Landscape Ontario - July-August 2019

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

HortTrades.com • July/August 2019

SPECIAL

Member Benefits

SECTION

Renewal

2019 Landscape Ontario butterfly is

REBORN New opportunities, goals and a revitalized home office 1

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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July/August, 2019 • Volume 37 - No. 7 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.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SPECIAL: Member Benefits

Lessons from a 19 year-old, home bloggers and an online nursery

PAGES 21-28

Features 4 Christine’s Touch 6 Highway of Heroes 8 Trial Gardens

Departments 10 18 19 20 29 32 38

Association News Letter to the Editor New Members Events Professional News Columns Advertisers/Classifieds

Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Multimedia designer/IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Contributor Kim Burton kburton@landscapeontario.com, 647-723 5447 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 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Scott Barber, Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Cassandra Garrard, J. Alex Gibson, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM CAE, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Kathleen Pugliese, John Russell, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Martha Walsh

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805 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 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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for products. These individuals connect to people in their community through Facebook Groups, local websites, etc., to create a following of like-minded consumers. Home bloggers offer product for sale, place committed orders with suppliers, then distribute the products locally. Some home bloggers are selling up to $600K per year. We are now competing against those who are more visible and have far less overhead than our traditional businesses. For them, it is not a business, but more of a lifestyle. On a whole, most individuals don’t have significant sales, but collectively they will turn into a big business. Once again, competition is different than what we are used to because of how technology connects us.

I’ve heard the argument that selling plants online is different and so it will never happen. Even if we did sell online, how would plants ever survive the delivery?

Online plant sales are alive and gaining in popularity. Even more surprising are the prices that online plants are commanding.

They are sold at nearly double that of the in-store price. How? It all goes back to the consumer who wants the convenience of shopping online, but doesn’t know the price of plants. We are about to go through a rapid transformation in this industry and we need to be prepared.

The world is changing exponentially — at a pace that I, and a lot of others, can not keep pace with. I am finding it is the youth who can help me to better understand what tomorrow will look like, rather than my own perspectives. Youth have no pre-conceived notions on how things work today. For this, they can teach us the lessons of tomorrow.

enjoy watching the changing world and the lessons I learn from the work of others. In the last month alone, I have observed three interesting businesses and learned something from each of them.

I have been following this 19 year-old kid build a business solely based off of Kijiji. It is remarkable that he is consistently and predictably building a business that I thought was only for selling used stuff. But it has become apparent that a large part of his success is based on the natural tendency of young people to communicate through text messages. I would be frustrated by having to constantly text to communicate, but for them, it is just the same as talking face-to-face. This fact turns out to be the teen’s competitive advantage — he has a growing customer base because more and more people are texters, not talkers.

He has also adopted Monday.com, a technology to manage and organize his work and work force that most others would not consider using. But what is really different is how he goes about this.

He asks a pool of people when they want to work, then organizes the work around the people. It’s opposite to the standard approach. He has realized that people aren’t interested in working all the time.

They would rather be paid well, but work less. So getting deliveries done relies on when his workforce is available to work.

But he now has a big enough labour pool to ensure the work always gets done. Pure genius!

Recently, I was introduced to some home blogger entrepreneurs who have created a whole new distribution channel

Warren Patterson LO President warrenpatterson@barriegardencentre.com

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work life LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

BUSINESS OWNERS FIND

By Jordan Whitehouse

Christine Moffit and Janet Mott (top left and right) work alongside the team of Michael Hogg, Siar Mohammad Ishaq and Kristal MacMillan at a client’s Rosedale neighbourhood home.

Member Profile: Christine’s Touch, Toronto, Ont. In the fall of 1999, Christine Moffit was at a crossroads. She was 23, had just been laid off by a landscaping company for the winter, and was ready for a change. “Honestly, I was bored stiff, and knew I had to do something different,” she remembers.

So, she made a list of pros and cons for a few different options, including going back to school, travelling Europe, and starting her own landscaping business in Toronto. The last option got the most pros, and so she went with it, launching Christine’s Touch Gardening in the spring of 2000 with her thengirlfriend Janet Mott.

Twenty years later, any regrets?

“Absolutely not,” says Christine. “In retrospect, at the time I was thinking, ‘Oh, I’ll do this until I figure out what I want to do when I grow up.’ And I still kind of joke around now, like I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do, I’m still playing in the garden.”

Janet, who now leads the company’s

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planting division, agrees. “I had no idea when I was younger that I would be the owner of a gardening company when I grew up. And a lot of times I still joke around and say, ‘I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.’ But I just keep doing this because I love it.”

Both are quick to point out, however, how extremely grateful they are to be succeeding in a profession that they love, and Christine says that it’s been a pleasure to be part of a shifting culture in landscaping that now expects women to be ready and willing to work and lead across the industry.

And succeed and lead they have.

What started as a business out of Christine and Janet’s home, has grown

e balance LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

gradually over the years into one that provides garden maintenance and planting installation to high-end residential properties in the Forest Hill, Rosedale, The Beaches, and Lawrence Park areas of Toronto. They now have 15 to 20 employees in the spring and summer, and four year-round.

This isn’t to say it’s been easy getting to this point, though, and both say that finding the right work-life balance has probably been their biggest challenge over the years.

“I think that’s a common story with many people in this type of work,” says Christine. “Any time you’re dealing with a trade where the technician becomes the owner, you get kind of consumed with the work, and during those early years we were working like crazy all the time. We had no life.”

Children changed all of that, however. Though the two ended their personal relationship, they both later had kids.

“That forced us to modify things, because we just couldn’t work all the time anymore,” says Janet. “So part of that was believing in our team members and managers, and not micro-managing but giving them the opportunity to lead and complete work and put some authority in others’ hands.”

Still, it’s been a challenge finding the right people to take those reins, adds Janet. In fact, finding crew leaders and managers has always been one of their biggest weak spots, she says. Patience has been key.

“I think it comes down to us being good leaders ourselves and coaching people,” says Janet. “People take time to develop, and in our experience they learn along the way. There are so many variables with what we do, so finding people that have all of those skills maybe isn’t really realistic right from the beginning.”

Both agree that their Landscape Ontario involvement has also been huge in working through hurdles like these. Janet has been on the Toronto Chapter board for seven years, and both are part of the association’s Peer to Peer Network, which is a peer mentorship and learning program where owners and upper managers meet in person and digitally to share and learn from each other. They also regularly send employees to the association’s seminars in the winter.

Christine points to the period between 2005 and 2008 when the company’s Landscape Ontario participation was particularly important. “That was really crunch time for us, when we were really realizing that okay, we’re getting big enough and we need to put systems in place, we need to professionalize ourselves, and we don’t know how to do it.

And the resources [Landscape Ontario] had were amazing.”

That was also around the time that Christine and Janet

Being a good leader and coach is just one of Christine Moffit’s roles as a business owner.

broke up, and while in many cases that means the end of the business relationship, that wasn’t the case here.

“That was certainly a challenge,” says Janet, “but we just work really well together as business partners.

I’ve been known as a machine and have very high expectations, whereas Christine is a better coach, is maybe more compassionate. But we also have a lot of similarities and a similar vision for the company, so it works. And you can see that in this second decade of working together.”

As for the next decade, Christine says she’s looking forward to building on what they’ve learned over the past 20 years and continuing to let other team members lead.

“Over the past few years, I’ve gotten over a hump where things are kind of running themselves in this — to be cliché — Christine’s touch sort of way. And it feels really good. I feel so fortunate and incredibly grateful to have stumbled into this type of work.”

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Trudeau takes part in tree planting campaign

to commemorate soldiers

P

rime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $2.9 million in federal funding for the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign at a tree planting event held at Intrepid Park in Whitby, Ont., on June 14.

“Recognizing the courage of our service men and women, remembering the sacrifices they made, and the values for which they fought, shouldn’t be something we do just when a big milestone comes around,” Trudeau said, noting a recent tour of France to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. “In fact, I think it’s really important, that as Canadians we create more opportunities, both big and small, to say thank you. The Highway of Heroes is a beautiful way to do just that, and that’s why our government is so proud to support this initiative.”

Several hundred people, including uniformed Armed Forces members, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Lawrence MacAuley and Whitby Member of Parliament, Celina Caesar-Chavannes gathered at the expansive park near the shore of Lake Ontario to plant about 300 trees.

