Landscape Ontario - February 2013

February 2013 www.horttrades.com

A CELEBRATION TO REMEMBER

Industry marks 40-year anniversaries for Congress and Landscape Ontario ... with thanks for the legacy, and confidence for the future

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The outlook for 2013

By Phil Charal LO president

J

udging from my conversations with LO members over the past few months, our industry seems to be surviving the recession quite well. Considering the financial state of most countries throughout the world, this is wonderful news. Let’s hope this continues into 2013 and beyond.

In a recent endof-the-year interview, Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave all Canadians some advice for 2013. Get your spending and your debt under control!

Apparently, we Canadians are borrowing at an alarming rate. These borrowed dollars are sustaining consumer spending, not wealth-building through investments in business or a family home. Statistics show that for every dollar Canadians make, they owe $1.64. These levels compare to what was reached in the U.S. before the economic crash, from which that country is still trying to recover.

I realize that with low interest rates and a relatively healthy Canadian economy that this is sustainable for the short-term. At some

Formerly Horticulture Review

February, 2013 • Volume 31, No. 2 www.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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point, possibly in the very near future, interest rates will increase. We must all be aware of this and prepare ourselves appropriately.

Predictions for Toronto, say that there will be slightly slower population growth, due to relative high unemployment, which is slowing the migration to the city. Major investments in power and transportation projects will, however, drive construction employment, even though it is predicted that housing starts will slow down.

The Ontario housing market will remain well balanced, supported by record low mortgage rates, with prices continuing to rise.

Our biggest challenge will be the perennial problem of acquiring labour. Ontario will face lower labour force growth due to its aging population. The population growth rate between the ages of 15 and 64 declined from 14.5 per cent between 2001 to 2011, to an expected 6.6 per cent level between 2011 and 2021.

Over the long run, an aging population is a central challenge facing all of us. It is also of major concern for future growth of Ontario’s economy. The aging population will also demand more public services, such as efficient health care.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the outlook for 2013 is optimistic. Forty per cent of its members expect a positive performance

Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLP lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 Editorial director Sarah Willis sarahw@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5424 Editor Allan Dennis adennis@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5345 Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Sales manager Steve Moyer stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-0708 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Shawna Barrett, Darryl Bond, Laura Brinton, Kim Burton, Rachel Cerelli, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Rob Ellidge, Denis Flanagan CLD, Sally Harvey CLT CLP, Helen Hassard, Jane Leworthy, Heather MacRae, Kristen McIntyre CHT, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Paul Ronan, Ian Service, Tom Somerville, Martha Walsh

over the next three months, and 49 per cent expect a stronger performance over the next year. The CFIB survey showed 32 per cent of firms are looking to increase full-time employment over the next year, while eight per cent expect to cut jobs.

Business optimism has been greater across western Canada, than in Ontario for the last nine quarters. This province has experienced moderate growth performance this year, and that is expected until 2014.

The weak growth in Europe and in the U.S. has contributed to the slow growth in Ontario over the short term.

As I have stated before, these are difficult times, not just for our industry, but many others. There is still opportunity for success and long term growth even in the present economic conditions.

From what I can see, the economic outlook for 2013 looks like more of the same.

Now, more than ever, it is essential that we stay organized, informed and up-to-date on all that is available to enhance growth, success and prosperity.

Do not overlook the great learning, educational and professional development programs that Landscape Ontario offers to help in any area of development that you require.

The winter months are a good time to review your business plans, goals and long term outlook. I encourage you to contact membership services at Landscape Ontario to obtain all the information on the unique and exciting programs offered by our great association. Do not miss this opportunity to improve your economic situation.

Phil Charal may be reached at pcharal@landscapeontario.com.

Looking back 15 years since LO celebrated its 25th anniversary Page 22 4 11 16 17 21 21 24 26 27 34 35

FEATURES ASSOCIATION NEWS VOLUNTEER PROFILe Awards of excellence EVENTS NEW MEMBERS Industry NEWS LETTERS TO EDITOR COLUMNS Classifieds Ad Index

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 2013, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 12x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

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couldn’t be any nicer. Who knows?

Maybe everyone in Canada is just nicer than the people in “the states” or maybe they were treating me like a real rockstar. Either way, I may take Sally Harvey’s advice and move up there, eh?”

Conferences begin week

The trend of good attendance and high energy began the week with the two conferences on Jan. 7. The 48th annual IPM Symposium and the Landscape Designers Conference each received high marks.

The IPM Conference continues to grow. This year saw 340 attendees, which compares to 325 last year.

New chair of the IPM Symposium Committee, Kyle Tobin of LawnSavers Plant Health Care, hosted the day and kept the sesLots of positive energy could be found at Congress 2013. This was a typical scene as attendees kept those sions on schedule. Each session tending exhibits busy with inquiries. is timed to qualify for IPM Council of Canada Continuing Education Credits.

Attendees at this event qualified for eight credits as certified applicators.

One of the highlights at this year’s IPM Symposium was the announcement of the 2nd Annual IPM Leadership Award. It was If the rest of 2013 follows the pattern set by sors, a top notch education line-up and a special presentation for Kyle Tobin, who Congress, then the landscape industry is in great attendance all made for a a successhanded the award to his friend Alan White for a very good year. ful event. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Turf Systems of Burlington. Tobin and The annual trade show took place at in such a positive manner has set a great White were two of the driving forces behind the Toronto Congress Centre from Jan. 8 to tone for the start of 2013.” the St. James Park project.

10 with great attendance. Throughout the Executive director of the New Jersey The award recognizes leadership and three days there was positive energy on Landscape Contractors Association, Jody contributing to the healthy growth of the the trade show floor and conference areas Shilan, who also served as the associaindustries represented in the IPM sympoand enthusiastic celebration of Landscape tion’s president, had some positive comsium. This winner of the award is nomiOntario’s 40th anniversary. ments in his blog. “If you have never been nated by peers, and the IPM Symposium “What a wonderful way to start 2013! to this show (Congress), you really need to Committee determines the recipient. Alan In my 23 years I can’t think of a Congress go next year. The trade show itself is ginorWhite is a member of Landscape Ontario’s event that was as positive, energetic, inspirmous, with literally something for everyLawn Care Sector Group, representing it ing and fun!” stated LO executive director one and the people that manage the show, on the LO board of directors.

Tony DiGiovanni. speak at the show and attend the show Social media was filled with positive comments from attendees and exhibitors.

Some of the tweets sent out about the Congress stated, “A big THANK YOU for an outstanding night at this year’s Congress.

We’re still talking about it,” Garden Grove Group, Waterdown. “Thank you LO for another amazing year at Congress! We are looking forward to great year,” wrote Upper Canada Stone of Shanty Bay. “Landscape Ontario Congress 2013 is once again proving to be an invaluable resource for building excitement,” wrote Picture Perfect Landscaping — Quinte in Belleville.

Coming off her first year as show manager, LO’s Heather MacRae said, “Congress 2013 was in many ways the perfect Joe Vander Something made a return visit to Congress with his reprise of the 2005 I am a Landscape storm, a sold-out show. Supportive spon-

Congress theme looks at past, while revealing positive future

Professional. Both rants can be found online at www.horttrades.com/landscaper-rant.

4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

The product that garnered the most votes for best new product was the Zrator, from Pro-Power Canada of Meaford. The Zrator is a 26 in. steerable front mount aerator, suitable for most zero turn mowers. The winner of the draw for $250 was John Gibson of Farmgate Gardens, Foxboro.

Anniversary festivities

New chair of the IPM Symposium Committee, Kyle Tobin of LawnSavers Plant Health Care, left, presented Alan White of Turf Systems of Burlington the 2nd Annual IPM Leadership Award.

Speakers at the conference included Scott Olan of the Ministry of the Environment, Dr. Michael Brownbridge of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Dr. Hannah Mathers of Ohio State University, Pam Charbonneau, turfgrass specialist with OMAFRA; Dr. Christopher Murray of Lakehead University, Dr. Katerina Jordan of the University of Guelph and keynote speaker was Tony Bass, co-author of The E-Myth Landscape Contractor.

Designers Conference

New chair of Landscape Designer Group, Chris Mace was the MC for its annual conference at the Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel. The event attracted 130 attendees.

Speakers at the conference included Dave Maciulis of Natural Landscape, who spoke about what new products and styles are being talked about and what will be popular next season; Carl Hastings of Moonstruck Landscape Lighting; Caroline de Vries of TradeWinds International; Rob Vogel, Vogel Landscape Design and Consulting Group; Daniel Tal, Ambit 3D; Jean-Marc Daigle, Genus Loci Ecological Landscapes; and Paul Zammit of Toronto Botanical Garden.

Just before Congress, the Landscape Designers Group received 200 copies of the brand new, hot off the press Landscape Designer Manual. The Group offered a special Congress discount, resulting in sales of more than 150 copies. The new publication will assist those challenging the new Certified Landscape Designer program.

Congress reflected Landscape Ontario’s 40th anniversary. Attendees had an opportunity to view all the past presidents of the association through the Walk of Fame, which featured each president over the past 40 years. The anniversary theme was organized by a committee chaired by Monica van Maris.

As well, displays of vintage photographs graced the LO resource booth and the red colour theme marking the ruby anniversary could be seen throughout the Toronto Congress Centre.

The Awards of Excellence ceremony also had an anniversary theme with photos displayed on the large screen, with the evening ending with a cake to celebrate the anniversary.

Also celebrating an anniversary at Congress was Sheridan Nurseries. This year marks the company’s 100th year. In a popular attraction at Congress, 40 Shades of Green, Sheridan supplied unique displays that featured plants available to landscape contractors and garden centres this spring.

Plant ID

The Plant Identification Challenge booth was a huge success. It was developed to heighten the awareness of the Landscape Industry Certified Program, and its popularity throughout the show with both industry members and students, achieved that goal.

The booth simulated a plant identification test station at a sanctioned certification test. Many visitors took on the challenge and prodded co-workers see if they could better their score.

“It was a success, because it was a fun activity, while opening up dialogue about certification with a lot of members,” says Laura Brinton, LO’s certification coordinator.

Irrigation conference

The irrigation conference attracted 55 contractors and suppliers. The keynote address by Phil Harwood received high marks. The theme of the talk was creating a winning approach to recruiting and managing people.

Chair of the Irrigation Group, John Lamberink, hosted the event.

Effective Management Short Course

A new event added to the Monday Warmup line-up was the Effective Management Short Course. Attended by 42 people, the course was led by Jacki Hart CLP and Tim Kearney CLP. Dates have already been booked for next year’s Congress, Jan. 7 to 9, at the Toronto Congress Centre.

New Product Showcase

The New Product Showcase has become one of the most popular attractions at Congress. Attendees were greeted by the area when they first entered the show. Each visitor had the opportunity to vote on his favourite new product.

The Plant ID challange proved a popular attraction to those attending Congress. The challenge reflected a component of the CLT certification test. Connon Nurseries NVK supplied all the plants used in the challenge.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 5

Students talk about LO and Congress Sean James of Fernridge Landscaping, Milton, teaches students at Mohawk College.

He brought his second year horticultural apprentices from the college, giving them an assignment for a reading course.

Students asked, “Why is Landscape Ontario a good thing, and why is Congress a worthwhile show for an industry member to attend?

“The students were directed to be insightful in their interviews and observations, and they did a great job!” says James.

Some of what the students observed and their interviews follow: Cam Poustie: After attending Congress, I wholeheartedly believe that every single company and or business that has affiliation with horticulture and landscape should be a member of Landscape Ontario. At this show I was informed of the many benefits of becoming a member of the organization.

With membership, there comes a variety of

advantages. One reason is that onlookers will view you and your company as far more professional.

Talking with Scott Mikes at the GMC booth was also very informative on the benefits of joining Landscape Ontario. He explained that with a membership comes a substantial discount on various vehicles and equipment. For example, there is $12,000 worth of savings on every GMC vehicle you purchase.

After a great day here, I highly recommend everyone who has an interest in the industry come to Congress. Employers love having employees who have an interest and are passionate about what they do. There is no better place than Congress to meet great employers and potentially set yourself up with a great career.

