Landscape Ontario - October 2017

October 2017 horttrades.com

MILLENNIAL MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Value of green spaces resonates with Durham Chapter volunteer Chris Muller and his generation.

Page 4

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Training offers new ways to create

By Paul Brydges LO President

S

ince I can no longer deny the Acer rubrum are turning red, it must be fall. With the many schedule changes required this season to get ourselves and our contractor teams through the challenges of the wettest year in recent history, I am not really sure if the typical fall rush will feel any different from the rest of the year. Dependence on weather meant scheduled work did not necessarily come first for anyone, but rather which site was dry enough to work on.

I have always believed communication is the strongest tool we have within a company. A year as trying as this one has proven this from a client perspective many times over. When poor weather held things up, those contractors who were brave or more experienced were able to get out in front of client expecta-

October, 2017 • Volume 35, No. 9 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.

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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805

tions much calmer than perhaps some of the younger contracting teams out there.

It has been many years since I have heard so many people not understand what a day, or even a week of rain does to a construction schedule. It’s another example of how much further removed society is from our agrarian roots.

I attended a traditional plowing match held at my in-laws’ farm on Labour Day weekend. I saw many neighbours we see but once a year, and it was refreshing to hear discussions about weather that really had meaning behind them.

Discussions on how far behind haying was, where the corn was in relation to the calender, and what the water level in the Great Lakes meant for the coming winter.... I don’t even want to tell you the consensus on that last one!

With the steady growth we are seeing in Landscape Ontario membership, I know this fall and winter will realize record numbers of attendance for courses and continuing education. Employers are realizing what a valuable asset staff are, and see the benefit of having staff who are better trained and more engaged.

Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Assistant editor Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Multimedia designer/IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Sales manager Steve Moyer stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-0708 Integrated solutions representative Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLM lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557

The more training I send my staff to, the more confident they become in their own abilities — which also enables them to raise the bar for me and my learning requirements. Not that I need to be one step ahead of them on every subject, but I do need to understand the basics of what they are learning and trying to explain to me.

This additional training benefits all staff and also opens up new opportunities for the company to branch out into other areas of practice. These opportunities always require continued learning, but they also keep us sharp and on the lookout for new materials and new solutions.

This is likely the reason why so many of us at LO have our own businesses. We are always looking for new ways to create: whether it’s new maintenance routines, construction techniques or design compilations.

I hope that Mother Nature finishes the year for all of us far kinder than it started.

Paul Brydges may be reached at paulbrydges.la@sympatico.ca.

4 6 14 16 17 20 26

FEATURES VOLUNTEER PROFILE

ASSOCIATION NEWS NEW MEMBERS EVENTS INDUSTRY NEWS COLUMNS AD INDEX

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Kim Burton, Rachel Cerelli, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, J. Alex Gibson, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Heather MacRae, Kristen McIntyre CHT CEM, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, David Turnbull, Martha Walsh, Cassandra Wiesner

Views expressed are those of the writer concerned. Landscape Ontario assumes no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2017, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).

For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

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Messaging to Millennials

Chris Muller was drawn to a career in the landscape profession for many reasons.

Reaching a generation As a third generation employee in the family landscaping business, Chris Muller has grown up surrounded by plants and nature. Now a volunteer on Landscape Ontario’s Durham Chapter Board, Muller is taking aim at getting the word out to fellow Millennials about the rewarding work and real difference to be made in the landscape and horticulture professions.

A green career was not in the plan

Muller says informally, he has worked for his dad, John Muller, since he was about six years old.

“My memories of being a kid on Saturday morning aren’t of sitting around watching cartoons. I got to go to the farm and sort pots and water the flowers,” Muller says, for which he got paid a donut and a hot chocolate.

Muller says he was “encouraged to pursue other interest growing up,” and earned an Honors Degree in English from the University of Guelph.

“I took a totally different path,” Muller says, but eventually ended up right where he started, officially working for dad, who had taken over the business from his father, the late Otto Muller, who started the business in 1980.

4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO OCTOBER 2017

Right time to give back

Muller credits Durham Chapter Provincial Board Representative Brian Baun, owner B.K. Baun Landscape in Ajax, Ont., for getting him involved at the chapter board level.

“I’ve known Brian for a long time, informally,” Muller says, remembering those early years tagging along with his dad.

Muller ran into Baun one year at Congress, where Baun explained the chapter was looking for new, younger board members.

“It seemed like a real welcoming group that was open to new ideas,” Muller says of that conversation with Baun, “I thought it was something that I could really contribute to.”

Muller accepted the invitation because he felt the time was right. “I’m at the right point in my life where I can give back to something a little bit bigger than myself,” he says.

Muller says with his dad John as quarterback for the family business, organizing and running things and his brother Matthew the hands-on, mechanical part of the business, their dynamic allows for many opportunities. “We are fortunate that I am able to give a lot of my time to LO, and I am very happy to do it, but we are able to do that because the business has made it a priority. It’s just something that is very important to us.”

“I think the biggest reason that brought me in was to have a few new fresh ideas.

We are looking at ways of attracting more new young people and it’s a challenge I am willing to take on,” Muller says.

The biggest challenge in attracting young people is “there are a lot of exciting things here for young people that I think they are just not aware of. This industry, as much as it’s about building things with your hands, it’s also about building things that last and grow, and not just in the plants and in the ground, but in people too. Our biggest challenge is getting that message out there.”

Muller’s advice to someone thinking about or starting a career in the profession is to first work for someone else.

“Find somebody that you like the work they do and you can learn their techniques” while also being creative and bring something new to the table.

Muller says with such a big industry, “you are never going to learn it all.

There’s so much to learn, so much to try, so many things to see. You are never going to be bored, that’s for sure.”

Muller loves the creative nature of his work and the willingness of people to try new ideas. With his generation of Millennials now a part of the workforce, he explains they have a genuine need to “feel involved and invested in the process” of running the business. He says if employers take the time to share that knowledge of processes and operations, they may be rewarded with new ideas and new approaches from their younger employees that will benefit business owners as well.

“I think there’s a lot of merit in just listening to what young people have to say because we get stuck in our ways a bit sometimes in this industry,” Muller says.

A generation growing up with the constant sight of urban sprawl, Muller echoes another value of Millennials, the need for their work to make a genuine difference to society and the environment.

“As our downtown core gets more built-up, the value we place on green space becomes even more important. If we have an opportunity to play some part in that, how could you turn it away?”

