2024 NATIONAL AWARDS OF LANDSCAPE EXCELLENCE
2024 WAGE SURVEY SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH
CRITICAL GROUND WHY IS SOIL ESSENTIAL?
IGCA 2024: QUÉBEC A WEEK TO REMEMBER
HELPFUL HR PLATFORM FOR YOUR BUSINESS
RECENT CHANGES TO THE TFWP
HOPE BLOOMS & GCF UNITE WITH 20 NEW TREES
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The 21st annual National Awards of Landscape Excellence was an incredible celebration of Canadian companies and individuals that have made significant strides in raising professionalism within the landscape industry.
The sold-out special gala at Delta Hotels Dartmouth in Nova Scotia welcomed 155 industry members from across the country, representing a broad cross-section of the horticultural trades. Congratulations to all of the winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this such a memorable night for all in attendance!
EXECUTIVE
President
BOARD
BCNLA
NB
Landscape NL Peggy Head - NL
Landscape Canada Committee Chair Peter Guinane - ON
Research Chair Phil Paxton CLHM, CLHT - AB
Government Relations Chair Christine LeVatte CLHM, CLD - NS
Growers Canada Chair Stuart Gillies - NB
CNLA STAFF
Executive Director Victor Santacruz, CLHM, CAE victor@cnla-acpp.ca
Deputy Executive Director Rebecca Doutre, CLHM, CAE rebecca@cnla-acpp.ca
Finance Manager Cheryl Gall, CAE cheryl@cnla-acpp.ca
Communications Manager Dave Mazur dave@cnla-acpp.ca
Policy & Stakeholder Manager Leslie Sison, CAE leslie@cnla-acpp.ca
Member Services & Administration Manager Nicole Xavier nicole@cnla-acpp.ca
Garden Centre, HR & PDC Specialist Anne Kadwell, CLHT anne@cnla-acpp.ca
Administrative Services Catie Cane catie@cnla-acpp.ca
Member Services Coordinator Cathy Scott cathy@cnla-acpp.ca
Policy Coordinator & CNCI, COPF Edith Oyosoro edith@cnla-acpp.ca
Growers & Research Specialist Jamie Aalbers jamie@cnla-acpp.ca
Events Specialist & Communications Coordinator Lauryn Mullan lauryn@cnla-acpp.ca
Content & Design Coordinator Sarah McIntosh sarah@cnla-acpp.ca
CiB & GCF Program Specialist Sonia Parrino sonia@cnla-acpp.ca
Media Coordinator Stuart Service stuart@cnla-acpp.ca
Landscape Priorities Specialist & GCF Program Coordinator Teagan Schroeder teagan@cnla-acpp.ca
CiB & GCF Proram Cordinator Vivian Shum vivian@cnla-acpp.ca
SPONSORED BY HORTPROTECT
“Modernly Formal” by Snider Turf & Landscape Care Inc. is an ongoing project with inviting, eye-catching vertical and horizontal lines with blocks of mass-plantings within. The white driveway and home contrasted by the darker tone of plant material makes every sightline on this property pop.
“It’s just such a treat to work with in terms of colours and textures,” said Steve Snider, president of Snider TLC.
Since looking after maintenance of this property four years ago, the Snider TLC team makes all-encompassing weekly visits to manage the irrigation, fertility, lighting, mowing, pruning, mulching and edging. During those weekly visits, passersby often stop to look and to
compliment the work.
“It’s just an honour to work on a property of this magnitude because people are stopping all the time as we’re there,” he said with a laugh. “It’s almost an accident waiting to happen.”
Snider calls the lawn “the canvas of the artwork,” and he gives top marks to his employees who mow in those laser-straight, Wrigley Field-esque lines around this Waterloo, ON home.
“I have a whole bunch of guys who can do that so I’m pretty grateful for that,” he said. “The guys operating those machines are some of the best.”
