Landscape Ontario - June 2017

June 2017 horttrades.com

ALIGNED WITH APPRENTICES National Capital Commission benefits from a trained workforce Page 4 PM 40013519

Clockwise from front: Morgan Jackson, Rachel Barrie, Mark Dabrowski, Mark Burleton and Jacob Foster

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Crazy questions from clients

By Paul Brydges LO President

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kay, day two of no rain. Cross your fingers and let’s see how many days we can actually string together. How can it be that clients never understand that sometimes one day of rain can cause 10 days of slow-down on a site. And so far this year, we’ve had record rainfalls in April and a soggy start to May. Talking with our contracting team, I think every year we gain experience in dealing with clients’ unrealistic expectations, but we also may become a little more jaded when it comes to our responses. In my weekly tours around the province with our contracting teams, we often laugh (and also cry) and try to console each other about some of the crazy phone calls we receive from clients.

June, 2017 • Volume 35, No. 6 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 profession in Ontario.

ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519

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

Who hasn’t heard the phone ring with questions like; “How soon can you get here, it hasn’t rained in two days? It’s the Wednesday before the May long weekend, can I have my gardens cleaned up for a party before then? I am having family in for Canada Day and I want a pool.”

The list is endless, and just when you think you’ve heard it all, a new question comes across the bow to baffle the limits of logic even further.

Our experience says, talk to friends, colleagues and team members about how crazy it is. Take a breath, take a walk, laugh out loud good and hard.

A great mentor of mine asked me a question once on how I should get from point A to point B in a hurry. My answer, of course, was I run. He asked me to simplify my answer and tell him what motion was required. After some serious head scratching and him looking at me quite perturbed, I began, “I put one foot forward and…” He stopped me there and said, “Exactly! One foot at a time, in front of the other.”

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

No matter how fast life gets, or how many directions we are trying to go, we all get there the same way — one foot in front of the other. The faster you try to go (like writing this article before the deadline) the slower you get. Going fast causes mistakes and time is then spent going back to fix mistakes, which also adds frustration.

Some clients will simply never wait for good service and product. That fact is hard to take and challenging to let go of, but it is true. Some clients will never fit into the way we do business. Let them go, politely and professionally, and move on to the clients who appreciate and are willing to pay for quality. We can’t chase down every lead, or satisfy every client, but we can do our very best for every one we choose to work with.

Good luck out there this spring. Collaboration is the key to success for all of us. Laugh hard, work hard and live well.

Cheers!

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

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FEATURES APPRENTICESHIPS AT NCC KIM PRICE LANDSCAPE DESIGN SKILLS ONTARIO COMPETITION

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

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 2017, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).

For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

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wouldn’t be able to work for the NCC anymore. One day I finally realized if working in the horticultural field is what I want to do, then that’s what I should do with my life.”

Jackson says the Apprenticeship Program was ideal for her because having just graduated from university, she did not really want to go right back to school as it would mean putting her life (and career) on hold for a couple more years.

“I was sold on the Apprenticeship Program because it allows me to continue my life as normal, but at the end of it I’ll have the certification in the field I love,” she says.

Getting to know the operation

Jacob Foster earns valuable hours of hands-on training and work experience as an apprentice at the National Capital Commission.

Apprentices play key role in Canada’s future Founded in 1959, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in the National Captial Region. Owning about 11 per cent of all land in the region, the NCC undertakes many development and rehabilitation projects of those lands with the mission of building a capital that is a source of Canadian pride.

In 2017, the year of Canada’s sesquicentennial, the NCC is already planning for Canada’s bicentennial in 2067, part of their role of long-term planning for federal lands.

Their other principal roles include being stewards of nationally significant public spaces and being committed to excellence in development and conservation.

Apprentices a good fit

With such high standards and long-term projects in development, the NCC has found a synergy with the training opportunities available via the Apprenticeship Program. As a strong supporter of training and education for it’s employees, the NCC has been able to recruit young talent and ensure the succession of a skilled workforce that is able to simultaneously learn about their operations.

Mark Burleton, Manager of Grounds

4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

and Greenhouses at the NCC is also responsible for maintaining the Official Residences. Burleton says one benefit of training staff through the Apprenticeship Program is apprentices learn alongside knowlegeable and experienced staff.

“Apprentices at the NCC gain experience in historic gardens and greenhouses with high standards of horticultural excellence,” Burleon explains. “This experience will help them in the future, like attention to detail and sound horticultural practices.”

Jacob Foster is an apprentice at the NCC who is learning alongside some of the best horticulturalists in the country. Foster says the hands-on learning experience will give him the knowledge and the skills to be a well-rounded horticultural technician once his apprenticeship is completed.

Morgan Jackson is another apprentice at the NCC who also holds a degree in journalism from Carlton University. Jackson pursued a career in the horticulture profession as a direct result of working at the NCC. “I began working for the NCC as a student after my first year of University and I just fell in love with getting to work outside,” Jackson says. “I loved the work so much that I actually felt sad the closer I got to the end of my degree because it meant I

Mark Dabrowski, Florist/Greenhouse Supervisor at the NCC says one major advantage of the Apprenticeship Program is the ability to train students on the NCC’s unique operation and situation.

Dabrowski says the program also allows the NCC to train students to meet horticultural standards as well. “This allows us to build a base of individuals that we can call on in the future who we know are versed in our unique operation,” Dabrowski says.

Dabrowski explains on a daily basis, apprentices may work on a variety of tasks.

“Everything from working with the floral designers on special projects, watering, cleaning, propagation tasks, design input/ training in the greenhouse, pruning, working in the greenhouse vegetable/cut flower garden, and setting up for events in any of the residences we support.”

And while the apprentices at the NCC provide a huge amount of support for the tasks at hand, a large part of the program involves constant support from employers

Morgan Jackson and Rachel Barrie at work in the greenhouse.

National Captial Commission apprentices Jacob Foster, Rachel Barrie and Morgan Jackson all discovered different aspects of the Apprenticeship Program that appealed to their aspiration, lifestyle and goals.

for the apprentices as well.

Jackson says she has received constant support throughout the entire apprenticeship process and Foster credits his passion for horticulture as a direct result of support from his high school horticulture teacher, Alan Nason.

Planning for the future

With the NCC’s role of long-term planning for many iconic outdoor spaces, it only makes sense they would also have a strong succession plan. Burleton says participating in the program allows them to recurit young “budding” horticulturalist that help with the NCC’s succession planning. The same holds true for a business or organization as well.

One example of this is Rachel Barrie.

Barrie completed her apprenticeship with the NCC and was hired on as a greenhouse technician. Barrie feels very fortunate to be in her role and says as a result of the apprenticeship, her skills and knowledge are already very in tune with the requirements of her job.

In addtion to earning 5,400 hours of

hands-on learning, the program requires apprentices to complete two 12-week inclass traning sessions at one of five colleges throughout the province, typically in winter months.

Barrie says she enjoyed the combination of hands on experience with in-class training. “The in-class training taught the basics of all aspects of the horticulture industry, and I was really motivated afterwards to seek more learning opportunities in the areas that really interested me.”

Barrie says anyone starting out in the program should take the approach of treating work like school. “Ask questions, network and learn as much from your peers and employers as you can while on-the-job — it will benefit you in-class and later on,” she says.

Jackson says not having to return to school full-time is part of the reason why the program made sense to her. “You still get to work most of the year in the warmer months as normal, and then in the winter when you would go on EI or search for alternate employment, you just go to school,” Jackson explains.

program have access to a potential $2,000 tax credit per year for each registered apprentice and a $1,000 bonus for each apprentice that completes the program.

Red Seal Designation

Upon successful completion of the program, each apprentice earns a Red Seal Designation, a standard recognzied across Canada.

For Jacob Foster, earning the designation will reaffirm the career path he has chosen. “I chose the Apprenticeship Program mainly because once I finish my apprenticeship, I will have industry recognition and a Red Seal that I would not have had if I went to college for two to three years,” he says. Armed with that, thousands of hours of experience working alongside seasoned professionals and formal in-class training, Foster will enter the profession confident he posseses all the qualities employers will be looking for.

For information on the Apprenticeship Program, visit horticulturetechnician.ca or contact Alex Gibson at jagibson@ landscapeontario.com or at 613-809-5093.

Financial benefits

Mark Burleton says participation in the Apprenticeship Program helps both recruitment and succession planning.

Jackson says another factor that sold her on the Apprenticehip Program is how affordable it is, including the grants available that helped her financially through the process.

Each apprentice has the the opportunity to collect $4,000 in grants and access to loans at the federal and provincial levels.

The cost of in-class training is subsidized by the Ontario government and costs about $650 for each of the two terms, plus books and tools. While enrolled in the program, apprentices must pay a yearly Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) fee of $67.80 and have access to additional subsidies for travel and childcare expenses.

Employers who have staff enrolled in the

Mark Dabrowski believes staff become even more valuable and dedicated when trained in business operations via apprenticeship.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 5

Homeowners of this property wanted a unique artistic element that could also be enjoyed from inside the house (inset).

Kim Price Landscape Design

By Robert Ellidge

Kim Price has advice for anyone starting a career in the green profession: when the opportunity to kickstart your career arises, think big, be professional and just go for it.

Now in her twentieth year as principal of Kim Price Landscape Design, Price has never taken a formal landscape design course — something she admits, may certainly have helped, because landscape design was not her first career choice.