“The support we receive from the Government of Canada puts our campaign on an indisputable trajectory toward success and the completion of our living tribute,” said Mark Cullen, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Highway of Tree Campaign. “Through the support of corporate partners, like the Volvo group, as well as Canadians from coast-to-coast, we’ll be able to match every dollar that Veterans Affairs will provide with over two dollars from corporate, private and other funding sources.

And when you consider the environmental benefits of two million new trees — one tree for each of our Armed Forces heroes, it’s easy to see how this is a good investment for all Canadians.”

The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign’s goal is to plant two million trees between Trenton and Toronto — one tree for every Canadian that has served during times of conflict since Confederation and including the war of 1812. Of these two million, 117,000 will be planted directly adjacent to Highway 401 — the stretch of highway from CFB Trenton to the Coroner’s Office in Toronto that represents the final journey for those soldiers who have lost their lives while serving in the

Canadian Armed Forces.

To complete this project, the campaign is striving to raise $10 million in pledges from government, individuals, corporations, foundations, and those who can donate in-kind goods and service. To date, approximately $7.5 million has been raised and over 85,000 trees have been planted, including nearly 30,000 directly adjacent to the highway.

During the Intrepid Park event, Afghan Conflict veteran and dedicated Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign supporter, Corporal Nick Kerr was presented with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for outstanding dedication to volunteer work.

“The Highway of Heroes is a chance for all of us to express our gratitude and celebrate the many contributions of service members both at home and abroad,” Prime Minister Trudeau said. “But their desire to help the most vulnerable, to better our world, and heal its woes does not stop once they return home to Canada, or retire. Many of them, never stop answering the call to serve no where they are, or what they do. Take, Corporal Nick Kerr, of the Canadian Armed Forces, for example.”

Minister MacAuley called the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign an “incredible campaign to honour the men and women who serve our country,” and also praised Kerr’s extensive volunteer efforts.

Kerr thanked the crowd for attending the event and “for supporting what this campaign means to me, what it means to Canada, and especially what it means to our veterans and serving members.” He also called on the gathering to join in on the tree planting effort, which followed a ceremonial tree planting by the dignitaries on hand.

Landscape Ontario and the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation are founding sponsors of the campaign. Many LO home office staff, including LO Executive Director, Tony DiGiovanni helped to plant trees at Intrepid Park and got a chance to meet the Prime Minister.

To learn more about the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, visit HOHtribute.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Corporal Nick Kerr received a commendation for his volunteer work.

Several dozen Canadian Forces members were on hand for the event.

“In fact, I think it’s really important, that as Canadians we create more opportunities, both big and small, to say thank you.” —Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was joined by numerous special guests for a ceremonial tree planting.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Trial Garden sites

By Rodger Tschanz

to undergo major change a f t e r t h i s y e a r ’s o p e n h o u s e

TRIAL GARDEN MANAGER

T

he 2019 Trial Garden Open House date has been set for Aug. 15. As of publication deadline, the actual program for the day is still in the planning stages, but the day is expected to include the usual eclectic but relevant mix in the speaker program, in addition to tours of the trial gardens at both the Guelph and Milton sites.

Of special interest this year is the reestablishment potential of impatiens as a mainstream shade garden plant due to the introduction of two Impatiens Downy Mildew (IDM)-resistant series, Beacon and Imara XDR. Many horticultural professionals will have had the opportunity this year to have tried a limited number of plants from at least one of these series in a landscape setting. A selection of different Beacon and Imara XDR

colours have been planted side-by-side at both the Guelph and Milton trial sites to show the comparative performance of these plants.

Cultivars of the IDM-sensitive Super Elfin series have also been planted in the impatiens plots to help identify if IDM pressure exists or not. If present, symptoms of IDM should be visible by the open house date. In addition to garden impatiens, the trials will highlight new selections of New Guinea Impatiens, begonias, petunias, geraniums, salvias, isotoma, gaillardia, etc., as well as vegetables and new perennials at the Guelph site.

By mid-summer, the renovations of the Landscape Ontario home office building should be finished and available for viewing.

If all goes according to plan, we hope to

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schedule a tour of the building for all Open House attendees.

Once the LO building is finished, a second phase of changes will take place focusing on the landscape of the property. A presentation was made at Congress in January (and at other meetings) that showcases some of the future plans for the property. These landscaping changes will ultimately remove the existing trial gardens from the property.

While the intention is for the trial gardens to return following the re-landscaping, the layout of the future trial gardens will likely be quite different. This will be the last year for the LO trial garden in its present format. It is also quite likely that next year’s trial will not take place at the LO site if the landscaping changes are still in process. The shrub and

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO hardy rose trials which were planted in 2016 will be removed at the end of the 2019 season to allow the landscaping to proceed. The hybrid tea rose trial was removed at the beginning of the 2019 season since the majority of the roses succumbed to winter injury. The last two winters have been especially interesting in terms of wildly variable weather and the rose cultivar survivors of the 3.5 year trial are noticeable.

This may also be the last year for trials at the present Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI). I have been discussing this possibility for a few years now, but the construction process on the new GTI building has actually started and once completed the move from the old site to the new site will then take place.

Real estate “For Sale� signs are now up announcing the sale of the current GTI and surrounding lands by the Ontario government.

There will be a lot of change coming to the trial garden program in the coming year. Help us bid a fond farewell to the old trial sites by coming out to view the trials this year. Updates to the open house program will be made available through LO email blasts and related websites.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

ASSOCIATION NEWS Leadership distinction for Drake Nightingale

Mark Smith and Lindsay Drake Nightingale.

LO’s Lindsay Drake Nightingale has received the 2019 Monica van Maris Green Professionals Woman of Influence Award. It was presented on May 28 at the Toronto Botanical Garden Blossom Party.

While Drake Nightingale consistently attends the annual TBG spring event, she never expected to be recognized with the distinguished award herself.

She made a point of acknowledging its namesake’s influence on her career: “I owe Monica, she is a visionary. Monica personifies toughness, and inspired me to push through and have a voice.” She also admires last year’s recipient, Sonia Day, and said she enjoyed reading Day’s work even before entering the landscape profession.

The pride showed as LO Executive Director Tony DiGiovanni presented Drake Nightingale with the award. He was proud of horticulture’s great record of attracting women, the profession’s female entrepreneurs, Monica van Maris’s leadership, and visibly proud of Drake Nightingale, LO’s second vice president, in line to serve as its third female president.

Drake Nightingale operates Yorkshire Garden Services, based in Concord.

Mark Smith, Emma Nightingale and Elissa Janca attended the event in her honour. Janca is a team leader with Yorkshire, and said of Drake Nightingale: “She is always there to support staff. On Day One, Lindsay established herself as a mentor.”

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Support industry auction by donating plant material or product Donations of nursery stock (single variety or mixed lots), hardgoods, landscape supplies, garden decor, gift certificates and silent auctions are now being accepted for this year’s Industry Auction, scheduled for Sept. 12 at J.C. Bakker & Sons Nurseries in St. Catharines, Ont. Nursery stock donations can also be entered in this year’s Landscape Ontario Growers Awards of Excellence program.

An initiative of the Landscape Ontario Growers Group, the auction provides an opportunity for garden centres, contractors and plant lovers to buy skids of plant material, while helping to raise money to support horticultural research, scholarships and sector development and promotion through the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF).

Located at 1207 Third Street Louth, St. Catharines, Ont., host J.C. Bakker celebrates 70 years of operations in 2019, and will run one-hour farm tours at 9:45 and 10:45 a.m.

Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m., with the live auction starting promptly at 1:00 p.m.

Donations and grower award entries will be accepted at J.C. Bakker on Sept.

11 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with no deliveries accepted between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Deliveries WILL NOT be accepted on Sept. 12, unless a time is reserved in advance. Please contact Amy Buchanan at amy@landscapeontario.com to reserve a time slot.

Plant material entered into the growers awards will be judged the morning of the auction, with awards given only to those entries worthy of attention as determined by the judges. All decisions are final and winners will be announced during the auction. All plant material entered will be auctioned off onsite. Only Landscape Ontario members are eligible to enter the awards.

The Industry Auction, including the silent auction and LO Growers Awards of Excellence, is an annual success due in large part to the support received from LO members and the landscape and horticulture profession. Please consider donating to this event. All donors will be recognized in Landscape Ontario magazine and on the association website.