SPONSORED BY INTRIGUE MEDIA
Jennifer Hayman Design Group Inc.’s (JHDG) Urban Spa design took a sloping, underused portion of a Toronto backyard and turned it into a destination area.
The backyard’s new focal point features a lounge, a dining area, a plunge pool, and a waterfall that creates relaxing ambiance to replace surrounding city noise.
Strips of foliage were strategically placed in the patio and walkways to reduce water run-off and to add a balance between hard and softscapes. The property has a lot of mature oak trees protected by Tree Protection Zone bylaws. Those TPZs led JDHG and the client to choose the backyard’s lawn area for a transformation.
“We created this spa sanctuary in one area of the backyard, outside of all the tree protection zones,” said Jennifer Hayman of JHDG. “It just made the most sense to utilize this off the beaten path kind of part of the property that really was being used as a lawn and an old play set by the kids at one point.”
Another challenge was trying to marry the Old Toronto red brick of this home with the California-style, spa-like environment the client was looking for.
“I think we did a really good job at making it transitional, connecting the spaces and honouring the architecture.”
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BY HORTPROTECT
Since 2017, a small local team from Para Space Landscaping has been looking after the grounds of Prodigy, a tranquil apartment complex within the University of British Columbia campus.
The Para Space team visits weekly to look after all the plant material to ensure nothing gets overgrown, as well as cleaning up any debris. Turf is cut to a specific height to minimize water requirements to adhere to recent
Metro Vancouver lawn watering restrictions. Due to Prodigy’s courtyard and perimeter having numerous water features, those weekly visits require getting to some hard-to-reach places.
“We’ve got to get on hip waders,” said Para Space Landscaping Senior Manager Cinzia Di Blasio. “Get into the pond, clean out any debris that may have entered the area just to keep things looking good and sharp.”
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The Queen’s Marque district, a waterfront gem in Halifax, combines commercial, residential, and retail spaces. A collaboration between Armour Group Limited and Build Nova Scotia, this complex project features intricate installations on both ground and rooftop levels.
Working closely with the developer and the design team at MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, Trim Landscaping Inc. got the opportunity to build one of their most challenging projects to date.
“Sweet Apple did just such an incredible job of elegantly plopping this quite sizable building,” said Brendan Wilton from Trim Landscaping.
“It’s inviting. It’s interesting. There’s two big archways and gates at the end that kind of bring everybody in, and you
can really see that in the design and the planning.”
This was a trickier project, building onto large public spaces and patio settings at different elevations for numerous modern, high-end restaurants. This involved several structures including sprayed-on concrete walls, planters in seating areas, and landscape lighting to make everything stand out at night.
“That’s what we were looking for,” Wilton said. “That true challenge, and something that was really interesting and going to have a big impact.”
Completed in 2023, Queen’s Marque now stands as the centerpiece of the Halifax waterfront. A special thanks to the numerous partners involved with Trim Landscaping in completing the Queen’s Marque landscape.
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‘49th Parallel’ boasts a stunning, loaded backyard surrounded by lush gardens in this Delta, BC, landscape built by Fossil Landscape Construction.
The centerpiece of the home is its backyard entertainment oasis, which includes an outdoor kitchen, bar, pool, hot tub, and putting green. There are two mechanical pergolas that can be opened and closed to create shade in the dining and hot tub areas. Additionally, the umbrellas that cover a lounging area are heated, extending the season for the clients by about two months.
The size of this project was smaller than the usual, estate-sized construction projects that Fossil is known for in Lower Mainland BC.
“It’s more of a standard-sized lot than some of our
projects,” said Andrew Foster, Project Manager at Fossil Landscape Construction. “Bringing all those complex elements into such a small space brings its own challenges. When you’re running gas lines and electrical conduits, all are intertwined with each other. It takes another level of planning to make sure it’s all going to work.”
Canadian stone was chosen for the pool coping and decks during project construction to avoid overseas shipments during the strained supply chain issues of covid.