Suzanna Lusky: Interviewing Rob O’Brien of Lighthouse Sales Group revealed how Congress can help with sales.

Visitors give Congress rave reviews

Catherine Eeuwes

Evan MacAdam

Landscape Ontario magazine walked the floors speaking to attendees about how they felt about Congress 2013, and to hear the reasons they attended the show.

Skully Tuning, Angelo’s Supplies, Farmington Hills, Mich., has attended Congress for a number of years. “I look for new ideas, vendors, products, particulary large stone and pavers.

Congress is great. I go to the two best shows available, Congress and the one in Chicago, but this one (Congress) is the best.”

Andy Macdonald, Noble Truck Bodies, Shallow Lake, has attended four or five Congress events. He is interested in new products, particularly

snow equipment and trucks. “I enjoy the show, because there is so much to see.”

Evan MacAdam, first year student at Fanshawe’s horticulture program, said he was very impressed with the size of the show. It was his first time visiting Congress. “I found a few things in the greenhouse and lighting sectors, which I am interested in.”

Catherine Eeuwes of Markham Landscapes, says she has been coming to Congress for many years. “I mainly look for suppliers.” She also enjoys seminars. “Congress has a great layout, making it easy to tour the event. It’s a great show.

6 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

“Any time I can stand in one place and have customers come to me is a productive day,” he says, while demonstrating how quickly he can register new customers with a handheld scanner, similar to the ones used in grocery stores.

Reaching out to customers in this way and through more old-fashioned method like shaking hands with passersby is the main reason Mark Ebel of Ebel Quarries in Wiarton has a booth at Congress. He says, “I only get down to the city a couple of times a year, so it’s a chance to see our customers face-to-face.”

Matt Brouers: I asked my first question and started getting the experience I was looking for. Every conversation seemed to flow so easily, because of my similar interest with everyone else who comes to Congress.

Everyone spoke very highly of Landscape Ontario and the trade show. I talked to Scott Meyers of St. Williams Native Farm. He told me about how you can get an exclusive look into where the industry is going, and how to experience the industry from just walking around in a place like this.

All the connections everyone wants to make are here.

Mike Prong: I spoke to Bill McKague of Gro-Bark Organics, who said, “Landscape Ontario is at the forefront of the landscape industry, and being a member has a lot of benefits, both for a member company as well as the public. Landscape Ontario members strive to elevate the industry standard in regards to green and environmental initiatives.”

I was told that being a part of Landscape Ontario shows the public that your company is not only committed to excellence, but will also do the job with the environment in mind. The positive public perception a company gains by being a part of Landscape Ontario will no doubt increase sales and put a client’s mind at ease knowing that they have hired a company that is provinciallyrecognized in the trade.

Congress is not like any other trade show in Canada; it stands alone. Whether you are an exhibitor or a show attendee, there is always something there to interest everyone.

Congress is a great place to make connections and meet like-minded people from your trade. In our industry, connections go a very long way. Each time I talked to someone, I made sure to introduce myself and give them my contact information. You never know when or if, knowing someone will come in handy. That’s why a trade show like Congress is a great place to meet new people.”

Congress 2013 volunteers A great deal of appreciation goes towards the many volunteers who gave so generously of their time to help make Congress 2013 such a great a success.

SHOW COMMITTEE

Beth Edney CLD, chair; Terry Childs, vice chair; Brian Lofgren, past chair; Jack VandeRee CLT; Barry Dickson; Michael LaPorte CLT; Paul DeGroot; Douglas Coote; Nathan Helder; Scott Beaudoin; Bob McCannell; Nick Solty; Monica van Maris; Brian Cocks CLT; Klaas Sikkema and Gerrit Tervrugt.

CONFERENCES

Susan Antler, Ian Armstrong, Karin Banerd, Lee Benson CLD, Emily Bright, Margot Byers, Kim Cotter, Kim Edwards, Ann Fovargue-Jakins, Jason Gaw, Harry Gelderman CLT, Nicole Hanbidge, Leisa Kirkaldy, John Lamberink CIT, Jeffrey Lee, Skai Leja, Stephanie Lemesurier, Kevin O’Hara, Adele Pierre CLD, Irina Polstvin, Greg Redshaw, Lesley Revell, Edel Schmidt, Ron Sikkema, Melissa Spearing, Ivan Stinson and Margaret Stinson.

IPM SYMPOSIUM

Pam Charbonneau, Paul Gaspar, Rohan Harrison, Ken Pavely, Lee Ratcliffe, Kyle Tobin, Violet Van Wassenaer, John Wright, Monica van Maris.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS GROUP

Sundaura Alford CLD; Paul Brydges; Don Chase CLD; Brandon Gelderman; Harry

Gelderman CLT; Jennifer Hayman; Ryan Heath CLP, CLT; Alice Klamer; Ron Koudys CLD; Anthony Lombardi CLD, CLP; Mike Lunau CLD, CLT; Chris Mace; Carolyne Planck; Fred Post CLD; Haig Seferian CLD; Ron Swentiski CLD.

IRRIGATION GROUP

Steve Brewer CIT, Louise Cottreau, Chris

Davies, Kara Gibbons, John Lamberink CIT, Chris Le Conte, Steve Macartney CIT, Roy Neves, Mike Ross, Scott Sim CIT, Chuck Yates CIT.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO BOOTH Carol Fulford; Lexi Dearborn; Environmental Committee: Sean James, Janet Ennamorato, Peter Scholtens, Anna van Maris, Alex Zalewski CLT; Flora Niagara: Michel Gauthier, Carol Cowan; and LO Foundation: John Wright.

Sponsors continue support of Congress TRADE SHOW

Partner: Canadian Fence Industry Association; Platinum: Banas Stones, Global Arch/Stone Arch, Landscape Trades; Gold: Chrysler Canada, Husqvarna Canada; Silver: Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel; Bronze: Bobcat, Medallion Fence Limited, Vermeer Canada.

IPM CONFERENCE

LawnLife, Becker Underwood, J.B. & D. Company, Direct Solutions (formerly Agrium Advanced Technologies), G.C. Duke Equipment, Koppert Canada, Plant Products, Turf Revolution.

IRRIGATION CONFERENCE

Rain Bird International, Hunter Industries, Toro Company, John Deere Landscapes, Turf Care Products.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CONFERENCE

Blue Sky Nursery, Unilock, Dynascape Software, Moonstruck Landscape Lighting.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Draglam Salt - G&L Group, Earthco Soil Mixtures - G&L Group, Sheridan Nurseries, Permacon.

LEGACY ROOM

The Investment Guild, Stihl, Redbud Supply, Kubota Canada, Gravely (Ariens), The G&L Group, Nutrite, Kesmac/Brouwer, Brouwer Sod Farms, Echo Power Equipment (Canada), Timm Enterprises

CONFERENCE

Beaver Valley Stone, Compost Council of Canada and ICPI

PLANT ID

Connon Nurseries/NVK Holdings

Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd. For Bareroot and Container Grown Trees Native • Shade • Ornamental

148 Lynden Road, P.O. Box 190 Lynden, Ontario L0R 1T0 Tel: 519-647-3912 Fax: 519-647-3720

www.winkelmolen.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 7

The entire cast of award winners came together on stage in a wrap-up moment to a very memorable 40th anniversary awards night.

Awards of Excellence reflects great pride in industry Pride was very evident throughout the annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence presentations at this year’s Congress. The positive feelings came easy to every one of the 600 industry professionals in the room who understood that to win one of the awards requires talent, creativity and experience.

Categories recognized at the ceremony held on Jan. 8, at Toronto’s Doubletree by Hilton Airport Hotel, included landscape construction, maintenance and design projects.

Frank Ferragine of Breakfast Television and CityTV hosted the show, which included several special presentations that celebrated the association’s 40-year

anniversary.

Eleven year old Avery Kadish wowed the audience Mark Cullen was honoured with the Environmental Award for with her amazing vocals. his work with Trees for Life.

Video footage from last several years displayed members’ best moments, including the red memory of one of Landscape Ontario’s carpet Oscars starring Gerald Boot CLP most influential and respected members. and the golden statue, Elvis and the It is given to the project that achieves the Vegas showgirls. highest marks for execution of unique Karl Stensson of Sheridan Nurseries and innovative design in landscaping. presented the top award at the annual Gregg Salivan presented the award show, the Dunington-Grubb Award. With named to honour his father, Don SaliSheridan Nurseries celebrating 100 years van. This award goes to company judged in business, Stensson highlighted his to have entered the best grounds manfamily’s connection to industry pioneer agement project. This year, Shades of Howard Dunington-Grubb. The award Summer Landscaping and Maintenance goes to the highest received the honour. scoring construction Garden Communicator of the Year project, which this Award went to Larry Sherk from Sheridan year was presented Nurseries for his many years of work proto Edengrove Landmoting the industry. He was also involved scapes of Missisin helping to create the Canadian hardisauga. ness zone map. Sherk researched the Another special history of Sheridan Nurseries as part of award handed out the company’s 100th anniversary. during the evening Well-known gardening expert Mark was the Casey van Cullen received two honours during the Maris Award, which presentations. He was first recognized was presented for his volunteer work promoting Canada

by Alex Zalewski, Blooms, and then he was presented with grandson of the the Environmental Award for creating the trophy’s nameTrees for Life program. sake. This year The Other Canada Blooms awards recogLandmark Group of nized Martin Farms as Soft Landscaping Thornbury received Supplier of the Year and Unilock as Hard top marks. The Landscaping Supplier of the Year. award honours the Jacki Hart took the stage to present

Gord Shuttleworth received an Honourary Life Membership from Karl Stensson, left, and LO past president Tom Intven.

8 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Prosperity Partners Leadership Awards to Nicola Kamp, Lindsay Drake Nightingale and Jason Gaw. An emotional moment during the evening was the presentation of a honorary life membership to Gord Shuttleworth.

The presentation was appropriate for the association’s 40th anniversary, as Shuttleworth was a member of the inaugural board of directors in 1973, and served as the association’s president in 1976 and 1978.

He spoke about the passion and believing in the association back in 1973.

After the ceremony, he stated, “I think for myself and the other presidents before me, our vision did not go as far as what I witnessed that evening. After watching the program, seeing the many of the excellent award-winning landscapes and all the amazing programs and scholarships, this association has come a long way.”

The Past President’s Award was given to Rita Weerdenburg of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.

Weerdenburg has worked for the growers sector for many years. She was Horticulture Review’s original publisher and editor. Readers now know the publication as Landscape Ontario magazine.

For their work on Flora Niagara, Carol Cowan of Zebra Promotions and Michel Gauthier of MGB Tourfest received the Trillium Award.

The 2013 Awards of Excellence was a special night for Shane Priaulx CLT from The Professional Gardener, Osgoode.

He won a luxurious week-long stay in Mount Tremblant, Que., courtesy of the evening’s sponsors Draglam Salt and Earthco Soil Mixtures.

A special highlight of the evening was the reprisal of the now famous Joe Vander Something’s Landscape Rant. If you missed this spectacular re-do, it is on www.horttrades.com/landscaper-rant. You can see both the 2005 version and this year’s edition.

Member milestones celebrated this year included Lloyd’s Landscaping for 50 years, OGS Landscape Services for 60 years, and Sheridan Nurseries, 100 years.

To view images of some award-winning landscapes and the complete list of construction and maintenance winners, see pages 17 to 20 in this issue. Also, watch for LO This Week e-newsletter for videos from the Awards of Excellence and Congress.

The Dunington-Grubb Award was presented by Karl Stensson to members of Edengrove Landscapes of Mississauga.

The Paul J. Day Best of Show Award went to In-Lite Design. On hand to present the award to In-Lite representatives, are from left Heather MacRae, show manager; Beth Edney CLD, chair of the show committee; In-Lite representatives Ramon Pieters, president; and Jim Stangier; award’s namesake Paul Day; and committee vice-chair Brian Cocks CLT.

In-Lite Design wins best booth award In-Lite Design of Putnam took top booth honours at the Congress 2013 trade show, winning the Paul J. Day Best of Show Award.

“The booth’s less-is-more design strategy was creative — and effective — in making an intangible product real,” said the judges. The booth layout also placed its staff centre stage, ready to welcome visitors.

