January 2017 horttrades.com
PASSING THE
GAVEL
Lexi Dearborn and Ed Hansen lead LO’s many volunteers. Page 6
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Improving an already amazing profession By Paul Brydges LO President
A
s always, late fall is a flurry of activity at Landscape Ontario with board meetings, continuing education and preparing for Congress and Canada Blooms. The number of events and opportunities to network and collaborate with peers is amazing. Of the many topics that come to mind is the importance for member companies to take advantage of apprenticeship. This incredible program is available to employers to further educate staff and create career team members. If our enrolment numbers don’t start to improve, we may lose this valuable opportunity. It is hard to send staff off to courses when they are so desperately needed in the field, but isn’t it harder to potentially lose more people from
January, 2017 • Volume 35, No. 01 horttrades.com Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural profession in Ontario. ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519
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the field permanently because we don’t invest in them, by supporting their education and training? In late November, I attended the HortEast trade show and conference in Halifax where it was great to see the national initiative of getting the Canadian Landscape Standard (CLS) adopted is being fully embraced. It is inspiring to see how two national associations have banded together to collaborate for the greater good; to benefit all of us in the horticultural professions. Sally Harvey is beginning to leave her imprint on the east coast associations and is helping to bring us all together on the national level. It is great to see that so many things we have passion for in Ontario can also be relevant and useful in eastern Canada as well. Christine LeVatte is the national chair for the CLS committee and we had several discussions about the importance of us all making time to adopt the standards to make them part of our everyday language. We have never had a better opportunity to showcase how we have evolved as a profession.
Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Assistant editor Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Sales manager Steve Moyer stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-0708 Integrated solutions representative Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLM lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Kim Burton, Rachel Cerelli, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, J. Alex Gibson, Jeff Hicks, Heather MacRae, Kristen McIntyre CHT CEM, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, Martha Walsh, Cassandra Wiesner
The CLS will go a long way when it comes to speaking to the provincial government about a Name Act for landscape designers. I would also look at how insurance providers may positively view the standards from their perspective when it comes down to liability on a project. In late November, I attended the LO Growers Group fall dinner and lecture evening. It was great to hear so much discussion focused on the value of native plant material and the need for nurseries, municipalities and specifiers to all have a round table discussion as to source and species of material that will be required in the years ahead. Natives are not always the answer, but there is no better place to start when looking for plants that provide more than just aesthetics. As geography and resources become more scarce, plantings that serve multiple purposes and thrive, not just survive, are increasingly important factors when choosing plant material and the preparation of its space. I wish you all a prosperous 2017 and look forward to seeing many of you at LO Congress. Paul Brydges may be reached at paulbrydges.la@sympatico.ca.
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FEATURES SIMPLY LANDSCAPING GOVERNANCE DAY
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Views expressed are those of the writer concerned. Landscape Ontario assumes no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2017, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com
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the amount of competition around here,” McCormick says about the large number of local hobby gardeners who are more about enjoyment and activity than charging the going rate for their services. McCormick says those same people who are willing to pay to install a landscape “don’t seem to want to invest in the maintenance.” McCormick says she provides her customers with a two year guarantee on plant material and a five year warranty on hardscaping, adding peace of mind for the client but also to help differentiate her work from “weekend warriors with whom you don’t have any warranty at all.”
Educating employees
Gardens at the place of business are used to train employees and to showcase work to clients.
A lifetime of learning at Simply Landscaping & Garden Designs By Robert Ellidge In 1995, Pam McCormick and her sister started a business caring for other people’s gardens. McCormick’s son Mark began working for the growing business and her sister then left to pursue other interests. Together, the McCormick’s love of plants and stone has grown Simply Landscaping & Garden Designs into a business that prides themselves on educating both clients and employees and on their commitment to standing behind the work they do. Located in Odessa, Ont., Simply Landscaping has been a Landscape Ontario member since 2004. McCormick currently holds the position of treasurer on LO’s Upper Canada Chapter Board, which she’s been a part of since 2008. McCormick recalls the main reason she joined LO after starting her business was because of an article she saw in a local newspaper. The front page story was about a man who borrowed $100,000 from his elderly neighbour to start doing local landscaping jobs and then went bankrupt, losing the person’s life savings. “I wanted to differentiate myself from that type of person,” McCormick explains.
