Green for Life Jan/Feb 2014

A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication

January/February 2014 Vol. 2, No. 1

An Inside Look: Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program

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Calendar of Events

MANAGING EDITOR Nigel Bowles LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Kyla McKechnie EDITOR Marnie Main ADVERTISING Erynn Watson Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a publication for the professional landscape trade in Alberta.

Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta 200, 10331 - 178 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5 P: 780-489-1991 F: 780-444-2152 admin@landscape-alberta.com www.landscape-alberta.com Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and does not endorse the contents of any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Landscape Alberta or its members.

Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of Landscape Alberta.

ISSN No: 1929-7114 (print) ISSN N0: 1929-7122 (online)

Landscape Alberta Executive Committee President - TBA 1st Vice President - Chris Brown CRS Brown Landscape Services Ltd.

January 7 - 9, 2014 Landscape Ontario’s Congress Conference and Trade Show Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON www.locongress.com February 11 - 12, 2014 Manitoba Green Show Victoria Inn Hotel, Winnipeg, MB www.landscapemb.com/site/mgs

March 3 - 7, 2014 13th Annual Irrigation Expo The Water Centre, 625 – 25 Ave SE, Calgary, AB www.irrigation.org

March 5 - 7, 2014 Women’s Arboriculture Conference 2014 Harrison Hot Springs Resort, Harrison Hot Springs, BC www.womenarborists.ca March 12, 2014 Landscape Alberta Spring Workshop, AGM & Landscape Awards Dinner Glenmore Inn, Calgary, AB 1-800-378-3198 March 14 – 23, 2014 Canada Blooms Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON www.canadablooms.com

2nd Vice President - Dave Montgomery Green Oasis Services Inc. Treasurer - Arnold van de Ligt Manderley Turf Products Inc.

Past President - Gerard Fournier For Trees Company Ltd.

On the Cover: Olds College Grounds Photo Credit: Nigel Bowles

Landscape Alberta Staff

Nigel Bowles, Executive Director nigel.bowles@landscape-alberta.com

Marnie Main, Member Services Director member.services@landscape-alberta.com

A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication

An Inside Look: Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program, Page 11

Erynn Watson, Member Services Assistant erynn.watson@landscape-alberta.com Valerie Stobbe, Trade Show Coordinator valerie.stobbe@landscape-alberta.com

Kyla McKechnie, Admin Assistant & Communications admin@landscape-alberta.com Cheryl Teo, Bookkeeper accounting@landscape-alberta.com

An Inside Look: Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program

Follow us on Twitter @landscapeab

Green for Life January/February 2014 I 3

Industry and Association News...

New strategic plan for Landscape Alberta As reported in the December issue of Green for Life, volunteer members and staff met on October 23 & 24, 2013 to build a new strategic plan for the Association.

View the full report online at www.landscape-alberta.com (Members Only section).

Much has changed: business professionals have a different expectation of value from associations, a tangible return-oninvestment for their membership fees. We also recognize that members are very busy, constraining their ability to participate in the issues and activities that industry associations undertake.

Labour Market Opinion (LMO) applications Service Canada has advised that LMOs for SAWP applications should be made a minimum of twelve (12) weeks in advance of when employers need workers to arrive in Canada.

The traditional association operating model – one that’s dependent on direction and decision making by volunteers, isn’t working as well as it once did. Associations tend to be tradition-driven, slow to change and risk-averse. It used to be that companies automatically joined their trade associations, paid their dues, attended meetings, and volunteered on boards and committees.

2014 Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is limited to specific on-farm primary agriculture commodity sectors including nurseries, greenhouse and sod producers. It can provide access to a steady and reliable workforce during the growing season - without this program, producers would have difficulty supplying their products to the marketplace in a timely and cost-competitive manner. Producers should take note of the following changes to the SAWP for 2014:

In our strategic planning session, members identified the following core values which will drive our association forward and guide the planning, decision-making, and behavior within Landscape Alberta. Leaders and staff will consistently act on these values to demonstrate that we “practice what we preach.”

