Landscape Ontario - February 2019

February 2019 HortTrades.com

GATHERING AT

CONGRESS Annual trade show attracts record numbers, including scholarship recipient, Blaise Mombourquette Show coverage - Page 4 Scholarship Profile - Page 12

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Marketing is creepy, but it works

By Warren Patterson LO President

W

hile attending the Congress trade show and conference last month, I stopped in at Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Symposium on Jan. 9 to listen to Zachary O’Connor, a digital marketing expert who helps businesses to navigate the complex and seemingly everchanging world of marketing.

The truth is, nothing has really changed in marketing over the years — marketing it is all about being top of mind. What has changed however, is how you deliver that message to the right person at the right time. Credit cards, smart phones and the internet have changed everything.

You may wonder what credit cards have to do with marketing. They have been around forever, making a profit from any balance we owe, plus taking a cut from retailers. But these days, they also have access to valuable data which they then sell to “Big Data”, which is then accessed by select marketing companies.

February, 2019 • Volume 37, No. 2 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.

The credit-card companies compile audience segments based on cardholder transactions; identifying those who are most likely to shop at a sporting goods store or a high-end furniture shop. This data is used to model audiences geographically according to postal codes, rather than targeting individuals based on their personal transactions.

Using this data, combined with the data collected as you surf various internet sites, allows savvy marketers to deliver very targeted ads, offers and promotions to both existing customers and prospective customers who are in the catchment area of their clients.

This powerful new world allows small businesses to compete against big businesses simply because we focus on a specific geographic area to have our latest offerings delivered to a very specific group of people who are the best fit for our local products or services.

To do this, I am not talking about a simple Facebook post. I am talking about showing a 15-second customer testimonial video to a prospective customer who is looking for a backyard patio with a barbeque, that just visited the website of an interlocking stone company or just walked into Home Depot.

Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Multimedia designer/IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Account integrater 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

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

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Darryl Bond, Scott Barber, Amy Buchanan, Kim Burton, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Cassandra Garrard, J. Alex Gibson, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM CAE, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Kathleen Pugliese, John Russell, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Martha Walsh,

And how did “Big Data” know you just walked into Home Depot? Well that smartphone (which is really too smart for its on good) is always looking for WiFi to connect to and reporting your location. Even if you don’t connect to the free WiFi that is now readily available at Home Depot, Tim Hortons or McDonald’s, your every movements are tracked. Large shopping malls have been doing this for years. They map your route from store to store, building a profile to sell back to marketers and tenants. All that location data goes back to “Big Data”, where marketers who have access to that data, then have the ability to market specific products and services directly to you.

Hopefully, you can see now how staying top of mind has changed in the new world of marketing.

I personally find this very difficult to navigate, which is probably done on purpose to keep marketers in business.

So as you take time to reflect on what your goals and objectives are for the upcoming season, take a look at the new era in marketing. It may be creepy, but it works!

Warren Patterson may be reached at warrenpatterson@barriegardencentre.com

4 8 13 14 15 18 23 23

FEATURES CONGRESS 2019

ASSOCIATION NEWS EVENTS NEW MEMBERS PROFESSIONAL NEWS COLUMNS CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISERS

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 2019, 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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The landscape and horticulture profession come together under one roof at Congress each year.

15,657 professionals attend Congress ’19 A record-breaking, 15,657 landscape and horticulture professionals attended Congress ’19, Jan. 8-10 at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Produced by Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, the 46th edition of the three-day trade show and conference featured over 600 exhibitors on 8+ acres of show floor, a full conference, after hours special events, live demonstrations and some sector-specific conferences and symposiums.

Landscape Ontario show manager, Heather MacRae, says the record-breaking attendance was possible thanks to great weather, increased marketing of the event, and the on-going dedication of many Landscape Ontario members and volunteers — some of whom serve on the association’s Show Committee to help plan and run the annual event.

“Our volunteers and committee members truly are amazing,” MacRae says.

“Many of them take several days in their downtime to help with the event, from move-in, through to move-out. On top of that, they also attend meetings throughout the year to ensure Congress continues to provide exactly what members of the profession are looking for.”

4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

Another key to the shows’ continued success is the ability to listen to both exhibitors and attendees, and to adapt and implement changes each year.

Feedback is gathered throughout the week from conference speakers, volunteers, staff, attendees and exhibitors, with everything documented for review prior to next year’s event.

“We also send surveys to both our exhibitors and attendees right after the show,” MacRae explains. “Within only days after the show closed, an attendee survey received over 400 responses. “Our exhibitors and attendees provide such great feedback that it makes it easy to see where we may have dropped the ball or what change was very successful.”

Everything new under one roof

Scott Duff, owner of Aura Landscaping in St. Catharines, Ont., has been attending Congress for about 10 years and says he looks forward to the event much like a child anticipating Christmas.

“Having everything that all comes together under one building, one time of the year, is absolutely great because it provides me with new products, innovations, new seminars and getting to meet

my peers and people that help me to grow,” Duff says.

Being able to access the latest education, innovative products, equipment and new technologies that he can then offer to clients goes a long way in making his projects stand out from his competitors.

“If you’re not coming to the show, then you’re being left behind,” he adds.

Learn from the best

Congress overs a wide range of both learning and networking opportunities that cater to each sector of the landscape and horticulture profession.

It all begins on “Warm-Up Monday,” this year, Jan. 7, where special, all-day events took place, including the Landscape Designers Conference, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Symposium and LO Peer to Peer Network Workshop.

Sponsored by Dynascape, the Landscape Designers Conference, presented in recognition with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), included presentations by Ron Koudys, Walter Kehm, and Thomas Rainer, plus an introduction to Fusion Landscape design, a design challenge with Andy Paluch, and the LO Designers Sector Group annual

It’s a great opportunity to show them all of the awesome things happening in the industry today and some of the individuals, the driving forces behind that. You can introduce them and kind of give them a stepping stone and a foundation to motivate themselves moving forward,” Gucciardi says.

Gucciardi says the Landscape Ontario name “attracts a lot of great names. I think in the landscape industry, we learn from each other and I think this is a great opportunity to come here and learn from some of the best and grow your company the same way some of the other individuals have. I think you can get really good advice and opinions.”

DriveLIVE! is just one of the three educational offerings that are available to all Congress attendees.

general meeting.

The annual IPM Symposium once again featured a variety of technical and informative sessions by a wide range of presenters to keep turf management pros up-to-date on the latest research, practices and legislation requirements. Presented by Lawn Life, attendees of the event were able to earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs) from the IPM Council of Canada.

Business owners and upper management gathered for the fifth straight year on the day prior to Congress, at the interactive Peer to Peer Workshop. Here, they learned how to identify issues within their operations and then work together to find solutions and implement systems to make those solutions work.

The group also met to identify the top issues affecting their business and to set goals and learning objectives for the remaining workshops to be held throughout the province this year. Company culture was identified as the top priority for business owners, to both attract and retain a healthy, balanced, productive team.

Other sector-specific events at Congress included the Garden Centre Symposium on Jan. 9, where guest speaker, Zak O’Connor spoke about the ins and outs of digital marketing. Following the presentation, plaques were handed out to winners of the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence in the Garden Centre program.

pros and the grower community.

The popular series continue to draw large crowds over the three days of Congress.

Something for everyone

With the variety of educational offerings at Congress, and the access to so many exhibitors, products and services, the event truly gives you a feel for the size and scope of the landscape and horticulture profession.

Michael Anthony Gucciardi, director of sustainability and new business at International Landscaping in Milton, Ont., says Congress is an excellent learning opportunity for new team members: “Another great thing you can do at Congress is bring new team members. Maybe those that are not too familiar with some of the aspects of the landscape industry or some of the things you are trying to teach them.

International exhibitors

Congress not only features exhibitors from all over North America. This year, a group of 13 exhibitors from China participated at the show, primarily in the Fencecraft area, that serves as the only gathering of fencing manufacturers and distributors for the Canadian Fence Industry Association.