Educating clients
Whether it’s maintenance, design or installation, McCormick, a Certified Landscape Designer, spends a lot of time educating clients and potential clients on the many ben-
4 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
efits of using a landscape professional over a cheaper, fly-by-night company. The first thing she explains is her staff “are trained professionals who hold certifications and have been, or are enrolled in the Apprenticeship Program. Plus, the business carries liability insurance, WSIB and trucks are properly insured and maintained” so naturally, her pricing for the job also reflects those investments. McCormick says “people don’t seem to mind spending a lot of money on landscape installation,” once they know about all of the factors involved. About 90 per cent of Simply Landscaping’s business is mid-sized residential construction in Kingston. McCormick keeps her four, full-time employees busy with additional clients in an area that stretches from Deseronto to Gananoque and from Parham to Bath. Many are repeat customers and referrals, as word certainly gets around in some of the smaller towns. McCormick even has one client in a golf course community Bath, Ont. who makes a point of letting new residents know about his great experience with Simply Landscaping. The client enjoyed his new landscape so much that he hired McCormick again to revitalize a large roundabout outside his home that had fallen into disrepair after many years (the golf course provided soil and mulch). On the maintenance side, working in some of those smaller markets can be more of an issue. “You wouldn’t believe
Hardscaping for the company is done by son Mark who has completed the Apprenticeship Program at Kemptville College and is also an Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI) Certified Paver Installer. McCormick feels the off season is a great time for education and in addition to Mark, one other employee has completed the Apprenticeship Program and three other employees have been signed up for the program this winter. McCormick says the new spaces recently made available at nearby Loyalist College in Belleville are a direct result of her employees
Pam McCormick, CLD and owner of Simply Landscaping & Garden Designs.
All hardscaping work comes with a five year guarantee.
participating this winter. McCormick says in addition to helping with employee retention, the Apprenticeship Program makes the difference between a job being just a job, or it being a career. “It’s a career when you keep them engaged over the winter and they have more opportunities to learn. They also don’t have to worry about looking for a job at the end of the season,” McCormick explains. She also tries to pay her employees a little bit better than her competition, following the ‘you get what you pay for’ lesson she tries to instill in her clients — adding that employees are also more loyal if they can
e
make a decent living from something they also enjoy doing. McCormick says working in a smaller population area does not pose any issues with sourcing suppliers or finding materials. “I have access to any pavers and I don’t really get any requests for unusual things,” McCormick says, adding unique elements are not typically part of her client’s midsized budgets. Dealing with suppliers, scheduling crews, doing payroll and all other office duties are all just another day of business life for McCormick, who also does all of the design and trains new employees.
Like most business owners, her home is also her place of business and she’s had the foresight to build displays of her work around her property — to serve as both a training ground for new employees and as an outdoor show room for potential clients. A stone patio area behind her home, complete with a retaining wall, path and lighting was built with son Mark’s supervision and a large pond, complete with water feature, statues, mulch and plants was built by employees to hone their skills. In both areas, clients can actually test drive the look and quality of McCormick’s work and easily visualize themselves in a similar setting. When meeting with a client, McCormick takes what might be a non-intuitive approach. Most companies will ask what a client would like to see in their property, but McCormick does the opposite. “I start by giving a client a simple questionnaire to find out what they absolutely don’t like,” she says, adding clients generally trust her as the professional to know what’s best for the job at hand. By eliminating what a client doesn’t like, McCormick then has the freedom to choose from the endless options available and include something the client might never even have considered.
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Members of Landscape Ontario's chapter and sector boards gather for Governance Day each year to help steer the direction of the association.
