Landscape Ontario - November 2021

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

November 2021

THINKING OUTSIDE

THE GARDEN BOX Sandhill Nursery has become known for more than plants

PM 40013519

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1 SPECIAL SECTION: FOUNDATION REPORT

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

November 2021 • Volume 39 - No. 08 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.

FOUNDATION REPORT

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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ON THE COVER:

Sandhill Nursery owner Tim Cantelon

Features 4 6

Profile: Sandhill Nursery The history of Canada Blooms

Departments 9 23 26 30

Association News Professional News Columns Advertisers/Classifieds

Director of Communications and Publications Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Editor Bill Tremblay btremblay@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7550 Creative Director / IT Coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Communications Coordinator and Content Manager Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Sales Manager Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications Coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Digital Marketing Specialist Adele Bedard abedard@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-4144 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF

Sonam Arora, Nolan Bechtel, Amy Buchanan, Joan D’Souza, Kaneisha De Leon, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Lori Harding, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Anna Hulskramer, Liz Lant, Amanda Laszcz, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Andrew McNabb, Shalini Mehta, Sarah Rafols, Joe Salemi, Christy Sebastian, Ian Service, Jessica Tucker, David Turnbull, 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 ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Views expressed are those of the writer concerned.

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A

We need to become a destination industry the federal government’s labour market studies show there are as many out of work in the landscape industry as there are jobs.

There is something wrong with this picture.

As small business owners we must create the best jobs for our future employees — jobs that make their lives better. We need to make jobs in this sector more attractive than any other and we can do that by offering better wages, benefits and room to advance. Our workers should know that in this industry, you can work until retirement and along the way, there’ll be opportunities for professional development and mentorship. We need to create careers for our employees and move away from the impression that we only offer summer jobs. As an association, we need to speak this language of opportunity and do it better than our peers in other skilled trades.

Jeffery Scott’s book Become a Destination Company outlines what it takes to build the kind of company that attracts employees. As an industry, we can learn something from this approach and work together to reach scale. We may have to reconsider some of the practices we’ve inherited and make some hard choices that will inevitably affect our bottom line. But if you haven’t noticed, our clients are willing to pay more. We all just have to learn to budget for it and adjust to changing market conditions.

It is time for a major shift in a new direction. I challenge you to think outside the box and build a company that puts employees first and to shore-up those ideas with your peers in this industry.

s my two-year term comes to an end, I am looking back at what we have accomplished as an association, and the issues that persist and continue to challenge us year-after-year.

Next to insurance, labour has been a hot topic for many years. In the spring of 2020, we went from not working, to working full out and the demand for workers just continues to grow.

I think we are finally gaining some traction on determining the real problems with labour.

The GROW program has taken off and I hope we can keep the momentum going because I can see its effectiveness as a training ground for moving workers into our industry.

However, it doesn’t address the issue that every sector is scrambling for workers, and we’re in stiff competition. When we look around, we see just about every business, in every industry, with “help wanted” signs.

Economists and analysts across the continent are struggling to get to the bottom of the underlying issues.

The bottom line for our industry is that we can’t meet our labour needs with just our domestic supply of workers. We need immigration. We need to be inclusive so that all prospective workers see themselves in our jobs and feel like they belong. Unfortunately, the pandemic has slowed immigration and the government is not meeting its targets.

We need temporary foreign workers to fill the gap and we need to let the government know we do not have balanced employment numbers in our industry. We recently learned

Dave Wright LO President

davew@wrightlandscape.ca

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Member Profile:

TIM CANTELON’S

VISION OF A

NURSERY LOOKS BEYOND

PLANTS

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Growing LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

d e s t i n a t i o n

S

By Chris Occhiuzzi

andhill Nursery is more than just a place to buy plants: it has also become a destination, a spot that appeals even to those with little knowledge or interest in landscaping or gardening.

Placing an emphasis on quality products, an enjoyable visitor experience and community engagement, Sandhill has grown exponentially throughout its 30 years in business.

Sandhill was founded in 1991 in Huntsville, Ont., and has been in the hands of current owner Tim Cantelon since 2002. Upon taking ownership, Cantelon immediately began implementing his vision of what the nursery would become.

A visit to Sandhill is about much more than gardening. The nursery’s ever-changing attractions can include incredible seasonal displays, a burlap maze, workshops and more.

“At Sandhill we strive to make our location a place where individuals and families can come and browse and enjoy themselves,” Cantelon said. “Much effort goes into creating unique displays that showcase not just our products, but also our creativity.

We offer fall and Christmas workshops where people can come and create unique décor using our products, under the guidance of our trained professional staff.”

One of the biggest draws is a fall festival that runs from midSeptember to Halloween, and usually includes games and other activities to raise money for local charitable organizations. Last year’s fall festival raised about $15,000 for Huntsville Hospice. There is no entry fee or pressure to buy any products, although many families can be seen going home with at least a pumpkin and some gourds.

The ability to meet and talk to the many families he’s come to know, as well as new faces, is what Cantelon loves most about Sandhill. He also delights in taking on the challenge of changing the décor and atmosphere to match the seasons.

“I love to see the joy and excitement on people’s faces when they walk through our property,” he said.

“I enjoy taking the time to create a themed experience for people to enjoy.”

size and scope of their delivery services to meet the changing needs of shoppers.

“There are always changing trends in the landscape industry,” he said. “Certain types of perennials and shrubs change in popularity over the years and new products become available. We will do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy and meet and exceed their expectations. As word-of-mouth spreads, we have grown considerably to meet the growing demand.”

Meeting demand led Cantelon to open Burk’s Falls Garden Centre in 2012, about 45 km north of Sandhill, to better serve their clientele. The store serves a loyal clientele from Burk’s Falls, Sundridge and South River.

“We recognized the need for a closer store and garden centre to better meet the needs of northern customers,” Cantelon explained.

“When the property became available, it just made sense to expand.”

Opportunity to GROW

Over the years, Sandhill has won numerous Landscape Ontario Garden Centre Awards of Excellence. While Cantelon explained the awards are an honour, they have also led to new business relationships.

“While I don’t set out to win specific awards, being recognized by a group of our peers is an honour and provides extra motivation to continue to provide excellent customer service and to always strive to be better,” he said. “We have definitely had new clients who approach us because they have heard our name through the award program.”

Sandhill Nursery has been a Landscape Ontario member since the business opened. In recent years, they participated in the Get Ready for Opportunities at Work (GROW) program, specifically to offer apprenticeship and training to Sandhill employees.

Cantelon said it’s an excellent way to provide education and experience for workers in the industry. He also notes that GROW is beneficial to the industry at large.

“Many industries are having a difficult time finding qualified staff, and the landscape industry is no different,” he said. “The GROW program works to raise awareness of the job opportunities within our profession and then helps train workers to fill the need for qualified workers. Ongoing professional development is also a key component of the program, and I have always felt strongly that assisting our staff to become more knowledgeable and passionate about their careers is a win-win solution for everyone.”

As a successful entrepreneur running a well regarded nursery and garden centre, Cantelon provided a bit of advice to his peers: “Start with what you know and then strive to be the best at it,” he said. “If you make it a priority to offer the best possible customer service, your business will grow and prosper.”

A contemporary approach

Of course, there’s also the pleasure of helping people beautify their properties.

“I love it when customers come back year-after-year and bring stories of how Sandhill has helped transform their homes and gardens,” he said.

The Sandhill team works hard to keep up on trends in the landscape industry, ensuring they offer clients a contemporary selection of plants, gardening supplies and decorative elements.

