CNLA Newsbrief - June/July 2007 by Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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CNLA News brief

CNLA Newsbrief Growing Associations, Working For You!

The CFIA has announced new regulatory controls to prevent the spread of light brown apple moth (LBAM) to Canada from California and all other areas where LBAM is known to occur. LBAM is a serious invasive pest with a wide host range of over 250 plant species, including berries, fruits, vegetables ornamental nursery and greenhouse plants and numerous forest species. It has been found in nine counties in California within the San Francisco Bay area. It is estimated that Canada imports $1 billion annually of LBAM host materials from the state of California. CFIA’s regulatory movement restrictions will impact nursery stock (plants for planting), greenhouse ﬂoriculture, greenhouse vegetable crops and fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption. More details are available on the CFIA and California Department of Agriculture websites; links are posted on the CNLA website www.canadanursey.com.

Directors:

Harold Deenen, CLP - ON Jim Wotherspoon - AB Bill Hardy, CLP - BC Bruce Hunter, CHT, CLD, CLP - BC Vic Krahn, CHT - SK Gerald Boot, CLP - ON Doug Conrad, CHT, CLP - 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.

P. ramorum compensation regulations approved The regulation supporting compensation payments to nursery producers and retailers impacted by the quarantine pest Phytophthora ramorum has received final approval and was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on June 27, 2007. Some modifications were made to the originally proposed regulations, primarily to the maximum allowable amounts for site clean-up and remediation. Some administrative details related to the compensation for affected landscape sites have also been further clarified. These new regulations will go into force immediately. They are retroactive to 2003 and make allowance for future quarantine action to the end of 2008. The application deadline is December 31, 2010. See the CNLA website for further details (www.canadanursery.com)

Landscape New Brunswick to Host Next National Awards of Landscape Excellence

Growers Manager

Lydia Couture-Comtois Executive Assistant

lydia@canadanursery.com

Julia Ricottone

Certification Services

julia@canadanursery.com

Rebecca Wetselaar

Atlantic Region Co-ordinator

Special thanks to Caterpillar and John Deere Ltd for supporting the National Awards of Landscape Excellence.

peter@canadanursery.com

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The fifth annual National Awards of Landscape Excellence and the winter CNLA Board of Directors meeting is coming to St. John, NB February 2008. Representatives from the green industry will be coming from all over the country to attend the National Awards of Landscape Excellence and participate in the CNLA Board of Directors meeting. At the same time, Communities in Bloom will be hosting their Winter Lights Festival and Conference hosting delegates from all over the country. Both CNLA and CiB are working closely to explore networking opportunities for the two groups.

rebecca@canadanursery.com

Minor Use/IPM Co-ordinator

Look Inside:

Vol. 17 Issue 5

CFIA introduces new regulations to control the spread of light brown apple moth (LBAM) from California

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

Executive Director

June - July 2007

Nursery Certification in Canada Communities in Bloom invites you to the National Symposium on Parks & Grounds and National Awards

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Atlantic Provincial Update CNLA Hosts Representatives from John Deere AAFC Cost of Production Payments available Upcoming Certification Test Dates A Look at the Certification Process

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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June - July 2007

sponsored by:

Excellence

NATIONAL AWARDS LANDSCAPE

Managers as Effective Leaders The Manitoba Green Show Summer First Aid Tips Certification: Amazing Trailblazing! Temporary registration for Subdue Maxx

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

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CNLA News brief Save, save, save…! Did you know that as a member of The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, you are entitled to fuel discounts? Fill up your tank and save 2.4 cents per litre off the posted retail price on gasoline and diesel at all Petro-Canada retail locations. You can save 2.9 cents per litre off the posted retail price on gasoline and diesel at all ESSO locations throughout Canada. If you gas up at any Irving retail location you can save up to 2.5 cents per litre off the posted retail price. It only makes sense to save with CNLA’s fuel discounts! Did you know that for a limited period of time, John Deere Ltd. is offering an additional incentives to purchase equipment? If you are interested in further savings on John Deere’s equipment, please do not hesitate to call the CNLA’s office at 1-888-446-3499 and ask for additional discounts or contact your local dealer.

