Landscape Ontario - February 2021

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

February 2021

IN-DEMAND

SKILLS GROW Program grad Hailey Kim is one step closer to her career of choice.

PM 40013519

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February, 2021 • Volume 39 - No. 02 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.

CONGRESS SECTION

Keep learning throughout the year

Page 15

Features 4 GROW Program

Departments 6 12 13 14 20 23 27

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Association News New Members Educator Profile Volunteer Profile Professional News Columns Advertisers

Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Creative director / IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Sales manager 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 Assistant Editor Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Andrea Annis, Darryl Bond, Grace Bruch, Amy Buchanan, Kaneisha De Leon, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Chantal Jorgensen, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Katarina Markovic, Kathy McLean, Shalini Mehta, Patrick Roche, Joe Salemi, Ian Service, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Tom Somerville, COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby, Nick Winkelmolen Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805

A

appropriate time. The same uncertainty about the economy is there, but now we have the precautions in place so we can avoid the virus. What is missing is the fear. Looking back at the beginning of the pandemic, fear of the unknown was rampant. Now we’re more annoyed by the necessary inconvenience of it all. We’re still in a serious situation, and we need to look back at what we did last time and make sure we don’t repeat mistakes. We also need to keep pushing forward, keep looking for the opportunities, and keep learning.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be meeting with my management team and crew leaders to discuss our plans for the year ahead. We are going to delve into the numbers and the specific targets everyone needs to keep their eyes on. If you get a chance to read Jack Stack’s “The Great Game of Business,” give it a whirl.

It’s a good story as well as an amazing introduction to open book management.

I have learned the more I share my vision and talk about where our company is going, the more everyone pulls in that direction. Just remember that running a business is a journey — we all hit bumps in the road and make wrong turns along the way. Some of us have a destination in mind while others are just out for a country drive in a cool truck. Whatever your reason for being in business, keep moving forward.

In closing, I challenge you to share more with your team and reap the rewards… and remember, "Don’t Let Your Guard Down!"

s I write this, the launch of Congress Connect 2021 is winding down. It was a great few days of seminars and I actually got to see most of them this year. Most years, I get caught up in the trade show and miss that one seminar I wanted to see. Last spring, we were working so hard to get everyone back to work safely that we gave barely a thought to Congress — the association's biggest revenue generator. In the end, we succeeded with both: Heather MacRae's team at home office pulled out all the stops and did an amazing job of re-imagining our signature event.

The best part of Congress Connect is that it is available all year. I can go back and revisit the good parts, over and over.

(I know I need to hear things a few times before it sinks in). I’m excited to see how Congress Connect evolves, especially if we run it as part of a live Congress one day.

Don’t get me wrong, I do miss Congress!

I’ve only missed a couple since 2003, when I moved back to Ontario to take over the family business. I was even at a few of the ‘90s events at Copps Coliseum when the precursor to the Awards of Excellence took place in the movie theatre next door. A lot has changed. They even removed the beer soaked carpet at Harry’s Bar. It will always be Harry’s to me…

As we ease into our second lockdown, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We know we are able to work and we will deal with getting the retail side of the industry up and running at the

Dave Wright LO President davew@wrightlandscape.ca

ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 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 2021, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 9x 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

3

ON THE

R

IGHT PATH HAILEY KIM AND HER EMPLOYER BOTH BENEFIT FROM NEW INDUSTRY PROGRAM

Hailey Kim was part of the first cohort who received training under the GROW Program.

I

t didn’t take long for Elissa Janca to recognize Hailey Kim’s talent and enthusiasm.

“Just about from the minute I met Hailey, I knew she would be a great fit for our team,” said Janca, a horticulture technician team lead with Yorkshire Garden Services.

They met in September, when Janca and Yorkshire’s owner Lindsay Drake Nightingale visited Landscape Ontario’s training facility to meet with the first cohort of GROW Program participants.

“I was so impressed by the GROW Program,” Janca said. “They brought us in as potential employers and gave us a really comprehensive overview of what the students had been learning, and I was floored by how much they were able to

pack into the four week program.”

After the orientation, employers had a chance to meet participants one on one.

“They made it so easy for us to meet the students, and interact in a safe way, even in a pandemic,” Janca said. “Hailey and I walked through the trial gardens, and we talked about horticulture and plants.

She was able to show me plants she had personally pruned. I just thought, this is so perfect. This is such a nice way to meet prospective employees.”

Yorkshire Garden Services hired two new employees that afternoon, bringing Hailey and another GROW Program participant on board for the fall season.

It worked out well for the grounds maintenance company based in Toronto, Ont. “I wish I could have 10 Hailey’s on our

team,” Janca said.

The GROW Program “is designed to close the gap on in-demand jobs/talent requirements identified by employers,”

“ I wish I could have 10 Hailey’s on our team.”

— Elissa Janca explained Sally Harvey, Landscape Ontario Director of Education and Workforce Development. “The program provides a four-week basic technical and employment

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO skills training program, serving employers entry level workers who aspire to enter the landscape and horticulture profession.”

Harvey added, “the program is intended to attract youth, newcomers, adults, women and provide training and employment opportunities to job seekers who may have experienced labour market challenges.

Interested employers are invited to contact the program manager, Andrea Annis to learn more about the opportunity.”

“I think one of the strengths of the program is that the participants are prescreened,” Drake Nightingale said. “They’re

Conservation from the University of Toronto in 2020, and is interested in pursuing a career where she can make a positive impact on the environment.

When she found out about the GROW Program, Kim thought it would be a good way to gain some hands-on experience and technical skills.

“It was a really good experience for me,” Kim said. “It was exactly what I was looking for. Practical skills. I learned a lot about landscaping and horticulture, and I really enjoyed the hands-on aspects, including the planting, pruning, mulching, weeding and fertilizing.”

