CNLA Newsbrief - April/May by Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief

CNLA Newsbrief

April - May 2007

sponsored by:

Growing Associations, Working For You!

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) and the BC Nursery and Landscape Association (BCLNA) have realized a huge victory with the April 7th announcement of a proposed P. ramorum compensation regulation. The new regulations proposed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will compensate nursery producers, wholesale, retail, landscape and private property owners in cases where the CFIA ordered plants destroyed in the eradication effort for Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum or Sudden Oak Death) in British Columbia.

Directors:

Harold Deenen, CLP - ON Jim Wotherspoon - AB Bill Hardy, CLP - BC Bruce Hunter, CLP, CHT, CLD - BC Vic Krahn, CHT - SK Gerald Boot, CLP - ON Doug Conrad, CLP, CHT - NS Yvette Forget - QC Bruce McTavish - BC Anthony O’Neill - NL Philip Ronald, Ph. D - MB Rene Thiebaud, CLP - ON Peter Levelton - BC Darrell Nameth, CLP - NB John Zaplatynsky - BC Phil Paxton, CHT, CLP - AB

Staff:

Rita Weerdenburg

Victor Santacruz, CAE

rita@canadanursery.com

victor@canadanursery.com

Joseph Salemi

Member Services Manager joseph@canadanursery.com

Joel Beatson, CLP

Professional & Business Development Manager joel@canadanursery.com

Peter Isaacson, B.Sc., M. P.M.

Minor Use/IPM Co-ordinator peter@canadanursery.com

Look Inside: • • •

Sudden oak death canker (caused by P. ramorum) showing clear zone line on inner bark of tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)

The proposed compensation categories and maximum compensation amounts have been published in the April 7 issue of the Canada Gazette Part I for a 15-day public comment period. Industry stakeholders will be consulted on the details of the compensation package through a series of consultations during the comment period. The goal of the CFIA’s compensation program is to encourage industry members to promptly report serious plant diseases and pests, and to facilitate compliance with eradication and control activities. If P. ramorum were to spread unimpeded it could have devastating consequences on B.C.’s nursery, landscape and forest industries. The CFIA is pursuing an aggressive, two-year eradication effort for P. ramorum in B.C. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association have provided CFIA with extensive comments on the proposed compensation regulation. These and all other stakeholder comments will be reviewed and a response is expected from CFIA in early May. Barring any unforeseen complications, it is expected that these regulations will be passed into law by the end of the month.

Growers Manager

Lydia Couture-Comtois Executive Assistant

lydia@canadanursery.com

Michelle Gregory Member Services

michelle@canadanursery.com

Julia Ricottone

Certification Services

julia@canadanursery.com

Rebecca Wetselaar

Atlantic Region Co-ordinator rebecca@canadanursery.com

•

CNLA GreenLink April Plum Pox Virus Update CNLA GreenLink

Vol. 17 Issue 3

Federal Government Approves P. ramorum Compensation Regulations

Executive Board: Michael Murray - NL Christene LeVatte, CLP - NS Paul Olsen - ON Bill Stensson - ON Cary van Zanten - BC Victor Santacruz, CAE

Executive Director

April - May 2007

• • •

First Certification Trifecta in Canada! Ruth Olde, CLD, of Blasig Landscape Design & Construction, had the honor of presenting the newly certified Bruce Hunter of Hunter Landscape Design Ltd., with his Certified Landscape Designer (CLD) lapel pin at a recent landscape designers meeting at the Daltile showroom in Vancouver. This makes Bruce the first person in Canada to have achieved all three horticultural certifications (CHT, CLD, and CLP).

Development of Nursery Certification Program Training Program Industry Apprenticeship Update 2007 CNLA Membership Directory Certification Corner

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

• • • •

Way to go Bruce!