Temporary registration for Subdue Maxx CNLA has been successful in securing a temporary registration for Subdue Maxx (PCP #27055) in managing Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora spp. including Phytophthora ramorum) in greenhouse, container and field-grown ornamental plants in nurseries and landscapes plantings and conifers grown in nurseries and plantations until December 31, 2008. According to CNLA’s IPM cooridinator Peter Isaacson, “we will continue to gather sufficient data to satisfy the PMRA’s requirements for full registration. In the meantime, the product is available for use in nurseries to manage this important disease and satisfy SOD certification requirements”.

sponsored by:

June - July

Nursery Certification in Canada The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association continues to work towards the development and implementation of a domestic phytosanitary certification program for Canada’s wholesale nursery sector. With financial assistance from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ACAAF funding program, and technical industry advice from the Canadian Nursery Certification Institute (CNCI) a systems-based certification program (the Domestic Phytosanitary Certification Program or DPCP) has been developed. As it is one of the objectives of the DPCP that certified nurseries will be able to ship product to those nurseries certified under the CFIA’s export certification program (Canadian Nursery Certification Program or CNCP), the CFIA have also participated in the development of this program. Part of the ACAAF project also allows for the development and delivery of industry training programs, which are currently also under development. It is the intent of the project managers that with assistance from provincial associations that these training programs will be available for delivery to the nursery sector in the fall and winter of 2007/08. A series of industry information meetings, to be delivered across the country this coming fall is being planned. Further information will be available from the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association or your provincial association. For more information, contact Rita Weerdenburg: ritaw@canadanursery.com CNLA Newsbrief

EATS BIG LAWNS FOR BREAKFAST. AND LUNCH. AND DINNER. The John Deere 997 Diesel Z-Trak™Mower was built for one purpose: to gobble up big stretches of lawn, fast. Its high-torque, 31-hp diesel engine drives a deep-dish 7-Iron™ deck that’s up to 6 feet wide.* So you can hurry even in the rough stuff, 10 hours to a tankful. Got an appetite for big profits? Get a free Z-Trak demo. Call your John Deere dealer, or visit www.MowPro.com

NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE™

A copy of the labels, (available in English and French) which outlines the approved use patterns are available on the CNLA website www.canadanursey.com. For further information, contact Peter Isaacson, 604-599-3361

797

727A

757

657A

*Base 997 model includes 60” side discharge deck. 60” rear discharge and 72” side discharge decks are optional. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trademarks of Deere & Company.

2007

Vertis QCA 1300 19th Street, Suite 200 East Moline, IL 61244

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Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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CNLA News brief

sponsored by:

Communities in Bloom invites you to the National Symposium on Parks & Grounds and National Awards WHERE: Metro Moncton, New Brunswick WHEN: September 19 – 22, 2007 WHAT: National Symposium on Parks & Grounds/National Awards Ceremonies WHY: YOU SIMPLY MUST BE THERE! Healthy living, healthy lifestyle, healthy exercise, play, sports, and recreation are some of the key words in the latest government campaign that emphasizes community centres’ programs, parks, playgrounds, and green spaces. Communities in Bloom invites all industry members to The National Symposium on Parks & Grounds promoting “Parks and Green Spaces for Healthy Living” and showcases people within the industry recognizing their outstanding performance and work. With urgent issues on global warming/climate change, environmental concerns and enhancement of green spaces, the National Symposium is a great opportunity to learn about the social, economic and environmental benefits of Green Infrastructure and how it can be applied within your own community. The issues addressed by the keynote speakers will include direct benefits of green tourism (presented by Alexander Reford), protection of urban forests (David J. Nowak, Ph.D.), principles of active living (Marie-Claire Pierce), and of course the value of parks and green spaces. With the notion that parks are places to relax and enjoy the natural environment away from the noise and aggression of city life, you are also invited to a tree planting ceremony celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the National Symposium on Parks & Grounds. Accompanied by great food, a gala event, social networking activities and a National Awards Ceremony, this will be a great event and will be more successful with your participation in the activities and entertainment planned for this special occasion.

ATTN: CNLA Members - HR Help is Here... With labour shortages across the green industry, CNLA is working closely with Marva Barrow of The Barrow Group Immigration & Recruitment. Marva is offering her services to provide members with the supply of foreign workers, especially needed in this busy summer season. For further information on the conditions and for preferred pricing, please contact Marva Barrow at: The Barrow Group Immigration & Recruitment 3 Director Court, Suite 104 Vaughan, ON L4L 4S5 P: 416-850-8318 F: 416-907-0967 e-mail: info@barrowintl.com web: www.barrowintl.com