While Kim plans to pursue a career in the forestry sector down the line, she is looking forward to returning to Yorkshire Garden Services in spring. She also decided to enroll in the Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship Program at Humber College, to continue adding to her skills and knowledge over the winter months.

For its part, Yorkshire Garden Services will be glad to welcome Kim in spring.

“I’m thrilled Hailey will be returning this year,” Janca said. “I’m really excited to see where her career goes. But from my perspective, as long as Hailey wants to work with us, I am more than happy to have her.”

W H AT I S T H E

GROW PROGRAM?

not just coming in to just check it out. And once they’re in the program, they get some really important basic skills like WHMIS and health and safety training.”

Even more important than the technical skills, Drake Nightingale said, was the positive attitude participants showed.

“They have this eagerness and attitude that is so upbeat and positive, that they just want to learn,” she said. “They came in asking questions. They were gung-ho.”

Drake Nightingale said the experience was positive with both GROW Program grads the company brought on board. They plan to participate with the program again in 2021.

For Hailey Kim, the GROW Program and working with Yorkshire Garden Services was a great career stepping stone.

Kim graduated with a Master of Forest

GROW stands for Get Ready for Opportunities at Work — a partnership between Landscape Ontario and SkillsAdvance Ontario (SAO), funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

The program offers three distinct programs designed to help employers within the landscape and horticulture profession to fill in-demand jobs and help workers pursue the many career paths available within the profession. The programs are currently offered in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, and in the Kawartha/Muskoka region.

The New Entrant Training Program is designed to attract youth, newcomers, adults, women, etc., to the many career opportunities within the profession.

Participants are given a four-week basic technical skills training and 5

employment skills program, and then placed with employers in need of skilled workers for a two-week paid job placement.

The Incumbent Worker Training Program offers employers the opportunity to upgrade the skills of 1-2 existing employees who possess the potential of becoming a supervisor, but face barriers to achieve the position. The training is conducted virtually.

The Employers of Choice Program supports 50 employers within the three regions to help them learn how to effectively recruit and retain employees and improve engagement, productivity and retention.

For more information on how you can benefit from the GROW Program, contact Andea Annis at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2308 or email aannis@landscapeontario.com or visit growoutdoors.ca.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Water Smart Irrigation Professional contractors recognized for significant water savings

Optimal Irrigation's Paul Turzanski (left) and president, Mike Alati proudly display their two awards.

Chris LeConte, owner, Smart Watering Systems shows off his award.

with the Region of Peel and the Regional Municipality of York to develop more efficient water irrigation practices and to optimize irrigation systems within the industry.

The WSIP certification program provides irrigation contractors with the tools and training required to identify significant opportunities for water savings, and promote sustainable water use and water-efficient practices to clients.

Participants learn about new tools and techniques to optimize irrigation systems for optimal performance with minimum water usage. Participating contractors also learn about new smart technology — computerized systems that deliver water more efficiently and take rainfall into account. Training and access to an auditing software also makes irrigation assessments easier and faster. The result is significant water savings.

In 2020, the WSIP program was expanded provincewide for all Landscape Ontario members. The provincewide training for 2021 will be held in a virtual format on March 29-April 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Companies who are interested in participating should apply as soon as possible. In order to become WSIP certified, participants are required to write an exam and complete a field component.

For more details and to apply, visit HortTrades.com/ wsip or contact Jessica Tucker at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2397 or wsip@landscapeontario.com.

Three Landscape Ontario member companies were recently recognized for their outstanding efforts to provide and promote water efficient landscapes in the Region of Peel and the Municipality of York Region.

This year's winners are:

• Smart Watering Systems, Milton, Ont., for the highest confirmed water savings in the Region of Peel.

• DJ Rain, North York, Ont., for the highest confirmed water savings in York Region.

• Optimal Irrigation Corp., Kleinburg, Ont., for the highest number of irrigation system audits in both the Region of Peel and York Regions.

The winners are Water Smart Irrigation Professional (WSIP) certified contractors, a requirement for nominees of the WSIP Water Optimization Award which is part of Landscape Ontario's annual Awards of Excellence program.

The contractors have made a significant impact to reducing water consumption through irrigation system projects by completing both residential and commercial irrigation system audits.

Congratulations to the winning companies and special thanks to the Regions involved for making the program and awards possible.

Landscape Ontario developed the Water Smart Irrigation Professional (WSIP) program in partnership

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Landscape Ontario professional development goes virtual Landscape Ontario's popular Professional Development Seminar Series has gone digital. The annual off-season training and skills upgrading program currently has about 40 one-hour seminars scheduled, with more titles being added.

Those who register for the online learning seminars will still get access to the same amazing line up of well-known and knowledgeable instructions, plus most class sizes are limited to 30 participants.

The early morning, online seminars are typically one-hour in length, with most starting at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Pricing for the online training sessions is typically $25 for a Landscape Ontario member and $45 for a non-member.

Upcoming titles include:

• Team Leader Training: Feb. 16, 23 and March 2 • Arboretum/Shrub care, Feb. 18 • Company Culture — The Key to Employee Loyalty, Feb. 18 • Annual, Perennials, Natives and Tropicals for Creative Container Applications, Feb. 19 • Lighting 101: Basic Design Techniques, Feb. 23

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• Landscape Designer's Studio-Principles, Feb. 24, Mar. 15 and Mar. 26 • Unwanted Weeds, Mar. 2 • Chainsaw Maintenance, Mar. 12 • Tree and Shrub ID, Mar. 16 • Lighting Installation, Mar. 17 • Landscape Maintenance, Mar. 18 • Landscape Design, Mar. 19 • Turfgrass Care, April 1 • Vegetable Planting For full seminar details and to register, visit HortTrades.com/professionaldevelopment-online.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Congress Connect launches Congress Connect, Landscape Ontario’s year long virtual marketplace and conference, launched Jan. 12-14, 2021.