This year’s best booth awards recognized exhibitors for excellence in trade show marketing. The judges, Deborah Dugan of Conexsys, John LeRoy of GSS Security and Lee Ann Knudsen of Landscape Trades, were tasked to choose a winner in each of six categories.

Kubota Canada of Markham received honours in the heavy equipment category. “Extra lighting was used to great effect, and bringing in celebri-

ties for an autograph session enhances the brand’s show investment,” said the judges.

Other winners included Muskoka Rock Company, Bracebridge, best 100-400 sq. ft. booth, excluding heavy equipment; Echo Power Equipment (Canada), London, best small equipment booth; Unilock, Georgetown, best booth over 400 sq. ft., excluding heavy equipment; Playcare and Design, Milton, best booth under 100 sq. ft., excluding heavy equipment.

The best booth winner for Fencecraft, produced by the Canadian Fence Industry Association, was awarded to Vinyl-Fence.ca, Niagara Falls.

For its efforts in aggressively promoting Congress, Upper Canada Stone of Shanty Bay received the show’s best promotion award.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 9

Timeless — what’s old is new again in LO garden

A dry stone lighthouse will be one of the main attractions at this year’s LO garden.

The theme of this year’s LO Canada Blooms garden reflects many things, the advancements of the horticultural industry over the years, the growth and development of our trade association, and the powerful message of sustainability.

The sustainability message is clear even among the Canada Blooms 2013 team, with many of the members veterans of the experience.

In honour and celebration of LO’s 40th birthday, we thought we’d try and show the transition of our industry over the years through the evolution of elements and design. Come see old meet new.

Elements that have been society’s building blocks over time in the garden are stone, water and plants used as shelter, protection, sign posts or beacons, to protect and feed loved ones, or to provide a space to reflect and ponder.

This year’s LO garden is 2,500 sq. ft. in size and contains some noteworthy elements of interest. The real eyecatcher will be the drystone lighthouse.

Also included are a curved water wall, vegetable garden and plants (too many to list), and also a small pictorial look back at the development and advancement of our industry.

We hope that all of you take advantage of discounted tickets to encourage your staff, clients, friends and family to come to Canada Blooms and kick off spring by getting inspired by the commitment and work of your colleagues and peers.

To find more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.horttrades.com/ canada-blooms-2013-2.

Core garden build team

Task leaders, Paul Doornbos CLP, CLT; and Brian Marsh; Steve Carrothers; James Garfield Thompson OALA; Dean McLellan; Paul Brydges OALA; Marina Signer; Sally Harvey CLP, CLT; Pat Elo CLT; Regine Marsh; Ron Swentiski CLD, Jeff Lee, Brandon Gelderman, Connie Cadotte CLD, John Higo, Richard Kuizenga, along with teardown team members to be announced.

— Paul Doornbos An overview of the 2013 Landscape Ontario garden at Canada Blooms.

10 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

ASSOCIATION NEWS LO member helps Guelph hospice beautify grounds Two Guelph area charities, Pollination Guelph and Hospice Wellington, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring 2013, when everyone may enjoy the beautiful, pollinator garden planted earlier last fall on the hospice site in Guelph.

Designed by Pollination Guelph, the garden replaces an area of steeply sloped and weed-prone grass that is visible from the facility’s patio and sunroom. Volunteers with Pollination Guelph and Hospice Wellington planted over 300 perennials and flowering shrubs chosen to attract and provide food and habitat for pollinating insects such as butterflies and bees.

The perennial garden is the second phase of a multi-phase project at the hospice.

“Here, within the Hospice, we strive to create a positive and life-affirming atmosphere as part of end-of-life care,” says

Hospice executive director Rosslyn Bentley. “When Pollination Guelph first proposed the project to us, we realized that it would give us the opportunity to create an environment around our facility that really reflects these values. We are delighted with the results so far and really looking forward to watching the gardens grow and mature over the coming years.”

The first phase of the project, completed in the spring of 2012, saw the installation of a native shrub garden which replaced another area of steeply sloped. The garden will be extended in 2013 as part of the third phase of the project. It will include creating a border of native shrub roses around the parking lot and an art installation.

The first two phases of the project were completed with the support not only of the Guelph Community Foundation, but also member of Landscape Ontario, Manor

Landscaping and Maintenance of Guelph.

The company maintained the landscaping around the Hospice, free of charge since the facility opened in 2010. When Carlo Mann, owner of Manor Landscaping learned of the proposal to re-landscape the site, he immediately offered additional help from his company.

“Maintaining healthy grass on such a hot, exposed and sloped site was an ongoing challenge. The advantages of the project were obvious. Not only will there be much less grass to cut and care for, but the gardens will bring colour and interest, as well as providing habitat for insects and birds,” said Mann.

The company donated mulch and topsoil for the project, helped with the cost of plants and donated the time of work crews to strip sod and prepare the ground for a shrub garden. The crew from Manor also worked alongside volunteers planting the shrub garden.

Pollination Guelph volunteer Clare Irwin noted, “The help we received from Manor Landscaping was invaluable. Pollination Guelph does not own a truck or any landscaping machinery. Manor Landscaping not only gave financial support to the project but also essential practical help with transporting materials to the site and sod stripping.”

Volunteers praise Carlo Mann (right), owner of Manor Landscaping, for his support to beautify the grounds at the Guelph hospice.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS The Hospice Wellington garden is one of several planting projects undertaken by Pollination Guelph as part of its mandate to conserve and develop habitat for butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects.

AGM REVEALS BUSY YEAR

Everyone was in agreement at this year’s Landscape Ontario’s Annual General Meeting, held Jan. 9 during Congress, that the association had a busy year with many successful projects.

Following the early morning breakfast, executive director Tony DiGiovanni outlined a number of important highlights for the association over the past year. This was accompanied with photographic images reflecting those events.

Members of the executive, who served in 2012, will return to the same positions on the board for this year. They are Phil Charal, president; Tom Intven, past president; Dave Braun, first vice president; Warren Patterson, second vice president; and

Paul Brydges, treasurer.

Phil Charal reviewed his first year in office, and his hopes for the new year.

Gregg Salivan and Beth Edney CLD were elected to the provincial board as members-at-large.

Designers handbook Launched

Tony Lombardi, left, and Don Chase helped launch the new designers manual at Congress.

At Congress the Landscape Designers Sector Group launched its brand new, hot-

off-the-press Landscape Designer Manual.

During the show more than 150 copies were sold. A big part of those sales took place at the designers’ conference, where Don Chase CLD and Tony Lombardi CLD, CLP were kept busy selling the manual.

The new publication will be used as a guide for the proposed new designers’ certification program. Copies may be purchased by contact Rachel Cerelli at rachelb@landscapeontario.com.

New business guide available to improve safety system

A new guide, designed to assist in developing a health and safety system, is now available to members of Landscape Ontario.

The purpose of the guide, entitled, Landscapers and Growers Closing the Loop Setting up a Health and Safety System in Your Small Business, is to help members make sure that health and safety is not something that is left to chance, but to create a healthier workplace.

“We are pleased to partner with Landscape Ontario in bringing you this guide.

Our hope is that it will make your life as a business owner just a little bit easier and

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In 2013 your customers will be looking to you for New Plants, Colour Plants, and Sale Plants.

Canadale can help you meet and exceed their needs with our offerings of the latest plants, continuous colour through the season listed on our weekly Looking Good availabilities, and our Great Sale Plants.

Set yourself apart from the competition with unique and specialty plants from Canadale.

We offer many cool plants that will differentiate your product mix from those around you.

Check out our new colour catalogue and our on line availability and let Canadale help build your success in the new year.

269 Sunset Drive, St.Thomas, ON N5R 3C4 P: 519-631-1008 F: 519-631-0818 12 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

tji@canadale.com cjs@canadale.com

www.canadale.com

your work even safer and more productive,” says Elizabeth Mills, president and ceo of Workplace Safety and Prevention Services.

“In recent years the WSIB rate for our sector has increased after a steady decline. It is time to refocus our efforts. It is time for every employer and employee to work together to put safety first,” writes Tony DiGiovanni, LO executive director.

The guide contains six steps. These include Self-Assessment, Setting the Stage, The Right Stuff, Health and Safety in Action, The Internal Responsibility System in Action and Closing the Loop.

A copy of the guide may be obtained from the LO horttrades.com website under Safety on the Resource tab, or at http://bit. ly/safetyloop.

Fisher Landscape - New Offering $3,599,000!!

New benefits added to large list of member discounts

Located at 258 Exeter Road, London Ontario.

One of the largest landscape supply companies in S/W Ontario, in operation at this location since 1990. Annual walk-in sales of $1.5M. Property consists of 10,000 sf. building on 6.5 acres, appraised at $1,700,000. Inventory and some equipment available and in addition to purchase price. Fisher name and business phone number not included. Recent survey available.

Mel Vetero, Sales Representative Re/max Centre City Realty inc. Brokerage (519)667-1800 Cell: (519)872 -1319 • www.londoncommercialrealestate .ca

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draglamsalt.com

Dependability.

Weather or Not.

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For information package email melvetero@rogers.com or visit their website at fishertopsoil.ca

www.limestonetrail.com

COACH HOUSES

Landscape Ontario members can take advantage of the many long-time discounts and a continually growing list of new available ones through the CNLA Members Savings Program Some of those range from savings in

L IMESTONE T RAIL ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED GARDEN BUILDINGS AND GAZEBOS

CONCRETE SALT AGGREGATES SOIL WASTE

GandLgroup.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 13

ASSOCIATION NEWS the areas of energy, clothing and financial.

Global Payments offers Landscape Ontario members an alternative from their current payment-processing provider. The company is offering pre-loaded

terminals that take only 15 minutes to install in your business. The terminals allow improved speed at check-out, costeffective Internet-based processing and secure payment transactions.

Moving huge rocks

Mackia Land Design in St. Agatha had the daunting task of moving two gigantic rocks over 180 km. Mackia’s Glen Keats says one rock weighed 90 tons, while the other was 28 tons. It took two hours and 40 minutes to transport the rocks. “With the client, we secured a 400 ton crane, got all the required permits for road closure to load the rock in Wiarton and transport it to St. Agatha, just outside Waterloo, for a landscape project.”

The system allows the use of Visa and MasterCard sales using the LO member preferred rates.

More information may be found at www. cnla-acpp.ca/global.

RBC is offering LO members a specialized equipment leasing program for the acquisition of industry-related equipment.

The program includes low fixed interest rates, 100 per cent financing that can include training, fabrication and shipping; no maximum lease size, and choice of 12 to 60 month terms.

To find out more about the program, go to http://bit.ly/RBClease.

Petro Canada offers members a saving of 2.4 cents per litre on all grades of gasoline and diesel and 15 per cent off car washes. The member’s card provides flexible billing and payment options. As well, members can customize the SuperPass cards by restricting site access, time of day or week access, as well as fuel and non-fuel purchases for your whole fleet or for specific drivers. Cards are equipped with PIN security and your company logo can printed on the card.

To find out more about the program, go to www.cnla-acpp.ca/petrocanada.

Mark’s Work Wearhouse came onboard last year, offering 15 per cent savings through cards scanned at the check-out. The savings program clothes, shopcoats, overalls, rainwear, work gloves, casual and CSA approved footwear. Contact http://bit.ly/XducEu to find out more about the discount.

Present discount cards will expire on Mar. 1, 2013.

Two Great Stores. One Great Source 175 Wyecroft Rd., Box 313.

Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A2 Fax: (905) 845-9109

One Telephone Number • (289) 644-2250 One E-mail • fmackenzie@lockwoodchrysler.com

270 Oak Park Blvd.

Oakville, Ontario, L6H 0G3 Fax: (905) 845-5772

l cia per e p S sca d Lan Rates Let Fran MacKenzie Peacock put her 25 years of dedicated fleet expertise to work for you. Great products, great selection.

Delivered to you, on your schedule, guaranteed. Enjoy professional service delivered with a smile, Fran will do whatever it takes to provide you with a seamless, hassle-free buying experience.