June - July 2007

Atlantic Provincial Update With the CNLA’s creation of the Atlantic Region Coordinator position and with the continued efforts and strong leadership from Landscape Nova Scotia, Landscape New Brunswick, and Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador, exciting things are happening for the Atlantic Provincial associations. We are growing! Since October of 2006, over 50 members have joined these provincial associations. This is a significant increase and we welcome all new members and encourage them to take part in our regular meetings, educational events, certification programs, and to take advantage of the business management and equipment and asset savings that are offered to them through their membership. Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador creates an Awards of Excellence Program Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador has created a provincial Awards of Excellence program and invites all members to participate through submissions, sponsorship and attendance to the event. There are two categories to enter, Residential Landscape and Non-Residential Landscape. Recipients will be honored and their awards will be presented at the Awards of Excellence Event during the LNL Landscape and Garden Show on April 26-27, 2008. Winners will move on to participate in the National Awards of Excellence Program. This is a great opportunity to potentially receive both provincial and national recognition for your talents. Landscape Nova Scotia meets to discuss their Strategic Plan The Landscape Nova Scotia Board will be revisiting their Strategic Plan on July 23rd and will be setting some goals to further grow LNS and bring benefit to industry and the membership. John Deere dealer back in New Brunswick John Deere has recently opened a new dealership in New Brunswick. “Green Diamond Equipment Ltd.” in Four Corners, NB is now open and can provide members with service for their existing John Deere equipment as well as offers discounts to members off the purchase of new John Deere equipment. Contact them at 1-506-432-6470 for more information. The NBCC needs your help The New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) in Woodstock has asked to pass on an urgent message about the continued viability of the landscape horticulture program. With enrollment on a steady decline and the previous decision to cancel the landscape design program the landscape horticulture program is at risk. Industry has supported the program well in the past by scooping up graduates very quickly. The issue is that there are not enough people going into the program. In an effort to help the program survive, industry has been asked to help encourage enrollment for this fall. If you know somebody who has applied or is thinking of enrolling for winter semester please help them to do so. Industry interest to part-time and distance education initiatives could also help save the program. For more information please contact Bob Stokes at NBCC (1-506-325-4923 or Bob.Stokes@gnb.ca) ...continued on pg. 6.

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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CNLA News brief

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June - July

2007

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

First Name Angela Heather John Derreck Karen Andre Paul Janet Jamie Jeff Malcolm R. Lynn Barbara Steven

Last Name

Berkau, CHT Corkum, CHT Coutts, CLD Delong, CHT Gallant, CLP Gaudet, CHT Healy, CHT Hendersons, CHT Larabee, CHT Morton, CHT O’Brien, CHT Ramdal, CHT Ryan, CHT Schell, CHT

Province

ON NS AB NB ON NB Switzerland ON ON NS NS ON ON ON

Certification: Amazing Trailblazing! By: Joel Beatson, CLP

The CNLA certification committee met on June 21st in Niagara Falls, Ontario in combination with the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET) Summer Leadership meetings. Representatives from a variety of sectors or specialty groups across the country met for a solid day to review the current certification initiative progress and to plan for the future growth of the programs. There were also several joint meetings with our American counterparts with a focus on international cooperation and communication. It is clear that Canada continues to fill a leadership role in industry certification, and the volunteers and staff involved should be recognized for the amazing work that is being accomplished north of the 49th. Strategic Highlights include: ü Continued focus on educational integration of the CHT program. Educational institutions are now applying for status to integrate testing into their individual curriculums. The program will be expanded to include secondary school

and other forms of education facilities to give the widest possible access to candidates and provide industry with qualified employees. ü Expansion of education and training programs run by industry, including the development of a CLP related seminar series with government grants received by Landscape Ontario. ü Moving forward with marketing aimed at specifiers, including landscape architects, property managers, spec writers, and more. The goal is to help bring certification to a stage where it is a requirement to bid on jobs or that preference is given to companies with certified employees or equivalent. ü Continued development of the CLD program including training materials, a new written exam and a revised portfolio submission process. ü Support of the application for a grant to translate existing and near future certification materials into French. ü Canada will be hosting and facilitating (by yours truly) an occupational analysis for interior landscaping in efforts to update the exams and direct training material development. ü Continued work on addressing the

volunteer load required for offering certification exams. Expansion of the CLP program to other commodity groups based on industry interest. The two priorities include Garden Centre and Growers with a new exam and manual required for the technical portion of the program only. ü The Canadian renewal rate for certification is significantly higher then the Americans, which demonstrates two things, 1) that more employees are staying in the industry and 2) that certification is considered more valuable in Canada. ü Exploration of the concept of a company level certification. Many more focus groups will be held across Canada in the coming months. Once again the certification committee had a very productive set of meetings with a strong focus on looking to the future and adapting programs to the ever-changing needs of industry. My thanks goes out to all the volunteers on the committee for their time at such a busy period in the year and for the passion they all bring to certification and the belief that it is a core service to our industry.