Cantelon explained their approach has developed a reputation for quality, which they strive to maintain. Sandhill has worked to create a strong online presence in recent years. They have also increased the

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

The History of C

By Heather Dilts-Baiano

anada Blooms began with a cheque and a challenge.

Today, Canada Blooms is the largest flower and garden festival in the country. However, the event began as an idea for an advertising campaign to promote the landscaping industry.

In 1990, Unilock founder Ed Bryant met with Landscape Ontario executive director Tony DiGiovanni in search of support for a large-scale advertising initiative. Armed with a cheque for $10,000, Bryant wanted to find other landscaping companies willing to match his contribution to promote the industry.

“Every time I see an airplane land, I know there are 300 people who won’t get their driveways and landscapes built this year,” Bryant told DiGiovanni.

Bryant’s challenge led to a campaign called Operation Nurture. Within a few months Landscape Ontario raised $278,000 and purchased several television commercials. They even had spots on Hockey Night in Canada.

Operation Nurture would evolve into a world-class flower and garden show, designed to inspire the public with a garden and landscape experience.

Several years later, Kathy Dembroski, a member of the Garden Club of Toronto, was planning the club’s 50th anniversary party. Dembroski decided to partner with Landscape Ontario to explore the possibility of creating a new garden show.

Landscape Ontario was also set to celebrate its 25th anniversary that year, and DiGiovanni had included the idea of creating “a world-class flower show” in the association’s strategic plan to build off the momentum of Operation Nurture.

“Tony and Kathy were the instigators, and got it off the ground,” remembers Joyce Johnson of the Garden Club of Toronto.

A group was formed, including three members of the Toronto Garden Club, three people from Landscape Ontario and a lawyer. Meetings were held around Dembroski’s dining room table.

Uniting the two different groups was not an easy task, but she remembers DiGiovanni would always find a way to make things work. The group of

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

garden builder that first year.

“We didn’t realize how important Landscape Ontario was as an association, but we knew we had to be a member to build at Canada Blooms.”

For the inaugural show, Oriole partnered with landscape architect Darrell Bankes on a display designed to look like an old waterworks building in disrepair with nature overtaking the pipes.

“Every year was different, and every year we put ourselves totally into the show,” Fuller remembers of her time with Canada Blooms. “It was rewarding to see so many people coming in. The whole thing was amazing.”

In 2009, Guinane had the honour of giving the Ambassador of Ireland to Canada and his wife a tour of the show. As part of the international competition, the ambassador had sponsored a garden for Tourism Ireland.

The international section of Canada Blooms has become a large part of the flower show, with competitors coming from all over the world to compete.

“We do have a reputation because it is the only big flower show as far as floral design,” Johnson said.

Fuller always enjoyed having young designers join the festival. They gained experience by meeting people and making deadlines.

“The experience of Canada Blooms was a whole bunch of people with the same vision of a world-class flower and garden show,” DiGiovanni said. “It was chaos. Not knowing each other.

seven spent the next three years planning the festival.

Columba Fuller was the artistic director for Canada Blooms for nearly 20 years. She began as a member of the Garden Club of Toronto and joined DiGiovanni and Dembroski, in interviewing applicants for the position of artistic director.

“They were all missing something,” Fuller remembers. “They drew up ideas, but they were all commercial kinds of things. They were not getting the idea of what we were trying to do, combining the landscape with the artistic side of floral arranging.”

Since Fuller had designed a few floral shows for the garden club, a decision was finally made.

She was told, “Columba, give it a go.”

Inaugural success

March 1997 marked the launch of Canada Blooms at the Toronto Congress Centre.

DiGiovanni was told that an inaugural show would never fill the parking lot.

“So the show opens,” DiGiovanni explains, “and people start coming, and they keep coming.”

Fuller was driving to the show, cruising along on Highway 401, when suddenly traffic stopped.

“My God, what is going on here? It must be a bad accident,” she remembers thinking.

She turned on the radio, and heard the announcement — there was no accident, it was just the opening of the Canada Blooms Flower Show.

“That was the best commercial for Canada Blooms,” Fuller said.

Dembroski and DiGiovanni sat in the office watching an endless stream of cars roll in, and heard the radio telling the public to avoid the highway into Toronto, as it was jammed with traffic from “a new garden and flower show.”

However, the crowds eventually made their way into the show, where they were welcomed by an incredible garden that represented the four seasons.

“It’s the only show in Canada that’s like that and it was so huge,” Johnson explained. “When you go in and see a garden where they’ve taken an empty, concrete space and they’ve built the walls, they’ve built the pool with fountains, all the plants around, it’s flowering and blooming, it’s always been quite a feat to do that in March.”

Peter Guinane, CEO of Oriole Landscaping in Toronto, was a

Continued >

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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Not knowing what we’re doing. We just tried to figure it out on the go. Yet it worked because even though it was messy, we all had the same vision.”

Changing seasons

The first year was a learning experience for everyone. Suppliers from across Ontario were called on to support the event. One of the biggest challenges was timing flowers to bloom just in time for the March event. It was a struggle in the early years, but a number of trusted greenhouse operators soon nailed the March Break window.

Canada Blooms gradually developed into more of a “home show” style event, more suited to those looking for affordable gardening.

There were a series of venue changes over the years, bringing benefits and challenges alike.

“Often necessity forced designers to be more clever than extravagant, so they would come up with more interesting solutions, rather than expensive solutions,” Guinane said.

Now, the world-class garden festival focuses on both small and large gardening spaces, including people just learning to garden, others who may have only small plots of land, or are older folks who have downsized.

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In 2020, timing of the COVID-19 pandemic was disastrous for Canada Blooms. Professionals had spent hundreds of hours crafting their display gardens for the public, only to have the show cancelled the day before it was set to open.

It was devastating for the garden builders and show organizers, but they understood it needed to be done.

Fortunately, the Toronto Flower Show, garden builders and Professional Floral Artists were still able to have their entries judged.

The feature gardens were filmed with a drone to provide virtual tours for the public — you can see the gardens online via Landscape Ontario’s YouTube channel.

There was hope Canada Blooms would return in 2021 and 2022, but uncertainty created by the pandemic meant the show would experience a three-year hiatus.

“We, like you, are so very disappointed. Think about it, we have been planning our big 25th Anniversary party for two years now and we have to wait another year -- again,” Canada Blooms organizers said in a statement. “We miss you! We miss all of our partners, garden builders, floral artists, exhibitors and especially the over 800 volunteers that join us every year. But, there is no sense having a celebration if it can’t be done right.”

The festival will return in 2023, and organizers plan to release more details about the show and a revamped format in February, 2022.

Looking forward

This spring, Canada Blooms and Landscape Ontario launched the video series Canada Blooms Inspiration to encourage the public to get into their gardens. You can watch the 10-part series, hosted by Mark and Ben Cullen on the Canada Blooms YouTube channel.

The series is meant to encourage people to create ideas for their own gardens. A Canada Blooms Educational Series is in the works to share demonstrations and presentations. Another series, The Oaks Products Do Up The Doorsteps & Back-steps Gardens, demonstrates what can be done in a 100 to 200 square foot space.

“The future of Canada Blooms will be different still from its recent past and will continue to evolve,” Guinane said.” I think there will always be a curiosity and interest to see these gardens presented and it has a long future ahead.”