Integrity, Member-Directed, Responsive, and Value-Driven With these factors in mind, key focus areas were developed:

Governance and Executive Management. Landscape Alberta will secure ongoing excellence in leadership via the board of directors and the executive director.

Professional Development. Achieve recognition of education/training levels - from provincial and municipal governments, as well as organizations in related professions.

Membership. Increase the number of “Active” category members in Landscape Alberta to enhance legislative and marketing power, our volunteer base, and our fiscal strength.

Plus, deliver the association’s services to a broader audience in order to improve the viability and strength of the professional landscape industry in the province.

Alliances and Relationship Building. Grow Landscape Alberta’s ability to influence public policy, public officials and public opinion by creating new alliances and relationships with key organizations in allied industries and positions of power.

Program Excellence and Targeting of Resources. Intentionally focus on program excellence rather than number of programs (quality vs. quantity).

4 I Green for Life January/February 2014

Housing health inspections A health certificate for worker housing is required annually. If a health certificate has not yet been issued for 2014, Service Canada will accept the previous year’s certificate.

Healthlink Alberta Edmonton: 780-735-1800 Calgary: 403-943-2288 Alberta-wide: 1-866-408-5465

Wage rates for 2014 Nurseries, greenhouse and sod: $10.03 hr. For information: http://bit.ly/18od3R9.

Revenue Canada Revenue Canada says it’s important to respect filing deadlines. However, SAWP workers cannot use Netfile and therefore they must file hard-copy tax returns. The annual tax threshold for workers from Mexico is $16,000.00 - less for other SAWP-participating countries. Contrary to what employers may have been told by some Revenue Canada agents, bunkhouses are not a taxable benefit. However, use

of a vehicle for non-business use is a taxable benefit. Invasive Plants Directive The federal “Invasive Plants Directive (D-12-01) Phytosanitary requirements to prevent Important forms: Payroll deduction table, T4032. the introduction and establishment of plants regulated as pests in Canada" is now posted on the CFIA website. This Directive clarifies the policy to prevent or limit the Authorization of a representative, T1013. importation and the domestic spread of plants considered as pests (i.e., weeds). It explains the invasive plants policy, lists the plants considered to be regulated pests, Employment advertising To meet the minimum advertising requirements and indicates that these plants are prohibited from entry to Canada. set by the program, employers must advertise on the Government of Canada Job Bank. The As new invasive plants are assessed, they will also be added to this Directive. It should advertisement must be posted for a minimum of be noted that all the prohibited invasive plants listed in the Directive have, in fact, been 14 calendar days starting from the first day the ad regulated through the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) on the CFIA appears and is accessible to the general public. The website since 2011 and will be added to the List of Pests Regulated by Canada shortly. advertisement must remain posted to actively Pathway specific directives for relevant species will be developed separately and as seek qualified Canadians and permanent residents appropriate. until the date an LMO is issued.

Using two or more additional methods of recruitment consistent with the normal practice for the occupation, employers can choose one or more recruitment methods among these: print media (local newspapers, job boards, youth magazines, etc.); and general employment websites (jobboom.com, workopolis.com, monster.ca, etc.).

Travel Employers are free to make their own travel arrangements for workers, however it is recommended employers use Vacation World Travel, based in Calgary (403-265-0431). They offer open tickets and while they may cost more, are flexible if last minute changes need to be made.

Worker substitution at airport Worker substitution at the airports in Mexico is no longer an option in 2014. If a worker doesn’t show, you can change up to 50% of workers names listed, but they will need to get the proper paperwork (work permit, visa, etc.) before they can travel (applicable to two or more workers only).

General SAWP workers can only work on-farm or deliver nursery, sod and greenhouse products to market.

Workers cannot install these commodities, i.e.

SAWP workers can transport trees from a nursery to a landscape jobsite, but they cannot plant the trees.

Another policy to note is in regard to transfers.

TFWs cannot transfer to another employer or be shared without approval. Transferring or sharing TFWs informally contravenes the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000.00.

