Landscape Ontario - September 2021

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

September 2021

GENEROSITY

GROWS Toronto Chapter donates $50,000+ garden makeover to Participation House Markham PAGE 16

PM 40013519

Kristy Chau, GROW Program student tends to a garden plot at Participation House.

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September 2021 • Volume 39 - No. 06 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

Features 4 6

Profile: L akeshore Landscaping Profile: Strathmore

Departments 8 20 21 26 30

Association News Volunteer Profile Professional News Columns Advertisers/Classifieds

Director of communications and Publications Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Communications coordinator and Content Manager Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Editor Bill Tremblay btremblay@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7550 Creative director / IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Editorial intern Taniya Spolia tspolia@landscapeontario.com, 647-338-3647 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

Nolan Bechtel, Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Joan D’Souza, Kaneisha De Leon, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Lori Harding, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Amanda Laszcz, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Andrew McNabb, Shalini Mehta, Sarah Rafols, Joe Salemi, Christy Sebastian, Ian Service, Jessica Tucker, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Tom Somerville

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby, Nick Winkelmolen Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department - Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805 ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519

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Find time to recharge and enjoy your family my design workload would not allow me to take the whole month off, but I did try a new thing I am definitely going to keep doing — I delegated everything that did not specifically require my attention to my team and blocked off my mornings for design and quoting from home.

Time blocking is a powerful tool. By limiting my home office time to just four hours, I was forced to prioritize. With only four hours to get a day’s work done, there wasn’t a minute of time that could be wasted. My family respected my time block if I did not cheat them on their time.

It was not perfect, but I am planning to continue doing this. I enjoyed the freedom of working from home and creating new experiences with my family, while still maintaining an eye on what was happening at the office.

As business owners, we all know we can never shut it off completely. Having a team that can be trusted to run with it in our absence is key. Giving the team the opportunity to prove themselves is an important part of their growth. So, I didn’t take the whole month off, but I learned I can take time off whenever I need to recharge and still keep things moving forward.

I challenge you to build a team that tells you, “It’s okay, we’ve got this!” so that you can spend a little time on yourself and your family.

hope you took a moment this summer to take a break. I have written in the past about the crazy year our industry has experienced. In my nearly 20 years in business and more than 35 years in the industry, I have never seen such demand for our services, products or talent. Nor have I seen customers that were better educated about our industry and what we sell. When we are at our busiest, it is all the more important to take some time to ourselves, to recharge and screw our heads on straight again.

Coming into this season, I told my team I wanted to take August off. I was in the midst of one of my best-selling seasons ever and I could see we would be booked up a bit earlier than usual, with higher margins and more exciting projects. I was half joking when I said it, knowing I had never done it before and would likely never get the courage or self-discipline to do it.

I hired a new office manager in the spring and she was there when I said it. She asked me several times through June and July what my plan was for my month off. She was concerned about how the executive tasks were going to get done in my absence. I told her we would just have to play it by ear as I had never done anything like this before.

My wife and I bought a new house and moved in July, and the honey-do list was a mile long. As August approached, I realized

Dave Wright LO President

davew@wrightlandscape.ca

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Member Profile:

establishes roots through

COMMUNITY

INVOLVEMENT

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By Fred Groves

n 2003, shortly after starting their own business, brothers Matt and Ryan Pawluk discovered a neglected 21-year-old beech tree.

Throughout the years, the Pawluk brothers, who operate Lakeshore Landscaping, have uprooted and replanted the beech tree more than once. However, this spring the beech tree found its permanent home in front of their landscape design and build headquarters on Jefferson Boulevard in Windsor, Ont. “They’ve taken the tree on their journey,” explains Jay Rivait.

Lakeshore Landscaping’s customer service manager.

The journey is a tale of two brothers, their professional and caring staff, as well as why and how they continue to give back to their community.

Growing up in Tecumseh, Ont., Matt and Ryan did what a lot of teenagers did, they cut lawns. But as Ryan explains, his older sibling’s knack for marketing, combined with the strong workethic of their parents, has resulted in a successful business that is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“We said, ‘that is what everyone else is doing’,” recalls Ryan about mowing grass. “What can we do different? Matt said ‘we should go to the local quarry’.”

Junior designer Ryan Upton (left) and customer service representative Jay Rivait.

Back-breaking labour

So the teenagers packed up a pickaxe and a shovel, and like a lot of local residents, poked around in the Amherstburg Quarry for flagstone. After 10 hours of back-breaking work, they figured they had mined about half a ton of flat rock and could sell it for $75.

“We found a leaf-spring that was the perfect shape and angle. It was a wedge we could pound under the flagstone. We still have it,” says Ryan.

Unable to keep up with the demand for the stone, the Pawluk brothers began going out of town to buy rock for their increasing number of customers and quickly started up A-1 Boulders and Flagstone, which became Canadian National Stone and eventually transformed into Lakeshore Landscaping.

Humble beginnings for anyone builds appreciation, and that is why Lakeshore Landscaping has become well-known in the area for giving back to the community. Throughout the company’s history, the Pawluks have supported the landscape and horticultural programs at St. Clair College, canvassed for the GoodFellows Club and made various donations to organizations such as Hospice and Transition to Betterness.

“We love to give back, we’ve done so much in the past. We still love doing it and whatever we can do, we do it,” says Ryan.

In 2004, Carol Derbyshire of Windsor Hospice contacted Lakeshore Landscaping to see if they could install a water feature. Matt and Ryan completed the job for free and continue to maintain it. That act of generosity earned the young company the prestigious title of Young Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

However, it is not just Matt and Ryan Pawluk that contribute to their community. Their passion has spread to their employees and last year when one of the staff heard an elderly woman in the city had plants stolen from her garden, the reaction to replenish the garden was swift and automatic.

Lakeshore Landscaping has 15 employees and boasts a wall full of local awards of distinction. Jay Rivait who, besides being

Lakeshore Landscaping co-owner Ryan Pawluk and one of his designs. the customer service representative, is also a designer and handles human resources responsibilities.

A graduate of St. Clair College, she has also returned to the school to teach. Rivait has been in the landscape business for 26 years and smiles with pride when she speaks of the work that Lakeshore Landscaping has accomplished.

“Once we are committed to something, we don’t want to do it halfway. It’s our mentality to go big or go home,” she says.

Live your Identity

Jay and Ryan Pawluk, along with junior designer Ryan Upton, are the ones who make client dreams come true. Ryan Pawluk specializes in new-home landscape designs, while Jay likes to work with existing homes and what is already in place.

“A lot of times we run ideas through each other,” says Jay. With a company motto of ‘Live your Identity,’ Rivait says the best part of being in the landscape design-build business is taking a client’s idea and turning it into reality. It’s also gratifying, as she has done, to drive by a home 10-years after the job has completed and see how well it has stood up to the test of time.

“It’s your job as that consultant to listen to what they (customers) are saying and make it a reality for them so it works,” Rivait said.