Fran MacKenzie Peacock, Fleet Manager • (289) 644-2250 ☺• Affiliate Chair - NAFA Ontario Chapter 14 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

For over 25 years, Hillen Nursery Inc. has remained dedicated and passionate about the nursery industry.

Mark Endicott General Manager

23078 Adelaid Rd. Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0

Cell: 647.923.5182 • Phone: 519.264.1337 mark@hillennursery.com

hillennursery.com

Our featured spreads have been seen in the issues of Landscape Ontario magazine.

Now we invite you to visit our website with easy access to our complete up-to-date listings of hundreds of varieties and more.....

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM  15

VOLUNTEER PROFILE One conversation leads Van Dongen to volunteer position It didn’t take Michael Van Dongen CHT of Van Dongen Landscaping and Nurseries in Hornby long to become fully involved in Landscape Ontario.

“I knew a bit about the industry, but really wanted to be fully immersed in it, so I joined Landscape Ontario. I wanted to see all the moving parts and get to know more of the people within it,” says Van Dongen.

He vividly recalls the day he met LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni. “I had a short meeting with Tony, and the following day I was enrolled as a director on the Garden Centre Commodity Group.

Chair of sector group

Van Dongen now serves as chair of the Garden Centre Sector Group, and helps

16 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

with the Certification program as a volunteer and judge. He is also a member of the Prosperity Partners Committee.

When asked if he had any favourite memories of his volunteer time with LO, he said that is still to come. Interviewed just prior to Congress, he quipped, “I just found out about this Tailgate at Congress.”

Loves interaction

Michael Van Dongen says the biggest benefit he receives from his volunteer time at LO is interaction with other LO and industry members.

He is continually impressed by the amount of work he sees from many of the staff and volunteers. “Really, they all work tirelessly.”

Other volunteer work by Van Dongen includes the United Way, although he says he doesn’t put in that much time in it. “I am still looking for that organization that works for only one month in the dead of winter. Perhaps I should begin my research in the Caribbean?”

The Awards of Excellence for Construction, Maintenance and Design fall into 41 categories.

Landscape Ontario is pleased to recognize the winners.

The talents and creativity of landscape construction, maintenance and design contractors were acknowledged at the Awards of Excellence gala on January 8, 2013 at Congress. Winners portray a competitive spirit, strive for continuous achievement and improvement, offer services distinctly different from the competition and are stewards of the horticultural trades, sharing a vision for a vibrant and prosperous future.

From the winning entries, Ontarians can expect to see inspired outdoor living space designs, that build strong connections to the natural world and projects that incorporate respect, responsibility and community.

2013 Winner of the Dunington-Grubb Award EDENGROVE LANDSCAPES LTD 2013 Winner for Balcony/Rooftop Gardens LANDSCAPES BY LUCIN The Awards of Excellence are presented by

40years

celebrating

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM  17

www.loawards.com LANDSCAPES BY LUCIN Balcony or Rooftop Garden, Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000 DIMARCO LANDSCAPE LIGHTING Landscape Lighting Design & Installation ROYAL STONE LANDSCAPING & DESIGN Landscape Lighting Design & Installation, Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000 , $100,000 -$250,000, Special Interest Construction VAUGHAN LANDSCAPING Landscape Lighting Design & Installation, Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000, Web site: vaughanlandscaping.ca CEDAR SPRINGS LANDSCAPE GROUP Commercial Construction - multi-residential and industrial - Over $250,000, Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000, Special Interest Construction, Web site: cedarsprings.net

2013 Winner of the Don Salivan Grounds Management Award SHADES OF SUMMER LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION SHADES OF SUMMER LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE Water Features, Landscape Lighting Design & Installation, Residential Construction -- Under $10,000 J GARFIELD THOMPSON LANDSCAPE LTD Water Features, Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $500,000 to $1,000,000 NATURE’S CHOICE LANDSCAPING CONSTRUCTION LTD. Water Features, Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000, Special Interest Construction

ADEN EARTHWORKS INC Commercial Construction - multi-residential and industrial - Over $250,000

PLANIT GREEN LANDSCAPES Water Features, Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $50,000 - $100,000, Web site: planitgreen.ca TARRASCAPE INNOVATION INC Water Features, Landscape Lighting Design & Installation, Commercial Construction - multi-residential and industrial - Over $250,000

THE SCOTT WENTWORTH LANDSCAPE GROUP LTD Commercial Construction - multi-residential and industrial - Over $250,000, Residential Construction $250,000 to $500,000, Place of Business OAKRIDGE LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS LTD Commercial Construction - multi-residential and industrial - Over $250,000

GARDEN CREATIONS OF OTTAWA LTD Balcony or Rooftop Garden, Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000

BEYOND LANDSCAPING Residential Construction -- Under $10,000, $10,000 - $25,000, $25,000 - $50,000

GREENTARIO LANDSCAPING (2006) INC Balcony or Rooftop Garden, Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000

ELITE DESIGNED CONCRETE INC Residential Construction Under $10,000, $10,000 - $25,000, $25,000 - $50,000

Private Residential Design 5000 sq ft or more THE LANDMARK GROUP

18 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Residential Construction $25,000 to 50,000 SHIBUI LANDSCAPING

www.loawards.com BOFFO LANDSCAPING INC Residential Construction $10,000 - $25,000 BCH LANDSCAPING LTD Residential Construction $10,000 - $25,000 GELDERMAN LANDSCAPING LTD Residential Construction $10,000 - $25,000 SIPKENS NURSERIES (PALACE PERENNIALS) Residential Construction $10,000 - $25,000 GRIFFITH PROPERTY SERVICES LTD Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $100,000 -$250,000, Special Interest Construction GARDEN GROVE GROUP Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000 MAPLERIDGE LANDSCAPES LTD Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $50,000 - $100,000 HUTTEN & CO LANDSCAPING Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $100,000 -$250,000 SHIBUI LANDSCAPING Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000 FOSSIL LANDSCAPES LTD Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000, $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $500,000 to $1,000,000 PLANTENANCE INC Residential Construction $25,000 - $50,000 SACRED SPACE LANDSCAPE & DESIGN Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000 S REBELO LANDSCAPES INC Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000 BETZ POOLS LTD Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000, $500,000 to $1,000,000

2013 Winner of the Casey van Maris Award THE LANDMARK GROUP

LEISHMAN LANDSCAPING LTD Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000 THE LANDMARK GROUP Residential Construction $100,000-$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000 BK BAUN LANDSCAPE LTD Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000 R J ROGERS LANDSCAPING LTD Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000 YARDS UNLIMITED LANDSCAPING INC Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000

OGS LANDSCAPE SERVICES Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000

ARTISTIC SHADOWS LANDSCAPING Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000

DARSAN Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 - $500,000

BOUWMEISTER LANDSCAPING LTD Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000

LEASIDE LANDSCAPING Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000 KIVA LANDSCAPE DESIGN BUILD INC. Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000 DA GRACEY & ASSOCIATES Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000 BENJ ART INC LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000, $100,000 -$250,000 THE GREAT GARDEN REVIVAL COMPANY Residential Construction $50,000 - $100,000

MONARCH LANDSCAPE Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000, Special Interest Construction LANDCARE Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000 PRO-LAND LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION INC Residential Construction $100,000 -$250,000, $250,000 to $500,000 EDENGROVE LANDSCAPES LTD Residential Construction $500,000 to $1,000,000, Web site: edengrove.ca SOLID ROCK INC Special Interest Construction

IT’S ABOUT THYME Web site: itsaboutthymelandscaping.ca GREEN COLLAR LANDSCAPING Web site: greencollar.ca SHADEMASTER LANDSCAPING LTD Web site: shademaster.net

INTERIOR PLANTSCAPING THE PLANT LADY INC Interior Maintenance — Greater than $2,500 service value per annum STEMS INTERIOR LANDSCAPING INC Interior Maintenance NEDLAW LIVING WALLS INC Interior Plantscaping Design and Installation

IRRIGATION GELDERMAN LANDSCAPING LTD Water Conservation Award, Non-Potable Water SMART WATERING SYSTEMS Water Conservation Award, Non-Potable Water

DESIGN DEARBORN DESIGNS AND ASSOCIATES Commercial Design PLANTENANCE INC Commercial Design

CYPRESS HILL DESIGN AND BUILD Special Interest Construction

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 19

www.loawards.com

Karl Stensson (left) and Tom Intven (right) present Gord Shuttleworth with an Honorary Lifetime Membership

Alistair Johnston (left) and Tom Intven (right) present Mark Cullen with the Environmental Award

ADEN EARTHWORKS INC Private Residential Design Under 2,500 sq ft

ADEN EARTHWORKS INC Special Interest Maintenance

Honorary Life Membership 2013 Gord Shuttleworth

CEDAR SPRINGS LANDSCAPE GROUP Private Residential Design Under 2,500 sq ft, 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft

SHADES OF SUMMER LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE Private Residential Maintenance - Under 15,000 sq ft lot size

IPM Leadership Award 2013 Alan White, Turf Systems

BETZ POOLS LTD Private Residential Design 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft, 5,000 sq ft or more

THE CULTIVATED GARDEN Private Residential Maintenance Under 15,000 sq ft lot size

THE LANDMARK GROUP Private Residential Design 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft, 5,000 sq ft or more WELWYN WONG LANDSCAPE DESIGN Private Residential Design 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft YARDS UNLIMITED LANDSCAPING INC Private Residential Design 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft BENJ ART INC LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS Private Residential Design 5,000 sq ft or more BRYDGES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE INC Private Residential Design 5,000 sq ft or more

MAINTENANCE DUSTY MILLER LANDSCAPING Corporate Building Maintenance Under 2 acres, Private Residential Maintenance 15,000 sq ft - 1 acre STRATHMORE LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS Corporate Building Maintenance Under 2 acres, Non-Turf Maintenance HANK DEENEN LANDSCAPING LTD Non-Turf Maintenance

THORNBUSCH LANDSCAPING COMPANY Private Residential Maintenance 15,000 sq ft - 1 acre GARDEN CREATIONS OF OTTAWA LTD Private Residential Maintenance 15,000 sq ft - 1 acre BOOT’S LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE LTD Multi Residential Maintenance Over 2 acres

SPECIAL AWARDS Casey van Maris Award 2013 THE LANDMARK GROUP Don Salivan Grounds Management Award 2013 SHADES OF SUMMER LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE Dunington-Grubb Award 2013 EDENGROVE LANDSCAPES LTD Environmental Award 2013 Mark Cullen Garden Communicator’s Award 2013 Larry Sherk

The Awards of Excellence are presented by

20 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Milestone Members 2013 Sheridan Nurseries - 100 years , OGS - 60 years, Lloyd’s Landscaping - 50 years Past President’s Award 2013 Rita Weerdenburg, CNLA Prosperity Partners Leadership Award 2013 Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jason Gaw, Nicola Kamp Trillium Award 2013 Carol Cowan and Michel Gauthier for Flora Niagara Project THANK YOU to ceremony host Frank Ferragine, our judges and special presenters.

And to...

AV Canada Camilla House Imports Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel Draglam Salt Earthco Soil Mixtures LO Show Committee LO Staff Perfect Sphere Productions Permacon Sheridan Nurseries Ltd

Awards host Frank Ferragine

For more information on the Awards of Excellence, visit www.loawards.com or contact Kristen McIntyre at awards@landscapeontario.com or 1-800-265-5656 ext. 321.

EVENTS Bookmark www.horttrades.com/comingevents for up-to-date event information.

February 20

Landscape Lighting Conference 2013

Riga Hall, Latvian Cultural Centre, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto This annual event will feature keynote speaker Nels Peterson from N Design Partners, St. Paul, Minnesota, in the morning, lunch and interactive panel discussions in the afternoon.

For more information, go to www.horttrades.com/ lighting-2013, or contact kristen@landscapeontario.com.

February 20

Ornamental Growers Safety Program TLC Professional Landscape, 2026 Oxford St. E., London This safety seminar is aimed at ornamental

growers to help establish prevention and due diligence practices. This risk management seminar will engage owners using interactive training techniques to establish a basic health and safety management program. Lunch is not included. LO member price is $25, while nonmembers pay $40. To find out more information, or to register, go to www.horttrades.com/ seminars/2013-02-20/LS021.