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Teamwork shines

as bright as the landscaping

at London Chapter Garden Makeover

(PSW) at Caressant Care Mary Bucke When volunteers from the London in her hometown of St. Thomas, Ont. Chapter of Landscape Ontario arrived at Fernandes considers the long-term care Lisa Fernandes’ home to begin work on Lisa Fernandes facility her second home, and the residents her garden makeover, she gave them free and her fellow staff as family. When COVID-19 rein on the project. began to spread in Canada, it flipped their world She certainly doesn’t regret that decision. upside down. During the worst months of the pandemic, “I said, ‘you guys have the wheel. Do whatever you Fernandes stepped in to provide the affection and love think you need to do.’ The end result was amazing,” residents missed during lockdowns. However, a tough Fernandes said. “That was really the most amazing year meant she would struggle with garden upkeep. experience I have had in a very long time. Everything is “It was just nice to have someone help me with all beautiful. It was a very heartwarming experience.” this,” Fernandes said. “To have a whole team show up Landscape Ontario’s Garden Makeover contest here, it was overwhelming.” was created to recognize the dedication of frontline While Fernandes is elated with her garden makeover, workers across the province. The program received more she’s also impressed with the teamwork demonstrated by than 1,000 nominations, and Fernandes was one of 10 the volunteers. recipients awarded a $5,000 garden makeover from the “I was really impressed with how everybody came association. Fernandes is a Personal Support Worker

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO gravel pathway leading to the bench in her together,” she said. “I’m a team player, and secret garden. the way everybody just flowed together was “She was very happy with that because amazing to see. Yes, it was about the work, it was a spur of the moment add-on to the but it was also the team that was here. It project,” Marshall said. was just an awesome day.”

Like other LO Garden Makeover projects Ryan Marshall, Garden Makeover honouring frontline workers, the budget coordinator and vice-president of exceeded the original $5,000 commitment. operations for Turf Pro Landscaping, said Marshall said the work completed at about 12 volunteers worked a combined 80 Fernandes’ home would likely cost more hours of work to complete the makeover. than $8,000.

“It was pretty special. I know everyone “We had quite a bit of help from involved took time out of their workday our suppliers. Everything was donated,” to get it done. Normally we would do Marshall said. “The material cost alone was volunteer projects on the weekend,” probably close to $5,000.”

Marshall said. “Everyone that was there Fisher’s Landscape Depot, a SiteOne really appreciated what we were doing for company, donated the water feature frontline workers, and got some enjoyment supplies, topsoil and river stone; out of being able to help.”

Greenhorizons Sod Farms donated the sod; The makeover included replacing the Baseline Nurseries provided the mulch; and lawn with new sod and topsoil; rejuvenating Lifted Trucking donated a bin and disposed the garden beds with new edging, plants of the removed grass and plant material. and mulch; and transforming a garden Volunteers from Turf Pro Landscaping, sculpture into a water feature. Fernandes’ Bluejay Irrigation, Beamish Landscaping; home also includes what she calls her Baseline Nurseries; and retired landscaper “secret garden,” a secluded area of her Bob Allen provided the labour to complete property she uses to unwind after work. the project.

As a finishing touch, LO volunteers built a Landscape Strathmore Contractors

Trees for Life helps university reduce its carbon footprint The University of Guelph is now home to a future forest, thanks to Trees for Life.

The university’s Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Sustainability Office partnered with Trees for Life to plant about 700 trees on Sept. 29.

More than 200 volunteers participated in planting a variety of native tree species on a former toboggan hill on the school’s campus in Guelph, Ont. The trees will help transform the hill into a naturalized area to offset carbon emissions generated by the recent construction of Lang Plaza. Located outside of U of G’s MacDonald Hall, Lang Plaza opened in September, and features seating areas, a fire pit, bio-infiltration garden and a water fountain.

“We are so pleased to welcome Trees for Life to campus to participate in this important event at the Lang School,” said Dr. Lysa Porth, Dean of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics.

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In Memoriam - Larry Sherk “We value collaborative communities, good citizenship and a strong sense of belonging and this tree planting initiative captures the essence of our healthy and diverse community. I’m excited to join our students, faculty and other community members in planting these trees next to our campus.”

The tree planting was sponsored by the University of Guelph and funded in part by Trees for Life, which is supported by Natural Resources Canada through the Federal Government’s 2 Billion Trees Program.

Trees for Life is a national charity committed to empowering tree-planting initiatives across Canada. Its first two campaigns, the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute Campaign and the GrandTrees Climate Solutions, raised more than $12.4 million and planted more than one million trees. An additional one million trees are expected to be planted by the end of 2022. For more information, visit treesforlife.ca.

Lawrence Carl (Larry) Sherk passed away in his sleep in hospital in Toronto on Sept. 4.

Sherk worked as the chief horticulturist at Sheridan Nurseries before retirement.

Proud of being born in the village of Sherkston, Ont., in 1936, Sherk spent his youth in nearby Port Colborne. Following post-secondary school, he majored in Ornamental Horticulture at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph. This was followed by graduate studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he received his Masters in Ornamental Horticulture.

Sherk’s career began at the Plant Research Institute Canada Agriculture in Ottawa, retiring in 2001 at Sheridan Nurseries.

Alongside horticulture, Sherk was also known for his collection of beer labels. A trip to San Francisco in 1972 was the inspiration behind what became one of Canada’s largest collections of Canadian beer history or ‘Breweriana.’ He published the book, 150 years of Canadian Beer Labels, for Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Sherk is survived by his sister, Heather Ott (Graeme); nephews Peter Ott (Gloria), Alan Ott (Elena), Jeffrey Ott (Katharine), Christopher Sherk (Rasha), and several great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Ric Sherk (2016) and his parents Carl and Marion (Swayze) Sherk and his life-long partner Bob Carrigan (1997).

Memorial contributions honouring Sherk’s life and his love of trees can be made to: arboretum.uoguelph.ca.

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IT’S BACK Landscape Ontario Congress is returning for its 49th year

Congress: Canada’s Green Industry Show and Conference is returning as an in-person event in 2022.

Congress Redefined will look different compared to previous years, with some events spread out across two weeks in January. The annual trade show will feature more than 400 exhibitors at the Toronto

Congress Centre on Jan. 11-13, 2022.

Congress Conference will take place as a virtual event via Zoom on Jan. 18-20.

For Landscape Ontario members, registration to the trade show is free using the code MEM22TSC. To register, visit congressredefined.com.

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community back together safely at LO Congress,” said Heather MacRae, Landscape Ontario’s director of events and trade shows.

“The support from the suppliers to the landscape profession have made it an absolute pleasure to recreate the new version of Congress.”

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Here are a few of the in-person feature events planned for the show: New Product Showcase

The New Product Showcase will offer Congress attendees the opportunity to see the latest product releases from exhibitors.

Located at the trade show entrance in Hall D, the New Product Showcase highlights new equipment, technology and plants introduced since last year’s Congress. The showcase will feature images of the new product, as well as the exhibitor’s booth number, to serve as a trade show roadmap.

LIVE Stage

Congress previously hosted live demonstrations at three locations throughout the show. Now, the LIVE Stage in Hall F will serve as a hub for all demos and feature various industry sectors.

Patio Lounge

The Patio Lounge offers attendees a place to take a break, recharge or chat with colleagues. Located near the LIVE Stage in Hall F, the lounge offers seating, charging stations and free Wi-Fi.

Recruit LIVE

Recruit LIVE will connect employers with prospective new employees right on the show floor. Located in Hall F, Landscape Ontario’s Recruit LIVE is an opportunity for employers and future employees to network, conduct interviews and hire candidates right at the show.