Dylan Zhao, Project Manager, Beijing Vanbo International Exhibition, spearheaded the Chinese delegation after finding out about the event in Canada.

Zhao says for the past five years, a similar delegation has attended the American Fence Association’s annual Fencetech trade show in the United States, and that differences in tax legislation between the two markets prompted a look at any available shows in Canada.

“We want to bring the Canadian market to Chinese exhibitors,” Zhao said.

Zhao says the Chinese exhibitors were happy with the show and were primarily

Learn it LIVE series

Continuing education for all attendees at Congress also comes in the form of six live demonstrations held each day in three separate areas of the show floor.

Hardscape LIVE!, DriveLIVE! and GreenLIVE! offered the most current information, products and practices to landscape contractors, grounds maintenance

The New Products Showcase at Congress is a popular feature among attendees.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 5

and Killaloe Wood Products. Special thanks also to Brian Cocks for his supervision of the area.

New at Congress this year

Students and visitors test their plant knowledge in the Plan ID booth at Congress.

looking to connect with distributors or larger, commercial firms who would order large volumes of products.

Great experience for students

The Canada Blooms Campus student gardens are yet another highlight of Congress, showing off the skills, creativity and passion of the next generation of landscape professionals.

The feature gardens were designed and built by students from four Ontario post secondary schools: Durham College, Fanshawe College, Humber College, and Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture.

Destiny Lacasse, a second-year student at Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture was able to take time to attend the show and some of the special events after participating in the construction of her schools garden.

Lacasse says the experience of building the student garden was fantastic and getting to network, see new plants, products, and equipment being offered is a main reason for attending Congress each year.

Lacasse says she would highly recommend attending Congress for any other students. “There are professionals from all over Ontario, from all different fields, different schools, and all kinds of people you can network with,” she days.

Recognized on stage during the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony as a Cullen Family Scholarship recipient, Lacasse plans a career in horticulture therapy, helping people in need to get better with plants.

The Canada Blooms Campus gardens were supported by sponsorships from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF), Gelderman Landscape Services,

Thank you volunteers Show Committee

Chair: Nathan Helder Vice chair: Terry Childs Past chair: Michael LaPorte CHT Members: Brian Cocks CHT, Douglas Coote, Paul deGroot, Everett DeJong, Barry Dickson, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Beth Edney CLD, Kim Iceton, Christopher Muller, Rebecca Parker, Mike Riehm, Klaas Sikkema, Peter Vanderley, Jason Vettese.

Volunteers

Adele Pierre, Alexander Zalewski, Andrea Weddum, Audriana VanderWerf, Barb Coote, Brandon Gelderman, Bruce and Eilleen Warren, Chloe Philip, Chris Clayton, Constance Cadotte, Devantae Pearce, Fran Moore, Gerrit Tervrugt, Greg Redshaw, Haig Seferian, Irene Bultena, Irene Bultena, Irina Polstvin, Keith Dejardins, Kelly Keates, Laura Marsh, Lee Benson, Luke Koudys, Mark Mastantuono, Nancy Harasym, Paul Brydges, Peter Bride, Robert Brubacher, Ron Koudys, Ron Sikkema, Sarah Michelle Rafols, Skai Leja, Teresa Matamoros.

6 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

The New Product Showcase area at Congress is always a huge reason why so many people attend the event. Getting to see the latest products and technology available from manufacturers, distributors and suppliers can help to improve efficiency, lower costs and give a competitive advantage.

Some new things at the event his year included the very popular Ale Trail, which offered limited number of special edition Congress beer glasses to attendees 19 years of age or over. The attendees were given a passport and the task of seeking out various exhibitors who offered samples of various craft beers.

The keynote session in the Congress Conference changed to a lunchtime event this year, where storm chaser and explorer, George Kourounis helped to motivate the audience to face challenges in both their personal and business lives.

On Thursday, the Congress Education Partners, a group of exhibitors known for their own quality education programs, held a series of training sessions to potential customers.

Landscape Ontario events

Landscape Ontario members and their outstanding projects were honoured at the 46th annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony on Jan. 8 (see page 7). In addition, the association’s annual general meeting was held the following morning, where an update on association activities was given (see page 8).

Exhibitor awards

A panel of judges evaluated the over 600 displays at Congress with the following exhibitors recognized for their exceptional displays and promotion of the event: Drive Products - Best Promotion Award Jackson Pond - Best Booth: 100 sq. ft.

Kawartha Custom Cut Stone - Best Booth: 100 to 400 sq. ft.

Spider Mowers - Best Booth: 401 to 800 sq. ft.

Nissan Canada - Best Booth: Over 800 sq. ft.

NVK Holdings - Paul J. Day Award for Best of Show

Looking ahead to 2020

Congress 2020 will take place Jan. 7-9, 2020. For details on the show, visit LOcongress.com.

Phil Dickie (centre) accepts the LO Legacy Award from association president, Warren Patterson (left) and executive director, Tony DiGiovanni.

Top projects and indviduals take centre stage at 2019 awards ceremony The 46th annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony was held Jan. 8, 2019 at the Plaza Ballroom of the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport.

Hosted by Laurie-Ann Stuart, owner of LA Gardens, the theme of “Legacy” supported this year’s ceremony and included three short videos highlighting past winners of the Dunington-Grubb Award.

Awarded to the highest overall scoring project from the various construction categories, this year’s Dunington-Grubb was presented to Dutch Touch Landscaping.

The Casey Van Maris Award was given to Pro-Land Landscape Construction, as the project awarded the highest marks for execution of unique and innovative design in landscaping. The Don Salivan Grounds Management Award was given to Yorkshire Garden Services, as the top project among entries in the maintenance program.

The evening ceremony also handed out plaques to Landscape Ontario member projects in the construction, maintenance and design programs, including landscape lighting and irrigation.

A number of individual LO members were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to advancing the profession. Recipients include: Richard Burch, Chapter Achievement Award; Brian Brisbin, Environmental Award; Paul Zammit, Garden Communicator’s Award; Robert Allen and Jim Bauer, Honourary Lifetime Award; Phil Dickie, Legacy Award; and Michael LaPorte, Past President’s Award.

Prosperity Partners Leadership Awards for 2019 were presented to: Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Gabriel Matamoros, Lindsey Ross, Garry Reisky, Janet Mott, Christine Moffit, and John Larsen. The Horticulture

Educator/Partner of the Year 2019 is Lisa Ambaye.

As the ceremony looked back at past achievements, it also promised a look at the future of the profession with the announcement of this year’s many scholarship recipients. As they were announced, students took to the stage to join representatives from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship program.

Another group of students also took centre stage as winners of the annual Come Alive Outside Design Challenge.

Students from Algonquin College participated back in the fall of 2017, working with elementary and high school students, teachers, and landscape professionals to design a landscape plan for the entire schoolyard at Georges Vanier Catholic Public School in Belleville, Ont. Landscape Ontario would like to thank presenting sponsor, G&L Group, supporting partners, Connon/CBV Holdings and Dynascape software, as well as the many volunteers and judges who assisted with this year’s awards program. Thanks also to Beth Edney for helping with the décor for the event. A full list of sponsors and winners, as well as a video of this year’s ceremony, can be found online at LOawards.com.

