CNLA Newsbrief Magazine Winter 2023

CNLA WELCOMES NEW ONTARIO REP

PLANTS LOVE YOU OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS

CULTIVATE SUCCESS JOIN US FOR 2024 SKILLS

SPRING INTO ACTION EMPOWER YOUR EMPLOYEES

GCC’S ONLINE COMMUNITY GAINING MOMENTUM

2024 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT INAUGURAL CNLA EVENT

EMPLOYEE RETENTION HELPFUL SOLUTIONS

LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE CERTIFICATION BENEFITS

GREEN ROOF BYLAW KEEPS ON GIVING!

CiB RECEIVES VICEREGAL PATRONAGE

HARDINESS ZONE MAPS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

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IGCA VISITS SOUTH AFRICA

BY STUART SERVICE

Twenty-three delegates from 11 countries visited Cape Town, South Africa, from February 18-21 for annual Administrators meetings for the International Garden Centre Association. South Africa will be hosting the International Garden Centre Congress in October, 2025. Representing Canada at this year’s meetings are Robin Godfrey, Chair of Garden Centres Canada and IGCA board member, and Rebecca Doutre, IGCA country administrator for the CNLA. Godfrey’s first impression is sheer inspiration by the level of effort going on at SA garden centres he visited. “The level of plant quality is impressive, as well as the selection and merchandising.” Don’t forget to register for this year’s IGCA Congress being hosted in Canada from August 25-31, 2024 - www.igca24.ca

CNLA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President Bill Hardy, CLHM - BC

Past President Anthony O’Neill - NL

Vice President, Communications Committee Chair Anita Heuver - AB

Second Vice President, Climate Change Adaptation Chair Alan White - ON

Treasurer, Professional Development & Human Resources Chair Jeff Foley, CLHT, CLHM - BC

CNLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BCNLA Heike Stippler, CLD - BC

Landscape AB Jeff Oudyk - AB

Landscape SK Leslie Cornell - SK

MBNLA Guy Dowhy, RSE, CLHT, CLHM - MB

Landscape ON Lindsay Drake Nightingale - ON

Landscape NS David Thompson - NS

Garden Centres Canada Chair Robin Godfrey - NS

Landscape NB/PEI, Member Services Chair, Insurance Chair Kevin Nauss, CLHM - NB

Landscape NL Peggy Head - NL

Landscape Canada Committee Chair Peter Guinane - ON

Research Chair Phil Paxton - AB

Government Relations Chair Christene LeVatte CLHM, CLD - NS Growers Canada Chair Stuart Gillies - ON

CNLA STAFF

Executive Director Victor Santacruz, CLHM, CAE victor@cnla-acpp.ca

Deputy Executive Director Rebecca Doutre, CLHM, CAE rebecca@cnla-acpp.ca

Finance & Administration Manager Cheryl Gall, CAE cheryl@cnla-acpp.ca

Growers Sector Specialist Jamie Aalbers jamie@cnla-acpp.ca

Communities in Bloom Program Specialist Sonia Parrino bloom@cib-cef.com

Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist Anne Kadwell, CLHT anne@cnla-acpp.ca

Industry & Government Relations Specialist Leslie Sison, CAE leslie@cnla-acpp.ca

Communications Specialist Dave Mazur dave@cnla-acpp.ca

Communications Coordinator Lauryn Mullan lauryn@cnla-acpp.ca

Media Coordinator Stuart Service stuart@cnla-acpp.ca

Content & Design Coordinator Sarah McIntosh sarah@cnla-acpp.ca

NATIONAL NEWS & UPDATES FOR MEMBERS OF:

For circulation or content please contact communications@cnla-acpp.ca

HortProtect Marketing Director & Special Projects Teagan Schroeder teagan@cnla-acpp.ca

Member Services Coordinator Cathy Lam cathy@cnla-acpp.ca

Member Services Coordinator Nicole Xavier nicole@cnla-acpp.ca

Certification Coordinator Edith Oyosoro, CAE edith@cnla-acpp.ca

CANADIAN NURSERY LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

CNLA WELCOMES

NEW ONTARIO REP

BY STUART SERVICE

Following her term as President of Landscape Ontario from 2022-2023, Lindsay Drake Nightingale joined the CNLA Board of Directors as Ontario representative.

Drake Nightingale started volunteering at Landscape Ontario as a student representative in 2000 while she was in Humber College’s Landscape Technician program. She was encouraged to participate in LO’s Toronto Chapter through one of her instructors, Bob Tubby, LO Past President from 2006-2007, and has since been a constant presence in the building. She has served in multiple roles with the Toronto Chapter and with

the LO Board of Directors, and continues to be a big proponent of the provincial association and the opportunities it creates for the industry.