Information for hiring Seasonal Agricultural Workers: http://bit.ly/1iuhCum.

Green for Life January/February 2014 I 5

D-12-01 is available on the CFIA web site here: http://bit.ly/1jmInRX.

HortProtect Risk Management System CNLA and Marsh are working in cooperation with Carriers Edge to oer risk management training sessions to the landscape horticulture industry. Modules include “Safe Driving Practicesâ€? and “Lifting and Ladder Safetyâ€? in the summer program; the winter program will include “Winter Drivingâ€? and “Snow and Ice Control.â€?

This on-line training program is designed to provide companies with the tools to better manage their own risk; improving safety and best-practices to reduce the number of claims.

Pricing is $39 for HortProtect users; $49 for Landscape Alberta members; $59 for non-members.

For information visit www.canadanursery.com/driverstraining.

Landscape Management Workshops a Success During the ďŹ rst week of December 2013, Landscape Alberta and Finning (Canada) partnered to host Landscape Management Network (LMN) workshops in Calgary and Edmonton.

Using their own business ďŹ nancial statements, attendees learned to: • Target proďŹ table sales and spending goals

• • • •

Calculate hourly rates and mark-ups Close deals faster with proven estimating method Track job progress Implement incentive systems based on performance

Due to demand, this was the third time these 2-day LMN workshops have been oered to Landscape Alberta members – participants rave about what they have taken home from these sessions! Many thanks to Finning (Canada) for their generous support in making these professional development opportunities such a great value for our members.

Welcome to Our New Members

This Directive is intended for use by importers, retailers, nursery and greenhouse operators, the Canada Border Services Agency, the CFIA, other government departments, and the public.

Basin Environmental Ltd. Darren Rath 1143 – 113 Street SW Edmonton, AB T6W 1P5 Tel: (780) 910-5248 darren.rath@telus.net

Grumpy’s Landscaping Ltd. Hawkin Everts Box 2488 Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0 Tel: (403) 627-4589 grumpys@xplornet.com

Tranquil Gardens Incorporated Tim Madder 273 Patterson Blvd SW Calgary, AB T3H 3K1 Tel: (403) 471-6877 Fax: (403) 240-2658 tranquilgardens@shaw.ca

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2013 Green Industry Show and Conference

Landscape Alberta’s 2013 Green Industry Show & Conference packed the Edmonton Expo Center on November 14 & 15.

Hundreds of participants were drawn to the conference workshops and the 150-exhibitor trade show - the third largest event of its kind in Canada.

The event kicked-off on Wednesday, November 13 at the Coast Hotel with the Landscape Alberta Nursery Growers Annual Auction. This event attracted over 150 people and helped raise approximately $27,000 for ornamental research and development.

The educational conference featured fifteen separate workshops, general sessions and special programs. Speakers from across North America provided attendees with insight and information ranging from garden centre design, tree problems and solutions, supervisor training, greenhouse management and how to run a successful business. Keynote speaker Eliot Hoppe fascinated the audience with his insights into human behaviour using the visual clues we use in our everyday gestures.

will move to Calgary’s BMO Centre (formerly the Round-up Centre) and will then begin alternating between the two centres each year.

See pages 8 - 9 for pictures from the Green Industry Show. You can also view more photos online at www.flickr.com/photos/109214823@N04/.

We asked exhibitors to tell us one word they would use to describe the Green Industry Show.

Here is what they said.

The trade show was a complete sell-out once again at 250 booths, with over 150 high quality exhibitors. We also welcomed Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Verlyn Olson and the Deputy Minister, Jason Krips, to the tradeshow. They were both impressed at the growth of the industry and its contribution to the Alberta economy (approaching $1 billion annually).

This year’s trade show floor opened and closed earlier than in previous years, resulting in better networking and a timely move-out on closing day – which was fortunate as a major winter storm moved in later that evening, leaving over 25 cm of snow on the ground by morning!