Price began her career as a freelance illustrator after earning a fine arts degree at the University of Guelph. She also worked for a number of years as a graphic designer for various publications and media. At that time, the industry was becoming computerized and Price decided to combine her love for the outdoors with her passion for design.

She decided to be a landscape designer.

Do what you love and learn from the best

“I looked up the top landscape architects in the city; Mark Hartley, Janet Rosenberg, Haig Seferian and talked to them about what it was like to be in the profession,” Price explains. In addition, she “looked everywhere” at magazines, on the internet, and at work done by landscape contractors, to get a feel for what worked well and what she really liked.

“I’ve always had a good feel for visual and spatial design,” says Price, who relies on her natural feel for shapes, form, proportions and her gut feeling when creating

6 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

designs. Early on, she says she did have to learn more about how people actually move through a space.

Price became a Master Gardener, solidifying her knowledge of plant material and also looked up Landscape Ontario. She took courses offered by the association on topics like grading and drainage, and Horst Dickert’s famous, Tree Below the Ground seminar, in order to fully understand the construction process for builiding quality landscapes.

Price says attending those LO seminars also gave her access to industry experts who welcomed her with open arms and were always willing to share their knowledge and insight.

The start of a career

Price started her business doing small plantings for people. While working in various neighbourhoods, she continually looked at work done by others and noted which contractors she particularly liked.

Around 1998, Price was living in the beaches area in Toronto when a lawn sign advertising work done by Natural Effects design/build landscapes, caught her eye.

“I liked the look of the sign because that is the first impression you get of a company working on a property,” says Price. She then approached Natural Effects owner, Vince MacDonald and asked to look over his portfolio. Price liked the attention to detail and quality of work she saw and the two began working together — they have worked together ever since.

Price feels she “lucked out on someone like Vince” and the other contractors she began working with, because she learned so much from their expertise. “I learnt a lot from working with contractors who are well seasoned,” she explains.

The big break

Price credits Tribute Homes for kickstarting her business when she was still “extremely green.” Tribute had a new development at Woodbine Ave. and Queen St. in the east end of Toronto. Price “knew it was going to be an important development because it was one of the last large areas of land close to downtown to be developed.”

Despite being new to the profession and nervous, Price approached the Tribute

Kim Price, CLD

sales office to offer their buyers a lecture series on how to make the most of their small backyards. Sales staff for the homes confirmed some of their buyers had concerns with the 500-750 sq. ft. backyards for which they could not envision anything exciting.

Price says the lecture series went very well and her creative ideas and design input in the lecture got noticed by Tribute’s architect. The architect suggested she meet with the company president who was looking for someone to landscape three model homes.

Tribute’s president asked Price to simply send her some numbers, but recognizing the unique opportunity at hand, Price decided to go above and beyond to win the job.

“I looked up the best restaurant I could find in Pickering and took him out for lunch,” Price explains. She also brought along her contractor, her portfolio and a sales pitch. Her approach worked, and Price was awarded the contract.

Price says to the developer, “numbers were paramount” and admits she made very little money from the job, but was in it more for the exposure it could get her. Price says she got lots of work within the new development and within two years, won the very first Casey Van Maris Award from Landscape Ontario in 2001 for one of those properties.

From there, Price continued to win awards for her work, and was featured in many home and garden magazines and on HGTV programming.

Adding art to the garden

Price describes her work as “strong structural design, strong structural planting” with a strong influence of art and architecture.

She won’t shy away from putting a strong or large element in a smaller space and is very careful about using only a certain amount of materials to ensure continuity and flow in a space.

In 2017, Price won three awards for her work on the Henderson residence. Her clients were avid art collectors who wanted a contemporary look for the back of their property and a unique art piece they could enjoy from within the house.

Price designed and created a unique water feature that also acted as a strong artistic element within the space. The feature contained a wall of 15 specficallyplaced silver egg-shaped domes that contained plant material with built-in irrigation and lighting.

“It looks very simple” says Price, but explains there was “a huge amount of thought” that went into designing and creating the unique feature. She had to not

Price won the inaugural Casey van Maris Award in 2001 for this small space — transforming an uninspiring view of the side of the garage into an inviting, tranquil space.

only figure out how to build and install the feature, but also consider things like easy access for maintenance or repairs. Price first created a full-sized prototype out of styrofoam just to first make sure the design would work visually. Price had a lot of fun working on the project and notes it was not the norm for her. Although her clients are more upscale and have large budgets, not everyone can afford something as elaborate in their garden.

Price credits contractor Robin Thornrose of Tintagel Masonry with making her vision for the water feature into reality and is looking to work on similar projects in the future that will allow her to incorporate more art into her spaces.

Listening to clients

Price says the biggest thing when working with a client is recognizing that people need to feel they are being understood. Clients need to know “you are listening to them and their needs, and their wants and that you are really interested in their project,” adding that “like any relationship, communication is key.” Having a good connection with a homeowner is important.

About five years ago, Price got several requests from clients to also maintain their properties and says it’s a “great way to keep the vision” of those projects. She maintains 10 of the properties she has built using a part-time crew of three women. “Basically my business is just me and I bring people in” she says, with regards to her contract employees, landscape contractors, and other suppliers.

Her rule is simple, “know what you are good at and focus on what you love,” allowing others to focus on the parts of a project they are good at.

Price says she has had many very busy seasons and feels it is important for the client that her focus is on their project. She is very particular about the business she does take on and will only take on one project at a time.

“I tell my clients, ‘we do not work quickly, buy we are meticulous, we do one project at a time, we concentrate on you and only you’ and clients really like that,” she explains.

Price acknowledges not all business can work that way, but it works for her.

Part of a winning team

Price is quick to attribute her success to the many people she works with. Working with the same contractors for two decades, she feels they are “some of the best in the city.”

As with any good relationship, she says honesty and good communication are paramount to success, and she is always open to accepting suggestions and ideas from her contractors on how to improve a space.

Showing appreciation for those who contribute to her success is also important for Price, who will often tell contractors and employees how great their work looks.

Advice comes full circle

Back when she was starting out, Price says those already established in the profession welcomed her with open arms. “Some of the big names in the business opened their arms to me and saw me on their busy day, gave me advice and were really helpful,” she says.

And now, Price has young people who reach to her for that same advice and is always willing to help — sharing lessons she has learned over the years and the values she believes have helped her to make a living doing work she thoroughly enjoys.

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Over 50 skilled trades participate in the competition each year.

Young people shine at Skills Ontario

By Cassandra Wiesner Skills Ontario, Canada’s largest provincial skilled trade and technology competition, took place May 1-3 at the Toronto Congress Centre. The competition is an opportunity for students at secondary and post-secondary levels to showcase their skills and compete in a truly inspiring atmosphere.

The competition attracts over 30,000 educators, students and family members each year. There are over 50 skilled trades represented with specific categories for Horticulture and Landscape, and Landscape Design. Most trades have a secondary and a post-secondary competition that can be viewed by attendees.

The Horticulture and Landscape secondary school competition was a oneday build. Teams of two were assigned a landscape project that incorporated both hardscape and softscape elements. The competitors had to bring the design to life in a 10 by 10 foot plot. Throughout the process, industry leaders judged teams on skill, workmanship and ability to maintain a safe work area. There were 12 teams competing at the secondary school level. Congratulations to Shawntanna Atkinson and Quinn Young of Waterloo Region District School Board for taking first place.

The post-secondary competition involved construction of a more complex project that included a pergola and stone steps, over a two-day build. The Horticulture and Landscape competition had eight teams competing, with first place won by Adam Dugas and James Marangon from Durham College.

Organizers would like to thank Perma-

8 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

con and Connon Nurseries/NVK Holdings for sponsoring the competition. Thanks also to volunteer technical chairs Brandon Gelderman, Robert Tester and Eckhard Lutz.

The competition would not have been possible without their dedication.

The Landscape Design competition took place at the other end of the building in the heart of the computer technology area.

Competitors showcased their design and drawing skills using either Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software, or hand drawing.

Designs were judged on creativity, ability to meet client and site requirements, and plant selection.

There were eight competitors at the secondary school level and five at the postsecondary level — the largest group to date for Landscape Design. Laura Winters of Bluewater District School Board won the secondary school competition and Ambrosia Walters of Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture won the post-secondary competition. Congratulations Laura

Competitors are judged by industry professionals.

and Ambrosia!

Thanks to Landscape Design competition sponsors Humber College and Dynascape Software, and for the volunteer efforts of technical chairs, Andrea Weddum and Brandon Gelderman.

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF) donated monetary prizes for gold, silver and bronze winners. The OHTF’s main initiative is to support the growth of a prosperous horticultural industry. David Turnbull, OHTF president, commented on his experience at Skills Ontario: “As a judge in the Horticulture and Landscape competition, it was encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the teams who are the future employees and leaders of the horticultural industry. I would like to say a special thank you to the Technical Committee and Chairs, who work very hard to ensure this competition runs so well and is a credit to our industry.”

Secondary school Landscape Design competition bronze medalist, Gregoire Salvadore, of Toronto Catholic District School Board, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity Skills Ontario and the OHTF provided him: “...It is because I got to participate in Skills Ontario that I have come to realize what I am passionate about. My passion is landscape design. As a competitor, I would like to thank the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation for their contribution…”

Judging from the skill, passion and dedication shown by the young competitors at Skills Ontario this year, the future of the landscaping and horticulture profession looks bright. Landscape Ontario would like to congratulate all of the winners (see gfl. me/h3ns for a complete list). Thank you to all of the schools and coaches who supported the competitors and prepared them for the incredible opportunity provided by Skills Ontario.