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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Each company is made up of individuals who respond differently to their managers. A successful business requires a leader who can interact with all types of people in all situations. Good leadership promotes effective communication and efficient use of time. There are many types of leaders, all of whom are able to inﬂuence and motivate those around them. The following is one leadership theory that demonstrates the effectiveness of leadership behaviors in varying work situations. Situational Leadership is a group of theories that integrate theories of leadership style with consideration of situational (environmental) factors that impact employees. Leaders develop their personal style over a period of time from their experience, education, and training. As well, leaders have integrated what they witnessed as successful leadership into their personal approaches. A leader’s personal value system, confidence in subordinates, inclinations, and feelings of personal security aid in creating his/her style. The style of a leader places the emphasis on either the task or the relationship orientation. Hersey and Blanchard coined the phrase “situational leadership.” This approach to leadership recognizes that a leader must address the following questions: ü What is his/her predominant style? ü What is the level of the worker’s maturity? ü What are the employment conditions that will impact on the application of leadership? ü How closely do the leader’s style and the follower’s maturity match? ü Is this style effective for you? The leader must become a diagnostician. Using the spirit of enquiry, the leader examines the demands of the situation and the worker and chooses the appropriate leadership style. Situational leadership theory, as described by Hersey and Blanchard, includes four major roles for managers: ü Telling ü Selling ü Participating ü Delegating

by:

Telling is used when employees are unable, unwilling, or so insecure that that they will not take responsibility for the task. In this circumstance, the manager must give very specific instructions on what to do and how to do it. This would typically be the case with new employees who do not have any training or experience in landscaping or horticulture. Selling is used when employees feel confident and willing to take on responsibility but still do not have all the skills needed. Using this style, you give specific directions but are supportive of the employees’ desire to improve and take on responsibility. Participating is used when employees have the skills to take on responsibility but are still unwilling or not personally confident in their abilities. Since they have the skills to perform the job, but are unsure of themselves, a participative management style with good two-way communication and collaboration is most effective. This also helps them gain confidence and take on more responsibility. Delegating is used when employees have the appropriate skills, are confident in their abilities, and are willing to take on responsibility. If they are at this point in their development, delegating responsibility and accountability is the most appropriate way to manage them. A productive manager is one that can adapt to different situations, and different people. One management style might not work in all situations; therefore adjusting your style will produce better results from employees, and allow them to be confident in taking on more responsibility. The body of this article is taken from the Leadership and Corporate Citizenship Module of the Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) training manual series. For more information on this or other topics, please visit www.clp.canadanursery.com or call the CNLA oﬃce at 1-888-446-3499.

June - July 2007

growing landscapes oNe busiNess at a time

CNLA News brief sponsored Managers as Effective Leaders

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

CLP third page colour ad.indd 3

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CNLA News brief sponsored by: CNLA Hosts Representatives from John Deere By: Joseph Salemi, CNLA Staff

A group from John Deere Ltd. Headquarters in Cary, NC visited with representatives from CNLA, Landscape Ontario, and Project EverGreen Canada on June 19 and 20 to get a better perspective on the green industry in Canada through the eyes of members, the associations, and an environmental group. The visit started with a meet and greet at the Landscape Ontario/CNLA facility where the representatives from John Deere were able to meet with members, the President and Executive Director of the Ontario Parks Association, CNLA and LO staff, and a representative from Project EverGreen Canada. A great discussion ensued surrounding various trends, legislation, best practices, and a general overview of the green industry.

On day two, the tour began at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute (a branch/research arm for the University of Guelph, which acts as the liaison between the University and industry) to meet with the Director, Robert Witherspoon to get an understanding of the practices within the turf industry. Mr. Witherspoon provided a tour of the grounds and facility, which proved very helpful for the group.

The John Deere group were taken on a brief tour of Southern Ontario so that they could get a glimpse of some of the municipal green space practices. The first stop was at the Toronto Botanical Garden and a tour given by Executive Director, Margo Welch and Director of Horticulture, Cathy Cox. From there, the group drove along the Don Valley Parkway (one the main arteries into the city) and down along the Gardiner Expressway and the QEW stopping at Glen Abbey Golf and Country Club for a lunch meeting with the Executive Director, Terry Yomata, of the Royal Canadian Golf Association and Vince Kishimoto of the National Golf Course Owner’s Association.

A brief stop at the John Deere branch office in Grimsby, ON allowed for the American representatives to meet some of their Canadian counterparts. The group continued along the QEW to Niagara Falls, ON to join the delegates from the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for a reception at the Rainforest Café.