In addition, Muller says the physical nature of the work and constantly learning also appealed to him. “I liked the idea that I wouldn’t be doing the same thing every day. I like having different challenges.”

And what does Muller like best? “I love planting trees,” he says.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Auction attendees ride along with BTN’s Jeff Olsen (left) and Tim Twohey (centre) for a morning tour of the company’s 135 acre property.

Growers hold successful Industry Auction A fantastic host, great location, delicious food and gorgeous plants delighted participants of the 39th annual Industry Auction, held Sept. 12 at Brookdale Treeland Nurseries (BTN) in Schomberg, Ont.

Presented by the Landscape Ontario Growers Sector Group, the annual auction helps to raise money for horticultural research, scholarships and sector development and promotion. All plant material and

items up for bid in both the live and silent auction were donated by growers and suppliers. This year, over 135 skids of plant material and silent auction items were auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The auction is also home to the LO Growers Awards of Excellence program, where LO members enter plant material into the various categories to be judged live, on site by experts from the landscape and horticulture profession. Organizers would like to thank this year’s judges: Jennifer Llewellyn, OMAFRA; Perry Grobe, Grobe Nursery and Garden Centre; Len Mancini, Holland Park Garden Gallery; Jon Peter RBG; Jim Lounsbery, Vineland Nurseries; Glen Lumis, University of Guelph.

Winners in each category were presented with a certificate from Growers Group chair Jon Mantel prior to their entry being auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Once again, auctioneer Jim McCartney kept things light and moving along at a steady clip, with only a short break when the ice cream truck arrived.

To sweeten the pot, each time a bidder was successful, they received a ticket into a draw for an iPad Mini, donated by Plant Products. Harry Kamstra of Kamstra Landscaping was the lucky winner.

Landscape Ontario’s Growers Sector Group would like to recognize the outstanding generosity of the many donors, without whom the event would not be possible: AVK Nursery Holding, Baker’s Nursery, Braun Nursery, Canada Blooms, Canadale Nurseries, Gro-Bark (Ontario), Hillen Nursery, Kam’s Growers Supply, Kobes Nurs-

LO Growers Awards of Excellence winners Congratulations to the following Landscape Ontario members who share the honour of producing the best nursery stock in Ontario as judged by a panel of experts at this year’s Industry Auction at BTN on Sept. 16.

Sheridan Nurseries, winner, category 1: Evergreens – Field Grown, Upright and Spreading, for Picea glauca.

Willowbrook Nurseries, winner, category 2: Evergreens – Container Grown, Upright and Spreading, for Assorted.

NVK Holdings, winner, category 3: Broadleaf Evergreens, for Assorted.

Canadale Nurseries, winner, category 4, Deciduous shrubs, for Assorted.

Willowbrook Nurseries, winner, category 5: Deciduous Ornamental Trees, 300 cm or Less, for Betula

6 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO OCTOBER 2017

jacquemontii clump.

NVK Holdings, winner, category 6: Deciduous Ornamental Trees, Top Grafted/Worked, for Ginkgo biloba ‘Troll’.

Willowbrook Nurseries, winner, category 7: Caliper Trees, for Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’.

Willowbrook Nurseries, winner, category 8: Vines and Groundcovers, for Assorted.

Millgrove Perennials, winner, category 9: Perennials, for Assorted.

Sheridan Nurseries, winner, category 10: Unusual and Rare Plants, for Assorted Juniperus.

Willowbrook Nurseries, winner, category 11: Design on a Skid, for assorted plant material.

NVK Holdings, winner, Judges Choice, for Ginkgo biloba ‘Troll’.

Growers Group chair Jon Mantel (left) presents Sheridan Nureries’ Rob Naraj with a certificate for their winning entry.

Winners from the Garden Centre program and the Construction, Maintenance and Design program will be announced during special ceremonies in conjunction with Congress ’18, January 9-11, 2018 at the Toronto Congress Centre.

eries, Langendoen Nurseries, Millgrove Perennials, NVK Holdings, Parc Downsview Park c/o Arcturus Realty, Pieper Nurseries, Plant Products, Putzer (M) Hornby Nursery, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sheridan Nurseries, Somerville Nurseries, Timm Enterprises, V Kraus Nurseries, Valleybrook Gardens (ON), Willowbrook Nurseries, Winkelmolen Nursery.

A special thank you goes to all participants and to Brookdale Treeland Nurseries and their staff for the hard work in preparing to host the event and to ensure it ran smoothly.

Growers Group volunteers on-site included: John Moons, auction operations manager; Jeff Gregg; Jeanine West; Gerwin Bouman; Serge Leclair; Jennifer Llewellyn; Bill Putzer; Rob Naraj; John Mantel; Michael LaPorte; Jamie Aalbers and Glen Lumis.

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LO TRAINING COURSES SET FOR OFFSEASON

Landscape Ontario’s Professional Development Guide, listing the association’s many offseason seminars and training courses, is now available. A copy of the Guide is polybagged with this issue of Landscape Ontario magazine.

LO’s popular training series offers a wide range of courses led by experts in their fields on everything from business development to equipment operation to irrigation and landscape design.

Each year, new topics and new instructors are added based on feedback from seminar participants and the landscape profession. Some of the new seminars this year include: Electrical Troubleshooting for Irrigation Systems, Advanced Green Roof Maintenance, Outdoor Fire-Pit Construction and Introductory Sketchup.

Seminars are classroom-based, but many include a hands-on work component as well. Participants should note any prerequisites for the seminar this wish to attend, as well as any tools, supplies or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required.

A number of seminars will prepare participants for Landscape Industry Certification, the Fusion Landscape Professional program and Water Smart Irrigation Professional program — two programs available exclusively to LO members.

Participating in many of the seminars can also qualify individuals to earn Continuing Education Credits/Units (CECs/CEUs)

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ASSOCIATION NEWS from other allied associations, including the Irrigation Association (IA), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and Accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) to name a few. Recertification credits for Landscape Industry Certifications can also be earned.

The series kicks off in October, with seminars running through April 2018. The bulk of seminars are held at the LO home office in Milton, Ont., with select titles offered regionally to various LO chapters.

Please note, due to ongoing road construction, the LO site is only accessible from the north via Steeles Ave. There is no access from the south.

Plan your off season training now. Register online by Dec. 31 for any seminar held January to April 2018 to automatically receive a 10 per cent discount. LO members and individuals with qualifying certifications also enjoy lower pricing on seminars.

Details and online registration for all seminars in now online at horttrades.com/ seminars.