Plant ID Challenge

The Plant Identification Challenge booth was developed to heighten the awareness of the Landscape Industry Certified Program, and its popularity throughout the show with both industry members and students. The booth simulates a plant identification test station at a sanctioned certification test.

Congress Conference

The 2022 Congress Conference features 36 sessions, covering horticulture, business and special interests. Landscape Ontario members receive preferred pricing. For a full listing of sessions, visit congressredefined.com/ conference.

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Proof of vaccination and identification is required to enter the Toronto Congress Centre.

Face masks are mandatory for all guests ages two and up.

Neck gaiters are not permitted.

Congress attendees are also asked to maintain a safe distance from one another, as per rules and regulations. All patrons must complete a self-screening assessment before entering the Toronto Congress Centre available at covid-19.ontario.ca/ self-assessment.

COVID-19 protocols will be updated regularly. For a full list of policies and procedures, visit congressredefined.com.

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Preserving a legacy

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation creates the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation & Scholarship Fund

and supporter of the association, Vanderkruk was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Member award in 1991 — the association’s top honour for an individual. To date, Vanderkruk is one of only 14 individuals to be awarded this honour in the association’s nearly 50 year history.

“Neil was a real leader in the industry and he really promoted Landscape Ontario,” Gelderman said.

The Foundation plans to raise more than $100,000 for the fund. Interest generated on the donations will be used to fund bursaries, with the first scholarship expected to be awarded in 2022.

“It’s absolutely fitting. He’s done so much for building a good base for Landscape Ontario,” DiGiovanni said.

The scholarship will be available to students entering or currently enrolled in an accredited horticultural institution and have at least two summers employed by a Landscape Ontario member.

“This criteria was developed by the Vanderkruk family,” DiGiovanni said.

As well, special emphasis will be considered for those who possess an entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for furthering and developing the horticulture industry. Strong leadership qualities and volunteering experience will be required to receive this scholarship.

DiGiovanni added Vanderkruk would be proud to know that a scholarship was created in his name.

“There’s something really special about an award or recognition that contributes to the future,” DiGiovanni said, namesake of the Foundation’s Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship.

“I can’t describe how surreal it feels to have someone name a scholarship after you.”

To make a donation to the fund, or for more information, visit ohtf.ca/nvk-fund.

When the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of Landscape Ontario began to organize an apprenticeship program for the region, they needed a space to host students. Fortunately, Neil Vanderkruk, namesake of NVK Nurseries, didn’t hesitate. He built a classroom on his property, and hosted the inaugural apprenticeship program.

“Neil was a special guy, he was running one of the biggest nurseries in Canada, and he took his volunteer job at the association so seriously,” said Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of Landscape Ontario and director of the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF). “He just put all of his time in. It was amazing to watch his commitment to it.”

Building the classrooms is just one of many examples of why Vanderkruk was well-known as a mentor and champion of Ontario’s horticulture and landscape professions.

Although he passed away in November 2020, his name will continue to contribute to the education of future generations of the industries he loved.

The Foundation has created the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation & Scholarship Fund, which has the mandate to support initiatives “that contribute to a prosperous future for Ontario’s landscape and horticultural sector.” The fund will support research grants, post-secondary scholarships and internships at industry and research institutions.

“He was all for education and all for the betterment of everybody in the industry. The more educated the industry was, the better off it was for everybody,” said Hank Gelderman, Foundation treasurer and a close friend of Vanderkruk. “He took everybody underneath his wing. He was a good mentor to many people in the industry.”

Vanderkruk was one of the early driving forces behind Landscape Ontario, and served as the association’s president from 1988 to 1989. As a longstanding member

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

MANDATE “To ensure a healthy future for the horticultural industry.”

OHTF.ca 15

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2021 ANNUAL REPORT About the foundation

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation was created in 1979 by a committee of forward-thinking leaders of the landscape and nursery sectors. The original goal of the Foundation was to help fund much-needed industry research. However, its mandate was soon expanded.

Today, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is the research and scholarship arm of Landscape Ontario. The Foundation’s mandate is to ensure “a healthy future for the horticultural industry,” through financial support of research and scholarships funded by interest generated on capital investments.

How to support the foundation

Donations to the Foundation can be made online by visiting OHTF.ca/donate.

Also at OHTF.ca, you will find information on how to support the Foundation in a number of ways outlined below. With a donation to the Foundation, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are “making a difference and leaving a legacy” for the profession that you love. You can support the Foundation by: SPONSORSHIP Join the Foundation by making a pledge — an annual donation or a one-time gift.

MEMORIAL GIFT This is a meaningful way to honour a friend, loved one or professional contact, while also helping to support the profession.

LEGACY GIFT Earmark funds through your estate to sustain the horticulture profession.

Contact your estate planner or lawyer to include this legacy provision in your will.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM Many Foundation sponsors share their expertise by speaking to groups and directing their honorariums to the foundation.

Thank you to our donors

The Foundation would like to thank all of its donors. A donation is an easy and effective way to benefit Ontario’s horticultural community. The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a registered charity and all donations will receive a tax receipt.

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Officers and directors for 2021

Scholarship program

President:

Providing scholarships is particularly close to the hearts of Foundation supporters, who point with pride to the many recipients who are now successful industry members.

A list of available scholarships can be found on the Foundation website at OHTF.ca.

David Turnbull

Vice President: Mike Thomas Secretary:

Bob Allen

Treasurer:

Hank Gelderman

Director:

Tony DiGiovanni

Board members:

rian Cocks B Ben Kobes Mark Ostrowski John Peets Tim Rivard Rita Weerdenburg

The scholarship program continues to grow, and now boasts a number of scholarships supported by individual people and companies: Apprenticeship Scholarship - Bob and Ruby Allen Scholarship Fund - Casey van Maris Scholarship Fund - College/University Scholarships - Hensbergen/DeGroot Fund - Horst Dickert Scholarship Fund - Horticulturist Scholarship - John and Ruth Wright Scholarship Fund - Neil Vanderkruk Innovation and Scholarship Fund - OJ Müller Memorial Fund - Ottawa Chapter Scholarship - Unilock Collaborative Communications Scholarship - Peter Olsen Memorial Fund - Post-Graduate Scholarship - Post-Secondary Scholarships - Russel and Karen Loney Fund - Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship Fund - Upper Canada Chapter Scholarships - Waterloo Chapter Green Industry Scholarship

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More than $39K in scholarship support Introduced in 2015, a major component of the program is the Cullen Family Scholarships, which distribute more than $20,000 each year. The program is designed to encourage and inspire leadership qualities in students who have a passion and enthusiasm for the landscape and horticulture profession, with candidates selected by their peers and teachers. Individual amounts are assigned to each school offering a horticultural program.

This year, the foundation distributed a total of $39,100 in scholarships to students enrolled in horticultural programs across the province.

Developments over the past year In the summer of 2021, the Foundation launched a revitalized and rebranded website at OHTF.ca. The website features a new logo and is mobile-friendly.

In late 2020, longtime foundation member and industry pioneer Neil Vanderkruk passed away.

The foundation recently established the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation and Scholarship Fund and is planning to raise $100,000 to create a permanent scholarship in Neil’s name.

Similar fundraising campaigns will follow for the other memorial scholarships in order to further preserve the legacy of these exceptional industry pioneers and leaders.