Governance Day 2016 Over 40 Landscape Ontario members who hold positions on chapter and sector group boards met at the Milton Banquet & Conference Centre on Dec. 8. to discuss ideas and issues to help shape the future direction of the association. Known as Governance Day, the annual gathering of members from across the province — as presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers, directors, etc., also serves to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each position and strengthen the communication between elected volunteers and the membership in general. The full-day event was moderated by outgoing Governance chair Lexi Dearborn, who kept things moving briskly as she encouraged participants to contribute and learn. Her talent for leadership added humour and style to the event — since it fell on a special day, the group was delighted to sing Happy Birthday in Lexi’s honour. After a brief welcome from LO president Paul Brydges, Dearborn provided an overview of the responsibilities of each position on the board and stressed the importance of keeping detailed minutes at meetings — both to keep home office and members informed and to act as a record when requesting any special funding. The meeting followed a new format this year: Chapter and sector board members were split into six groups, with three of the groups arguing in favour of a unique topic
6 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
or issue and the remaining three groups taking the opposing view, regardless of their own personal opinion. The debated topics ranged from dues categories and pricing, to the effectiveness of promotional materials, to the adoption of holding virtual meetings in a digital age. Groups then presented their side of the argument, some in a very entertaining way and some with a very pragmatic approach. Dearborn, acting as both judge and jury, then allowed each side an opportunity for rebuttal, and put the issue to a popular vote in order to get an indication on which view members in the room sided with the most. Toronto Chapter president Jonas Spring presented his group’s case for keeping the current LO member categories and dues structure in place, citing that LO members pay about half of what some other associations are charging for their annual dues. Spring’s group was surprised to learn from LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni that LO’s net dues revenue only contributes about $700,000 towards the associations $5 million annual operating budget. Following the debates, Durham Chapter president Norm Mills presented a list of issues he has witnessed over his four decades in the landscape profession that seem to be a factor on an annual basis. They included: access to labour, non-members undercutting members on
pricing, chapter meeting attendance, a defined pension plan for LO members, and government regulation/licensing of professional contractors. Some of the issues were discussed in an open forum, with DiGiovanni offering some background information and acting as moderator. Toronto Chapter’s Lindsay Drake Nightingale told the group the best part about serving on LO’s Provincial Board of Directors as current treasurer is the opportunity she gets to see everything that is happening within the association on a provincial level. Ottawa Chapter past president and provincial board rep Ed Hansen, who will be taking over the Governance chair position from Dearborn, says his current position allows him the opportunity to hear what all of the other chapters and sectors are working on. Upper Canada Chapter president Paul Doornbos echoed Hansen’s comments and says another benefit of being involved at the board level is it allows him as a business owner to react to and implement changes well in advance, because those potential issues and changes are identified much earlier on at the board level. The event concluded with DiGiovanni providing 10 highlights for the association from 2016, including the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute, a strong partnership with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), the London Chapter project with the Canadian Navy and a record number of new member applications.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Chapter recognizes members for second straight year Landscape Ontario’s Georgian Lakelands Chapter held its second annual Awards of Distinction at Casino Rama on Dec. 1 to recognize associate members and individuals who have made significant contributions to the chapter over the past year. Building upon the success of the inaugural awards evening last year, the popular social evening saw about 50 members attend the special awards event. In 2016, the chapter also celebrated its 20th anniversary. “The evening really is the perfect way for us to celebrate the end of another great season,” said chapter president Georgie Hamilton. “It’s also a great way for members to catch up with each other and recognize all of the suppliers and individuals within the chapter who have helped us over the past year.” Once again, chapter secretary Laurie Ann Stuart emceed the event, entertaining those in attendance while announcing the award winners. Continued >
Nick Solty accepts an award from Teresa Matamoros.
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ASSOCIATION NEWS This year’s winners are: Hardscape Material Supplier, Georgian Bay Outdoors; Plant Material Supplier, Solty’s Garden Centre; Equipment and Accessory Supplier, CRS Contractors Rental Supply Barrie; Best Supplier to the Landscape Trades, Upper Canada Stone Company; Best Salesperson, Scott Stewart, Rinox; Best Boss of the Year, Nick Solty, Solty’s Garden Centre; Volunteer of the Year, Lexi Dearborn, Dearborn Designs & Associates. Winners were chosen based on an online voting system where chapter members nominated companies and individuals for the various awards. Food for the evening was sponsored by Cast-n-Stone, with dessert sponsored by Vanden Bussche Irrigation, Dearborn Designs & Associates, and Garden Holistics.
GROWERS LOOK TO THE FUTURE
Over 60 growers attended the annual Landscape Ontario Growers Group Fall Dinner Meeting at the Teatro Conference Centre in Milton, Ont., on Nov. 29 to discuss issues of relevance to the grower profession. An energetic hour of networking was followed by dinner and three guest speakers who presented many facts and philosophies on seed zones and the role of natives and non-natives in Ontario.
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After the presentations, growers took the opportunity to discuss policies and factors that affect their business operations.