“When you participate in Landscape Ontario, or through the chapters or the sector groups, it just allows your business and you as a person to expand,” she said. “Your crews that you’re working with, and your general community, learn from you as well. So it’s just been a marvelous ride.” She started Yorkshire Garden Services Inc. the same year she graduated from Humber in 2002. Currently, her “small and mighty” staff that has ranged between five and 11 over the years are

Lindsay Drake Nightingale at a Richmond Hill property in which her company, Yorkshire Garden Services Inc., won the National Award for Landscape Excellence for Residential Maintenance in 2020.

CANADIAN NURSERY LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

constantly busy managing numerous properties in and around the City of Toronto.

In 2020, during the first COVID summer, Yorkshire Garden Services won the National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Maintenance for a property in Richmond Hill that the company still looks after today.

“It really accentuated a lot of what we were able to do being classified as essential workers,” she said. “Our passion is gardens. That particular job in the old town of Richmond Hill was a culmination of a lot of work and it represents exactly what we strive to do.”

In her new role with the CNLA, Drake Nightingale looks forward to continuing the alliance between all of the provincial associations, as well as assisting with the

CLIMATE

#PlantsLoveYou campaign.

“I know that, through Dave Wright, Alan White, Peter Guinane and Jeff Olsen, and everybody else that’s come up through LO and onto the CNLA Board, they’ve always brought through that passion for plants, and that passion for making the world a better place through plants,” she said. “So the Plants Love You campaign, I’m attuned to that and would like to push that too.”

CERTIFICATION

Moments from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s (CFA) Annual General Meeting on February 27-28, 2024 at the Delta City Centre Hotel in Ottawa, ON. This year’s theme for the AGM is Seizing Opportunities: Canada’s growing role on the world stage, examining Canadian agriculture’s role on the international stage and examining some of the pressures facing our sector from a variety of perspectives. The CFA AGM brings together farm leaders from across Canada to set the priorities for our sector over the coming year. The event was attended by representatives of the Canadian Horticulture Ornamental Alliance. Photos by Lindsey Gibeau

PLANTS LOVE YOU GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS

BY NICOLE XAVIER

The Plants Love You campaign is a sustainable, environmental approach to market products for health and environmental benefits. The goal is to raise awareness about the positive impacts plants have on the environment, our physical and mental health, and our overall well-being.

Plants are essential in helping create a cleaner and greener planet.

Receive 50% back on marketing campaign activities. Funding opportunities are available to members who promote the Plants Love You campaign.

You will be required to report on the size of reach, circulation of promotion, and number of website / social media views. We have made promoting the

program as simple as possible for members. Visit the CNLA website to access marketing assets that can be used on your own social media platforms, email signatures, websites and more. Attach your logo, URL and post.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! If interested, contact Nicole Xavier, Member Services Coordinator, at nicole@cnla-acpp.ca for more information.

Join us today in promoting #PlantsLoveYou and be part of making a difference!

CULTIVATE SUCCESS JOIN US FOR 2024’S SKILLS COMPETITION

BY ANNE KADWELL, CHLT, NPD

As the winter frost begins to thaw, a buzz of excitement is sweeping through our provinces, as the upcoming Landscape Gardening Skills competitions are scheduled for March to April. These events are not just about showcasing the green thumbs of our youth but represent a celebration of skills, dedication, and the promise of a flourishing future.

Behind the scenes, provincial horticulture associations are working closely with their provincial skills committees to ensure the success of these competitions. From Try-A-Trade booths to plant donations, and from judging to volunteering for set up and take down; meticulous planning ensures a seamless and engaging experience for everyone involved.

The heart of these competitions is the providing of hands-on, informative, and educational experiences to thousands of secondary school students bused in from across the province. Picture a trade-focused, Olympic-style, one-day event where the air is supercharged with excitement and curiosity. The competitions become a stage where skills are showcased, knowledge is shared, and the potential of the horticulture industry is unveiled.

Guy Dowhy, owner of Dowhy Designs and Landscapes Inc. and Manitoba representative of the CNLA board, gives students attending the 2023 National Skills Competition in Winnipeg a crash-course on how to plant, water, and care for flowers donated by Lacoste Garden Centre.

LANDSCAPE CANADA COMMITTEE

The pinnacle of these regional competitions is the journey to the National Competition, scheduled to take place in Quebec City at the ExpoCité on May 30-31, 2024. This two-day extravaganza will host 40 skilled trade and technology competitions, with thousands of students exploring over 50 interactive Try-A-Trade exhibits. It’s not just a competition; it’s an immersive experience that opens doors to exciting and rewarding careers in the skilled trades and technologies.