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Ball diamond winners of Waterloo Congratulations to team Promoshan, winners of the LO Waterloo Chapter baseball tournament, held Sept. 10 at Southwest Optimist Ball Diamonds in Kitchener, Ont. Organizers would like extend thanks to all participants for a truly fun day, and to diamond sponsors: Martin’s Small Engines and Auto Clinic, Your Salt Connection and Greenhorizons Sod Farms.

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QUINTE BOTANICAL GARDENS NOW OPEN

After nearly a decade of planning, research and hard work, Deanna Groves and John Ridel have finally realized their dream of opening a tourist attraction in Eastern Ontario for garden lovers.

The official grand opening of the Quinte Botanical Gardens (QBC) took place Aug. 1 with several local dignitaries present, including Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison, Deputy mayor Jim Alyea and Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis.

The 25 individually-themed gardens carry a theme of the environmental, health and ecological benefits of plants and green spaces with displays including: a rose garden, edible garden, oriental garden, white garden, bird, bee and butterfly garden and formal knot garden.

An Active member of Landscape Ontario, the Quinte Botanical Gardens are located at 664 Glen Ross Rd., Frankford, Ont., K0K 2C0.

Gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week, but are closed for maintenance on Wednesdays. Admission is $10 per person and children under six are free.

For more information, visit qbgardens.ca.

LO MEMBER WEBSITE GETS NEW LOOK

Landscape Ontario’s member website, HortTrades.com, has undergone a transformation in both design and functionality, in an effort to make the wealth of content easier to view and access with everchanging technology.

Dubbed “Project Butterfly,” work on the site has been carried out completely by LO staff who are thrilled to realize this first of many milestones in the ongoing evolution of LO’s web communications strategy.

Started back in 2015, the project was launched in conjunction with the direction and strategy of LO’s Branding Committee. Goals for the new website included: giving it a cleaner look, ensuring the website and its content were fully responsive (ie: viewable across many different screen sizes and orientations), increasing the areas for chapter and sector groups, conveying the professional activities of the association and the high caliber of work performed by LO members.

The design eliminates the need for drop-down menus and uses a tagging system that displays related content similar to what is already being viewed. The system is based on detailed analysis of how users find and interact with the site.

More features will be added in the coming phases, including more integration of content from LO’s publications and consumer site, plus totally revamped member profile pages.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

FAMILY FUN AT ANNUAL CHICKEN ROAST

Landscape Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe Chapter held their social event of the year — the annual Chicken Roast, at Bobcat of Hamilton in Stoney Creek, Ont. on Sept. 16.

The family-friendly event had activities for all ages, including a video games trailer, bouncy castle, gigantic inflatable obstacle course, and rock decorating for kids.

Adults were able to play some games as well: various Bobcat staff members sat precariously above a dunk tank while co-workers and visitors took aim to submerge them in water. The annual

Chapter board members helped to serve the over 200 guests.

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equipment operator competition saw participants battle to see who could complete three tasks the fastest using a mini-excavator.

Chapter board members and volunteers did an excellent job cooking hundreds of pounds of chicken and serving dinner and desserts to the over 200 guests in attendance.

Chapter vice-president Tim Rivard led a prize raffle with many great prizes donated by LO members.

A special thank you to Tim Rivard and the staff from host Bobcat of Hamilton, the chapter board and the many volunteers who helped to make the event a huge success.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS WHERE DO LO DUES DOLLARS GO?

Each year, Landscape Ontario’s fiscal year ends Aug. 31 and a new year begins Sept.

1. For LO members, this date is critical because it means their annual membership dues also expire each year on Aug. 31.

Dues renewal invoices are mailed out to each and every member in mid-August.

Don’t risk losing the many financial and networking benefits you enjoy as an LO member by not renewing your membership.

Dues can be paid online via LO’s secure dues payment page at horttrades.com/dues or by simply mailing a cheque back with the bottom portion of your invoice. You can also call the LO home office at 1-800-2655656 and pay your dues by credit card.

The cost of annual dues varies from $185.32 for a Horticultural (personal) membership to $737.89 for an Associate (supplier) membership. The nearly 500 Associate members account for 20 per cent of the LO membership. The majority of LO members (1,750) are Active members (contractors and other specialties) who pay $612.46 annually, accounting for over 65 per cent of the over 2,500 LO members.

With about $1.2 million in dues revenue collected each year, have you ever wondered how the money is spent and how much it accounts for association activities?

Of the dues money collected, LO then pays the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) a fee for every

Active and Associate member to then also become a member of CNLA. This allows those LO members to reap the benefits of CNLA’s national cost savings programs that are exclusive to members and to the landscape and horticulture profession. CNLA uses this group buying power of all the provincial association members to negotiate fantastic discounts on new equipment, business services and a wide range of pro-

grams. CNLA is also active at the national level, lobbying government and its various agencies on legislation, funding and programs that impact the profession. CNLA receives a payment from LO of around $300,000 each year. That leaves LO about $700,000 to $900,000 in the bank to run programs and services for members. For a breakdown of the percentages each of those areas include, see Table 1 above.

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Almost half of LO dues are spent on membership services. LO’s nine regional chapters are allocated funds each year based on the number of members in each chapter. These funds, as with the $3,000 allocated each year to each of the 11 sector groups, are for initiatives decided upon by the chapter or sector boards or to run meetings. Chapter and sector funding totals just over $100,000.

LO undertakes many public relations initiatives to promote members to potential clients and to educate the public on the many benefits of hiring a landscape professional.

Education, professional development and certification help to raise the skill level of members in order to make them better in their business and improve business success.

In the bigger picture, LO employs a full time staff of 25 people, plus two contract employees and three part time chapter coordinators, who work to carry out the many programs and services from the home office in Milton, Ont. Salaries, office and building expenses, plus expenses incurred to run the many programs, means an operating budget for the association of nearly $5 million.

LO can’t employ staff to carry out the programs simply on dues revenue alone. Salaries account for about $1.6 million (32 per cent) of the association’s annual operating budget.

To generate more revenue for expenses and to maintain the LO site, the association has many other revenue-generating initiatives, such as the Congress trade show and conference, industry publications (Landscape Trades and Landscape Ontario magazine), the Professional Development Seminars series, various events, symposiums and conferences.

So how is dues money spent? Basically, it helps to fund the various programs and initiatives that carry out the mandate of the association: “to foster a favourable environment for the landscape and horticulture profession in Ontario.” And your dues contribute about 15 per cent of the money required to run the association.