“This project is particularly unique I think because of the extreme, high-quality materials that we got to use throughout the job,” Foster said. “And the design work by Paul Sangha Creative. And you put it all together, and it just looks amazing.”
Congratulations to Rohan Harrison, team leader of the grounds department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, winner of a 2024 Green for Life Industry Award. The Green for Life industry Award honours an individual’s lifetime achievement in the horticulture industry, their lasting legacy, and outstanding volunteers.
Rohan is an Accredited Organic Land Care Practitioner, whose journey into horticulture and gardening began early in life, influenced by his family’s involvement in commercial farming. He studied agronomy, focusing on plants and soil, and eventually became the team leader responsible for
the care of 100 acres of land, which includes turf and thousands of trees.
As a ‘Steward of Creation,’ he practices 100 per cent organic land care that emphasizes sustainability and biodiversity. At Sunnybrook, they recognize the healing power of green spaces and invest in organic horticulture to positively impact the health and well-being of their patients.
Rohan’s commitment to sustainable practices aligns with Sunnybrook’s mission to create a healing environment, and truly believes in the healing power of horticulture.
Congratulations to the Pennfield Ridge memorial, winner of a 2024 Green for Life Community Award, which recognizes projects within a community, region or municipality, that provide benefits to the public through the development and/or maintenance of green spaces.
2024 is the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This year, the RCAF 100 Pennfield Ridge Air Force Memorial in New Brunswick was established with flower beds, tree plantings, and granite tablets inscribed with the names of the 70 men whose lives were lost at this air base.
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This project cost $250,000, which was raised by numerous contributors in the Charlotte County community, including individuals, associations, businesses and municipal governments. To date, over 130 trees have been planted on the site by students from Charlotte County schools, with plans for hundreds of additional trees.
These planting days have provided students with horticultural experience guided by landscape professionals. Students are learning about the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as the importance of soils, how plants slow down water flow, and experiencing a broader understanding of the horticulture industry.
Ben Floyd and his team at Nature’s Reflections Landscaping received the Green For Life Industry Award for their years of volunteer work at New Germany Rural High School.
A few years ago, the Grades 7 to 12 high school with about 300 students in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, started a school garden. Nature’s Reflections Landscaping got involved by donating materials, labour and time, turning each addition to the school gardens into teachable moments for students.
“We’re really big believers in giving back to our community with what we do with our business,” Ben said. “Helping out with the high school has been instrumental for us. It’s also been an opportunity for us to introduce a lot of kids and students to the opportunity in the horticulture and landscaping industry.”
Former students Luke Woodworth, Rebecca Fancey, and Bailey Connors, who now work for Nature’s Reflections Landscaping, returned to their high school to help make improvements
Ben Floyd, owner of Nature’s Reflections Landscaping in Nova Scotia, with team members Luke Woodworth, Rebecca Fancey, and Bailey Connors. The team received a Green For Life Industry Award, recognizing their years of volunteerism by donating materials and labour to enhance and expand the gardens at New Germany Rural High School.
to the landscaping and hardscaping at the front of the building. They simultaneously taught current students key landscaping skills, including replanting, edging, and installing pavers.
The crew also contributed to garden maintenance, donating soil, mulch, and equipment while planting fruits trees and building a crusher dust pad for a greenhouse. Their efforts not only improved the school’s environment but also inspired students by showing the value of quality work in the landscaping industry.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to go back to your old stomping grounds,” said Luke Woodworth, hardscape team leader with Nature’s Reflections Landscaping. “You know all the teachers, you know the community, and you’re able to give back and really show your appreciation to those students.”
Luke, Rebecca and Bailey noted that visits to their former high school are a such hit that, when the bell sounds to
Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
end the school day, students stick around to continue helping the crew until 5 p.m.
Anne Kadwell, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
“There’s a spark in their eye that you usually don’t see,” said Ben. “For me, as a business owner, especially with a staff shortage for most businesses, especially this industry, I think it’s awesome.”