To donate items to the auction, enter the Awards of Excellence program, or for more information, please visit IndustryAuction.ca.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Membership renewal invoices coming in August Each year, all Landscape Ontario member companies must pay their annual dues invoice in order to maintain membership status and to continue enjoying the many benefits that come with membership.

This year, LO’s Membership Services Department is planning to make the shift to electronic invoicing, and members can expect to receive their invoice via a secure email.

A test of the new electronic invoicing system will be conducted to a small group of members in late July. If all goes well, the rest of the membership will receive invoices electronically around mid-august.

If there are any issues or setbacks with the new system, members will receive an invoice via regular mail around mid-August as in previous years.

Regardless of the method received, invoices are due upon receipt can can be paid online, by phone, or by mail.

Pay online with a credit card using LO’s secure payment portal at HortTrades.com/ dues. Or with credit card in hand, you can

call LO’s membership services department at 1-800-265-5656 or 905-875-1805 to pay your invoice.

All members will receive follow-up reminders in by both email and phone.

If you have any questions about membership benefits, or to update your contact information, please contact the LO Membership Services Department at 1-800-265-5656 or 905-875-1805.

Peer summit to feature seven top mentors Landscape Ontario member business owners and upper managers are invited to attend this year’s two-day, LO Peer to Peer Muskoka Summit in Gravenhurst, Ont., Sept. 19-20, 2019.

Day one will look at understanding the financials of a business and how they measure up to others in the industry. See how your business performs in comparison to benchmarked industry data and learn how to improve on results in key areas.

Led by LO Peer to Peer Network Manager, Jacki Hart, and Dynascape’s Joe Salemi, the workshop will leave participants

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with a working spreadsheet and the power to identify patterns in their own business using financial numbers.

Day two will feature a panel of business owners who will discuss how to successfully scale up your business without losing your sanity. Moderated by Tony DiGiovanni, LO Executive Director, the panel will feature Janna Bradley, Scott Wentworth, Kevin Scott, Tyler Lockhart and Jacki Hart.

Discussions include the stress and impact of business growth on the owner, the leadership team and their families. The panel will also answer questions from participants and include a break-out session.

The intense workshops run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, and options for a social event after the conclusion of day one include a boat cruise and brewery tour.

The cost to attend is $375 for an LO member or $628 for a non-member. A special group rate of $239 per night is available until Aug. 6 for accommodations at the Residence Inn by Mariott, Muskoka Wharf by calling 705-687-6600. You must mention Landscape Ontario to receive the group rate.

Full details and links to online registration and accommodation can be found at HortTrades.com/p2p.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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Manufactured with Best Way Stone’s DesignLoc™ surface refinement technology, the Tresca slab provides a smooth and detailed surface with vibrant and strategic colouring techniques. Tresca is also coated with Best Way Stone’s ChromaTec™ protective surface enhancer to add additional vibrancy to the colours and help resist potential stains from foreign elements.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

merald GALA celebrating

Enter online from July 1 to October 1

LO MEMBERS

Entries for the Construction, Maintenance and Design programs are now open online. All entries must be submitted via LOawards.com by the Oct. 1 deadline.

Online, you will find detailed information about the categories and guidelines, eligibility requirements and submission details. All awards submissions are completed online and the program is only open to members of Landscape Ontario.

creating

EMERALD CITIES

you ' re invited to the ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR Landscape ontario AWARDS CEREMONY AND PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION TUESDAY JANUARY 9, 2020 at 5:00 P.m.

2019 Awards of Excellence program

Nominate an individual for a special award

Plaza Ballroom, Delta Hotels Toronto Airport

landscape construction, maintenance and design winners will be announced!

For over four decades, Landscape Ontario’s annual Awards of Excellence program has celebrated the most outstanding craftsmanship, design and innovation the green profession has to offer. Winning an Award of Excellence shows both existing and potential clients that your company is committed to the

LO members are also invited to nominate individuals for one of the program’s Special Award. These recognize friends and volunteers of the association who willingly share their expertise, time and passion for the betterment of the landscape and horticulture profession in Ontario.

Please note, requests for any extensions past the Oct. 1 deadline will not be granted.

highest level of quality and skill, while also recognizing the talent and hard work of your staff.

Last year, over 300 projects were submitted for the LO Awards of Excellence competition and winners were announced live, on-stage at the awards evening in January.

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Tips for online entry To enter online, you will need a username and password to login. If you do not have an existing login, or cannot remember your password, simply create a new account or use the reset password function.

Once logged in, you simply need to follow the step-by-step guide for awards submissions, starting with company information and category selection. You can always save your progress within the process and return later to complete your submission. The system will save the information you have input, and you can go back in anytime to complete your entry.

Before beginning an online entry, please have the following information ready in order to make it easier to enter:

• Contact information of the person entering on behalf of the company.

• Images of the project in hi-res .jpg format; minimum of six and maximum of 15.

• A point form project summary describing what you were trying to achieve with your project, including any quirks or conditions imposed by the property owner. DO NOT include your company name in this section as it is reviewed by

the judges and all entries are to remain anonymous.

• Authorization Signatures form with the client/property owner’s signature.

• Credit card information for payment.

Please note that your entry will not be officially submitted until payment is received.

Winners will be recognized at the special Awards of Excellence ceremony evening event, attended by over 500 industry professionals on Jan. 7, 2020.

If you have any questions about the awards program or the entry process, or it you need help navigating the online system, contact Myscha Stafford at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2333, or e-mail awards@landscapeontario.com.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Keri MacIvor joins LO events team

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Landscape Ontario is pleased to announce the recent addition of Keri MacIvor as Event and Trade Show Coordinator to the association’s home office staff in Milton, Ont. Keri brings over 15 years of event management experience to LO’s trade show and event team, and will work closely with Congress exhibitors, and on the popular LIVE education Keri MacIvor series and student gardens that are features of the annual trade show.

Outside of Congress, MacIvor will work closely with the LO Snow and Ice Management Group on Snowposium and the Irrigation Sector Group on their annual Irrigation Conference.

The Snowposium event being held Sept. 26, will be MacIvor’s first LO event.

Keri said, “I have been working with some amazing volunteer members from the Snow and Ice Management group in planning this event. We are excited to be hosting the event at our newly-renovated home office, and to showcase our beautiful new meeting space.”

A graduate from the Human Services Program at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., Keri has previous trade show experience working with The Canadian Marketing Association, as well as organizing both small and large scale events and conferences. Keri has also worked in the non-profit industry, with a number of health charities in the fundraising, marketing and event roles.

Keri recently relocated back to Oakville after living on the east coast the past eightand-a-half years to be closer to family. This summer, Keri plans to re-discover Ontario to see what this great province has to offer.

She is looking forward to being part of the amazing team at LO and meeting more of the wonderful members.

Keri MacIvor can be reached at 905-875-1805, ext. 2354 or at keri@landscapeontario.com.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

2019 garden centre awards program opens July 1 Entries for Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Awards of Excellence program is open to retail members of the association from July 1 to Sept. 1.

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

Garden centres are invited to showcase their best plant material, including deciduous shrubs and/or trees, annuals and/or perennials, evergreens and/or broadleaf, specialty plants material your business is noted for, and new varieties of annual and/or perennials. Companies with their own permanent display gardens are invited to showcase these features which are under 500 sq. ft. or over 500 sq. ft. in size.

Recognizing the diversity of today’s retailers, the awards program includes categories for outstanding retail displays of giftware, hardgoods and seasonal goods.

The Other Merchandising Techniques category is also divided into creative P.O.P. area, outstanding promotional

event, outstanding print advertising, and outstanding website development.

The program is only open to current Active and Interim members of Landscape Ontario and a fee of $75 per entry applies.

Non-member entries will not be considered.

All valid entries will be reviewed and scored by a group of industry experts.

Winners will be announced during a special ceremony at the Garden Centre Fall Dinner scheduled for Oct. 24. More details will follow.

To learn more about the LO Garden Centre Awards of Excellence program, please contact Myscha Stafford at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2333, or e-mail awards@LandscapeOntario.com.

Snow contractors to hold first major event at renovated association offices Snowposium, the annual fall conference and trade show for snow and ice management professionals, will be held Sept.

26 in Milton, Ont. Produced by the Landscape Ontario Snow and Ice Management Sector Group, the one-day event will be the first major event held at the association’s newly-renovated home office, located at 7856 Fifth Line South.

