: watering of plant material, etc. as this can also lead to a discussion regarding a maintenance contract.

Statement of Conduct, Principles and Ethics

Potential clients will often judge you on your ability to portray professionalism.

This can include employee behaviour, uniforms, safe equipment operation, clean vehicles, etc.

As an accredited member of Landscape Ontario, ensuring the above items are part of your daily operation shows you are committed to following the association’s standards. (Search for “ethics” on horttrades.com).

Contact Denis Flanagan at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.

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www.uxbridgenurseries.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 25

UNDERGROUND WORLD

The annual Dig Safe public awareness campaign included an event at Mohawk College on Mar. 9.

Should landscape contractors do private locates?

By Terry Murphy CLM

T

he underground infrastructure in Ontario is a very complicated picture. Bill 8, the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, was a milestone piece of legislation. This Act basically made a law that all facility owners in the province must be members of the Ontario One Call System and give all their underground data on utilities to ON1CALL. It also means that once a facility owner is notified of a locate request, the markings, or locates as we call them, must then be on the ground within five working days. It is an amazing accomplishment and very significant in the efficiency of the whole process of timely locates. A locate con-

26  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

sists of two things: the correct paperwork and markings on the ground. The paperwork must be on the jobsite with the person who is doing the digging.

Notifications are increasing

Once a locate is requested, a notification is given to all facility owners on that particular street address and each has to then ensure the markings for their utility are completed. The ORCGA Dirt Report indicates that for each locate request in 2014, an average of 6.84 notifications were issued. This is up from 5.73 in 2013 and 4.60 in 2012. The ON1CALL locate markings will be on the ground from the street location into the entrance to the house or building. They do not locate anything beyond the entrance, such as a buried gas or hydro line at the rear of the house, for example, a line that could heat a pool. Any locating of private underground lines in a back or side yard is not marked automatically by your locate

request to ON1CALL unless specifically requested. Your locate request can, however, ask that both the backyard and front yard of a property be marked. If it does not, then a contractor will be unaware of any buried lines if they dig in the backyard. The only way to prevent a backyard hit on a utility line is if the property owner or contractor has the backyard checked by a locate provider, private company, or other locate service. Either way, before work begins, there must be a locate request made to ON1CALL. Whoever digs has this responsibility.

At a recent meeting between a landscape contractor and a gas company, the question arose as to whether the landscaper should have their own locate machine and a foreman trained so that he could do his own private locates. That is an excellent question and it may be something the industry should review.

One could quickly check the dig location for any possible lines and then call a professional locator to obtain markings from a certified and trained professional if they detect an underground line. Could or should each landscaper be trained to quickly check a dig area to verify there are no utility lines present before he

digs? This does not mean the excavating contractors checking would replace a locate request to ON1CALL, but it would be an addition to the free service. If a contractor digs or disturbs the soil, by law he must call ON1CALL for locates.

To assist the locate provider, the contractor should spray with white paint where he plans to dig so that the locate provider can double check this area for utilities and provide the appropriate and necessary markings.

The question here is can our industry prevent line strikes by doing a quick check before they dig? Would the contractor see benefit to this process? I know some irrigation contractors have their own locate detection equipment and have the ability to do these quick checks. I believe contractors must ask themselves if this is worthwhile for them to do as well.

ORCGA DPT training program

The ORCGA has developed a Damage Prevention Technician (DPT) training program. There are three- and five-day programs. These training programs lead to certification for locators and courses are running throughout the year. A locate provider or a utility themselves would want to

have the most qualified technician possible doing their locates. After some on the job experience, technicians take these programs and combine it with their experience to become a Certified Locate Technician. This is an endeavour developed by the ORCGA to insure the industry is getting accurate and correct locates. The DPT programs have been running for over five years and several hundred locators have completed the program. You can contact the ORCGA for more information on programs to develop more expertise for the locate community.

actual locate marking may not be necessary. This means the contractor doesn’t have to wait for locates to be completed with markings on the ground. He is given approval over the phone to proceed. This prevents waiting for a locate provider to do locates which may take an extended period of time in March or April when locators are overloaded with requests.

The contractor must sign a separate agreement with each utility. I believe the ALA is good for a couple of years and can be renewed with little effort.

Alternate Locate Agreements (ALAs)

The entire locate process is an important activity for any landscape or fencing contactor. The purpose of my thoughts in this article is to get people thinking about how we can all work together more effectively with all the partners and deliver our locates in a more efficient manner.

Hopefully you will get your locates done in a timely fashion this spring. If you have any comments or questions on the article or need more information, please email tvmurphy@ca.inter.net or contact ON1CALL, your locate provider, or the ORCGA.