For more information about the competition, visit skillsontario.com.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Members of the Vanderkurk family accept a special plaque from LO’s Tony DiGiovanni.

Connon CBV open house On April 20, the Connon Nurseries/CBV Vanderkuk team welcomed customers to their completely transformed location at 656 Robson Rd. in Waterdown, Ont. The location is now fully equipped to service

e

landscape contractors and other clientele in the surrounding area. The celebration comes in advance of the company’s Dundas Street yard closure, scheduled for July 15.

The Vanderkruk family were all on hand to welcome guests at the evening festivities. Terry Vanderkruk thanked his team for their patience over the fouryear journey to relocate operations. Both Terry and Rob worked with Brand Integrity Manager Karenlynn Howie, Project Manager Andrew Schaafsma, and their team of dedicated staff, to develop the new sales yard with the Vanderkruk family’s heritage in mind. Rob Vanderkruk thanked staff for ‘getting’ the CBV philosophy and appreciating the Vanderkruk’s vision. Acknowlegements included CBV founder, Cor Vanderkruk, with Rob joking, “we can’t get rid of him, and since we said we’d give him something to do, we’ll gladly keep him busy here too!”

The efforts of Terry and Rob have added a new level of professionalism to Connon CBV. One of their goals was to offer a convenient sales yard, remove redundancy and get back to plants. The large, heritage barn beams and rustic, industrial client meet-up tables allow a space for contractors to spend quality time planning projects with clients. The site also has a centralized building with efficient use of space and plans for an outdoor kiosk to complete transactions.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS The Connon team will continue to adapt to their new space until they have it working as efficiently as possible, and look forward to getting feedback from customers in order to reach that goal.

ZONING VICTORY FOR HAMILTON MEMBERS

The Ontario Municipal Board ruled recently in favour of Hamilton landscape

companies threatened by rigid zoning rules. Members spoke before the board, telling the stories of their companies’ community involvement and economic impact. Hamilton officials and LO members gathered in Flamborough to commemorate the positive outcome; councillor Judi Partridge said, “You spoke beautifully; it really did make a difference.” City of Hamilton solicitor Joanna

LO members gathered to commemorate an OMB decision in their favour.

Wice said, “Thank you, I do respect you for getting up and speaking.” Planning policy manager Joanne Hickey Evans also participated. LO’s Tony DiGiovanni expressed thanks from LO members in return, and announced LO will plant trees to honour the officials on public land of their choice.

GARDEN CENTRE AWARDS PROGRAM OPENS JULY 1

Entries for Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Awards of Excellence program will be open to LO members in the retail sector from July 1 to Sept. 1.

The annual awards competition recognizes the unique and innovative marketing efforts of retailers, using submitted photographs and descriptions of their efforts. Whether it’s a creative merchandising display of plants or seasonal goods, a permanent display garden, print advertising, a website, or a special event designed to attract customers to their store, the program offers many categories for retailers.

The Outstanding Display of Plant Material category includes deciduous shrubs and/or trees, annuals and/or perennials, evergreens and/or broadleaf,

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specialty plant material your business is noted for, and new varieties of annual and/or perennials.

In the Outstanding Display of Goods category, awards will be handed out for displays of giftware, hardgoods and seasonal goods. Other Merchandising Techniques is divided into creative P.O.P. area, outstanding promotional event, outstanding print advertising, and outstanding website development. The Permanent Display Gardens category is divided into display under 500 sq. ft. and over 500 sq. ft. in size.

The program is only open to current Active and Interim members of Landscape Ontario and a fee of $75 per entry applies. Non-member entries will not be considered. All entries must be submitted via the awards website at LOawards.com.

Winning entries are judged by a group of industry experts and winners will be announced during a special ceremony in January 2018 at Landscape Ontario’s Congress: Canada’s Green Industry Show and Conference.

To learn more about the program, please contact Amy Buchanan at amy@ landscapeontario.com or visit LOawards.com.

STRONG LO PROFILE AT GREY TO GREEN CONFERENCE

Interest in green infrastructure is growing every year ― the pressing need to slow water runoff is just one reason. The Grey to Green Conference is an important idea exchange for this movement; the 2017 edition recently took place in Toronto.

Landscape Ontario has been a longstanding Grey to Green supporter. In fact, LO’s Tony DiGiovanni was a keynote speaker this year. His message underscored the importance of green suppliers in providing employment. He called the green sector “a well-kept secret; we are too humble as a group.”

DiGiovanni noted the economic value of green infrastructure and the jobs it creates is huge, dwarfing enterprises such as General Motors. The challenge, as he sees it, is to cure the public of “plant blindness” ― the tendency to overlook plants and trees, and thus miss the environmental benefits they provide.

The conference is staged by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, based in Toronto under Stephen Peck’s leadership. LO members Neil McKeown of Gro-Bark and Kees Govers of LiveRoof Ontario also participated as speakers. Landscape Ontario was a conference sponsor.

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WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 11

ASSOCIATION NEWS

uted $25,000 in 2016 and at the event Jewett announced the organization dedicated to the preservation of the maple tree population in Canada will also provide another $10,000 to the campaign.

LO MEMBER LMN LAUNCHES ENHANCED SOFTWARE

(L-R) Mark Cullen, Ken Jewett, Michael de Pencier and Tony DiGiovanni.

FOUNDERS RECOGNIZED

During a community tree planting at Downsview Park in Toronto, Ont. on April 23, Maple Leaves Forever founder, Ken Jewett presented the three original founders of the Highway of Heroes Living Trib-

12 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

ute with special awards. Mark Cullen, Michael de Pencier and Tony DiGiovanni were recognized for their contribution and vision to the campaign.

As a founding partner of the Living Tribute, Maple Leaves Forever contrib-

LMN’s growth trajectory continues; the company known for business management software is launching an enhanced product this spring. Building on LMN’s customer relationship management, estimating and time tracking functionality, LMNPro will offer features such as electronic document storage and invoicing.

The new program runs on all platforms, making automated, paperless processes practical for the landscape profession.

Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN Software, is a longstanding advocate for improving landscape company success. He has spoken at countless Congress Conference sessions and other LO events, and writes a column in Landscape Trades magazine. LMN partners with LO to stage the annual Leaders Summit. Bradley remains active in contracting through TBG Environmental, also an LO member company.

Material from the old bridge is crushed for use on the LO property.

REAL-LIFE RECYCLING AT LO HOME OFFICE

Landscape Ontario recently received 1,500 tons of free crushed concrete, thanks to the proactive vision of past president and current property manager Dave Turnbull. Reconstruction of Hwy. 401 bridges is currently underway nearby, and Turnbull asked contractor Bridgebusters about plans for the rubble. In a mutually-beneficial arrangement, Bridgebusters crushed the waste concrete, removed steel components for recycling and spread the crushed rock at LO’s home office. Turnbull says LO easily received $10,000 worth of material and machine operation. This represents stage one of a three-stage bridge demolition, and LO is set to receive two more free batches of material that will also be used to grade the property.

       

Trees Shrubs Evergreens Broadleaf Evergreens Vines Ferns Perennials Groundcovers

SNOWPOSIUM RETURNS IN 2017

Mark your calendar for Landscape Ontario’s signature event for snow and ice removal contractors and suppliers. Snowposium, LO’s Snow and Ice Sector Group’s Snow and Ice Conference and Expo, returns home to the Landscape Ontario home office in Milton, Ont., on Sept. 28.

Snowposium 2017 will feature conference sessions throughout the day with plenty of time built-in to also attend the outdoor trade Snowposium will take place Sept. 28. show, which will feature over 20 exhibitors of snow and ice removal equipment, technology and affiliated products.

Conference topics will include: legal obligations and what you need to know, including a mock trial for the benefit of all contractors; rules of the road with consideration for safety and compliance, led by the Ontario Provincial Police; salt study results and what they mean for contractors; roundtable hot-topic lunch sessions; and outdoor demonstrations for an up-close look at equipment issues.

Conference pass includes in-class sessions, lunch, trade show admission and outdoor demonstrations. Registration is now open online. Cost is $75 per LO member and $100 per non-member if registered by Sept. 11. After that date, prices go up. The trade show is free to attend, but pre-registration is requested and lunch may be purchased on-site for $15 per person.

Details and registration can be found at Snowposium.ca.

7314 Sixth Line, Milton, Ontario L9E 0Y1 Phone: 905-878-7226 • Fax: 905-878-8737 Email: yard@putzernursery.com

Find Out More At WWW.PUTZERNURSERY.COM WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 13

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Proud Canadians Keene On Gardens/Crystal Lawn Care and J.M. Smith Landscaping collaborated on this Canada 150-themed garden featured in the recent Peterborough Garden Show.

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CELEBRATE CANADA 150 WITH LO

Landscape Ontario is hosting a special event at home office in Milton, Ont. on June 21 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Members can drop by the site from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and meet LO’s Provincial Board of Directors, enjoy a free barbecue lunch, and learn more about the many benefits of being an LO member. Representatives from the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) will also be on hand to discuss member cost savings programs.

An RSVP to myscha@landscapeontario. com would be appreciated.

Not able to attend the celebrations in Milton? The event will also be broadcasted online via Facebook Live.

LO members can also purchase special Canada 150 shirts to wear on Canada Day or to show their national pride.

The unique shirts feature the Canada 150 logo on the front, with the LO logo and the words “horticultural professional” on the back.