FREE CONGRESS PASS GIVES LO MEMBERS ACCESS TO HANDS-ON LEARNING

Landscape Ontario members can get a free pass for the Congress trade show by using a special code during online registration.

LO members can simply visit LOcongress.com and enter code VIPMBR18 to get a free, one-day admission to the trade show floor, valued at $30.

The Congress show floor features over 600 exhibitors, a popular New Product Showcase and live demonstrations, each held twice daily on Jan. 9, 10 and 11, 2018.

Drive LIVE! will feature O.P.P. and Toronto Police officers taking a handson approach with daily inspection rules, pre-trip inspections and reports in compliance with Ontario laws.

The all-new Green LIVE! will cover various topics from industry experts on everything related to trees.

Hardscape LIVE! will return for the third consecutive year, demonstrating new products, technologies aimed at improving operations for installers of interlock and retaining walls.

Congress exhibitors can also access free VIP passes in both printed form and electronic form to invite clients and suppliers to visit them at the show. Printed VIP passes (15 passes per 100 sq. ft. of exhibit space) will be available towards the end of October.

Around the same time, details will be sent out to exhibitors via a special email on the return of last year’s successful e-marketing campaign that provides custom, branded communications for exhibitors to send to client and supplier lists to gain free access to the show.

To obtain VIP passes, exhibitors can contact the LO Trade Show Department at 1-800-265-5656.

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NEW MEMBERS DURHAM

LONDON

Adam Robinson

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Adam Robinson 3 Meadowlands Dr Cannington, ON L0E 1E0 Tel: 647-469-0371 Membership Type: Associate

GEORGIAN LAKELANDS

Michelle Carroll 2 - 48 Second St Strathroy, ON N7G 3H8 Tel: 519-245-5500 Membership Type: Associate

OTTAWA

Amazing Gates of Canada

Cotech Inc

Greg Patchell 103 Mount St Louis Rd W Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0 Tel: 705-835-7063 Membership Type: Associate

Carl Fontaine 89 rue Villeray L’ile Verte, QC G0L 7L0 Tel: 418-898-4444 Membership Type: Associate

Garson Pipe Contractors Ltd

Sunshine Snow Service Inc

Tom Lafreniere 1191 O’Neil Dr W Garson, ON P3L 1L5 Tel: 705-693-1242 Membership Type: Associate

Richard Lalande 1815 Bantree St Ottawa, ON K1B 4L6 Tel: 613-747-0042 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

Timber Enterprises

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Jason Pain 1235 Hwy 26 Midhurst, ON L0L 1Y2 Tel: 705-725-5770 Membership Type: Associate

GOLDEN HORSESHOE Inside/Out Contracting (8902801 Canada Inc)

Jim Provost 2603 Armour Cres Burlington, ON L7M 4T3 Tel: 905-335-8001 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Dean Grennan Burlington, ON Membership Type: Horticultural

Cormidi USA

Robert Testa 25 Broad St Norwalk, CT 06851 Tel: 203-846-6120 Membership Type: Associate

Hickory Dickory Decks (Mississauga) Mackenzie Robertson 2564 Dinning Crt Mississauga, ON L5M 5E7 Tel: 905-825-8148 Membership Type: Chapter Associate

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EVENTS

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

Oct. 19

Nov. 1

Nov. 16

Free dinner for members and staff, featuring speaker John Dobrowolsky of Sandler Training.

St. Clair College students and non-member may attend for a small fee. Must RSVP by Oct. 16 to jessica@suttoncreekgolf.com.

Schwaben Club, 1668 King St. E., Kitchener

Dominion Golf Course Free dinner for you and your staff. Kelly Devaere from Plant Products will discuss fertilizer choices in and around the Great Lakes. St. Clair College students and non-members can attend for a small fee. You must RSVP by Nov. 14 to jessica@suttoncreekgolf.com.

Windsor Chapter Meeting

Oct. 21

Landscape Industry Certification

Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line S., Milton Verify your skills at the next certification test.

Written exams for Manager and Designer also available. Order study manuals or register at landscapeindustrycertifiedtechnician.ca or contact CNLA at 1-888-446-3499.

Oct. 22

Highway of Heroes Living Tribute Run for Remembrance

Waterloo Chapter Meeting Nov. 2

Toronto Chapter meeting

Learn about by-laws and permits required in the GTA. Nov. 3

Ottawa Chapter 12th annual Day of Tribute

Windsor Chapter Meeting

Nov. 17

Beechwood National Military Cemetery Volunteer now to help prepare the grounds for Remembrance Day proceedings. Sponsored by Geosynthetic Systems. Contact Pete Campbell at pete@geosyn.ca or 613-733-9585.

Nov. 7

Waterloo Fall Freeze Up

Binegmans Embassy Room, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener Don’t miss the chapter’s social event of the season! Featuring dinner, dancing, prizes and more.

Buy tickets online at lowaterloo.com.

Durham Chapter Meeting

Dec. 6

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Join the HOHLT running team, sponsor a team member, or cheer on participants at the event.

Nov. 8

Schwaben Club, 1668 King St. E., Kitchener

Nov. 1-2

Nov. 14

Fusion Landscape Professional program

Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line S., Milton Approved participants for this new program will receive the two-days of in-class and hands-on components required. Vist horttrades.com/fusion.

Waterloo Chapter Meeting

Upper Canada Chapter Meeting Fusion gardening will be discussed.

Warm-Up Monday at Congress ’18

London Chapter Meeting

Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre, 591 Wellington Rd., London Mental health in the workplace will be discussed.

Learn about the latest trends, technologies and improve your business success at the IPM Symposium, Designers Conference or Peer to Peer Workshop. Visit LOcongress.com.

Jan. 9-11

Congress ’18

Nov. 15

Ottawa Chapter Meeting

Jan. 8

Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 641, 3500 Fallowfield Rd. Snow regulations will be discussed.

Toronto Congress Centre Canada’s largest green industry trade show and conference features over 600 exhibitors, new products, live demos, a four-day conference program and more. Visit LOcongress.com.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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Ladders are frequently a factor in workplace accidents.

Slips, trips and falls safety blitz Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors will visit workplaces in the agriculture, service and manufacturing sectors until Nov. 30, 2017 to conduct an enforcement blitz on workplace falls.

Slips, trips and falls remain the bane of Ontario workplaces and a Ministry of Labour priority. In 2016, 11,495 lost time injury claims resulted from falls, or 31 workers being injured each day in the province. The direct benefit claim cost to employers is more than $73 million.