February 21

Golden Horseshoe Chapter meeting Appleby Ice Centre, 1201 Appleby Line, Burlington This meeting has something for everyone, so whatever sector you work in, or whether you’re an owner or an employee, this meeting is for

NEW MEMBERS Gary Vatcher Landscapes Inc Gary Vatcher, 1 Gilchurst Ct, Whitby, ON L1R 2P3 Tel: 905-260-4763 Membership Type: Active

J & A Trucking Jeff Cox 4275 Boulter Rd General Delivery, Boulter, ON K0L 1G0 Tel: 613-332-1626 Membership Type: Active

Georgian Lakelands

Toronto

Durham

MacLean Engineering (Ontario Location) Lynne Dixon 1067 Kelly Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON P3E 5P5 Tel: 705-670-8014-x480 Membership Type: Associate

Golden Horseshoe Lighthouse Sales Group Rob O’Brien 486 8th Concession E, PO Box 54, Carlisle, ON L0R 1H0 Tel: 905-689-2734 Membership Type: Associate New Nature Landscaping Paul Vandemerwe 5376 Walkers Line, Burlington, ON L7M 0R1 Tel: 905-335-3554 Membership Type: Active

Jennifer Bloomfield 351 Belsize Dr, Toronto, ON M4S 1M7 Tel: 416-485-3929 Membership Type: Horticultural Charlie Ireton 7241 Jane St, Concord, ON L4K 1A7 Tel: 416-936-6722 Membership Type: Horticultural Jason Rokosh 149 Banff Rd, Toronto, ON M4P 2P8 Tel: 416-518-8446 Membership Type: Horticultural Dale Baranieski Well Drilling Ltd Bryon Baranieski 2497 Vivian Rd, Newmarket, ON L3Y 4W1 Tel: 905-895-7342 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

you. Consultants will talk about online marketing in the morning and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services will discuss safety issues during the afternoon. The meeting will include lunch and take place from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. For more information, or to rsvp, contact Helen at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or helen@landscapeontario.com.

February 27

Contractors’ Lecture Series 2013

Latvian Cultural Centre, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto Landscape Ontario’s annual Contractors’ Lecture Series is a gathering of landscape architects, designers, contractors and other industry professionals. Featured speakers this year are Scott Wentworth OALA and Daria Nardone OALA. This special evening is an excellent platform for sharing information and exchanging ideas. Contact for this event is Kristen McIntyre at kristen@landscapeontario.com.

Garden Rabbit Landscaping Ltd Marek Krol 7551 Kipling Ave, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1Y5 Tel: 905-850-8222 Membership Type: Active Hilltop Property Management Carmine Costantino 61 Golfwood Heights, Toronto, ON M9P 3L8 Tel: 416-875-6765 Membership Type: Active Knecht Landscape Associates Ltd Markus Knecht 4 West St, Brampton, ON L6X 1V7 Tel: 905-450-1105 Membership Type: Active Paramount Truck Sales Mario Dimonte 8800 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 6Z5 Tel: 905-764-5252 Membership Type: Associate Rafat General Contractor Inc Rick Lima 8850 George Bolton Pkwy, Caledon, ON L7E 2Y4 Tel: 905-951-1063 Membership Type: Active

Upper Canada Coleman & Associates Alison Coleman 4506 Rowsome Rd E, Brockville, ON K6V 5T4 Tel: 888-697-8900 Membership Type: Associate

North Shore Landscape Firm Cody Kurpershoek 303 Lakeview Ave, Burlington, ON L7N 1Y9 Tel: 905-220-9939 Membership Type: Interim

Discounters Pool and Spa Warehouse Paul Scanlan 4630 Dufferin St, Unit 12A, North York, ON M3H 5S4 Tel: 416-665-1100 Membership Type: Associate

London

Dreamworks Tree Services Frederick Allen 18292 Durham Rd 30, RR 3, Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0 Tel: 647-261-2627 Membership Type: Active

Green Collar Landscaping Al Perreault 183 Orkney Rd, Lynden, ON L0R 1T0 Tel: 289-339-8746 Membership Type: Active

Eco-Pools Inc. Chris Gregory 5 Plank Rd, Holland Landing, ON L9N 1C1 Tel: 905-895-6209 Membership Type: Associate

JAL Ent John Lawrence 158 Cedarbrae Ave, Waterloo, ON N2L 4S3 Tel: 519-240-3579 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Maynooth Natural Granite Mark Hyland 63 Elmwood Ave E, London, ON N6C 1J1 Tel: 855-282-5895 Membership Type: Associate Tirecraft Ontario Inc David Eleyonich 40430 Robinson Rd, Ingersoll, ON N5C 3J7 Tel: 905-515-3555 Membership Type: Associate

Ottawa Candace Mallette Landscape & Garden Design Candace Mallette 1531 Bonneville Cres, Ottawa, ON K1C 7M9 Tel: 613-203-6323 Membership Type: Interim

Evangreen Landscaping Evan Boyle 14899 Dufferin St, King City, ON L7B 1K5 Tel: 905-713-2853 Membership Type: Active

Waterloo

Northern Innovators Inc Laurie Scott 77 Dublin St S, Guelph, ON N1H 4M5 Tel: 519-823-5549 Membership Type: Horticultural

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 21

1.

2.

1. The LO Growers Group celebrated its 25th anniversary by staging an extra-special Research Auction with a pioneers’ reunion. The event was held at

Timm Enterprises in Oakville. Among some of the industry pioneers attending were Howard Stensson, Burke McNeill, Monica van Maris and Horst Dickert.

2. Karin Vermeer of Vermeer’s Garden Centre and Flower Shop in Welland accepted the Consumers’ Choice Award at the LO Awards of Excellence for garden centres, held at Expo. The year 2002 saw a 13 per cent increase in attendance at Expo with 3,000 people visiting the 256 exhibitors. 3. John

Wright, president of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation, presented the Casey van Maris Scholarship Award to Tracey Adams, a first year student at the University of Guelph. The presentation took place at the Waterloo Chapter meeting. 4. Canada Blooms opening night recognized the top display gardens at the annual show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In photo, the 2002 Canada Blooms co-chairs, Gerald Boot, of Landscape Ontario and Connie Hunter of the Garden Club of Toronto, announce the winning gardens.

Landscape Ontario celebrates 40 years

2002

Growth and change have marked Landscape Ontario’s history, but pride in the association shines throughout. The year 2013 is occasion for special pride, as

22 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

your association’s 40th year.

Landscape Ontario magazine is searching its archives to publish nostalgic annual highlight spreads through the end of next year.

LO’s first 25 years were documented in a special yearbook, available at www.

horttrades.com/yearbook. Each issue this year will highlight a year of the association’s history.

Photos or material about LO’s history are appreciated; please send to Allan Dennis, adennis@landscapeontario.com.

Ontario’s Healthy Lawns information coordinator.

“It is abundantly clear that operators here in Ontario are taking a more aggressive posture, and it is paying dividends,” he said.

Despite the many political pressures, the 2002 growing season’s heat and drought led to many new clients contacting lawn care operators to address the weather-related problems, including grubs.

“People are definitely more frugal than they used to be,” said Thom Bourne of Nutrilawn Ottawa. “But in the end, people realized they need the services of licensed professionals.”

Bourne was optimistic that much of the political noise would soon quiet down.

3.

4.

Sector thrives despite anti-pesticide pursuits

London, Guelph, Lindsay, Oakville and Milton are just a few of the municipalities among a growing number of locales across Canada debating the merits of a ban on pesticide use.

During a 2002 council meeting in London, the city’s solicitor advised councillors and about 60 members of delegations that council did not have the authority to pass a by-law to restrict pesticide use. When that statement was challenged, the solicitor said those pursuing such a by-law would be hit with a lawsuit, with the likely outcome of losing.

“It is clear that local involvement is the best way to tackle this issue for the time being,” said Ken Pavely, Landscape

LO’s office property receives favourable appraisal

When Landscape Ontario purchased a 45-acre property located on Hwy. 401 at the Milton/Halton Hills border in 1994, the price was $1.23 million.

While that low figure may have been a pleasant surprise at the time, an even more pleasant surprise was the reassessment of the land in 2002. Value of the property had nearly tripled, to $4.25 million.

It was around the time of the favourable assessment, that LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni received an invitation by Halton Hills mayor Kathy Gastle to speak to her council.

DiGiovanni assumed he’d be speaking on behalf of the industry to defend its position against the tabling of anti-pesti-

cide by-laws. The meeting had nothing to do with pesticide use, and was but a gesture by Halton Hills council to welcome LO to the community.

“After months of challenging meetings regarding pesticide use,” DiGiovanni said, “it was a wonderful change to be officially welcomed and enthusiastically supported by a municipality.”

Landscape construction debuts at 2002 Skills competition

More than 300 students across Halton competed in the region’s annual Skills competition at White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville. This was the first year that a competition category for landscape construction was included.

The challenge was to build a sloped garden measuring 12 ft. x 16 ft., with each garden to include one deciduous tree, two coniferous shrubs, one deciduous shrub and five perennials. Student teams did not receive the plan until the onset of the day-long competition.

The end result of the inaugural landscape construction competition was a 60-foot garden at the front of the school.

Horticulture Review creator retires AFTER 20 years

The founding publisher and editor of Horticulture Review, Rita Weerdenburg, decided that her 20th year with the magazine she created would be her last.

Horticulture Review, or the Ontario Landscape and Nursery Trades Newsletter, as it was first called, was an eight-page newsletter written, edited and mailed by Weerdenburg to the landscape and nursery industry. The newsletter began in in 1983 and grew into a magazine and changed its name to Horticulture Review.

“In late 1991, an agreement was reached between the then current board and myself, and the association acquired Horticulture Review,” Weerdenburg wrote in a December 2002 column.

“Of course, it is always difficult to leave one’s ‘baby’ behind, but at the same time I take great comfort in knowing that Horticulture Review is being left in very capable hands,” Weerdenburg said.

“It was always the association’s intention that Horticulture Review should be the main communication venue to the industry it serves, and I believe it has and will continue to completely serve this role.”

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 23

INDUSTRY NEWS

Elms still grace many streets in Edmonton.

elm (Ulmus carpinifolia) have led to cultivars such as Frontier, Homestead and New Horizon. These hybrids have proved durable in urban conditions, but don’t replicate the majestic canopy of a pure white elm. In addition, while some of these hybrids show resistance to DED, some have also proved very susceptible to elm leaf beetle feeding damage.

Research in Ontario includes two current projects at the University of Guelph.

The Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP) is developing tissue culturing techniques, in addition to attempting to hybridize pure white elm with Chinese elm (Ulmus parviflora) in order to introduce a DED-resistant elm with the canopy characteristics of white elm. The University of Guelph Arboretum has been undertaking the Elm Recovery Project for over a decade with the goal of surveying and archiving large surviving elms from across Ontario that exhibit signs of DED tolerance.

Over 600 trees have been documented, with the long-term goal of developing a breeding program of genetically diverse, pure white elm.

When one views historical photos of elm-lined streets, or visits cities such as Winnipeg and virulent strain of Edmonton to witDED was estab- This elm survives at the University of Guelph. ness the elm canolished than what pies that remain was used to test the clones. Unfortunately, there, the desire to once again make white only one of the original six clones proved to elm a regular part of our urban forests in show some tolerance to the more aggresOntario can easily be understood. It is sive strain of the DED fungus. never advisable to rely too heavily on any The U.S. National Arboretum has been one particular cultivar, no matter how suitinvolved in elm selection programs for able it may seem. Diverse plantings will nearly 70 years and standouts from its help provide insurance against other probefforts have included the cultivars, New lems that may affect elms in the future.

Harmony and Valley Forge. Princeton is — Sean Fox another strong performer that was initially selected in 1922 for its superior form. Time This is part of a series of articles highlighthas also shown that it has a strong level of ing one of the 29 trees selected by the tolerance to DED. Landscape Ontario Growers’ Sector workElm hybridizing programs have focused ing group as recommended alternatives on utilizing the genetics of Asian elm speto ash and Norway maple. Funded by the cies that possess natural disease tolerAgriculture Adaption Council, the complete ance traits developed over thousands of list and the factsheets on each, may be years of co-evolution with the DED fungus found at www.landscapeontario.com/treesin Asia. Hybrids between species includfor-urban-landscapes. ing, Japanese elm (Ulmus japonica), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) and smooth-leaf

Research may bring white elm back to streets Many people today have little experience with the incredible canopy that the American, or white, elm (Ulmus americana) once produced over our cities and rural roads.