The long-sleeve shirts are available for $20 each in sizes from XS to XXL. A minimum order of five shirts is required, plus shipping and taxes. To order, visit

horttrades.com/Canada-150-shirt or contact Myscha Stafford at 905-875-1805, ext.

2333 or myscha@landscapeontario.com.

NEWEST LO TEAM MEMBER STARTS WITH A SMILE

If you’ve called or visited Landscape Ontario’s home office in Milton, Ont. recently, chances are you were greeted or assisted by Meghan Greaves, LO’s new Membership Assistant.

Staffing the main reception desk, Greaves is an integral part of the LO team, connecting callers and visitors with the staff member who can best serve their needs.

As a result of her role and her ability to learn quickly, Greaves is well versed in the many activities and initiatives of the association, including membership dues renewals, the membership application process and the many benefits and cost savings available exclusively to LO members.

Greaves says the most common inquiry she gets is from members looking for information on the various cost savings programs, primarily the huge discount available on new vehicle purchases.

Working at LO, Greaves has learned a lot about the profession and about herself. “The first thing I learned is there are a lot of leftovers from meetings that have catered lunch, but to be wary, because I had a severe allergic reaction and had to go to hospital my very first week at LO,” she jokes.

In all seriousness, Greaves says she has learned “what an amazing association Landscape Ontario is, and how important every single person is — from the president to the many dedicated members, in their role of advancing the horticulture profession in Ontario.”

Greaves is no stranger to playing various roles, something she pursues on weekends as part of an acting career.

Greaves understands the importance of her role at LO. “I am usually the first person people encounter when they arrive, so I like to think I set the tone,” Greaves says of greeting staff and helping visitors with a big smile.

Recently, Greaves attended her first LO Member Appreciation Day and says “it was exciting to meet some of the members and see what they do on a daily basis.” Greaves is looking forward to seeing what else this year has in store and says the people she works with are an “awesome group.”

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ASSOCIATION NEWS MEMBERS CAN GET LEADS FOR FREE

Landscape Ontario members can sign up for a free subscription to eLandscape — a new website and smartphone app that connects customers with verified landscape professionals.

Marketed by garden personality Frank Ferragine (aka Frankie Flowers), eLandscape is a spin-off of eRenovate — a service that connects homeowners with verified construction and home renovation professionals. eLandscape is specific to the green profession, and allows a home or property owner to submit a project, including photos, videos, a description and estimated budget, directly from their smartphone or computer. Contractors who match up with the project (based on criteria specified at enrollment) are then notified of the project anonymously through the App and have the ability to respond to only the projects they like. A

customized response can be included with the standard company profile and contact information that is sent back to the homeowner.

The homeowner then receives details from each of the verified landscape professionals who are interested in the

job, and can compare them via company profile pages on the eLandscape website and the information included in responses. The profile pages on the website are set up and managed by each contractor, and can include photos and descriptions of jobs, details about the company and what qualifies them as a verified professional. The homeowner can then use the interface to request a call, email or meeting with those contractors they are most interested in.

The free subscription for LO members expires April 15, 2018. To enroll, a member must email eLandscape with their contact information and edit an existing list of services. For details, including a pre-populated email with the services list to edit, visit horttrades.com/elandscape.

Once the free subscription expires, no action is required by members if they do not wish to continue the service. They will not be charged, billed or automatically enrolled in the program. If members would like to continue using the service after April 15, 2018, they should contact eLandscape and pay the discounted LO member rate.

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SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE

Tyson Jennett is working on a green roof substate that will retain phosphates.

Scholarship helps fund green roof research In 2016, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF) awarded $6,000 to Tyson Jennett, a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph researching green roof substrate materials.

The funding was critical to the project getting off the ground, Jennett says, and the results – expected this fall – could lead to more effective substrate materials for the burgeoning green roof industry.

“Typically what is done in the industry is that people will select the materials that go into the substrate by looking at what gives them the physical characteristics that they’re looking for,” Jennett explains. “So it’s a material that holds water well and has a low bulk density and things like that. Whereas, we want to take it one step further, and to do that we are working with a soil chemist on campus to characterize the chemical features of the substrates. We are looking specifically at how these materials bind the various nutrients from a fertilizer to their surfaces.”

University of Guelph professor, Youbin Zheng is working with Jennett on the project. Zheng was instrumental in connecting Jennett with the Foundation scholarship.

“Tyson is one my PhD students who has been working on developing

substrates for green roofs and green infrastructure, including constructed wetlands,” Zheng says. “The reason he is doing this is because we know that phosphates are polluting our water and negatively impacting our watersheds and our lakes. And also, phosphates are not a renewable resource, even though they are coming from a variety of sources, including agricultural lands and urban lawns and gardens as well. So [Jennett] is looking at developing a substrate for those contexts which will retain phos-

phates, rather than flowing out and eventually ending up in our lakes.”

Zheng adds, “At the same time, with green roofs and constructed wetlands, you want the plants to grow, and you want the plants to have access to phosphates to support their growth. It’s an important project because we are seeing green infrastructure, and green roofs in particular, become increasingly popular all over the world, and especially in developed countries like Canada. Green roofs have so many benefits, including storm water management and the prevention of flooding during peak events.”

Jennett says he was drawn to Zheng’s research program because of the collaboration between industry and academia; many other researchers focus on theoretical inquiries. The fact there will likely be direct applications in the green profession was a real driving force behind the project.

“I’ve always been around plants; growing up my father and grandfather were gardeners,” Jennett says. “When I got to university, I became interested in looking at natural ways to remediate heavily polluted sites. There is a lot of active research looking at ways to use plants for remediation instead of dredging soils and using harsh chemicals. And that really led into my interest in greenhouses and using crops to address greenhouse wastewater concerns, and now this research related to green roofs.”

Zheng emphasizes the importance of the Foundation in attracting talented researchers like Jennett to the horticulture profession. “I just want to say that Landscape Ontario and the Foundation do a great job by providing us with these scholarships so that we can draw students to our industry.”

Scholarship applications close June 30 Each year, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation awards over $50,000 in scholarships to high school and post-secondary students across the province. The funding goes to the best and brightest horticulture students who are the future of the profession, and it provides a real boost right when they need it most.

Created in 1979, the Foundation’s mandate is to ensure a healthy future for the horticulture industry through financial support for research and scholarships.

With dozens of recipients each year, the foundation makes a major impact on the lives of future green professionals.

Under the Foundation umbrella, the Cullen family scholarship program also sees some $30,000 awarded to students each year.

The deadline to apply for scholarships is June 30. Applying is easy, and generally requires students to send their transcripts and a short essay describing their interest in horticulture. For more information and to apply, visit ohtf.ca.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 17

NEW MEMBERS DURHAM 2441153 Ontario Inc

Robert Dancey 170 Bedford Ave Oshawa, ON L1G 3K4 Tel: 905-259-5772 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Backyard Solutions Inc Simon Hampson 11 William Andrew Ave Stouffville, ON L4A 3S4 Tel: 416-438-2225 Membership Type: Active

Groeneveld Landscaping Nick Groeneveld PO Box 355 Stn Main Port Hope, ON L1A 3W4 Tel: 905-885-9515 Membership Type: Active

GEORGIAN LAKELANDS 1450910 Ontario Ltd (Sport Court Ontario) Scott Jackson 12 Parr Blvd Utopia, ON L0M 1T2 Tel: 705-330-1798 Membership Type: Associate

Dock In A Box

Daniel Doig 2100 Industrial Park Rd Innisfil, ON L9S 0E4 Tel: 705-431-5881 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Ferris Trucking & Excavating Ian Ferris Simcoe County Rd 124 PO Box 26 Singhampton, ON N0C 1M0 Tel: 705-445-3706 Membership Type: Active

Lacroix Haulage

Murray Lacroix 861 Lapointe St Sudbury, ON P3A 5N9 Tel: 705-566-1294 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Maggio Limited

Dan Maggio 5157 7th Line Beeton, ON L0G 1A0 Tel: 647-295-2805 Membership Type: Active

McCoy’s Decorating

Kim McCoy 419 Santa’s Village Rd Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8 Tel: 705-646-3335 Membership Type: Associate

McMillan Millwork

Wade McMillan 100 Mountain Rd #3 Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z8 Tel: 705-446-8932 Membership Type: Associate

North Scape Group

John Woods 15 Uphill Rd Lively, ON P3Y 1H9 Tel: 705-507-4107 Membership Type: Associate

Outdoor Rooms Landscape Design Sally Stanleigh 633 Lakelands Ave Innisfil, ON L9S 4E5 Tel: 416-301-7281 Membership Type: Interim

Rae Gardner Construction Matt Gardner 1289 Peninsula Rd Port Carling, ON POB 1J0 Tel: 705-646-3040 Membership Type: Active

Shawn Mac Donald’s Landscaping Shawn Mac Donald 14 MacAllister St N Collingwood, ON L9Y 0X2 Tel: 705-770-6960 Membership Type: Active

Wayne Hall Construction Inc Kirby Hall 176 Louisa St Parry Sound, ON P2A 3C1 Tel: 705-746-8147 Membership Type: Active

GOLDEN HORSESHOE Mohawk Garden Market Robert Smolka 4670 Hwy 6 S Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Tel: 905-768-8148 Membership Type: Active

Paladin Lawn Maintenance & Landscaping Brandon Green 7295 Rolling Acres Niagara Falls, ON L2J 1E5 Tel: 905-351-3505 Membership Type: Active