Bob Allen honoured with prestigious award The highest honour that can be bestowed upon a Landscape Ontario member was presented to Bob Allen at this year’s Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony on Jan. 8. Allen, along with Ottawa Chapter founder, Jim Bauer, was given an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for his longstanding volunteer contribution to both the association and to furthering Bob Allen (centre), flanked by wife, Ruby and the advancement of the profesdaughter, Heather. sion. Allen became a member of Outside of the association, Allen Landscape Ontario’s London Chapter has continued to volunteer and supback in 1975, a year after starting Bob port other organizations throughout Allen Horticultural Services. Allen held his career. He has been a board memvarious positions within the chapter ber of Communities in Bloom since board, including treasurer and membership chair, and serving as chapter presi- 2007, was LO’s representative on the Ontario Farm Safety Association, servdent in 1981 and 1991 and provincial ing as chair from 1993 to 1996, and board rep from 1982 to 1998. been the Ontario rep for the founding of Allen served as LO president in the Canadian Coalition for Agricultural 1985 and is currently serving as secreSafety and Rural Health — a Canadatary on the Ontario Horticultural Trades wide organization, of which he was Foundation board where he has particichair from 1996 to 1999. pated for many years.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 7

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Landscape Ontario’s 2019 Provincial Board of Directors at the AGM on Jan. 9.

LO AGM at Congress 2019 Strong turnout at Landscape Ontario’s Annual General Meeting is consistent with continued strong member engagement.

The meeting took place Jan. 9, in

8 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

conjunction with Congress.

LO president, Warren Patterson recognized board members, past presidents, honorary life members

and milestone members. Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) representative, Alan White, reported on activities of the national association. He is turning that role over to Paul Brydges after serving six years.

Patterson devoted his report to a

presentation on LO’s latest strategic plan.

This time around, facilitator Nathan Helder helped members distill LO goals down to a simple, one-page document; download it at HortTrades.com/strategic-plan.

The plan summarized LO’s purpose and core values as: community, professionalism, leadership and stewardship. The association’s twoyear goal is to be the hub for creating sustainable careers. Investments and strategies related to that goal include: • Establish a profitable hiring hall model; promote apprenticeship and launch a Top 100 employer awards program.

• Train members in their communities.

• Develop a strong careers marketing and communication strategy, with special focus on youth and new Canadians.

• Audit LO’s CRM, marketing software and website interface technology through outside consultation.

• Improve communication channel engagement; boost membership by 10 per cent and renewal rate to 98 per cent.

Some items require new investment on top of regular budgets; those expenditures are currently under consideration.

Patterson is committed to accomplishing the goals in his next three years of service.

LO executive director, Tony DiGiovanni cited strategic plan renewal as one of the most important 2018 activities. The labour crisis dominated the year, and members continue to struggle with profitability — working too hard for too little. Details of LO’s 2018 activities are in the Annual Report, published in the December 2018 issue of Landscape Ontario magazine and available online at HortTrades.com/ annual-report. He also mentioned LO staff members choose a guiding word for each year, and the word for 2019 is “renewal.”

DiGiovanni also referred members to the financial summaries in the Annual Report, on behalf of treasurer Ed Hansen, noting LO is on solid financial ground.

Haig Sefarian spoke on the new site plan for LO’s home office, currently undergoing major renovation. A team of member landscape architects is developing the plan, using Appeltern in Holland as a model. He presented the conceptual master plan, featuring a strong view from Hwy. 401, and a west-side bus drop-off with boardwalk along the water retention pond. Planners envision a series of outdoor rooms, allowing members to showcase landscape design and craftsmanship.

The site’s 10 acres of wetlands present a unique educational opportunity, and

Seferian says government authorities are willing to work with LO towards best use of the wetlands. “They look to us as the experts,” Seferian said. The design team will be seeking comments from all LO groups during upcoming months.

The makeup of LO’s Provincial Board of Directors remains the same as 2018; Blake Tubby and Jeff Olsen were selected as Members at Large for 2019.

BEECH ANNOUNCES AMALGAMATION

Hall Tree Spading, Beech Nursery West and Beech Nursery Toronto have amalgamated under the name Beech Nursery Group.

Formerly known as Hall Tree Farm, Hall Tree Spading of King City, Ont., has operated over 50 years, and is one of the largest tree spading companies in Ontario.

Beech Nursery West of Schomberg is a grower and supplier of wholesale trees and plant material. Beech Nursery Toronto is a one-stop downtown garden centre.

“We are very excited about this transaction as it now transforms Beech Nursery Group into a multi-dimensional landscaping supply company,” said Rick Borges, General Manager and Operating Partner.

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IN MEMORIAM MELISSA CAROL ANN VAN RYBROECK

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Melissa Carol Ann Van Rybroeck passed away unexpectedly Dec. 30, 2018.

Melissa was co-owner of V&P’s Topsoil & Landscaping Supplies in London, Ont., a Landscape Ontario member and supplier of aggregate, mulch, topsoil and more, to the southwestern Ontario area since 2007.

Beloved wife of Jason Michael Van Rybroeck, loving mother of Ryan Van Rybroeck and Reese Van Rybroeck, beloved daughter of Dave Kohl (Heather), Pam Price (Dan), daughter-in-law of Caroline Hancock (Rodney), Ron Van Rybroeck (Pam), dear sister of David Kohl, sister-in-law of Tasha Whitfield (Ben), Paul Hancock (Jennifer), Shealee Dillinger (Ryan), Mark Hancock (Brenleigh), Patrick Hancock.

Melissa will be deeply missed by many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She will also be truly missed by many friends and co-workers. Melissa was an incredible woman of great strength and dignity, with a heart of gold. She would do anything for anyone. She had a smile that you would never forget, a smile that would brighten anyone’s day.

Melissa will always be in our hearts because in there, she is still alive. We are truly blessed that Melissa will live on through three successful organ transplants.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to FEMAP, 860 Richmond St., London, Ont, N6H 3H8.

NEW HR TOOLKIT LIGHTENS EMPLOYEE CHALLENGES

January saw the launch of a completely revised Human Resource Toolkit; this resource for Landscape Ontario members is available for free download at HortTrades.com/HRtoolkit.

Its Policies and Procedures Manual helps Ontario landscape pros navigate the challenges of responsible hiring and administration. The manual includes policies and procedures that are legislatively required, as well as those promoting general organization. It also includes a section on policies and procedures for employee management. The 76-page document provides templates that can be customized for your company.

The Employee Handbook section of the toolkit is also customizable, offering 23 pages of material to help employees understand expectations and succeed on the job. It covers

10 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees.

LO published a similar HR Toolkit in 2013, which was enthusiastically received by members. The 2019 version is up-todate; reflecting the extensive recent changes in Ontario employment law.

Each download features easy-tofollow instructions on using the materials to the best advantage in your company.

The updated material was written by human resources specialist, Contact Coaching & Training Services of London, Ont.

GEAR UP FOR 2019 THIS SPRING

Landscape professionals from all sectors looking for the latest information on road and vehicle safety, new products and local suppliers should plan to attend Gear Up For Spring 2019 (GUFS) on March 26.

With free attendance and free parking, this popular event, produced by Landscape Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe Chapter, will return to the Ancaster Fairgrounds in Jerseyville, Ont., for the fourth straight year.

The event includes a trade show, chapter AGM, networking, hands-on demonstrations and a full day of education designed to prepare landscape professionals for a safe and productive season ahead.

Presentations from Ministry of Transportation and Halton Police Vehicle Inspection Unit are a highlight of the day, and feature the latest information on road safety regulations and a mock-inspection of a truck and trailer.

At the chapter AGM, LO members who want to extend their networking opportunities and help to develop and organize chapter events and initiatives can put forth their name for various positions on the chapter board. The chapter holds a number of trade- and family-oriented events, and also works on greening initiatives to benefit the local community.

The event is sponsored by B.R. Dickson Equipment and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To donate a door prize, become a sponsor or exhibit in the trade show, please contact Mary Thompson, chapter coordinator, at mthompson@ landscapeontario.com or 416-624-4927.

Attendees can register online at HortTrades.com/gufs-2019.

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SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE A natural path by design and desire to create

Blaise Mombourquette and Tony DiGiovanni.

Directly following high school, Blaise Mombourquette worked for a custom kitchen cabinet maker, but quickly found he didn’t enjoy the trade; too much time was spent in the shop and warehouse with little natural sunlight.