Allan Arthur, Senior Ecologist and President of St. Williams Nursery and Ecology Centre, talked about the nursery’s use of seed zone-sourced plants and provided some insight into the different roles both native and non-native plants play in regards to providing food for both insects and wildlife in the ecosystem. Arthur explained scientific research shows both insects and wildlife greatly prefer native species and that nonnatives provide only minimal support to the ecosystem. He explained one requirement for plant material at St. Williams is that it must benefit the entire ecosystem. Barb Macdonell, Senior Environmental Planner for the Ministry of Transportation, spoke about the selection of plant
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consider not just temperature, but many other contributing factors when looking at seed zones in Ontario that were established many decades ago as a general guideline by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Arthur says the event “was a great opportunity to engage with other LO members. It is clear there is strong and increasing market demand for sourceidentified Ontario native plants.” A question period after the presentations provided a great forum for growers to discuss ideas and challenges they all face in their businesses and in the future. Jeanine West, Horticultural Consultant with PhytoServ, says, “The panel on seed zone policy was excellent. Perspectives from all sides of the table came together for a very informative and timely discussion. Our profession has a unique opportunity to contribute to biodiversity and conservation in Ontario.”
TRIPLE THE FUN WITH TWO LECTURES AND DINNER
Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Contractors Sector Group will host its annual lecture event on Feb. 28 at the Fontana Primavera Event Centre in Vaughan, Ont. For the second year, the evening landscape lecture will be preceded by an afternoon program geared towards ground maintenance contractors, with a reception and dinner in between. The contractor lecture begins at 7:15
p.m. with landscape contractor Joe Morello and landscape architect Pat Morello, from Premier Landscaping and Design. The brothers will share some of their most memorable and noteworthy landscape projects. The Grounds Management Lecture will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a talk from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair’s Jennifer Llewellyn presenting Pests and Diseases in the Landscape, followed by Jeff McMann from the
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LO MEMBERS OFFERED DISCOUNT ON CANADA BLOOMS TICKETS
Landscape Ontario members have exclusive access to discounted bar-coded tickets for admission to both Canada Blooms and the National Home Show, running March 10-19, 2017 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Ont. LO members may purchase packages of 20 tickets (regular price $20) for only $12 each. These pay per use tickets are a great gifts for clients, suppliers, staff, friends and family as the member is only charged after the show for tickets redeemed at the event. LO members can also purchase discounted individual tickets for $12 each. These tickets are paid fo r at the time of ordering. The theme at Canada Blooms this year is ‘Oh! Canada’ to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday celebration. Celebrating its 21st year in 2017, Canada Blooms continues to be the largest flower and garden festival in the country and a showcase for both LO members and the landscape and horticulture professions. Admission includes access to leading experts on multiple stages, a vibrant marketplace, new products area and more. Tickets are available for purchase from the LO home office or by completing an order form at horttrades.com/canadablooms-2017 and faxing it to 905-875-3942 to the attention of Kathleen Pugliese, or email kpugliese@landscapeontario.com with your order. The form must also be used by any member organizing a bus group to the show.
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Mount Pleasant Group on The Importance of Inventory Management and Mapping in Relation to Maintenance. To round off the grounds management portion, Rodger Tschanz from the University of Guelph will present New Plants and the 2016 Trial Garden Results. A cash bar reception will follow at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person until Feb. 14 and then go up to $40 per person. Tickets include both lecture programs and dinner. The subsidized pricing is available due to the generosity of the event sponsors. Registration and details at LandscapeLecture.ca.
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The 8th annual Landscape Lighting Conference will take place Feb. 8 at Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre in Brampton, Ont. Located just north of Hwy 407, the new venue will provide more space for this growing event, as well as an excellent lunch. Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Lighting Sector Group hosts the event and has worked hard to ensure the content will be of value to seasoned contractors and not just beginners. Several exhibitors will be on hand to showcase new and exciting products for the upcoming season. This all-in-one event for lighting contractors will include four important workshops covering everything from basics and standards, to design and electrical troubleshooting — all presented by industry professionals. Tickets are $90 for LO members and $110 for non-members until Jan. 25. Registration and full details are available at LightingConference.ca.
NURSERY GROWERS SHORT COURSE ON FEB. 15
The annual Nursery Growers’ Short Course, hosted by LO’s Growers Sector Group will take place on Feb. 15, 2017 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event provides an enormous amount of information for growers including research reports, new methods and technologies, new products and tools, and identifies and discusses issues and challenges that affect all growers. The popular Grower Good Ideas Sessions also feature handy tips, tricks and inventions individual growers have developed themselves to address issues or improve efficiency within their own operations. Lunch and refreshments breaks are included and provide time to network with other attendees and visit with suppliers via a small trade show. The main sponsor for the 2017 event is Mother Nurture. Watch for details at horttrades.com/ growers or contact Kathleen Pugliese at kathleen@landscapeontario.com.