The Provincial and National competition is more than a competition; they are a testament to the enthusiasm and camaraderie that permeate the skilled trades community. Witnessing young adults take pride in their profession, demonstrating leadership, and sharing their expertise with fellow students is a sight to behold. It’s a celebration of passion, dedication, and the promise of a vibrant future in the skilled trades.

These competitions cannot thrive without ongoing support from our industry and provincial associations. The entire horticulture community, including growers, garden center retailers, landscapers, and association support contributes to the success of these competitions that inspire and educate the next generation of professionals.

As competition dates approach, mark your calendars and consider volunteering your time or offering support. These young landscaping teams are the future of our industry, and your involvement can make a significant impact on their journey. There’s a role for everyone in ensuring the success of these competitions. Supporting the participating teams is not just a task but a commitment to nurturing the next generation of skilled trade professionals.

For more information on each Provincial event visit www.skillscompetencescanada.com. Come together to cultivate success, and to help sow the seeds of a thriving future in the landscape gardening industry. Any questions please contact – Anne Kadwell CHLT, NPD - anne@canadanursery.com

GROWERS CANADA

A team for Humber college review their landscape design plan during the final moments of the 2023 Ontario Skills competition.

Students and landscape professionals line up to participate in the paver challenge to win a plant, a popular Try-A-Trade activity at the 2023 BC Skills Competition.

Thousands of students from across Manitoba attended the 2023 National Skills Competition at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, many of which stopped to watch five provincial teams competing in the Landscape Gardening event as they built a small patio and garden from scratch over two days.

SPRING INTO ACTION EMPOWER YOUR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

BY ANNE KADWELL, CHLT, NPD

The Landscape Horticulturist Red Seal Program sets the benchmark for skilled trades excellence. It signifies that a tradesperson meets the national standard for their profession. This endorsement encourages excellence among workers, fosters pride, and eases labour mobility challenges interprovincially for skilled professionals.

Empowering employees to advance in their pursuit of Red Seal certification can be a challenging task. However, if you have team members who have accumulated sufficient work-based hours, exploring the online option could be a viable solution. Consider incorporating a success bonus as an additional incentive for those who successfully achieve their Red Seal.

In a collaborative effort, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) has partnered with HortEducation to offer a convenient and

easily accessible National workshop tailored for individuals contemplating taking the Interprovincial Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist exam. The workshop, spanning approximately one hour, provides participants with valuable insights into the various components of the exam.

Additionally, the session includes comprehensive learning support in the form of a work booklet and a practice exam. The flexibility of this video resource allows your employees to access the material at any time, ensuring that they can tailor their exam preparation to fit their schedules.

For more information please contact Anne Kadwell CHLT, NPD – anne@canadanursery.com or visit the website directly at www.horteducation.ca

GCC WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA GAINS MOMENTUM

BY ANNE KADWELL, CLHT, NPD

In just over a year, the Garden Centres Canada public website has evolved into an active community of gardening enthusiasts and industry leaders.

Gardencentrescanada.ca has emerged as a practical source for gardening related inquiries, providing individuals with essential information and resources. It’s become a virtual hub for those seeking guidance on horticulture and continues to foster a community interested in exploring the world of plants.

The GCC public website serves as a resource offering a variety of gardening tips for those

looking to expand their understanding of their hobby/passion/lifestyle.

The website’s map feature has led to increased inquiries from independent retail garden centres eager to join the growing community. This feature not only connects consumers with nearby garden centres, but also provides businesses with an additional platform to expand their retail reach.

Thoughtfully crafted social media posts have extended the website’s impact, encouraging the public to explore gardening while assisting GCC members in reaching a wider audience. Please follow us on Instagram,

GARDEN CENTRES CANADA

@gardencentrescanada , and help our message build more traction.

The Facebook peer to peer group is seeing increased engagement, with more members participating and new retail garden centres joining the conversation. This peerdriven interaction adds to our professional camaraderie and supports collaborative efforts within industry. Join this active community of owners and operators by searching “Garden Centres Canada Peer Group” on Facebook.

As we reflect on the past year, we’re thrilled to see the GCC public website turning into an active and resourceful ecosystem for owners and enthusiasts alike as inquiries, knowledge, retail growth, and peer interaction continually show ongoing potential. The

journey has just begun, and the GCC public website will continue to sow the seeds for a connected, informed, and sustainable tomorrow.

Explore more at www.gardencentrescanada.ca and be part of this flourishing community.

For more information, please contact Anne Kadwell CHLT, NPD, Landscape Sector Specialist – anne@canadanursery.com

GROWERS

INAUGURAL 2024 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT HOSTED BY CNLA

BY STUART SERVICE

Switching gears during a week of winter board meetings at Hockey Valley in Orangeville, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association hosted its inaugural 2024 Leadership Summit on February 6, featuring a selection of keynote speakers who shared information relevant to industry professionals.