From the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, the group joined the Landscape Ontario Board of Directors for lunch and a brief meeting to get an overview from Ontario’s green industry on trends and best practices. This also provided an opportunity for LO’s Board to ask questions to the John Deere group.

John Deere Ltd is a large supporter of Project EverGreen in the US, and they are exploring the possibility of becoming involved in Canada as well. CNLA and Landscape Ontario thank all of those who were very hospitable to our guests from the US.

June - July

Atlantic Provincial Update - continued... Upcoming Provincial Events Join us in the upcoming months at a number of different meetings and events that are taking place in the Atlantic Provinces: ü Grant Mosher Memorial Golf Tournament in Dartmouth, NS: August 10, 2007 ü Summer Nursery Tour in Fredericton, NB: August 21, 2007 ü CNLA Summer Board Meeting in St. John’s, NL: August 22-25, 2007 which includes a member social event on Thursday August 23rd , 2007 ü Landscape Nova Scotia’s Landscape Rodeo at Tour Tech in Burnside, NS: Saturday, September 29, 2007 ü Landscape Nova Scotia’s AGM and Awards of Excellence Gala: November 29, 2007 ü Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador’s Landscape and Garden Show: April 26-27, 2008 For more information on any of the upcoming events or if you have questions about your membership please contact Rebecca, Atlantic Region Coordinator at 1-866383-4711 or rebecca@canadanursery.com

GM Discounts just got better... Are you thinking of buying a pickup truck?

ale s e l o Wh

TREE NURSERY

With CNLA memberhsip, all members are entitled to GM discount program. The discount amounts just got higher and you can save up to $6,500 on GM vehicles. Please call 1-888-446-3499 for more information.

Growing caliper shade trees and evergreens. Custom tree basketing. Please check our website: www.stamnurseries.com STAM NURSERIES INC. RR 7, Woodstock, ON N4S 7W2 Ph. 519-462-1873 Fax 519-462-2367 E-mail: stamnurseries@cwisp.ca

2007

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

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CNLA News brief AAFC Cost of Production Payments available to producers

sponsored by:

The new federal Cost of Production Payment will provide $400 million in assistance to Canadian producers to help offset increases in production costs. Those producers that have provided their 2004 farm income and expense information for the Canadian Income Stabilization (CAIS) program will automatically receive their payments; a further application is not necessary. Those companies that did not participate in 2004 CAIS, or than began their farming operations in 2005 or 2006 can apply to receive a payment. Application deadline is September 1, 2007. Applications can be downloaded from the AAFC website: www.agr.gc.ca, or by calling 1-866-3678506.

June - July 2007

Move rocks with a company that moves mountains.

Green is here to stay… The facts are that maintaining and enhancing green spaces has economic benefits. Nicely done landscaping can increase home value by as much as 11.3 percent, as well as provides energy savings. Trees can reduce attic temperatures by as much as 40 degrees resulting in lower energy costs, and of course proper landscape maintenance can protect water supplies by reducing runoff and preventing leaching into the soil. The aspect of being green, feeling green, and promoting green occupies all of us. The colour green is described as calming, soothing, and comforting and is promoted these days by interior designers, politicians, movie stars, homebuilders, car companies, corporations and many entities of the modern world. Do you feel ‘green’?

Whether you’re moving flagstone or trees, you can do it all with the experience of Caterpillar. With Multi Terrain Loaders featuring the lightest footprints in the industry and a full line of work tools, Cat compact equipment handles all the specific needs of landscapers. Be part of the legacy. See your Cat Dealer or visit cat. com/legacy to learn more. ®

13278 ROCKS Sngl.indd 1 taste better when we are enjoying in the fresh air.

We are proud to be part of the industry that is full of generous people, who are also sympathetic, compassionate, understanding, harmonious, adaptable, and practical – as described by the association with the colour green .

We all sleep better after having a dose of fresh air, the kids learn better, they play better and of course having a green space just makes it better.

We are all in the business of promoting green, as we all know that the food and drinks tend to Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

6/30/05 11:59:53 AM

Green the Colour (2004-2006). Retrived July 9, 2007 from http://www.colourtherapyhealing.com/ colour/green.php

William H. Sanders III, Ken Dandler, Alison Kinn Bennett (2006). Why Build Green? Retrived July 9, 2007 from http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/ whybuild.htm

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CNLA News brief

sponsored by:

June - July

2007

CNLA, creating value through active participation in industry meetings. CNLA’s Executive Director - Victor Santacruz has been actively involved with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) that is working to improve the human resources issues within the agricultural industry. There are many challenges facing the agricultural industry especially in regards to human resources. Some of the challenges include the difficulty to attract and retain workers and dealing with increased competition for specialized labour. With Victor, who has an active board position on the Council, CNLA is able to participate in numerous projects funded by the federal government. One of the projects evolves around the issue of Labour Market Information Research on Recruitment and Retention, which once completed will benefit the whole industry since it will provide some solutions for the main human resource challenges facing the agriculture sector. Another major project is the Framework for Curriculum Development in the Agriculture Sector, which set the framework of having an inventory database providing details on agricultural industry starting with the information collected from colleges and universities identifying where learning programs are available and what best practice methods improvements are needed within the agricultural HR issues across Canada. The first stage is forming a committee based on the various competencies required to properly evaluate and direct the project. Their first task will be to issue a request for proposals to find a developer to perform a literature review, gap analysis and curriculum development amongst other things. Direct involvement of CNLA with this particular project ties to the certification opportunities, links human resources aspects and the apprenticeship in the Red Seal program. On June 20, 2007, Victor Santacruz attended another industry gathering in Quebec, where he represented the CNLA and its members. The meeting with the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs (CADAP) set the groundwork for the funded projects and reviewed new potential programs. This industry event was also attended by the Executive Director of CAHRC – Danielle Vinette, Mike Murray (president of CNLA) and Joel Beatson (Professional & Business Development Manager at CNLA). The meeting with CADAP allowed a forum to discuss the human resources issues within the industry and request educational institution participation and integration of the certification programs into the horticultural and landscape program. Presentations were well received by the CADAP and both groups look forward to working together in the future on common provincial and national issues.

2007

August 23-25 Portland, Oregon 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

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CNLA News brief

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June - July 2007

Retaining happy and productive employees… By: Agnes Zawartka, Member Services Do you have trouble retaining good employees? Is your turnover rate high? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to at least one of the above questions, you are experiencing one of the human resources issues challenging the whole green industry. There are some answers to your questions. It might be just the age gap between the generations that have to work together and not quite know how… Based on David Foot’s philosophy on demographics, if you are an employer/the owner of the company you probably are a Baby Boomer, born between 1946-1964, very ‘me’ individual, who has set work ethics, measures labour in hours not necessarily productivity, and finds building relationships based on the loyalty of his employees essential to success. In order to position your company with happy and productive employees who provide exceptional service to your customers, work hard to sell your products and services, you need to know how to bring the best in them to work for your advantage.

To manage your employees successfully who are probably Generation X (born between 1965-1978) and Gen Y (born between 1979-1988), you need to know that they want open communication rather than position, or a title. Also, Xers and Gen Y want to see you as an individual they can learn from, respect and admire and they look up to you for a strong leadership. As their employer, you need to know that they like positive reinforcement, value control of their time, and search for jobs that provide them with personal fulfillment and help them achieve their personal goals. The X-ers and Gen Y are easily managed if you can find common grounds to meet and understand what drives them on the path to success. Gen X and Y as your employees are loyal to you as a person, they do not attach loyalty to the company or the industry. As a Baby Boomer you might want

Ask us how to save with these suppliers!

to take that into consideration when looking at your turnover costs (i.e. cost of training, education etc.). Knowing that the productivity and retention of your workforce is simply based on your understanding of the employees, your attitude and your work philosophy, it is going to make your life much easier if you know how to effectively hire and retain staff. Also, it is very beneficial to team up Baby Boomers with X-ers and Gen Y, because as seen, the older employees have considerable amount of knowledge and skill, as younger employees have the latest computer skills and capacity to learn quickly. The sooner the employers and employees will realize the potential to combine the two together, the earlier you can yield benefits and have a competitive advantage with a happy and productive workforce. New formula for success= competence and expertise that comes with age + youthfulness and ability to learn. David K. Foot (2005). Boom, Bust and Echo in the Workplace.Retrived July 9, 2007 from http://www.davidfoot.com/vital_en.html Patrice Peltier (2007). When Woodstock hires Wikipedia: Can There Be Harmony in the Workplace? The Landscape Contractor, Volume 48, Number 6, pg. 15.