There are larger landscape companies in Southwestern Ontario, but as explained by Jay, Lakeshore Landscaping is always fine-tuning to make what they already have even better.

“I don’t think we are looking to get any bigger. We don’t want 50 on staff. Right now we are at the stage of efficiency,” Jay said.

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Member Profile:

From nursery to

NATIONAL COMMERCIAL

LANDSCAPING

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By Taniya Spolia Aurelio Teixeira, a site-supervisor in Toronto, started at Strathmore in 2020. He moved to Toronto from Brazil in 2017 and while he always worked in agriculture, he found his calling in landscaping. It was a simple Indeed.com application that brought him to Strathmore.

“I had big positions back in Brazil and in my interview here I knew that didn’t matter because they didn’t know me. So, I said I’m okay with starting at the bottom, I just need the opportunity to grow,” Teixeira said. “I started as a crew member, in two months I got promoted and now I’m a site-supervisor.”

While Strathmore is run by a family, it also acts as a family. Teixeira especially appreciates the trust each employee is given and the autonomy to create their own success. He acknowledges that growth for the individual is also growth for the company at large.

“We worked for 50 years in [Montreal]. Now, within four years, we opened up to three markets,” explains Milligan. “There was a lot of risk there, but we’re really pleased with how it’s gone. We got the right

trathmore Landscape Contractors aims to set a standard in commercial landscaping — and it all starts with their people.

Founded by Elmer Milligan, the Montreal-based company began as a garden centre in 1963 and is now in its third-generation of family leadership. In the 1990s, president Danny Milligan, the second generation to lead the company, discovered a void in the landscaping market that transitioned the nursery into the start of what Strathmore is today.

“A lot of companies [back then] were offering residential services, you know where you knock on the door, ask to mow someone’s lawn and you have a job,” explains vice-president Jessica Milligan. “But, there was nobody servicing the commercial market. So one day, my dad [Danny Milligan] went on to a property he was maintaining with a notepad and made a list of every single thing he would do if he was the building owner there.”

Through existing relationships, Danny Milligan built a foundation

Jessica, Gordon, Conor and Danny Milligan from Strathmore Landscape Contractors.

people on the bus. People on our team took ownership, whether they moved or travelled frequently to make sure our standard was upheld across the country. They trusted us and we trusted them.”

“It’s our people,” adds Galitchi. “It’s not the machines or the mechanics behind it, it’s the people that make a difference.”

With this recent surge in growth, Strathmore is hungry for more, but not at the expense of the standard of quality and professionalism they have worked so hard to cement.

“We want to grow consistently with elegance — quality over quantity. We want to attract the best people and the best clients,” says Galitchi.

Strathmore has much to look forward to in their future. While an established company already, they know their opportunity for growth is limitless and with their team's drive and passion for success, the sky is truly their limit.

“If I could travel back in time and tell 24-year-old me something, it’s that it’s all going to be worth it,” says Milligan. “There’s going to be long days, early mornings, late nights and a whole lot of emotions. But, if you stay committed to providing the highest quality and working with a high quality team, in the end, it’s all worth it.”

of trust with his original clients and grew Strathmore’s reputation from there. Today, with more than 300 employees, the company has grown from servicing local communities to businesses across the country in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal.

“I always say ‘you can tell what separates a pro team from the amateurs in a sport.’ That’s what we want people to feel when they work with us, like they’re with the pros,” says Milligan.

The company’s focus is on delivering professional services while building relationships founded on trust with their clientele, and their ultimate goal is to sustain their values, culture and people.

Sergiu Galitchi, now an account manager and supervisor, started at Strathmore in 2014 as a crew member. Surrounded by co-workers who come from around the world, he values the respect and equal opportunity for growth each employee has in the company.

“At Strathmore there is absolutely that chance for growth. If you want to stay and work, anything is possible,” Galitchi said. “You have to love what you’re doing, live it — work with all your heart and work with all your soul.”

He describes Strathmore as a people-focused company, where the core values are not just ‘posters on a wall,’ but the basis of a culture that lives in the office and people everyday.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Trial Gardens open doors to new ideas

While the University of Guelph’s Trial Gardens are designed to evaluate new plants from breeders from around the world, for two days each year, the garden sites serve as inspiration to professional landscapers and the general public.

On August 12, the trial garden site at Landscape Ontario held its annual open house, welcoming visitors to peruse the more than 180 perennials, 250 annuals and pollinator research garden that compares pollinator activity on native and exotic species. The following day, the University of Guelph’s Turfgrass Institute site opened its doors to showcase more than 230 annuals.

“Hopefully, they’re inspired in some way to buy something different. In the perennials for example, we have a lot of new colours and new forms that will fit somebody’s garden,” said trial garden manager Rodger Tschanz.

For Nadine Markovich, an acting supervisor with the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, finding new inspiration was key to her visit to the Landscape Ontario site.

“We get to see new plants and get new ideas, so that we don’t stay stagnant,” Markovich said. “I like to bring new and interesting things to the public to see, so

they’re able to learn something and ask questions.”

She added the trial gardens also provide insight into a plant’s vigour and application.

“We’re able to see how things perform in a pot, or in the ground, which is interesting to us, since we do both styles of planting,” Markovich said.

For retired growers Don Dusha and David Marshall, inspiration was also key to their visit.

However, what they discovered at the trial gardens will be applied to their backyards rather than the greenhouse.

“We’re still gardeners, so we come looking for new ideas,” Marshall said.

While Dusha and Marshall have returned to the open house for several years, Dusha noted the event can serve as somewhat of a tease.

“What I’d like to know is when I can buy these? I’ve seen many great varieties,” Dusha said.

The Trial Gardens has been providing feedback to breeders and the horticultural industry for more than 20 years. The plants are evaluated on uniqueness, hardiness, disease-resistance and drought-tolerance in southern Ontario’s growing conditions.

Alongside the University of Guelph and

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Landscape Ontario, The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington also host a trial garden plot. However, the space at the Landscape Ontario office in Milton is the largest of the three sites.

The 2021 trials have presented challenges in terms of weather and growing conditions.

An early spring, followed by a cold snap, quickly put the plants to the test.

“That affected the annuals, and we actually had some damage,” Tschanz said. “For the perennials, I didn’t notice any damage or performance issues at the trial site, and it certainly made for some nice early spring colours.”

Last year, the trial gardens expanded dramatically, with the addition of a container trial, the pollinator evaluation garden and a large, herbaceous perennial trial.

About 10 plants of each variety are planted, and Tschanz explained they aim to give each perennial three growing seasons.

The perennial gardens are likely the largest trial of their kind in Canada. While breeders may conduct their own large-scale trials, the LO garden is different, as a third party conducts the evaluation.

“The perennial trial here blows everything out of the water. It’s unique,” Tschanz said.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Landscape Ontario Awards — What to consider before entering

By Taniya Spolia Landscape Ontario has consistently aimed to uplift and recognize landscaping and horticulture excellency.