Stand Alone Professional Liability Policy for Landscape Designers Japanese Beetle Certification Program 2006 Garden Centre Survey Results Volunteer Profile: Peter Levelton

7856 Fifth Line South Milton, ON L9T 2X8 P h : 9 0 5 - 8 7 5 - 13 9 9 T o l l F r e e : 1 - 8 8 8 - 4 4 6 - 3 4 9 9 F a x : 9 0 5 - 8 7 5 - 18 4 0 T o l l F r e e : 1 - 8 6 6 - 8 3 3 - 8 6 0 3 E m a i l : c n l a @ c a n a d a n u r s e r y. c o m

CNLA News brief Plum Pox Virus Update

sponsored by:

April - May

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has continued their consultations with the nursery and especially the tender fruit industry prior to submitting their recommendations for the future of the Plum Pox Virus eradication program. The nursery sector has supported an aggressive eradication program as this represents their only alternative to regaining their ability to propagate and grow important Prunus varieties in currently quarantined areas in the Niagara area. The tender fruit industry, as represented by the Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board (OTFMB) has conducted a poll of their growers, with 78 per cent of respondents being in favour of eradication. However, many of the larger growers did not respond to the poll. Although the CFIA’s recommendation to proceed with the eradication program will still require Cabinet and Treasury Board approval, the Agency has been directed to issue Notices to Dispose immediately, based on 2006 survey results and with deadlines for removal to occur before budbreak. There was a moratorium on eradication in 2006, but high levels of sampling and surveying continued throughout the season.

CNLA Newsbrief

CNLA GreenLink Keeping Members Connected The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association has recently launched a listserv service for members only. If you're facing a quandary, want to share a successful business tip, or need to bounce an idea off others, this is the place for you. CNLA GreenLink gives you instant access to others in the industry that work on the same challenges that you do. Whether you are dealing with staff recruitment struggles, or are looking for a more efficient way to track your inventory, CNLA GreenLink generates learning experiences and advice instantly. To subscribe to GreenLink, visit www. canadanursery.com and click on the GreenLink button. Your subscription will be evaluated by CNLA Member Services staff.

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2007

CNLA News brief

sponsored by:

Development of Nursery Certification Training Program Continues The CNLA continues to move forward with the development of staff and auditor training programs for the Domestic Phytosanitary Certification Program. This second phase nursery project is being fully funded through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ACAAF program. This project is now being managed by Landscape Ontario’s risk management coordinator Christoph Kessel, who has taken on this role effective April 1, 2007 upon the retirement of former project manager Al Oliver. A train-the-trainer program, currently scheduled for late June, 2007 will see regional experts from across the country become trained in the various aspects of this systems-based certification approach to phytosanitary certification. Actual nursery staff training will be facilitated in the late fall and early winter Process withColorcooperation from the provincial associations. The training program will also include auditor training, to ensure that third-party auditors have a thorough understanding of the complexities of nursery production systems. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to play an integral part in this certification process. CFIA staff have provided important comments on the DPCP standard, with the intent of making it a program that is recognized by the CFIA as an approved program for the supply of certified plant material to those nurseries currently certified under the Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP). For further details, please contact Rita Weerdenburg at 888-446-3499, ext. 8686 or ritaw@canadanursery.com.

April - May 2007

Industry Apprenticeship Update The CNLA HR Committee has been working on establishing the horticultural trades under the Red Seal program. This would set interprovincial standards for the trades and provide greater mobility of skilled workers within Canada. With support from the provincial associations and provincial apprenticeship boards CNLA will be submitting an application to enter the Red Seal program through the Ontario Ministry. The review process can take between 24 and 30 months to complete. The application process meets the standards for having a ‘significant number of provinces independently designated for apprenticeship training’, that a ‘significant industry base exists’, and that is ‘commonality of skill sets across the country’. This step begins to accomplish two important goals of the HR committee: 1) improve worker mobility; and 2) raise awareness and reputation of the trade. The Red Seal Program was established to provide greater mobility across Canada for skilled workers. Through the program, apprentices who have completed their training and certified journeypersons, are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their Certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an Interprovincial Standards Examination. The program encourages standardization of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification programs. The Red Seal allows qualified tradespersons to practice the trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is designated without having to write further examinations. To date, there are 49 trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national basis.

2007 CNLA Membership Directory CNLA has recently sent out the 2007 CNLA Membership Directory across the country to members only. This a great industry tool for sourcing products/ equipment/services and your peers from across the country. The 2007 CNLA Membership Directory is broken down by provincial association and membership type. To order additional copies of the 2007 CNLA Membership Directory, contact: Joseph Salemi Member Services Manager , CNLA Toll Free: 1.888.446.3499 joseph@canadanursery.com

2007 CNLA Membership Directory Sponsored by:

CNLA 2007 Membership Directory www.canadaNURSERY.com

sponsored by:

April - May

2007

Certification Corner Congratulations to the following people who have successfully completed a certification program recently.