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

www.horttrades.com/promo 18 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

Regal View Contracting

SB HAULAGE INC

Mauro Mazzocco 39 Waldron Cres Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4A3 Tel: 416-936-6923 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Steve Gannon 275 Fourth Ave PO Box 30085 Ridley Square St Catharines, ON L2S 4A1 Tel: 905-682-3920 Membership Type: Active

Sunview Property Maintenance Inc Joe Di Biase 14 Hansen Rd S Brampton, ON L7E 3H4 Tel: 416-688-2512 Membership Type: Active

OTTAWA Ardron Landscapes Inc Keith Ardron 10300 Hyndman Rd Mountain, ON K0E 1S0 Tel: 613-316-7710 Membership Type: Active

Sean James

Milton, ON Membership Type: Horticultural Waterloo

Prime Interlock

Vladimir Alexeenko 17 N - Banner Rd Ottawa, ON K2H 8T3 Tel: 613-698-8523 Membership Type: Active

Aberfoyle Trailer Sales Inc Chris McWhirter 101 Campbell Rd Guelph, ON N1H 1B9 Tel: 519-766-1991 Membership Type: Associate

TORONTO Acer Landscapes

Alpine LawnCare & Snowplowing

Brian Kuipers 132 Confederation St Glen Williams, ON L7G 3S2 Tel: 416-806-4704 Membership Type: Active

Doug Winkler 24 Zinkann Cres Wellesley, ON N0B 2T0 Tel: 519-580-7669 Membership Type: Active

Craig Clifford Gardening Ltd

Ariss Landscape Inc

Craig Clifford 11349 Regional Rd 1 Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R2 Tel: 905-852-6638 Membership Type: Active

Mike Reinhart 5766 8th Line E Ariss, ON N0B 1B0 Tel: 519-221-2217 Membership Type: Active

Green Leaf Limited

Greenway Landscaping

Frank Aiello 137 Valecrest Dr Toronto, ON M9A 4P8 Tel: 416-717-2215 Membership Type: Active

Ryan Dean 4 - 455 Dutton Dr Waterloo, ON N2L 4C7 Tel: 519-888-7787 Membership Type: Active

John C Lucas Landscaping Inc

Rybo Inc

John Lucas 4 Zachary Dr Brampton, ON L7A 1H4 Tel: 647-333-2179 Membership Type: Associate

McCague Landscape Construction Barry McCague 15485 11th Concession Schomberg, ON L0G 1T0 Tel: 416-931-5380 Membership Type: Active

Ryan Bolender 32 Westbury Cres Cambridge, ON N3C 3G2 Tel: 519-220-9094 Membership Type: Active

WINDSOR A.C. Landscaping

Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises Angel Beyde 203 - 1499 Queen St W Toronto, ON M6R 1A3 Tel: 416-537-9551 Membership Type: Active

Antonio Ciavaglia 457 Watson Ave Windsor, ON N8S 3S5 Tel: 519-991-8825 Membership Type: Active

Profile Products LLC

Derek Oosterhouse 13455 Pathway Ln Nunica, MI 49448 USA Tel: 616-581-6904 Membership Type: Associate

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ONTARIO

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EVENTS Find full details and registration links at horttrades.com/comingevents June 9-18

Garden Days

Canada’s annual celebration of gardens has expanded to a 10-day event this year, with National Garden Day celebrated on June 16.

A variety of events are planned for gardening enthusiasts, families, schools and communities.

Take part in a local event or get inspired at your local garden centre or travel to a nearby destination garden. See a full listing of events or register your own event at gardendays.ca.

June 17

Landscape Industry Certification

Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line S., Milton A Landscape Industry Certification test will take place at the LO home office. To order study manuals or register, contact CNLA at 1-888-446-3499 or visit landscapeindustrycertifiedtechnician.ca.

June 19-23

Public garden conference

The American Public Garden Association (APGA) conference — a celebration of connections, heritage, partnerships and progress will take place in Hamilton and Niagara Falls. Hosted

by the RBG and Niagara Parks, special activities and events are planned to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday. Visit the conference website at 2017.publicgardens.org.

June 20-23

20th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium

Montreal, QC The largest conference and trade show for snow and ice professionals features a two-day trade show, three days of education, an awards ceremony, networking and fun events. Full itinerary and online registration at sima.org.

June 21

LO celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday

Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line S., Milton Meet members of LO’s Provincial Board of Directors over a barbecue lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and learn about the many benefits of your LO membership, including CNLA’s cost savings programs. Event will be broadcasted on Facebook Live. Please RSVP to myscha@landscapeontario.com.

July 1 - Sept. 1

LO Awards of Excellence Garden Centre program entry

LO members can enter their unique and creative displays and merchandising techniques in this annual program recognizing excellence within the sector. Visit LOawards.com for details and to enter.

July 20

Toronto Chapter Golf Tournament Nobleton Lakes Golf Club, Nobleton LO members will once again take over the Nobleton Lakes Golf Club this summer for the chapter’s annual golf event. Register now at horttrades.com/toronto.

July 27

Ottawa Chapter Golf Tournament

The Meadows Golf & Country Club, 4335 Hawthorne Rd., Ottawa Mark the date and join fellow chapter members in a great day of golf while raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation. Watch for details at horttrades.com/ ottawa.

Announcing the return of ...

SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO MILTON, ON

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND EXPO Brought to you by SN && I CIEC E COGM MU I TPT E E SOW N OW RO

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 19

INDUSTRY NEWS Research helping to keep lawns healthy Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) is investigating improved turf grass cultivars in combination with new pest management tools to provide lawn care practitioners with the tools to grow healthy turf in residential areas.

Growing a healthy lawn means selecting the correct type of grass and using good cultural practices including cutting, feeding, aerating, seeding and watering.

Healthy turf is less susceptible to pests and diseases, and more resilient in the face of drought and extreme heat and cold.

“New grass varieties are coming onto the market that are better adapted to our changing environment,” said Michael Brownbridge, PhD, Vineland’s Research Director, Horticultural Production Systems. “New perennial ryegrass and tall fescue cultivars exhibit different growth habits from traditional fescues and ryegrasses, and are similar to the popular Kentucky bluegrass offering a more aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Newer varieties also have superior root systems allowing them to access water and nutrients more efficiently from the soil.”

In addition, some new cultivars harbour naturally-occurring endophytic fungi

that produce alkaloids conferring higher levels of resistance against pests, including two of the most prevalent: hairy chinch bug and European chafer (commonly known as white grubs). “Several of these new grass varieties have performed well in research trials evaluating resistance to pests. The high alkaloid ryegrass, Natural Knit perennial ryegrass, Natural Knit tall fescue and insect-resistant mixes incorporating high alkaloid ryegrass were found to be the most resistant against chinch bugs, while European chafer grubs avoided feeding on the insectresistant mixes,” said Brownbridge.

Using the correct grass variety is only the first step in maintaining a healthy lawn. Since pesticide bans took effect in many residential areas across the country, biocontrol agents are more frequently used. For instance, nematodes are the standard for grub control in turf. The Vineland team found that when applied in late August/early September, two nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema glaseri, consistently provided about 50 per cent control of European chafer. Later applications or those made in the spring were relatively ineffective. A new nematode, Steinernema scar-

High endophyte-containing ryegrass.

Kentucky bluegrass.

abaei, is even more effective. Although challenging to produce, it is a robust nematode that survives in the soil for several months and can potentially provide extended control of white grubs.

The nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, rosemary oil and a sprayable formulation of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae are also effective against

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chinch bugs when used in July.

Lawns and gardens can be healthy without the use of pesticides. It is important to use a combination of approaches – the right type of grass and proper lawn care practices with the use of effective biocontrol agents, as needed – to achieve best results.

Vineland’s research was supported by the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation, the Quebec-Ontario Cooperation for Agri-Food Research, Agricultural Adaptation Council, the Cosmetic Use Pesticides Research and Innovation (CUPRI) program, Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Research and Innovation Cluster (COHA).

NEW CANADIAN NURSERY STOCK STANDARD RELEASED

Originally published in 1967 as a guide to minimum production standards for nursery stock, the Canadian Nursery Stock Standard continues to be one of the industry’s most-referenced documents. The Standard is reviewed regularly to ensure consistency with modern production and marketplace practices. Under the guidance of the Nursery Stock Standard Committee, this ninth edition resulted from two years of work involving nursery growers with varied production proficiencies, representing all regions of Canada. The process also included consultation with landscape architects and municipalities.

Committee chair Brett Mattson, of Mattson Tree Farms, acknowledged the efforts of all nursery grower participants, and extends thanks to the committee members Bart Brusse of Sheridan Nurseries, Aaron Krahn of Lakeshore Tree

Farms and Harold Voogd of Sunstar Nurseries.

“We are especially grateful to our committee members and editors Arnold Heuver and Dr. Glen Lumis for their many hours spent to review and incorporate changes and even to contribute to the new and improved format. Their efforts were above and beyond the high standards we have come to expect from our many dedicated volunteers.”

The committee intends the edition to be a living document, allowing for changes and edits to be made as necessary. The Standard will therefore be available as a downloadable PDF document only at cnla-acpp.ca/cnss. Also available for download is a list of relevant changes compiled by Dr. Lumis.

In related news, The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and CNLA are proud to announce the latest Canadian Nursery Stock Standard will be included within the Canadian Landscape Standard. Revised editions are available to anyone who has purchased the document since its release in March 2016.