With the innate responsibility to commend outstanding work, LO has granted awards to the best and brightest landscape and horticulture projects and to outstanding professionals across Ontario.

Created in 1973, the Trillium Award was the first official accolade presented by LO. The award celebrated noteworthy contributions to the betterment of horticulture in general.

Since then, the annual awards have evolved and developed to encompass a wide range of distinctions — from lighting to design to irrigation and even plant material and retail displays.

Jennifer Hayman, owner of Jennifer Hayman Design Group, has been a recipient of several awards since 2009.

“What inspired me [to enter], and what I think is really important, is to share information,” Hayman says. “I think as an industry, there’s value in showing others what

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you’re working on and looking back on what you have accomplished.”

The awards give members an opportunity to market themselves against top-tier competitors but also share, network and learn from industry peers.

July 1 marked the opening of the online entry period for the 2022 LO Awards of Excellence, and as you mull over if you want to enter, here’s some advice from the very people who will judge those entries.

Continued >

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Cedar Springs Landscape Group, winner, Private Residential Maintenance - Under 15,000 sq. ft.

What is your philosophy when it comes to judging?

see clean construction and all the little intricacies.

Alistair Johnston, partner at Strybos Barron King Ltd — Construction judge: Although we are “judging,” I think one of the most important parts is to just take it in without judgment — that’s the challenge.

There’s certain criteria we follow in terms of quality, construction ability and the finished CMYK

Jeff McMann, consultant — Construction, Maintenance, and Interior Plantscaping judge: When it comes to judging, we’re looking for quality work.

We’re looking for things that are level, things that are straight, you know, the obvious and important stuff. We want to

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product that we look at, but there’s a design element that’s also important.

Ron Koudys, professor and landscape architect — Design judge: I usually say the purpose of the judging process is not to pick a winner, but to acknowledge a high level of quality and creative ability in the design. You could have checked all the boxes on our criteria list, but sometimes

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Allweather Landscape Co. Ltd., winner, Private Residential Maintenance - 15,000 sq. ft. - 1 acre. there’s this spark that leaps out off the page and makes you say “wow.”

Rob Redden, VP at In-lite Outdoor Lighting — Lighting judge: Lighting is artwork. So, just because one person wins an award one way doesn’t mean that, that is the only way. Different professions will express themselves in different ways and I think lighting gives us that opportunity.

What are the first things you look for in a submission?

McMann: If it’s for maintenance, we always look at the obvious things — like colour, is the grass green? How do the annuals look? The first visual appeal is important for maintenance. For construction, the first impression matters most — what’s on the first slide and what does it represent? The

first slide sets the tone for the project.

Johnston: I think it’s just the broad concept, the overall appeal. When you first see a project, there are some ways you can tell that it’s an award winner right away with the quality of its finish layout, the materials that are being used and the complexity of the project.

Koudys: The first thing I do is make sure

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ProScape Land Design Inc., winner, Landscape Lighting Design & Installation - Under $10,000. that they qualify. You know, if their name is on the drawing, we don’t look at it — we need to judge blind. Then we organize them by category, lay them out on a table and walk around to get an overall overview. We use criteria to judge, but it’s conversational too.

Redden: So, our judging process just changed recently. We’ve moved from more of a figure skating style — the idea of “oh, we like this or we don’t like this” — to a harder-set criterion list. We met as a group and revamped the award levels at all different categories to make it a bit more specific to allow participants in the awards to understand exactly what we were looking for and ideally, give them an opportunity to be more successful.

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What are some misconceptions entrants may have?

McMann: It’s not just the design itself, but it’s “did you really meet your client’s expectations and did you capture what your client was after?” If the client wanted something that was, let’s say, a formal garden and then you came up with a different style, that’s important to us.

Johnston: It’s not just about nice looking photos, but the quality of the actual photograph that’s important. We need to zoom in and if it’s a poor quality photo, then we can’t actually see the details that might be important.

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Koudys: People think that I look at a drawing and right away, I understand everything that’s going on. I’m really reliant on the text that’s provided and the clarity of the drawings — the completeness. The submission is really a communication exercise and the better they communicate, the more value I can derive from the design.

Redden: First, people think you need a lot of light to be in the landscape lighting category, but simple and elegant lighting is often as effective or more effective than too much light. Second, I do think that often decent projects are overlooked, due to poor photography.

Koudys: Just as general advice, as time progressed, drawings have gotten better and better, and pretty much everybody now is using some form of computer-aided design, 3D modelling — that kind of thing. That’s all really helpful. All of that has elevated the quality of the submissions that we’ve seen in terms of professionalism but a lot of it is smoke and mirrors. If it’s a bad design, no matter how much lipstick you put on it, it’s still a pig.

Redden: It’s important to plan your

photography. Get to your location a day or two beforehand to reignite the focus or clean up your gardens so that the light is creating the effect it was intended to.

The 2022 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence program is open to all active members of the association. For more information, visit LOawards.com. Entries for this year’s program close Oct. 1.

What are some things people should include in their submissions?

McMann: Quite often, I think the attention to detail is the key part of submissions people don’t realize are all that important. So if you’re doing edging, show a close-up of the edge.

Johnston: The fit and finish of the work.

We zoom in on the photographs and look at everything very closely. Sometimes people miss a few key details that are important to achieve a level of excellence we’re looking for.

Koudys: If the design is really poorly resolved, that typically doesn’t bode well and this comes somewhat with experience.

You need to look out for how you create the interaction between spaces, how the lines meet other lines, how you relate the garden to the house or relate the garden to its context.

Redden: A big one is focusing on good photography. We often find people in the lighting category waiting until it’s dark to capture their submissions — nighttime photography is difficult — when in fact, you need to do it in that blue hour. That’s right after sunset, but just before it’s dark, when the camera can still balance out some of the ambient light with the effects of the landscape lighting.

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What advice do you have for participants?

McMann: Often, participants feel like this is a photo competition — it’s not. Focus on the details and the quality of work that your firm is doing.

Johnston: Don’t necessarily apply for an award the first year that the landscape is completed. When it comes to plant material, at the beginning it hasn’t had a chance to establish or mature for even one growing season.

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GROW program helps establish new roots in landscaping While the GROW program is designed as a training mechanism for landscape companies, it’s also helping to show employees how the industry can become a career, rather than job.

For the Montreal-based Strathmore Landscaping and their employee Aurelio Teixeira, the Get Ready for Opportunities at Work (GROW) program has proven itself as a win-win endeavour.

Teixeira immigrated to Canada from Brazil with a strong background in agricultural engineering. He discovered many jobs in landscaping and horticulture required similar skills to his previous work experience and education, and joined Strathmore Landscaping in 2020.

With plans to expand into the Greater Toronto Area, Strathmore identified Teixeira as a strong employee.

However, in order to promote him to a supervisory role, he required training.

So, the landscaping company enrolled Teixeira in the 2020/21 cohort of the GROW – Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP).

Strathmore selected the GROW program as it offered an intensive and targeted approach, providing the learning and development Aurelio Teixeira they considered key to the successful startup of their new branch.

