CNLA Newsbrief Magazine Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022 - Vol. 31 Issue 2

CREATING NEW HABITATS FOR POLLINATORS AG CENSUS RELEASED

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SNOW & ICE CONTRACTORS

EXCITEMENT GROWS FOR SUMMIT 2022 NEWLY CERTIFIED MEMBERS

INSIDE: a preview of our Centennial book CNLA - CENTENNIAL LOGO 2022

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IN THE NEWS

Scotts and GCF complete pilot project at Boys & Girls Club

BY STUART SERVICE

EXECUTIVE BOARD President Past President First Vice President & Communications Chair Second Vice President Treasurer & Climate Change and Adaptation Chair

Anthony O’Neill - NL Phil Paxton, CLHT, CLHM - AB

Bill Hardy, CLHM - BC Anita Heuver - AB Alan White - ON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CNLA’S GREEN CITIES FOUNDATION (GCF) teamed up with Scotts Canada and the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of West Scarborough to install raised vegetable gardens on June 3.

About 30 kids from the BGC joined staff from Scotts Canada and Hank Deenan Landscaping Limited to top up the four garden beds with soil and to fill them up with vegetable plants provided by Sheridan Nurseries. The kids got hands-on learning experience as they were taught gardening basics, including how to use different tools, how much space to keep between the different plant types, and how to gently loosen roots while transferring plant material from their pots to the raised beds.

Karen Stephenson, Scotts Canada’s director of regulatory affairs and stakeholder relations, said the June 3 event is a pilot project that she hopes is the first of many.

Stephenson said she looks forward to Scotts Canada teaming up in the future with more BGC locations to do more community planting days across the country.

“This is a program that we are developing in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club,” Stephenson said. “It’s meant to address things like food insecurity, and to give the kids the opportunity to interact with nature and really become contributors to their community through gardening.”

Bridgette Rivaldo from BGC West Scarborough said the new vegetable gardens will create an ongoing opportunity for collaboration between the club’s children & youth and seniors programs.

“We want to create intergenerational programming which will allow our older generation to teach our younger generation about gardening,” Rivaldo said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NATIONAL NEWS & UPDATES FOR MEMBERS OF:

BCLNA Landscape AB Landscape SK MBNLA

Landscape ON

Landscape NS Garden Centres Canada Chair Landscape NB/PEI & Member Services Chair & Insurance Chair Landscape NL Landscape Canada Chair Research Chair Government Relations Chair Professional Development Development Chair & Human Resources Chair Growers Canada Chair

Michael Kato - BC Jeff Oudyk - AB Aaron Krahn - SK Guy Dowhy, RSE, CLHT, CLHM - MB Dave Wright, CLD, CLHM- ON David Thompson - NS Robin Godfrey - NS

Kevin Nauss, CLHM - NB Peggy Head - NL Peter Guinane - ON Vic Krahn, CLHT - SK Christene LeVatte - NS Jeff Foley, CLHT, CLHM - BC Jeff Olsen - ON

STAFF

Executive Director Victor Santacruz, CLHM, CAE, victor@cnla-acpp.ca Deputy Executive Director Rebecca Doutre, CLHM, CAE, rebecca@cnla-acpp.ca Finance & Administration Cheryl Gall, CAE Manager cheryl@cnla-acpp.ca Growers Sector Jamie Aalbers Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca Communities in Bloom Sonia Parrino Program Specialist bloom@cib-cef.com Landscape & Retail Sector Anne Kadwell, CLHT Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca Industry & Government Leslie Sison, CAE Relations Specialist leslie@cnla-acpp.ca Communications Dave Mazur Specialist dave@cnla-acpp.ca Communications Lauryn Mullan Coordinator lauryn@cnla-acpp.ca Media Stuart Service Coordinator stuart@cnla-acpp.ca Member Services Teagan Schroeder Specialist teagan@cnla-acpp.ca Administrative Coordinator Megan Farias / COPF Coordinator megan@cnla-acpp.ca Member Services Nicole Xavier Coordinator nicole@cnla-acpp Certification Edith Oyosoro Coordinator edith@cnla-acpp.ca Environmental Frydda Sandoval Policy Coordinator frydda@cnla-acpp.ca Landscape NL ED Christine Finn / CNLA Special Projects Christine@cnla-acpp.ca Minor Use Peter Isaacson B.Sc. MPM / IPM Coordinator peter@cnla-acpp.ca