The Canadian Nursery Stock Standard replaces Section 12: Container Grown Plants.

SHERIDAN NURSERIES GREEN EFFORTS RECOGNIZED

Landscape Ontario member, Sheridan Nurseries, has received a prestigious accolade as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers from Mediacorp Canada, for the company’s continued commitment to the environment and sustainability.

Sheridan Nurseries president and CEO, Karl Stensson, said, “Receiving the Canada’s Greenest Employers award for the second year in a row is a great honour. This award is a result of the dedication and commitment by our entire team to achieve our environmental goals. As a company founded on landscapes and plants, our standards of excellence for everything ‘green’ echo our company values for over 100 years.”

Companies are evaluated based on their unique environmental initiatives and how they link to the company’s public identity, success in reducing their environmental footprint and employee involvement in the programs.

Sheridan offers educational programs in the community, including the “Little Digger” program that introduces children to the plant life-cycle, the “Growing-up Green” school outreach program and the LEAF program that highlights native plant species. In addition, Sheridan constructed a massive, 117 million-litre pond that collects rainwater and water run-off from its growing operations and naturally filters water through a series of settling ponds. The result was a significant reduction of the company’s water draw from local sources.

Serving the landscape industry for nearly 50 years

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

www.kobesnurseries.com WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 21

INDUSTRY NEWS GRANDFATHERING PROVISION FOR DESIGNER CERTIFICATION

Candidates with at least 12 years of design experience are now eligible to apply for the new “grandfathering” provision under the Certified Landscape Designer (CLD) designation.

The CLD designation recognizes that potential certification candidates might have extensive industry experience or already possess membership in other landscape design organizations.

Therefore, these candidates are eligible to apply under the program provision instead of writing the formal exam, and submitting their portfolio.

Likewise, any candidates with full membership to a professional landscape design association (up to the discretion of the committee) are also eligible for application of the provision. Applicants are required to provide proof of education and work experience, and submit two sponsorship letters to validate their submission.

Once the application is approved, candidates may be asked to discuss three relevant design projects for which they played a significant role, with the Review Committee.

Visit certifiedlandscapedesigner.com or listen to a webinar at http://bit.ly/2qJamWN to learn more. Questions can be directed to Edith Oyosoro at CNLA via email edith@ cnla-acpp.ca or at 1-888-446-3499, ext.

8650.

A female parasitic wasp.

WASP FEEDS ON EAB LARVAE

Researchers at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., are planning on rearing 10- to 12,000 tiny Tetrastichus wasps, which feed on emerald ash borer larvae.

Dr. Krista Ryall of Natural Resources Canada hopes these new wasps can help stem the spread of the borer, which so far has killed millions of ash trees in Canada and the U.S. The wasps will be spread across six new release sites in Ontario and Quebec, she said. But the presence of this parasitic army shouldn’t alarm anyone. “They don’t attack humans,” Ryall said. “They don’t bite or sting or anything like that.

It only likes to eat emerald ash borer.

So really, that’s its only host that it’s out there looking for.”

SENATE PASSES BILL S-229

On May 2, Bill S-229, an Act respecting underground infrastructure safety, was adopted after a third reading in the Senate.

Inspired by the “Call or Click Before You Dig” principle, Senator Grant Mitchell’s bill is designed to protect underground infrastructure and enhance public safety.

If passed by the House of Commons in exactly the same wording, the bill would then become law with final approval (Royal Assent) by the Governor General. The law would require operators of underground infrastructure that is federally regulated or on federal land to register the infrastructure with a notification centre; require people who are planning to dig to first make a “locate request” with the relevant notification centre; and require operators of underground infrastructure to locate requests by either locating and marking the ground, providing a clear description of the location of the underground infrastructure in the vicinity of the proposed excavation, or providing an all clear to proceed with excavation.

At the Bill’s second reading on Oct. 2, 2016, Senator Mitchell gave special thanks to Mike Sullivan, president of Alberta One-Call and executive director of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA), for his hard work in getting the bill to this stage.

The CCGA’s vision is to be Canada’s unified damage prevention voice and attract members from all Canadian national organizations and associations who share common damage prevention and public safety solutions.

For more information, visit the CCGA website at canadiancga.com.

CUB CADET PARTNERS WITH COME ALIVE OUTSIDE

In 2017, Cub Cadet and Come Alive Outside are working with Ontario communities to celebrate the importance of outdoor, unstructured play by laying down sod and creating temporary parks on prominent streets, with the Green Street Challenge.

The programs create an opportunity for children and families to play outside and value all the benefits that green

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spaces have to offer. With childhood obesity and mental illness on the rise, time spent outside getting active and connecting to nature has never been so important. The Green Street Challenge is a way to remind communities of the importance of creating and developing green spaces that encourage families to get outside and get active.

“We were really excited by the idea of creating a canvas in which families can be reminded of the importance of creating their own outdoor spaces and “unlocking the possible” of their yards and communities,” said Melanie Kacic, Marketing Director of Cub Cadet.

Sarah Walker, executive director of Come Alive Outside says the sponsorship from Cub Cadet will allow more marketing and messaging to explain to people what the Green Streets Challenge actually is, and will help to support Come Alive Outside in the organization and coordination of the events.

Based in the United States, Walker says Come Alive Outside is now a registered charity in that country and an incorporated non-for-profit in Canada. CAO started the year-long process of obtaining registered charity status in Canada, that will give better access to funding for future projects.

For more information on the Green Streets Challenge, visit comaliveoutside.com.

three million trees under its 50 Million Tree Program (50MTP), and the government is now challenging public and industry to match its target in 2017.

Individuals, organizations and businesses can participate by planting a tree, participating in a community tree planting event or making a donation to have a tree planted on their behalf, and can track their progress at greenleafchallenge. ca. The website allows people to register their trees on an interactive map and access events in their communities.

Landscape Ontario Executive Director Tony DiGiovanni said, “As the original green industry, we have known for years that the landscape and horticulture profession makes a significant contribution to fighting climate change and improving air quality in our communities.”

COUNT THE TREES YOU PLANT THIS YEAR

Ontario is partnering with families, community organizations and businesses across the province to reach its goal of planting six million trees this year to promote cleaner air and help fight climate change. The initiative is supported by Forests Ontario and the province, and honours Ontario’s 150th anniversary.

Each year, Ontario plants approximately

DiGiovanni added, “Landscape Ontario is encouraging all members of the profession to keep track of, and register trees planted this year. Through the work we do on a daily basis, and initiatives like the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute campaign, we have the opportunity to show the world the difference our collective efforts makes.”

The Green Leaf Challenge and 50MTP are part of Ontario’s efforts to improve air quality across the province by planting new trees to remove approximately 6.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050 — the equivalent of taking 1.1 million cars off the road for an entire year.

Planted trees can be registered online at greenleafchallenge.ca.

CNLA revamps national trade website The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) trade website has undergone a much-needed update to make it a better resource for members. The website, cnla-acpp.ca, is the go-to resource for members looking for information on member savings programs, national events, business resources and more. Designed specifically with members in mind, each member company received an email with directions to set up a login to the “members only” section of the website. This is where you will find information exclusive to members of the provincial horticulture trades associations.

If your company did not receive a login, or joined since March 2017, please contact Anne Beifuss at the CNLA office, anne@cnla-acpp.ca, to get set up.

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EXECUTIVE DESK Let’s cure plant blindness Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

O

n May 9, I had the pleasure of delivering one of the keynote addresses at the annual Grey to Green Conference in Toronto, Ont. The audience was comprised of government, policy makers, green space advocates, engineers, architects, landscape architects and others interested in advocating for the value of green space.

Steven Peck, president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, started the conference and is also the visionary responsible for bringing together a very diverse group of organizations to form the Green Infrastructure Coalition (see greeninfrastructureontario.org).

Although diverse, the thread of passion that ties the many groups together is the idea that ‘living’ green infrastructure is important (and absolutely crucial) to improving and enhancing our quality of life.

In a way, it’s odd we had to form a coalition to advocate the importance of green space. Our ancestors did not have to consider the benefits. Their very livelihood was based on learning to feed, clothe, heal and shelter themselves using plants. It is only recent generations that have lost touch with nature due to most of our population residing in concrete jungles. This trend will only get worse. I often quote the Bruce Cockburn lyric, “If you stare at too much concrete, you forget the earth is alive.”

Our common vision is a world where gardens, urban forests, landscapes, turfgrass, green space and natural areas are indispensible — a world where living green infrastructure is valued because people are aware of the social, economic, health, lifestyle, therapeutic, recreational, tourism, aesthetic and even spiritual benefits.

24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

The Green Infrastructure Coalition agreed on the following definition: Green infrastructure is defined as the natural vegetative systems and green technologies that collectively provide society with a multitude of economic, environmental and social benefits. This includes: urban forests and woodlots; bioswales, engineered wetlands and storm water ponds; wetlands, ravines, waterways and riparian zones; meadows and agricultural lands; green roofs and green walls; urban agriculture; parks, gardens, turf, and landscaped areas.

It also includes soil in volumes and qualities adequate to sustain green infrastructure and absorb water, as well as technologies like porous pavements, rain barrels and cisterns, which are typically part of green infrastructure support systems.

Plant Blindness

In 1998, researchers James Wandersee and Elizabeth Schussler introduced the term “Plant Blindness.” Their research found when people are shown pictures of different landscapes, most people would notice the animals and other objects before the plants.