“Something that we realized quite a while ago is that our success as a business relies on being able to develop the talent our employees have within the company,” said Jessica Milligan, vice president and owner of Strathmore. “In the crunch we’re seeing now with the availability of talent, it’s really important to have a program like GROW. We can take people and show them there is a path and career development available in our industry.”

GROW was created in response to a growing number of requests from employers for support in developing and retaining employees. Established by SkillsAdvance Ontario, the program was developed and delivered by Landscape Ontario, with the support of a consultant, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) and in partnership with other training providers such as Conestoga College. GROW includes three streams, which focus on new entrants to the industry, existing workers who are looking to develop their skills; and the employer of choice program for business owners and managers.

Incumbent worker program participants are nominated by their employer, and are trained in foundational supervision, advanced health and safety compliance, as well as skills outlined by the GROW program staff.

Teixeira explained the program helped him develop his delegation skills, improve his staff and client management skills as well as leadership skills. Since completing the 15-week online program, he has been promoted from crew manager to site supervisor.

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“I became a better leader after the program, I learned how to delegate and handle overwhelming situations,” Teixeira said. “This has allowed me to approach this season in a better state of mind with the ability to stay calm when dealing with new situations.”

For Strathmore, the GROW program allowed local training for their GTA expansion, instead of importing a supervisor from their head office in Montreal.

Now, both Strathmore and Teixeira agree he is well-positioned to grow into a field supervisor role as a result of the training and combined on-the-job experience. Milligan explained that alongside new skills, the GROW program delivered new confidence for Teixeira.

“The big thing was it showed him that we were serious about giving him a future beyond punching a clock in this business,” Milligan said. “Being selected to participate in the program was a very big deal for him. There was a sense of accomplishment and pride.”

Do you have any employees who would benefit from the incumbent worker program this off season?

Nominate them today!

The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides professional development to current sector workers nominated for the program by their employer. All successful nominees receive foundational supervisory and advanced health and safety compliance training. GROW staff create individualized development plans with each participant in coordination with their employer. The program is delivered from September 2021-February 2022. The training course is delivered over 10 weeks. If you have any questions, contact Lori Harding at lharding@landscapeontario.com.

For more information on the GROW program, visit growoutdoors.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

A new view for Participation House residents As volunteers from the Toronto Chapter of Landscape Ontario break ground on a new patio and garden at Participation House in Markham, Ont., an audience gathers at the adjacent window.

While landscaping isn’t typically a spectator sport, new experiences have been few and far between for Participation House residents. The home for adults with developmental and physical disabilities was hit particularly hard by COVID-19, while lockdown measures translated to the cancellation of day trips and excursions.

“With COVID, just like the rest of the world, they miss activity.

So, with all this activity happening with coloured machines and everything, the windows were standing room only,” said Shelley Brillinger, executive director of Participation House. “All the chairs were lined up on the inside of the glass and they were watching. They were so excited to see something happening.”

The project was made possible through Landscape Ontario’s Garden Makeover program, which was created to recognize the dedication of frontline workers across the province. The program received more than 1,000 nominations, and Brillinger was one of 10 recipients awarded a $5,000 garden makeover from the association.

“This frontline worker dealt with an outbreak of COVID-19 in her facility. She managed the crisis and dealt with the media, but never once lost sight of the fact that the people she cares for are a priority,” Laura Mason wrote in her nomination for Brellinger.

“She dealt with significant loss of people she has cared for over years. She managed the situation with professionalism and grace, but most of all with compassion for the residents, the staff and the families.”

Paying it forward

Although the 10 garden makeovers were intended for the recipients’ homes, Brillinger opted to apply her award to the courtyard at Participation House.

“When something so surprisingly nice happened to me, it was a natural thing to give it to Participation House,” Brillinger said. “It has been one heck of a year for the world, but particularly for those at Participation House. We’ve been tested on a lot of levels with our ability to just keep going.”

Above and beyond

The Participation House Garden Makeover transforms about 7,000 square feet of the facility’s courtyard, and includes a 700-square-foot concrete patio, two retaining walls and various softscape elements.

To complete the job, nearly all labour, machinery and materials were donated by more than 30 businesses and organizations.

“Most of us are pretty blessed that we get to do what we want to do. In this time of COVID, landscapers were allowed to get to work pretty early, and we’ve been allowed to work non-stop since then,” said David Milne, project lead and president of the Toronto Chapter of Landscape Ontario. “So far, the only money we’ve had to spend is for diesel fuel to run the machines.”

Donations for the project exceeded the original $5,000 commitment. Organizers estimate the job would cost more than $50,000 to complete.

“I just called up everybody to get stuff donated, and it was really easy. Everyone was really generous,” said Caroline de Vries, who designed and coordinated the garden makeover. “Everybody said ‘yes’.”

Before, during and after images of the Garden Makeover site.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO Improved accessibility

Kerry Scott, Participation House director of residential services, and garden makeover winner Shelley Brillinger.

Brillinger added she was overwhelmed by the goodwill of the volunteers working to renovate the garden.

“I’ve not had the pleasure of working with the landscaping sector before. And those we’ve met so far have just been first class people,” she said.

Overcoming obstacles

The job site did present challenges. The garden courtyard is encircled by the home, meaning the only access point was through two sets of double doors. Volunteers used powered wheelbarrows, compact excavators and compact track loaders to move fill and gravel to and from the jobsite.

“What could have been a really huge challenge, we managed to beat,” Milne said.

“We had to take out about 42 cubic yards of fill, and we put in close to 20 yards of gravel to prepare the base for the concrete.”

A large tree stump also blocked construction of the patio, and had to be removed using a mini excavator.

“Trevor Little from Little Landscapes is a master with his mini excavator. It was very impressive. It took a little work and manipulation, but he did it,” Milne said.

Although challenging, Milne said the project is worth the effort.

“Just the smiles on their faces was incredible. It just makes you feel good,” Milne said. “For me personally, giving back feels so good. And the best things in life happen when you give.”

The new patio replaces a lawn, which will improve accessibility to the courtyard for Participation House residents.

“That’s why it’s concrete. That’s why you don’t see a precast paver. This is smoother,” de Vries said.

Many Participation House residents are confined to wheelchairs, so a pouredconcrete surface will increase accessibility to the revamped gardens.

“That is why it’s such a gift too,” Brillinger said. “Now there’s actually a level constructed area that’s actually the same as a floor indoors. They’ll be able to maybe have a meal out there. To have more people outdoors is going to be great.”

While the garden makeover creates a new view for residents, Brillinger hopes the project will also deliver a new perspective of the home for the general public.

“Especially this year, it’s nice to see them in the news for a good reason. It’s such a wonderful place,” Brillinger said. “I hate for those people who never knew about Participation House to summarize us as the COVID story. We’re so much more than the COVID story.”

As for the Toronto chapter of Landscape Ontario, volunteers are now pondering how they can tackle similar charitable projects in the future.