Another consideration for the excavating contractor is an Alternate Locate Agreement (ALA) with a utility. What this means is the contractor signs a special agreement with the utility that they will not dig more than 11 inches into the soil. This may be ideal for a landscaper who is planting annuals and perennials in the spring or an irrigation contractor who is installing irrigation piping only six inches deep. If the contractor has such an agreement with a utility, they could get approval over the phone to dig and the

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28 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO APRIL 2016

Help shape the direction of your chapter

By Rachel Cerelli Membership and Chapter Coordinator

F

BETTER FIT

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MEMBERSHIP

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irst off, I would like to clarify one thing… if your company is a member of Landscape Ontario (Interim, Active, Associate or Chapter Associate) that means you too, as an employee, are a member as well — you have the right to participate in anything we do. This includes voting rights (any one person from any member company) and the ability to hold a position on a chapter board or committee.

Should this be unclear, or if you are unsure as to your membership status, please contact the LO membership department with any questions.

With your help, by virtue of volunteering or simply by attending chapter meetings and events, your chapter has the ability to have a large impact at the local level and make a greater impact on the industry’s level of professionalism as well.

This past month or so, your chapter has maintained, as well as gained, many volunteer directors by virtue of a nomination and election process at a recent local chapter meeting.

This new board will become effective Sept. 1 (the first day of the association’s new fiscal year as well). Each year, volunteer chapter board members decide what events and educational opportunities to put their energy into that will have the best impact for local communities, businesses, the industry and their families.

To ensure the needs of our chapter members are met, your volunteer board considers three main priorities that make up chapter relevancy: 1. Networking with industry (both members and non-members) 2. Networking with government 3. Relevance to the public.

Following the chapter relevancy, the board may add fun events to raise money and give back to your local community through community projects. Including family in some of these events is becoming increasingly important as companies work so hard for most of the year.

Remember your chapter is only as successful as the volunteers who govern it. Stay involved, stay informed and remember, as members, you all have the right to participate.

Although your 2016-2017 board of directors has already been selected, there is still room within many chapters for volunteers on various committees. Should you have any ideas to help your own chapter, or suggestions on any improvements, please feel free to contact membership services. We will gladly connect you with your local board and ensure your ideas are heard. To contact me please call 1-800-265-5656 ext. 354, or email rachel@landscapeontario.com.

PROSPERITY PARTNERS Manage outcomes more than people

By Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

T

his past winter was one of the most inspiring professional development seasons I can remember in a long time — complete with fantastic symposiums, dynamic speakers, trendy and new winter workshop topics, engaging chapter meetings, a vibrant and growing Peer to Peer Network and the LMN/LO Leaders Summit. And last month, Canada Blooms inspired the gardening public with the beauty of what our industry can create using our professionalism and panache.

When one of our American peers exclaimed to me this past winter, “Y’all aren’t an association, y’all are a landscape nation,” I believe he was right.

At the helm of that nation, executive director, Tony DiGiovanni is one of the best relationship-builders I’ve ever met. I wonder at times where we would be today without his efforts. We also have a great provincial board that operates with successful processes and guidance to keep our association moving forward and chapter boards with engaged, professional volunteers who spend countless hours making a difference in their communities for the mutual benefit of all. Last, but not least, we have an incredibly talented staff at LO — each with their own areas of expertise and the autonomy to be creative and bring themselves fully to their role — to support you and your business.

The driving force behind the successful team at LO is leadership. Tony has a leadership style (admittedly at times, to a fault), where he allows his team to have autonomy, flexible hours, direct the priorities of their daily tasks, and at times (especially when they can be more productive and undistracted) to work from home. It is, for the most part, a very well-oiled machine. If I ask Tony about a specific detail on an event, initiative or promotion, he typically directs me to the staff member to whom he has delegated the lead role. He doesn’t micromanage

people, he manages the outcomes of their work.

When I look back on the hundreds of conversations and meetings I’ve had with members this past winter, there’s a common theme: the challenges they’re finding with managing people, improving communication and becoming better leaders. The challenge of managing people is felt industry-wide, regardless of sector or chapter. It’s with respect for the style in which the LO staff work together that I’m hoping to inspire each of you to engage, enable, entrust and inspire your team to soar this year like never before.

Reset your management style

Here’s a glimpse into the management style of our executive director at LO: Hire people who have the right personality, energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to selfdirect. Give them clear accountabilities (i.e. job description), ensure they understand what it will look like when they are doing a good job, and get out of their way.

I’m impressed every time I speak to one of our staff at LO — they are focused, capable, collaborative, positive, and love what they do. They are engaged with minimal supervision and without being micromanaged.

The biggest gap I see between the majority of entrepreneurs default management style, and building effective Gen Y or Millennial teams (the under 35s) is micromanagement.

Here’s my theory: entrepreneurs are wired to be perfectionists, who pay close attention to detail. Most owners are compelled (more by necessity than by choice) to babysit or micromanage. This often happens because they haven’t communicated clear expectations, company culture, or processes. Micromanaging can eventually lead to tension and conflict.

Tempers can flare, blame or self doubt runs rampant, people leave, and the cycle continues. Business owners are then left continuing to reaffirm for themselves that they can’t find good people, and that managing staff will always be a struggle.