“I wasn’t getting out of it what I wanted,” Mombourquette explains.

“Through high school I worked on a dairy farm, which was the opposite — it was really a dynamic job and it was outside.

That was something I missed.”

Landscaping is something he has always wanted to do. After resigning from cabinetry, he embarked on a yearlong national mission program in Montreal to work with youth.

“I wanted to develop my values and ethics, so that was a great experience.

I also wanted to do it before my career.

After the mission, I was hired for their head office in Ottawa to work in the marketing communications department. I just wasn’t challenged and found myself suffocating in that role. Finally, I answered my heart’s calling to get into the landscaping industry, which was about five years ago now. I got a landscaping construction job and instantly felt my strengths, as well as my passion, ignite. Everything made sense at that point. The creativity and skillset required in landscaping make me who I am.”

12 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

Mombourquette continues to work with Landscape Ontario member, Yards Unlimited, in Ottawa, Ont., balancing the roles of employee and student at Algonquin College, where he will graduate in spring of 2019 after finishing the Horticulture Industry Program in December 2018.

Although he has a wealth of real-world work experience, there are still some things to be learned in class, and yes, at a desk.

“I would say, especially with this trade, you learn the most when you’re in the field doing the work, but on the technical side, what I’ve really gleaned from studying it is a better sense of how landscape design works and the design process — everything that goes into it and really piecing all of the elements together. Contractors sometimes take that for granted once we’re given a drawing and everything’s already laid out. That’s something that I would really like to move towards and to do more design in my own career. The plant knowledge is vital.”

A recipient of the Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation, Blaise is extremely appreciative to both the Foundation and Landscape Ontario (see sidebar).

“The last year for me has been amazing and Landscape Ontario has been a huge part of that, from competing — and winning the Skills Ontario competition in Toronto and going to the Skills Canada National Competition and placing second there. Landscape Ontario has been so supportive. When I found out that I was nominated, I was honoured and humbled.

It’s wonderful being able to do something that I love and to be recognized for that; it’s really a high point for me in my studies this year. It reaffirmed that my desire and my calling is valid. I’m very grateful.”

Blaise is keen on continuing his education and has set a goal to get his undergrad in horticulture. Outside of school and work, depending on the season, he enjoys skiing and white water kayaking.

“Most importantly I do love to spend time with friends and family,” he says.

For more information on available scholarships, or to apply, visit OHTF.ca.

Thank you for the support Hello Kathleen, I was hoping that you might pass this email on to the Foundation.

My name is Blaise Mombourquette.

I just have recently finished a horticulture program at Algonquin College. At the start of the program, I made a resolution to myself to give it my all, this included saying yes to all the extracurricular opportunities that came my way.

Fast forward a year-and-a-half, and I am humbled, astonished and blessed by the many incredible experiences and growth that I have received.

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation has played an integral part in making my education a successful one and an absolute blast! I am deeply grateful for the monetary award that I received for placing first at the Ontario Skills Competition. My journey with Skills this year, winning Ontario and then placing second at the national competition in Edmonton, has given me a great deal of confidence and excitement to press on in my passion for the landscape industry. Doing something I love, building and creating beautiful landscapes, and being recognized for my work inspires me beyond what my words can express. Thank you.

I also wanted to express my deep gratitude for being nominated and selected for the Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship. This meant so much to me and really solidified the aforementioned feelings I felt of being recognized for my hard work and success in this incredible industry. As a student and emerging entrepreneur, I am humbled and blessed by the support that the Foundation has given me. Please know that you have given me a great boost in what I know will be an incredible career in this industry.

It is my hope and mission to inspire others, whether clients, future employees or just people I come into contact with, to engage with the outdoors and spend more of their lives growing with the world and people around them rather than turning inwards or towards their screens.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your support!

Sincerely, Blaise Mombourquette

EVENTS

Full details and registration information for all events can be found online at HortTrades.com/events or at specific chapter or sector pages.

Feb. 27

Grounds Management Lecture Event Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre, Brampton Networking, education and lunch included. Learn about the latest plants, equipment, products and techniques. Register before Feb. 15 at LandscapeLecture.ca and save.

Mar. 8-17

Canada Blooms Enercare Centre, Toronto Co-located with the National Home Show, this 10-day festival includes display gardens, educational sessions and new plants and products. LO members can purchase discounted tickets or volunteer to help set up, staff, or tear down. Visit HortTrades.com/canada-blooms-2019 or CanadaBlooms.com.

Mar. 12

Canada Blooms returns to Toronto, March 8-17.

Feb. 13

GreenTrade Expo EY Centre, Ottawa Over 100 exhibitors, new products, free parking, free admission and a full-day of free seminars. Visit GreenTrade.ca.

Peer to Peer Workshop: Implementing Systems Hilton Garden Inn, Ajax Learn how to develop and implement systems to improve team engagement. Visit HortTrades.com/p2p.

Mar. 26

Gear Up for Spring 2019 Ancaster Fairgrounds, Jerseyville Free trade show, demos, chapter AGM and presentations by MTO and Halton Police Vehicle Inspection Unit.

Feb. 13

Peer to Peer Network: Company Culture Part 2 Best Western, Lamplighter Inn, London Learn cutting edge trends to connect your team and balance the needs of the business with those of employees. Visit HortTrades.com/p2p.

Feb. 13

Toronto Chapter Meeting Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Vaughan Safety update meeting. Starts at 9:00 a.m.

Feb. 13-15

ORCGA Damage Prevention Symposium Sheraton on the Falls, Niagara Falls Featuring a trade show, speakers and social events. Visit orcga.com/events.

Feb. 17

Family Day Weekend Bowling Splitsville Entertainment, Hamilton Pre-register for free family fun with the Golden Horseshoe Chapter.

Feb. 21

Georgian Lakelands Chapter Meeting Deerhurst Resort, Hunstville Jacki Hart will discuss shifting attitudes to fix chronic work problems.

Feb. 21

Toronto Chapter presents “The Natural City” Ryerson University, Toronto Learn to use ecosystem references in cities. josh.sparks@expresswaytrucks.com

Feb. 22

Windsor Chapter Meeting Dominion Golf Course, LaSalle Includes a round table discussion meeting and lunch. RSVP to Jessica@suttoncreekgolf.com by Feb. 19.

www.expresswaytrucks.com Expressway Trucks Windsor 3817 Essex Rd 46, Maidstone, ON. N0R 1K0

Expressway Trucks Waterloo 2943 Cedar Creek Rd, Ayr, ON. N0B1E0

Expressway Trucks London 125 Towerline Place, London, ON. N6E 2T3

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 13

NEW MEMBERS GEORGIAN LAKELANDS 8965919 Canada Inc Heather Stewart 9 Arkinstoll Ct, Holland Landing, ON L9N 1G9 Tel: 905-251-5341 Membership Type: Chapter Associate BA Contracting William Allen 2000 Wilkinson St, Innisfil, ON L9S 1X3 Tel: 705-716-7037 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Chris Solomon Plumbing & Renos Christopher Solomon 53 Community Centre Rd Neyaashiinigmiing, ON N0H 2T0 Tel: 519-379-0227 Membership Type: Chapter Associate D.E.P. Construction Inc Dan Porlier 2577 Lasalle Blvd, Sudbury, ON P3A 4R7 Tel: 705-525-2501 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Granite Bluff Ltd John Sickinger 28 The Granite Bluff, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1L6 Tel: 705-706-2662 Membership Type: Active

North Rock Rentals Ltd Dan Campeau 2785 White St, Val Caron, ON P3N 1B2 Tel: 705-897-7369 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Federal Industrial Machinery Derk Collins 8166 Mount Olive Cres, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 2Y9 Tel: 905-330-8177 Membership Type: Associate

Park Lawn Ltd Partnership Anthony Kongmany 2 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1L5 Tel: 416-527-3897 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