“I think it’s an honour to be able to do this,” Milne said. “I’m really proud of what the people that were there were able to accomplish.”

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PROJECT SPONSORS

Quercus Gardens Elite Concrete G&L BTN Nurseries Miller Compost Beaver Valley Stone Home Depot Tradewinds International Moonstruck Lighting Ltd. Landscape Garten Van Dyke TreeCare Oriole Landscaping Ltd Beaver Rentals/Ace Heavy Equipment Mr Bins Inc Tydell Disposal

VOLUNTEERS

Caroline de Vries, Tradewinds International David Milne, Quercus Gardens David McEldon, David McEldon Landscape and Design Tony Digiovanni, Landscape Ontario Trevor Little, Little Landscapes Paul Zammit, Niagara College David Haley, Figure4 Designs Debra Roche, Grow Program participant Sarah Rafols, Landscape Ontario Jesse Lewis, Quercus Gardens Dean Kelly, Figure4 Designs Kristy Chau, GROW Program student Bernard Sue, GROW Program student Angelo Margrete Haefele, Landscape Garten Gerry Reisky, Terra Form

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

New irrigation system passes the test

The Water Smart Irrigation Professional (WSIP) training and certification program held a validation for six Landscape Ontario member companies on July 28. It was the first validation held using the newlyinstalled irrigation system at the LO site in Milton, Ont. The 10 participants completed a written exam for the in-class portion of the training in April 2021.

Thank you to judges Steve Hernandez (Groundhog Landscaping) and Cam Hansuld (Nutri-Lawn Mississauga), as well as representative Justin Comacchio from Peel Region for volunteering their time to help with the WSIP validation.

Open to landscape professionals across Ontario, the WSIP program provides contractors with the tools and knowledge to promote water-efficient irrigation practices

to clients via the latest technology and by conducting irrigation audits. The program is run in partnership with Peel Region and York Region.

For more information on how the program can benefit your business and clients, or to apply for the next round of training, email wsip@landscapeontario. com, call 1-800-265-5656 ext. 2397 or visit HortTrades.com/WSIP.

GARDEN CENTRE

Program

Details at:

OPEN FOR ENTRY!

LOawards.com

July 1st to October 1st, 2021

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

In Memoriam — Allen Monsma Allen (Eelke) Monsma passed away suddenly but peacefully on June 10 at the age of 87. The founder of A.M.A. Horticulture was surrounded by his wife of 65 years, Shirley Monsma, and his daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and Rick Bradt and Audrey and Peter DeJong.

Monsma was born in Broeksterwoude (Broeksterwâld), Netherlands, in 1934. Together with his childhood sweetheart and new bride Shirley, he arrived in Canada in 1956 with just $56 dollars in his pocket. Monsma founded A.M.A. in 1982.

Since then, the company has expanded to become a leading horticultural supplier in North America. Monsma’s life and his personal motto, ‘Go slowly, but with all your strength,’ have been quite encouraging to the A.M.A. team for nearly four decades.

“Dad was a pioneer and leader in North America’s horticulture industry, though he would never say it of himself,” said Connie Bradt, co-managing director of A.M.A. together with her husband, Rick. “Sometimes this was through big innovations, like inventing Al’s Flower Pouch and Al’s Hopper, introducing the first North American-style stonewool plug tray to Canada, or being the first in North America to commercially produce Ellepots. But most of the time, this was modelled through his countless humble acts of service. Even up until last week, he was often the first one out in production making

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Ellepots, long before the sun came up. That was Dad, steadily working behind the scenes and putting other people’s needs first. His quiet strength has been the blueprint for A.M.A.’s success.”

“It is a heartbreaking loss for A.M.A. and our family, and we know his passing will be felt by many across the horticulture industry,” said Rick Bradt. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

A private funeral was held in Leamington, Ont. Memorial donations may be made to Faith Reformed Church Kingsville, the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, or via an online obituary.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Jon Agg speaks to the benefits of contributing to the bigger picture

Jon Agg, owner of Pristine Property Management, was only 12-years-old when he entered the horticulture industry.

“I started cutting grass in the Highland Creek area of Scarborough,” Agg says. “So that was 12, and I just turned 39, and if you can believe it, I still have one of my original customers.”

A long-standing and well-versed member of the industry, Agg saw success as his company grew over the years.

“I think it was around 2012 when I had a conversation with a gentleman about joining Landscape Ontario,” Agg remembers. “He pointed out how lonely of an island I was on. It must have been a couple of years later when I actually started to realize what he meant.”

Agg came to see the benefits of Landscape Ontario’s peer-network and support system, that extend beyond his direct competitors.

“I thought I was fine on my own, but even if you think you have a great island, if you think you have everything going right in your business — the rug can get pulled out from under you very, very quickly,” explains Agg. “Having other people, whether you call it a community or simply others to talk to, is definitely beneficial in the grand scheme of things.”

Upon this realization, Agg joined Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice committee in 2015. From there, he joined the Durham Chapter board, where he currently serves as

president and as provincial board representative of LO’s Snow and Ice Management sector group.

Being involved in those committees means attending meetings, sharing communal problems and discussing how to address them. Working toward issues that impact both him and his peers — such as lowering insurance rates and working to certify businesses to decrease slip and fall liabilities — has given him the opportunity to not only become a better business owner, but also a better employer.

“It’s nice to be involved and understand different perspectives,” Agg says. “And it’s funny, because I don’t really see it as volunteering. I bet a lot of LO members and reps don’t see it as volunteering, or even a line on their resume. It’s just something you do because you’re a part of this industry — not volunteering, but contributing.”

While being a part of committees has a lot to offer in the present, Agg hopes to see them create tangible change that will impact the industry as a whole. He recognizes that as a large group, there is an increased ability to drive change if members are driven and focused “I don’t want to be talking about the same thing every five years,” says Agg. “LO has the opportunity to magnify voices and communicate through a megaphone, which individual companies may not. As a group we can push for things to move forward.”

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Government pledges $4 million to Ontario horticultural research projects Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently announced federal funding of nearly $4 million to support four horticultural research projects at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC).

Through the federal AgriScience Program, VRIC will receive up to $877,000 to help make Canadian roses more disease resistant and adaptive, so they may reach more domestic and international markets. A further $931,000 will support the centre’s work to discover and evaluate new biocontrol solutions to advance the research on pest management for the Canadian greenhouse sector. These projects are also supported through the AgriScience Program.

VRIC will also receive up to $1.8 million in support for it’s on-the-vine breeding program for greenhouse tomatoes, which is the first of its kind in Canada. The program focuses on developing high-yield varieties with improved flavour and production traits that are adapted to Canada’s climate.

The fourth project announced will help VRIC to lay the foundation to increase the conversion of horticultural waste into valueadded ingredients in Canada. Up to $200,000 will be provided for the project through the Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program.