Frydda Sandoval, Environmental Policy Coordinator frydda@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Ben added that it’s been an honour to help the school, and it’s a great feeling to be creating learning opportunities that he wished he had while he was in high school.
Leslie Sison, Industry & Government Specialist leslie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
“We seem to have a good connection with the school. The teachers get excited when we’re there, too,” he said. “it’s just been a real win-win for the community, a win-win for the school, and a win-win for us and our team.”
Edith Oyosoro, Certification Coordinator edith@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Stuart Service, Media Coordinator stuart@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Congratulations to Atlantic Gardens, winner of the 2024 Garden Centre & Grower of Distinction.
In 1968, Peggy and Jim Godfrey opened a roadside garden centre in Bedford and a few years later, they bought 11 acres of property in Lower Sackville and started their first greenhouse and growing operation. So began the Atlantic Gardens legacy, which is still growing today.
Atlantic Gardens’ full-service retail location on the Bedford Highway has a year-round gift and plant shop, florist and a small greenhouse where
home décor products are on display. In the spring at this location, Atlantic opens “The Dome” where extensive annuals, perennials, nursery stock and more are on display.
The Sackville location continues to be a growing operation, located on Highway #1 in Middle Sackville, just past the Lucasville Road. Using quality plants and seed, the Atlantic Gardens horticultural team grows quality products for their customers’ gardens. Sackville’s retail store is open mid-April to mid-October and offers landscape and wholesale services.
With a career spanning landscape construction and residential services, Bruce Hunter, Lead Designer and Estimator with Hunter Landscape Design in Surrey, BC, has made significant contributions to the industry, including leading the Landscape Certification Program and chairing multiple Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) committees.
His CNLA presidency from 2017 to 2019 focused
on governance and the sustainable growth of the landscape industry. At the 21st annual National Awards of Landscape Excellence on August 7, 2024, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Bill Hardy presented the CNLA President’s Award to “friend, colleague, and mentor” Bruce Hunter, recognizing years of volunteer efforts and significant contributions to the British Columbia Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) and CNLA throughout his ongoing career.
BY ANNE KADWELL, CLHT
The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) conducted its 2024 Wage Survey from March to June, revealing substantial growth across all sectors of the industry. A comparison with the 2018 survey demonstrates a notable increase in participation, particularly within landscape operations, where the number of businesses contributing rose from 57 in 2018 to 278 in 2024.
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Overall, survey participation surged from 146 businesses in 2018 to 336 in 2024, signaling stronger engagement and interest in industry wage trends. This growth in participation offers valuable insights into wage patterns and workforce dynamics across the nursery and landscape sectors.
The CNLA’s analysis points to positive trends in industry growth, as more businesses are sharing their data, providing a clearer understanding of wage structures and employee compensation within the sector. A summary of the survey will be made available to all participating businesses in the near future, offering key takeaways that can inform future planning and labour strategies.
Companies can use this information to benchmark their operations, helping them assess where they stand in terms of pay rates and determine whether adjustments to their charge-out rates are needed to ensure optimal performance. Greater survey participation as the year’s progress equals increased reliability and validity of the results.
Those who participated in this survey will receive the entire report directly. Please keep an eye out on the cnla.ca website for additional information for those who would like to purchase the full report and have access to the next 2025 survey.
Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca
Join us at CitiesAlive 2024 in Toronto from November 69, 2024 for an immersive experience designed specifically for green infrastructure professionals. This conference is a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge developments in green roof and wall systems, biophilic design, and sustainable urban landscapes. With over 100 expert speakers, five concurrent presentation tracks, and a rich array of training sessions, tours, and networking
events, CitiesAlive offers unparalleled insights into the future of the green building industry. Don’t miss the chance to connect with industry leaders, gain continuing education credits, and contribute to discussions that shape the future of sustainable cities.