Ministry inspectors will look for: policies and programs to protect workers from slips, trips and falls; implemented safe housekeeping procedures; developed safe work practices that are being followed, assess ladders, mobile stands and platforms for potential risks, trained workers on how to prevent injuries and death from falls; ergonomic factors such as carrying objects that obstruct views that might lead to slips, trips and falls.

Workplace Safety and Preventions Services (WSPS) consultant Patricia Kriz offers suggestions and observations to help employers. “Workers may need to get on top of machinery or equipment, which is slippery or uneven, and put themselves at risk of slipping and falling. Or a worker using a portable ladder may overreach and tip the ladder,” Kriz says. Her advice to prevent accidents, “Step back a minute and look at all the what-ifs.”

Provide proper training to workers on how to clean up spills, the proper use of fall protection equipment, the use of proper guard rails and covers over holes, etc.

Kris says most falls from heights are from less than three metres and ladders are frequently a factor. “Do we actually need to use the ladder or is there another way to do the task at ground level? Or is there a safer way of accessing the work?”

Make sure you are using the right equipment for the job.”

Based on data compiled by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) on a blitz in 2016, about 65 to 75 per cent

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INDUSTRY NEWS of falls in the agricultures, service and manufacturing sector were same level falls. General farm labourers, retail salespersons and labourers respectively had the highest incident rates. Young workers, age 14 to 24 were also at high risk.

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers take every reasonable precaution to protect workers, provide information and instruction, and ensure workers properly use or wear the required equipment. Employers, supervisors and workers can be prosecuted for not complying with the law.

For details, visit labour.gov.on.ca.

LO COMMITTEE ADVOCATES FOR MEMBERS

Over the past several months, the newlyformed, Landscape Ontario Government Relations Committee has consulted with provincial government policy officials to advocate for green profession interests with regard to proposed labour law reforms.

When the Wynne government announced a proposed 173 amendments to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act last spring, it included significant hikes to minimum wage over the next two year and sweeping changes to scheduling requirements that would be particularly detrimental to the landscaping profession, which is already at mercy to the weather. The amendments included: • Employers must pay three hours of wages if they cancel a shift with fewer than 48 hours notice.

• Employees can refuse shifts without

repercussion if the employer gives them less than four day’s notice.

• Employees on call must be paid three hours at their regular pay rate.

Landscape Ontario was successful in working with government to change the language in regards to scheduling and on-call requirements and continues to work on the changes to minimum wage and the special Landscape Gardener/ Horticulture exemptions.

During the committee phases, several exemptions were added to the bill in regards to the scheduling amendments.

They include: • Where the employer is unable to provide work for the employee because of fire, lightning, power failure, storms or similar causes beyond the employer’s control that result in the stoppage of work; • The nature of the employee’s work is weather-dependent and the employer is unable to provide work for the employee for weather related reasons; or • The employer is unable to provide work for the employee for such other reasons as may be prescribed.

“The Landscape Ontario Government Relations Committee has been working on strategies on how to solicit the government and how to best communicate the issues and challenges these labour law changes would create for members of our profession,” explained Carmine Filice, partner at Greentario and member of the committee. “There was a feedback timeline that the government had set out for organizations and stakeholder groups,

and I know that LO has partnered with AgriCanada and some other organizations on this, and the Government Relations Committee went through all the proposals and addressed them one by one, and those recommendations were presented to the provincial government.”

The bill is currently in second reading at the provincial legislature and could be subject to further amendments or changes. LO is optimistic these changes will help protect the interests of landscape professionals in the province.

Filice says the Government Relations Committee is focused on being proactive on policy issues that impact the green professions and will continue to develop relationships with policy makers and legislators in an effort to educate and advocate on behalf of the profession.

“We have great members who volunteer their time in the sector groups and committees, and they are really up to speed on what is happening in their sectors,” Filice said. “These are the people we are going to be looking to, when it comes to looking ahead at the issues and policies that could have an impact in the coming months and years. This is one of the tasks of the committee, as we refocus on being proactive, is having the ability to hear from all sector groups.”

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASED OCT. 1

The new rate of $11.60 per hour for minimum wage in the province went into effect Oct. 1, surpassing the existing rate of $11.40 per hour. The scheduled increase was announced back on Apr. 1, 2017.

Minimum wage in the province will rise again on Jan. 1, 2018 to $14 per hour with another rise to $15 per hour set for Jan. 1, 2018.

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student is defined as someone under the age of 18 who works 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or during a school break or summer holidays.

If the change to the minimum wage rate comes into effect partway through an employee’s pay period, the pay period will be treated as if it were two separate pay periods and the employee is entitled to at least the minimum wage that applies in each of those periods.

For an employee whose pay is based completely or partly on commission, it must amount to at least the minimum wage for each hour the employee works.

When an employee who regularly works more than three hours a day is required to report to work but works less than three hours, he or she must be paid whichever is highest: three hours at minimum wage or their regular wage for the time worked.

For more information on employment standards in Ontario, visit labour.gov.on.ca.

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LAW REQUIRES MANDATORY HEALTH AND SAFETY POSTINGS

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) requires all organizations to post Health and Safety information at their workplaces. However, many organizations are unsure about what they “have to” post.

The following are the current mandatory posting requirements in Ontario for workplaces with more than five employees, unless ordered by an inspector: Employment Standards in Ontario poster: This poster outlines employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities in the workplace.

Health and Safety at Work Prevention Starts Here poster: This details the rights and responsibilities of workplace parties, as well as providing a MOL phone number to report critical injuries, fatalities, work refusals and to obtain information about workplace health and safety.

Occupational Health and Safety Act: Employers are required to post a copy of this resource featuring all workplace legislation in Ontario.

Health and safety policy: This document must be prepared and reviewed at least once a year and cover your organization’s health and safety policy and its implementation.

Workplace violence and harassment policies: Employers must prepare policies and programs specific to workplace violence and harassment and review them at least once a year.

Positioning mandatory postings in a prominent location will result in a more informed team and act as a constant reminder that potential issues could arise. It also makes an important statement about a company’s commitment to the well-being of its employees.

Given the number of seasonal and young workers across the agriculture sector, having this information visible can also play an important role in ensuring workers understand their responsibilities, as well as those of other workers.

Since mandatory postings are law, operating a business while not being in compliance could result in a fine.

For links to download or order posters available from the MOL, visit horttrades.com/hs-posters or visit labour.gov.on.ca.