The sold-out trade show is free to all attendees and will feature 25 exhibitors of snow and ice equipment, technology and services. Attendees also have the option to purchase a full-day conference pass that includes lunch and access to

a full day of educational sessions, ranging from slip-and-fall insurance to alternatives to salt, to sustainable winter management, and more.

Organizers say the event is a great opportunity for snow and ice management pros to network, learn from each other and kickstart planning for the winter ahead.

Cost for a full registration (trade show, conference and lunch) is $85 per LO, SIMA or SAS member if registered

by Sept. 13, and $115 per non-member. After Sept. 13, prices go up to $125 per member

and $150 per non-member.

A full agenda, exhibitor and sponsors list and online registration link can be found online at Snowposium.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The value of hands-on work Editor’s note: The following email was sent to Tony DiGiovanni in response to his column in the May 2019 issue of Landscape Ontario magazine.

Good morning Tony, Great story!

Many of my kids’ friends (29 to 31 year-olds) are self-employed tradesmen: electricians, carpenters, etc. When they are over, I realize how proud they are that they get their hands dirty as they earn their pay cheque each week. They are a proud bunch of guys who look a little different at the suits with lily-white hands who have never picked up a shovel. So I think we are in a transition period where being a blue collar worker is now something to be proud of — at least that is what I am noticing.

One time, I spoke to a group of high school students at Mayfield High School. The topic was “Great Jobs.” I asked the class what their version of a great job looked like. Then, after I heard their take on it, I told this story: Many years ago, we used to hire sub-contractors with pick-up trucks and plows to plow snow with us. I put an ad in the paper and was interviewing people with trucks who could work around their regular full-time job. I really remember the interview I had with this one guy, Jim. Jim was an upbeat and very positive young man who was about 30 years-old. He was married and lived in Georgetown, where his wife was at home raising their little girl. I said, “Wow, that is so good, what do you do?” Jim mentioned his job had great benefits, no boss looking over his shoulder all day, and was straight days, Monday to Friday, so that in winter he could: A) be home with his family, and B) sometimes plow snow for us evenings and on weekends. I was even more impressed. Again I asked, “What do you do Jim?” He then added he gets a clothing allowance so he can afford to be a homeowner and raise a family. “I have a great job,” he said for about the tenth time. Finally, Jim told me that he worked on the back-end of a garbage truck for the City of Toronto.

So there you go. You don’t have to work in a corner office in an ivory tower just to have a great job. In fact, those who have those ivory tower jobs, on average, are under so much stress they would probably change jobs with Jim in a heartbeat. So a “Great Job” can be any job you really like.

Brian Perras BP Landscaping and Snow Removal Caledon, Ont.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

NEW MEMBERS DURHAM Students “4” Less Inc Daniel Lahham 18 Howes, Ajax, ON L1T 3V5 Tel: 416-460-1157 Membership Type: Active

GEORGIAN LAKELANDS 1468714 Ontario Ltd O/A Switzer’s Contracting Services Clayton Switzer 1470 Falconbridge Rd, Sudbury, ON P3A 4S9 Tel: 705-677-4930 Membership Type: Chapter Associate 1912416 Ontario Limited Christopher Wolfreys 24 Bridlewood Cres, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1B4 Tel: 705-333-1101 Membership Type: Chapter Associate 2673209 Ontario Inc O/A Sprayman Group Nathan Layton 100 Welham Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 8Y4 Tel: 705-795-3400 Membership Type: Associate 408761 Ont Ltd O/A Leroy Construction Bruce Brisbois 100 Development Dr, Blind River, ON P0R 1B0 Tel: 705-356-1015 Membership Type: Active Burrr Heating & Air Daniel Burlington 108 Ruffet Dr, Barrie, ON L4N 0N7 Tel: 705-717-1468 Membership Type: Chapter Associate L. Pigeau Electric Inc Luc Pigeau 4473 Madeleine Cres, Hanmer, ON P3P 1S9 Tel: 705-969-4004 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Mariposa Landscaping Daniel Lynch 141 Creighton St, Orillia, ON L3V 0K8 Tel: 705-323-4233 Membership Type: Active Modern Machine Scott Johnston 108 Lake Dalrymple Rd, Sebright, ON L0K 1W0 Tel: 705-238-9642 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Stephenson Technologies Inc Robert Stephenson 41 Saunders Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 9A7 Tel: 705-720-0093 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Tim Grummett Trucking Tim Grummett RR4 Stn Main, Meaford, ON N4L 1W7 Tel: 313-600-7306 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Lenting Landscapes Inc Steve Lenting 9185 Regional Rd 20, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0 Tel: 905-961-4439 Membership Type: Interim

Nature’s Green Landscaping Inc Kevin Biersteker 1028 15th Sideroad, Schomberg, ON L0G 1T0 Tel: 647-209-5123 Membership Type: Active

Muskoka Hardscape & Excavating Paul Adams 136 St Charles St W, Maryhill, ON N0B 2B0 Tel: 519-588-3223 Membership Type: Active

Stone Ground Custom Stonework Dave Lisson 2157 Clover Rd, Burlington, ON L7P 1P9 Tel: 905-617-5078 Membership Type: Active

The Grounds Guys of Toronto TJ Bryk 24 Chapman Rd, Orangeville, ON L9W 5C7 Tel: 416-203-7300 Membership Type: Active

Nickason Electric Rodney Nickason 43 Thomas St, Allenford, ON N0H 1A0 Tel: 519-373-3687 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Weyloconstruction Rudiger Weylo 103 Main St, Campbelville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 416-400-7872 Membership Type: Active

UPPER CANADA

S&G Roofing Steve Grujic 211 Pinehurst Rd, Paris, ON N3L 3E2 Tel: 519-635-7663 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

LONDON Nextra Consulting Grant Harrison 3 Kirwin Dr, Ingersoll, ON N5C 3M4 Tel: 519-868-6398 Membership Type: Associate

GMP Concrete Foundations Michael Poechman 937 Concession 12 E, Mildmay, ON N0G 2J0 Tel: 226-230-2374 Membership Type: Associate Marshall Excavating Inc Kyle Marshall 14 Clarence St, Guelph, ON N1H 1P6 Tel: 905-299-2349 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Wolny Construction Michael Wolny 35 Manley Dr, Dorchester, ON N0L 1G3 Tel: 519-671-3721 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

St. Jacob’s Property Maintenance Inc Steve Snider 3 Alten Way, Heidelberg, ON N0B 1Y0 Tel: 519-503-5296 Membership Type: Active Travis Rivest Enterprises Ltd Travis Rivest 233779 Concession 2 WGR, Durham, ON N0G 1R0

Tel: 519-372-8354 Membership Type: Active

OTTAWA Earth Movers (9585800 Canada Inc) Omar Ghadban 292 Moonstone Rd, Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0 Tel: 613-836-8333 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Premium grower to the landscape trade

Life Long Landscaping Inc Thomas Hoyle 2028 Avenue P Ave, Ottawa, ON K1G 6G7 Tel: 613-864-2026 Membership Type: Active

TORONTO 2129020 Ontario Inc O/A Sunshine Landscape Design & Construction James van Stralen 2266 Concession 2, Palgrave, ON L0N 1P0 Tel: 416-891-9458 Membership Type: Active 2376651 Ont Inc Michael Van Der Pas 9 Stewart Crt, Orangeville, ON L9W 3Z9 Tel: 519-939-2869 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

GOLDEN HORSESHOE 934793 Ont. Inc. o/a Castleguard Homes David DeJong 1062 Dalewood Ave, Burlington, ON L7T 2K9 Tel: 905-637-0734 Membership Type: Associate

Kingsvalley Landscape Contractors Inc Rick Lima 1-3230 King Vaughan Rd, Maple, ON L6A 2A9 Tel: 905-833-5988 Membership Type: Active

Dryden Excavation Inc Glenn Dryden

Lemcke Construction Ltd Bryan Lemcke 515191 2nd Line, Amaranth, ON L9W 0S7 Tel: 519-942-7777 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Tel: 905-973-4912 Membership Type: Associate

WATERLOO

Passion Pool & Pond Johnathan Riehl 4160 Line 15 RR7, St. Marys, ON N4X 1C4 Tel: 519-949-0774 Membership Type: Active

Jeyson Mechanical Inc Senthuran Jeyananthan 10 Nanaberry St, Scarborough, ON M1X 1Y5 Tel: 416-721-7821 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

137 Campbelville Rd RR 2, Campbelville, ON L0P 1B0

VanSoelen Landscaping Ltd Amie Van Soelen 5194 Hwy 62 S RR 7, Belleville, ON K8N 4Z7 Tel: 613-962-4021 Membership Type: Active

Specializing in exceptional quality trees & evergreens 8080 BALDWIN ST., BROOKLIN, ONTARIO L1M 1Y6 sales@uxbridgenurseries.com P: 905.655.3379 • 1.877.655.3379 • F: 905.655.8544

WWW.UXBRIDGENURSERIES.COM 19

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EVENTS Full event details online at HortTrades.com/events.