Nearly 4,000 people attended over the first three days — a number that is expected to increase throughout the year as more content is regularly added to the online platform.

The platform designed to connect members of the landscape and horticulture profession with suppliers of products, services and supplies, as well as provide professional development opportunities throughout the year on the latest trends, techniques and successful business practices.

Sector education As with the live version of Congress, the educational offerings kicked off the learning portion of the program with the IPM Symposium and Landscape Designers Conference on Jan. 11.

Each sector-specific event included

a full-day of expert speakers and topics, as well as an update on sector activities.

Those who were unable to attend can register anytime throughout the year to gain access to the wealth of content for the remainder of 2021.

Access to over 140 exhibitors, 30 conference sessions, LIVE demo series, and more is now available for all of 2021 Free registration for all of 2021 If you haven’t already registered for Congress Connect, access to the platform is free. By registering, you will gain access to over 140 marketplace exhibitors, the

product showcase, on-demand, LIVE educational series (Hardscape LIVE, Green LIVE and Drive LIVE), plus the two Keynote sessions from the Congress Connect Conference.

The built-in networking component of the platform then allows you to chat with presenters with any follow-up questions.

This year’s keynotes are: “Embrace the Unexpected,” a one-hour talk by David Bastedo, photographer for the Tragically Hip, and “Why What You Do and Who You Are Matters,” a one-hour session with James Orbinski, a medical doctor and leader in the field of global health.

Once registered, visitors can watch the sessions over and over, and can also, pause, rewind and fast-forward, plus take notes and then download them.

Congress Connect Conference This year’s conference had over 500 attendees over the three launch days to learn the latest via 30 sessions available on

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO a wide range of business topics.

Experts from a wide range of background and experiences provided relevant and engaging information.

Sessions covered topics such as: open book management, sales, fruit tree pruning, MTO audits, marketing, mental health, crime prevention, landscape lighting and augmented reality.

All 30 conference sessions, plus the two keynote sessions and full LIVE demo series are available on-demand for the remainder of 2021.

To access the content, you can purchase a full Congress Connect Conference Pass via HortTrades.com/ congress-connect-2021 for $225.

A student pass is $50.

Live Desk Each day of the launch, the platform featured pre-programmed content via the Congress Connect Live Desk, which is now available via the On Demand feature.

These include “Morning Wake Up Yoga,” with Kiana Ng, Landscape Ontario's own, Meghan Greaves singing “O’ Canada,” a New Product Showcase featuring a series of videos on new and innovative products

Congress Connects uses a unique online platform that will continue to be updated throughout 2021.

from exhibitors in the virtual marketplace, “Fire Walk with Joe & Joe,” and the “Virtual Ale Trail,” a series of videos producers of craft beers in Ontario.

Sponsors In addition to the 140+ marketplace exhibitors who helped to make the event possible, Landscape Ontario would like to

recognize the following sponsors: Banas Stones, Aspire Software, Stone Arch, Jim Pattison Lease, Dynascape, Rinox, NVK Nurseries, Connon Nurseries, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Turf Care, Natural Stone Traders, Unilock, People Corporation, York Region, In-Lite Outdoor Lighting, HortProtect, Toro, Region of Peel, Gravely, Greenius, Miska, LMN.

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Peer group allows business owners to support each other through 2021 Business owners and senior managers in the landscape and horticulture profession have unlimited access to a community of peers and experts via the Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network. The peer group is free to join for association members, and includes access to online business-related discussions and advice via private Facebook and LinkedIn groups.

Group members also connect via a number of networking and learning events held throughout the year.

Jacki Hart, CLM, Landscape Ontario Prosperity Partners Program Manager, is the group facilitator who organizes the series of engaging and thought-provoking workshops. Each of the workshops feature one or more guest speakers that range from a well-known business coach to a landscape business owner to an industry specific consultant. The group's signature event, the September Summit, is a twoday event that include a couple of expert speakers and a panel discussion.

Hart previously owned a successful landscape business in Muskoka, Ont., and has been a respected business coach for many years.

Virtual Business Bites Series Members of the Peer to Peer Network typically meet six times each year via face-to-face workshops held across the province. For 2021, Hart has organized a multitude of new virtual events to keep the discussions going.

The, the first of these, the Peer to Peer Virtual Business Bites, is a series of 10 brief, free early morning workshops from February to October. The one-hour Zoom sessions begin at 9 a.m. and kicked off Feb. 3 with Frank Bourque, a landscape and hardscape business consultant.

The March session featured LO member business owner Peter Guinane, owner of Oriole Landscaping.

Speakers and topics for the remaining titles in the series are:

• April 7: Top Deadly Wastes, Mark Bradley • May 5: Your Ideal Employee Avatar, Phil Harwood • June 2: Excel By Setting Expectations, Jim Paluch • July 7: Set Up For Success, Grant Harrison • Aug. 4: Teams Who Walk the Walk, Joe Salemi • Sept. 1: Deliver On Your Promises, Glenn Curtis • Oct. 6: Your Ideal Client Avatar, Scott Wentworth • Nov. 3: Keep the Employees You Have, Dominic Richichi

Zoom Connect Lounge In addition, peer group members have access to the LO Peer to Peer Zoom Connect Lounge — a less informal online event to be held the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These online forums are a continuation of the popular Saturday

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO morning coffee chats that were held throughout 2020 to allow business owners a way to connect, compare notes, offer suggestions, and help each other through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wildcard Zoom Connect Lounge Lastly, Hart has introduced the LO Peer to Peer Wildcard Zoom Connect Lounge, an as-needed series to be held the third week of each month as specific issues and discussions arise. Members will be notified of these events a few days in advance via LO's weekly enews and the online discussion forums.