IN THE NEWS

We need to start turning young people on to horticulture, whether it be as simple as vegetables, or whether it be a little more complicated with plants that we’re using in the landscape.

Harold Deenen, CEO Hank Deenen Landscaping Ltd

Staff from Hank Deenen Landscaping Ltd. played a big role in getting everything ready for the June 3 event.

Scotts shipped the soil, rain barrels and garden beds to the Deenen Landscaping warehouse, and then Deenen staff arrived in West Scarborough the day before to install, level, and arrange all the items to make sure that the kids from the BGC could fully immerse themselves in making the final touches to their four new vegetable gardens.

“Our company does a lot of volunteer work whenever we get an opportunity to give back to the community so this was perfect for us,” said Harold Deenen, CEO of Hank Deenen Landscaping Ltd. and Vice Chair of the Green Cities Foundation.

Deenen, who’s been in the green industry for more than 45 years, noted that the aging demographics of many industries including horticulture adds even more importance to projects like this as a way to introduce gardening to a younger generation.

“The important thing is that we get them engaged,” Deenen said. “We need to start turning young people on to horticulture, whether it be as simple as vegetables, or whether it be a little more complicated with plants that we’re using in the landscape.”

A big thanks to all of the partners on this project, including Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Compost Council of Canada, and Nutrients for Life Foundation of Canada.

Green Cities Foundation is a community connecting plants & people for a greener, healthier urban climate. Visit: https://www.GCFoundation.CA

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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INSURANCE

Sidewalk Sliders Need to Move Fast

BY MIREL GIUGARU, ASSOCIATE MOODIE MAIR WALKER LAWYERS

MOODIE MAIR WALKER LLP has worked with Snow Removal Contractors for over a decade, providing thought leadership and expertise regarding the handling of Slip & Fall claims. Alongside Marsh, Moodie Mair Walker LLP has participated in challenging risk free claim making by maintaining a defend first philosophy. Their knowledge of the industry has allowed them to successfully defend several members of the CNLA Business Insurance program from legal liability following a Slip & Fall incident. The following article as written by Mirel Giugaru of Moodie Mair Walker LLP is a thought leadership piece regarding the impacts of Bill 118 on the Snow Removal industry.

In turn, the party on notice must give notice of the claim to any other occupier or independent contractor responsible for the premises at the relevant time, though there is no specific deadline in the legislation for serving the notice on these other occupiers or independent contractors.

This new, shorter time frame for claims is good news for property owners, managers, tenants, and winter maintenance contractors. Often, in cases where the claimant has delayed giving notice of the claim, useful evidence is long gone, putting the defence of the claim in jeopardy.

Given the new amendments, it is a good idea to keep maintenance logs, GPS data, invoices, surveillance videos, and any other documents on file for a minimum of sixty days after they are created.

However, we recommend keeping this evidence for at least two years, since, as discussed below, under certain circumstances a claim can still be brought within the two year window.

Changes to Occupiers’ Liability Act will require claimants give notice within 60 days if they are suing over an ice- or snow-related injury 1.0 New Amendments to Legislation Slips, trips, and falls can make a winter wonderland a dangerous place.

New amendments to the Occupiers’ Liability Act has made it mandatory for individuals who intend to make a claim about a wintry injury to give notice within sixty days of their accident —closing what was a two-year window.

If somebody were to fall on some black ice outside their apartment, they might seek damages from the person responsible for winter maintenance.