“The Government of Canada’s confidence in Vineland through investment in horticulture

innovation means new varieties preferred by consumers and adapted for the Canadian climate and new crop protection solutions making better use of resources and helping the sector be more sustainable. We appreciate the continued support of our work to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and drive short- and long-term economic growth,” said Ian Potter, president and CEO of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

Parliamentary Secretary Neil Ellis made the announcement in Welland, Ont., (on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), before touring a facility alongside Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

“The research being conducted at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, prosperous and competitive horticulture sector for Ontario and all of Canada,” said Bittle. “These investments will drive innovation, and find solutions to boost yields and reach new markets.”

The funding builds on a March 18, 2021, announcement from the governments of Canada and Ontario of more than $330,000 to support VRIC research projects, which will increase greenhouse capacity and productivity in the horticultural sector.

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Tillsonburg, ON Specializing in field grown and potted cedars along with perennials, trees and shrubs of both deciduous and evergreen varieties.

519-688-0437

info@pottersroadnursery.com

PottersRoadNursery.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Here’s seven must-see seminars at Congress Conference Registration is now open for Landscape Ontario’s virtual Congress Conference. The annual seminar series returns Jan. 18-20, 2022 via Zoom, and delivers 36 sessions featuring 47 leading experts from across the various sectors of horticulture and landscaping.

Here’s a few highlights of what to expect during Congress Conference: WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19

TUESDAY, JAN. 18

Successfully Recruiting and Retaining Labour

Garden Spotlight: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Trial Garden Results

The Internet of Nature

11 a.m. to noon Attracting and retaining the right employees is an ongoing challenge for landscaping companies. During this seminar, Landscape Ontario members Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Yorkshire Garden Services; Christine Moffit, Christine’s Touch Landscaping; Kathy Thomas, Green Thumb Landscaping; and Scott Wentworth, Wentworth Landscapes will outline successful strategies for finding and retaining employees.

9-10 a.m.

Kew Gardens in London, England, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collection in the world. During this session, host Michel Gauthier and Richard Barley, director of horticulture and learning at Kew, will deliver a virtual tour and insights into the work behindthe-scenes at the gardens.

1-2 p.m.

Rodger Tschanz, University of Guelph trial garden manager, will share highlights from the 2021 trial garden season. With sites at Landscape Ontario in Milton, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Tschanz will discuss the top annual, perennial and edible performers from the 2021 trials.

11 a.m. to noon Dr. Nadina Galle, a postdoctoral researcher at University College Dublin and TEDx speaker, created the term Internet of Nature (IoN) to connect ecology and tech to help urban development strengthen green spaces. Learn how connections between ecology and technology can build better places to live.

For more information on sessions, or to register, visit HortTrades.com

LANDSCAPE

IPM SYMPOSIUM

DESIGNERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 VIRTUAL

CONFERENCE TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 VIRTUAL

LandscapeOntario.com/ IPM-Symposium-2022

LandscapeOntario.com/ Landscape-Designer-Conference-2022 22

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO THURSDAY, JAN. 20

Celebrating a decade of National Tree Day

Indigenous Agriculture Techniques

11 a.m. to noon During this session, Isaac Crosby, lead hand for urban agriculture at Evergreen Brick Works, will explain how Indigenous agriculture techniques were used to reclaim two sites in Toronto. Crosby will also examine sisters gardening, clay pot irrigation and mound building techniques during the seminar.

This year, National Tree Day marks its 10th anniversary.

Since 2011, the Wednesday of National Forest Week in September has been declared National Tree Day. The 10th annual National Tree Day takes place on Sept. 22, 2021.

The Canada-wide event was created to encourage Canadians to plant and dedicate trees, as well as learn about environmental contributions and the historical impact trees have provided to the national economy.

National Tree Day was established on March 2, 2011, following a motion in the House of Commons put forward by the late Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau, at the request of Tree Canada.

“By passing this motion, the House will ask Canadians to spend just one day reflecting on the link between their lives and that of the tree,” Galipeau said in 2011.

Today, Canada’s forests are seen as a major contributor to achieving net-zero emissions targets. Planting trees is a natural climate solution that removes and stores carbon from the atmosphere, while providing other benefits such as improved air and water quality, supporting biodiversity and decreasing the risk of wildfires in rural communities.

For National Tree Day events and resources, visit TreeCanada.ca.

Are you digitally relevant? Face the New World of Online Commerce and Communications Head on

1-2 p.m.

Digital relevancy is now a non-negotiable component of a successful marketing strategy. Certified Professional Horticulturist Leslie Halleck will explain the ins and outs of current online technology — including apps, social media and e-commerce — to help business owners capture market share in an online world.

Restoring Ecosystem Functionality and Biodiversity

3-4 p.m.

Heather Holm, a biologist and award-winning author, will explain how people benefit from green infrastructure and ecological landscape restoration. Holm will discuss models of restorative landscaping as well as thoughtful plant selection, ecosystem functionality and maximizing biodiversity.

/congress-conference-2022.

SAVE THE DATE NOVEMBER 9, 2021

CONGRESS

NURSERY GROWERS & GARDEN CENTRE RETAILERS

YEAR-LONG MARKETPLACE AND CONFERENCE FOR

VIRTUAL

GREEN PROFESSIONALS

TOWN HALL REGISTRATION

HortTrades.com/event

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LOCONGRESS.COM 23

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Free health and safety training now available in Ontario Small businesses in Ontario now have access to free health and safety training.

Through the new Small Business Health and Safety Training Program, the Ontario government will invest $10.5 million over the next three years to train up to 60,000 health and safety representatives.

Alongside the free course, businesses will also receive $150 to cover the cost of the health and safety rep’s training time.

Bill Roy, director of the Strategy and Integration Branch for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD), outlined the new program during a virtual town hall meeting, hosted by Landscape Ontario’s COVID-19 Task Force.

“We’re really hoping this will start to bring health and safety culture a little more into the workplace,” Roy said. “Our goal is to hit 20,000 businesses a year. We have the funds, it’s a commitment in the budget and it’s exciting for us.”

The training grant is available to businesses with six to 19 employees, which

are legally required to appoint a health and safety rep.

The online training course is available through Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS), and takes about six to eight hours to complete.

The program will cover a range of topics, including: • Occupational health and safety laws.

• Rights, duties and responsibilities of workplace parties.

• Duties and responsibilities of the health and safety representative under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. • Recognition, assessment, control and evaluation of common workplace hazards.

A health and safety representative’s duties include regular inspections of the workplace, identifying possible hazards, making recommendations for improvements and ensuring health and safety resources are available to employees.

While about 130,000 small businesses in

Jan 11-13, 2022

Ontario are required to have a health and safety rep, training is optional.

“I think that a lot of small businesses have obviously been hurting through COVID, but they may not necessarily talk much with government,” Roy said.

“Certainly you would know what you need to do as far as registering and being with the WSIB and paying taxes, but health and safety isn’t always top of mind. So we want to be able to make sure we can offer incentives to small businesses to get their workers trained.”

Once training is complete, health and safety reps will be provided with a certificate to apply for a refund of the $25 course registration fee and receive the $150 toward the cost of training time.