O.C.P. Construction Supplies Inc Richard Cousineau 1072 Webbwood Dr, Sudbury, ON P3C 3B7 Tel: 705-674-7073 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Genesis Woodworks Inc Jordan Lodder 410 Sydenham Rd, Dundas, ON L9H 5E2 Tel: 289-684-0790 Membership Type: Active

Stonemark Design & Construction Chris Karsch 634510 Hwy 10, Mono, ON L9W 5P5 Tel: 647-627-5577 Membership Type: Active

Prosperi CO Ltd Anthony Prosperi 299 Willow St, Sudbury, ON P3C 2K1 Tel: 705-673-1376 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

PelliCans Environmental Mario Pellerin 2525 Armour Cres, Burlington, ON L7M 4T5 Tel: 905-802-2927 Membership Type: Associate

UPPER CANADA

Friday Harbour Resort Kathryn Dahl Innisfil, ON Membership Type: Horticultural

LONDON

GOLDEN HORSESHOE 1948126 Ontario Inc O/A Neil Farlow Neil Farlow 487 Vine St, St Catharines, ON L2M 3T2 Tel: 905-329-1247 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Complete Landscaping & Construction Inc. Zack Stacey 85 Concession 6 E, Millgrove, ON L8B 1L9 Tel: 905-320-6604 Membership Type: Active

Christopher Maciejko Christopher Maciejko 102 Krystal Cres, Kincardine, ON N2Z 0C2 Tel: 226-228-0255 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

OTTAWA J. Lalonde & Fils (1980) LTEE Julius Pollak 903 Lacroix St, PO Box 69, Hammond, ON K0A 2A0 Tel: 613-487-2760 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Kare-Mor Enterprises Co Ltd Trevor Morrison 2568 Carp Rd, PO Box 40 , Stittsville, ON K2S 1A2 Tel: 613-836-2003 Membership Type: Active Thompson’s Plumbing Services/ Riverstone Landscaping Supplies Brian Thompson 677 5A Hwy 62, Belleville, ON K8N 4Z5 Tel: 613-922-1444 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

TORONTO Aquagran Landscaping & Construction Ltd Antonio Graneri 205-7880 Keele St, Vaughan, ON L4K 4G7 Tel: 416-760-0969 Membership Type: Active Evergreen IT (Shanghai) Co Ltd Larry Lee Membership Type: Associate Greenside Turf Jeremy Stunt 2C-521 North Service Rd E, Oakville, ON L6H 1A5 Tel: 905-338-8873 Membership Type: Active Lincoln Construction Group Louie Liberta 22-2001 Albion Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 6V6 Tel: 416-675-7283 Membership Type: Active

144798 Potters Road, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4G7

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

Pottersroadnursery.com 14 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

Nolan Landscape Solutions (Nolan Landscaping Group Holdings Inc) Trevor Nolan 93 Memorial Gardens Way Newmarket, ON L3X 3A7 Tel: 905-252-6340 Membership Type: Active

Dibbits Excavating Ltd Joe Dibbits 132 County Rd 40, Trenton, ON K8V 5P7 Tel: 613-394-3478 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

WATERLOO BMS Construction Services Inc Bryan Stevanus 614 Colby Dr, Waterloo, ON N2V 1A2 Tel: 519-244-7144 Membership Type: Chapter Associate DK Excavating and/or Kevin Cox Kevin Cox 5377 Wellington Rd 24 Erin, ON N0B 1T0 Tel: 519-288-5894 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Greenscape Inc Aurie Botosan 912 Armenian Crt, Kitchener, Ontario N2P 2Y5 Tel: 519-744-1181 Membership Type: Active Schuit Landscapes Inc Mike Schuit 2689 Powerline Rd, Lynden, ON L0R 1T0 Tel: 905-541-5652 Membership Type: Interim Tri City Equipment Jeff Armishaw 91 Monarch Rd, Guelph, ON N1K 1S4 Tel: 519-767-9628 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Up & Down Lifting Solutions Jeffrey Latta 335 Waydom Rd, Ayr, ON N0B 1E0 Tel: 519-577-5178 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

WINDSOR A1 Properties/2531661 Ont Inc Troy Mills 45 Masaccio Dr, McGregor, ON N0R 1J0 Tel: 519-564-2401 Membership Type: Active Phillips Lawn Maintenance LTD Michael Phillips 7263 County Rd 50, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0 Tel: 519-819-2963 Membership Type: Active Trycaa Group Wayne Michaud PO Box 224, Chatham, ON N7M 5K3 Tel: 519-809-1639 Membership Type: Interim

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Employment Ontario Service Providers can also help small businesses to attract and retain young workers.

Program helps small business hire youth If you hang around the office of PinecrestQueensway Employment Services in Ottawa, Ont., long enough, you may hear them talking about “yeti” and wonder why they are so interested in the infamous Sasquatch. Rest assured, they are not spending their time tracking Bigfoot! The Employing Young Talent Incentive program (fondly referred to as “EYTI” or pronounced “yeti”) is a new program launched in January 2018 to support small businesses with hiring and encourage youth-employment. All services provided within the EYTI program are free for employers across Ontario.

Eligible small businesses are able to receive up to $2,000 in incentives for hiring a youth (15-29 years old), who is a client of an Employment Ontario Service Provider, for a job that averages at least 20 hours per week. If your company has less than 100 employees (including casual, part-time, and contract staff) at the time of hire, you may be eligible for these incentives.

The incentives are broken down into two payments:

• $1,000 hiring incentive. Available two- to four-weeks after the client starts work (cheque processing times may vary depending on Employment Ontario Service Provider).

• $1,000 retention incentive. Available six months after the date of hire if the client has worked at least 20 hours per week for the duration of the six months (cheque processing times may vary).

Through their experiences working with many landscape and horticulture employers, staff consistently hear of two struggles throughout the industry: employers are not getting responses to job postings, and for those who are hired, retention can be very difficult. The EYTI program is designed to help employers find candidates for job openings and to assist with employee retention. Employer liaisons are also available to help write job postings and share them on your behalf to existing clients. They can also organize a hiring event specifically for your business.

Local employers can use the available multi-purpose rooms free of charge. To

foster retention throughout the six-month placement period, help is available to write training plans, offer regular check-ins, and encourage open, honest feedback and communication.

To learn more, or find out if your business is eligible, contact PinecrestQueensway Employment Services at 613-288-3880 and ask to speak to an Employer Liaison, or contact your nearest Employment Ontario Service Provider.

SMALL BUSINESS FINED $60,000 AFTER IGNORING ORDERS

A small business in the Ottawa area that ignored Ministry of Labour orders — despite repeat visits by an inspector who provided compliance solutions — has been fined $60,000 and is no longer in operation.

The inspector initially visited the business after an incident had occurred.

Following an investigation, the inspector issued 15 orders. To help the business comply with the orders, the inspector emailed a package of small business tools and resources to one of the company’s directors. Despite four follow-up visits from the inspector over an eight-month period, the business failed to comply with some of the orders. This led WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 15

PROFESSIONAL NEWS the Ministry of Labour to prosecute the employer, resulting in the fine.

“It didn’t have to end this way,” says Bill Chen, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) Regional Community Coordinator for Small Business. “The owners could have complied with the outstanding orders using simple tools and resources that are available online at no cost.”

The four orders that had not been complied with included mandatory requirements to: • Post a copy of the employer’s health and safety policy. A written policy helps promote your health and safety program.

It takes into account the particulars of your workplace and communicates the employer’s commitment to health and safety.

• Ensure all workers complete a basic health and safety awareness training program. This training introduces workers to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and focuses on the health and safety

VALERIE STENSSON TO RETIRE FROM SHERIDAN NURSERIES

rights and responsibilities of workers, supervisors and employers.

• Ensure all supervisors complete a basic health and safety awareness training program. Similar to the worker awareness program, this version provides important information on supervisors’ duties.