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The first Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network workshop of 2021 was held on Jan. 26 and featured a panel discussion on how successful business owners were able to rise to the challenges presented in 2020.

As always, members of the LO Peer to Peer Network continue to support each other through private online discussions held on Facebook and LinkedIn. Here, members can post questions about specific issues, source suppliers, and offer advice to others based on their own experience.

For full details on the 2021 LO Peer to Peer Network events and how LO member business owners and managers can join, visit Horttrades.com/p2p.

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NEW MEMBERS Landscape Ontario welcomes the following newly approved companies and individuals to our community DURHAM 643660 Ontario Inc Peter Verschuuren / Tel: 905-441-3652 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Cavanagh Haulage Inc Ray Cavanagh / Tel: 705-741-6501 Membership Type: Associate Dynamic Terrain Contractors Melanie Lillies / Tel: 905-493-1115 Membership Type: Member

GEORGIAN LAKELANDS

H2O Control Products Inc Brent Marcon / Tel: 705-522-5300 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

SH Contracting Shane Hartley / Tel: 705-896-0848 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Clear Path Property Maintenance Inc David Cormier / Tel: 647-923-7284 Membership Type: Member

HMG Landscaping & Design Jared Heshka / Tel: 705-571-2950 Membership Type: Member

Shipley Property Maintenance Brandon Shipley / Tel: 519-270-2622 Membership Type: Sole Proprietor Member

Haycor Solutions Jason Wachtel / Tel: 416-949-2737 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Harbourview Homes Inc Ray Polidoro / Tel: 416-989-8748 Membership Type: Member

Tessa's Framing Tessa Reck / Tel: 705-888-5051 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Headwaters Windows and Doors Steve Louwes / Tel: 519-938-8700 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

JI Enterprises Vince Iturregui / Tel: 705-356-7568 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

GOLDEN HORSESHOE

J&J Property Services Inc Dejan Jankovic / Tel: 289-633-2016 Membership Type: Member

AJ Interlocking Albert DeMaeyer / Tel: 705-446-5559 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

John Anthony Wigle (301379087) John Wigle / Tel: 705-321-1209 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Bredin Brothers Construction Inc Emerson Bredin / Tel: 519-774-0135 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

McCleary Carpentry Robert McCleary / Tel: 705-791-8327 Membership Type: Associate

Countertops By Design Barrie Inc Kyle Scott / Tel: 705-727-7900 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

P. Duguay Roofing Peter Duguay / Tel: 705-730-9111 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Gridconnex Inc Tom Kelly / Tel: 705-816-4266 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

RTM Contracting Mark Peloquin / Tel: 705-783-5387 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

1959047 ON Ltd O/A M.Butler Custom Homes and Advanced Wastewater & Excavating Solutions Mark Butler / Tel: 289-439-2345 Membership Type: Chapter Associate MillBay Carpentry Travis Lennea / Tel: 905-465-5237 Membership Type: Chapter Associate O'Connell Fill Management James Evans-O'Connell / Tel: 289-941-0774 Membership Type: Associate

LONDON Advantage Farm Equipment Murray Melton / Tel: 519-845-3346 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

S.K.Y. Renovation and Design Spencer-Kaleb Yankowski / Tel: 705-716-0376 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Bokkers Excavating Ltd Calvin Bokkers / Tel: 519-301-2502 Membership Type: Chapter Associate GTA Gravel Ltd Greg Ryan / Tel: 519-357-5129 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Giopalm Group Inc o/a Giopalm Landscaping Paul Desalaiz / Tel: 519-860-0553 Membership Type: Member Jonker's Lawn Care Inc Wayne Jonker / Tel: 519-539-8551 Membership Type: Member South Coast Group Inc Matt Duncan / Tel: 226-444-9908 Membership Type: Introductory Verdant Caleb Closs / Tel: 226-238-0591 Membership Type: Member Waters Edge Contracting Thomas Karrow / Tel: 519-386-1130 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

OTTAWA ASL Agrodrain Limited Sandro Ricci / Tel: 613-826-2388 Membership Type: Member GreenLeaf Lawn and Garden Services Sarah Willits / Tel: 613-697-9817 Membership Type: Sole Proprietor Member

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TORONTO 1582379 ON Inc O/A BR Garden Center Joe Barbosa / Tel: 416-301-5713 Membership Type: Member

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751387473 O/A Maximillian EPP Maximillian Epp / Tel: 519-939-8706 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

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LMS Group Mark Hrycyna / Tel: 416-877-6472 Membership Type: Member McPherson-Andrews Contracting Limited Yvonne McPherson / Tel: 416-709-4161 Membership Type: Member Regal View Contracting Mauro Mazzocco / Tel: 416-436-6423 Membership Type: Sole Proprietor Member SSR Equipment Steve Simms / Tel: 519-717-4800 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Strada Aesthetics Ltd Andrew Nullmeyer / Tel: 416-300-8017 Membership Type: Member Tok Contracting Dino D'Amato / Tel: 416-558-1456 Membership Type: Introductory

UPPER CANADA 2223814 Ontario Ltd Wally Earl / Tel: 613-348-3119 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

WATERLOO 1163215 Ontario Ltd Joe DeCristofano / Tel: 519-831-5121 Membership Type: Sole Proprietor Member 2648250 Ontario Inc O/A Groundhog Excavating & Grading Jan Gelderman / Tel: 905-745-2579 Membership Type: Member 2932048 Ontario Inc. and/or Wilkinson Construction Evan Wilkinson / Tel: 705-443-1920 Membership Type: Chapter Associate C.G. Farm Supply Limited o/a C.G. Equipment Jackie Davis-Rayner / Tel: 519-826-0550 Membership Type: Associate Don Barron / Tel: 519-292-6336 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Greenhaze Landscape & Snow Removal Brandon Kaukel / Tel: 519-220-9477 Membership Type: Member Ontario Protective Coatings Inc Barry Pitman / Tel: 226-235-4264 Membership Type: Chapter Associate R.Gottwald Construction Ltd Ryan Gottwald / Tel: 519-497-8887 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Stand Alone Tire Jennifer Matta-Craig Matta / Tel: 647-688-8455 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EDUCATOR PROFILE