Businesses can apply for funding twice, with a second allowance permitted for staff turnover. Franchises with unique business numbers are also eligible for funding.

For more information, or to register, visit wsps.ca.

Jan 18-20, 2022

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

LMN acquires Greenius training software Landscape Management Network (LMN) has acquired Greenius, an online training software company specializing in landscaping.

Together, Greenius and LMN will create the green industry’s first fully-integrated system offering end-to-end training, combined with comprehensive business management software, the companies said in a media release. Greenius will continue to provide stand-alone offerings to customers.

Financial details on the acquisition are not being disclosed.

The Greenius team joins LMN immediately, filling an increasing customer need. A recent survey found that 70 per cent of LMN customers identified training as a top priority for their employees in the coming years.

“The addition of Greenius to the LMN family is huge for our customers and the industry,” said Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN. “We know just how important training is to landscaping leaders and their teams, and with Greenius, we can provide the best available training to help customers meet and exceed their needs.”

Based in London, Ont., Greenius offers hundreds of courses in both English and Spanish on a variety of topics, including maintenance, construction, snow, safety, equipment and supervisor training.

“We could not be more excited to join LMN,” said Arden Urbano, co-founder and president of Greenius, who will continue to lead the Greenius team. “We share the same values and passion for customers, and together we will create an experience that will help them take their companies, and the industry to the next level.”

The addition of Greenius builds on LMN’s expansion in March of 2021, when the Markham, Ont.,-based company acquired SLICE Technologies, a provider of business management software for landscapers, nurseries and garden centres.

LMN has also announced a plan to double its workforce by the end of the year.

Canada seeks input on EI reform The federal government is looking for feedback from Canadians in order to modernize the Employment Insurance (EI) program.

According to the Canadian government, gaps in the program were highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and revamping the

program will help better reflect the modern labour market.

All Canadians are invited to participate in the EI revamp by completing a 20-40 minutes survey online at bit.ly/2VXAfaw.

You can also email NC-EI_Consultations_ AE-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca with your ideas or comments on the EI program.

The online survey is open until October 8, 2021.

Some of the feedback may include: • How to improve access to EI.

• H ow to simplify the rules for workers and employers.

• H ow to make EI more reliable for workers in seasonal industries.

The government says the modernization process will lead to the most comprehensive and complex upgrades to the program in a generation, and build a program that better responds to emerging labour market trends and the evolving needs of workers and employers.

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ENTER AT

LOAWARDS.COM OPEN FOR ENTRY JULY 1 - OCTOBER 1, 2021

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EDITOR’S DESK

W

LO members know how to make a memorable first impression

hen I joined the Landscape Ontario team in July, I like to think I arrived with an above-average knowledge-base of the industries included in the association’s membership.

Although I’ve probably killed more plants than blight, my partner and I take a keen interest in our gardens, and we look forward to Saturday morning visits to garden centres more than a Friday night out.

As well, through my previous role as editor at a construction equipment publication, I was able to learn about hardscape and the machines used to complete the task. I’ve even been to Congress twice.

What I didn’t know about Ontario’s landscape industry is the enthusiastic and dedicated sense of community.

One of my first assignments for LO magazine was the Participation House garden makeover article on Page 16 of this issue. This was an awe-inspiring first impression of the association’s members.

This chapter of the Garden Makeover program ballooned from a $5,000 grant to a more than $50,000 project. The majority of the added value for the project came from the addition of an accessible concrete patio at the home for people with physical and developmental disabilities. Without a doubt, this patio has changed the lives of Participation House residents — many of

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W h a t ev e r y o u r a p p l i c a t i o n , w e h av e y o u r co n c r e t e r e a d y t o p o u r.

D r i v ewa y s - Wa l k wa y s - Pat i o s St e p s - P o r c h e s , Fo ot i n g s - Sw i m m i n g P o o l s G a ra g e / B a s e m e nt F l o o r s a n d m a n y ot h e r a p p l i c at i o n s .

www.stouffvilleredimix.ca 26

whom use wheelchairs — for the better.

The new wheelchair-friendly surface allows the residents to get outside, without having to leave the grounds of the home.

They’re now able to perhaps have lunch outdoors, or simply enjoy the new view planted by LO Toronto Chapter volunteers.

And, really, the gift of the outdoors cannot be overstated.

“Just the smiles on their faces was incredible. It just makes you feel good,” David Milne, project lead and president of the Toronto Chapter, explained. “For me personally, giving back feels so good. And the best things in life happen when you give.”

Throughout my 17-year-career in journalism, I’ve written countless articles on charitable causes. Each of those articles were about people that made the world a better place, but few stand out in mind as having the level of dedication, let alone the physical contribution, on display at Participation House. And this was just one of 10 projects included in the Garden Makeover program.

On that note, I’m definitely motivated to continue to tell the stories of Landscape Ontario’s membership. I believe a highquality magazine relies upon two-way communication with its audience, so please feel free to reach out to me with your success stories, industry concerns or even criticisms via btremblay@ landscapeontario.com or 416-848-7550.

Bill Tremblay Editor

btremblay@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

L

For many, it’s time to renew your membership

andscape Ontario doesn’t exist without you. There it is, I said it. We are a community for mutual improvement and benefit. That’s a two-way street, and it takes two to tango.

Thanks to your support, Landscape Ontario has been able to contribute so much back into this mutually-beneficial relationship we have with you. Collectively, you and your peers from across Ontario have supported Landscape Ontario in countless ways and because of that we have been able to do the strategic work to move the profession forward.

Every two weeks, the staff here at Landscape Ontario meet via Zoom and share the highlights of the work they are doing everyday to help move the industry forward.

It astounds me every time at the volume and quality of work being done. From the amazing work that our workforce development team is doing, to the great events being planned (mostly virtual and gearing up for some in-person — let’s go Congress!), to the work being done to improve your membership experience, to all of the great communications to keep you in-the-know.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep this effort going, and to build upon the momentum we have to take our work to the next level. In order to continue to do this, we need your support. By now, you have likely seen your notice to renew your membership.

Our phenomenal membership team (Meghan Greaves, Kaneisha De Leon and Kathy McLean) are standing by to help you through

the process to renew your membership.

If you joined between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021, your time to renew will be on the first of the month, one year from the date you joined. We’re transitioning to an anniversary-based membership renewal from our fiscal year renewal.

We’re always looking for ways on how we can do things better and would love to hear from you. I can always be reached at jsalemi@ landscapeontario.com or 905-220-4106.

Renew your membership today and let’s drive our community forward together!

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

Found at LandscapeOntario.com/Podcast 27

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SMART ABOUT SALT

H

Hiring professionals matters develop their knowledge to ensure they are providing optimal solutions to their clients and the public.