Nancy Healey, Employment Social Development Canada, shared up to date employment numbers across Canada. Although Canada’s economy has experienced little growth over the past year, Healey noted that the current economic condition is a rare situation in which a lagging economy isn’t resulting in fewer jobs being available.

Jennifer Wright, Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council, followed up Healey’s presentation with more jobs data, sharing figures from CAHRC’s recently completed labour market research.

“We have an aging workforce,” Wright said, adding that the average age of employees in agriculture is increasing.

“Every industry in Canada right now seems to be facing a labour shortage for many of the same reasons around retirement and growth,” she continued. There are $500 million in lost sales in the nursery landscape and floriculture industry

2024 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

because of the number of job vacancies, which she said is likely to continue to expand due to the growth in the industry and the number of employees expected to retire.

Lyn McDonell, The Accountability Group, had attended CNLA meetings earlier in the week and was an active participant in helping members with the wording of action items to strengthen their language. Throughout the CNLA’s winter board meetings, McDonell surveyed volunteers to find their answer to the following question: “Being a board member in a federation is about learning to ________.”

The answers she received were: work as one, collaborate, be open to different opinions, listen, meet different people, find resolutions.

“There’s a puzzle here,” McDonell said as she scanned the audience. “And it’s a beautiful puzzle.”

Following a half-hour networking break, the Summit continued with John Talent and Taylor Edwards from Marsh Canada, speaking to the claims and liabilities side

of HortProtect Insurance. Talent and Edwards shared tips to help landscape companies mitigate liabilities, and then fielded questions about deductibles and how they affect the prices of insurance premiums, as well as questions about the determining the valuation of aging, insured equipment.

The final keynote speaker of the Leadership Summit was Frank Zaunscherb, ZRB Consulting, who shared an update on a soon-to-come #PlantsLoveYou industrywide marketing campaign. He shared a work-in-progress promotional video to get feedback from the audience, as well as to share details about funding that will be made available to members who participate in this robust promotion of Canada’s horticulture industry.

The event concluded with a roundtable moderated by CNLA President Bill Hardy with the Chair of each of the CNLA’s commodity groups: Climate Change Adaptation Committee (Alan White), Professional Development Committee (Jeff Foley), Insurance Committee (Kevin Nauss), Garden Centres Canada Committee (Robin Godfrey), Research Committee (Phil Paxton), Growers’ Committee (Jeff Olsen) and the Landscape Canada Committee (Peter Guinane).

Videos of each of the 2024 Leadership Summit segments will be available on YouTube.com/CNLA in March.

EMPLOYEE RETENTION HELPFUL SOLUTIONS

BY LESLIE SISON, CAE

Sometimes, discomfort, pain or a crisis can motivate change. When individuals understand the critical nature of the situation and the need for immediate action, they are more likely to embrace change.

In the landscape industry we have traditionally been rigid in the way we structure our crews and working hours. In a changing world, perhaps it is time that we revisit this. Just because we have always done it that way doesn’t mean we need to in the future. There are some companies who have tried and implemented different ways of structuring their work to address staffing solutions with great results.

Some examples are:

• Giving part-day or part-week employment to students who want to work while also going to school. Often students can provide a consistent commitment to work, because their school schedule is consistent. Having an employee that can commit to your company for two to four days per week for all of the years they are pursuing their degree can equate to having a reliable, long-term team.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

• Offer Sunday to Thursday employment to Muslim workers who wish to dedicate Fridays to worship. Whole crews can be comprised of people who wish to have Fridays off. Making accommodations like this can make your company attractive to an entire community of potential workers.

• Some companies have had great success hiring deaf employees. Most landscaping work does not require customer-facing communication. Smart phone technology allows for easy communication between deaf employees and their co-workers. Interpreters can be also hired for orientations and advanced training.

• Offer shorter shifts to parents who have to attend to school age children. One company has parents join crews at 10a.m. and work until 2:30p.m. Since this company’s crews take coffee breaks at this time it is not disruptive.

• One company has a “Moms Crew,” which is a crew of four from a revolving group of eight mothers. They schedule around their respective childcare needs to ensure the presence of four crew members.

• The use of pronouns in professional signatures is becoming much more common. Placing people’s preferred pronouns beside their names on your schedule can signal that all people are welcome and will be respected within your company.

• There are agencies that place developmentally disabled workers into jobs and provide no-cost coaches to help address some of the learning and focus challenges that these team members may have. One maintenance company has had success populating their crews with developmentally disabled workers who do a great job at tasks like mowing, weeding and raking.

• High school students can be a great way to add workers during the busy summer months. One company has developed a structured internship program that offers extra training, augmented hours, job shadowing and career showcase days. Opening up your organization to high school students can lead to long term employees who may be available as returning seasonal workers while they attend university.