Planning is already underway for the 2014 Green Industry Show & Conference, which will be held at the Edmonton Expo Centre, November 13 – 14, 2014. Starting in 2015, the event

THANK YOU SPONSORS

2013 Green Industry Show & Conference

Green for Life January/February 2014 I 7

2013 Green Industry Show “We find the Green Industry Show one of the friendliest trade shows we attend.

We love to connect face to face with our current customers and look forward to meeting other prospects.”

-Sharon Johnson Howkins Specimen Trees Wholesale Nurseries Ltd.

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8 I Green for Life January/February 2014

“The Green Industry Show is an excellent opportunity to network with professionals in the industry.”

-Marina Chabbert, Top Spray®

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“We appreciate having the opportunity to support the industry by building and creating relationships that will help grow and foster an environment of learning and mentoring within the industry.”

-Ellen Dyck Purple Springs Nursery 17

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“We do not have a

sales force, so this show is where we need to be to see our customers. We love this show.”

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-Michiel Verheul High Q Greenhouses

1. Mervin and Janet Falkenberg, Greenview Nurseries & Tree Farms Corp.; 2. Lally Cheema and Avtar Jhaj, Stewart Brothers Nurseries Ltd.; 3. Mark Johnson, TD Canada Trust – Agriculture Services; 4. Carol Sturman, Leo Gentry Wholesale Nursery, Inc.; 5. Steve Neubauer, Rainbow Play Systems Inc.; 6. Mike and Benita Van Zalen, VRE Systems; 7. Bill Letondre, Terry Scott and Kevin Shaw of Pickseed Canada Inc.; 8. Simon Tillaart, Dutchman Industries Inc.; 9. DeVonne Friesen of Van Belle Nursery, Devon Beck and Pat Aldi, Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services Ltd., Adam Underwood, Van Belle Nursery; 10. Andrew Heighton and Tyler Strain, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc.; 11. Jeff Yee and Sean Krahn, Martin Deerline; 12. Fred De Boer, Mainland Floral Distributors Ltd.; 13. Sylain Bourden and Dan McMahon, Ball Seed; 14. Eric Brodie, Cody Johnson and Brad Grainger, Brandt Tractor Ltd.; 15. Simone Halliwell of TerraLink Horticulture Inc. and Jeff Provencal Westland Ltd.; 16. Geri Dominguez, Anita Heuver, Luke Burnett, Erin Montreuil and Michael Templeton of Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.; 17. Wendy and Tarance Zak, Larchwood Nurseries; 18. Simon Bos, Simon Bos Nurseries Ltd.; 19. Edward and Craig van Zanten, Pan American Nursery Products Inc.; 20. Helmut Beckmann, Foothills Nurseries Ltd.; 21. Shawna Fennell and Vern Houle of Houle Country. More pictures are available online at www.flickr.com/photos/109214823@N04/.

Green for Life January/February 2014 I 9

Fatigue and Safety in the Workplace

Long work hours or many consecutive days of work can fatigue workers and make them feel tired, irritable, depressed, or giddy. They may lose their appetite, have digestive problems, and are more likely to catch a cold or flu.

Consider exposure to hazards such as noise, vibration, chemicals, and extreme temperatures when extending hours of work. An occupational hygiene specialist should be consulted when adjusting occupational exposure limits.

When selecting personal protective equipment (PPE) such as respirators or specialized clothing, consider the effects on the worker of having to wear the PPE for extended work hours.

For more information see Safety Bulletin ERG015 Fatigue, Extended Work Hours, and Safety in the Workplace at www.worksafe.alberta.ca, or call toll free: 1-866-415-8690.

Source: Work Safe Alberta

Fatigued workers may: • react more slowly than usual • fail to respond to things going on around them or respond incorrectly • show poor logic and judgment • be unable to concentrate • be less motivated and more forgetful • have a tendency to take greater risks Poor performance due to fatigue is particularly apparent with tasks that are repetitive and take 30 or more minutes to complete, or are complex and require concentration.

Workers commonly cope with their reduced level of function by: • working more slowly • checking and rechecking their work • relying on fellow workers • carrying out less critical tasks

Most people need 7.5 to 8.5 uninterrupted hours of sleep each day; less than this amount leads to a sleep debt that adds up over time.