But after two years, very little of the evidence that would help the defendant is still available. The new legislation aims to address this issue.

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

To satisfy the amendments, the written notice must: 1. be addressed to at least one of the occupier(s) or independent winter maintenance contractor(s) responsible for the premises— not to every single party; 2. include the date, time, and location of the accident; and 3. be served personally or by registered mail.

One downside is these amendments may make it more difficult for the injured party to make a claim. Unless they can prove a “reasonable excuse” for the lack of notice and can demonstrate that the delay did not prejudice the potential defendant(s), individuals who fail to give their notice in time will be barred from commencing a claim.

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INSURANCE

ISSUES & COMMENTARY

Judicial treatment of the new legislation is needed to clear up two outstanding ambiguities for defendants and their insurers: First, the timeline in which occupiers and independent contractors who have been put on notice must provide notice to the other potential co-defendants; and second, the consequences for not doing so.

A likely result is that the courts will impose a standard of reasonableness.

In other words, occupiers and independent contractors who have been put on notice of a claim must give notice to all other potentially responsible occupier(s) or independent contractor(s) of which they are aware of, or ought to reasonably have been aware of, as soon as reasonably possible. The courts will likely determine what is “reasonably possible” on a case by case basis based on the circumstances of each particular case.

It is more difficult to predict what consequences the courts will impose for occupiers and independent contractors who do not give notice to other potential co-defendants within a reasonable time. One possible consequence relates to third party claims: A defendant may be barred from bringing a third party claim against a party potentially responsible for the incident if it failed to put it on notice within the timeline prescribed by the court.

For claimants, it is unclear what the courts will determine is a “reasonable excuse” in the context of failing to provide notice within sixty days. This is also likely to be determined on a case by case basis, though undoubtedly a body of law will develop which will hint at what is a reasonable excuse and what is not. Plaintiffs will have to bring motions before a judge in cases where notice was not given within 60 days to show that their failure SPONSORED BY:

to give notice was due to a “reasonable excuse”, and that this failure did not prejudice the potential defendants.

Such motions will become an added arrow in defence counsel’s quiver— a well-argued motion demonstrating either prejudice or a lack of a reasonable excuse will become a new way of resolving claims favourably early in the litigation. Test cases will have to be litigated in Ontario to bring clarity to all of these issues.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR OCCUPIERS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, INSURERS, AND LAWYERS Given the previous ambiguities, it is important for an occupier or independent contractor who receives notice of an incident to comply with the new amendments by providing notice to all other potential occupiers and independent contractors as soon as reasonably practicable.

This means that when the occupier or independent contractor reports notice of the claim to its insurer, it should become standard practice for the client and claims analyst or independent adjuster to discuss which other parties ought to be put on notice. The analyst or adjuster should then write to those other potential parties with notice of the claim. If the claim arrives to defence counsel, then counsel should also ensure that the other potential occupiers and/or independent contractors have been put on notice, and if not to do so as soon as possible.

These notice amendments also place a new onus on plaintiff’s counsel to conduct early investigation to confirm the location of the incident, and the identity and address of an occupier and/or independent contractor for service. Counsel must guard against serving notice on the wrong occupier or independent contractor based on an inaccurate incident location

provided by the client by taking such steps as having the client mark where the incident occurred on a map or aerial photo of the incident site or having the client confirm in writing where the incident occurred and confirming that the client has been advised of the importance of getting this right.

CONCLUSION

The winter of 2021 will be the first real test for the new notice requirements. The amendments to the Act received Royal Assent on December 8, 2020 and came into force on January 29, 2021. But as of September 2021 no Ontario cases have dealt with the amendments.

The new notice requirements in the Occupiers’ Liability Act are ultimately meant to benefit occupiers, winter maintenance contractors, and their insurers by reducing the insurance costs associated with providing winter maintenance services. Timely notice of incidents ought to lead to better evidence as well as early and efficient resolution of those claims, which also means less litigation expense. If the new legislation has its intended effect, insurance rates should decrease or flatten over time. But, while these notice requirements should benefit the insurance industry, the industry must adapt and comply with their own newlyimposed notice obligations to enjoy the full value of these amendments.