Few tree species have the ability to withstand the difficult conditions that white elm is able to endure. For this reason, it was once heavily relied upon as an urban tree. The introduction of the foreign pathogen, Dutch elm disease (DED), into North America in the mid-twentieth century quickly killed off hundreds of millions of elm trees, and continues to today.

For decades, researchers from around the world have been working to develop elms that can once again be planted along city streets without the concern of succumbing to DED. Early efforts resulted in the cultivar Liberty, which was actually a series of six apparently disease-resistant elm clones, that were randomly released under one name.

While these clones showed great initial potential, it was soon evident that a more

24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

New program requires safety awareness training

The Ministry of Labour has revised the supervisor health and safety awareness workbook, as part of new requirements that will force employers to ensure that all workers and supervisors complete occupational health and safety awareness training programs.

The Ministry of Labour requirements will apply to everyone who meets the current definitions of ‘worker’ and ‘supervisor’ under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

The proposed regulation will include all workplaces currently covered by the OHSA, regardless of sector. The ministry says there will be a transition period to allow employers time to ensure that workers and supervisors have completed awareness training programs, before the regulation comes into effect. It is anticipated that the new regulation will be filed on or before July 1, 2013, and come into force on January 1, 2014.

Once the regulation comes into effect, employers will need to ensure that new workers who have not already completed an awareness training program do so as soon as practicable, after commencing work duties. Similarly, any new supervisors who have not already completed an awareness training program will need to do so within the first week of commencing supervisory duties.

More information on this new program may be found at www.labour.gov.on.ca/ english/hs/prevention/shsa_pilot.php.

Lawn care certification exam now available

The Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Technician exam is now available to members of the sector.

Like all of the Landscape Industry Certified designations, this exam is based on basic principles of industry standards.

The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions that focus on topics such as weed, pest, and disease identification; basic soil science and soil sampling; application techniques; environmental and weather effects of applied products; and basic sales and customer communications The next written tests will be offered during Canada Blooms, on Mar. 22; Fanshawe College, London, Mar. 27; and St. Clair College, Windsor, Mar. 29.

The first outdoor testing will take place on July 18 and 19, at the Landscape Ontario home office, Milton. The testing involves softscape and hardscape installation, turf maintenance and ornamental maintenance.

For more information, or to find test dates, visit www.landscapeindustrycertified.org.

U. of G. research examines winter survival of green roofs

A new University of Guelph study shows growers how they can help green roof plants survive southern Ontario winters without unnecessary fertilizer costs.

Finding ways to make Sedum (stonecrop) plants more cold-resistant would help growers eager to install green roofs in fall, as well as in spring and summer, says Professor Youbin Zheng.

Demand for hardy varieties of this succulent plant has increased as demand increases for green roofs.

“Green roof plant installations are typically exposed to more extreme weather conditions than ground level plantings,” said Zheng. “Particularly in northern climates, a late fall installation of green roof plants can result in cold damage or low

plant survival.”

Zheng and research associate Mary Jane Clark planted sedum green roof mats at the Guelph campus in October.

“The effect of multiple rates and types of fertilizer were compared,” said Zheng.

“We also evaluated the survival and growth of an unfertilized versus a fertilized Sedum-vegetated green roof.”

Clark and Zheng compared effects of balanced NPK fertilizers with those of added-P or added-K fertilizers on Sedum. They found that controlledrelease fertilizers with balanced amounts of N, P and K can improve winter survival of low-maintenance sedum plants in green roof systems installed in fall.

Using fertilizer with added P or K made no significant difference.

“Plants in all the mats survived the first winter, and added P or K did not boost the Sedum plant performance compared to the plants treated with a balanced NPK controlled-release fertilizer,” Zheng said.

Clark added, “For climates similar to Guelph, our study showed sedum-vegetated green roof mats can survive without extra P or K fertilization when planted in late fall. Reducing the amount of fertilizer applied at installation makes green roofs more cost-effective to install.”

Allison achieves certification first

John Allison is the first in Ontario to achieve Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Designer and Manager designations.

Allison works for City of Brampton within the planning design and development department. “I review and comment on landscape plans submitted for site plan applications and new development projects. My main role though, is to coordinate and ensure that all city mandates

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 25

and standards are achieved with regards to streetscaping/landscaping on capital road projects,” he says.

When asked why he pursued Landscape Industry Certified designations, Allison stated, “Since coming to Canada back in 2001, I was introduced to both CNLA and LO through trade shows and events. It became very clear to me that what the associations were doing in the industry was astonishing. Promoting the importance of continued education and skills development is one of, if not the foremost, reason why I continue to practice and be proud of our industry.”

He said he was proud, honoured and excited to have achieved all three designations. “It has taken a lot of time and effort over the last six years to get to this achievement. It certainly didn’t come easy, but the rewards definitely outweigh the sacrifices. This industry is fortunate to have such amazing talent and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”

Allison advises industry members to go for it, if they enjoy and believe in the industry. “Certification is a sure win-win. Certification is there to challenge you, however, if you don’t succeed at first, get back in the saddle and try again. The rewards and fulfillment of accomplishing a certification certainly outweigh any earlier doubts.

More information on certification may be found at www.horttrades.com/ landscape-industry-certified.

NISCO: THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY LEASE SPECIALISTS Committed to professionalism

Laura Catalano is available to find the right equipment for your job — just call

1-888-634-9559 26 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Letters to the editor Appreciation for Congress success

I would like to thank everyone who gave of their time and provided great ideas to ensure the success of the Landscape Ontario 40th anniversary.

A special thanks should go to: • Those who gathered, sorted and mounted all the old pictures for the LO booth and the Walk of Fame. This was a daunting and time consuming task, but well worth the effort.

• The magazine staff did a great job of ensuring the members were aware of our association’s milestones.

• The Congress staff and committee members brought awareness of all the festivities to the exhibitors.

• Tony DiGiovanni and his staff created the member video that not only reviewed where we come from, but looks to the next 10 years and the great things to come with Landscape Ontario.

We should be proud to be one of the largest horticulture associations in North America and look forward to being one of the largest in the world by the 50th anniversary.

On behalf of all the members, congratulations Landscape Ontario on 40 amazing years! Let’s make the next ten just as prosperous!

A challenge to take on squash champ

Dear Editor, The Upper Canada Chapter is hosting its annual I Was There Squash Tournament in Picton, on Feb. 28.

This is an open challenge to other members to travel on down and try to wrest the trophy away from our current champion Mike McKay. You can check www.horttrades.com and other LO communication sites for more information.

This is a fun tournament (except for the trophy business) where only members of the industry are invited.

On a personal note, I am very surprised at the fragile state of many of our members. Bad knees, sprained wrists, bad back, sore feet, failing eyesight were all given as reasons for not being able to play. My response? You have to be fit for the work season, go to the gym, get fit now, then come down to our turf.

We’ll be waiting for you!

Dan Clost, Upper Canada Chapter

Regards, Monica van Maris, chair of LO’s anniversary committee

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PUBLIC RELATIONS Promote yourself

By Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations and membership services

I

t’s not bragging. It’s good business!

This was one of the statements made at a panel discussion during this year’s Congress conference. A panel of industry experts gave advice on the topic of customer service. They explained that if you are spending money and resources on great customer service, you should be proud to promote that fact in company newsletters, client meetings, advertising, etc.

One panellist shared the story that he allowed his crews to spend the last 15 minutes on each job site to come up with their own idea of how to leave a lasting impression. This resulted in staff blowing leaves off the tennis court and in another instance contacting the client at work to check whether a back gate needed to be locked to keep the pets safe.

Perhaps small gestures, but in today’s competitive business world it can go a long way to build referral work.

There are many examples of how individual companies can make themselves stand out. One of the best tools that you have is the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence program. If your company received an award, you deserve to shout from the roof tops of those projects (figuratively speaking).

Make sure you contact us to receive a press release template that can be customized and sent out to your local media. Don’t wait too long, as media want up-to-date information.

Outside of work hours, many LO members and their employees spend hours of volunteer time on Chapter community proj-

ects. I know the real reasons are so that you can give back to the local area that supports you in business. But believe me, your community truly wants to thank you, reward you and encourage you to sign-up new business so that your company is successful and future community projects can be developed. This is just good business for all involved.

How is your staff support team in Milton helping? In 2013, we will be constantly collecting good news stories and not only feature them in this magazine, but highlight them on our consumer website and in your local media (TV, radio and newsprint).

If you need some help in developing your own press releases, please contact us.

We have editorial staff with years of experience. Keep feeding us the good news stories and let us brag on your behalf.

It’s good for business.

Denis Flanagan may be contacted at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.

An expert panel at Congress offered advice on customer service. They are, from left, Jeffrey Scott, Phil Harwood, Chris Heiler and Andrew Wall.

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SAFETY AND TRAINING

trainer. To order your copies, go to http://bit. ly/safetytailgate.

MOL blitz results

Congress is great start to 2013

By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP Manager Education and Labour Development

C

ongress 2013 was a fantastic, allround success! Weather was cooperative, participation was strong and networking and sharing of ideas, stories and products surpassed all past Congress events that I can recall.

The positive attitude that was evident is sure to inspire a very successful year ahead. Congress is intended to set the stage for the winter when many of us plan for the next business year and embark on knowledge and skill development. Our winter seminars are sure to support you

It’s tough

beIng the

best.

towards that goal. To find out more go to www.horttrades.com/seminars. If you have an idea for an instructor, presenter or topic for a Congress conference or seminar, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my email address listed at the end of this column.

Landscape Industry Certification

How professional are you? You might have heard about this fantastic video that was launched at Congress at the Awards of Excellence and the AGM. You have to see it – I smile every time with pride! Thanks go to Jason Wilton CLT and Clintar, who generously produced and sponsored the masterpiece for Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Industry Certification program.

Check it out at: www.horttrades.com/ landscape-industry-certified.

New safety tools and resources

Last month I wrote about a new suite of training that all employers are obligated to deliver to all workers. For more information, go to www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/ worker_awareness.php.

We are pleased to announce that Landscape Ontario has partnered with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) to release a new tool to support the landscape and horticulture industry. It’s entitled, Landscaping and Growers Closing the Loop: Setting up a Health and Safety System in Your Small Business. The guide has been produced to support small business owners through a six-step common sense approach that helps to identify gaps and provide tools to establish systems that will help to keep your workplace healthy, safe and successful. To see the guide, go to http://bit.ly/safetyloop.

Tailgate Talks

Constant attention to detail of construction, wire quality, weld specifications, and our continuous wire design keeps Braun best in the marketplace.

Visit www.braungroup.com and request a product brochure. Discover why we are consistently rated #1.

For specifications or distributor please call (800) 246-6984 • FAX (905) 648-8441

Another resource provided to you by WSPS, in partnership with LO, is the Landscape Ontario Workplace Safety Tailgate Talks. This revised resource promotes workplace and classroom safety. This simple tool allows trainers and staff to include safety on the job, in the classroom, shop, or in the truck. Made available to you in a convenient size, the topics are organized alphabetically and provide important reminders on hazards and PPE. This tool should be in the hands of every worker, student and

28 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

From Mar. 1 to 31, 2012, Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors conducted a blitz of construction projects, focusing on health and safety based on compliance requirements with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations. Yes indeed, many of us in the landscape industry fall under the construction regulation when we install pools, erect wood structures, irrigation and lighting, etc.

The blitz was held to raise awareness of key hazards, encourage employers to identify and control hazards, address and remedy non-compliance with the OHSA and its regulations, deter non-compliant employers, enhance health and safety partnerships and promote compliance and improved health and safety in construction trades.

The final report revealed that workers are at risk due to unsafe use of equipment, slips, trips and falls and inadequate education, training and supervision of workers, especially of new and young workers.