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EXECUTIVE DESK Update on proposed changes to Labour Standards Act Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

E

arlier this year, the Ontario government announced major changes to the Labour Standards Act. The proposals will affect every one of you in the three areas below:

Minimum wage

Minimum wage increases will significantly increase labour costs for garden centres employing many students and growers who bring in offshore labour. Some growers are looking at increased costs of over $1 million next year. The effect on landscape firms will be less (many pay more than minimum wage) however, there will be pressure to increase wages for all positions.

In the previous issue of Landscape Ontario magazine, LO member Jay Murray (co-chair LO’s Government Relations Committee) presented a number of scenarios on how the change will affect a grounds maintenance company. Michael Tilaart and Karl Stensson outlined how growers’ costs will be significantly impacted.

There are only two ways to deal with significant cost increases: one is to raise prices and the other is to streamline operations (including labour costs). Company survival depends on it.

Most of our members tell me they are not against the minimum wage increase.

They feel it should be spread out over a much longer time period to allow businesses and customers more time to adjust to higher costs.

LO is a member of a coalition of agricultural associations who are conveying this message to the government with a unified voice. It appears they may be listening. Recently Premier Wynne announced the government is looking at ways to help small business and farmers to cope with the $15 minimum wage. See

20 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO OCTOBER 2017

an article at gfl.me/h3uF. Landscape Ontario will also prepare a letter to be used by members that explains the necessity to raise prices.

Proposed removal of the Landscape Gardener and Horticulture special rules

Agriculture, horticulture and landscape gardeners have traditionally been grouped under a special rules provision in the Labour Standards Act. The government has recommended ending the special rules provision. They are asking all affected sectors to explain why they feel the rules are necessary.

Here are the reasons why our sector traditionally does not pay overtime or statutory holidays: Seasonality: There is a short window of time to perform very specific and necessary job functions within our profession. For example, annuals can only be planted at certain times, seed can only be sown at specific times, pruning and other plant management practices can only be performed at certain times. The profession works over 2,000 hours (a year’s worth) within a compressed, eight-month period.

Weather: Within the season, landscape gardening/horticulture operations are governed by the elements. Wind, temperature, heat and rainfall all have serious effects on the ability to perform horticultural operations. It is necessary to take advantage of the season and the climate in order to operate effectively.

Perishable products: All landscape gardening/horticulture work requires the installation and maintenance of plant material. Newly-planted landscapes must be watered. Trees that require planting must be planted. Turf needs to be laid and watered. It is not possible to leave plants alone just because it is 4 or 5 p.m.

The perishable nature of plant material often guides the hours worked.

Nature and biology set the clock: Typical horticulture work involves diverse operations, such as: plant propagation, landscape installation, landscape

maintenance, gardening, vegetation and weed control, mowing, pruning, cultivation, irrigation, pest control, garden creation, fruit and vegetable production, etc.

In all these operations, the horticulturist doesn’t set the clock, nature does. Certain activities must be done at certain times of year or plant material will not grow. Bare root trees can only be planted within a one-month period in the spring.

Seeding must be done at the beginning of the season. Certain trees are only successful when planted in spring or fall.

Economic profile: Most work in landscape/horticulture is governed by contracts. Contract prices are based on time estimates and product costs. With weather and seasonality uncertainties, it becomes difficult to determine possible overtime requirements.

Labour attraction and retention is by far the biggest issue facing our sector. The fact that we don’t pay overtime makes it even more difficult. This is why some of our members are voluntarily paying overtime. The majority of members are not.

On call pay

The last proposed problematic change is the on call pay requirement that would affect every weather dependent business. I am pleased to report the government listened to our concerns and has made provisions for weather-related businesses. See “LO committee advocates for members” on page 18.

Here’s how you can help

In light of the government’s intention to challenge the exemption and because labour attraction is a serious limiting factor, is there a unique solution we can put forward? I have always been impressed and inspired by our members’ creativity and care for their employees and customers. I would love to hear your ideas on how we can structure changes to benefit employers and employees.

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

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Each day, visitors from over 20 countries set out from Niagara Falls, Ont.

Canada hosts world-class garden centre congress

By Denis Flanagan CLD Manager of Membership and Public Relations

T

he annual International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) Congress was hosted in Canada Sept. 17-22.

Over 250 delegates from over 20 countries gathered to celebrate Canada 150 and to tour several of Ontario’s finest garden centres.

Delegates were transported to many locations from the tour’s home base in Niagara Falls, Ont. via five tour buses. Each bus was themed one of Canada’s professional hockey teams and I was delighted to be a bus captain and tour guide on the Winnipeg Jets bus, sharing duties with Peggy Head from Newfoundland. Our bus had delegates from Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, Denmark and Switzerland. We enjoyed a fantastic week mixed with lots of information and a great deal of fun while on a packed agenda touring Ontario.

Day 1: Included visits to Coles Florist and Garden Centre, Connon Nurseries/ CBV Holdings, Sheridan Nurseries and the Toronto Botanical Garden, concluding with an evening boat cruise on Lake Ontario.

Day 2: Started with the daily business

session, followed by a visit to Winkelmolen Nursery where during lunch we were entertained with native dances and storytelling. The evening concluded with a dinner at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Day 3: Was an intense day with stops at Holland Park Garden Gallery, Terra Greenhouses, Van Dongen’s Garden Centre and a tour of Sheridan’s wholesale farm, including a very impressive dinner

hosted by Sheridan (not an easy task for 250 delegates).

Day 4: The diversity of garden centres was demonstrated with stops at Ontario’s largest, Humber Nurseries, followed by the peaceful setting at Pathways to Perennials. Next was the leading-edge Bradford Greenhouses, where delegates were treated to an impressive dinner, including a camp fire with s’more making lessons for the Europeans.

Day 5: Delegates were treated to a truly Canadian celebration with a visit to Vermeer’s Garden Centre, where visitors took part in a ball hockey tournament. We then returned to Niagara Falls for a memorable boat ride aboard the Hornblower. Anyone that got a touch wet had an opportunity to dry out during a tour and lunch at JacksonTriggs winery. In the evening, organizers, delegates and hosts enjoyed a special red themed gala at the Sheraton hotel.

The 2017 IGCA Congress is one of the best events I have ever participated in. Everyone benefitted from participants from so many countries and cultures sharing stories, experiences and knowledge.

Judging from the comments and feedback, the event certainly ranks Canada high on the world map of horticulture.