Register now to secure your place in advancing the green infrastructure movement! www.citiesalive.org
BY ANNE KADWELL, CLHT
Smiles, laughter, and teamwork filled the air as garden retail business owners from 19 countries came together for an unforgettable week of connection and growth. Our interactive bus bustled with constant discussion, sharing ideas and insights that lasted throughout the trip.
The International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) annual Congress, which took place in Québec this year, lead to numerous blossoming friendships. Participants from around the world enjoyed five days of traveling in and around Québec City and Montréal. The group of 175 international delegates visited 11 exceptional
garden centres, with each location turning their visit into an extravagant event, or a memorable competition between bus groups such as the ball hockey tournament at Jardin Dion, or the scavenger hunt at Jardin2m.
Our big group experienced exquisite restaurants, with a major highlight taking place on the St Lawrence River. Our dinner on a boat ended with a dance party on the deck. The gala on August 30 had the awesome band Sonic 5, playing a range of ballads from various music genres, and who kept being hauled back on stage for encore after encore. The entire group wasn’t yet ready
to accept the conclusion of this incredible event.
Thank you to all the delegates, sponsors, IGCA board, bus captains, Congress event organizers and, most importantly, our amazing retail garden centre hosts:
• Floralies Jouvence: Lévis
• Floralies Jouvence: Sainte-Foy
• Jardin Hamel
• Paradis Jardin et Accessoires
• Pépinière Villeneuve
• Jardins Michel Corbeil
• Centre de Jardin Floréal
• Jardin Dion
• Centre du Jardin Deux-Montagnes
• Centre de Jardin Brossard
• Archipel Maison Vivante
Together, we made this an outstanding event that celebrated excellence in Canadian and Quebecois garden retail. I’m already counting down the days for another exciting adventure at the 2025 edition of the IGCA Congress taking place in South Africa!
Next summer, Canada’s Garden Centre Summit takes place July 6-9 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
BY JAMIE AALBERS
Recently, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry completed a study on the status of soil health in Canada. The committee learned that soil delivers ecosystem services that enable all life on Earth. Ecosystem services such as water purification and storage; climate and flood regulation; nutrient cycling; carbon sequestration; the provision of food, fibre, fuel, and construction materials; habitats for organisms; and the foundation for human infrastructure and cultural heritage.
Since the last Canadian report on this topic in 1984, soil management has improved and crop yields have increased with enhanced plant genetics and cultural practices, but these gains have masked the effect of continued soil
degradation and loss of agricultural land in every region in Canada. This is a result of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, urbanization, and misread outcomes of soil management practices.
There is no overarching federal strategy currently in place to protect and conserve agricultural and forestry soils in this country. To protect and conserve farmland soil throughout Canada, the committee heard that all levels of government should work together to plan agriculture into, and not out of, communities. Farms cover 62.2 million hectares, or 6.2 per cent of Canada’s total land base. The vastness of our country suggests an abundance of soil, yet only 6.7 per cent of Canada’s land is suitable for agricultural use.
On February 13, 2024, Alan White, CNLA Vice President and Climate Change Adaptation Chair, and Phil Paxton, CNLA Past President and with the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance, were invited as witnesses to the senate committee, sharing insights on soil health from an ornamental horticulture perspective. All the prior witnesses had provided insights into agricultural soils, forest soils and northern peat soils. Although Phil did provide input on how nurseries manage soil health, the bulk of their responses focused on the importance healthy urban soils play in climate adaptation and mitigation.
Due to the importance of green spaces providing ecosystem services critical to 80 per cent of Canadians who live in urban areas, the health of urban soils must be considered too. Cities are not “natural” spaces and as such are not conducive to natural plant and forest growth. The dry, compacted soils needed to support buildings and roadways cannot support plant life. Urban green spaces, green infrastructure and lawns and gardens cannot thrive and grow without healthy urban soils. But often the health of soils re-introduced into newly built areas is an afterthought. Urban soils require the same pre-planting planning that growers use – invest in the soil first, before even considering planting nursery stock or turf.