Carrie Zimmerman has a passion for empowering youth perspectives, and different levels of confidence. Empathy can be explained as “perspective taking,” which is the ability to understand other people’s emotions. I’m constantly attempting to put on my student’s shoes; wondering what they are feeling as they learn a new concept, struggle with a project, or as they stare at me with a blank look appearing to have the thought, “she is crazy.” It helps me grow my own perspective.

It helps me come up with 100 ways to describe the same concept. It helps me to laugh, listen and build a healthy relationship with my students where real learning can happen based on trust. And it also fosters an environment that is a safe place for students to ask questions and express their frustrations knowing they won’t be judged.

Carrie Zimmerman is the Landscape Technician Program Coordinator at Niagara College, where she has been teaching for the past 10 years. Zimmerman is a graduate of the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph.

She has worked as a landscape designer for Zimmerman Bros. Landscaping since 2001.

What prompted you to teach others?

Although I love designing, love plants, I also love people. I was happy designing residential landscapes that greatly impacted a family’s time outdoors, but I was not completely satisfied. After 10 years of designing, I was getting an itch to be involved with something that had a more direct impact on people. Empowering youth has always been a great passion of mine. Canadian teens and young adults can do anything with constant encouragement, the proper resources, and a safe place to ask questions.

What qualities make you a successful teacher?

My empathy I have for my students.

Students come with all different personalities,

What is it about the landscape and horticulture profession that inspires you?

I love how a landscape can connect to a person’s soul and improve their mental health. I enjoy designing to encourage beautiful outdoor places that will hopefully encourage people to spend more time outdoors, which in return, might make them feel more relaxed, energized, or clear minded.

I love the excitement of creating something new on a canvas that is never blank and almost always has a view to something beyond its own borders.

I love the interdisciplinary structure of the landscape industry. My favourite times in my design career have been a result of interacting and learning from the contractors around me.

How did you get involved with the Come Alive Outside Design Challenge?

A colleague who teaches at Niagara Parks mentioned the Design Challenge and encouraged me to get Niagara College involved. I strongly resonated with the purpose behind the challenge, and I was really hoping the involvement would help create a deeper understanding of how

13

powerful landscape can be for a community for my students.

What were some of the things the students enjoyed about the process?

The students always love the collaboration with the professional designers who volunteer to mentor them. It gives them a chance to learn, chat and become comfortable in a professional environment.

Also, I find students become passionate about the meaning behind Come Alive Outside. Both times through the challenge, I’ve had great conversations about how we can adapt the principles into our own lives, encouraging them to put the books down for a while and get outside more as they finish out their studies. Typically, they also love the competitive nature behind the challenge.

How did it feel to win the competition?

Honestly, absolutely amazing! I was so proud of my students, and so excited to tell them the news. Our students all felt the long hours they put into the project were well worth the outcome. We convinced our Dean from Niagara College’s School of Horticulture and Environment, Allan Unwin, to attend the awards gala with us. The students were so excited to experience their first Landscape Ontario awards gala with him, it made the night extra special. Mr. Unwin was speechless when he walked into the gala and was amazed at the quality and the vastness of our industry. After our students received the award on stage, my heart was overwhelmed watching them joyfully share their pictures across social media. I could feel how excited they were about their accomplishment.

For the full interview with Carrie Zimmerman, see the online version of this article at gfl.me/h9wi.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Landscape architecture is the right career for James Hughes James Hughes is a Master of Landscape Architecture Student at the University of Guelph, where he also earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. In 2020, Hughes received a $1,000 Unilock Collaborative Communications Scholarship under the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation scholarship program.

What led you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

" The work of Ruth Shelhorn, Morgan Evans and Jack Evans have been inspirational in my career." — James Hughes

Is there anyone who has mentored you along the way?

I am fortunate to have a very supportive family who have encouraged me throughout my education. Landscape architecture faculty members at the University of Guelph have been very supportive in both my academic and professional development. The faculty has always been willing to share resources, and to discuss ideas and design approaches.

I have always been a hands-on learner with interests in a variety of subjects. I wanted to find a profession that reflected my interests in urban planning, historical design and ecological design. Landscape architecture is a broad discipline that allows practitioners to work in many specialized industries. I knew landscape architecture was the right path for me when I began my studies at the University of Guelph. The collaborative nature of landscape architecture was immediately appealing to me, as well as the scope of projects. Working on a project from conceptual design to construction was immensely satisfying and showed me landscape architecture was right for me.

How does design/architecture impact us in our daily lives?

What work experience do you have?

What other interests/hobbies/ activities do you have outside of school?

I have been fortunate to gain hands-on experience in various landscape related fields. Working as a golf course groundskeeper at Islington Golf Club has taught me the importance of on-site decision making, as well as what goes into creating a high quality landscape. Running my own landscaping company has provided me with opportunities in the residential design and build industry. This exposure has highlighted the importance of understanding the construction process. The constructability of a design should be considered at all stages of a project. My experience in the residential design and build industry exposed me to further opportunities within the field of landscape design. I have also been fortunate to have been involved in the design of a number of natural classroom and playground designs for schools in the Wellington area.

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I do not think the average person realizes the extent that landscape architecture and landscape design impacts their daily lives.