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CNLA News brief The Manitoba Green Show

By: Rebecca Wetselaar, CNLA Staff

The Landscape Manitoba GreenShow is the premiere horticultural tradeshow in Manitoba, scheduled for February 19-20, 2008 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. Great exhibits, informative speakers and invaluable networking opportunities are perfect reasons to attend. The 2008 Manitoba Green Show has secured great speakers that will appeal to landscapers, garden centres, nursery growers, and anyone interested in ornamental horticulture. Coming from around the world, these speakers will provide delegates with unique information and address important issues and trends in the horticulture industry. Tim Briercliffe, Director of Business Development with the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), a trade association that represents the ornamental horticulture and gardening industry in the UK, will be addressing members from the garden centre industry. The CNLA will have a chance to meet with Tim at the show and discuss national issues which could bring both association’s mutual benefit and new opportunities. Thank you to Vanstone Nurseries for sponsoring this speaker! Hannah Mathers, Associate Professor with the Ohio State University in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, will be doing two seminars on ornamental weed control and tree liner production. Hannah is a great addition to the show, especially with her insight into growers issues. JP Lamarche with JPL Consulting in Newmarket, Ontario will hold two seminars

sponsored by: that will appeal to all sizes and types of horticultural companies including landscapers. His first seminar “Using the Right Numbers = Profit” will outline how using mathematical formulas to determine your companies breakeven point per person, per crew and per job will help you to maximize profit for your business. The second seminar, “Productivity = Profitability” will cover equipment costing and help to establish breakeven points per piece of equipment in order to realize your return on investment. JP will also be conducting 45-minute consultation sessions to help companies understand their breakeven point (charge of $75.00 per session). If you are interested in participating in a consulting session, please bring along your company’s financial information and a list of your equipment. Representatives from local nurseries and garden centres will be speaking on new products and trends for the upcoming year and CLD and CLP testing will also be offered on Wednesday afternoon. The Annual General Meeting will take place during the show on Tuesday and will be followed by an evening event for all participants on Tuesday night. This special Awards of Excellence Gala will include a Reception, a Silent Auction, a dinner and the presentation of the Awards of Excellence to the members. We look forward to recognizing our members’ efforts in a big way this year, and encourage our members to participate in the Awards program. For more information on the Manitoba Green Show including sponsorship opportunities, exhibit space rental, and donations for the Silent Auction please contact Rebecca Wetselaar (Landscape Manitoba Trade Show Coordinator) at 1-866-383-4711, or email rebecca@canadanursery.com.

June - July

2007

Upcoming Certification Test Dates - July 2007 There are many test dates scheduled for the rest of the year. Visit www.canadanursery. com, or contact the CNLA office to find out test locations and more information. British Columbia CHT Installation, Maintenance, Retail, Interior Langley: July 13-14, 2007; Langley: October 20, 2007 CLD/CLP Langley: July 13, 2007; Location TBD: October 19, 2007 Manitoba CLD/CLP Winnipeg: August 15, 2007; Winnipeg: February 20, 2008 Ontario CHT Installation, Maintenance Milton: July 20-21st, 2007 (SOLD OUT); Ottawa: September 14-15, 2007; Milton: September 27-28, 2007 CHT Retail Milton: August 14-15th, 2007 CHT Installation, Maintenance, Retail (Retest only) Milton: October 19th, 2007 CLP Milton: August 27th, 2007; Milton: Nov 5th, 2007; Milton: Dec 3rd, 2007 Atlantic Canada CHT Retail Truro: July 15-16, 2007 Thinking of writing the CLP exam this fall? Start preparing yourself early and order your CLP Study Series today! Fill out the order form and fax it to the CNLA office.

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CNLA News brief sponsored by: A Look at the Certification Process with André Gaudet

June - July 2007

By: Rebecca Wetselaar, CNLA Staff

Achieving your Certified Horticulture Technician (CHT) designation is a challenging task, but is one that André Gaudet of Bonsai Landscaping Ltd. in Memramcook, NB has recently completed. This was André’s first attempt through the certification process, and he completed it successfully by achieving his CHT Installation designation. Less than 10% of candidates achieve this on their first try. The process entailed lots of hard work and preparation, including some unique mental preparation and study methods, but the end result has made the entire process very worthwhile. André has been in the landscape industry for over 20 years and founded Bonsai Landscaping Ltd. in the fall of 1992. He recently became a member of Landscape New Brunswick (LNB) and Landscape Nova Scotia (LNS) in January of 2007 with Bonsai Landscaping Ltd. and his other business, Advanced Vegetation Control Inc. When André became a member of both associations, he became interested in the certification opportunities. André stated, “When I joined [LNB & LNS] I made a commitment to be more professional. I knew that certification went hand in hand with professionalism and that I should become a CHT”. In order to achieve his goal of increasing the level of professionalism for his company and for the industry in general, he made the decision to get certified. Preparing for the exam Before the written and practical exam’s, André prepared in many different ways in order to succeed. “I had a chance to talk to others who had completed the testing in the previous years, which helped to prepare me mentally for the exam” states André. He made sure to go into the test relaxed, but very focused on the task at hand. He also purchased the study guide that provided him with a lot of direction for the test. A helpful study method that he found was to read the study guide out loud and record it, and then listen to it to catch all of the details. He did additional research on the Internet and studied for hours the weeks before the exam. In the end, he found that the exam was all about knowing details, and his extensive studying had prepared him for this. Having completed the process successfully, André knows that studying is very important and that you cannot rely on experience alone to pass. For the practical part of the exam, André admits that he was nervous. The day is long and there