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2021 Scholarship Recipients Apprenticeship Scholarship ($600) Carley Prior, Humber College College/University Scholarship ($1,000) Era Muca, Niagara College Post-Secondary Scholarship ($1,000) Ayza Vardar-Okur, Humber College Caio Paschoal Rosa, Seneca College Craig Klomp, University of Guelph Giancarlo Raschella, Durham College Holly MacAlpine, University of Guelph Kinley Tenzin, Seneca College Manpreet Kaur, Fanshawe College Rachel Mulder, Fanshawe College Raphael O’loughnan, Niagara College Sean Loose, Durham College

Horticulturist Scholarship ($500) Staysail Shed, Humber College Tingyu Lin, Niagara College Post-Graduate Scholarship ($1,000) Jacob Leach, University of Guelph Casey van Maris Scholarship ($1,000) Cassidy Friske, University of Guelph Horst Dickert Scholarship ($1,000) Steve deBruyn, Fanshawe College Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship ($1,000) Mattison Innes, Niagara College

Cullen Scholarship Apprenticeship ($1,000) Caroline Pilon, Algonquin College Cullen Needs Based Scholarship ($5,000) Janice Currey, Niagara Parks Commission Cullen Family Scholarship Program ($2,000) Beatriz Morais, Seneca College Charles Lewis, Fanshawe College Diana Lawson-Canning, University of Guelph

Enoch Wong, Humber College Frances MacDonald, Algonquin College Jacob Snider, Niagara Parks Commission James Conway-Beaulieu, Durham College

Philippe Mesley, Niagara College Richard Williams, Fanshawe College

A greener future The industry has recognized the unique opportunity in the increased demand for living green solutions to address the environmental impacts associated with climate change.

The quest by various organizations to mitigate these impacts has resulted in a wealth of industry-friendly tree supply and planting initiatives. Ensuring the success of urban landscape plantings is not without its challenges, and dealing with these hurdles has been the focus of several important research initiatives managed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, with financial support from Landscape Ontario and the Foundation.

With part of its mandate to support research programs that help to ensure a healthy future for the horticultural industry, the Foundation provided financial support to the following initiatives: Highway of Heroes Living Tribute Since administrative structure is already in place, the Foundation collects charitable donations for the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute (hohtribute.ca). This inspiring campaign seeks to plant two million trees, including 117,000 trees along the Highway of Heroes, one for each of Canada’s fallen soldiers, assisted by the efforts of Ontario nursery growers and contractors.

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GrandTrees Walk Fund The GrandTrees Walk Fund identifies and funds the best tree planting initiatives in the Greater Toronto Area. The initiative has provided funding to 25 organizations to plant native trees and shrubs.

One Bench One Tree The One Bench One Tree campaign aims to give back to frontline heroes by offering a moment of rest in nature. The project’s goal is to add at least one bench and one tree to the landscape of hospitals across Canada.

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Meet the 2021 scholarship recipients Janice Currey Cullen Family Needsbased Scholarship, $4,000 With a love for the outdoors, and a vision to create beautiful and productive gardens, Currey enrolled at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. From there she launched her own company, Creation Care Landscaping. Over the winter, she is looking forward to experimenting with aquaponics, developing her horticultural knowledge and creating designs to install next spring.

“Thank you Landscape Ontario for advancing and investing in the future of this diverse industry,” Janice said.

Manpreet Kaur Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 As a foreign student, Manpreet is grateful for the opportunity to be awarded the scholarship. The award will provide significant financial assistance for Manpreet to continue in the Horticulture Technician program at Fanshawe College. She said she considers herself lucky to be able to go overseas and enhance her knowledge of the horticulture profession. Manpreet added the scholarship has given her even more confidence to continue focusing on her future in the horticulture business.

Charles Lewis Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Charles came to the landscape design world in a roundabout way. He went from working as a golf course groundskeeper, to deep sea engineer, to stay-at-home parent, and now building gardens. “I feel terrifically lucky to have found myself in the Landscape Design program at Fanshawe College at this time in my life, inspired by wonderful instructors and by the endless learning that lies before me,” Charles said.

Cassidy Friske Casey van Maris Scholarship, $1,000 Cassidy is very thankful to the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation for the scholarship. She has always had a keen interest in design and environmental sustainability. She is now able to combine these interests and major in Landscape Architecture.

Cassidy is currently enrolled in her first year at the University of Guelph.

Craig Klomp Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Craig Klomp is currently a first-year graduate student who is pursuing a Masters in landscape architecture at the University of Guelph. The scholarship will allow him to pursue more education and grow as a student in the horticulture industry. Craig is interested in sustainable design in landscape architecture, and looking at how eco-friendly services make up our built environment.

Tingyu Lin Horticulturist Scholarship, $500 Tingyu Lin is in the Landscape Technician program at Niagara College. As a child, Tingyu was obsessed with plants and said enthusiasm still fulfils her heart.

Propagating plants, gardening and yard maintenance are her common activities. She said as an international student, there are challenges for her to overcome, but she’s certain the more effort she puts in, the more success she will achieve.

Mattison Innis Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship, $1,000 Mattison would like to thank the foundation and instructors for selecting her to be the recipient of the award.

Entering her final year at Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Mattison said she has enjoyed every moment of it. Her interest in horticulture started at a young age and has only grown stronger thanks to her instructors and peers at school. She is currently looking at internship opportunities and interested in a career in plant health care, specifically pest and disease management.

Diana LawsonCanning Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Diana grew up in New Zealand, on a hill-country farm that inspired an enduring interest in plant, microbial and animal life. Trained as a biologist and editor, Diana has always had one foot on the ground, doing landscaping alongside research communication work. Now an Ontario resident and University of Guelph MLA candidate, Diana is exploring native plant selection and cultivation.

Sean Loose Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Sean is grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Post-Secondary Scholarship. The scholarship will help him further his horticultural studies, with the goal of pursuing a future in sustainable landscape design. Growing up in Toronto, Sean said he understands the importance of green spaces and how now more than ever we need to promote healthy green infrastructures in cities.

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Holly MacAlpine Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Holly would like to express her sincere gratitude for the support provided through this award.

Her passion for nature and design started at a young age, fuelling her interest in landscape architecture.

She is currently in her fourth and final year of the BLA program at the University of Guelph. She hopes to focus on environmental conservation, site rehabilitation, historic preservation and park design in her future career.

Era Muca College/University Scholarship, $1,000 After nearly a yearlong internship with a local organic farm, Era was inspired to pursue a formal education with Niagara College in the Horticulture Technician Program. “I am extremely grateful to receive the scholarship,” she said. “I am eager to learn and grow within their institution. I aspire to contribute to the field of horticulture while making a positive impact on my community.”

Caroline Pilon Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $1,000 After studying Theology and working as a PSW, Caroline began to search for a new career. With a desire to remain active, work outdoors and serve others, she tried gardening, working for Susan Beduhn, owner of Horticare.

“I immediately knew I’d found my place. Sue encouraged me to pursue my studies through the Horticulture Apprenticeship Program at Algonquin, where I was blessed with down-to-earth, knowledgeable professors and classmates.”

Frances MacDonald Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 The experience gained through the Algonquin College Horticultural Industries Co-op program, and unique work term opportunity with The Herb Garden, has continued to inspire Frances’ passion for native plants and sustainable garden design. Frances said it’s an honour to receive the scholarship and looks forward to a rewarding career in the horticulture industry and each new season’s opportunities.

Rachel Mulder Horticulturist Scholarship, $500 Rachel is a student in the Horticultural Technician program at Fanshawe College, and grateful to have been selected for this award. Growing up on a dairy farm, she has been passionate about the outdoors since a young age, and quickly discovered her interest in the horticultural industry. She hopes to own and operate a flower farm as a platform for public education and to demonstrate the essential role horticulture and agriculture play.