The 2018 IGCA Congress will be hosted in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic. For more information, visit igca2018.cz.

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

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MEMBERSHIP LO membership is a great investment Your membership questions answered

By Myscha Stafford Membership and Chapter Coordinator

Last month I mentioned we were looking for submissions for an “Ask the membership team” feature that would answer your questions in this magazine. During our busy membership renewal season, one of the most common questions we are asked is, “Why are my dues increasing?” The short answer is that we live in a world of flux and inflation is a reality. Japan’s economy went through a long period of slightly negative or no inflation in the 1990s and was avoided by investors from around the world. Another reality is that overhead costs (just like taxes), never go down.

To coincide with this reality, the LO provincial board of directors decided years ago to increase membership dues each year by two per cent. For a brief overview of how dues fit into the overall revenue and operating costs of your association, see the article on page 12 of this issue or visit gfl.me/h3uI.

A

hoy mateys! I was really hoping to hear someone say that phrase during my recent vacation in the Maritimes, but had no such luck.

In 11 days of travelling, my husband and I covered five provinces, three states, 5,000 km and two botanical gardens. While in St. Andrew’s, N.B., we visited the awardwinning Kingsbrae Gardens, which boasts 27 acres and over 2,500 species of perennials, trees and shrubs (plus rabbits, ducks and alpacas).

We also visited the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which consists of 295 acres of coastal land and forest. These two sites were absolutely breathtaking and offered countless photo opportunities. The plant material was also rather different compared to the botanical gardens here in Ontario. We saw gigantic paperbark maples, copious amounts of lichen on trees that resembled photos of a rainforest in British Columbia, and the most incredible hydrangeas you will ever see.

The trip was also a great experience to see what other provinces and states had to offer both the public and companies involved in the landscape and horticulture profession.

An investment with great returns

The annual cost of your LO membership may not be in the same realm as new equipment or vehicles, but just like them, the cost is actually an investment towards running your company efficiently and effectively. Like any investment, the more you put, in the greater potential for reward.

And this investment is as risk-free as they come. The more you actively engage with your LO community through your membership, the more benefits you will start to realize. The members who make up

the LO community are one of the greatest assets the association has. By connecting with like-minded professionals, attending events, utilizing training programs and using promotional tools and cost savings available to your company, you will truly see the great value and return on investment your membership dues create.

Landscape Ontario membership gets you access to: • Exclusive savings on new vehicles, equipment, business needs and training.

• A province-wide network of green professionals.

• A community with your local colleagues and education opportunities through chapter meetings and events.

• Exclusive tools to promote your company as a professional.

• The latest industry news that may impact your business — via LO’s print publications and electronic news.

• Connections to local and provincial government and staff who lobby for change on your behalf.

• Thousands of potential clients through LO’s public website, Garden Inspiration magazine, home shows and many public relations campaigns.

• Education and training events for you and your staff.

Don’t risk losing access to the many benefits of LO membership. Renew your membership dues online at horttrades.com/ dues, mail in a cheque or pay by credit card over the phone by calling 1-800-265-5656.

Are you using your membership to its fullest potential? Send me your questions about how you can make your LO membership work for you.

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

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APPRENTICESHIP Apprenticeship Program has limited available spots

By Rachel Cerelli LO Education and Labour Development Program Coordinator

O

ver the next month or so, Landscape Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horticulture Apprenticeship team of Alex Gibson and I have a goal to ensure every available seat in the Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship Program across the five campuses in Ontario is filled.

The landscape and horticulture profession needs to take advantage of this spectacular opportunity provided by the Ministry of Advanced Learning and Education Development and Ontario College of Trades.

The Apprenticeship Program consists of 20 per cent in-class training, from January through March for two years. It is not mandatory for the two years to be consecutive. The remaining 80 per cent of training takes place on-the-job, while working with an employer. A bonus for apprentices is that most are eligible to receive EI while completing the in-class portion in winter. Apprentices essentially earn while they learn and employers get better employee retention, a more skilled workforce and access to tax credits and

incentives.

There are a number of benefits, for both employees and employers who participate in the Apprenticeship Program.

Employer benefits

Due to the seasonality of the profession, many employers find it hard to keep staff all year round. Keeping and attracting new, talented labour is the largest issue facing the landscape and horticulture professions. Employers who participate in the program see an increase in employee retention, and furthermore, those employees as a result have higher skills, are more efficient, are more satisfied on the job, plus the employer gets access to tax credits.

Employee benefits

Employees enrolled in the program benefit from knowing their employer is committed to investing in their development which means a more stable job and a less unstable future. Apprentices gain confidence honing their new skills and as mentioned, most are eligible to receive EI during the off season months while they attend school. Subsidies can also be applied for to cover child care and travel costs. Apprentices also receive completion grants up to $4,000.

Whether you are relatively new to the profession or a seasoned veteran, there is room for all levels of experience in the

program. Each year, classes are filled with apprentices from various sectors of all ages and skill levels. If you would like more information on the program, or help with the registration process, Alex and I are available to answer your questions and help you complete the application process. Classes start in January, so register today.

Share your story

Are you a past or current apprentice? Are you an employer who has taken advantage of the many benefits of the Apprenticeship Program? We want to share your experiences with the Apprenticeship Program in future issues of Landscape Ontario magazine. Others can benefit from your experience. Let us know when are where you stated, how the Apprenticeship Program benefitted you, and how it has helped you to get to where you are today.

To apply or share your story, contact Rachel Cerelli at 1-800-265-5656, ext.

2354 or rachel@landscapeontario.com or Alex Gibson at 613-809-5093, jagibson@landscapeontario.com.

Landscape Contractors Lecture Series This annual Lecture Series is a gathering of landscape designers, architects, contractors, and other industry professionals.

This special evening is an excellent platform for sharing information and exchanging ideas.

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UNDERGROUND WORLD Don’t get sloppy at year end

By Terry Murphy CLM

I

was having lunch with a friend last week who is a safety professional for a large Toronto contracting firm. We started talking about safety and year end, which prompted the idea for the subject of my column this month.

As the end of the construction and maintenance season draws near, many, if not all companies rush to complete their projects in order to get their final invoices out to customers for payment. Doing whatever it takes to get the job done on time often results in serious accidents and safety violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Don’t let this be the case in your company.

Slow down, be efficient and ensure your employees work safely. And for heaven’s sake, don’t start a project unless you have called ON1CALL for locates!