INDUSTRY PROVEN

July 19

www.GoGPS.com 1.866.964.6477

#WhyGambleWithYourFleet

Dry Stone Walling Association Certification Day Saugeen Amphitheatre, Saugeen Reserve DSWA Certification event.

July 20

Bowmanville Green Street Challenge King St. at Silver St., Bowmanville Attend Summerfest and play outdoors.

Complete visibility of workforce, assets and costs Track fuel usage & idling trends Monitor engine hours & PTO usage High-performance GPS technology Advanced dashboard reports Membership pricing

July 24

Ottawa Chapter Golf Tournament Canadian Golf and Country Club, Ashton Geosynthetic Systems presents this event in support of Youturn Youth Support Services.

July 25

Contractors Let’s Talk Shop

Association Membership Pricing

Oriole Landscaping, Toronto A new evening event to learn from the mistakes of other contractors.

July 26

Upper Canada Chapter Golf Tournament Loyalist Golf & Country Club, 1 Loyalist Blvd., Bath Proceeds support chapter scholarships.

Aug. 9-10

Woodstock Green Street Challenge Dundas St. at Wellington St., Woodstock Attend the Summer Streetfest and play on a street of green.

Aug. 14

Hardscape Committee Golf Tournament Granite Ridge Golf Club, Milton Help to fund educational events, including Hardscape LIVE! at Congress.

Aug. 16

Golden Horseshoe Chapter Golf Tournament Willow Valley Golf Course, Hamilton Proceeds to benefit the MS Society of Canada.

Aug. 17

Hunstville Green Street Challenge Availability list includes plants not in catalogue

Main St., Huntsville Summer Sidewalk Sale and play outside.

Aug. 18

Toronto Green Street Challenge Bloor St. east of Yonge St., Toronto Attend Open Streets Toronto and play on a street of green.

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50+ reasons LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

why

our members belong to Landscape Ontario

join us!

Our commitment:

Cost-savings benefits, training, networking and advice to help grow your business!

don’ t miss out ON A GREAT PARTNERSHIP! 21

exclusive discounts LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

savings 20% $10,000

Landscape Ontario’s EXCLUSIVE

so you spend less on expenses

SAVE OVER

on the purchase of new equipment

on a new truck for your company

Landscape Ontario members spend less on day-to-day business expenses.

Bottom line, our special member pricing for insurance, trucks, equipment, fuel and company clothing save you money.

Our savings partners:

My company saved over $70K last year on items ranging from trucks to safety gear. — Nathan Helder Gelderman Landscape Services member for over 20 years

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for complete details.

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growing the profession LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Earn & learn

LO’s active community will help your company

find & hire

through education, peer groups, chapter & sector events and apprenticeship to build a better workforce

the RIGHT person for the job

Landscape Ontario, through events and initiatives, is working hard to attract new talent to our profession, and ease the labour shortage.

Apprenticeship Combines on-the-job and classroom training, a win-win for all. horticulturetechnician.ca

Foundation

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation, established in 1979, is fully funded by the horticulture profession.

Horticulture professionals serve as officers and directors, and distribute the interest generated by the fund toward building the industry’s future.

It manages a $1.8 million fund that invests in horticulture through scholarships and research.

• Scholarships awarded over $45,600 to students enrolled in horticulture programs.

• Research projects received funding of $30,000. ohtf.ca

One of the things I love so much about this career is all the learning. There’s not a day I don’t walk out of here without learning something.

All through my life, I have always been an outdoors person. The fact that I get to spend so much time outside,while also connecting with awesome people, it’s incredible.

— Tristan Collins Apprenticeship Program Gelderlands Inc

Outreach • •

— Rebecca Parker Apprenticeship Program Graduate NVK Holdings

I love that when I work in a garden, you do get into your own relaxation of working with the plants, hearing nature, being out in the sun, it increases your mood and your positivity.

Events and media tell our great career story. greencareerscanada.ca landscape.jobs is a free national resource for employers and job seekers.

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— Destiny Lacasse Cullen Family Scholarship Recipient

empower your business LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Be recognized as an industry leader through LO’s

promotion

to CONNECT with potential customers & GROW your business CertiďŹ cate of Membership

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LO Green for Life brand Landscape Industry Distinguish your company as Certification a leader in professionalism.

Be head and shoulders above the crowd.

Members are exclusively entitled to use the LO logo for electronic and print materials.

Artwork and guidelines are available at horttrades.com/green-for-life-logo-downloads.

Your trucks are a valuable moving billboard, so be sure they are also branded with free decals.

Prove to potential clients your professionalism and your commitment to excellence by being certified.

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Visit horttrades.com/promo for free decals, license plate holders and other great items.

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showcase your company LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Awards of Excellence Elevate your profile where it matters — in your community.

This awards program is a prime promo opportunity, and member exclusive.

LOawards.com

The Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence program recognizes the breathtaking design and master craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance and design projects created by members.

A live-streamed, gala event attended by 500 of your peers, acknowledging a lifetime of hard work!

All promoted on social media and LO’s website.

The LO Awards Program acts as a sales and marketing tool, and gets you noticed. It illustrates to clients that you are proud of your work, and that the experience with them is more than a mere financial transaction. Our success in the program, helps us attract and retain quality employees. The program’s featured works illustrates our creative and caring culture.

LO has changed the way I conduct business. The network of friends and peers it has created will last a lifetime and the opportunities are countless.

Of the many associations that I am a member, I have the most interaction within LO as the largest network and work-family that anyone could ask for.

Money cannot equate the value I receive.

— Jim Mosher Landscape Plus Ltd

— Paul Brydges Brydges Landscape Architecture Inc

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specialized support LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Chapter & Sector Groups

Industry events specifically designed for growing your business.

Social events connect you and your family with the landscape community; participation is a great company and employee benefit. Enjoy the Golden Horseshoe Chicken Roast, Waterloo Fall Freeze-up, Georgian Lakelands Ski and Spa Day, along with local chapter baseball tournaments and golf days all supporting great causes.

Congress

Canada’s top landscaping trade show features: • IPM Symposium • Congress Conference • Landscape Designer Conference LOcongress.com

LO’s sector groups offer specialized support and sessions on industry related topics. Membership is open to any participant: • Garden Centre Group • Grounds Management Group • Growers Group • Hardscape Group • Irrigation Group • Interior Plantscaping Group • Landscape Contractors Group • Landscape Designers Group • Lighting Group • Snow and Ice Group • Turf Management Group

Professional Development Seminars LO leads the way in training. horttrades.com/seminars

Peer to Peer Network Online and live events promote prosperity. horttrades.com/P2P

Canada Blooms

Showcasing horticulture’s elegance to 200,000 visitors. canadablooms.com

The biggest impact/value/asset is the network of professionals.

I can go to these people, ask for advice, refer them for projects and receive referrals for new work through them. The peer to peer group is number one on my list.

This is our 20th year in business and our Landscape Ontario membership has contributed and supported our growth and success.

— Janet Mott Christine’s Touch Gardening Ltd

there’s much more...

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Visit horttrades.com/events for a complete list of sector and chapter events.

growth and success LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Landscape Ontario’s print and electronic media connect you with the community that matters.

Members are promoted through over two million media impressions each year. Subscriptions are included with membership.

• Landscape Ontario magazine Association and industry news that is brief, targeted and relevant.

• LO Enews Weekly broadcasts provide quick info on events, breaking news, chapter activities and opportunities.

• Landscape Trades magazine The business magazine serving landscape sectors across Canada.

• Garden Inspiration magazine Connecting the horticulture industry directly with consumers.