The MOL will continue to focus on prevention and enforcement in regards to construction activities. For notice of upcoming blitzes, go to http://bit.ly/VbSkLM. Use the schedule to ensure that your employees are aware and prepared for a possible visit by an MOL inspector.

HR Toolkit and seminars

Last month we updated the Growing People resource, also known as the HR Toolkit, funded by Employment Ontario and written for the industry by HR consultant Vicky Smith. Download the toolkit and customize it to fit your firm’s needs. Go to www.horttrades.com/HRtoolkit.

Save the date

Back by popular demand, we are pleased to announce the return of the annual preapprenticeship and student job fairs. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet students, who are eager to gain experience and work for progressive employers in the GTA, starting this April. For more information, watch the Landscape Ontario weekly e-news, or contact Terrie Greco, terrie. greco@humber.ca, Sally Harvey, sharvey@ landscapeontario.com. To subscribe to the weekly e-news, contact alindsay@ landscapeontario.com.

In closing, the professional development team looks forward to supporting the industry in developing their businesses to ensure continued and future success. Contact us with your ideas for improvement and expansion at sharvey@landscapeontario.com.

MEMBERSHIP Best practices and lessons learned

By Helen Hassard Membership coordinator

I

n January, I was fortunate enough to attend two great member networking events. The first one was LO Congress (I’ll call it one event even though it’s more like three days of events) and the second was the Upper Canada Chapter Best Practices and Lessons Learned Round Table. This event was facilitated by Jason Partridge of The Scott Wentworth Landscape Group, and saw almost half of Upper Canada Chapter members participate.

There was also a great mix of business owners and employees, which made for some very interesting discussions. Event

attendees were to send their discussion topics to Jason prior to the event. And, boy did they ever. We had a two-page agenda that covered topics such as finding time as a sole proprietor, hiring subcontractors, building positive and loyal staff, charging for estimates, job site layout, marketing and more.

Now while there is no way I could report everything that was discussed (sorry there were way too many good ideas for me to catch), I do want to point out that some of the solutions members recommended to each other can be found at Landscape Ontario.

One item that was discussed was the Landscape Ontario HR Toolkit. The HR Toolkit came out just over a year ago and can be found on our website under resources, or use the direct URL www. horttrades.com/HRtoolkit. The Toolkit has resources to help hire the right people, retain your employees, develop a policies and procedures manual and develop an employee handbook.

UNDERGROUND WORLD Seminars prevent underground hits

By Terry Murphy CLP

E

xecuting with efficiency and having your staff understand your business technical details contributes to your company’s success.

The particular success that I am talking about is the reduction in underground utility strikes by the landscape industry.

Every time we dig, we have an opportunity to be more successful. There is also a chance of doing more damage and increasing your firm’s operating costs.

Back in 2010, I set a personal goal of working towards a 50 per cent reduction over three years on the number of utility hits

by the landscape industry. I represent your industry on the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) with this goal in mind.

In year one, we reduced hits by 37 per cent. Year two, we had zero improvement.

For year three, I am currently awaiting reports to see how we did. Every time we dig, we can improve our success, but only if we dig properly. The landscape industry’s average costs for utility strikes are estimated at $1-million every year. This should be zero.

Achieving goals

How can we further enhance our success and achieve our goals in excavation work? It comes by knowing all the tricks of the trade. How can we further reduce our underground strikes? It comes by education and training in the Best Practices for work-

Another discussion topic was banking hours; how to do so and why. This topic is also discussed on horttrades.com under the resources and services tab (www.horttrades. com/labour-resources). It contains an explanation of what banking hours is all about, as well as a sample agreement.

Lastly, I’ll mention that there was discussion around educating the consumer; how can we make the homeowners, building managers and government officials understand the importance of hiring qualified landscape professionals? While Landscape Ontario home office works to build relations provincially, at the local level this can be done by the members. Landscape Ontario and its sector groups have developed pamphlets that you can give to your consumers.

For those of you who missed out on this meeting, I believe the Upper Canada board will be making it an annual event, as it was such a success. Keep an eye on the e-news. And for those who are thinking, “I don’t want to share my business secrets with my competitors,” I heard it put best at the meeting: “A piece of the pie is better than no pie.”

Contact me directly at helen@landscapeontario.com, or at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354.

Also, if you would like your staff members added to our e-news mailing list, all you need to do is ask.

ing and digging underground.

When we started our safety blitz to reduce our WSIB premiums in 1998 (in rate group 190), we went from almost 10 per cent down to below four per cent in 2006.

This saved millions of dollars for the industry. Our main tools were safety education and training through Farm Safety Association and seminars and meetings by LO. There is one education program at the local level at the ORCGA’s geographic councils, which you should consider. These are the ORCGA winter meetings, which are similar to our LO Chapter meetings. These meetings and seminars offer free training for you and your supervisors. A schedule of free local seminars and meetings around the province may be found at ORCGA’s website, www.orcga.com/home.asp. You can also contact the association at 1-866-4464493 to obtain more information.

With costs of underground strikes now running an average of $3,000 or more plus your time, a morning to avoid these costs is a great investment of one morning’s time.

Contact Terry at tvmurphy@ca.inter.net with your comments

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 29

OMAFRA NURSERY Forest health review

By Jen Llewellyn, OMAFRA nursery crops specialist

T

he Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) hosts the Annual Forest Health Review in Orillia each fall.

Foresters and researchers come together to hear about forest health issues and network. It is always time well spent, with a lot of the information that relates to the arboriculture industry. A team of forest health technicians collects data and observations throughout the growing season, which helps everyone better understand, and hopefully manage, these issues.

Defoliation from forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstrium) was detected in scattered pockets over the last few years.

There was 8,000 hectares of light defoliation in the Owen Sound area in 2012, but 10,000 hectares of moderate to heavy

defoliation took place in other areas. Caterpillar egg mass counts are quite high in some of these areas, suggesting that populations are likely building and damage will be more severe in 2013. This is a common pest of oak, and recently an arborist found a heavy infestation on ornamental crabapple.

Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) populations are still low and much of the population collapse can be attributed to the fungal disease Entomophaga maimaiga.

In 2012, some pockets of severe defoliation were in Sudbury and Manitoulin Island (8,000 hectares), but the 50-year trend indicates that we are still on the bottom of the outbreak scale. Where conditions are dry (such as this past spring), insect pathogens are much less successful, but insect survival can be much greater. We’ll see how the spring of 2013 treats the gypsy moth populations.

Larch casebearer (Coleophora laricella), another pest introduced in Canada, was found in several pockets last year and doubled its geographical range in 2012 to encompass over 5,000 hectares. Eastern larch beetle was often found associated with these infested trees as well, and were detected on over 3,000 hectares of forests in northwest Ontario. The eastern larch beetle is associated with larch tree mortality. In Minnesota, they detected this pest on a whopping 46,000 hectares of larch forest trees. This was the first I’ve heard of this pest. I hope I don’t ever meet one.

Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is still a significant pest in the Sudbury and Espanola areas, causing an estimated 5,000 hectares in tree mortality this past year. Forest health technicians say it is moving into Manitoulin Island.

Large aspen tortrix is still causing damage in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Island areas, but it is in the collapse phase of its lifecycle and damage is down to 2,000 hectares. Pine false webworm (Acantholyda erythrocephala) has caused some small pockets of defoliation on white pine and is on the incline in Ontario. In 2012, more than 6,000 hectares of defoliation were mapped out in the Lake Nipissing area. In order to help survey, a sex pheromone has been developed and Sylvar

30 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Technologies out of New Brunswick supplied pheromone to MNR staff to test as a survey technique for male adults. Pine false webworm is also a periodic pest in conifer nursery production and this pheromone could be useful for monitoring this pest in tree nurseries.

There’s no question that 2012 was a wickedly hot and dry growing season.

Spring started in mid-March with lots of early spring growth that got hit by hard frosts in May. Many conifers that had foliage killed by spring frost, actually leafed out again in late July.

Several areas went from six to eight weeks without any precipitation this summer. MNR staff saw several signs of stress on deciduous and evergreen trees from aerial survey activities in mid-summer. Needle mortality was especially high on red pine, and we also saw foliar desiccation on red pine seedlings in nursery production. MNR also noticed significant populations of ips beetles with the symptomatic red pine, often with blue stain fungi associated with the wood. About 174,000 hectares of “desert” injury was detected aerially across southern Ontario.

In some cases, it was severe enough to cause tree mortality (especially on shallow soils around the Canadian Shield).

Cedar leafminer (various species of moths) is still an issue in some areas of southern and south-eastern Ontario.

The MNR fielded a lot of media calls about this pest, and so did I. The ministry mapped over 31,000 hectares of cedar leafminer damage in the province. I saw several eastern white cedar trees in the landscape and in field production nurseries totally decimated by this pest. Damage was much more severe on sandy, drier soils. I have never seen cedar leafminer injury so severe.

MNR forest health technicians mapped over 67,000 hectares of ash trees exhibiting either decline or mortality due to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Over 1,000 hectares were mapped in the Ottawa area, where it is killing ash trees. We can probably expect this area to increase significantly as EAB moves into more and more forest stands with a significant ash component.

Jennifer Llewellyn may be contacted at the Bovey Building, University of Guelph, at 519-824-4120, ext. 52671, or jennifer.llewellyn@ontario.ca.

PROSPERITY PARTNERS Great reviews for Effective Management Short Course

By Jacki Hart CLP Prosperity Partners program manager

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uring Warm-up Monday in our Congress Week, the latest Prosperity Partners offering the Effective Management Short Course brought many new tools, ideas and group dialogue around the challenges of management.

The group members, comprised of a fairly even mix of approximately 50 owners and managers representing all chapters and most sectors, worked diligently throughout the day practicing new methods of problem solving, managing change and identifying strengths to lever and weaknesses to mitigate in their role at work.

During the day, our past president and founder of Prosperity Partners, Bob Tubby CLP, stopped in to see how the day was proceeding. Bob’s original vision of the program was to assist members to become more deliberate about their own prosperity and work-life balance. We all did him proud with the high level of engagement and collaboration — members helping members to improve. We were also joined by our past committee chair and industry business leader, Hank Gelderman CLT. It was great to have these two industry greats join in the discussions and engage face-to-face with us.

In keeping with the Prosperity Partners concept and language, participants dove enthusiastically into a long series of table discussions with their peers using the Prosperity Pillars as the basis to determine their targeted must-change issue for 2013. Participants worked to challenge, mentor and empathize with each other throughout the day. A combination of self-reflective questions, video presentations and group tasks encouraged a shift in thinking about why and how to manage people and moving parts in business.

In addition to rave reviews on the feedback forms, several business owners have contacted us to bring the short course to

their business team for a one on one event.

We also had many members in the room who shared that they have already used the Build Your Prosperity seminar content to form their business style. At least 15 per cent of the group members explained how their businesses have leaped ahead of where they would have been had they not had the Prosperity Partners language and mindset toward business on their side.

The attendees were asked the most memorable or valuable thing they experienced during the day. Some of the responses included, “Taking accountability and how to create more time to do what is more important.”

“That there are others who are feeling/experiencing the same things I am. I’m definitely not alone.”

“Networking with others/focus change on working on business more than in your business.”

It’s very exciting to keep hearing how Prosperity Partners as a concept and language is a viable and simple way to navigate business challenges with clear thinking. In our closing round-table discussion, I asked each member of the group to tell us what they would like us to do with this new short course. The message is clear – offer it on a continuing basis.

As a result of their feedback, I’d like to invite you to connect with your Chapter board at your next meeting to see if an Effective Management Short Course is on the horizon. The bigger the group, the better. Combining the strength of two or more chapters together for a regional short course would produce a nice-sized group for a powerful day of networking and learning.

My utmost thanks to Bob Tubby for his foresight in creating this concept eight years ago. Together we are all building stronger businesses as a result of Prosperity Partners.

In closing, let me ask YOU: What’s your next step for improvement in 2013?

Jacki Hart may be reached at prosperity@landscapeontario.com.