An MMW Associate practicing insurance defence litigation, with a focus on professional liability and personal injury, Mirel has appeared before the Small Claims Court and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Email mgiugaru@moodiemair.com

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Newly Certified Members

BY EDITH OYOSORO NAME

DESIGNATION

PROVINCE

Nicolas Bourne

CLHT

BC

Robin Gervais

CLHT

BC

Christina Fox

CLHM

BC

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LHCP CERTIFICATION?

CNLA’s Professional Development Committee (PDC) performed a survey to gauge perceptions on the benefits of certification from industry practitioners across Canada. A small sample of 105 certified members and 12 accredited companies was surveyed over a 4-week period last year. Responses were analysed into the 3 broad benefits categories presented in this article.

Improves safety, skills, productivity and efficiency Increased safety awareness

Over three-quarters of certified people and all business owners reported an enhanced safety awareness with certification. Embedding components for safety and safe practices, correct use of PPEs, pre-operation equipment inspection, etc., into hands-on tests entrenches habits that minimize exposure to potential liability in live scenarios.

Increased skills

More than 4 in 5 certified people are better able to perform landscape horticulture operations according to industry standard and business owners reported increased skill levels with their certified staff.

Motivated to acquire new skills

More than 4 in 5 certified people acquired additional technical certifications and licenses including earning new LHCP designations and CLHT modules.

Improved efficiency and productivity

Over two thirds of certified people gained knowledge of the correct procedures, tools, materials and technology to perform tasks resulting in improved efficiencies, corporate savings and a healthy public perception of the industry. Business owners link certification to increased productivity by up to 75% with certified staff.

Promotes career advancement Proud career accomplishment

Nearly all certified people are proud of their certification stating that it validates their individual skill set, boosts credibility and grants access to an elitist group of high performing professionals. It further serves to distinguish their performance and reassures clients and contractors of their expertise and professionalism.

Increased income

Over three-quarters of certified people reported more income from improved profitability, salary raises, higher charge rates, more job opportunities and the ability to start their own business. Business owners report that having certified staff enabled them to tender and successfully close contract bids; charge up to 50% more for their services; and achieve up to 50% growth in annual sales.

Increased career commitment

For more than 4 in 5 certified people, certification increased career commitment and raised their perception of landscape horticulture as a secure career option.

Becoming a LHCP certified landscaper offers career advancement, increased wages, acquired skills and an overall job satisfaction improvement..

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Recommend certification

More loyal to employer

Nearly all certified people recommend certification reporting that it proves competence, opens doors to new opportunities, keeps one abreast of innovations and advances the industry.

Most certified people feel more loyalty and value for employers who are invested in supporting their certification creating more security and an obligation to remain at their jobs.

They noted that employers support certification because it enriches their staff and nearly all business owners agree that supporting certification results in higher staff retention.

Fosters workplace relationships and job retention Received support from employer

Three quarters of certified people received varying certification support from their employers including training, time off for exams, paying for exam registration and recertification.

Look out for the complete survey findings on the LHCP website, with notable quotes made by respondents on the benefits of certification.

Use certification for recruitment

Even though 4 in 5 employers use their support for certification as a recruitment tool, just over one-quarter of certified people sought work because their employer supported certification but close to half have remained at their job for the same reason.

For more information, contact Edith Oyosoro, CNLA Professional Development email: edith@cnla-acpp.ca https://cnla.ca

C E L E B R AT E W I T H U S

January 10-12, 2023

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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C E N T E N N I A L C E L E B R AT I O N

The Role of Private Individuals and Nurseries in Plant Improvement

BY DR. WILBERT RONALD

PRIVATE NURSERIES have a

rich heritage of plant development and production going back to such noteworthy introductions as the discovery of the McIntosh apple in Ontario, to the pioneer work of Dr. Frank Skinner from about 1915-1967 in north central Manitoba. Many similar nurserymen and women with an eye for superior seedlings and plant variations made and named selections which have often endured as unique introductions.