OTTAWA CHAPTER TO HOST AWARDS NIGHT AND ANNUAL TRADE SHOW
The third annual Ottawa Chapter Awards of Distinction gala and casino night will be held Feb. 14 at the EY Centre in Ottawa. Sponsored by Connon Nurseries/CBV Holdings, tickets were sold out to this popluar evening last year. The awards evening recoginzes suppliers within the chapter for their outstanding contributions to the landscape profession as nominated by LO members. The following day, the 24th edition of Eastern Ontario’s Landscape and Construction Show, GreenTrade Expo, returns to the EY Centre on Feb. 15 with over 120 exhibitors, new products, networking opportunities and a full day of seminars covering a wide range of topics of interest to the landscape profession. GreenTrade Expo runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a separate, ticketed breakfast event before the show starting at 7:00 a.m. For details visit greentrade.ca.
AURA LANDSCAPING WINS CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD
LO member Aura Landscaping in St. Catharines, Ont. was selected Top Landscape Contractor in the greater Hamilton and Niagara Region, as part of the 2017 Consumer Choice Awards (CCA). Aura Landscaping was nominated by the community for the award through the CCA’s exclusive four-step ranking
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Oaks Resort and Spa on Feb. 24, 2017. Good luck to Aura Landscaping and congratulations on both their award and nomination.
PLANT SYMPOSIUM COMING TO LONDON FEB. 17
LO’s London Chapter will be discussing all things plants on Feb. 17 at the Lamplighter Inn in London. Held in the Crystal Ballroom, the event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will include a buffet lunch, marketplace, door prizes and the following guest speakers: • Harry McGee, Everything Roses • Brenda Gallagher, Neat Things About our Native Trees • Liz Klose, Perennial Plants of the Year: Past and Present • Ben Stormes, Plant Collecting and Why It’s Important. For full details and online registration, visit horttrades.com/london.
CHAPTER SKI AND SPA DAY RETURNS FEB. 23 Scott Duff, owner of Aura Landscaping.
process and chosen for their quality of work, reputation, and the pride and passion they demonstrate in their work. Since 1987, the CCA mission has been to recognize and promote business excellence. Their national brand is present in 15 major metropolitan areas in Canada and is the most recognized business excellence award across the country. Aura Landscaping has also been nominated for the 2017 Niagara Entre-
preneur of the Year Award (NEYA) for Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Entrepreneur. NEYA have been honouring enterprising people whose businesses have made significant differences in their community, and in the lives of its residents and who provide inspiration, exemplify excellence and carry out their unique vision. Winners for the 23rd annual awards will be announced during a gala awards presentation at White
For the twentieth year, members of Landscape Ontario will be gathering on the ski slopes in Blue Mountain, Ont. for the Georgian Lakelands Chapter annual ski day. Held this year at Craighleith Ski Club and Scandinave Spa, the chapter invites all members to take a mid-winter break to ski, relax at the spa, or both. On the ski hill, members have the option to participate in many fun games and contests and enjoy lunch and some great networking opportunities at an Apres-ski event to end the day. Details and online registration at horttrades.com/georgianlakelands.
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GEORGIAN LAKELANDS Barrie Fibreglass Pools
Donald Dunsmore 1139 Bayfield St N Midhurst, ON L0L 1X0 Tel: 705-728-3500 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
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Michael Maurer 300 - 300 Granton Dr Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1H7 Tel: 905-762-0484 x222 Membership Type: Associate Ron Wilkie 6300 Koiti Dr Wendell, NC 27591 Tel: 514-210-7703 Membership Type: Associate
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Toronto, ON Membership Type: Horticultural
UPPER CANADA Givesco Inc
Greg Baldock 550 Gardiners Rd, Kingston, ON K7M 3X9 Tel: 613-389-3100 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
WATERLOO TA Appliances & Barbeques
Ken Neufeld 932 Victoria St N, Kitchener, ON N2B 1W4 Tel: 519-578-0300 Membership Type: Associate
WINDSOR Benoit Drainage Ltd
Dan Benoit 18700 County Rd 42, RR 5, Tilbury, ON N0P 2L0 Tel: 519-682-3509 Membership Type: Active
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EVENTS Find full details and registration links at horttrades.com/comingevents February 1
Waterloo Chapter Meeting
145 Dearborn Place, Waterloo Landscape designer Chris Mace will discuss “Overtime: to pay or not to pay.” Members are encouraged to bring a potential new member. Includes door prizes and a chance to win the 50/50 draw. Details at horttrades.com/waterloo. February 7
Durham Chapter Meeting
GreenTrade Expo returns Feb. 15. January 18
Upper Canada Chapter Meeting
Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, Belleville The 2:00 p.m. meeting will feature “Landscapes from A to Z” with LO president, Paul Brydges, owner of Brydges Landscape Architecture. Details at horttrades.com/uppercanada. January 19
Toronto Chapter Meeting
Details TBD. Check horttrades.com/toronto for details. January 24
Ottawa Chapter Annual General Meeting
Royal Canadian Legion 641, 3500 Fallowfield Rd, Ottawa Ask questions about your membership and learn about new LO initiatives from president Paul Brydges and executive director Tony DiGiovanni. The noon meeting includes lunch. Pre-register at horttrades.com/ottawa for a chance to win a pair of Ottawa Senators tickets. January 26
Georgian Lakelands Chapter Meeting
Location in Collingwood TBD. Check horttrades. com/georgianlakelands for details. January 26
Windsor Chapter Meeting
Dominion Golf Course Lunch will be served at noon, followed by a presentation by LO’s manager of education and labour development, Jeff Hicks. Jeff will share his experiences of working in the Middle East as well as how to leverage support from LO to develop staff. Please RSVP by Jan. 24 to Jay Rivait at jaytopgrade@hotmail.com.