We design the spaces between built forms and so the second you walk outside you are exposed to the realm of that landscape architecture and landscape design.

The work of Ruth Shelhorn, Morgan Evans and Jack Evans have been inspirational in my career. Their work has promoted and showcased the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration as well as highlighted the importance of having a strong foundation of construction knowledge.

I am an avid golfer, runner and backwoods camper.

What is your dream job that you hope to achieve in your career?

I hope to find an employer that values professional development and collaboration.

Although my formal education in landscape architecture is coming to an end, there is much more I would like to learn. I believe project management plays a critical role in the design process, one that can make or break a project. My dream job would have a balance between being on site and in the office, in hopes of overseeing all aspects of a project.

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PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Now is the time to invest in health and safety

By Rod Cook Vice President, Workplace Health and Safety Services, WSIB Faced with the challenges related to Covid-19, Wentworth Landscapes recognized the need to improve their existing health and safety program, and through the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program, they made the commitment and took the necessary steps to increase workplace safety.

Based in Picton, Ont., the medium-sized company has a “dedicated and passionate team devoted to their craft,” says Scott Hineman, Manager, Human Resources at Wentworth Landscapes. “We need to ensure they understand health and safety is the number one priority when building these beautiful projects.”

However, during discussions and

Businesses like Wentworth Landscapes help pave the way to improve health and safety with the help of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Boards's (WSIB) Health and Safety Excellence program.

As we all learn and adapt to enhanced safety restrictions across the province, prioritizing health and safety in workplaces is more important than ever. Keeping employees and customers safe not only makes business sense, it’s also the right thing to do. However, it can be difficult to know where to begin, how to make existing practices safer, or even how to communicate with employees and customers about the measures you are taking to meet the increasing safety standards.

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observations with team members, Hineman learned there was improvement required for some staff on how to respond to a variety of health and safety concerns related to injury management and accountability.

Hineman identified several concerns, including: under-reporting of injuries; supervisor accountability, insufficient documentation including training and return-to-work modified duties, some uncertainty regarding next steps after an injury occurs, and a lack of awareness of policy and procedures.

However, Hineman says there was a “As a long-standing company looking to ensure the health and safety of their team and clients, they had “a true desire to improve.”

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The Health and Safety Excellence program helped address those concerns and more by helping Wentworth Landscapes focus on the improvements that could be made right away, while also preparing for the future — especially during these tough times.

The program works by connecting

businesses with WSIB-approved health and safety experts who deliver support and guidance aimed to improve a business’ specific needs and challenges through a wide range of topics, including pandemic readiness materials to reduce Covid-19 hazards in the workplace. The program is flexible and meets businesses where

they are in their current health and safety program.

Businesses can also save money.

Once enrolled and topics are completed, businesses can earn annual rebates on premiums — at least a $1,000 rebate or up to 75 per cent of annual premiums. There’s also the opportunity to lower claims costs

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by preventing the need for injury claims — which is significant among people who work in the agriculture and horticulture industry. The WSIB’s secure and interactive Compass tool calculates the impact specific health and safety improvements can have on decreasing premium rates.

Members of the program also earn digital recognition badges that can be added to a company website or marketing materials by proudly displaying a business’ commitment to keeping their workplace safe. The WSIB’s Safety Check, which gives public access to the health and safety statistics for workplaces across Ontario, also recognizes members of the program.

As Wentworth Landscapes continues on their safety journey they are implementing topics that meet their needs, Hineman explains, “The experience so far has been eye opening. It makes you really look at your policies and procedures and how on paper something can seem great but if not cascaded correctly to the team members it can be very ineffective.”

At a pivotal time when health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do, WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program can help your business focus on your immediate health and safety needs, as well as what lies ahead in the future. The program can help employees and customers feel confident and safe — which we can all agree is a solid foundation to build on.

To learn more about the Health and Safety Excellence program sign up for an info session or email healthandsafetyexcellence@wsib.on.ca.

For links to the various tools mentioned in this article, visit gfl.me/h9vt.

ASK THE WSIB

My employee tested positive for COVID-19, but I don’t know if they contracted it at work. Do I have to report the illness to the WSIB? Yes. If an employee tests positive for Covid and tells you that they believe they contracted Covid-19 at work, you are required to report the illness to the WSIB, even if you feel that the employee did not contract it in the workplace.

You must also report if an employee tests positive or shows symptoms of Covid-19 when you have reason to believe there was a potential workplace exposure. For example, if other employees in the workplace have tested positive for Covid-19, or if there was a known or suspected contact source for Covid-19 from whom the employee could have contracted it.

If you are unsure about whether there is an obligation to report, we encourage you to report in the normal way. It is the WSIB’s responsibility to determine the work-relatedness of claims and possible work-related claims should always be reported.

Visit our website to learn more about reporting Covid-19 illnesses, Covid-19 claim statistics across industries, and specific information for foreign agricultural workers and their employers.

Do you have a health and safety related question?

Email rob@landscapeontario.com and our experts will answer your questions.

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EXECUTIVE DESK

The tradition continues at Congress Connect

I

attended my very first Landscape Ontario Congress 46 years ago, in 1975. Students enrolled in the Landscape Technology program at Humber College were required to visit the booths, collect catalogs and attend seminars. I was one of those students.

I remember the experience vividly. It was exciting to visit the Sheraton Centre across from Toronto City Hall. The location was impressive. Entering through the lobby you could not miss the amazing and dramatic waterfall and landscape which greeted visitors. (I later learned it was built by Solty’s Landscape — one of the pioneer landscape firms in Toronto).

You could feel the energy on the show floor and hear the buzz of people interacting, learning and socializing. At the time, I was having second thoughts about my chosen career path.