Frank Skinner developed and introduced over 50 significant plant introductions in addition to a worldwide exchange of plant materials with US, European and Asian plant sources.

He introduced many hardy seed strains of Asiatic species and brought native plants into cultivation and use. His introduction of the Columnar Swedish aspen gave the colder regions of Canada an adapted, rapid growing columnar tree which have been a staple plant for prairie sales.

He certainly would be considered the Dean of plant breeders in Canada. To support his family, Frank Skinner, like so many plant breeders, developed a nursery to sell his new items and make them known continent wide. Skinner’s early flowering “American” lilac hybrids are known around the world. His ‘Dropmore’ linden (T. americana X T. cordata) leads all lindens in production in zones 2-4 in prairie Canada. Skinner’s greatest influence may have been his encouragement of plant breeding by other individuals in government and private nurseries.

His example stimulated a generation and more of younger horticulturists including his own son Hugh who continues some of the Skinner breeding.

Numerous other Canadians associated with nurseries have developed plants which are grown today. l Tony Huber’s work at W. H. Peron in Quebec with golden foliaged spireas including ‘Goldflame’, ‘Gold-

Goldmound spirea, photo courtesy Miller Nursery

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

l

l

Ivory Silk Lilac, mound’ and’ Limemound’ photo courtesy NVK Nurseries were first displayed at Expo 67 in Montreal and have proven to be sensational nursery production items from 1970 onward and are still produced today.

Sheridan Nurseries boxwood and Ivory Silk tree lilac, developed over 50 years ago, have left a wide imprint on North America nursery production.

Boughen Nurseries Valley River, have brought such important plants as ‘Skybound’ cedar and a number of shrubs and fruit trees to the nursery industry. l Bert Porter’s sterile white flowered ‘Spring Snow’ is still the leader in sterile flowering crabapples and one of its progeny ‘Starlite’ from Jeffries Nurseries is a rising star with its tiny tenaciously bound fruit.

Gladiator crabapple, photo courtesy First Editions

l l

l Percy Wright’s ‘Thunderchild’ followed by Rick Durand’s ‘Gladiator’ have led all other purple foliaged flowering crabs in North American production.

Mr. Eddie’s dogwood ‘Eddie White Wonder is still a favorite plant in B.C. the development of columnar flowering crabapples, first started by Dr. David Lane of Agriculture Canada in Summerland, BC, is world class and has been followed up with breeding at Jeffries Nurseries resulting in ‘Green Wall’ Spire and ‘Midnite Spire’ which are entering Canadian and US production.

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E & A D A P TAT I O N

A New Pollinator Garden in Burnaby, BC

BY FRYDDA SANDOVAL CNLA CLIMATE CHANGE & ADAPTATION COMMITTEE

POLLINATORS LIKE BEES and butterflies support flora and fauna at every level of the food chain. They play a vital role in plant reproduction and in supporting healthy ecosystems. Butterflies and bees increase biodiversity, fruit yields, and so much more.

In recent years, scientists have sounded the alarm about declining bee populations. This dip is due to many factors including diseases, pesticides, parasites, and climate change. A diversity of flowering plants is key to stabilizing and increasing bee populations. An effective way to do this at the local level is by revitalizing underused land and turning it into community green spaces.

A great example of this is a pollinator garden designed by Para Space Landscaping Inc. in Burnaby, BC, which includes a

used recently as an occasional, pop-up construction office for local road work.

The transformation has been dramatic.

The new Williams Street Community Space is full of greenery and amenities for community gatherings with picnic tables, benches, gravel pathways, and a wooden pergola for shade and to support climbing hop vines. diverse menu of flowering plants to create a buffet for bees and butterflies.