14 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
731 Wilson Road South, Oshawa At the 10:00 a.m. meeting, Mike Pennington will teach you how to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to improve your sales and showcase your work. All members are encouraged to bring a potential new member to the meeting. Details at horttrades.com/durham. February 8
Landscape Lighting Conference
Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre, 8525 Mississauga Road, Brampton Join industry peers and learn about lighting industry specific issues and meet with suppliers to find out about new products and technologies at this annual conference. Details and registration at LightingConference.ca. February 8
Upper Canada Chapter Meeting
Invista Centre, Kingston The 2:00 p.m. meeting will feature a presentation on selling to your customers. All members are encouraged to bring a potential new member to the meeting. Check horttrades.com/ uppercanada for details. February 9
Toronto Chapter Meeting
Save the date for the chapter’s annual fullday safety meeting. Details at horttrades.com/ toronto.
Come celebrate the best suppliers in the Ottawa Chapter the evening before GreenTrade Expo. Tickets for this highly entertaining evening sold out last year. Sponsored by Connon Nurseries/ CBV Holdings. Details online at GreenTrade.ca. February 15
GreenTrade Expo
EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa Presented by LO’s Ottawa Chapter, Eastern Ontario’s Landscape and Construction Show returns for it’s 24th year. This must-attend event features exhibitors, new products, networking and educational seminars for landscape professionals. Visit GreenTrade.ca. February 17
London Chapter presents The Plant Symposium
Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road, London This full-day event includes guest speakers on all things related to plants. Details and online tickets will be available at horttrades.com/london. February 19
Georgian Lakelands Family Fun Bowling
Splitsville Entertainment Centre, 1525 Stone Church Road E, Hamilton Join the chapter for a fun-filled afternoon of family bowling and snacks from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Free event for pre-registered guests only. Register online at horttrades.com/ goldenhorseshoe. February 23
Georgian Lakelands Chapter Ski and Spa Day
Craigleith Ski Club and Scandinave Spa, Blue Mountain Enjoy a day on the slopes or a relaxing day at the spa — or both! This fun day features lunch, friendly competitions, prizes and great networking. Details at horttrades.com/georgianlakelands. February 23
Windsor Chapter Meeting
Huntsville location TBD. Details at horttrades. com/georgian-lakelands.
Dominion Golf Course Mike Pennington and Nancy Green will discuss the designer-contractor relationship and how to sell as a team. St. Clair College students are welcome. Free for members, $15 cash for nonmembers. Lunch served at 12:00 p.m. Please RSVP by Feb. 21 to Jay Rivait at jaytopgrade@ hotmail.com. Details at horttrades.com/windsor.
February 15
February 28
Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington Don’t miss this annual networking and educational event from the LO Growers Group. Also featuring a supplier showcase and lots of good ideas! Details at horttrades.com/growers.
Fontana Primavera Event Centre, 77 Woodstream Blvd., Vaughan This event features a grounds management lecture starting at 2:30 p.m. followed by a reception and dinner and an evening lecture for landscape contractors. Attend the grounds lecture and dinner or dinner and the contractor lecture, or both. Details and online registration at LandscapeLecture.ca.