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• Workplace Safety Tailgate Talks Developed by Landscape Ontario in collaboration with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, promotes workplace safety wherever members are at work.

• horttrades.com LO’s content-rich website for your best answers to industry-specific questions and member benefits.

• landscapeontario.com Our inspiring, high-traffic website connects LO members with inquiring customers. With over 200,000 unique visitors a year, your online company profile gets noticed.

2/22

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27

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For me, the real payoff has been in the people I have met through the boards and committees within Landscape Ontario.

Has my membership paid off?

Immeasurably. I joined as soon as I could, and I’ve never looked back. My life is so much better because of the people I have met; colleagues, mentors, and friends. My continued membership is a non-negotiable for me.

— Lindsey Ross Living Green Landscaping Inc

our roots are in the association LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Are you a professional?

If you are, then you should join. If you're not a member, then you should join and strive to become a professional.

I love to celebrate the landscape industry and am proud and inspired by the landscapes being created by members of Landscape Ontario.

— Mark Cullen Mark’s Choice Order of Canada Highway of Heroes founder member for over 20 years

— Frank Ferragine aka “Frankie Flowers” Weather and horticulture reporter for CityTV

We (LO) are the largest horticultural association in the world. I have travelled to many areas and have seen first-hand our growth and success compared to many other countries.

I value making connections with people and groups who are working towards the common goal of creating a greener world while inspiring and educating the public.

In addition to the incredible friendship and networking opportunities LO provides, I am regularly inspired and driven by the passion and work of other members.

— Tara Nolan Award-winning writer and founder of Garden Savvy

— Paul Zammit Toronto Botanical Gardens

— Karl Stensson Sheridan Nurseries

Membership & so much more...

Visit horttrades.com for more reasons to join us and see what we can do for your company!

28

Trade associations like Landscape Ontario are great resources for gardeners across Canada. LO offers inspiration, ideas and support to homeowners and gardeners, and helps foster interest in gardening that helps us all.

— Niki Jabbour Writer, radio host, author of The Year Round Vegetable Gardener

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Ontario students win national gold

Thomas Hawley and Blaise Mombourquette (centre) hold the Ontario flag at the Skills Canada winners podium.

Congratulations to the team of Thomas Hawley and Blaise Mombourquette, gold medal winners in the Landscape Gardening category at this year’s Skills Canada competition, held May 28-29 in Halifax, N.S. The Algonquin College duo represented Ontario at the national level after taking home gold at the Skills Ontario competition, held May 6-8 in Toronto. The two students are no strangers to either competition, winning gold on the provincial stage in 2018 and earning a silver medal at the 2018 Skills Canada event held in Edmonton, Alta.

Mombourquette says placing second only to Team Nova Scotia last year served as extra motivation to win gold this year, with the competition hosted in that province. “In some ways, Tom and I were better prepared because we knew what to expect from the competition. Yet, with this, we also knew that it was going to be grueling with such a tight time frame,” Mombourquette said.

Steve Neumann, coordinator, horticultural industries/

apprenticeship at Algouquin College, says it was a very close competition between some very good teams. “The difference proved to be in the details of construction.”

Neumann said. “It was a great opportunity to be able to go to nationals for a second year straight to represent Ontario and improve on last year’s result (silver medal).

The team, Blaise and Thomas, worked really well together, and they were able to remain focused until the end (though sometimes a little too focused on minor details).”

“I feel very fortunate and so grateful for all of the support from Algonquin College, Landscape Ontario, my family and our coach, Steve Neumann, who helped us achieve this title. It was such an honour to represent our province and industry with our dedication to high standards and passion for hard work,” said Mombourquette.

Dylan Schultz and Casey Norman from Manitoba earned silver medals, while Diana Davidson and Chad Merrett from Nova Scotia took home bronze.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Is your workplace culture fuelling a tech addiction?

Jenny is fast becoming a tech addict.

She checks emails, texts, Facebook and Instagram at all hours of the day and night, seeking that hit of dopamine that technology delivers that keeps her coming back for more. But the constant checking is having the opposite effect — she’s anxious, depressed, sleepless and feeling disconnected from family and friends.

Jenny’s not alone. A 2017 U.K. study found that 34 per cent of people had checked Facebook in the previous 10 minutes. According to a U.S. study, 80 per cent of smartphone users say that checking their phone is the first thing they do in the morning.

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) consultant, Krista Schmid says, “While tech addictions like Jenny’s may start at home, they can be fuelled by workplaces that insist, implicitly or explicitly, that employees be ‘always on’ and available, even after the workday is over. A constant barrage of work emails and texts can leave people feeling

overwhelmed, hindering productivity, focus, health and mental well-being, all of which will have negative repercussions for the workplace.”

Businesses and employees can take actions to help employees develop a more balanced approach to technology at work and at home, says Krista, citing three examples from the auto sector:

• Volkswagen shuts down some employees’ work emails when they are off shift.

• Daimler offers employees the option of having incoming emails automatically deleted while on holiday. The system notifies the sender that the email will be deleted. This also frees returning employees from the stress of a packed inbox.

• For safety reasons, General Motors has banned the use of smartphones at work while the person is walking.

What workplaces can do Schmid offers workplaces the following strategies to help employees develop new habits around tech use. The benefits: more productive and mentally healthier employees.

• Ensure your company culture establishes and communicates healthy tech policies.

Consider implementing a no texts or emails after closing time policy or utilize delay delivery options when sending emails. Set clear expectations for email response times. Don’t expect employees to be always on. Reward productivity rather than availability. Managers, supervisors and executives need to follow these policies to a good example.

• Encourage employees to eliminate distractions by turning off push notifications on all their devices and unplugging from all devices for part of the workday.

What employees can do Employees can also take steps toward healthy tech use in their work and personal lives.

• Stay connected to co-workers in real time: send voice messages or make phone calls instead of texts or emails.

• If using devices for work, shut them off at the end of the workday.

• Never use devices before bedtime. They hamper a person’s ability to have a restful sleep.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO • Download apps and extensions that help cut back on distractions and usage.

Some can block intrusive apps and filter communications; others let users set daily limits for device use.

WSPS mental health consultants can help create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. Resources are online at wsps.ca or by calling an on-duty consultant at 1-877-494-WSPS (9777). For more ideas and solutions, visit ThinkMentalHealth.ca.

Appointment of Danielle St-Aubin as CEO of Tree Canada

The Board of Tree Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Danielle St-Aubin as its Chief Executive Officer, effective July 2, 2019. Ms. St-Aubin has worked in the not-for-profit sector for more than 15 years and has acquired a deep knowledge of the development and implementation of a broad range of strategies, including: communications and marketing, fundraising, sponsorship, and events. In her most recent role as vice-

president of communications and marketing at Trans Canada Trail, she was responsible for raising the profile and increasing the reach of the organization. Before that, she served as vice-president of donor relations at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

St-Aubin began her career as publicist at United Way Ottawa before moving on to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, where she managed the rebrand and re-launch of the iconic Hinterland Who’s Who (HWW) program. She has an MBA from the Telfer School of Business.

Michael Rosen will be retiring from Tree Canada as of March 31, 2020, but will spend the remainder of his tenure as president assisting with the smooth transition of leadership, as well as supporting key development and other initiatives.

“Michael has shown remarkable leadership of Tree Canada over his 18 years serving the organization,” said Board Chair, David Domke. “He successfully transitioned a government-funded organization to a fully, privately-funded, self-sustaining non-profit, something that has rarely, if ever, been accomplished before. With Michael at the helm, Tree Canada has become Canada’s

leading urban forest organization, planting over 82 million trees in school grounds and urban centres, and re-treeing neighbourhoods Danielle St-Aubin after natural disasters. Rosen oversaw the development of Tree Canada’s first carbon offset protocol, and helped establish the Canadian Urban Forest Network, a network of 900+ urban forestry professionals. He was instrumental in having Parliament proclaim Canada’s annual National Tree Day.” Danielle is excited to join the team at Tree Canada. Future growth plans include the expansion of Tree Canada’s role in educating urban society on the benefits and joys that trees provide, and continuing to be the “go-to” organization for communities whose urban forests have been impacted by disasters.

To get involved or learn more, visit treecanada.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EXECUTIVE DESK

A fitting tribute to Len Cullen

O

ne definition of the word, “visionary” is a person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like.