A single night’s shortened or disrupted sleep may not affect a worker’s performance immediately, but repeated disruptions over days and weeks can affect performance.

A worker completing an extended shift may have only 4 to 5 hours for sleep once travel, eating, and social time are taken into account.

Mandatory off-duty hours increase the likelihood that a worker will rest or sleep. Rest time can be enhanced with quiet on-site accommodation and prepared meals.

10 I Green for Life January/February 2014

An Inside Look: Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program

It is no secret that Alberta is facing a labour shortage across all industries. Employers have turned to the foreign worker programs offered by the federal government, but recent changes have made those programs more difficult to access.

With 20% of current construction industry workers retiring over the next seven years, demand for skilled labour is higher than ever. Where can you find the skilled labour your company needs now? next year? five years from now?

As an employer, have you considered the advantages of training an apprentice? According to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, employers could see big potential payoffs - up to $1.47 average return for each dollar invested in apprenticeship training. Other advantages include: • • •

Employee retention Improved performance quality and productivity Industry recognition

What is the Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program?

Landscape Gardener is a certified trade in the province of Alberta; the Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program (LGAP) is the apprenticeship training program delivered (as directed by the government) through Olds College. The program offers hands-on learning technologies in both hard and soft landscape skills including pavers, wood construction, plant identification, landscape design, and more.

Training consists of four 12-month training periods. In each period an apprentice is required to take two months of technical training at Olds College plus complete 1200 hours of on-the-job work experience. At the end of each period, the apprentice is required to pass an exam before moving on to the next level.

From day one, apprentices earn a salary which increases according to their time and experience in the trade. The rate of pay is based on a specific percentage of the prevailing journeyman’s wage in their shop.

To gain a better understanding of this successful program, we interviewed an employer who has trained apprentices, LGAP instructors from Olds College, and apprentices enrolled in the program. Each interview offered a different perspective on the advantages of apprenticeship.

Employer: Bruce Kay, Owner and President of OnGrowing Works Inc. and Chair of the LGAP Provincial Advisory Committee Landscape Alberta (LA): Why do you choose to train an apprentice?

Bruce: “If I boil it down, our business chooses to educate and train staff because it creates a spark of enthusiasm. The spark of enthusiasm opens awareness for a better way forward for our whole team. We find it’s the beginning of a shift towards creating passion for our work. When people think that they already know something, we find they are limited to that level of knowledge - they are not open to better ways. Apathy creeps in and it can come across as ‘Whatever, I get paid by the hour regardless’. However, after they experience apprenticeship technical learning, then get the chance to apply their learning on a project, the opportunity to work with a new level of awareness creates the spark that our business needs to thrive. The attitude of ‘already knowing’ shifts to the more enthusiastic ‘I know I don’t know, BUT I want to learn more!’. This creates a shift in work culture that is measurable through improved productivity, performance quality, employee retention, and profitability (not just in dollars).”

Green for Life January/February 2014 I 11

LA: What are the costs for a company to train an apprentice, and is there a financial benefit?

Bruce: “The actual cost to the employer is negligible. The Alberta Government funds the bulk of the apprenticeship program. There is additional funding available for both the employer and the apprentice including Employment Insurance while the apprentice is at technical training, plus grants and other forms of funding available for travel or living away from home.

and different employers. This exposure is invaluable for a student trying to find direction and information regarding all aspects of our trade.”

LA: What benefits do employers gain by training an apprentice? What does that mean to the industry?

Anita: “The apprentices demonstrate more interest and ownership toward their workplace responsibilities. They are more confident and more willing to take on challenging tasks.”

LA: What are the requirements needed to register as a Landscape Gardener apprentice? What cost does the student bear?

Darlene: “A potential apprentice needs to be employed with a firm that has a Journeyman Landscape Gardener (or equivalent) on staff. The Journeyman will mentor the apprentice through the ‘hands-on’ component of the trade, and sign off on all working hours in the apprentice’s ‘blue book’. The blue book documents the hours spent in specific skill sets for that working year.