One of the seminars,“Your Future in the Landscaping Industry,” was given

by Glen Piester, the first president of Landscape Ontario. His talk was engaging and energetic. Glen was passionate and enthusiastic about the future of the profession and he made students feel they were part of a community and movement that would make the world a better place.

My doubts about the future went away thanks to my visit to Congress. Congress is much more than a trade show. It is community building accelerated. There are probably thousands of similar stories about the Congress experience.

This January, we were forced to make the event virtual. We researched a number of platforms and watched as our counterparts across North America tried to recreate the face-to-face experience virtually. It is impossible to do. Nothing will ever replace the face-to-face experience. We learned that people do not want to sit at a computer all day browsing from one virtual booth to another within a three-day period. So we came up with a different approach: the

Congress Connect Marketplace. Although it had a three day launch, it is an on-demand marketplace open all year round, 24 hours a day. So far, we have almost 4,000 registered users. We intend to keep bringing users to the site to experience both the educational sessions and the extensive marketplace. We intend to grow the number of marketplace participants so it will provide a single source for researching products, services and companies. If you have not already registered, please visit LOCongress.com and sign up for free.

I would like to thank the 145 marketplace exhibitors who took a chance and supported this new venture. Thank you for your trust and support. You are pioneers and partners. I want to recognize the sponsors: Banas Stones, Aspire Software, Stone Arch, Jim Pattison Lease, Dynascape,

Rinox, NVK Nurseries, Connon Nurseries, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Turf Care, Natural Stone Traders, Unilock, People Corporation, York Region, In-Lite Outdoor Lighting, HortProtect, Toro, Region of Peel, Greenius, Miska, LMN, Gravely. Thank you for helping Landscape Ontario continue to advance the profession.

The Congress Connect Marketplace has just begun. We are excited to realize our vision of becoming the number one source for the landscape profession.

We are also excited about connecting with you face-to-face when the time comes.

We miss you.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

tony@landscapeontario.com

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MEMBERSHIP

Investing in your employees is smart business

W

hen I think back to the most successful landscape businesses I have encountered over the past 18 years, there are several characteristics they have in common. One that stands out the most to me is their willingness to invest in people. Companies that invest in their people — especially with training and professional development, are more likely to succeed.

Let’s unpack that a bit. Why would they be more successful? I often hear other business owners tell me that no matter how much they invest in people, they still have a high turnover rate. There’s likely more at play here. Employees who feel like they matter to the organization will stick around longer.

When an employee is encouraged to enrol in educational opportunities at the expense of their employer, they feel valued. Employees that feel valued are much more likely to be loyal to their employer.

Why is this important? Well, it’s hard enough to find people to work for you, so why not do everything you can to ensure they feel valued, why at the same time add to their skill sets? While continued effort needs to flow through the build out and daily execution of your company culture, an intended benefit is employees who believe they matter to their employer.

It’s more important than ever to put a solid effort into the culture of your organization. Here’s my favourite list of easy things business owners can do to live their company culture and make their employees feel valued:

Be positive!

Valuing employees in the workplace starts with a simple mindset shift. And, while it’s easy for leaders to fall into the bad habit of only correcting negative behaviours, the best

leaders actively search to see the positive change their people offer.

personality brings to the team, and the value their expertise brings to the world.

Seek input

Care about well-being

When you ask employees for their ideas you not only gain perspective, insights, and possibly solutions, but you also might discover how that employee feels about his or her role. Seek input often.

By showing an employee that you actually care about their physical, social, and emotional well-being, you’re basically proving you care about them personally, rather than just caring about the results they create.

Communicate clearly and often

Connect to purpose

If you’re not communicating, your people will make assumptions about how you view their efforts. And saying nothing doesn’t typically translate in their minds as “good job.” In fact, it typically translates as “they don’t like me.”

Employees feel more valued, and display more motivation in the workplace if, and when, they understand their exact role within the greater purpose. When they understand how their efforts play a part in something much bigger than themselves, they feel more valued by their leaders and by their organization.

Encourage effort Become the cheerleader for employees.

Sometimes it requires a tremendous amount of energy before a goal is reached. That effort needs to be applauded along the way.

Reward results Employees will feel valued when the reward is on par with the result. An employee who creates a huge win for the organization won’t feel valued if the reward is small and seems insincere.

Facilitate growth and opportunity Become the person who eliminates hurdles, opens doors, and helps people rise to become their best. When they see you care about their continued growth and opportunity — even if that means they’ll rise out of your department — they will feel valued, and they’ll remember you long into the future.

Celebrate careers Celebrate the whole person — the value they bring to the organization, the value their

Give them a break For big wins, and huge undertakings, encourage a longer break — a day to spend with family or friends to make up for all those extra hours on the job site. This makes employees feel valued because it shows you care about them, want to reward them, and you appreciate them when they’re fully charged.

As leaders it’s our obligation to foster a healthy environment for our people.

What better way than investing in their growth. Landscape Ontario’s professional development opportunities have all gone virtual. There are almost 50 online educational opportunities available to you and your staff with topics for everyone.

Consider signing your staff up for some online seminars this winter. It can make a big impact!

Enroll your people at HortTrades.com/ professional-development-online

Joe Salemi CAE LO Deputy Executive Director and Director of Operations jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SMART ABOUT SALT

Winter maintenance: A people business

T

he winter maintenance industry is all about people. The whole reason and focus for snow and ice management is about maintaining safety for people. As the often used adage goes: “safety first.” By removing snow and ice, winter maintenance allows members of our society to keep functioning during the colder months. Winter maintenance allows doctors and nurses to get to work, grocery stores to open, and roads to be safer so people can get to their jobs and back home again. It’s all about people.

It's ironic then, that when we think about winter maintenance, we often de-emphasize the human side of the activities in favour of discussions surrounding equipment and products. Review social media posts related to winter maintenance, and you’ll quickly see how the investment made in the latest truck, plow blade or salt hopper tends to sideline the people factor.