First Name Last Name Kris Christine Andreas Craig Carol Bruce Tim Megan Jean Edan Jay Derik Keith Nathan Robert Marcyn

Beck, CHT Boyd, CHT Burghoff, CHT Costello, CHT Gillis, CHT Hunter, CHT, CLD, CLP Kearney, CLP Kroes, CHT Labonte, CHT Lindenbach, CHT, CLP Murray, CLP Neville, CHT Plowman, CLP Reinhardt, CHT Toth, CHT Ward, CLP

Province AB AB AB AB AB BC ON SK AB AB ON ON AB AB AB BC

Niagara Parks’ School of Horticulture First Canadian College to Receive PLANET Accreditation Niagara Falls, ON -- The Ornamental Horticulture Diploma Program at The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) School of Horticulture has been granted Provisional Accreditation at the four-year Bachelor degree level. The School will meet the requirements for Full Accreditation within the next few weeks. The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Accreditation Review Team met with staff, students, alumni and industry associates to review the extensive application and further investigate the unique educational program. Their recommendations for accreditation were approved at the international meeting in Columbus, Ohio on November 3, 2006. PLANET is the official trade association for members involved in landscape construction, design/build contracting, landscape maintenance reclamation and erosion control, irrigation, lawn care, interiorscaping

and all aspects of installation, construction and maintenance of the living environment. Liz Klose, B.Sc. (Agr), Superintendent of the NPC School of Horticulture stated, “This accreditation is a major milestone in the history of the school. It will also increase the awareness for other horticulture colleges and universities across Canada. The additional certifications we have integrated into our curriculum enhances the educational experience of the students. Our diploma, which is already held in high regard, in combination with the industry certification designations, provide our graduates with greater employment opportunities.”

the CIT. For both certifications, through the generosity of two alumni, two bursaries financially contribute to the student exam fees. Students who are successful in achieving the certification designations prior to graduation have their student fee covered by the respective bursary. For more information on PLANET accreditation, see www.landcarenetwork. org. For more detailed information on the School of Horticulture visit their website at www.schoolofhorticulture.com. Deadline for applications is June 30, 2007 for enrolment March 2008.

Additionally, the School of Horticulture integrates two industry certifications, Certified Horticulture Technician (CHT) and the Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) into their curriculum. This winter, the first Irrigation Technology course was offered, and was aligned with the requirements of Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief Different is Good: Niche Marketing

sponsored by:

Implementing a Market Niche Strategy The following are common strategies in the development of a market niche. •

• • •

Focus on a single market segment and ensure that clients in that segment are uniquely suited to the services you best and most profitably provide. Emphasize a single service (e.g., high-end design/build residential landscaping). Limit the market to a single geographic area. Concentrate on the superiority of your landscape service.

One of the problems with a successful niche strategy can be that other firms will see your success and try to emulate your strategy. Thus, there is always the risk of being too successful and attracting significant new competition when maintaining a protected niche market.

In Michael E. Porter’s book, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, he describes the conditions under which a market niche can be eroded. These are — • The focus strategy is imitated; • The target market becomes structurally unattractive because of erosion of the structure or because demand simply disappears; • The target segment’s differences from other segments narrow (i.e., other companies become too closely associated with your niche market, so your uniqueness weakens); • New firms subsegment the industry; • Over time, the service provider forgets to apply the defined strategy consistently. With many companies in the Canadian industry in the small to medium sized business classification it is more important then ever to find your niche. For more information about developing marketing strategies specific to the landscape industry, please refer to the Marketing and Sales section of the Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) study series. For more information or to order visit www. clp.canadanursery.com or call 1-888-4463499.

Passport to Certification Update Almost all certified people have been sent their passport to certification over the last two months. This time consuming manual process has been an excellent exercise in reaching out to the certified population in Canada. Many positive comments regarding the new system have been flowing in. If you have not received your passport, please call Julia Ricottone at the CNLA office to confirm your mailing address and original certification date. Candidates returning for retest from this point forward will be issued a passport. If you have been issued a passport previously and are returning to complete your certification or to gain an additional certification please remember to bring your passport with you. It will be collected and returned to you with your results, with additional sections added pending successful completion.

PASSPORT TO

C E R T I F I C AT I O N

Julia Ricottone Certification Services, CNLA Tel: 1.888.446.3499 ext. 8615 Email: julia@canadanursery.com

GROWING LANDSCAPES ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

A niche marketing strategy simply refers to a firm selecting a market segment that is not adequately served by its competitors. Alternatively, a niche may be defined as a market that responds to your company’s product mix.