February 9
Georgian Lakelands Chapter Meeting
Nursery Growers Short Course
February 14
Ottawa Chapter Awards of Distinction Gala and Casino Night EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa
Landscape Lecture
INDUSTRY NEWS Nursery growers demonstrate ways to conserve nutrient inputs
Figure 1: Field studies compared various fertilizer applications.
A recent study of fertilizer placement techniques in Ontario grown nursery stock shows subsurface applications of fertilizer reduces the required amount of fertilizer inputs and conserves nutrients in the crop. The topic of nutrient conservation is a very important one as agricultural producers evaluate their fertilizer and water use. Farmers are continuously implementing cost-effective ways to reduce their environmental footprint while producing quality product. Ontario nursery growers have been investigating sub-surface fertilizer placement techniques for years, thanks
to pioneering research conducted by Dr. Calvin Chong and Dr. Glen Lumis of the University of Guelph. An Ontario group of researchers, including: PhytoServ, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Soil Resource Group, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and innovative nursery growers recently collaborated to perform field studies comparing surface-applied (topdressing), subsurface applied (dibbling) and incorporated fertilizer (Figure 1, 2) to container grown nursery crops. Subsurface applications of controlled release fertilizers (e.g.
Figure 2: Dibbling resulted in the lowest nutrient losses.
dibbling) resulted in the lowest nutrient losses, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, as observed during pour-through tests (Figure 3). In addition, less fertilizer was used and the resulting plants were fully saleable at the end of the trial. The team also investigated the use of additives to help adhere fertilizer products to the surface of the media. The Polyon Cohesion product helped to keep the fertilizer in place and ultimately prevented fertilizer spillage caused by wind throw. Media additives alum and wollastonite were found to conserve some nutrients but caused increased losses of others. In addition, their use requires additional ingredient costs and labour costs for application, which may not make economic sense. Fertilizer placement method significantly impacted root structure and root growth in the pot (Figure 4). Roots tended to proliferate in media where the greatest concentration of nutrients could be found. This effect may impact root growth when the nursery crop is planted out into the landscape or forest, especially for shade trees. Further research is required to evaluate this treatment effect. Fertilizer placement method is not a simple management tool to reduce nutrient content in container production runoff. Several factors must be considered when choosing fertilizer placement. The most conservative fertilizer (e.g. subsurface application) placement method for nutrient conservation may not be appropriate
Figure 3: Pour-through fertilizer test.
WWW.HORTTRADES.COM  15
INDUSTRY NEWS
WAITING PERIOD FOR EI SHORTENED TO ONE WEEK
Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits changed from two weeks to one week. Announced earlier this year as part of the 2016 federal budget, the change does not impact the number of weeks of paid benefit. Instead of a two-week waiting period followed by 15 weeks of paid benefit, there will be a one-week waiting period, followed by 15 weeks of paid benefit, and one week with no benefits. Plans registered with the Employment Insurance Premium Reduction Program will have to reduce the waiting period from Weekly Indemnity (WI) and/ or Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits from two weeks to one week in order to preserve any EI premium reduction they are receiving. Most Long-Term Disability (LTD) plans are designed for benefits to commence after the previous 17 weeks of EI (now 15). A change may or may not be required, however, employees will have one week where no benefit is paid before LTD benefits begin. Impacted employers will receive a notice from Service Canada advising of the changes. Contact your insurance provider for any clarifications or changes required to your plan. Figure 4: The impact of fertilizer placement on root structure.