Giancarlo Raschella Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Giancarlo is a student in the Horticultural Technician program at Durham College. The scholarship is a big aid in helping Giancarlo continue his education in horticulture. He is happy to have chosen the horticulture field and to be in a program with great classmates and instructors.

Giancarlo looks forward to his future in the horticulture industry.

Beatriz Morais Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Beatriz Morais is a second-year student of the Environmental Landscape Management program at Seneca College. Her interest in landscaping started during an entrepreneurial stint at a sustainable construction company, but flourished to become her passion during a career sabbatical to focus on raising her three children. Since then, she has been investing in educational and professional development to start a new career in sustainable landscaping.

Raphael O’loughnan Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 As a labourer with the Niagara Parks Commission, Raphael gets to work at one of the world’s most renowned tourist destinations, Niagara Falls. Raphael has always been a nature enthusiast and is grateful to be able to work in such a diverse ecosystem. Raphael is an honour student in his second year of the Horticulture Technician program at Niagara College and hopes to one day hold a more specific environmental career within the Niagara Parks Commissions Environmental Stewardship department.

Caio Paschoal Rosa Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Caio, a student in the Environmental Landscape Management program at Seneca College, is delighted to hear he was selected for the scholarship. Caio is transitioning from a diploma in economics to horticulture/ environment. A small sustainable backyard project sparked his interest in horticulture, and now he sees landscaping as a sustainable career in a world facing climate change.

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Stasail Shedd Horticulturist Scholarship, $500 After experiencing the healing powers of horticultural therapy first hand, Staysail has made it her mission to pursue a career in the field. Her goals involve bringing horticultural therapy to people for which it is inaccessible, via the installation of residential therapeutic gardens, and through online portals.

Stasail is enrolled in the Horticulture Technician program at Humber College.

Kinley Tenzin Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Kinley would like to whole-heartedly express his gratitude to the OHTF for the scholarship.

He is currently studying Environmental Landscape Management at Seneca College. Kinley feels extremely glad for having chosen the program, which he said symbiotically blends the natural environment with horticulture and urban landscaping.

Kinley pledges to contribute to the industry with dedication and zest.

Richard Williams Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Richard has a passion for botany and all things plant-care, as well as an extreme desire to be outdoors in nature. It’s this combination that has led him into the field of horticulture, and is the main reason for his success. Richard is currently a student in Fanshawe College’s Horticulture Technician program, and said he could not be happier than when he’s learning about plants.

Jacob Snider Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Jacob is a second year student at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. Jacob has always been passionate about plants, botany and the environment. He is enjoying the academics of his program, but also the variety of work and being able to spend time outdoors. Jacob is looking forward to growing his skills and working towards his future goals in the horticulture industry.

Ayza Vardar Post-Secondary Scholarship, $1,000 Ayza immigrated to Canada in 2019 and started chasing her passion for gardening by enrolling in the Horticultural Technician Pre-Apprenticeship program at Humber College. She has finished the program with honours and started working as a full-time maintenance crew member right after graduation. “The program was a very rewarding experience through which I could learn a lot in a short time. I got hired in one week despite COVID-19 conditions and had the opportunity to meet great people in the industry,” she said.

Enoch Wong Cullen Family Scholarship Program, $2,000 Enoch is currently in the process of earning his diploma in the Landscape Technology program at Humber College. With his entry into the landscaping industry, he aims to work with sustainable infrastructure to improve the long-term viability of the built environment.

HELP SOW THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS DONATE TO THE OHTF SCHOLARSHIPS AT

ohtf.ca/donate

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a registered charity.

All donations will receive a tax receipt.

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FOUNDATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FUND BALANCES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Year End Aug. 31, 2021

Year End Aug. 31, 2020

ASSETS

$344,389 $25,077 Current

Bank Dunington-Grubb/Sheridan Nurseries Research Fund $244,896 $235,027 Accounts Receivable

Growers’ Group Research Fund $399,558 $381,065

Year End Aug. 31, 2021

Year End Aug. 31, 2020

$437,939 $104,400 $542,339

$884,633 $151,374 $1,036,007

$3,344,879 $57,711 $40,366 $3,442,956

$2,826,040 $57,711 $66,469 $2,950,220

$3,985,295

$3,986,227

$40,472

$37,896

$1,761,753 $2,183,070 $3,944,823

$1,387,195 $2,561,137 $3,948,331

$3,985,295

$3,986,227

General Fund

Long Term

Ottawa Chapter Val Kirshner Scholarship Fund

$75,506

$72,012

Scholarship Fund

$95,214

$85,043

Casey Van Maris Scholarship Fund

$32,526

$31,997

IPM Symposium Research Fund

$185,592

$186,771

Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship Fund

$110,814

$106,662

John/Ruth Wright Scholarship Fund

$69,365

$66,155

$0

$0

$10,859

$10,357

Highway of Heroes (TFL) Fund

$1,932,914

$2,334,200

Unilock/Designers Group Fund

$11,889

$10,362

Hensbergen/DeGroot Scholarship Fund

$27,725

$26,442

Cullen Family Scholarship Fund

TOTAL LIABILITIES/FUNDS $10,217 $9,744

$8,747 $11,273

Robert/Ruby Allen Scholarship Fund

$23,628

$22,535

$3,194

$0

$32,890

$31,368

$11,602

$11,065

Horst Dickert Scholarship Fund JT Somerville Fund

Russel/Karen Loney Scholarship Fund

One Bench One Tree Fund Peter Olsen Scholarship Fund OJ Muller Memorial Scholarship Fund GrandTrees Walk Fund Waterloo Chapter Scholarship Fund TOTAL FUND BALANCES

Investments Investment-Vineland Consortium Accrued Interest Receivable TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES Current

Accounts Payable and Accrued Charges

Accumulated Fund Balances Fund Balances-Regular Funds Fund Balances-Special Projects

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS & FUND BALANCES

REVENUES

Interest/Gains (Losses) Miscellaneous Research Grants $246,962 $226,936 Donations/Funding

$66,336 $64,243 TOTAL REVENUE

EXPENSES $3,944,823 $3,948,331 Administration Fees/Expenses Disbursed as Research Grants Event/Sponsorship Expenses Disbursed as Scholarships TOTAL EXPENSES EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES FUND BALANCES, BEGINNING OF YEAR FUND BALANCES, YEAR END

Year End Aug. 31, 2021

Year End Aug. 31, 2020

$494,135 $50 $0 $1,713,457

$144,541 $1,349 $0 $3,169,708

$2,207,642

$3,315,598

$279,749 $0 $1,891,301 $40,100

$377,198 $0 $2,073,896 $54,850

$2,211,150

$2,505,945

($3,508) $3,948,331 $3,944,823

$809,653 $3,138,678 $3,948,331

For information on the Foundation, including scholarship applications, supported research programs or to donate, visit OHTF.ca 22

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PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Durham College launches urban agriculture centre

From left to right: Linda Flynn, Don Lovisa, Bob Barrett and Francine Rouleau-Barrett.

Durham College has unveiled The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture.

Created thanks to a $5-million donation from The Barrett Family Foundation, the centre’s vision is to become an internationally recognized hub of excellence in urban agriculture practices, research, education and training.