I won’t go through a litany of safety do’s and don’ts, but I will provide some points for you to consider. I remember a study that was done about 10 years ago by MBA students at the University of Waterloo for the Skilled Trades Alliance of Hamilton.

The study sought to determine the reasons why young apprentices leave the company they work for. Surprisingly, money, specifically the amount of pay, was not the main reason apprentices left — it was actually reason number seven. The second most common reason why apprentices left a company was because the company owner did not have a high regard with respect to safety. Respondents said people were constantly asked to work more quickly, which caused many workers to disregard safety policies and cut corners, which ultimately resulted in workplace accidents.

This is more likely to happen at year end as opposed to any other time of the year, because owners and supervisors also want to finish jobs before the winter layoff commences.

Seasonal weather

More hazardous working conditions also exist simply because of the changing sea-

24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO OCTOBER 2017

son: it gets dark earlier in the afternoon, inclement weather can make driving and operating machinery more dangerous due to snow and ice — all of which have an increased chance of accidents on the job or on the road.

In case you are curious, the number one reason why apprentices left the company they were working for was due to poor communication from management/ ownership. Young apprentices commented their boss never talked to staff about things happing in the company, how they were performing or anything about the future plans for the business or its financial condition. People naturally want to know about things they invest a great deal of their time and energy into, which helps to explain why they went elsewhere. The larger the company, the less feedback and communication occurred. Sound familiar?

Talk safety

How can we avoid these kinds of dangerous safety circumstances? I suggest at the end of September or early October, owners/managers should call a very important safety meeting to remind all employees that while he/she expects them to work quickly and efficiently, they also want employees to always work safely. Nobody wants a serious accident in the landscape profession to happen at any time, certainly not just before the winter break. Safety meetings are a necessary evil and are required by the OHSA as they remind employees they have a legal obligation for not only their own safety, but that of their fellow employees as well.

Here are some of the specific safety items I would suggest that you cover in your meeting as you enter the final months of a busy season: • Remind employees that safety is everybody’s responsibility. Each person is responsible for their own safety.

• Review the specific roles and responsibilities for each the three groups of employees covered under the OHSA: owner/general manager, supervisor and the worker. Supervisors must ensure people follow the Health and Safety policies of the company. Workers have to wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) their specific job

requires. For example, operating a chainsaw requires different PPE than laying sod.

• All company employees need to reminded there are laws and company policies regarding harassment and violence in the workplace. Review these policies.

• Each employee should understand they have a legal obligation to bring any unsafe working conditions to the attention of their supervisor so he/she can address the problem.

• Every truck should have a first aid kit, accident reporting paperwork and a copy of the “Green Book.”

• Most importantly, always call ON1CALL for locates and dig safely.

• Include any more topics that involve specific risks depending on the tasks your employees are performing.

Conclusion

Don’t get sloppy and negligent as you race to the finish this year. We all forget things, and need constant reminders — safety is no different. Repeating the same rules, responsibilities, policies and expectations at regular health and safety meetings with all your staff works in much the same way as successful advertising and branding — the repetition sticks. These meetings are necessary and part of your overall responsibility as an owner or manager. Schedule a safety meeting and communicate with your staff.

You’ll not only be helping them to return home safely at night, you’ll also be satisfying the number one reason why young apprentices (and other employees) leave a company to work elsewhere. Have a great year end and a productive safety meeting.

For comments, questions or suggestions, please contact Terry Murphy at tvmurphy@ca.inter.net.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG Locate pipes and utility lines at no cost Call anytime 1-800-400-2255 Submit a request online on1call.com

PROSPERITY PARTNERS Standing in the presence of greatness

By Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

E

very now and then, business owners who combine passion with skill and professionalism, have very special (and memorable) moments. Some of those moments may include landing a great contract, hiring a right-fit dynamo, or creating their best-ever masterpiece. Some of those moments may happen when they come across a mentor, coach or even a chapter in a book that really connects to their core and just “feels right.”

When these great moments happen in our careers, they are magical. They affirm for each of us that we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing and when. Moments of greatness happen when you’ve really got your game on, and everything comes together smoothly.

Many times over the years while running my landscape contracting company in Muskoka, I would turn to a planting crew in the middle of laying out hundreds (or thousands) of plants, and inform them they were “standing in the presence of greatness.” In other words, they were witness to one of my more brilliant creations.

Some of them laughed. Some of them

rolled their eyes. Others asked why.

Unbeknownst to them, it’s the ones who asked “why” that had the greatest potential of making their own moments of greatness in my business: as a part of my future core team. I called these people the “keepers.”

Your own greatness

As our 2017 season comes to a close, I’m asking you to reflect back and consider your own moments of greatness. At what times in your business venture could you have turned to coworkers or staff to inform them they were standing in the presence of your greatness?

I encourage you to celebrate these wonderful moments. Pay attention to how they make you feel and how you could best share and nurture those moments with those around you. If you slow yourself down enough to notice, you’ll see that the wave of success, confidence and achievement will give you a free ride to your next successful moment. And, it’s contagious!

Through years of teaching countless business management workshops, I’ve shared, and learned about many moments of greatness in our profession.

It’s encouraging to hear when peers share their greatest moments. It’s also inspiring to coach them through the not-so-great ones on a peer to peer basis.

Sharing our successes and looking to peers for solutions to challenges are in themselves moments of greatness.

Offering your own advice to a peer who

is struggling or facing a challenge is also a moment of greatness.

Join the LO Peer to Peer Network

There are lots of opportunities for peer mentoring and coaching in our profession. Few are Ontario-based, and only one is free for Landscape Ontario members. We are very lucky to have our very own Peer to Peer Network where business owners in the landscape and horticulture profession can connect and mentor one another. The LO Peer to Peer Network is a professionally-facilitated mentoring program that is free for you to join. To sign-up, email info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com or visit horttrades.com/p2p.

Your very own moments of greatness are about to arrive!

The Business of Improving Business January 8, 2018 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location New York Room, Delta Hotels Toronto Airport In conjunction with Congress ’18

For more info visit horttrades.com/p2p

Join LO’s Peer Network today!

Visit horttrades.com/p2p to join the LinkedIn group or email info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com

SAVE THE DATE!

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT LECTURE SERIES February 22, 2018

This annual Lecture Series is a gathering of Grounds Management professionals.

Enjoy a lunch with your peers and stay for an afternoon of interesting and informative sessions related to the industry.

LandscapeLecture.ca WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 25

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SA VE TH ED AT E

CONFERENCE 2018 FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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