SINCE

1962

TIMM ENTERPRISES LTD. Mail: P.O. Box 157, Oakville, Ont. L6K 0A4 Office & Warehouse: 5204 Trafalgar Rd., Milton, Ont. L0P 1E0 Phone (905) 878-4244 Fax (905) 878-7888 Sales 1-888-769-TIMM (8466) www.timmenterprises.com sales@timmenterprises.com

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OMAFRA TURF Fall fertilization revisited

By Pam Charbonneau OMAFRA turfgrass specialist

M

any of our turf agronomic practices need to be revisited to focus on minimizing the environmental impact on water quality. One common practice is an application of a nitrogenbased fertilizer in the late fall when turf is still green, but no longer growing. In southwestern Ontario, this is usually at the end of October, or the beginning of November.

The benefits of this practice are to improve fall colour, early spring green-up without excessive shoot growth, more and deeper roots and increased carbohydrates in the plant for improved winter-hardiness.

The current late fall fertilizer recommendations for this application are 1.01.5 kg at nitrogen at 100 sq. m. The recommended nitrogen (N) sources are water soluble, or quick release N sources that do not rely on soil microbes (which are not active at that time of year because of the cool soil temperatures) for N release. These sources include urea, ammonium sulphate and IBDU. The recommendations do not take into consideration the fate of nitrogen applied to turf at this time of year with abundant rainfall and low evapotranspiration.

At the 2012 Ontario Turfgrass Symposium, Dr. Soldat from the University of Wisconsin gave a talk that surprised many in the audience. Dr. Soldat, in collaboration with Dr. Brian Horgan, University of Minnesota and some graduate students, conducted an in-depth look at all the previous research in the fall. This review cited 36 studies on late fall fertilization in North America between 1930 and 2006, as well as two international studies (Italy and Turkey).

They discovered that many of the studies were conducted in regions of North America that have a very different climate from Ontario and on different turf species than what we grow here. It is obvious that every study looked at something a little bit different, whether that was timing, rates, location, soil type, turf species and N sources.

Review reveals spring colour

Studies in Rhode Island evaluated colour, growth and cold resistance of Kentucky bluegrass under various fall N timings.

Treatments of 0.98kg N/100m2 were made every two weeks from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15.

Applications of N made before Nov. 1, resulted in increased fall colour. All of the fall treatments provided good spring green-up and treatments applied after Nov. 1 had greener colour and greater clipping yield by spring. Fertilizer treatments applied before Nov. 1 produced a growth response in the fall, while later applications provided a growth response in the spring. This study again was in a climate different than Ontario.

Studies in Wisconsin (Kussow, 1992) found improved spring colour, but they also found that spring growth response was observed from the late fall N applications. This study site is a bit closer to winters we experience in southern Ontario.

More recently Mangiafico and Guillard (2006) conducted research in Connecticut that showed there were no differences in early spring green-up between N applied on Sept. 15, Oct. 15 or Nov. 15. It did show there was less N uptake when applied after Sept. 15.

Increased root growth

In the mid-Atlantic, Hanson and Juska (1961) found that late winter root mass was significantly greater in the treatments that received 1.47 kg N/100m2 in September, or when this rate of N was split between a September and October application, compared to the unfertilized control. However, in May the greatest root mass was from turf fertilized in March. In Iowa, Moore et al. (1996) compared late fall N application with a heavy spring and a balanced N fertility program. Rooting studies conducted north of the mid-Atlantic (Kussow, 1992; Mangiafico and Guillard, 2006) did not find root mass differences from N applied in either September, October, November or December.

Again, studies supporting the claim that late season N fertilization of turf produces more roots in temperate climates are not supported by the research.

32 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

Increased photosynthesis and carbohydrates

Work by Moon et al., 1990, brings into question the possibility of turfgrass to photosynthesize at all during the late fall.

They reported an 85-90 per cent reduction on photosynthesis in perennial ryegrass with one single chilling event (8º C day and 5º C night). They also reported photosynthesis reduction lasted for five to seven days after plants were returned to more moderate temperatures (22º C day and 17º C night). Given this research and temperatures in Ontario after mid-late September, it is difficult to see much of a temperature window.

Environmental considerations

If such a small percentage of the N is taken up by the turfgrass plant in the late fall, what happens to the other roughly 66-80 per cent? Petrovic (1990) concluded that there is greater potential for nitrate leaching in the late fall because of reduced evapotranspiration, increased precipitation and decreased microbial mobilization of N. Recent studies evaluating late fall N applications found elevated nitrate levels in the leachate. The amount varied with each study, depending on the rate, nitrogen source, timing and rainfall with the greatest losses from applications made after Sept. 15. In another study that looked at different sources of N, the greatest nitrate losses were from season-long fertilization with ammonium nitrate (16.8 per cent), compared to 1.7 per cent with polymer coated urea and 0.6 per cent with an organic N source.

The only benefit from late fall fertilization of turf that has been demonstrated in the literature for temperate climates like Ontario is early spring green-up. The benefit of more roots and deeper roots has not been substantiated for our climate. In addition, research has shown there is a potential for nitrate leaching. We do not have all of the answers yet, but with the information that we do have, perhaps we should follow the precautionary principle and refrain from applying nitrogen after Sept. 15.

Based on the literature review, it is also prudent to apply a slow release form of N at that time of year (which is the industry norm anyway). There is still a need to have more locally-based research to help us understand timing, rates and N sources for fall fertilization that will maximize the agronomic benefits without a negative impact on water quality.

Pam Charbonneau may be reached at pamela.charbonneau@ontario.ca.

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EXECUTIVE DESK Celebration of life: Perry Molema Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO executive director

I

attended Perry Molema’s Celebration of Life tribute in December. For those of you who did not know Perry, he was a lifetime member and supporter of the Landscape Ontario community, who tragically passed away in a car accident just before Christmas.

It did not surprise me that there were hundreds of friends in attendance. Perry’s positive outlook on life and his caring nature touched and influenced a lot of people.

Perry was involved in the Windsor Chapter for many years as president of Colonial Nurseries. About ten years ago he joined Aquascape as the Ontario president.

Here is an excerpt from his obituary: “His job incorporated his passion for travel, which took him to every corner of the world. He left his mark creatPerry Molema ing beautiful water features and landscapes that can be enjoyed throughout Chatham and Canada, as well as the U.S., Europe, Egypt, Turkey and Australia.

“He had many hobbies and enjoyed sharing his life with his family and many friends. He was engaging and compassionate; once you knew Perry you knew you had a friend for life. One cannot choose when we leave this world, but we can choose how to live it. Perry lived his life to the fullest and touched many hearts. He will be infinitely missed and forever loved and cherished by all who knew him.”

Years ago when he was speaking at a Windsor Chapter meeting, Perry said, “We are really in the business of enhanc-

ing lives.” These nine simple words influenced the way I look at my work and personal life. I have often repeated Perry’s words in articles and speeches because of the power, meaning and positive outlook they convey. That simple perspective, “enhancing lives,” is such a wonderful way to live. Perry certainly enhanced my life and the many people he touched. His legacy lives on because he enhanced many of our lives.

This year’s word? Why

On a related topic…Once a year at our Christmas luncheon, the staff collectively chooses one word that focuses our activities for the coming year. Last year, the word was “service.” The previous year the word was “communication.” It’s quite remarkable how choosing a word or theme actually helps to improve our activity defined by the word chosen.

This year’s word was influenced by a quote I had just read in a book, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” I suggested we choose the word why.

With puzzled looks on some faces of the staff members, they politely agreed. Lee Ann and Sally replied, “Why not?”

The word why is a powerful filter. It begs an answer. It stimulates thought. Why do we exist? Why does Landscape Ontario exist? Why do we do what we do? For me Perry’s words, “We are in the business of enhancing lives,” provide a meaningful, universal, positive and uplifting way to answer the question, “Why?” Tony DiGiovanni may be reached at tonydigiovanni@landscapeontario.com.

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Contractor Lecture Series Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Join Scott Wentworth OALA, CSLA, Wentworth Landscape Group, and Daria Nardone OALA, for an evening focused on a diversity of residential landscapes, and the many ways outdoor living areas can blend beauty and function with a healthy outdoor lifestyle.

Wednesday, February 27

Latvian Cultural Centre, Riga Hall, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto

Register at www.horttrades.com/landscape-lecture-series-2013 Admission is $10 for the first person per company, and $5 for each person from the same company following the first registration. Registration includes dinner.

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1/29/2013 1:19:17 PM

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 or fax to (905) 875-0183. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $67.80 (HST included). Min. order $67.80 for up to 325 words. Website ads are posted for 30 days.

View ads online at www.horttrades.com/classifieds

EQUIPMENT

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Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life brand is designed to promote your professional business

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Established Muskoka Landscape Maintenance Company For Sale Successful, respected company, locally owned and operated, is looking for a professional and dedicated purchaser. Well-maintained fleet of trucks and equipment. Dependable staff, loyal customer base. Year-round operation.

For serious inquiries only, please reply in confidence by email to: MuskokaOpportunity@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES HELMUTZ Senior Landscape Estimator and Project Manager We are a well established landscape contractor, serving the Kitchener and surrounding area.

We have an opening for a self motivated, organized and disciplined landscape professional.

Candidates must possess the following skills: • 5-8 yrs exp. in landscape design and estimating • Ability to manage a project from design to completion • Able to provide direction and mentor staff • Dynascape and computer skills essential • C.E.T. background helpful Competitive wages and benefits offered.

Email resume, cover letter and references to: Helmut Zgraja helmut@helmutz.com Lakeside Garden Gallery in business for 29 years Now Hiring Landscape Designer Annuals Sales/Maintenance Positions Seasonal Plant Sales /Nursery Assistant Hardgoods Assistant Qualifications • Must have Garden Centre/Nursery Experience • Must have good knowledge of related products • Excellent decision making/problem solving skills • Excellent work ethic and enthusiasm • Flexible schedule – evenings, days, weekends, holidays Lakeside Garden Gallery 10753 Heart Lake Road, Brampton, ON L6Z 0B7 PH (905) 846-3773 FX (905) 846-1828 Email resume to employment@lakesidegardengallery.com

Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life brand 34 FEBRUARY, 2013 is LANDSCAPE designedONTARIO to promote

employment OPPORTUNITIES Lakeside Garden Gallery in business for 29 years SEASON PLANT SALES ASSOCIATE/ NURSERY ASSISTANT Job Description Plant Sales Associates provide a fast, friendly service by actively seeking out customers to assess their needs and provide assistance.

Must have knowledge of nursery stock, annuals, perennials and all related garden product.

Qualifications • Previous plant sales an asset • Good knowledge of plants and related products • Excellent decision making ability and problem solving skills • Must have an excellent work ethic and enthusiasm • Must have a flexible schedule – evenings, days, weekends and holidays Lakeside Garden Gallery 10753 Heart Lake Rd Brampton, ON L6Z 0B7 PH (905) 846-3773 FAX (905) 846-1828 Email resume to employment@lakesidegardengallery.com OUTSTANDING MANAGER REQUIRED FOR TORONTO BASED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION COMPANY Looking for the right person to manage our small, high-end residential design-build company in central Toronto. Projects range from $20,000 to $200,000 in scope, and involve woodwork, planting, stonework, and water feature construction. You will also be managing subcontractors: lighting, irrigation, and selected elements of our excavation and woodworking.

You will be involved in design, client management, and proposals. Your responsibilities will take clients from initial consultation to pricing, to completed project.

Inside and Out Garden Design has won 17 Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence, and we are committed to excellence in both design and execution. The successful candidate must be self sufficient, have good people and organizational skills, as well as a thorough knowledge of construction practices, and horticulture.

To apply: e-mail info@insideandoutgardens.ca or call (416) 880-9647

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March 15th-24th, 2013

100 YEARS

Take a unique journey through horticultural history with Sheridan Nurseries’ celebratory Feature Garden. Marking the company’s 100th anniversary, this exhibit will not only reignite memories of major Canadian gardening milestones, but it will excite the senses of every avid gardener as they explore what the future of horticulture has to offer.

Sheridan Nurseries RR#4 12302 10 th Line, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 4S7 Tel: 416-798-7970 36 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY, 2013

E-mail: info@sheridannurseries.com

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