is a lot of information that you have to convey to the judges at the various stations. Once he got started, the testing process was exciting as it gave him a chance to prove himself with all of his years of experience and hours of studying. André came up with a great way to prepare himself mentally for the stations: “I imagined that the judge at each station was one of my first time employees. With each station I would show the new employee how to do each task correctly, including giving verbal explanations of everything that had to be done”. This attitude allowed André to forget that he was being evaluated, and to have confidence in his knowledge of how to do things the proper way. André found it helpful to talk with the other candidates during breaks which took some pressure off. The day itself can be very long and tiring, both physically and mentally, and he felt that there was a relaxed atmosphere amongst the candidates and that it was not competitive at all. André found that “there was camaraderie between all participants and a feeling that we were all on a level playing field amongst each other. We were all working towards a common goal of trying to increase the level of professionalism in the industry”. André also felt that speaking with the judges was motivating, as they are all CHT’s or professionals in the industry. He found that the judges provided him with a lot of encouragement and were very friendly and helpful. Set yourself apart from the others One of André’s reasons for going through the certification program was to distinguish his company from others in the industry. “In the Moncton area”, André says, “there are many other landscapers and designers and I needed a way to set my business apart”. Achieving his CHT designation has now given him an edge over other landscapers, as well as a good feeling of personal accomplishment. The program allowed André to refresh his knowledge and correlate the information he was learning for the exam to his own personal experiences. Benefits of Certification As an individual, André’s completion of his

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

CHT has boosted his confidence as he had put a lot of pressure on himself to accomplish this goal, and is very happy with the end result. As a businessman, he is able to use his designation in his advertising, and he teaches his clients about the benefits of hiring a CHT. “My clients know that by hiring a CHT they will be dealing with an industry professional who has an international designation, and this does instill some confidence in my clients towards me”. André has received quite a few compliments from his clients and other members in the industry for his accomplishments and efforts demonstrating that the landscape industry can be a professional one. André believes that more landscapers need to be educated and go through the certification p r o c e s s . “Certification is a win-win situation for e v e r y o n e – the landscape contractor has all of the information that he or she needs [to be successful in their work], and the client has a better feeling about the contractor. The client will have more confidence about the work that will be done and knows that the work will be done in a proper way”. For André, “knowledge is a powerful thing – once you have it, no one can take it away from you”. André describes the whole certification experience as “fun and challenging, and I am glad that I went through it”. He encourages others to go through the process as well and to study hard, use your experience, and to do the best that you can. André is a great example of what can be achieved when you set your mind to something, and we wish him all the best with his business and future certifications. The CHT program is designed for employees in the horticulture industry who are involved in the technical application of skill and knowledge. CHT is available in four classifications: Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Construction, Retail Garden Centre, and Interior Landscaping.

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CNLA News brief

sponsored by:

June - July

2007

Summer First Aid Tips...

By W. Michael Thomas, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., R.F.P.

Summer is officially here and that means a lot of outdoor fun. But along with the excitement of being outdoors comes the potential for a few more bumps, bruises and close encounters with nature. The best way to begin thinking preventatively is by putting together a traveling emergency kit. Listed below are the top 20 items that every first aid kit should have: ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü

Sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum) Insect repellant, containing DEET Absorbent cotton Adhesive strips/assorted sizes Adhesive Calamine lotion Cotton-tipped swabs Painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ASA Disinfectant Rubbing alcohol Triangular bandages, for tying splints Safety pins Sharp needles, for removal of splinters Scissors Sterilized gauze bandages Sterilized gauze pads Thermometer Tweezers (to remove insect stingers) Antihistamine tablets Antibiotic & anti-inﬂammatory creams

Hopefully your kit will stay in the car and never be used, but if an emergency does arise, you’ll be glad you took the time to put one together. W. Michael Thomas is a partner with The Investment Guild – endorsed provider of the CNLA HortProtect Group Insurance Program: Angela McKellar HortProtect Marketing Coordinator Toll free: 1.888.446.3499 ext 8670 Fax:1-866-833-8603 angela@canadanursery.com

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Canadian Nursery Landscape Association