The employer and the apprentice must register with the Alberta Apprenticeship Board. The apprentice will be issued an Apprenticeship ID number which will be required for application in the trade at Olds College. Students pay an approximate tuition fee of $800.00 per training session at Olds College. The majority of the apprentice learning materials are included in the tuition, and are supplied to them at the beginning of the related class.” (Note: there are grants and other funding available to students.)

Our company takes a more financially active approach by assisting the apprentice with all schooling expenses as a commitment to learning and professional development.

From an employer perspective the return on investment is very high. Honestly, I’m shocked that our industry has not adopted this program as the primary learning opportunity for employees. It seems to be working fine for many other industry sectors including carpentry, automotive, masonry and more.”

LA: Employees come and go - what if your apprentice/ journeyman moves on?

Bruce: “Regardless of the learning programs businesses choose, employee retention is part of all good business planning. If one of our staff believe they can be better working elsewhere, we do everything possible to help them. Part of our employee retention plan is promoting professional development, advancement and increased pay connected to the increased value they bring to the business.”

Instructors: Anita Schill and Darlene Morton, LGAP training at Olds College

LA: Making career decisions – why choose apprenticeship?

Anita: “The students are exposed to instructors who are specialized in their fields and have experience in the industry.

On top of that, their classmates all have different experiences

12 I Green for Life January/February 2014

LA: What are apprentices learning while attending the school portion of their LGAP training?

Anita: “They learn technical knowledge and understanding of what they do in the field. Instructors present new innovations and techniques. We are all dedicated to working towards an environmentally sustainable future with possible and practical solutions.”

LA: What is your favourite aspect of being an instructor in the LGAP program?

Anita: “My favorite aspect is that ALL students have some industry experience. This lends itself to lively discussions and opportunities to collaborate while completing assignments.

Best of all, courses such as Tree Biology and Soils are meaningful to the students because, although they have background experience, they learn the science that explains the why and how of the work they do in the field.”

Darlene: “Truly it is a joy to see the interest these students have in learning the reasons behind what they are doing on the job. They have good questions about their experiences in the field and are ripe for lively discussions on these topics.

Apprentices come to us with many levels of skill, and also different sets of skills. Often they can share successful techniques used at the job site with their classmates, and much learning and interaction occurs at that level.

Landscape Gardeners work as hard in the classroom as they do in the field.”

Students: Elizabeth Wheale, Fairhaven Landscaping and bobcat or a wheelbarrow can call himself a landscaper. Having skilled labourers who understand the essentials of the trade Elaine Foss, Calgary Zoo, City of Calgary will be invaluable. Apprentices embody a certain level LA: Why did you choose to become an LGAP apprentice? of commitment, and come out the other end with essential knowledge of safe, ecologically-friendly practices and the skills What is the biggest benefit?

Elizabeth: “I applied for work with a landscaping company to make businesses successful.” because I like working outside and I needed a seasonal job. My Elaine: “An LGAP apprentice is VERY important to the industry. boss asked me to consider apprenticeship - I didn’t even know it Knowledge and training are the best ways to be a respected was a ticketed trade. The biggest benefit is that in 6 years, I have member in the landscape field. Being Red Seal certified benefits almost never woken up in the morning and hated that I had to the employer and the customer: both know that they are getting go to work! It is a career that I actually fully enjoy, and that's what they pay for. I would highly recommend the LGAP program worth a lot to me. I would have learned skills without the to anyone who is interested and has the ambition to apply the apprenticeship, but the training taught me the reasons why program’s rewards to enhance their future.” things are done, opened my eyes to the other facets of the trade, and gave me a chance to learn and work on current best Setting up an apprenticeship training program is easier than you think - there are a plenty of resources available to employers practice.”

Elaine: “About 5 years ago my foreman suggested that I enroll in (and employees) with information on everything you need to the LGAP program, and I jumped at the chance. I'd been doing know about hiring and training an apprentice.

• Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (caf-fac.org) the job for years, so why not reap the benefits of learning and • tradesecrets.alberta.ca earning Journeyman status. I am Red Seal certified and proud of • apprenticeshippays.com it! One of the greatest benefits of the LGAP program was that it • Landscape Alberta LGAP Information package furthered my knowledge immensely.”

• Olds College (oldscollege.ca) • Alberta Learning (alis.alberta.ca) LA: What costs are there to an apprentice during training?

Elizabeth: “Very little, actually. My employer paid for the first two years of my training. Apprentices can collect EI while they're at school, and then the government paid me back a total of $4,000.00 in grants, plus whatever other scholarships and bursaries I qualified for.”

Elaine: “My employer paid for each semester, as long as I passed the exams. I was also awarded government grants, which were certainly appreciated.”

Thank you to Bruce, Anita, Darlene, Elizabeth and Elaine for taking the time to answer our questions. Please share this article with staff members and colleagues. Keep our industry strong, knowledgeable and professional – consider training an apprentice, or becoming one yourself.

LA: Do you feel you received high quality training? What was your favorite class?

Elizabeth: “Absolutely. I probably liked Arboriculture the most.

Who doesn't like climbing ropes and using chainsaws?”

Elaine: “I feel that the instructors were excellent and were wellequipped to deal with students from a wide range of backgrounds and ages. I'm not sure about my favourite class the Plant Identification classes have helped me immensely while working in the field.”

LA: What do you think is the biggest benefit of being an apprentice to your employer?

Elizabeth: “Guaranteed labour. It takes 4 years to complete the apprenticeship - that's a guarantee of one worker coming back every day for four years in an industry where labourers typically only last a few months. Also, apprentices are privy to the constant changes in best practice within the industry, so they bring current information back to the workplace.”

Elaine: “It might be my stick-to-it-iveness, my willingness to learn and challenge new things as an older employee. Plus, my attempts to bring ‘respect for green-spaces’ while working with an asphalt crew!”

LA: Why do you think the LGAP apprentice is important to the industry?

Elizabeth: “Because it's not a protected trade, any Joe with a

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Olds College Opens Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands

Olds College opened its Botanic Gardens & Treatment Wetlands on September 5, 2013. The grand opening celebrated the partnerships undertaken to create this beautiful yet highly functional addition to Olds College. The construction that began three years ago could not have been completed without the support of many industry partners, including Foothills Landscaping (2000) Ltd.

Plans for Olds College Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands began twelve years ago. The master plan involved developing 20 acres of land into a world-class research, education and public use facility, including naturalized landscapes, specialty gardens, walking trails, demonstration plots, an arboretum and 20 constructed treatment wetlands and display ponds. The site can host a variety of events and boasts several kilometers of trails throughout the gardens and wetlands.

“Not only is this the only facility of its type in Canada, but this complex will also be available for wetland and botanical education for students ranging from elementary school to postgraduate education” stated Olds College President, Dr. Tom Thompson. “Students will experience hands-on learning about the importance of preserving our few remaining natural wetlands and the important role they play in our environment, and the resulting effects on the economic and environmental health of Alberta and Canada.”

The research undertaken at the facility has applications related to major Alberta industries including oil and gas, agriculture, land development, horticulture, food production, conservation, and more. The treatment ponds are functional and will facilitate the study of removal of contaminants, sediments, and undesirable nutrients, as well as water usage and storage.

For more information on the Olds College Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands, visit: www.oldscollege.ca/BotanicGarden/index.htm.

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Contact your local Finning sales rep today for details. *0% for 48 months + zero down + 90 days no payments for qualified customers on Cat Skid Steer Loaders, rack Loaders, Compact Wheel Loaders, Mini Hydraulic Excavators, Multi Terrain Terrain Loaders, Compact TTrack Backhoe Loaders, Small Wheel Loaders and Small Track Track TType ype Tractors.

Tractors. Offer expires February 28, 2014.

Get 0% financing for 48 months, plus do not pay for 90 days on select Cat equipment*.

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