• Conduct a violence risk assessment to identify potential sources of violence in the workplace.

Failure to comply with these orders cost the employer $15,000 per order.

Orders are issued to ensure workplaces meet minimum standards of protection.

The employer could have avoided the orders, and the $60,000 fine, by using readily available tools and resources from the WSPS Small Business Centre at at WSPS.ca/Small-Business-Centre or the Ministry of Labour at Labour.gov.on.ca.

Resources include draft policies, free online training and downloadable policies, forms and more.

After a 30+ year career at Sheridan Nurseries, Valerie Stensson, Vice President of Marketing and Purchasing, will be retiring from the company as of June 28, 2019.

Valerie will continue to lead the purchasing and marketing teams as the search for her replacement takes place. She will assist in training and mentoring the new leader and then transition to leading special projects for Sheridan until her retirement date.

Valerie started with Sheridan in June of 1988 as the Home Décor Product Manager. She brought many new products and categories to the Sheridan assortment; changing the entire look and diminishing the seasonality. In 1993, Valerie identified an opportunity to grow the business by bringing marketing in-house and redeploying the budget more effectively. This concept was approved by the executive, resulting in Valerie being appointed marketing manager and the creation of Sheridan’s first marketing department.

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16 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

In 2006, she was appointed Marketing and Merchandise Manager, and in 2009 she was promoted to her current position.

Throughout her entire career, Valerie has contributed greatly to the strengthening of the Sheridan brand, and her leadership will be missed. Valerie’s knowledge of the business, her pragmatic approach and keen eye for buying and merchandising unique products has helped to differentiate and drive the success of Sheridan Nurseries.

REMAINING ONTARIO CERTIFICATION TEST DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2019

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association has scheduled test dates across the country for those candidates in pursuit of Landscape Industry Certification in 2019, with the following events in Ontario: • March 8-17 at Canada Blooms (written exam).

• June 22 and Sept. 21 at Landscape Ontario in Milton (written and hands-on).

Last summer, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), owners of the LIC program, announced plans to reshape all modules into an online format that will replace the current,

hands-on and written testing format.

Candidates who have not completed all stations by Dec. 31, 2019 will be required to start over under the new format. Those who have already achieved certification before the deadline are not affected by the changes.

CNLA’s Professional Development Committee (PDC) has been reviewing the proposed changes to ensure the new testing method will meet the needs of the industry across Canada, and to communicate the deadline and changes to all in-progress candidates.

For more information on test dates or the program, contact CNLA at 1-888446-3499 or visit cnla.ca for an exam registration form.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR 2019 SAFETY GROUP PARTICIPATION

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has new options that provide expanded opportunities for members of the Safety Group program, including an extended registration deadline of March 31, 2019. In addition, groups can now receive up to a maximum seven per cent of their total WSIB premiums.

The changes include a new option for small businesses — defined as any WSIB firm that pays an annual premium of $90,000 or less. Small businesses will only be required to work on three new elements (as opposed to five), selected from a specific list.

Safety Groups are designed to help businesses work toward health and safety goals in a collective learning environment, with an added financial incentive to motivate businesses to follow-through and succeed. All successful members receive a flat rebate of $1,400 per registered account and share in the balance of the rebate earned by the group as a whole.

In 2018, members of the WSPS Safety Group shared a rebate of $6.7 million; the largest rebate earned by all Safety Group sponsors.

Joining the 2019 Safety Group can help improve your health and safety, lowering injury stats and improving your risk rating. This could reduce your premium rates in the new rate framework.

To find out more about the 2019 Safety Group Program visit gfl.me/h4FX or call WSPS at 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

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EXECUTIVE DESK Our members and staff team are amazing Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

I

t is humbling to reflect on the fact that Landscape Ontario is one of the largest, most vibrant, most active and well-resourced landscape/horticultural associations in the world. It is important to understand the association is not just some physical entity in Milton, Ont. Rather, it is a network of individuals who identify with collective and community values, and who share in the pride and purpose of an occupation and profession that works to enhance the lives of others.

We have attracted over 1,700 companies who represent thousands of business owners and employees who also realize they are part of a larger movement to change the world for the better and to leave a legacy of benefit.

Regardless of the size of company, we all share the desire to advance the industry and make a difference.

Recently, I received an email from an LO member who took it upon himself to attract a $10,000 sponsorship for our Peer to Peer Network. We did not ask him to do this. He just decided that our collective cause to help members succeed and thrive should be supported.

We enjoy the support of hundreds of members who feel the same way. The number of volunteers contributing on our various boards, sector groups and committees helps to inspire our staff.

On solid ground

Our association continues to do well financially. We are the envy of most other landscape associations in North America.

Including the market value of our land, our assets total about 23 million dollars.

Last year, our membership, trade show and magazine departments exceeded expectations. Our investments saw a net gain of $500,000. Being in a favourable

18 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

financial position enables our association to continue its vision of a prosperous professional, ethical, recognized and valued profession.

The challenging road ahead

Despite our continued success, we have a major challenge to deal with. By far the biggest issue facing our profession is a shortage of labour. Many members cannot find employees. This crisis is a limiting factor in the growth of our sector.

A recent reader survey by our Landscape Trades magazine asked how to deal with this issue. Many of you responded with helpful information which will guide our activities going forward.

Here are some responses: • Host basic training boot camps for youth (high school and college students) and then help them find jobs with member companies.

• Encourage offshore workers to enter our profession.

• Educate parents, teachers, guidance counselors and students about the career opportunities and value of our profession.

• Encourage higher wages and benefits.

Skilled landscape workers and smart, ambitious individuals will only remain in this industry if the proper income can be earned in around eight months.

• Promote the value of an outdoor profession and the legacy it leaves to the public.

• Raise awareness of the benefits of our occupation with the general high school population. Students won’t enter a profession they are not aware of.

• Treat employees well and find ways to retain them for the entire year. It is difficult to sell a career in a seasonal situation.

• Target seniors who may want to spend some of their time working in horticulture.

• Focus on the creative and entrepreneurial benefits of the occupation, rather than the manual labour side of the profession.

• Encourage grounds improvement and landscaping projects at elementary and high schools so young people are exposed to the value of our profession.

• Find ways to reduce the number of hours worked. Young people do not want to work 10-hour days, six days a week.

• Develop a recruitment and promotion strategy targeting youth. Too many young people think the job simply involves shovelling snow or mowing lawns.

• Kids are pushed toward university, instead of trades. Provide all options (degrees in arboriculture, landscape architecture, etc.) including business ownership.

• Create a great company culture to attract employees.

• Increase awareness of Landscape Industry Certified program and Horticultural Apprenticeships, plus better marketing of the apprenticeship program to employees and students. Our industry is seen as an entry level job which is farthest from the truth.

• Encourage employers to be better at human resource management. A bad experience will not stimulate retention of employees.

• Promote the profession as a trade similar to electricians or plumbers.

• Target high school students who need to fill volunteer hour requirements and match them with members looking for workers to get students exposed to the industry.

• Better benefits and use more equipment to reduce the strain on the body and reduce highly-repetitive, manual work.

The perception that work is VERY labour intensive and seasonal limits interest.

• Full-time employment is a key factor in attracting employees who want a career in the horticulture industry.

• Promote the health benefits of a career in landscape/horticulture.

• Develop a dedicated recruiting website.

Use social media, develop a YouTube channel and website to promote the benefits of a career in landscape/ horticulture.

The responses were extremely helpful and will form the basis for our future workforce development plan. It underscores the amazing and engaged membership we enjoy.

On a final note, each year at our staff holiday lunch we choose one word to act as our filter for the year ahead. For 2018, our word was “listen.” For 2019, it is “renewal.” We wish you all renewal as you go forth and change the world for the better.

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

PUBLIC RELATIONS

glancing back at the cute, little baby skunk that also seemed to be looking around and wondering what all the fuss was about.