April - May 2007

For business leaders in the horticulture industry

Now professionals in Canada’s landscape industry can earn designation as a Certified Landscape Professional.

Distinguish yourself as a professional

clp.canadanursery.com

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

April CNLA News brief sponsored by: Stand Alone Professional Liability Policy for Landscape Designers (Errors and Omissions) By: Darren Rodrigues, National Programs Manager, HortProtect The HortProtect insurance program, offered through Sinclair-Cockburn and the CNLA, takes a different approach to this short-term competitive insurance market. We have demonstrated a long-term commitment to this line of business. Sinclair Cockburn through HortProtect has specialized in the landscape trades since 1979. As a broker, we work closely with our underwriter, Lombard Canada, and your trade association to offer the best rates and the broadest coverage terms possible. As the endorsed supplier of the CNLA, we are active in keeping up to date with the issues faced by all members. In response to concerns and queries regarding insurance for Landscape Designers, we are proud to introduce our newest insurance product: Professional Errors and Omissions Liability Insurance Beginning January 1, 2006, all designers in Ontario who prepare designs for projects that require a building permit will be required to pass examinations relating to the building code and be registered with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Designers and contractors must pass exams relevant to their area of practice. The MMAH has several exams covering different kinds of building classifications, including small buildings.

Designers that do not require building permits and mandatory insurance are still exposed to the same risks and held to the same standards. Regardless, where landscape design work is the only operation of the insured, upon referral to Lombard, we will offer $1,000,000 in stand alone professional liability coverage, provided: • • •

• • •

Insured must be a member of CNLA Insured must be a landscape designer only, this is not intended for architects and engineers doing design work Insured must not design any water management systems. Small ponds and fountains are acceptable, but we do not want to provide coverage for the design of large water systems Insured must not be involved in the design of large structural, or retaining walls/systems Completed application must be on file with Lombard Canada (include claims history) Named insured must purchase Commercial General Liability coverage with the Errors and Omissions

Errors and Omissions Liability Limit Premium Deductible $1,000,000 $750 member $1,000 $1500 non-member

In addition to the exam, designers must carry mandatory errors and omissions insurance. Under the new regulation, firms practicing design that require a commercial building permit will require E&O insurance that will satisfy $1 million per claim and $2 million in the aggregate if the firm's design billings are $100,000 annually; $500,000 per claim and $1 million in the Growing caliper shade trees and aggregate if the firm's design billings are evergreens. Custom tree basketing. more than $50,000 Please check our website: and less than www.stamnurseries.com $100,000 annually; or $250,000 per STAM NURSERIES INC. claim and $500,000 RR 7, Woodstock, ON N4S 7W2 in the aggregate if Ph. 519-462-1873 the firm's design Fax 519-462-2367 billings are less than $50,000 annually. E-mail: stamnurseries@cwisp.ca

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TREE NURSERY

- May

2007

Commercial General Liability Limit Premium Deductible $1,000,000 $250 $1,000 $2,000,000 $300 $1,000 $3,000,000 $350 $1,000 $4,000,000 $400 $1,000 $5,000,000 $450 $1,000 The purchase of CGL coverage will also include: • • • •

$1,000,000 Employee Benefits Liability, $1000 deductible $500,000 Tenants Legal Liability, $1000 deductible Non Owned Automobile Liability Coverage (follows each occurrence limit) Physical Damage to Non Owned Automobile $50,000 Limit, $1000 deductible

Commercial Property and Crime coverage is available per the regular HortProtect coverage's and premiums. Whether or not your design or contracting practice involves extensive building or structure design requiring permits, you should become familiar with the exposures faced and ministry regulations. Don't let a lack of information keep you from ensuring you have the coverage you need. If you have questions, give us a call and we can discuss your options and give you the information you need to make the right choice. The HortProtect program through SinclairCockburn prides itself on being a proven, stable market of choice for landscape contractors - in both good times and bad. Our track record of client service, knowledgeable advice, stability and professional claims handling speaks for itself. We strongly support your association as a Preferred Supplier and as clients seek to secure or renew coverage in this changing insurance landscape, we hope you will speak with us first for all your insurance needs. HORTPROTECT- www.hortprotect.com Property & Casualty Insurance Tel: 1-800-328-7887 Health & Life Insurance Tel: 1-800-459-8990

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief Japanese Beetle Certification Program

sponsored by:

Both the CNLA and Landscape Ontario have received a number of queries from nursery suppliers as well as customers related to the implementation of the JB certification program. Many Ontario-based nurseries formerly located outside of those counties deemed to be infested with JB have opted to not implement certification programs in 2006, only to realize that this status is sometimes being demanded by re-wholesale customers when product is destined for out-of-province export.