When it comes to our workforce crisis, there is no silver

bullet solution. The companies having an easier time navigating these challenges are utilizing a multitude of solutions and are open to out-of-the-box ideas. They are adapting to a changing environment, encouraging diversity to populate their crews, serve their customers, and reduce their staffing challenges.

Bill C-58. Is Your Company Affected?

Bill C-58 is currently being reviewed, and it aims to make changes to the Canada Labour Code, specifically addressing the use of replacement workers during legal strikes and lockouts. The proposed amendments seek to strengthen the existing prohibition on employers using replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, with some exceptions.

Currently, the Canada Labour Code prohibits the use of replacement workers for the purpose of undermining a union’s representational capacity during a legal strike or lockout. The amendments would prohibit employers from using the services of employees, persons who perform management functions, or persons employed in a confidential capacity in matters relating to industrial relations, to perform the duties of the employees on strike or lockout. The prohibition would apply to employees and other persons hired after notice to bargain was given. This prohibition would also apply to contractors and to employees of another employer, irrespective of when they were hired.

The bill would prevent employers from using any employee in a bargaining unit during a strike or lockout if all the employees in that unit stop working. There are specific sections in the Canada Labour Code (87.4 or 87.7) that outline conditions allowing the maintenance of essential services to prevent immediate dangers to public safety or health. The proposed changes also include amendments to speed up the maintenance of activities process. This involves setting timelines to encourage early issue resolution and granting additional powers to the Canada Industrial Relations Board to expedite decisions.

The following is a statement by the Government of Canada about C-48:

“The prohibition on using replacement workers is also subject to an exception to allow employers to use the services of any person to deal with imminent or serious threats. This would include an imminent or serious

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

threat to life, health or safety of any person, threat of destruction or damage to the employer’s property or premises, or threat of serious environmental damage affecting the employer’s property or premises. The use of replacement workers to deal with these imminent or serious threats must be necessary and the employer must not be able to address these issues by any other means.

“The amendments are designed to improve labour relations, protect workers’ right to strike, limit interruptions to collective bargaining, and provide greater stability to Canadians during federal labour disputes.”

Regarding employees in a bargaining unit (Charter Section 2(b)), the changes could potentially impact freedom of expression. For example, the prohibition would stop employees from working during a strike, which may be seen as expressing support for the strike. The aim is to balance these restrictions with the need to protect essential rights during labour disputes.

This Bill was tabled in the House of Commons and some working groups are looking to have amendments set before the next reading. We will continue to follow and update as needed.

Apprenticeship Grants

Landscape Horticulturist, Red Seal and Apprenticeship Grants

Landscape Horticulturist is a Red Seal trade! Recognized as a Red Seal Trade in 2008, this was in fact the 50th trade to be designated and it happened in the 50th year of the history of Red Seal.

Tradespeople are vital to Canada’s economy and as such, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the government of Canada have put special grants in place for apprentices to assist them in their learning as well as special programs for businesses that hire and take on apprentices to assist in their training. A few of these are listed below.

Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG)

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year or level, for a lifetime maximum amount of $2,000 per person.

To be eligible for the AIG, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person

• not be a high school student

• have the required AIG supporting documents

• register with your provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade, and provide proof that you have successfully completed either the first year (level/block) or second year (level/block) (or equivalent) in a designated Red Seal trade

• If you progressed on or after January 1, 2019, your deadline to submit an application is: 12 months following your date of progression.

Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG)

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) is a onetime taxable cash grant lifetime amount of $2,000 per person for registered apprentices who complete their apprenticeship training and obtain their journeyperson certification.

To be eligible for the ACG, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person

• not be a high school student

GROWERS

Jamie

• have the required ACG supporting documents

• show that you have completed an apprenticeship program as a registered apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade, and provide proof of your journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade

Anne

If you completed your program on or after January 1, 2019, your deadline to submit an application is 12 months following your date of completion.

IN MEMORY OF CNLA PAST PRESIDENT

MARC THIEBAUD

After a 32-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis, Marc Thiebaud passed away peacefully with family by his side on January 2nd at 81 years old.

Born in Switzerland, Marc moved to Canada in 1953 when he was a young boy. Four years later, Marc started working for his father, Rene, who founded Oshawa Garden Services in Brooklin, On. Later, Marc’s two brothers, John and Rene also joined the company. Marc became owner in 1974, and continued OGS Landscape Group on its path to becoming an award-winning company. In 1993, the company was divided among the three brothers to form the OGS Landscape Group, with Marc taking on the role of president of OGS Grounds Maintenance Specialists.

Marc was a prominent and respected member of the landscape industry. He was one of Landscape Ontario’s original board members when the provincial association formed in 1973, and later served as LO President in 1975. He was instrumental in establishing a commodity group structure for the newly unified provincial association.