Even though plants fuel life on Earth, they are somehow unappreciated and unnoticed. Something unappreciated and unnoticed has little value. Our collective job is to cure plant blindness and help the public and government understand what their ancestors knew intuitively.

Recently, I came across a serious example of “plant blindness.” The Landscape Ontario office overlooks Hwy. 401.

The Ministry of Transportation is widening the highway and decided to expropriate two acres of our land. The offer made was $400,000 per acre for land zoned “Prestige Industrial” and $40,000 an acre for land zoned “Greenlands.” In the eyes of the real estate industry, “greenlands” are practically worthless. Of course, we fought back and made the case that greenlands are crucial and valuable, especially for managing storm water, producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. To our surprise, they listened to

our argument.

One of our most important jobs as an aligned community is to provide clarity about the values and benefits that living green infrastructure provides to society.

From a nursery/landscape/horticultural perspective, below are some statistics most people don’t know.

A number of years ago we asked Deloitte to determine the economic impact of the landscape and horticulture sector. Surprisingly, they found our sector employs over 140,000 people. In comparison, Chrysler Canada employs 10,000, Royal Bank of Canada employs 80,000 and Loblaws 136,000.

When you factor in the public side of horticulture (3,700 municipal governments looking after parks systems and street trees, plus the many conservation authorities), I estimate there are 280,000 people employed in the green infrastructure profession.

The Deloitte study also found: The public spent about $6.3 billion on horticultural products and another $1.8 billion on landscaping services in 2009.

There has been over 36 per cent growth since then.

Trees, shrubs and other plants grown on farms have a “farm gate” value (the value at the farm) of about $2 billion and the only farm crop that attracts GST. In Ontario, our farm gate value is higher than corn, wheat and soybeans and about equal to fruits and vegetables, which can also be argued are “green infrastructure”.

Deloitte calculated horticultural production, services and equipment contribute $14.48 billion in economic impact to Canada’s economy on the private side. I estimate this to be in excess of $25 billion with the public side included.

The living green infrastructure sector is a well-kept secret. We are way too humble a group. It is time to shine our light because of how important green infrastructure is in making the world a better place.

All indicators point to continued growth of the sector as long as the public understands the immense value of living green infrastructure. Our collective job is to tell our story of benefit in ways that will be heard. Imagine how many jobs and economic benefit we could stimulate by curing “plant blindness.”

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

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PUBLIC RELATIONS A healthy bottom line

By Denis Flanagan CLD Manager of Membership and Public Relations

A

s business owners, Landscape Ontario members spend a great deal of time looking at financial statements, sales figures, projections, etc. Some business owners may not realize it’s also a good idea to review how employees can have an enormous impact on your bottom line.

I recently attended an event at Silverthorne Landscape Supplies in the London area that featured presentations by several suppliers to the green profession. The final presentation of the day featured an interesting seminar by Jennifer Roy from the Healthy Employer — an expert in developing healthy work environments.

According to Jennifer, there are many factors that can impact your business. Research studies have revealed

that implementing a workplace health promotion program can save $500 to $700 a year per employee in the form of decreased turnover and absenteeism. In fact, you could see a $4 to $8 return on your investment for every dollar spent on health programs and a decrease in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) rates.

Lost productivity

Employees average 7.5 absent days per year, plus they take an additional 1.5 personal days. But perhaps a more startling fact concerns ‘presenteeism,’ a compromised state that reduces productivity. This term refers to an employee who is present at work, but experiencing symptoms of illness (mental, emotional or physical) or thinking about something other than the job they are doing. The cost in presenteeism is 7.5 times more than being absent — particularly due to safety issues.

So what is the solution? According to Jennifer Roy, creating a culture that values employee health and promotes a healthy work environment will reduce human resources and overhead costs.

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A healthy workplace can reduce costs.

Healthy employees result in a healthy business. A well thought out program should evolve with employee input and cover the factors listed below.

Smoking: Each smoker can cost your organization $1,900 a year in absenteeism. Develop a plan that works for all employees and departments.

Healthy eating: It is impossible to be a safe worker when someone is not healthy. A health-conscious employer can offer customized programs that discuss the rationale and benefits of physical activity and healthy eating.

Stress management: A stressed employee can cost your company $10,000. This amount increases 46 per cent when you factor in treatment and wages. According to Statistics Canada, depression could be the leading cause of disability by 2020.

Gender health issues: Recognizing, testing and developing prevention programs for gender-specific issues that can occur at different stages in an employees life will help to improve your bottom line.

Sun protection: Awareness of sun protection is very important to the health and lives of our employees. Our skin is our body’s largest organ. It protects organs inside the body from injury, infection, heat and ultraviolet light from the sun. Our skin helps control body temperature and gets rid of waste materials through sweat glands. It also produces vitamin D and stores water and fat. Be smart about sun exposure.

I found the seminar very informative and engaging. If you would like more information, or are considering developing a healthier workplace in 2017, please contact Jennifer Roy at 519-471-3159.

Denis Flanagan can be reached at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com or at 905-875-1805, ext. 2303.

MEMBERSHIP

they can utilize their knowledge and experience with others.

company they work for. The Michael may have some quirky traits, including inappropriate jokes, and have a strong need to be the centre of attention and have exclusive leadership roles. However, they have a strong desire to build connections with the people they work with and are very knowledgeable about their field.

While their methods may be unorthodox at times, their dedication towards company success is strong.

The Toby

The Dwight

What personalities make up your team?

By Myscha Burton Membership and Chapter Coordinator

I

recently started binge-watching the television series, The Office. I know, I’m very late to the party on this one and feel as if I’m in a time warp trying to discuss the show with others since the show concluded four years ago. While the show is hilarious and makes for quality Netflix-binging, the characters are a terrific representation of some of the personalities you will encounter at work in an office environment, or even on a landscaping crew. How do you create a healthy work environment with a wide variety of different characters that may not see eye-to-eye?

The Andy or The Kelly

This is the crew member who just can’t help but ask questions. Their intentions are good and their goal is to please everyone, although it may not seem this way as you’re trying to get past the constant questions and impromptu musical outbursts. An Andy or Kelly can bring great energy to the team and their enthusiasm can be motivating, or it can be exhausting, depending on who they are working with. They want to please others and they want to learn. The key is to put the energies of an Andy or Kelly towards something constructive so they feel they have an integral role on the team.

The Stanley

This is the seasoned veteran on your crew. With The Stanley there is no time for drama; there is a job to be done. You might see Stanley appear if there is a large age gap between crew members, or a big difference in number of years experience on the job. The Stanley is a very hard worker and is dedicated to their job, however, they might find the energy and constant questions of an Andy or Kelly exhausting. While The Stanley may prefer more solitary tasks, they also enjoy leadership roles where

While a great worker, you won’t find The Toby leading the way to the company holiday party. He is not a joiner. The Toby is relatively passive and mild-mannered, almost to the point of being incapable of voicing his opinion or asserting themself.

To help a Toby feel engaged in their work, try giving them a leadership role or an area of specialization to focus on. This will help them gain confidence and feel they are a part of the team.

The Jim

Remember the cool kids you wanted to sit with at lunch back in school? That’s The Jim. The Jim has a winning personality and is skilled at their job. On the surface, The Jim may seem like a winner. The challenge will be to keep The Jim engaged in their work, feeling challenged and working towards a career, rather than a job. They are personable and help to bring the team together. The Jim wants to know they are moving forward in their professional life. Leadership roles and goal setting are important to a Jim to keep them striving for the best in their work.

The Dwight craves authority over coworkers. They have an intense manner even in the most casual of situations, making group interactions awkward at times. They may have unique skills or specialized training and they place an extremely high value on success in the workplace. They view their success as a showing of their leadership abilities over other team members. If you have a Dwight, they will be very passionate and loyal to the company. Use their special skills to your advantage by giving them specific tasks and leadership roles where they can enlist the help of other team members. The more leadership they are given, the more engaged they will be.

While different in many ways, all of these character types share the commonality of wanting to be engaged and challenged to develop in the workplace.

Together, these individuals can make a very dynamic team for your company.

The Angela

The Angela is your type-A crew member who is obsessed with organization, schedules, etc. This crew member is not a fan of anything spontaneous and likes to have a plan of action for the workday ahead. They are so focused on work and may not make time for developing healthy relationships with other crew members.

An Angela is great to have on the team for their dedication, but others may find them abrasive and hard to work with if they do not share the same obsession for structure. An Angela needs the details of a job site, a list of materials, a schedule and deadline. On-the-fly decisions are stressful for an Angela which can create tension with the team.

The Michael

This is your company lifer. The Michael is extremely loyal and dedicated to the

Bring your team out this summer We would like to so see your team out at one of Landscape Ontario’s many chapter events this summer, including golf and baseball tournaments which start in July. Full details and registration can be found on horttrades.com or by contacting myscha@ landscapeontario.com.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 27

UNDERGROUND WORLD Dig Safe celebrated at Landscape Ontario

By Terry Murphy CLM

A

special Dig Safe Day was held at the Landscape Ontario home office in Milton, Ont., on April. 13, celebrating April as Dig Safe Month. This special day is one of many that are conducted throughout the province as part of the annual spring ritual for the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA). These celebrations have been going on now for over a decade and take place in all of the 13 ORCGA Geographic Councils across Ontario.