CFIA have agreed to work cooperatively with nurseries on a case-by-case basis and affected nurseries should contact their local CFIA office. Customers, especially those located in the Atlantic Provinces, are encouraged to contact their Ontario- and Quebec-based suppliers prior to arranging incoming shipments to ensure their suppliers have the appropriate Movement Certificates from CFIA.

April - May 2007

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PMRA Grants Temporary Registration for Subdue Maxx ® and Aliette ® for P. ramorum Management In lieu of granting emergency registrations year after year, the PMRA has granted industry temporary national registrations for both Subdue Maxx ® and Aliette ®.

the registrations are now valid until December 31, 2008. It is hoped that the application for full registrations will be successful prior to that date.

This measure recognizes that the CNLA is endeavoring to complete the minor use submission data requests. In the meanwhile,

CNLA IPM and minor use coordinator, Peter Isaacson acknowledges the cooperation of Chi Tran and Imme Gerke at PMRA who sped up this process immensely to ensure that Ontario

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

growers, whose emergency registration expired at the end of March, were not left without management options for the control of P. ramorum.

CNLA News brief

sponsored by:

April - May

2007

Garden Centres Canada Volunteer Needed This is an invitation to all members who are willing to dedicate their time, enthusiasm and energy as a Chairperson to Garden Centers Canada Committee. The Garden Centers Canada Committee is a standing committee reporting to the CNLA Board of Directors. The Garden Centers Canada Committee is looking for an individual to take a leadership role to take the committee to the next level: • to grow prosperity for garden centers across Canada through various projects and initiatives carried out by the Garden Centres Canada Committee • to determine the needs of Garden Centre members and developing plans and policies to address those needs • to create programs enhancing consumer awareness of gardening • to maintain liaison with the International Garden Centre Association and report on its activities. Your years of professional experience are valuable, you know the players, have existing networks and you know how to lead. You are able to evaluate existing Garden Centre member programs, develop and implement new initiatives as well as identify promotional opportunities on a national scope and implement them nationally. As a Chairperson you will prepare an annual operating budget, prepare an annual report to the Board of Directors, organize an annual evaluation of the committee’s work within the Terms of Reference and recommend changes and amendments for future activities to the Board of Directors. You will organize committee meetings on a regular basis throughout the year via conference calls, communicate with committee members on an individual basis and report back to the CNLA Board of Directors on new initiatives from around the world.

2007

August 23-25 Portland, Oregon

If you are a dynamic individual willing to share your professional experience and successfully lead Garden Centers across Canada, please submit your resume to: Victor Santacruz, CAE Executive Director, CNLA Email: victor@canadanursery.com Fax: 1.866.833.8603 Thank you for all submissions.

Produced by

• Visit more than 850 exhibitors, including 450+ growers • Tour Oregon nurseries • Enjoy Oregon’s scenery and beautiful summer weather

www.farwestshow. com

• Attend educational seminars for garden centers, growers and landscape professionals

For exhibitor or visitor information call

• See the latest plant offerings at the New Varieties Showcase

800.342.6401

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief sponsored 2006 Garden Centres Canada Survey Results Now Available

by:

April - May 2007

The Garden Centres Canada fiscal survey results are complete, with some interesting trends emerging over the last 3 surveyed years. Highlights include: • 70% of garden centres are still seasonally based • Small to medium sized, independent businesses are the base of CNLA Garden Centres Canada with many thriving • 87% of garden centres offer services beyond retail • Average dollar sale per customer continues to rise, 35% since 2004. • Electronic payment methods remain steady at about 75% of all sales • Labour expenses as a percentage of sales remain stable at 23%, although labour rates are rising by an average of 10%. For a more detailed report please visit www.canadanursery.com and visit the Garden Centres Canada section.

october 7 - 13

Business Risk Management Project Requires Industry Input Rita Weerdenburg (CNLA) and Jamie Aalbers (Flowers Canada Growers) continue to work with the consulting team at Mercer Oliver Wyman in the development of business risk management options for the nursery and floriculture industries respectively. Following the completion of a business risk analysis (the full report is now available on line at www.canadanursery.com) certain key risks, including natural hazard and quarantine actions, were clearly identified.