“The Barrett Centre is an amplification and expansion of all the expertise we’ve gained bringing the field-to-fork philosophy to life each and every day in our food, farming and horticulture programs,” said Don Lovisa, president of Durham College. “The knowledge and experience gained from turning unused fields into a vibrant crop-bearing farm serves as a solid foundation for what The Barrett Centre will accomplish, and we are looking forward to continuing to lead the way together, with The Barrett Foundation, our students, faculty and the community.”

In the coming years, a new urban farm will be developed as a community-inspired living lab. In addition, the centre will enhance the existing urban farm at the Durham College Whitby campus.

As part of the new centre, Durham College will create several educational programs and materials in urban agriculture to meet growing employment needs. The school also aims to become home to a team of urban agriculture experts that will establish the school as an internationally recognized hub of knowledge around sustainable urban agriculture.

“Our goal as a foundation is to partner with organizations that positively impact communities, locally and globally,” said Bob Barrett, The Barrett Family Foundation. “With its focus on sustainable agriculture, coupled with student learning and research, The Barrett Centre stands to do just that. We are really looking forward to seeing all the great work that will be achieved.”

For more information about the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture visit durhamcollege.ca/barrettcentre.

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WSIB rates to decrease in 2022 businesses. This change would reduce administrative costs and burdens by giving businesses a one-stop-shop for submitting payroll deductions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a spike in the province’s average industrial wage. As a result, the ceiling for worker benefits will be increasing by 9.45 per cent. To prevent some businesses from having to pay thousands of dollars a year in additional premiums, Ontario is capping the growth of premiums to an increase of 3.2 per cent.

Businesses eligible for a reduction will continue to see decreases to their premium rate and businesses with projected increases due to their individual class risk and experience will now move up to a maximum of one risk band, which is about five per cent, toward their projected rate.

Having held 2021 rates steady at 2020 levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is resuming the transition approach to its rate-setting model in 2022.

The average premium rate for businesses will be reduced by 5.1 per cent for 2022. This represents a premium decrease from a Schedule 1 average rate of $1.37 on every $100 of insurable payroll in 2020 and 2021, to an average of $1.30 in 2022.

As well, the Ontario government has announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow for a large portion of WSIB’s $6.1 billion in reserves to be distributed to safe employers. Ontario is also proposing to enable the WSIB to work with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to streamline remittances for CMYK

0/0/0/100

40/10/75/0

0/20/75/0

Damage Prevention Symposium returns in 2022 The Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance’s (ORCGA) Damage Prevention Symposium is expected to return to an in-person format in 2022.

The annual event is scheduled for Feb. 8-10 at the Sheraton in Niagara Falls, Ont. The symposium will follow the same format as previous years, with mandated COVID-19 protocols in effect.

The three-day event begins Feb. 8 with committee meetings, the annual general meeting and a welcome reception. Breakout sessions take place Feb. 9-10, with the awards luncheon held on Feb. 10.

In-person registration will include access to the virtual event. If the ORCGA is unable to host an in-person symposium, the event will pivot to a virtual event during the same time period.

For more information, visit orcga.com.

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LMN introduces new features in latest update

Landscape Management Network (LMN) has unveiled its 21.10 product update, the company’s most significant revamp in recent years.

The update includes more than a dozen new highlights including LMN Lend, which provides landscaping business owners with the ability to apply and obtain funding for investments.

“A major obstacle facing landscape owners is access to capital,” said Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN. “It can be challenging to go to a bank, credit union or shop online for the best rates while running the dayto-day operations for your business. LMN Lend solves this challenge by bringing high-quality, competitive rates direct to our customers and beyond.”

Jan 11-13, 2022

Landscapers can complete the online application process in less than 15 minutes to access funding offers from lenders and banks. Landscape contractors can receive funding approval in as quickly as 24 hours.

LMN’s product update also features a new map routing feature to help crews in the field become more efficient. The system generates route maps for up to 50 sites, addressing an often-requested feature by customers in scheduling and time management.

LMN Pay, a secure payment system for all transactions, is another new feature included in the update. The system enables quick credit card payments on the LMN platform. The process takes less than 10 minutes and eliminates the need for complex paperwork and multiple signatures. LMN Pay also offers simple flat rate transaction pricing, while eliminating bank deposit and chargeback fees.

Jan 18-20, 2022

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EXECUTIVE DESK

I

Consider donating to the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation and Scholarship Fund

have always used the lens of “family” when discussing Landscape Ontario.

We are a family/community for mutual benefit and improvement.

Families honour and recognize the legacy of their pioneers. One way we do this is by creating a named scholarship fund within the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation. We already have funds that recognize: Casey van Maris, Val Kirshener, Dunington-Grubb, Horst Dickert, John and Ruth Wright, John T. Somerville, Peter Olsen, Otto J. Muller, Perry Molema, John Hensbergen and Tony DeGroot.

This year, we created a new fund to recognize the memory, contributions and spirit of the late Neil Vanderkruk. Our goal is to raise $100,000 and to spend the interest on a permanent scholarship in Neil’s name.

I met Neil way back in 1987. I was working as the coordinator of the Landscape Program at Humber College and volunteering on the LO promotion committee. In September 1989, Neil called me to see if I was interested in taking on the association’s executive director position.

It was a call that changed my life’s direction.

Many of you have wonderful memories of Neil’s contributions to the profession and the association. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation and Scholarship Fund. To learn more about the fund, visit ohtf.ca/nvk-fund.

For those of you who may have not had the opportunity to meet Neil, here is an excerpt from a previous article detailing his life: Neil Vanderkruk spent a lifetime ensuring both his business and the industry he worked in were a success.

He arrived in Canada from Holland in 1952 at the age of 15. The Vanderkruk family settled in Hamilton, Ont. Shortly after, John Connon hired Neil’s father, Cornelius Vanderkruk. Four years later, they were equal partners in the company.

In 1962, Neil went to work for Connon Nurseries, which was now fully owned by his father. Neil was soon in charge of sales.

When Neil began at Connon Nurseries it was small, but new markets were beginning to open for the company. For example, Connon Nurseries was a pioneer in growing plants in containers.

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In 1986, the brothers decided to divide the company into three separate businesses (A.V.K. Nursery Holdings, C.B. Vanderkruk Holdings and NVK Holdings).

Neil says that one of the reasons the company saw a huge spike in business was his involvement with Landscape Ontario.

“I never passed on an invitation to a speaking engagement, which resulted in our growing reputation right across the country,” Neil said.

One of the early driving forces behind Landscape Ontario, Neil served as the president of the association from 1988 to 1989. He was also a member of the Foundation.

“I am very proud that our industry has come such a long way. I encourage those in the industry now to keep improving our standards,” Neil said.

Those who worked with Neil know he always had high standards. It’s a legacy that he has passed onto future generations.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

tony@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

There’s light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel

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well. While we have mandated that all staff be fully vaccinated, we also know there are reasons why it may not be possible. Taking the advice of employment lawyers and HR professionals, we have made two accommodations available by special request: remote work where possible depending on the role within the organization; and frequent rapid antigen testing. The rapid antigen tests are available through your local chamber of commerce at no charge.

Staff have demonstrated throughout the pandemic they could be highly-productive and effective while working remotely. We have also observed that collaboration is at an all-time high when we meet in-person. While the office isn’t open to drop-in visitors yet, we are now back to the office and more effective than ever.

Landscape Ontario Congress is on! The events team, led by Heather MacRae, is pushing forward and working through difficult logistical challenges to ensure we are all able to enjoy the Congress we all know and love. It won’t come without some compromise, as we do need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines.