Their purpose is to promote the ORCGA Dig Safe brand and make more people aware of the need to call ON1CALL for locates before they excavate or dig in the soil. Many people, both in the green profession and especially the general public, are not aware they have a legal obligation under provincial law that says they must call ON1CALL before digging. ON1CALL will respond within five working days with

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(L-R) Terry Murphy, Milton Mayor Gord Krantz and ORCGA president Doug Lapp prepare to hoist the Dig Safe flag.

the locate markings of all utilities on a particular property. It is an obligation for not only excavating contractors but of a private citizen or homeowner working on their own property, whether planting trees or shrubs or installing a fence for example. Many private citizens ignore this law because they feel they are on their own property and can do as they choose. This is not the case, as it is a legal requirement for anyone disturbing the soil to get locates by calling ON1CALL. The ORCGA Dig Safe brand has four key pillars: 1. Call ON1CALL at 1-800-400-2255 before you dig.

2. Wait for the markings on the ground before digging.

(Keep associated paperwork available onsite).

3. Respect the ground markings and note the paperwork. Observe the tolerance zone of one metre on either side of the marking.

4. Dig safely using the ORCGA Best Practises Manual guidelines and requirements.

The special celebration at Landscape Ontario began with Milton Mayor Gord Krantz reading the ORCGA Dig Safe proclamation making April Dig Safe Month in the Town of Milton. Mayor Krantz is the longest-serving active mayor in Canada. Mayor Krantz and ORCGA president and CEO Douglas Lapp shared the honour of raising the ORCGA Dig Safe flag at Landscape Ontario.

Local media were in attendance and a short article and photo that included the Mayor, ORCGA representatives, staff from Landscape Ontario, Vanden Bussche Irrigation, Canada Blooms and Ontario Parks appeared in The Canadian Champion. Staff participated in the celebration and each received a Dig Safe t-shirt to promote the event. Mayor Krantz congratulated everyone present for holding the celebration and stated he fully supports the work of the ORCGA and contractors who follow the law in obtaining locates before they dig.

Any company or municipality who would like to hold a Dig Safe Day at their place of business can contact Douglas Lapp at doug@ orcga.com or phone the ORCGA office at 1-866-446-4493. These celebrations normally take place during the beginning of the landscape season, however, they can take place at any time at your convenience. Each spring, there are generally more than 40 celebrations around the province during April and May. Terry Murphy may be reached at tvmurphy@ca.inter.net with any comments, suggestions, or questions.

PROSPERITY PARTNERS Notice what’s going well

By Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

W

hen the pressure is on, the days are long and you’re being pulled in lots of different directions, it’s hard to make time to notice what’s really going well. This is the time of year when managers and business owners tend to spend their time solving issues, putting out fires and generally trying to stay ahead of lots of moving parts in all areas of the business.

I’ll be the first to admit I spent years focusing on what needed to be corrected.

To my field staff, no news always meant good news. I was so intense, swamped, and focused on perfection that a lot of the time, staff just didn’t understand. I lost a lot of good people over the years, because what they needed from me was to hear what they’d done well. Staff who worked hard for my company were a resilient bunch, because my focus was to point out what they missed, or what they needed to fix or improve. Performance evaluations were a thing for the end of the season, if at all.

Over 15 years ago, ‘no news is good news’ was a common management practice. An owner pays staff to fulfill their job description tasks to the company standard. So why should an owner constantly compliment them on it? If they are still working for the company, that means they are doing a good job, right? Well, maybe.

And now with Millennials in the workplace, this management practice is even more outdated.

Simon Sinek (search ‘Millennials in the workplace’ on YouTube) nailed it as usual: Millennials are spoiled (thanks to doting parents), impatient (thanks to instant technology), self-centred (need to feel important) and restless (need an appealing end-game in order to stick around). These new qualities in our workforce have created the need to really notice what’s going well — and to act

on it, every single day. It has also created the need for structure, fairness and regular written performance evaluations every few months (that include next steps, improvement plans and resources to improve).

Compliments and gratitude go a long way

It might sound a bit hokey and simplistic, but saying “thank you” or “wow, great job – I really like how that looks!” has more meaning to a greater number of our staff now, more than ever. Compliments and gratitude create a feeling of belonging and of being appreciated. They build selfconfidence. Compliments and kindness go a long way to letting an employee know you notice the impact they are making and the value they possess.

Here are a few tips to help you reap the benefits of positive feedback: 1. Be sincere with positive compliments.

2. Make eye contact and smile.

3. Slow down enough to ask how their day is going.

4. Notice when someone takes initiative.

5. Compliment improvement, even if not yet perfect.

6. Offset a correction with a small compliment.

Performance reviews and labour shortages

Few employers I’ve polled over the years make time, or have a system in place, for the important step of onboarding and retaining staff. I can hear you respond, “yah right Jacki, it’s JUNE! I don’t have time for that.” While this may be true, I would respond, “How much time does it take for you to attract, recruit interview, hire, orient, train and entrench every new employee? What if, by giving a mid-season or quarterly evaluation, you could keep more of the good employees and need to hire less often? What if during that process, you discovered people problems you weren’t aware of, as well as promising potential you had overlooked?”

In March, I ran an afternoon workshop for a large group of business owners and managers at a Landscape Alberta event.

In order to make sure I was on the same page with respect to the labour market in Alberta, I asked the group if they had a skilled labour shortage. After the room stopped laughing, a guy in the back said, “We tell people from Ontario to hold onto our beer while we tell them how bad our labour shortage is.” Good to know we are not alone in Ontario.

So I asked the group, “What if next year you had to hire 30 per cent fewer people by spending 10 per cent more time managing the experience of the people you have this year?” That got their attention, and hopefully I also have yours.

The percentages are intuitive on my part, and they’re based on conversations I’ve had with business owners who have a regular evaluation process. They retain a higher percentage of employees and they recruit more by word-of-mouth than from any other methods. They rarely hire mid-season. Imagine that. And, their staff are engaged and step up when the pressure is on. Wow! What if, by spending 30 minutes with each employee at least once (preferably two or three times) a season, you could worry less about churn rate and turnover and more about ways you could inspire engagement and career paths?

Would you? How would your mood and energy change if you were focused more on positive engagement and the people resources you have, rather than focusing on what people resources you need and don’t have?

In this new era of changed workplace expectations, it’s time everyone in our profession put the career paths of their team higher on the priority list. Everyone needs to know they’re appreciated, valued, and making a difference. Your employees are no different and they will respond favourably to your improved efforts.

So, the next time you’re too busy to recruit, interview, hire, orient and train someone new in the middle of your season, pick up this column and read it again, please! It’s advice that’s tested and true.

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

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 29

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

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

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

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Two great Guelph Business Opportunities TURN-KEY GARDEN CENTRE FOR SALE: on 9 acres of owned land, with nicely updated home for owner/manager. Established in 1988; market leader in the Guelph area; profitable with potential to become much more so in the years ahead. A true once in a lifetime opportunity for the right buyer!

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5.5 acres including 2.5 acre public display gardens and upgraded heritage residence.

Original owner will assist in the transition.

For details on both of these great business opportunities, go to prosper.ca or phone Steve Dawkins, Sales Representative with REMAX Real Estate Centre Inc, Brokerage Toll Free: 1-855-95-REMAX

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE? WANT TO OWN YOUR OWN COMPANY? Successful Muskoka landscape construction company, ($1.75M in sales) is looking for a specific individual. This person is entrepreneurial, honest, and has landscape design capabilities or experience.

They must possess a clean driver’s license and have a good credit rating. This individual will also have demonstrated team leadership ability. This position requires working at any time of the day meeting clients and interacting with employees, including weekends.

Our successful partnership will eventually lead to ownership of the company, owner financed.

A 10% equity position by you is expected.

We offer an exclusive client list, 29 years of experience in the Muskoka market, and an established and well-known brand. We will offer a five part training experience, many of which you will have prior knowledge of: landscape design, sales, horticulture, hardscape installation, and leadership.

Growth opportunities exist specifically in the landscape maintenance field. Irrigation and lighting are also possibilities for growth.

This would be a year round salaried position, shadowing the owner for a number of years as you get to know the clientele and employees.

You would be expected to work as a landscape construction foreperson as time allows, make your own sales, hire employees, and finish your own projects.

Salary would be negotiable depending on experience. Salary range: $50,000 - $80,000.

Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Please reply with your resume to classifieds@landscapeontario.com and include Box #2017-06 in the subject line. Your confidentiality is assured, as we expect ours to be.

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877-266-0636

Page 15

www.greenlifenursery.ca

613-692-3047

Page 15

www.haltonautolease.com

877-837-5674

Page 20

GoGPS Great Lakes Wood Products Inc. Greenlife - Ottawa Wholesale Nursery Halton Autolease Inc. John Deere Corporate

www.johndeere.ca

Page 2

John Deere Dealers

www.johndeere.ca

Page 30

Kobes Nurseries Inc.

www.kobesnurseries.com

905-263-8814

Page 21

www.putzernursery.com

905-878-7226

Page 13

www.metalpless.com

866-362-1688

Page 9

Millgrove Perennials Inc.

www.millgroveperennials.ca

905-689-1749

Page 12

Newroads National Leasing

www.newroadsleasing.com

416-587-1021

Page 12

www.pottersroadnursery.com

519-688-0437

Page 10

www.sipkensnurseries.com

866-843-0438

Page 23

www.southoakvillechrysler.com

905-845-6653

Page 10

M Putzer Nursery Metal Pless Inc.

Potters Road Nursery Inc. Sipkens Nurseries Ltd. South Oakville Chrysler Fiat

30  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017

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32  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JUNE 2017