The pollinator garden is located at the corner for William St and Douglas Rd, providing a community space, and a substantive use on land that was sparingly used. This formerly scraggly grassland surrounded by power lines is technically classified as a road by the City of Burnaby. It’s only been

Before it became the William St Community Space, this corner near William St and Douglas Rd was a sliver of neglected land.

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

The twelve hexagonal wooden pollinator planter beds will provide a mixed source of flowers throughout the year, creating a valuable habitat for pollinator insects.

Bees are more likely to thrive in our home backyards, community and patio gardens by including the plants they enjoy, which include Lavender, Agastache, and Coneflowers.

Members of the local landscaping community putting the finishing touches on a new community green space in Burnaby, B.C.

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E & A D A P TAT I O N

Thank you to our project partners: Art’s Nursery Atkinson Landscaping BC Landscape & Nursery Association Bishop Landscaping Ltd. Blue Pine Enterprises Ltd. Coastal Irrigation Inc. Dick’s Lumber East Richmond Nursery Exemplar Horticulture GardenWorks Golden Spruce Habitat Systems Incorporated Kato’s Nursery Ltd. Para Space Landscaping Inc. SteamWorks Brewing Co. Terralink Horticulture Total Ground Effects

This year, as we celebrate The Year of the Garden 2022, don’t forget the importance of planting native species for the bee population. Think like a pollinator while planning your centennial celebration for a sustainable future.

LITTLE BY LITTLE, A LITTLE BECOMES A LOT! Every tree, shrub, or flower we plant has an impact on the environment by producing oxygen, creating shade, reducing water run-off, or helping pollinators thrive.

For more information, contact Frydda Sandoval, CNLA Environmental Policy Coordinator email: frydda@cnla-acpp.ca https://cnla.ca

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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GARDEN CENTRES CANADA

Garden Centres Canada (GCC) We are blooming for YOU!

BY ANNE KADWELL things and by being a relaxing way to spend time outdoors. People love to garden and we know where to buy the perfect plants! Also, research indicates that the online presence of retail stores is hugely important. This is even more crucial when attracting customers from the millennial demographic.

GARDEN CENTRES CANADA has been doing a number of things for our members! Firstly, we are happy to have our annual Summit back in person this year. GCC Summit 2022 will be July 12-14 in Edmonton. We will be visiting eight garden centres and listening to five presentations from industry experts. People will come out of the Summit having learned something new, be inspired, and make all kinds of contacts through numerous networking opportunities with independent owners and operators from across Canada.

A website needs to be interactive, up-to-date, and have an aesthetically pleasing design. If a consumer can find an independent garden centre online, it drastically increases the chances of that consumer seeking them out to purchase from them.

Our event includes the bus tour and meals on site in large garden centres including lunch and dinner. On the second day we’ll enjoy a group breakfast and listen to keynote speakers.

This website goes through why independent garden centres are important: generational knowledge, knowledgeable sales teams, and supporting the local economy. Also, we will have growing information on how to maintain and care for your plants inside and out. This will be an invaluable resource for all plant consumers and retail garden centres who might not have the time to build a robust website to refer their customers to.

Topics range from ensuring you have the tools to build high performing employees, understanding what brings customers into your stores, how to cater to younger consumers, and thinking about the future with ideas on how to “green” up your garden centres.

LET’S TELL THE WORLD WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT!

Garden Centres Canada recently launched a public website which supports all of our retail garden centres by putting them on the map and keeping gardening exciting. We in the green industries understand the value of plants and their importance in our lives. Does the general public? It’s time to keep hitting home the facts about plants: their positive contribution to better mental health, the oxygen they provide, and their maintenance of the earth’s atmosphere.