One definition of “pioneer” is a person who is one of the first to use or apply a new method or area of knowledge; one who lays the groundwork, leads the way, blazes a trail and breaks new ground.

The late Len Cullen was both a visionary and a pioneer. He inspired many. His passion and enthusiasm for gardens and business lives on in the hundreds of employees and associates who have made their mark on the

horticulture and landscape profession.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of a bronze statue of Len Cullen in Cullen Central Park in Whitby, Ont. Len’s daughter, Sue Green, was the main initiator of this special tribute. Her heartfelt remarks about her father described a passionate leader who was not afraid to dream big and to work hard to realize his visions. In so doing, Len also elevated the horticultural profession. Thousands, if not millions of people were touched by their positive experiences at Weall and Cullen

Nurseries, Cullen Country Barns, and Cullen Miniature Village.

From an industry perspective, thousands were employed and received their training at businesses started by Len Cullen.

Many became leaders in the industry and in Landscape Ontario. Len’s son, Mark Cullen is Canada’s most popular garden communicator. Mark is also one of the few Honorary Lifetime Members of Landscape Ontario. Denis Flanagan, LO’s public relations and membership services manager, is a very close, long-time friend of Mark Cullen and

New for 2019!

Let’s talk

SHOP

join us for the

Take a break from your busy summer and attend this new event brought to you by the LO Contractor Sector Group.

Garden Centre Awards of Excellence at the event

Thursday, July 25, 2019 Oriole Landscaping 36 Northline Rd, East York, ON

Enjoy dinner, networking, and a lively discussion on relevant issues in the industry.

Attendees will enjoy dinner, a tour of Oriole Landscaping’s operation, an industry-related discussion and networking.

Thursday, October 24, 2019 Piper’s Heath Golf Club

5501 Trafalgar Road, Milton, Ontario.

Register at:

Tickets are $45 each and include dinner.

For more information, visit horttrades.com/tag/garden-centre

HORTTRADES.COM/TAG/CONTRACTOR

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO a former Weall and Cullen employee. Len’s son, Peter Cullen, is a past-president of our Ottawa Chapter. Bruce Cullen volunteers on the Durham Chapter board. Art Vanden Enden, Vice President of Retail Sales for Sheridan Nurseries, got his start at Weall and Cullen, so too, did LO Peer to Peer Network Manager, Jacki Hart, and long-time Show Committee member, Beth Edney. Durham Chapter board member, Norm Mills, worked for Weall and Cullen early on in his career.

The late Paul Olsen, an LO past president, got his start with Len Cullen and went on to become the owner of BTN Nurseries, one of Canada’s largest wholesale nursery growers.

I am sure a book could be written about all the individuals that had their start working for Len Cullen.

Len was an excellent gardener from many perspectives. He cultivated businesses, attitudes, people, families and communities.

What a great legacy he has left us. The bronze statue captures the essence of his vision and pioneering spirit.

Tony DiGiovanni LO Executive Director

tony@landscapeontario.com

A bronze statue of Len Cullen in Whitby, Ont., serves as a lasting tribute to his legacy and vision.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PUBLIC RELATIONS

How you can help us to help you

L

andscape Ontario members should be very proud of the special section in this issue of Landscape Ontario magazine that outlines the many benefits available to them. Organizing and displaying them all visually was a collective effort by your talented team at LO. Special thanks to art director, Kim Burton, who produced a “punchy piece” on your behalf. Speaking of collective efforts, it is also heart warming to read the many testimonials from members in that section that tell the story of how much members believe in our mission and how passionate they are about being involved and committed to the association.

Now, how do we harness that passion

to help us advance our goal of increasing membership numbers and raising the standards of our profession? Below are a few suggestions.

LO members can request copies of the special section, title “50+ reasons why,” to hand-out to potential members at your place of business or to include with invoices or other mailing to clients and suppliers. We also plan to distribute copies at special events and to students. We will be ordering a print supply shortly, so if you would like some brochures to hand out, please let us know how many copies you would like.

Would a poster work better? We can create and print posters for you to display

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in your showroom that illustrate any of the reasons you think it’s worthwhile to belong to LO. In this age of digital communications, we have provided an electronic version of the special member benefits section for you to include in your social media promotions, on your website or in email campaigns. Get the complete special section at HortTrades.com/50-reasons-why in electronic format.

You are the associations’ best ambassadors. For that, we have a number of free promotional items to help you promote that you belong to a special group of dedicated professionals. Simply contact us and let us know how many truck decals and/or license plate holders you need.

Have you won an LO Award of Excellence or been involved in a community greening or fundraising event?

We can help you create a customized press release to circulate to your local media.

This helps to not only highlight your talents and creativity, but can also emphasize your membership in a professional association.

If you have a unique story, we would also like write profile articles on several members across the province, and have a local newspaper publish the story.

We also plan to create a new article explaining to the public whey they should hire an accredited Landscape Ontario professional. This will be distributed through a public relations firm and sent out to our exclusive media member list.

And of course, we will once again be promote the fantastic work of our members via our annual Garden Inspiration magazine, of which we distribute about 50,000 copies of at Canada Blooms and many local home and garden shows.

By continuously promoting all the tangible benefits of membership in LO, we will continue to grow in numbers, strength, credibility and buying power. This will also help attract the quality employees that all members so desperately need.

At the end of the day, we are all in this together. Let’s make the 2019/2020 membership campaign the best ever.

If you have any ideas or would like to participate in any of the programs listed above, please contact me at 905-875-1805, ext. 2303.

Denis Flanagan CLD LO Manager of Membership and Public Relations

dflanagan@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

We’re going paperless

Y

certificate. Or, what if you received your certificate and membership number (something else new for 2019) via email and had the option of printing it or saving the number in your phone to easily access member discounts? We would appreciate your input on these ideas as we work to improve your membership services.

As membership renewals approach, we invite you to get in touch with us should you have any questions about the many ways in which LO can help your business. Your membership team would be happy to assist.

our Landscape Ontario Membership Services team are taking the Green for Life brand to heart by making a shift to paperless invoicing. Each year we send out two membership renewal invoices to over 2,000 companies by hand. This involves a lot of printing, folding, envelope stuffing and mailing. This year, you will receive your LO membership renewal invoice via a secure email. We hope this change will allow for invoicing to go smoother. Each year, we are challenged with making sure member companies receive their invoices, which was especially true with last year’s postal strike. Many companies also require additional copies be sent to their accountant or to have an additional record on file. Now, you will be able to easily access your invoice through your email or forward it to the appropriate person in your organization.

To help this process go smoothly, we need your help. We must have the correct contact information on file for your company. This will ensure your invoice goes to the right place. It also means your company information will be correct on the landscapeontario.com website where potential clients can seek you out. Please send us your latest company information including: • Mailing address • Staff contact receiving emails from us • Telephone number • Email address

Myscha Stafford LO Membership and Chapter Coordinator myscha@landscapeontario.com

JOIN US AT SNOWPOSIUM 2019!

A conference focused on relevant business issues and exhibitors with the latest equipment and technology makes this the snow event you don’t want to miss.

This is a huge enough job on its own, but we also want to take the opportunity to update your full-time employee list as well.

This way, we can ensure all your staff are getting information on upcoming events and educational offerings, rather than just the office administrator in your company.

Once you receive your invoice, we encourage you to use our secure online payment system to pay your membership dues. Or you can call us with credit card in hand. These electronic payment options are faster, reduce paper and are the quickest way to ensure you don’t lose access to any of the many benefits that come with LO membership.

The membership department has also reduced its amount of paper usage by switching to an online system to process and manage all new member applications. Previously, we would print the application, along with the tracking sheet for the approval process, plus the references letters provided, and any supporting documents. Now, we are tracking applications online and can easily access the information when new member applicants inquire about the status of their application. We are also asking new members to submit applications via email using the fillable PDF document on HortTrades.com.

We are also exploring different options for membership certificates.

Do you use your certificate? Is it displayed in your office? We are considering implementing a multi-year membership certificate.

Rather than receive a new certificate each year, members would get a seal (a very fancy seal) with the current year to add to their existing

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Industry associations

UNDERGROUND WORLD

Are you missing out on memberships?

A

ssociations provide an important element and benefit to our society.

They are useful, necessary and essential to helping our democratic society function at a high level. Many people don’t understand the intrinsic value of associations or how they rely on support from members in order to succeed.