Soil degradation, which is a usual outcome of modern development practices, prevent soils themselves from providing ecosystem services, but also discourages successful green space plantings and their subsequent contributions too. The first approach to protect and enhance soil health is to minimize threats to degradation; the second is to adopt practices that build or maintain soil health.
Alan and Phil provided a few suggestions to the committee. In the Canadian Landscape Standard (CLS) soil was deemed so important to transplant success that a recent investment with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre resulted in a rewrite and update of Section 5 Growing Medium. All municipalities should have a copy of the CLS on hand to support those responsible for managing soil and plantings in cities.
offering tax credits to Canadians for improving their own soil and landscapes would lead to substantial climate mitigation and adaptation improvements occurring at the grassroots level.
Governments also need to take into consideration the role of plants in improving soil health. Trees, plants and grasses are a nature-based solution to rehabilitating contaminated soils. One of the recommendations in the report is that the Government of Canada collaborate with provinces, territories and indigenous governments to develop a national strategy for remediating contaminated soils throughout the country.
In healthy urban soils, trees, plants and grasses can fully deliver the environmental, social and health benefits so critical to enjoying life in the urban ecosystem. And only in healthy nursery soils, can those trees plants, and grasses get a healthy and vigorous start. The full report, that outlines 25 recommendations to protect soils in Canada, can be found online at sencanada.ca followed with a search for “Critical Ground”.
Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Secondly, stop replacing green with grey. Trees and plants capture carbon, but healthy soils capture even more and healthy trees and plants only thrive in healthy soils. Grey infrastructure removes the ability of cities to sequester carbon. Thirdly, topsoil must have certain standards to sustain life, standards such as amounts of organic matter, porosity, salts, and pH. Agreeing on the right standards for soils used in urban plantings and putting them into regulations would ensure all urban landscapes set off on the right footing. And finally,
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BY STUART SERVICE
The Green Cities Foundation (GCF) teamed up with Hope Blooms and Landscape Nova Scotia on August 8 for a special Community Planting Day at Uniacke Square at Murray Warrington Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A large group of about 100 volunteers planted 20 trees to create more shaded areas around the campus of Hope Blooms, which is a Halifax-based social enterprise empowering youth through urban gardening, food production, and entrepreneurship.
It fosters community development, providing fresh produce and opportunities while promoting sustainability and social justice.
“We always love collaborating and finding new ways to make our community better – just like this, planting trees, you can’t beat that,” said Kolade Kolawole-Boboye, Manager of Social Business and Innovation at Hope Blooms.
“A lot of blue shirts appeared, and we got straight to work.”
jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
GCF Director David Thompson said events like these are perfect examples of what the foundation was set up to support.
“I think I worked with about 15 or 20 different kids shoveling dirt and planting trees. It was just a lot of fun,” Thompson said. “Planting these trees contributes to the green spaces that are in this part of the city, supports a wonderful community organization, and fits right in the Green Cities Foundation’s sweet spot.”
The event concluded with the planting of a red oak tree to memorialize Peggy Godfrey, who was a pioneer for Landscape Nova Scotia. The Godfrey family owns several garden centres and have always been exceptional with engaging their community. She was a regular at the International Garden Centres Association’s annual Congress. Peggy passed away at the 2023 Congress in Italy. She was happy to see all her grandkids in attendance, to carry on her legacy of involvement with elevating the Garden Centre community across the world.
The Godfrey family chose to plant a red oak to honour Peggy because it’s native to Nova Scotia “like my mother,” said Peggy’s son, Robin Godfrey. Robin added that a red oak “attracts a lot of insects, which doesn’t damage the tree, and because of that it attracts a lot of birds. It is a
Anne Kadwell, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
strong tree and creates a lot of habitat.”
Speaking to the nearly 100 volunteers, Robin thanked everyone for participating in the community planting.
Frydda Sandoval, Environmental Policy Coordinator frydda@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
“I really appreciate it, my family appreciates it, and I’m glad you are all here to take part in this.”