Gardening contributes to a better quality of life by connecting with living

www.gardencentrescanada.ca @gardencentrescanada

OUR DIGITAL MANUALS AND CERTIFICATION

Gardening and retail garden centres are becoming weekend destinations. They are more relevant as the general public is beginning to have an increased awareness of the benefits of plants. Our online, digital platform’s interactive quizzes and videos aim to grow your team’s horticulture knowledge. It is our intent to continue to grow this tool as well as review and revitalize the CNLA Retail Certification program.

LANDSCAPE CANADA

FIRESMART – A NEW REALITY

Last couple of years have been dry on the west coast. This year got off to a wet start that continued well into the spring.

It feels like our west and east coasts have flipped in weather patterns with the middle of Canada getting everything from snow to higher than normal temperatures. What does this mean? Yes, global warming and extreme weather conditions are now present, it is no longer a “thing” of the future, it is here!

With that comes a new awareness of our elements as they directly affect how landscapers do their jobs, what to plant and where! Most recently in British Columbia, several municipalities and districts are starting to mandate the FireSmart program, likely due to the massive forest fire destruction the west coast has had over the past several years. The FireSmart program provides information to the homeowner and landscape professional about where plants should be planted, specifically looking at Home Ignition Zones (HIZ). The end goal is to prevent fire from the crowns of trees and spread to neighbouring foliage.

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One of the questions homeowners are now thinking about; “I have a cedar hedge, do I have to replace it?” and then subsequently “What would I replace it with?” Depending on your growing zone, landscapers, designers and homeowners may have different hedging preferences. Here in Vancouver, Emerald Cedars, Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ are very popular as they grow quickly, provide instant privacy, and are green year round. However, they pose a fire risk and this year many residential areas are looking to have them removed.

The only tall evergreen hedging suggested by Firesmart would be the Sticky Laurel, Ceanothus velutinus. Understanding the non-combustible zone and the plants to plant within it is currently a consideration for west coast landscapers, and is unfortunately trending towards becoming a future consideration in many regions in Canada.

For more information, contact Anne Kadwell, CLHT, is the Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist with the CNLA. email: anne@cnla-acpp.ca https://cnla.ca

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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G O V E R N M E N T R E L AT I O N S

Number of Farms Down, Age of a Farmer Up - 2021 Census of Agriculture Released

BY LESLIE SISON

THE FIRST RELEASE of findings from the 2021 Census of Agriculture is now available on-line and includes data about farms and farm operators. These data provide essential information about the agriculture industry and help inform decision-making by farmers, farm organizations and agricultural policy makers.

Of interest and making headlines of course is the continuing decline in numbers of farms and the aging of the farmer profile.

For comparison, in the general population, the median age of Canadians is 41.6 years old and 33.1% are at least 55. The median age of farmers rose 2.0 years from the 2016 census, reaching 58 years in 2021. The proportion of farmers aged 55 or older grew 6% from 54.5% in 2016 to 60.5% in 2021.

As a result of industry consolidation and aging of farm operators, the number of farms dropped by 1.9% from 2016 (193,492) to 2021(189,874). The decline in the number of farms, however, was the smallest in 25 years.

At the same time, the number of female farm operators has increased for the first time since 1991. In 2021, there were 79,795 female farm operators, up from 77,970 in 2016. In 2021, 30.4% of total farmers were female.

For nursery growing, the number of farms reporting was 1,844 growing on 36,629 acres of land.

Over the next few months, Statistics Canada will continue to provide information on the Canadian agriculture industry and introduce new ways to access the Census data. As more data related to nursery growing becomes available, I will be sure to include it in future articles.

CNLA RESEARCH PRIORITIES – ADVANCING THE NEXT COHA RESEARCH CLUSTER

Recently the CNLA Research Committee met to discuss and develop a research priority list for the Canadian nursery/ landscape/retail sectors. COHA is initiating its call for proposals for the next Ornamental Research Cluster and setting priorities to guide that call is the first step.