As a not-for-profit organization that was founded in the spirit of collaboration, the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) is actively working with others like Landscape Ontario to ensure winter maintenance contractors are identified as the professionals they are. For many years, the Smart About Salt Council has offered inexpensive training for winter maintenance contractors, facility owners and others, to support the knowledge and use of BMPs in winter maintenance. The training is available online and for groups through webinars and in-person lessons. It has also been expanded to provide a refresher that contractors are encouraged to access every three years. Later this year, training will expand again to provide advanced courses surrounding procurement and the use of liquids in winter maintenance.

Training is foundational and forms the basis and first requirement of certification, which for winter maintenance contractors equates to a Red Seal designation for a mechanic or a physician’s license to practice. Certification translates to an expression of professionalism, knowledge and commitment to the highest standards of practice.

Most of us are smart enough to hire the right person for the job: a trained and regulated dentist for our dental health or a journeyman plumber for our sanitation needs. Increasingly the same level of professionalism is being demanded of those engaged in the winter maintenance industry.

Those wishing to learn more about the unique programs and services offered by the Smart About Salt Council and how they support professionals in the winter maintenance industry, including contractors and facility owners/operators, are encouraged to visit smartaboutsalt.com.

iring professionals, that is those that have the demonstrated knowledge, matters.

It matters for a variety of reasons, as hiring a professional typically means using specialized services to achieve a desired result. Hiring a professional often means a task is completed with more efficiency — both in terms of time and outcome, as well as mitigating risk.

A good example would be seeing a doctor for an illness or retaining a mechanic to fix a broken car.

Common to both are persons who have specific skills and experiences gained through appropriate education and familiarity. Both professions make use of specialized tools that help to expedite the best outcomes, and in both cases, there is an ongoing requirement and need to keep informed of new thinking, knowledge and equipment through regular professional development.

There should be no debate that those we engage for winter maintenance should be professionals, but too often their contributions are minimized. Like physicians and others, winter maintenance professionals help mitigate risk by providing expert services using specialized equipment. They help to achieve desired outcomes efficiently and effectively.

Our collective challenge is to continue to strive to change dismissive and belittling mindsets surrounding those engaged in winter maintenance, to ensure they are appreciated for their professional contributions. As winter maintenance contractors gain the appreciation they deserve, recognition of their professionalism will translate to improved service and safety outcomes, better contracts, improved working conditions and pay.

Winter maintenance contractors can and must play an active role. To achieve professional recognition, winter maintenance contractors must conform to the commonly understood Best Management Practices (BMPs) for winter maintenance. As professionals, winter maintenance contractors must commit to continue to

Lee Gould Executive Director, Smart About Salt Council lee.gould@smartaboutsalt.com

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

P

Taking the temperature of company culture

retty much every company owner and manager in our profession knows who their solid and engaged team players are, and those who are not.

But do you know why?

The answer is most often found in the space between policies and actions. That’s where company culture is demonstrated best. It’s buried in between what is supposed to happen, and what actually happens when ‘the boss’ isn’t looking or within earshot.

This is a great time of year to really step back and assess the pulse of your company culture. Slow down and take stock. Now is the time of year when pretty much everyone on your team has been onboarded, oriented and are well into their training plans. In other words, culture should be at its most consistently demonstrated-best right now. So, how’s it going?

Last month, as part of our 10-part Business Bites Series, I had the pleasure of hosting Joe Salemi, Landscape Ontario’s Deputy Executive Director and Director of Operations, to talk to our Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network members on ‘Walking the Talk’ in company culture. Joe

brought lots of great advice, including the trending differences between great and not-so-great company culture.

For example, if you were to take the Be/Don’t Be lists (see charts below) to each of your employees and allow them to indicate which of these settings and perceptions they experience on a daily or weekly basis, what points do you think that they would select?

Consider the importance of this for a moment, and how culture absolutely impacts the ability of your company to attract and retain good people. As Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN, might say, good people “have to be able to finish your sentences and carry your wallet.”

While your staff might not ever check off all of the great cultural ‘be’ characteristics, their list should at the very least outweigh the bad culture ‘don’t be’ scenarios. In addition, your key staff in particular can likely articulate why they selected what they did from each list.

As a business coach, I have been inside many companies, worked with many teams, and have seen the whole range from awesome culture, to horrible work settings where there is neither joy nor engagement.

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Based on my experience, the old adage, “the boss is the last to know” holds true most of the time. Often, the business owner has a much more positive perception of the company culture than that of the team (and sometimes the customers).

I believe it’s important to start the conversation — one on one — or anonymously if that’s the only way people will open up. But start asking for feedback, listen to it and start to challenge your status quo thinking about what it’s like to work in your company. Identify the actions, words, expressions (or lack thereof) that contribute to both the wins and losses on the healthy company culture quest.

Join us on the LO Peer to Peer Network’s next Business Bite session (Oct. 6) with Scott Wentworth — and learn how to identify your ideal client avatar. Find more details and a registration link via the LO events calendar page at HortTrades.com/events.

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

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AND SNOW REMOVAL CLIENT BASE FOR SALE Owner of a Landscape Maintenance and Snow Removal Service in business for more than 30 years has contracted an independent third-party (contact below) to accept offers and discuss the sale of an attractive block of clients which make up a substantial market share in the west Burlington area. Owner is looking to downsize and enjoy more time with his family and if a fair deal can be made, will divest himself of a number of his major commercial/residential clients.

This small portion of his revenue generation amounts to $80,000 in annual contract revenues, not including any extra work. All contacts will be completed in the strictest of confidence.

Interested parties will be required to sign a NonCompete and Non-disclosure Agreement prior to any discussions taking place.

Contact Vanessa Stockham 905-537-2024

ADVERTISERS Brandt Tractor Ltd.

brandt.ca

888-227-2638

Page 2

Braun Nursery Limited

braungroup.com

800-246-6984

Page 10

NVK Nurseries

nvknurseries.com

905-628-0112

Page 32

Connon Nurseries Inc.

connon.ca

888-775-2687

Page 9

Gallagher

ajg.com/ca

905-305-5955

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GoGPS

gogps.com

866-964-6477

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Husqvarna

husqvarna.com

M Putzer Nursery

Page 31

putzernursery.com

905-878-7226

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metalpless.com

866-362-1688

Page 11

Millgrove Perennials Inc.

millgroveperennials.ca

905-689-1749

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Newroads National Leasing

newroadsleasing.com

416-587-1021

Page 15

pottersroadnursery.com

519-688-0437

Page 21

sipkensnurseries.com

866-843-0438

Page 10

Stam Nurseries

stamnurseries.com

519-424-3350

Page 14

Stouffville Redimix

stouffvilleredimix.ca

905-888-5555

Page 29

Timm Enterprises Ltd.

timmenterprises.com

905-878-4244

Page 17

Metal Pless Inc.

Potters Road Nursery Inc. Sipkens Nurseries - Palace Perennials

LEARN, GROW, THRIVE.

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CO N GRESS | SEC TO R S | C H AP TE R S | P E E R TO P E E R PROF ESSIO N A L D E V ELO PM E NT | AS S O C I ATI O N PAR TN E R S

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