We hung around long enough to see him scamper back into the trees in search of his own playmates.

The point of my two examples is that while we do have to make sure our children are playing in a safe environment, we must also allow them the opportunity to observe and interact with nature. Kids learn a lot by discovering things on their own. As adults, it’s hard for most of us to remember how the brain of a child looks at the world. Their thought processes, perceptions and reasoning are very different. Just try to win an argument with a two-year-old!

Inspiring the next generation of professionals

The Green Streets Challenge is one program that truly helps to connect kids with nature.

Connecting with nature

By Denis Flanagan CLD LO Manager of Membership and Public Relations

T

hese days, it seems every magazine I read, or every new training course I see being offered, talks about connecting with nature, specifically how to involve children in the process. This is a wonderful concept, but I just hope we are truly looking at it from a kids’ perspective, and not just from that of an adult.

Adults sometimes have an over-protective view of how we interact with the natural world. Below, I will share a couple of incidents that happened in my own personal life that somehow influenced this topic for my article this month.

Curiosity in the garden

A while ago, my young niece and her mom were visiting us. Being an avid gardener myself, I always take pleasure in giving young people a tour of our garden. Kids are naturally very curious and get very excited when seeing new things for the first time. At the time of their visit, a crab apple tree at the end of the property was laden with a couple of large webs of tent caterpillars. Normally, I just pick off the

webs using some long-handled pruners, so it seemed like a great opportunity to give my niece a quick gardening lesson.

She seemed delighted with the fact there were hundreds of little creatures squirming around. She inquisitively poked the nest with her tiny index finger and managed to get a thread attached just as her mom appeared around the corner. “Look, it’s on a bungee cord!” the mother heard her precious daughter declare. The mother then let out an enormous scream and almost fainted. The conversation during family dinner that evening was both interesting and very informative.

Wildlife is a part of nature

Late last year, my wife and I were taking care of our two-year-old grandson for a couple of days. As part of daily activity, we would walk to the local park on Queen Street in Toronto. The urban park was packed with at least 50 small children and about 30 adults. It’s a fantastic park with lots of activity areas, including a large fort in the centre. The usual sound of giggles and laughter was suddenly interrupted when one of the dads announced there was a skunk inside the fort. Immediately there was panic. Parents rushed to pick up their young ones with one arm, racing for the park exits, while their free hand was busy furiously texting, perhaps tying to find an app on what to do during a skunk attack. Meanwhile, the inquisitive kids were

To feed the natural curiosity of kids and to promote the benefits of building and maintaining the natural world, Landscape Ontario and Come Alive Outside are connecting with more and more youth through some very exciting initiatives. The very popular Green Streets Challenge will find its way to Canada Blooms this March, providing an unstructured play area like the ones that popped up in several communities across the province this past summer, including the immensely popular one at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor Streets in Toronto. In addition, the Come Alive Outside Design Challenge is an excellent event that sees students of all levels working together with landscape pros to design an outdoor space that is then built to benefit those involved and the local community.

An opportunity to engage

I personally believe there is enormous potential for landscape contractors and designers to truly connect with young families and create outdoor residential spaces that can not only be beautiful, but also serve as outdoor classrooms for children. Perhaps some of our adult fears need to first be addressed so that we can start to see the world through younger, more inquisitive eyes.

I hear time and time again that the number one reason why companies join Landscape Ontario is for the educational and networking opportunities available such as: courses, chapter meetings, and magazine articles. Perhaps the idea of creating more gardens for kids can be discussed at one of your next meetings.

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

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 19

MEMBERSHIP You gotta have friends

By Myscha Stafford LO Membership and Chapter Coordinator

I

n the famous words of American singer-songwriter, Bette Midler, “You gotta have friends.” You’re welcome for that earworm…

One of the most common things I heard during and after the Congress trade show last month was how much everyone enjoyed connecting with friends and catching up after the holidays. Whether you were attending a seminar, the Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer workshop, or having an impromptu meeting in the LO members’ only lounge, Congress is where thousands of friends come together.

Being a member of Landscape Ontario means different things to different people. Some view it as a club for mutual improvement, others see it as simply an affiliation, while others feel a real sense

of community from being surrounded by like-minded professionals. These are all true. Membership is more than just saving money on seminars and new trucks. While financial discounts are extremely helpful when running a business, the community of friends that you become a part of as a member is a benefit that is very hard to put a price on.

LO Peer to Peer Network

LO’s Peer to Peer Network is a sharing, close-knit and ever-expanding group of business owners and upper management staff. This exclusive LO member benefit connects you with other business owners who share similar challenges, can offer real world advice and who gather to brainstorm ideas and implement processes to benefit everyone involved.

Join the group for free. Simply email signup.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com and ask to be added to the online groups. You can then participate in private Facebook and LinkedIn discussions, where you can offer advice or ask a question and get immediate responses. The online discussions are on-going.

Peer group members also gather at

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a series of face-to-face workshops held throughout the year that kicked off with the January session held the day prior to Congress. Here, group members set their priorities and learning objectives for the remainder of events held primarily in spring. This year, the group has identified company culture as its top priority. Events are planned for February (London and a ‘sampler session’ in Huntsville), in March (Ajax), and the popular two-day summit in Muskoka in September.

Chapter events

LO chapter boards work hard planning a variety of social events and seminars throughout the year. At these events, education, networking and friendships also come together. These events bring together local professionals in your area for educational topics, including: safety, business management, best practices, etc. Being centralized to a specific area allows chapters to focus on regional issues, such as: by-laws, zoning, and other topics that may be unique to a particular region of Ontario.

Chapter meetings also bring together local suppliers and dealers to offer you the best products and services in your location.

This winter, LO chapters are focusing on safety preparation, with presentations throughout February and March on commercial vehicle safety, AODA regulations and mental health awareness training.

The Golden Horseshoe Chapter has also been very busy, gearing up for two great events: the annual Family Day Weekend Bowling Day on Feb. 17 and the Gear Up for Spring trade show on March 26.

Full details on any of these events, visit HortTrades.com or contact me via the details below.

Myscha can be reached at myscha@landscapeontario.com or 1-800-265-5656 ext. 2333.

UNDERGROUND WORLD Wishes for 2019

By Terry Murphy CLM

I

f I could have all of my wishes come true for the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) for this year, I would want many things to occur for the damage prevention industry. There are some areas that need improvement and other areas that could use more help. While we await the most recent data on underground utility hits for 2018 to be published in the 2018 DIRT Report this May, I will base my wishes for 2019 on the available data from 2017.

Sector hit reductions

The province of Ontario: An overall underground utility hit reduction from 5,149 in 2017 to 4,600 in 2019 would result in a 10 per cent reduction in the total number of hits in the province. This is achievable.

Landscape profession: To have a reduction in underground utility hits from 338 in 2017 to 300 in 2019 would be great.

This reduction of 11 per cent is absolutely possible.

Fence industry: An overall hit reduction of 15 per cent (from 438 in 2017, down to 375 in 2019) would be fantastic. This sector needs the most urgent attention.

Irrigation sector: To remain around the 11 hit mark for another year.

Sewer and water main excavators: Accountable for over 1,200 hits in 2017, a 12.5 per cent improvement in 2019 would lower the total number of hits for this group to 1,050.

Road builders: An improvement from 614 hits in 2017 to 550 hits in 2019 would mean a reduction of 10 per cent.

Operational considerations

The above summarizes the key industries that are tracked. Naturally, I want to see continuous improvement in all sectors and believe the reductions mentioned are reasonable projections. There are also operational issues that I would like to address. Hopefully we can work on these issues.

Staff: The current staff of the ORCGA are doing a great job, however, I wish we were able to add an event planner. This would allow the organization to focus more on customer service and on other key operational areas while continuing our good record on event planning.

Financial: If we can add another couple of gold and silver sponsors, it would really allow a great cushion for continuing the financial surplus that we been fortunate to achieve consistently over the years.