The next steps will be to assess the feasibility of a production insurance program to cover some of these risks. To facilitate this process, a two part survey has been developed. Part I, currently underway, will help Mercer Oliver Wyman to better understand the industry’s expectations of a production insurance program.

industry with the loss data they will require to develop risk management options of interest to the ornamental sector. As this project will not be able to proceed without this important participation from growers, your full cooperation is requested. All data will be collected by Mercer Oliver Wyman and will be held in the strictest confidence.

Part II, to be completed in the summer of 2007 will require more in-depth industry participation in order to provide the insurance

The Private Sector Risk Management Partnership program is fully funded through Agriculture and AgriFood Canada.

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief Roses Without Handicap By: Harry McGee, National Roses Canada

How many times have you heard someone tell you “Oh I can’t grow roses.” Or “Roses don’t like me – I haven’t got a green thumb.” To someone that grows 400 roses, it’s a puzzlement. But when you look into it, you will almost always find that the roses they tried once were bargain purchases mass-produced in the southern States. The majority of U.S. propagators graft roses onto a vigorous rootstock called ‘Dr. Huey’. For milder climates, that is perfectly OK. But it is not appropriate in Canada’s colder winters. Americans know this but make it clear that they are not about to upset their methods just for the small percentage of product that crosses north into Canada – often discounted. Fair enough, but do they put a prominent sign on the rose container saying “this rose is grafted onto ‘Dr. Huey’ understock and cannot be guaranteed to live more than two or three winters in Canada”? Or do the Canadian merchants retailing these roses put a big label on the pot? Uh-uh. Someone will always point out that it doesn’t matter on the balmy west coast of B.C. National-Roses-Canada is a federation of independent rose societies across Canada. It is incorporated for the purpose of improving the experience of growing roses for Canadians. One

sponsored by: of the objectives its board decided to tackle is this business of people getting stung with roses on improper rootstock. It has written articles to the subscribers of its bimonthly journal, Roses-Canada. But that is like preaching to the converted. We decided to prepare a threepanel pamphlet to be a hand-out at gardening shows and nurseries. Nurseries can download the Adobe text from the internet, print up the number of copies desired, put their John Henry in the blank square, and educate their rose customers. The pamphlet is called Getting To The Root Of The Matter. It was written by Barbara Rayment who operates a nursery herself in Prince George, B.C., and is a director on the board of the federation. She divides roses into two classifications only: those that are hardy and those that are not. The National-RosesCanada position is ‘buy Canadian-propagated roses from a reliable Canadian dealer’. Why? Because Canadian propagators all graft roses on Rosa multiflora understock. That wild rose used as a host root will endure Canadian winters and with proper care will last ten or twenty years. I have known cases where the rose endured for forty years.

April - May

2007

roots. (3) Roses hate wet feet – but they need lots of rain or watering; love good drainage. (4) Roses hate wind; need a little shelter from drying winter winds or the wind that scours around the house. But they like good air circulation to dry off the dew in the morning. (5) Roses don’t much like being stuck against a concrete foundation; plant them out a bit from the leaching cement, the baking wall, and the dry soil under the eaves. That’s it. There is the good, better, and best to anything – like planting a rose. Roses are like trees – plant in early spring or late fall. Roses are easy to grow, and give you more months of bloom per square foot of garden than any other plant. They are in league with lilacs and violets when it comes to perfume. They are tiny, tall and everything between – a very versatile flowering perennial that is well worth investing in. But please, when buying, choose a rose without a handicap. Make certain it is either on its own root, or it is on a Rosa multiflora understock. A Canadiangrown rose will be.

Proper care? Yes, roses need proper care like anything else that lives. They are easy to grow and very forgiving if you avoid the few things they hate. I’ll tell you what they are. (1) They hate shade; need at least six hour of sun a day. (2) Roses hate competition for root space; plant well away from trees or other aggressive

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief sponsored by: Volunteer Profile: Peter Levelton, East Richmond Nurseries Inc.