He became the Ontario representative to the CNTA and went on to assume the role as president from 1980-83. Marc was instrumental in the restructuring of the CNTA as well as the name change from Landscape/ Paysage Canada to Landscape Canada. Marc received an Honorary Life Membership award from Landscape Ontario and the CNLA President’s award for his many contributions to the provincial and national associations.

Marc was also a devoted member of his local community serving as the President of the Oshawa Kinsmen Club in 1980 which was at the time the largest in Canada. The historic Parkwood Estate was also very dear to him as he sat on the Board of Directors and served as the Head Groundskeeper for many years.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nursing staff of Lakeridge Gardens for their devoted care. A private memorial will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, any donations can be sent to the MS Society of Canada.

COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM RECEIVES VICEREGAL PATRONAGE

Communities in Bloom (CiB) is pleased to have been granted viceregal patronage by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

Viceregal patronage is granted to associations and organizations with a national scope for their exceptional contributions to society, and whose objectives align with the role and responsibilities of the governor general. The governor general plays a key role in promoting national identity by supporting and promoting Canadian values, diversity, inclusion, culture and knowledge.

“Viceregal Patronage of the Governor General is important not only to our organization but also to the hundreds of communities throughout Canada involved in the Communities in Bloom program,” said Susan Ellis, CiB Judge and National Chairperson. “This support and recognition emphasizes the incredible work that all volunteers are doing to help their communities be better places in which to live, work, and play.”

Since 1995, over 900 municipalities have participated in CiB annually at provincial, national and international levels. Thousands of municipal staff and volunteers of all ages help

to foster, develop, and maintain activities and programs that benefit the entire community. This includes greening initiatives, encompassing environmental, natural and built heritage conservation, and horticultural actions that engage all municipal, institutional, commercial, and residential sectors.

“We look forward to working closely with Her Excellency’s office as we strengthen our ability to inspire communities,” Ellis said. “By enhancing quality of life and our environment through people and plants, we will continue fostering community pride and Growing Great Places Together.”

GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES

TORONTO’S GREEN ROOF BYLAW KEEPS ON GIVING!

BY GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES

In 2009 Toronto City Council under the leadership of Mayor David Miller and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, took a major step forward towards sustainable urban development. Toronto became the first major city in North America to adopt a Green Roof Bylaw. The By-law mandates green roofs on new buildings, provides an incentive program for existing buildings, and creates a standard for the construction of all green roofs. The Bylaw was the result of over a decade of lobbying, research and education by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, which at the time was a new industry group formed with a mission to develop the green roof industry across North America. Similar policies have since been adopted by cities across North America, including Denver, San Francisco and New York. In Canada, Montréal and Gatineau have implemented a similar set of requirements.

The Green Roof Bylaw addresses environmental concerns associated with urbanization, such as the urban heat island effect, poor air quality, lack of accessible green space and biodiversity loss. The Green Roof Bylaw and the Eco-Roof Incentive Program align with the objectives of the City’s climate action

2024 Jeffery L. Bruce Awards of Excellence winner. View from interior to north green roof at the Guildwood Go Station in Toronto. Photo: Salina Kassam. Credits to: Elias + Landscape Architecture + Interiors + Design.

GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES

strategy, TransformTO, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2040. By requiring and providing incentives for green roofs, Toronto sought to create a more sustainable, and resilient urban environment. There are few, if any, public policies that can be implemented by local governments which deliver so many benefits for so little investment, and which provide a ROI for building owners as well.

The Bylaw applies to new commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential developments with a gross floor area exceeding 2,000 square meters and new additions to existing structures if the gross floor area surpasses 2,000 square meters. The green roof coverage requirement is between 20% - 60% of the available roof space. All agencies, boards and commissions of the City also have to implement green roofs on their new building projects.

Since 2009, the Toronto Green Roof bylaw and the Eco-Roof Incentive Program has been quietly greening Toronto’s roofscape. The incentive program has resulted in the installation of 614 green roofs, contributing to the creation of 1.12 million square meters of green roof space.

More than 1,000 green roofs have been constructed thus far, significantly reducing energy consumption by an estimated 2,200 megawatt-hours annually helping to avert 416 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The green roofs have diverted over 18 million litres of stormwater annually. In 2023 alone, 43 projects were successfully completed, resulting in an additional 78,000 square meters of green roof space. There are a tremendous number of benefits associated with the program, not the least of which are the employment opportunities for design professionals, contractors, manufacturers and maintenance personnel.

Many landscape architects, architects engineers, and developers have embraced green roofs not only to comply with regulations, but as a way to enhance the overall quality and value of buildings, by providing high quality amenity space for building occupants for example. Accessible and even only visually accessible green roofs have been shown to improve the real estate and rental value of properties and the health and well being of those who have access to them.