Holding expenses to 2018 levels would also be an excellent achievement.

Membership: Last year, membership went from 515 members to 505.

Membership is important in the year ahead. When you consider there are over 8,000 companies in the landscape sector alone that could easily be members of ORCGA, I wish for a 10 per cent increase in membership, to 550 this year. With a annual rate of $125 for a small contractor, membership is very affordable. It has always been a mystery to me why so many firms don’t support the ORCGA as a member, considering the important work the association does on behalf of all excavators.

Geographic Councils: Last year, we had record (an increase of 156 per cent) at meetings. Maintaining these numbers in 2019 would be reasonable.

Event attendance: Our annual golf tournament, Locate Rodeo, and Symposium have all been well-attended over the past few years. Maintaining the same numbers would be my wish for these events.

All excavators: Most importantly, my wish is that anyone who disturbs the soil, digs safe and calls ON1CALL prior to digging.

Conclusion

Preparing this article was very enlightening as it gave me a chance to look at last year (2017 data) and see where I hope we can be at the end of 2019 for various areas in our damage prevention industry. I hope these wishes can come true, as it would result in a fantastic year for the ORCGA and all those involved in the damage prevention industry.

Terry Murphy can be reached at tvmurphy@ca.inter.net.

2019 Catalogue

Phone 905-878-4244 -- Fax 905-878-7888 -- Sales 1-888-769-TIMM (8466) Mailing: P.O. Box 157, Oakville, ON L6K 0A4 Office & Warehouse: 5204 Trafalgar Rd., Milton, ON L9E 0Y7 www.timmenterprises.com -- sales@timmenterprises.com

Watch your mailbox for our new catalogue of supplies and equipment.

Not on our mailing list? Let us know if you prefer paper or PDF.

WWW.HORTTRADES.COM  21

PROSPERITY PARTNERS Get real-time support for your business

By Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

I

f you were at Congress last month, you were in good company! Over 15,000 industry professionals and students attended this year’s trade show, conference and special events. At Congress, hopefully you stopped by the Peer to Peer lounge in the Landscape Ontario booth to learn more about our mentoring and support program for LO member business owners. If you didn’t get the chance, I will provide an update below on what you are missing out on.

Landscape Ontario’s Peer to Peer Network is now in its fifth year. This active group of business owners and managers connect on social media, and at solutions-focused networking sessions throughout the province each year. LO’s Peer to Peer Facebook and Linked In groups are closed to the public. You have to be a member to join and participate in the conversations. Once a member of the group (to join, simply email signup.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com if you’re an LO member), you’ll have access to a network of over 100 of your business-minded, entrepreneurial peers. You can then ask your peers any question you like, and receive genuine support and experienced answers from those who may have already faced the very same challenge. The resources, tricks and ideas shared online are amazing and informative.

In the past few weeks, peer group members have collaborated and shared answers and opinions on topics such as: methods for pre-screening job applicants, workplace violence policies, recommendations requested for collections agencies, and more. Got a question? Post it online and your peers with relevant experience will chime in to support you. It’s awesome.

22 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019

LO’s peer group also runs six, full-day events each year — four in the winter months, plus a two-day event each fall.

Our networking events are facilitated discussions on topics chosen by the group each year. The remaining events for this year are listed below and can also be found online at HortTrades.com/p2p.

Following our annual gathering at Congress, members of the group met on Jan. 24 in Ottawa to discuss Company Culture: The Future of Team Engagement. As lead facilitator and manager of LO’s Peer to Peer Network, I was joined by guest facilitator, Steve Dines, a team engagement consultant and expert.

At this session, we tackled the members’ top priority for 2019: improving and managing the culture within their companies, focusing on the path to engagement and retention. In this interactive, ‘roll-up your sleeves’ workshop, we discussed the art of articulating and entrenching a clear company attitude system. We focused on the current reality of the labour market, i.e. what employees want from their job and team. Our members left this workshop with improved clarity, new tools and renewed energy heading into hiring season.

I invite you to join us this month, on Feb. 13 in London, Ont., at our next event, Developing a Culture of Safety and Wellness. The workshop will focus on how to implement cutting-edge trends for connecting with your team, and how to develop a collaborative balance between the needs of the company, and the needs of its employees. Join us for this day of brainstorming, centred around the new pressures on business owners to adapt their HR management concepts and schedules to fit with different attitudes toward work, wellness and safety. There will also be a presentation from Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) on mental health in the workplace as a part of this full-day session.

On March 12, we will meet in Ajax, Ont., to discuss the challenge

of Implementing Systems. This will be a solution-based workshop where participants will work in discussion groups, to dive into a case study to determine what systems are needed for a fictitious company. Participants will focus on developing and implementing systems to improve results and consistent team engagement. The case study discussions will involve learning to: 1. Evaluate what you have (cross-check with a draft best practices list).

2. Identify what’s working now.

3. Determine what is missing.

4. Develop a list of systems initiatives (ownership, milestones, implementation plan/outcomes).

5. Discuss the steps required to communicate, implement and sustain new systems.

Later this fall, when it’s time to come up for air amid a busy season, our group will gather once again to focus working on their business before the rest of the year slips through their fingers.

Our fall summit, to be held Sept. 19-20 in Muskoka, has become a welcome business retreat for peer members who are ready for a change in business routine.

On day one of the summit, we will tackle the topics of Scalable Growth and the Psychological Impact of Growth on the Leaders in your company. We will also look at the ever-elusive and intimidating topic of Financials. On day two, our workshop will help you to gain confidence understanding what your financials are telling you. We will discuss the finer points of what to look for, and what to do about the things you may discover.

All of our Peer to Peer Network sessions are interactive, engaging discussions and solution-based (rather than complaint based) effective roundtables and collaborative solutions to realtime challenges. I invite you to join today.

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

CLASSIFIEDS

ADVERTISERS

Rates: $50.85 (HST included) per column inch Deadline: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. Space is limited. To advertise: E-mail name, phone number and ad to classifieds@landscapeontario.com. Online advertising: Website only ads are available.

Website ads are posted for 31 days. Visit horttrades.com/classifieds. Post employment ads for free online at landscape.jobs.

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VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR CANADA BLOOMS BUILD IN TORONTO Canada Blooms is looking for volunteers during the build, from March 2-7, 2019.

Experience with plant material an asset, but not necessary. March 2-4 is receiving and organizing plants, so strong knowledge of plant material is needed.

March 4-7 is planting common areas and planters.

Must have steel-toed shoes, hard hats and safety vest an asset, but can be provided.

Lunch provided along with tickets to the show.

If you have always wanted to see how the show is put together and to network with peers, this is a great opportunity.

Please contact Tanya Smith, Horticultural Coordinator bloomshortvolunteers@gmail.com

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G & L Group (Draglam Slat)

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Bay King Chrysler Braun Nursery Limited

GoGPS Great Lakes Wood Products Inc. John Deere

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Metal Pless Inc.

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www.newroadsleasing.com

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www.niscocanada.com

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www.newroadsleasing.com

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www.pottersroadnursery.com

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Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.

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866-843-0438

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Timm Enterprises Ltd.

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905-878-4244

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Newroads National Leasing Nisco National Leasing Ontario Seed Company Ltd. Potters Road Nursery Inc.

New HR guidance The new HR Toolkit is up-to-date, customizable, and includes what the landscape sector needs to know about HR policies and procedures.

HR Toolkit

Policies and Procedures Manual & Employee Handbook Employee handbook template ALSO INCLUDED:

Download the customizable Employee Handbook for the landscape sector. The Handbook provides the information your employees need to thrive!

FREE: Download today at horttrades.com/hrtoolkit

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SAVE THE DATE FOR

CONGRESS 2020 CANADA’S PREMIER GREEN INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE

JANUARY 7-9TH

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LOCONGRESS.COM 24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO FEBRUARY 2019