Many chapters are starting to discuss in-person events and a few even held fall golf tournaments. I’m looking at you Windsor, Upper Canada and Golden Horseshoe Chapters! It was so heartwarming to see everyone enjoying each other’s company, in person.

The Landscape Ontario board of directors have met in-person twice — while offering a virtual option for those board members who were unable to physically attend.

By offering a hybrid meeting option, we’re providing an opportunity to participate and engage in meetings that previously wasn’t possible. We’re planning an outdoor social event to follow the board meeting on Nov. 17. You, especially, are invited. More details will follow very soon.

We’re all looking forward to getting back to in-person meetings and events and hope to see you at the next chapter meeting or sector group meeting. I can’t wait to see you there!

think by now, we have all had enough of COVID-19.

The provincial government has released its plan to lift restrictions, and while I’m not sure how you put an exact date on when it’s safe to completely lift all safety measures, I really am happy to work toward a finish line.

When lockdowns began, it felt like a sprint that quickly changed to a long distance run that morphed into a marathon. The problem was there was no finish line in sight. The impact of the pandemic on businesses, families, friends, loved ones and our collective health (both physically and mentally) was, and still is, significant.

Through the amazing work of the highly-dedicated Landscape Ontario COVID-19 Task Force, we have been able to keep our community up-to-date on the latest developments and resources. This group of volunteers has met more than 160 times and has produced an entire hub of resources.

As restrictions start to ease, it’s important to remember the advice of the task force: “Don’t let your guard down!”

It’s easy to just drop all of the important health and safety procedures we’ve all implemented to keep our people safe. While there is light at the end of this COVID19 tunnel, we’re not out of it yet. Through our diligence in encouraging our teams to get fully vaccinated and implementing COVID-19 mitigation measures, it’s time to start thinking beyond this deadly pandemic.

One of the most frequent questions we’re getting now is if businesses may roll out a mandatory vaccination policy.

While the answer is yes, it also comes with many caveats and warnings. I’m hearing that taking a hardline stance on mandatory vaccinations is where most business owners want to go, but that doesn’t come without challenges (and severance). Most employment lawyers and human resource professionals will advise to offer accommodations where possible (i.e. remote work and rapid antigen testing).

At Landscape Ontario, we implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for all staff and rolled out a hybrid in-office and remote work program. It didn’t come without some wrinkles to iron out, but overall it’s working

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

27

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SMART ABOUT SALT

We were warned 20 years ago

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Implementing Best Management Practices can reduce salt use and reduce environmental damage

2001 Environment Canada report noted “[winter maintenance derived] salts are entering the environment in large amounts and are posing a risk to plants, animals, birds, fish, lake and stream ecosystems and groundwater.”

That analysis was two decades ago and the problem has only gotten worse.

Salt is processed from salt mines, and by the evaporation of seawater (sea salt) and mineral-rich spring water in shallow pools. Its major industrial products are caustic soda and chlorine. Salt is used in many industrial processes, including the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride, plastics, paper pulp and many other products, but it is often the go-to product in winter maintenance.

Since it’s almost impossible to stop salt derived chlorides once they are introduced to the environment, the best way to address environmental problems from excessive salt use is with source controls. The impact is widespread —on soils, streams and aquatic life, vegetation, wildlife and the drinking water we all rely on each day.

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Research has validated time and time again the application of Best Management Practices (BMPs). In winter maintenance, BMPs can reduce the amount of salt entering the environment — and the associated damage — without compromising safety.

The application of BMPs (the right material, used at the right time, in the right amount, and in the right places) can reduce the amount of salt needed to maintain safe conditions and therefore reduce environmental damage.

There are numerous ill effects of introducing salt to our natural environment.

Sodium and chloride from winter salt eventually makes its way to drinking water wells in some communities, and high chloride levels may make drinking water taste salty. As well, if vegetation is sprayed with salt, it can lose its hardiness to the cold, and be killed by freezing temperatures and high salt levels.

Salt also changes water density, which can negatively affect the seasonal mixing of lake waters. This mixing is important to

LO ACADEMY

Est. 2021

increase oxygen levels required by aquatic life for survival.

Furthermore, wildlife is attracted to salt on or by the road, which increases the threat of collisions with vehicles. For our pets, salt trapped on paws can irritate and crack skin.

Salt also takes its toll on the urban environment as it can damage exterior brick, concrete and sidewalks. For vehicles, salt accelerates rusting, causing damage and increasing repair costs.

To learn more about how winter maintenance salt impacts our environment and how training can reduce the amount of salt needed to ensure safety, please visit the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) at smartaboutsalt.com.

Lee Gould Executive Director, Smart About Salt Council

lee.gould@smartaboutsalt.com

LEARN, GROW, THRIVE.

HortTrades.com/LO- Academy 28

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

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Defining your ideal client avatar •M ake sure you know, crew-by-crew, the types of work that will energize the team. It’s important for your team to know that you’re strategically selecting work they are confident to do and they enjoy — as much as possible.

•U se your company branding as a filter to guide the right projects (or locations) for the clients you take on. All too often, you’ll hear stories of a company that took on a specialty job — a “one-off” that turned out to be a nightmare. Stick to what you’re known for, and to what you and the team are accustomed to accomplishing.

• Take time to learn if a prospective client’s ethics are aligned with your company. Some great examples that Wentworth shared included red flagging a prospect who isn’t interested in either getting permits, or preserving habitat, or respecting neighbours/ community/bylaws. Stick to your own ethics and invite customers who expect you to compromise to seek a different company for their project.

• Learn whether the client is interested in partnering with you on the project. This is a big one for Wentworth and his team. They only take on a client who will be engaged and partner with them on the whole project.

recently hosted another episode of the Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network Virtual Business Bites Series. I was thrilled to spend the hour talking with Scott Wentworth about how his company, Wentworth Landscapes, has determined its ideal client avatar.

I’m taking the liberty to paraphrase Wentworth in saying that in his business, it’s equally as important to determine who the ideal clients are, and who they are not.

“Prequalifying isn’t black and white, it’s intuitive,” Wentworth explained.

At Wentworth Landscapes, one key driver for knowing who is a right fit, is being clear on a key company-wide goal: to create “the raving fan experience” for their customers.

“When the company and team goal is to partner with the client so they both enjoy the process of the project as much as the end result, this draws a line in the sand,” Wentworth said.

When red flags pop-up as warning signs for the sales and design team, they act on it, using their intuition to inform decisions whether or not to take on a client.

Here are my top takeaways from our online discussion: • Be very clear in advance, exactly who the company is, and who is right fit to both work in and with the team.

Without this clarity, you won’t know whether the client seems aligned with your company culture and values.

If you don’t know who is right- and wrong-fit, and know how to act on it, you are likely going to struggle with clients who either give the team a hard time or leave unhappy.

• Be very clear and steadfast as to whether the work the client wants done is within your profitable wheelhouse.

This means you need to know which types of work are more profitable than others for your business, and focus on making it a part of the decision as to which projects you are willing to take on.

“We are always competing with the other experiences the client could purchase with their expendable income.

So we’d better make it fabulous. Listen to your instincts,” Wentworth said. “Give yourself the permission to drop clients before you start to work for them.”

Taking in all of Wentworth’s comments in our discussion, leaves me reflecting on one of our Prosperity Partners Pillars of Good Business: Relationships for Life.

Think of the “client for life” relationship and ask yourself: “Is this someone who you want to work for many times over?” If you see red flags, run the other way.

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

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