Green roof technology continues to evolve, both in terms of the plants and growing media used to support biodiversity and food production, as well as integration for greater stormwater management benefits as in the case of blue-green roofs which provide additional stormwater retention and detention benefits.

To learn more about evolving green roof and wall technology please join us for the 20th Anniversary celebration of CitiesAlive - November 6-9, 2024 in Toronto. The event will provide a unique opportunity for landscape architects and other designers to learn, connect, engage, and leave with tools that will help them use their clients’ roofs to future proof their communities.

www.CitiesAlive.org

Leading the industry in compaction

LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE CERTIFICATION BENEFITS

BY EDITH OYOSORO, CAE

According to a survey of LHCP certified members, obtaining a landscape horticulture certification offers various advantages to those pursuing careers in the field.

Professional Credibility : Demonstrates your commitment to professionalism and proficiency and enhances your credibility among clients, employers, and peers.

Industry Recognition: Validates your expertise and knowledge, establishing you as a respected professional within the industry.

Enhanced Career Opportunities: Opens doors to a wider range of career opportunities, including consulting, teaching, and research.

Higher Earning Potential : Commands higher wages compared to non-certified counterparts, as being credentialed validates their skills and expertise.

Customer Confidence : Clients and customers trust certified professionals to deliver high-quality,

sustainable landscapes, resulting in higher client satisfaction and more referrals.

Access to Networking: Provides access to opportunities to connect with other professionals and potential employers.

Quality Assurance: Certified professionals adhere to industry standards and best practices, promoting quality workmanship and environmental stewardship.

Continued Professional Development: Recertification encourages ongoing education and lifelong learning, keeping professionals updated on industry trends and best practices.

GROWERS

Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist jamie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Specialization: The technician program offers specialty modules, allowing professionals to focus on areas of interest in landscape installation, maintenance and irrigation.

GARDEN CENTRES

Anne Kadwell, Landscape & Retail Sector Specialist anne@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Personal Fulfilment: Achieving certification is personally fulfilling, providing a sense of accomplishment and validation of your skills and expertise.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Frydda Sandoval, Environmental Policy Coordinator frydda@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Set yourself apart to make a positive impact in this highly competitive and specialized trade by earning a landscape horticulture certification.

GOVERNMENT

For more information, visit the LHCP website or email certification@cnla-acpp.ca .

Leslie Sison, Industry & Government Specialist leslie@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Get Certified Get Hired!

Edith Oyosoro, Certification Coordinator edith@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Newly Certified

Randy Allison, CLHT – BC

Stuart Service, Media Coordinator stuart@cnla-acpp.ca www.cnla.ca

Nicolas Pena Heyboer, CLHT – BC

Mohammadnavid Naghibi, CLHT – BC

Gordon Birch, CLHT – ON

Kate McGrath, CLHT – ON

Phil Scot, CLHT – ON

David Van Duynhoven, CLHT– ON

Akshay Soochit, CLHM – AB

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Canada’s Plant Hardiness Zones

Zones de rusticité des plantes au Canada

PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAPS ARE

NOT CREATED EQUAL

BY JAMIE AALBERS

Being in the plant business means we all need to be very familiar with, and cognizant of where the plants we grow, install and sell will survive. Plant hardiness zone maps are an important tool when determining what plants can be included in a landscape. But plant hardiness maps in Canada and the US are not created using the same criteria and as such cannot be used interchangeably. Zone 5 in the US is not the same as Zone 5 in Canada.

The plant hardiness zone map developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which was updated in 2023, relies solely on average annual minimum temperatures to determine the rankings. The plant hardiness zones map developed by Natural Resources Canada, which is currently under revision, considers seven factors averaged over a 30 year time span.

• monthly mean of the daily minimum temperature of the coldest month

• mean frost free period above 0ºC in days

• amount of rainfall from June – November

• monthly mean of the daily maximum temperatures of the warmest month

• rainfall in January (important because freezing temperatures following rainfall can be hard on roots)

GROWERS

• mean maximum snow depth

• maximum wind gust in 30 years

Natural Resources Canada also has a map that shows plant hardiness zones for Canada based on the USDA extreme minimum temperature approach. Both maps can be found at www.planthardiness.gc.ca

There is about a one zone difference between the two systems. For example, a plant labelled with the USDA hardiness zone 5 is a zone 6 in the Canadian seven factor system. Challenges result of course when plants are labelled in Canada with the US hardiness zone. Obviously that USDA Zone 5 plant will not thrive, or even survive in the Canadian Zone 5.