April - May 2007

By: Rebecca Wetselaar, CNLA Staff

As a dedicated volunteer with both the CNLA and BCLNA and a successful business owner, Peter Levelton is one example of the many great industry individuals that exist across Canada. Peter is the co-owner of East Richmond Nurseries in Richmond, BC, the BCLNA Representative and Environment Chair with the CNLA, and the Past President with BCLNA. Peter first got into the horticulture industry as his family owns many acres of land. They wanted a productive use for the land and decided that running a nursery seemed like an attractive field to get into. Peter’s wife had an interest in gardening and his son had a passion for the environment, so when the business first began Peter’s wife and son operated the nursery together with Peter helping out on the side with marketing. At the beginning stages of the business, Peter owned a sales agency that was involved in marketing packaged goods to the food and drug industry in Canada. As the nursery prospered and with Peter’s passion for marketing, in 2000 Peter sold his marketing agency and got involved in the family business full-time.

went in the direction of potted plants, and currently they have 20,000 square feet of cover houses and are adding another 20,000 this year. While intensif ying their production has been very expensive and takes a lot of concentration to keep it viable, it has been a great step for their business. As a volunteer with the CNLA, Peter’s role as the Environment Chair is fairly new. He finds that it is challenging to bring all of the groups in Canada together to have one focus, as there are so many different things that are happening in the environment across the country. Peter is looking forward to the challenge of seeing where the CNLA will fit into the whole process. Peter’s involvement as a volunteer with BCLNA started out as a Director, and then he moved to 2nd VP, 1st VP, President, and is now their Past President. Peter has found that his involvement with the industry and the day-today activities with the government have been

challenging but very rewarding when things come together. His biggest accomplishment with BCLNA as President was purchasing a freestanding building to house the association. This has given BCLNA a home that satisfies their existing requirements and allows for expansion in the future. As a member of BCLNA with East Richmond Nurseries Peter has found that the biggest advantage has been being able to keep in touch with his peers and regulatory officials so that they are in the loop with what is happening with current rules, regulations and market conditions. Also, the discount programs that he receives with his membership provide great value, which include his use of the Primus Business Services program, the CNLA HortProtect Insurance and Employee Benefits program, and the General Motors program. Peter feels fortunate to be involved in an industry that has such great people from coast to coast and believes that the most exciting part of the industry are the people that are involved. He has never worked in an industry before that has so much to offer and that has people who are so willing to share information with one another. The CNLA thanks Peter for his participation as an active volunteer and wishes him a successful season.

East Richmond Nurseries is a wholesale landscape supply nursery that serves the Pacific West Coast. They have grown from three employees in the beginning to ten full time five to ten part time employees and are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. East Richmond Nurseries sells a range of plant material for landscapers and are growers of various high quality commercial landscape trees, shrubs and ground cover. The major turning point for Peter’s business was in the mid-1990’s when they started realizing that their field production system was not efficient enough. East Richmond Nurseries did not have enough acreage to allow for the high efficiencies required to remain competitive in field grown stock, so they started adding greenhouses and propagation houses. They Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CNLA News brief

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April - May

2007

Mark Your Calendar! ANLA Retail Roadshow June 20-24 Seattle, WA www.anla.org CHT Exam July 13-14 Langley, BC www.horteducationbc.com OFA Short Course July 14-17 Columbus, OH www.ofa.org Perennial Plant Symposium August 5-12 Columbus, OH www.perennialplant.org CGTA Fall Gift Show August 12-15 Toronto, ON www.cgta.org Farwest Show August 23-25 Portland, OR www.farwestshow.com CanWest Hort Show September 12-13 Vancouver, BC www.canwesthortshow.com GLEE September 16-18 Birmingham, England www.gleebirmingham.com Look to the Future: Trends, Challenges, & Opportunities September 16-19 Hyatt Regency Montreal, Montreal, QC www.ipps.org/easternNA

Communities in Bloom Awards September 19-22 Moncton, NB www.communitiesinbloom.ca Canadian Greenhouse Conference October 3-4 Mississauga, ON www.canadiangreenhouse conference.com IGCA Congress 2007 October 7-13 Capetown & Johannesburg, South Africa www.igca2007.com Garden Expo October 16-17 Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON www.gardenexpo.ca Green Industry Show & Conference November 15-16 Edmonton, AB www.landscape-alberta.com International Irrigation Show December 9-11 San Diego, CA www.irrigation.org Congress 2008 January 8-10, 2008 Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON www.locongress.com 2008 Management Clinic January 30 - February 02, 2008 Louisville, KY www.managementclinic.org

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Canadian Nursery Landscape Association