Renewing your membership in various industry associations, or joining a new one can help to make your profession better and stronger.

History

For this special membership issue, I would like to discuss memberships in groups.

Why do we have groups or organizations in the first place? What value do they give their members? Are they worthwhile or a waste of time?

From the beginning of time, individuals have joined together in groups. There is strength in numbers. It is easier to defend against enemies in a group. It is easier to hunt and defeat your enemy in a group. It is easier to promote a common purpose or achieve a specific goal in a group. It is easier to convince others to join you if a group of like-minded individuals presents its case.

These early groups formed out of basic survival needs, and later grew into many idealogical and societal needs in the form of various religions. They are in essence, the ultimate form of associations. In the nineteenth century, unions developed with the goal of protecting workers from unscrupulous employers. In the twentieth century, groups have been formed that represent everything under the sun.

Group psychology

In my opinion, there are four key components behind why a group, association, or union is created. All criteria must be understood by all and be in agreement in order for success to be achieved. These components are:

1. There is a key issue or common goal that must be agreed to.

2. People feel that something should be done about that need, issue, problem, etc.

3. For success, there must be a champion who takes it under their wing to further the cause.

4. There must be some reward or satisfaction for joining the group and working toward success.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow was a nineteenth century social scientist that put forth the theory that people had various personal needs that had to be satisfied. They were based on a level of necessity. In order of priority, they are: physiological needs (food, water, sleep, clothes); safety and security (personal security, financial security); social belonging (friendship, family, social groups); self-esteem (skill development, career, recognition); and self-actualization (personal legacy, pursuing goals, creating something).

Based on these proven needs, people have a need to belong to groups or associations for their overall satisfaction in their daily life.

Contractors in the landscape profession have two valuable associations to support them — Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LO) and the Canadian Fence Industry Association (CFIA). Both are important and offer great value to members.

Another very important association that compliments both is the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA). The organization’s mandate compliments the first two associations with the goal of protecting our underground utility infrastructure, workers and keeping the public safe.

ORCGA works closely with Ontario One Call to promote the Dig Safe message and to educate both contractors and homeowners on the need to first call ON1CALL for utility locates prior to any digging. The ORCGA protects workers from injury and accidents and saves society money by making sure contractors know where underground utility lines are located in order to prevent utility hits, which cost Canadian taxpayers nearly a billion dollars each year. We all bear these costs in our utility bills.

In order to continue educating contractors and homeowners and reduce the overall cost of underground infrastructure damage, the ORCGA relies on member renewals and actively searches for new members. The cost to join is a $125 each year for a small landscape company or contractor with fewer than 20 employees. All members receive a number of benefits and free items that quickly covers the cost of membership.

The OCRGA also relies on the support of new members to help finance activities designed to help keep workers safe. A smart professional contractor will advertise their membership in any industry association they belong to (LO, CFIA, ORCGA) as a way to show potential customers they are dealing with a knowledgeable professional who is committed to safety, education and doing the job right. Being connected to a group of other skilled professionals brings assurances of quality workmanship, quality products and the best job possible.

Conclusion

If you are not a member of an industry association, you should seriously consider joining in order to help your business to succeed. ORCGA members for the balance of 2019 is only $62.50. To join, contact Jennifer Parent at 1-866-446 4493.

Terry Murphy CLM

tvmurphy@ca.inter.net

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Celebrating shifting attitudes toward women in horticulture

W

hen I look back over the years that span my career in this industry, I sometimes reflect on changed attitudes as well as changed technology.

It occurred to me this spring, that this year is the 40th anniversary of my career in the landscape industry in Ontario.

I started in the spring of 1979 with Weall and Cullen Nurseries. Back then, for the most part, women were the cashiers and administrators, while men were the ‘nurserymen’ selling plants and designing plans for customers. Denis Flanagan, LO’s Public Relations and Membership Services Manager, occasionally writes about those early days at Weall and Cullen — we actually worked together at the same location.

In 1991, when I started my own landscape company in Muskoka, Ont., I was the only woman in the district running a landscape services business. Back then, the annual Congress trade show was a sea of testosterone, and suppliers often asked to speak with the company owner (my husband), to set up an account, or to discuss a particular issue that needed to be resolved.

Out in the field, tradesmen on many worksites were often discriminatory in their attitudes toward me and my crew, and were stubborn in sharing access to materials and equipment.

Gradually, I’ve watched more and more women become growers, managers, business owners, and leaders in this profession. I’m grateful for the loyal and brave leadership of many women who have blazed trails for those of us who followed, where no path existed before.

I am thankful for Sally Harvey, Beth Edney, Lexi Dearborn, Janna Bradley, Monica

van Maris, Christine Moffit, Joan Johnston, Kimberly Khoury, Carla Bailey, Jennifer Lemcke, Wendy Ladd, Michelle Kent, Jennifer Hobson, Margot Byers, Jen Cuddie, Janet Ennamorato, Kelly Keates, Audrey Partridge, Tanya Olsen, and many more.

What an impressive list!

Their endless passion and commitment to making our profession a more vibrant, relevant and connected community is amazing. I’m proud to stand beside many of them, as we continue to mentor and inspire many young women to start a career in this awesome profession.

In order for this demographic shift to take hold across our many sectors, the biggest shift has probably come from changing attitudes across the board. My hat goes off to those who make no judgment or assumptions when a women steps out of a truck and strides across the yard, sporting steel toed boots and shakes their hand to conduct business.

Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janna Bradley, COO of LMN, about her successful career. Janna, like many of her peers, knows how to stand her ground, isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and works hard to grow opportunities for those around her.

Janna and I discussed many aspects of business ownership and growth, at which she and her husband, Mark have been successful at over the years. Our conversation also touched on what it means to be a woman in the profession, since Janna is such an inspiring and a generous mentor to many others.

Here are some highlights of my interview with Janna:

WATCH THE FULL FACEBOOK INTERVIEW ONLINE AT gfl.me/h5J6

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What’s been your favourite part about owning and running a landscape business?

“I really enjoy the outside aspect of landscaping, as I think everybody in the industry does. They get into it because they like to work with their hands and working in the green segment — whether it’s with trees or plants or creating something or designing something. It was always the satisfaction of completing some sort of a job. It was a lot of fun just going from a blank slate … and just seeing it grow over a period of weeks or days or months … and seeing the families who we built them for enjoy them as well.”

Can you think of any challenges you encountered based on the fact you are a woman?

“I don’t have any specific examples. There was never really any direct conflicts… because I’m a woman. I think what I found was quite the opposite is that they would maybe turn to me for a different perspective sometimes, and for that I was always very appreciative. It’s interesting to see the growth within the industry of women in landscape and so many opportunities within the industry that they can be in.”

What’s been your experience as a successful woman in the industry?

“I think the industry as a whole really does embrace women in the industry. We are finding there has been a lot more support from educators, academic programs, associations, that over the last four or five years are really championing the landscape industry as a whole, as a true career for women and for young adults too.”

What advice would you give women starting a career in landscaping?

“Just go for it! There are so many opportunities, whether your passion is marketing, or tech or field work, or you want to be outside or work in a greenhouse. Our industry is so vast. It’s not just landscape and laying bricks.”

This September, Janna, along with a panel of other successful landscape business owners, will discuss how to scale up your business without losing your life and your sanity on day two of the LO Peer to Peer Network’s two-day summit in Gravenhurst, Ont. For more details on the event, visit HortTrades.com/p2p.

Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Spring may be right around the corner, but this offer is right here now.

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Summer is on it’s way, but a great deal on a new ZTrak™ Z915E zero-turn mower is here now. Because, we’re offering 0% APR for 60 months*on this high performing mower. See your John Deere dealer today for a deal on a Z915E.

Keep Mowing JohnDeere.ca/MowPro * Offer available 01 May 2019 through 02 July 2019. 0% purchase financing for 60 months on new John Deere Commercial ZTrak Mowers, models Z915B/Z915E only. Down payment may be required. Representative Amount Financed (“”RAF””): $10,000, at 0% APR, monthly payment is $166.67 for 60 months, total obligation is $10,000, cost of borrowing based on RAF is $24. Monthly payments/cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed/down payment. MSRP cash price based on highest priced product in series as of January 3, 2019: $11,109 (includes $50 documentation fee). Taxes, set-up, delivery, and freight charges will apply.

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