Another challenge that is starting to surface is the assumption that since the climate is warming, then it’s worth experimenting with using plants from a warmer zone in a zone they historically were not meant to be planted. For example, the Canadian hardiness zone of Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is 4 -7. It may be tempting to experiment and plant this shrub in a Zone 3, especially after a warm winter like we are experiencing now. Until the Canadian hardiness zones are revised, this type of decision remains an experimental one and you need be aware the experiment could result in that plant succumbing to winter kill.

The other trend that plays into this is that while for the most part in Canada, the extreme minimum temperatures have been going up, there are some areas in the country where there’s been a decrease in extreme minimum temperatures through time, closer to the East Coast. And part of that is ascribed to things like icebergs spawning and going down the Eastern Seaboard.

Sometime in 2024 Natural Resources Canada will publish an updated version of the Canadian plant hardiness map. Regardless, it is very important to label plants, whether this is done at the farm or at the garden centre, with the current and correct Canadian hardiness zone for that plant. And until we know better remember that planting that plant in a zone that is outside of the labelled zone remains an experiment without a guarantee of success.

Oscar Peterson, one of the 5 Canadian Artists Series roses

The Oscar Peterson rose was introduced to the trade in 2016 as the last release from the Canadian Artists series breeding program, a unique collaboration between a consortium of Canadian growers and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada rose breeders. At the time of its release, there was some concern about the release of a white flowering rose, as consumer studies tend to point to reds, pinks and bi-colour selections as

GROWERS

being homeowner favorites. However, due to its many outstanding attributes, sales of the Oscar Peterson rose far surpassed all expectations, proving yet again that superior quality transcends all other trends. Named in honour of the famed Canadian jazz pianist and composer, the Oscar Peter rose bears semi-double flowers that appear as a soft yellow soon turning to a bright white with contrasting golden yellow stamens. Arranged in sprays, the petals drop cleanly at the end of its flowering time. The white flowers are strikingly arranged on a background of glossy green leaves, born on an upright to slightly spreading shrub that is ideal as a specimen or planted as a hedge.

The Oscar Peterson rose is cold hardy to zone 3, with a maximum height of 90 cm and a spread of 60 cm. There are four other roses that belong to the Canadian Artist Series – Emily Carr, Felix LeClerc, Bill Reid and Campfire.

Plant Certification in North America

Systems based plant certification programs, comprised of a combination of phytosanitary measures for pest risk management, are generally accepted to be better than end point phytosanitary inspections at ensuring plants moved through trade are free of regulated and unregulated pests. But they do require an added level of management and administration that for outdoor nursery growing can be substantial. Enough so that uptake of systems approaches remains low in the North American nursery sector.

In North America, there are five plant certification programs available to growers of ornamental plants:

• Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP)

• Clean Plants

• US Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program (GCP)

• Systems Approach to Nursery Certification (SANC)

• US Nursery Certification Program (USNCP)

Of all of these, the one with the most participants is the GCP where there are 182 greenhouse flower growers subscribed to the program in Canada. The driving force for this level of involvement is that the GCP allows access to the US market without the need for phytosanitary inspections for each shipment of plants. All wholesalers require supplier growers to have a GCP program in order to ensure uninterrupted shipping from Canada to the US. Clean Plants and CNCP are the two programs available to Canadian nursery growers. The number of active

participants in these programs is 30 and 5 respectively. CNCP is similar to GCP in that growers can export plants to the US without the requirement of a phytosanitary inspection by CFIA as long as they have passed audits performed by CFIA auditors throughout the year. Clean Plants also requires successful audit reports by an external auditor but is not recognized by CFIA as equal to CNCP and as such exporters in the Clean Plants program still require phytosanitary inspections by CFIA to ship plants into the US. Clean Plants is a domestic certification program, as compared to GCP and CNCP which are international ones.

For the nursery sector, most growers prefer to use CFIA phytosanitary inspections for movement and export certificates. Most cite the administrative burden of record keeping and added costs for staff to manage a system approach program as deterrents. And for CNCP, it can be argued it was designed to the standards of a Cadillac when perhaps a Malibu would have sufficed.

It may be time to start thinking about why participation is low in the nursery plant certification programs and if industry and regulators in North America can agree to adopt one systems approach program for movement of nursery stock throughout North America. Can CNCP be revised to make it simpler? Can CNCP and USNCP be co-negotiated so there is just one program for both countries? Can GCP be expanded to include outdoor grown nursery stock? Or I suppose, are we happy enough with the current phytosanitary inspection process currently used by most growers? Stay tuned as we start to ask these questions in the coming year.

Landscaping can be a beautiful business, but you need a versatile machine that can do the dirty work. The 184 G-Tier Compact Wheel Loader has the power and precision to help you shape the land, carry big pallet loads, and handle heavy piles. Consider it your all-purpose paintbrush.