Leslie Sison, Industry & Government Specialist leslie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Thank you to the following companies that supported this project: Atlantic Gardens, Lakeland Plant World, Maritime Landscape Services, Nature’s Reflections Landscaping, The Greene Hallway, Tidal Tractor, and Tytan Glove and Safety. Additional thanks to RBC Insurance for their support of the #GreenMyCity program in communities across Canada.
Edith Oyosoro, Certification Coordinator edith@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Stuart Service, Media Coordinator stuart@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
BY LESLIE SISON, CAE
2024 has been a year of many changes regarding Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). This article will provide an overview of the changes that have come into effect since March of this year, including the most recent changes as well as what we are hearing will potentially come down the line. Please note, as of now, no changes have been made to the Seasonal Agricultural Program (SWAP) and we are not hearing of any changes to be made.
Before we dig in, perhaps we should provide a bit of history. Predating the TFWP, SAWP was created in 1966 specifically to help Canadian
seasonal producers (farmers) address chronic labour shortages and operate according to bilateral agreements between Canada and the participating countries. The SAWP was developed in response to agriculture’s unique workforce challenges, which include seasonality, rural locations, and the physical nature of agricultural work.
In 1973, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program was created with various streams as a last and limited resort to allow employers to bring foreign workers to Canada on a temporary basis, to fill jobs for which qualified Canadians are not available.
Now, in 2024, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has become a major factor in the labour market in Canada, with sectors including agriculture, seafood processing, caregiving, transportation and hospitality relying on migrant workers to staff their workforce.
In the years of the pandemic, restrictions on using the program were lessened to ensure essential positions were filled. Now, the last of these exceptions have been removed and the Government of Canada is tightening the program even further.
On March 21, 2024, the government announced that Effective May 1, 2024, the following changes would take place:
• New Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for six months (a decrease from 12 months) to ensure accurate labour market needs.
• All employers identified in the 2022 Workforce Solutions Road Map, 7 selected industries would have a reduction from 30 per cent to 20 per cent of their total workforce that can come in through the TFWP, under the low wage stream, with an exception for the construction and health care sectors.
• Moving forward, employers will need to explore every option before applying for an LMIA — including recruiting asylum seekers with valid work permits here in Canada.
On Aug 6, 2024, Minister Boissonnault made an announcement with further information. These changes are being implemented to reduce the use of the TFWP. Points to highlight are:
• Stricter Cap Enforcement : Employers must adhere to the 20 per cent cap on hiring temporary foreign workers, particularly in the “dual intent
sub-stream” for workers seeking permanent residency. Stricter guidelines will now apply.
• Enhanced Oversight : There will be more rigorous oversight in high-risk areas during Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and inspections.
• Potential Fee Increases: LMIA fees might be increased to fund better program integrity and processing activities.
• Employer Eligibility: New regulatory changes are being considered regarding employer eligibility, including factors like years of operation and layoff history.
• Low-Wage Stream Refusal: Minister Boissonnault is considering refusing to process applications under the lowwage stream in specific areas and industries.
• New Labour Stream: A new foreign labour stream for Agriculture and Fish & Seafood Processing is being developed as part of ongoing program modernization.
• Increased Fines and Enforcement: The government has ramped up employer inspections and fines, with a 36 per cent increase in fines issued in 2023–2024 compared to the previous year.
More information is now being rolled out faster and at closer intervals. August 26, 2024, was a
media-packed day with changes to the TFWP, where the Government of Canada announced a series of upcoming changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) programs to be rolled out in the coming months. Below is a summary of all recently announced changes as well as other communications from ESDC.
The processing fee will be increasing. No specific amount has been mentioned, but all signs point to a hefty increase to the fee that has been stable since 2014. We are asking for processing timeline guarantees (including faster processing) to justify the fee increase.