Sound familiar?

There seems to be a perpetual search for ‘right-fit’ team players. I’m going to suggest that ‘wrong-fit’ people could pos-

sibly be ‘right-fit’ if they understood very clearly what the company culture is, what the code of attitude is, and specifically what their contribution is to the whole team.

In my experience, working with hundreds of business owners, the root of the problem is the same: without a clearly defined and communicated culture, strategy, targets/goals and boundaries, your company could well be akin to the Wild West. In the Wild West scenario, employees know when to run and when to duck. There’s also little trust, safety or predictability and the boss has to play Sheriff and constantly be on the look-out for signs of unrest and non-compliance of the law. Sooner or later, most choose to get the “heck out of Dodge.”

The leadership style at LO is the way of the future for entrepreneurs. This is the ONLY way to fully engage and retain the under 35 crowd on your team — your next generation of creativity, management and success. This is the age of individual contribution to the big picture, an era when everyone on your team needs to know what it will look like, sound like and feel like when they are performing at their optimum.

So, while it might be too late for this year to make sweeping attitude shifts, I invite you for this season to test these waters and observe. If you’re an owner, try it with one crew, one person, one supervisor. Whatever you’re comfortable with. If you’re a team member reading this, try it with each other. Go to the boss asking for clarification so that you can prove you’re going to soar in the role for which you’ve been hired. Eliminate the boss’ belief that he/she needs to micromanage you. It’s a two way street.

I invite you all to step into collaborating with one another at work, to create improved leadership and trust in your midst. Make a collective effort to align your efforts, empower each other, create new trust, achieve strategic goals and sustain improvements. I believe we collectively have more of a ‘right fit’ leadership shortage in this industry, than a shortage of good people with potential.

I hope all of you have a great start to your busiest season and continue to improve one thing at a time – to keep moving forward on your journey to prosperity.

Jacki Hart may be contacted at peertopeer@landscapeontario.com.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 29

CLASSIFIEDS All classified ads must be pre-paid by credit card. Rates: $50.85 (HST included) per column inch Min. order $50.85. 15% discount on ads run for entire calendar year. Box Numbers: Additional $10.

Confidentiality ensured. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). January deadline is Dec. 10. Space is limited to a first come, first served basis.

To advertise: E-mail your name, phone number and ad to Robert at classifieds@landscapeontario. com. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $67.80 (HST included) for Associaton members and $90.40 HST included for non-members. Website ads are posted for 31 days. View ads online at www.horttrades.com/classifieds. Post employment ads for free at landscape.jobs.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

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Find a job. landscape.jobs Canada’s FREE online jobs website for the landscape industry.

In partnership with

Keep in touch with

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Join our discussion forum

http://linked.in/LOLinkedIn

@LOassocMag @LOMembership @TonyDiGiovanni1 @denisflanagan @green_for_life @LOevents @LOgnome

www.facebook.com/ landscapeontario

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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BOLLIGER LANDSCAPES LTD. The following job opportunities are available: Stone Masons $30/hr.

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LANDSCAPE CARPENTER Must have experience in building decks, pergolas, fencing and sheds, tools and truck and asset.

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ADVERTISERS 404 Stone Limited www.404stone.com 905-887-3404 Braun Nursery Limited www.braungroup.com 800-246-6984 City Pontiac Buick www.citybuick.com 888-281-3298 Connon Nurseries/CBV Holdings Inc www.connon.ca 613-392-0402 Expressway Hino Waterloo www.expresswaytrucks.com 800-558-7364 Glenwood Tree Service 905-855-8711 Great Lakes Wood Products Inc. www.glwp.ca 877-266-0636 Greenlife - Ottawa Wholesale Nursery www.greenlifenursery.ca 613-692-3047 John Deere Corporate www.johndeere.ca John Deere Dealers www.johndeere.ca Kobes Nurseries Inc. www.kobesnurseries.com 905-263-8814 Legends Landscape Supply Inc. www.landscapestore.ca 905-336-3369 M Putzer Hornby Nursery Ltd. www.putzernursery.com 905-878-7226 Mankar Distributing Inc. www.mankarULV.com 647-309-7826 Metal Pless Inc. www.metalpless.com 866-362-1688 Millgrove Perennials Inc. www.millgroveperennials.ca 888-867-1925 Newroads National Leasing www.newroadsleasing.com 416-587-1021 Potters Road Nursery Inc. www.pottersroadnursery.com 519-688-0437 Sheehan’s Truck Centre Inc. www.sheehanstruck.com 800-254-2859 Sipkens Nurseries Ltd. www.sipkensnurseries.com 866-843-0438 South Oakville Chrysler Fiat www.southoakvillechrysler.com 905-845-6653 Stam Nurseries www.stamnurseries.com 519-424-3350 Timm Enterprises Ltd. www.timmenterprises.com 905-878-4244 Uxbridge Nurseries Limited www.uxbridgenurseries.com 877-655-3379

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