Listed in order of priority, here are the most important

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

research needs of Canada’s nursery sector value chain, as identified by the committee: l Survival of trees/plants after transplant in the landscape l Understanding the impact of urban trees/ plants/forests on climate l Plastics use reduction in nursery/landscape l New plant development for ornamental horticulture l Improvements in water use management l Pest and disease solutions l Mechanization/automation in nursery/landscape Since COHA represents floriculture as well, their priorities will be combined with those of nursery to ensure the research projects selected to be part of the Ornamental cluster address challenges in both sectors. And these priorities then must be a fit with those identified by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada for the 2023-2028 Agri Science Clusters program.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have released their guidelines for the next cluster proposal process and have identified three broad themes where funding will be allocated.

Climate change and the environment – focussing on GHG emissions reductions and carbon sequestration, as well as other environmental areas including soil health, water quality, air quality, biodiversity and plastics.

Increased profitability – focussing on emerging technologies to address labour challenges, create more value-added products, and increase productivity Sector resilience – research aimed at improving sector resilience in response to market and societal pressures, including mental health.

Expect more information and inquiries from CNLA in the next few months as we embark on the arduous journey of preparing a proposal to AAFC for this 4th COHA Research cluster. COHA and its member associations are focussed on submitting the proposal by November 1st with an anticipated start to the projects on April 1, 2023.

For more information, contact Leslie Sison CAE, CNLA Industry Human Resources & Government Relations, email: leslie@cnla-acpp.ca

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CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

17

GROWERS

WHAT IS A JUMPING WORM?

BY JAMIE AALBERS

Native to East-Central Asia and introduced to North America in the late 1800s, jumping worms have recently begun invading natural habitats in the Northeast and Midwest. Other common names for jumping worms include Asian jumping worms, Asian crazy worm, Alabama or Jersey jumper, Jersey wriggler and snake worm. When threatened, they thrash wildly from side to side and if that is not enough to deter a predator, they can resort to breaking off segments of their tail to escape.

Jumping worm skin is smooth, glossy and rubbery, not slimy or squishy, to the touch. Adults reach a length of 10-13 centimetres. Jumping worms can be distinguished from other earthworms by their characteristic clitellum, a collar-like band around their bodies. The clitellum of a jumping worm is cloudy white to grey in colour and flush with their skin, located only 14-16 segments form their head. In contrast, the clitellum of other earthworms is raised, pink in colour, and notably located more centrally along their length.

Scientists believe earthworms were largely wiped out in North America by the last ice age, 10,000 years ago and were reintroduced by European settlers in the 1800s. Jumping worms however outcompete other earthworms and their castings degrade soil quality, leaving it inhospitable to many native plant species and susceptible to increased soil erosion. In natural areas this can completely change the dynamics of the forest.

worm sightings were in home gardens, however, in Toronto they were also identified in a semi-natural ravine, demonstrating their potential to migrate from gardens into wild spaces.

I recently met with Michael McTavish, working on his post doc at University of Toronto, and Erin Cameron, a professor at St Mary’s University in Halifax. They have received funding from the Invasive Species Centre to initiate a small surveillance program, conduct outreach and develop an on-line portal for mapping new reports of jumping worm detections in Canada.

Even though we really do not need any more invasive species to be concerned about, it should be noted that jumping worms can be introduced through movement of soils and mulches from an infested area to a non-infested on. Although most adults die at the first frost, their eggs overwinter in the soil until April, protected in their drought and cold resistant cocoons. Jumping worms can also be introduced as baitworms, although this has not yet been documented in Canada.

Anglers should therefore avoid buying baitworms advertised as “snake worms”, “Alabama jumpers” or “crazy worms”.

For more information, contact Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist email: jamie@cnla-acpp.ca https://cnla.ca

The first report of jumping worms in Canada was in 2014 on the Ojibway Prairie in Essex County, Ontario. In the summer of 2021, several more sightings were reported in Ontario in Wheatley, Hamilton and the Toronto region. Most jumping

18

CNLA NEWSBRIEF | SUMMER 2022

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