• Refusal to process low-wage LMIAs in metro areas with higher than 6 per cent unemployment. Exemptions for non-seasonal, food-specific agricultural jobs, construction and healthcare.
• The 10 per cent cap is back for the low-wage stream.
• The maximum duration of employment for lowwage positions decreased to one year from two years.
The general goal is to reduce the number of TFWs to pre-pandemic levels. The low-wage changes are to take place by September 26, 2024.
announced include:
• Introduction of open work permits (workers may switch to different employers with open LMIAs in the same industry.)
• Updated housing requirements
• A new program is being developed that will be based on the SAWP structure for agri-food and aquaculture. New Foreign Labour Program for
Agriculture and Fish Processing. Landscape will not be included in this program.
• Ag Stream will now be responsible for housing, aligning with SAWP. Information will be made available in the coming weeks as it is in the consultation process now.
• Wages will be mandated to match the Canada Job Bank as the prevailing wage.
Nicole Xavier Member Services & Administration Manager nicole@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
With all of these new changes on the way, the government is intent on scaling back on the program, and we anticipate more changes to come. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association sits on many TFWP working groups and participates on every call possible to be at the table and express the concerns of the industry.
Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Unfortunately for us, and many other industries, our concerns seem to be going unheard. There is a general feeling that this is a very political issue and changes are being driven from the top down. CNLA continues to work with government officials on both everyday issues and on the long-term stability of the program.
Anne Kadwell, Garen Centre, HR & PDC Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Leslie Sison, Policy & Stakeholder Manager leslie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla ca
Edith Oyosoro, edith@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
BY EDITH OYOSORO
At their summer meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the CNLA Board approved its Professional Development Committee’s (PDC) recommendation to make changes to the Certified Landscape Horticulturist Technician (CLHT) program.
Essentially, the use of video submissions to prove hands-on competence will be discontinued immediately. Guidelines for certified, Red Seal Endorsed (RSE) professionals and others with applicable certifications and educational
background to attest to candidates’ hands-on competence will be deployed in the interim.
This change is designed to facilitate technician certification delivery while ensuring the Landscape Horticulture Certification Program (LHCP) continues to offer professional development to advance industry standards. Inprogress CLHT candidates should expect an email communicating the impact this change will have on their individual certification.
Furthermore, fully certified members of their provincial landscape architect association may register and, upon submitting proof of their active status, be awarded the Certified Landscape Designer certification without doing the written exams or portfolio review.
The CLD certification is offered to experienced practitioners to articulate their skill set and competence to operate according to industry standard.
Depending on their combined work and education, those interested may follow the regular or grandfathering path to earn their CLD certification. Candidates who follow both paths are mandated to successfully complete a Portfolio Review whereby they submit three landscape design projects, installed in Canada, in which they played the lead design role, for peer review.
Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Anne Kadwell, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
The certification is a self-study process with study manuals to help candidates prepare for their exams. When candidates feel ready to start their certification, they may visit the certification program website to download, complete and return the appropriate forms for their chosen path.
Frydda Sandoval, Environmental Policy Coordinator frydda@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
For more details, including forms, portfolio submission guidelines, members’ search directory, Visit the LHCP website or email certification@cnla-acpp.ca.
Leslie Sison, Industry & Government Specialist leslie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Edith Oyosoro, Certification Coordinator edith@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Stuart Service, Media Coordinator stuart@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca
Jianheng Ding, CLHT BC Curtis Bryson, CLHT ON Farrell Brislin-Higgs, CLHT BC Meagan Grant, CLD QC
Scan this code for details about the CLD Portfolio Review! It is a mandatory requirement for both paths whereby candidates submit three landscape design projects, installed in Canada, in which they played the lead design role, for peer review.
Before commencing the portfolio review, regular candidates are required to successfully complete a series of 6 written online tests. Similarly, legacy candidates would secure two CLD sponsors for their application and may use the LHCP Search Directory to find suitable sponsors. The sponsor’s form and other details are available on the program website.
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