When it comes to winter maintenance, how to best support people should be at the forefront of all of our discussions, actions and communications.

Making investments in the right equipment is important because it can help to improve safety in more efficient and more effective ways. Investments in training, knowledge and professionalism are just as important, and they should be celebrated just as much as the acquisition of a new plow or spreader.

We should also consider the people impacted by winter maintenance.

The vast majority of winter maintenance contractors are small business owners.

Small business owners are the lifeblood of the economy. These entrepreneurs are employers and they support partner industries. Think about suppliers, bookkeepers, the legal and insurance industries; so many of these groups, these people, are intertwined and dependent on the winter maintenance industry.

The general public should understand

" When it comes to winter maintenance, how to best support people should be at the forefront of all of our discussions, actions and communications." the great lengths winter maintenance professionals go to in order to provide service. These professionals often work long hours, perhaps fuelled by caffeine and dedication, frequently in the middle of the night or early hours of the day to ensure roads, parking lots and walkways are safe

and clear for people to go about their business. In no small measure, these people could be considered first responders. As people, to show our appreciation and gratitude, we can and should take our own reasonable steps to ensure safety. We can wear appropriate winter clothing, including footwear; we can install winter tires and practice good winter driving habits. We should also respect operators when they are engaged in winter maintenance operations and encourage others to do likewise.

Winter maintenance is ultimately about people helping people. Let's do all we can to keep it that way.

Lee Gould Executive Director, Smart About Salt Council

lee.gould@smartaboutsalt.com

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PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Circling back to self-care

I

n my December column, I wrote about self care. I’m surprised by the number of people who reached out to thank me for the reminder and those who just wanted to chat more. In the midst of another provincewide lockdown, I've chosen to talk about checking in with yourself once again.

When I look back on the feedback and conversations I had with many Landscape Ontario members during the Congress Connect launch week, I’ve come to a conclusion: The majority of us are cruising through our days and weeks in the same way. We are stressed and tired and we’re numb to it.

On the surface, most are saying, “I’m good, it’s all good.” But after talking for five to 10 minutes, what bubbles to the surface are anecdotes about how different things are, how the lockdown is impacting family, friends, routines, and how we rarely laugh and smile. It all adds up to an undercurrent of stress.

I felt this throughout the Congress Connect week. The Landscape Ontario team did an OUTSTANDING job, and awesome sponsors stepped up and engaged. Those vendors put their best products and digital content forward and the speakers brought great content to their presentations — but something was missing and it wasn’t just me who felt this. It left me feeling a bit empty and kind of lonely.

What’s missing were the faces, the voices, the laughter and smiles. The nods of recognition when you see an acquaintance you met last year. The conversations that take place outside the seminar rooms. The chance encounters. And yes, shaking hands

in a friendly greeting and meaning it. I think it’s this part of lockdown that’s hardest on us all — the physical void between you and everyone else.

I’m also finding there is virtual overload.

Sure, Zoom calls help to keep us connected with each other, but having to tap the space bar at just the right time to chime in on fun group banter is just not the same once the fun moment has expired. And having to manage the bandwidth you’re sharing with everyone else in the house just so Zoom won’t freeze on you is wearing thin. In the midst of our newly virtual world, emotional, mental and spiritual self care seems a lower priority. Self care is lost in the space between changed routines, losing freedom and staying home.

I recently heard a friend say she was struggling with her husband working from home in ‘her’ daytime space. Like me, she works from her home office full time. She told her husband, “I may have married you for better or for worse, but not for lunch.”

After I stopped laughing, I realized she was on to something. In this pandemic, we’ve all lost our own personal rhythm — whether it’s personal space, mind space, or mental space. For many, the world is kind of imploding rather than expanding. Eventually, we all get tired of the computer screen, the TV and surfing the web. We just want to meet a friend for coffee or dinner someplace where there’s activity and laughter.

After sharing all of these revelations, I now ask: How are you feeling in your head, your heart, and your spirit?

In a recent conversation with my friend and LO colleague Lexi Dearborn, she shared

Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com

26

some thoughts about pandemic stress: “My clients are important, but I’m more importanter. This is my take-away from the stressful 2020 pandemic landscape season.

I thought I had this one! Only to find I didn’t.

My stress release has always been the gym.

If I could get to the gym three or four times a week, I feel better, look better, and my stress is under control. I leave my stress at the gym and get much needed alone time, which does wonders for my well-being and brain power. Of course, my gym was closed for much of the season, and walking on a jobsite just isn’t the same as pumping a bit of iron. No gym + stress = little sleep. I can take on the world with eight hours of sleep, but I found toward the end of last season I was sleeping less and less each night. With a lack of sleep came a lack of productivity… or even caring if I was productive. Putting my mental and physical well-being second to my client’s needs through the pandemic created a very strung-out, stressed-out, and unhappy me. I’m re-learning to put myself first.”

Thanks Lexi. We all need to put ourselves first, especially right now. So to my readers, please check in with yourself as we move through our down time months and ramp back up toward spring. Your tanks need to be full in a couple of months — all four of them.

Please make sure you’re taking good care of your mental health, emotional health, and your spiritual health. Everyone else is telling you how to look after your physical health. It’s the other layers I’m suggesting you pay attention to. Check-in, be selfreflective and please, take good care of you.

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CANADIAN SOLDIERS LIVE FOREVER Join us in planting 2 million trees along the 401 Highway of Heroes, a tribute to the men and women who fought for Canada in our wars, and a living memorial to the 117,000 who died for freedom.

You can participate in honouring our military, protecting the environment and beautifying North America’s most travelled highway. Visit hohtribute.ca or call 905-875-0021 to get involved.

Illustration by Rick Jacobson

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