for all nursery crops because of differences in potting system, crop needs, crop growth stage, root morphology, production cycle, or irrigation method. Automation techniques and postplanting application methods need to be developed to help make subsurface applications more economically efficient and feasible for commercial production systems. More research and develop-
ment will be required to help the industry incorporate these nutrient conservation techniques into commercial production systems. A summary report of this research is available through Landscape Ontario and PhytoServ (see gfl.me/h3dO). This research was supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
LO RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT TREE SHORTAGES
Landscape Ontario’s executive director Tony DiGiovanni recently published a letter outlining the ongoing tree shortage in the province. Distributed to the Ontario Parks Association (OPA) and the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), the purpose of the letter was “to raise awareness about the serious tree shortages on the market,” and the fact that “many of the trees being specified by municipalities
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and landscape architects are either not available or not suitable for urban areas and other unnatural sites.” The letter outlined the following reasons for the shortage: • It takes five to seven years to grow a tree. Growers are always guessing at what the market might look like in the future. Recessions, building booms and species preferences make the guesswork even more complex. • In the past, it was possible to supplement Canadian supply by purchasing from the United States. This can no longer be done for two main reasons. The recession of 2008 hit U.S. nurseries very hard. Many U.S. growers went bankrupt. Very few new trees were planted during that difficult time. In addition, the strength of the U.S. dollar is stimulating sales of Canadian trees south of the border. • The drought in the U.S. has affected the numbers and the quality of trees produced. The hot, dry summer of 2016 in Ontario will also affect future supply. • The ash borer has taken a serious toll. The situation has stimulated a strong demand for replacement trees, exacerbating the shortage. • The trend to specifying nature trees in unnatural locations is taking a toll. Hybrids and other introduced species, which have been selected over generations to withstand urban locations, are no longer being specified. The letter was spurred by concerns raised by LO members that some sectors in the green professions don’t yet understand the severity of the current shortage. Charlie Wilson, president of Bruce Wilson Landscaping in Kleinburg, Ont. called the shortage a “pitfall” of the successes in the green professions brought on by “an unprecedented run in the construction and housing industries” over the past 20 years. “I don’t believe municipalities and landscape architecture firms are aware of the gravity of the situation that is facing all of us,” Wilson said. Harry Worsley, president of Uxbridge Nurseries in Brooklin, Ont. agreed. “I believe we are going to [see] shortages on product for a number of years if the demand keeps up,” Worsley said. “The ash replacement program has been the biggest demand on our inventory and the question is when will that program be complete? With the low dollar, we are seeing plants heading south of the border again, and not much coming north. The dry, hot 2016 growing season will likely contribute to the problem. Ian Bruce, president of the Toronto-based Bruce Tree Expert Company, says that while it’s clear the profession is currently experiencing a tree shortage, it’s impossible to know how exactly severe the issue truly is. “To my knowledge, there is no organization that is looking at what you might call the global inventory that is available for trees for cities like Toronto, that are exploding,” Bruce explained. “This is not just Toronto, it is the GTA, the urban sprawl, all of the development requiring trees and shrubs, this is municipalities requiring street trees and new subdivisions that require thousands of trees to be planted. And I don’t believe there is a central clearing house. I’m not sure if people are saying, ‘Do you know the opportunity and the potential here if we got our acts together?’” A significant factor complicating the tree supply and demand cycle is the fact that municipalities often don’t plan and contract with growers for trees they are going to need years down the line, Bruce said. DiGiovanni’s letter to the OPA and OALA concluded by saying the solutions to the issue are complex, and LO “looks forward to working on these challenges by bringing together all stakeholders in a concerted effort to ensure the adequate supply of trees.”
WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 17
INDUSTRY NEWS ASSOCIATIONS WORK TOGETHER TOWARD SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
In the fall of 2015, Landscape Ontario (LO) and Ontario Parks Association (OPA) co-hosted a facilitated workshop to explore the obstacles to successful urban landscape plantings, with the goal of arriving at sustainable and longer term solutions. Participants in the workshop included wholesale nursery growers that are regular suppliers to the municipalities and urban foresters and parks’ managers representing medium to larger municipalities from southern Ontario. The Finding Sustainable Solutions Workshop was the core component of the larger project “Increasing sales to municipalities by promoting the benefits of Ontario-grown nursery stock.” The project was to explore the barriers and challenges associated with tree purchasing and planting policies with the goal of setting realistic, achievable and sustainable solutions.
The nurseries and municipalities understand their mutual challenges related to urban tree planting success. The tree procurement process, which often relies on the low-bid tenderingsystem, is just one factor that contributes to less than ideal long-term tree planting success. The urban landscape is subject to a variety of environmental stresses that contribute to the generally poor performance of newly planted trees in the urban environment. However, how to mitigate the effects of more precise impacts such as soil compaction, air pollutants, road salts and moisture stress is not as well understood, and municipalities lack critical scientific data. This was further emphasized by the results of a literature review* on the impact of environmental stresses on the survivability of the urban landscape, which was also commissioned as a part of the project. Not surprisingly, the challenges and knowledge gaps as
identified by workshop participants were also highlighted in the literature review. While the workshop process provides an ideal opportunity to identify these challenges, it is beyond the scope of a single day event to effect longer-term and sustainable solutions. Both groups agree to ongoing communication. To facilitate this, there is a need for joint research and education and information sharing. The project’s final undertaking is to launch a cooperative pilot project initiative. This pilot project will provide a forum for stakeholders to cooperate in the design and execution of small research projects and is intended to fill knowledge gaps, facilitate the collective sharing of information and provide an effective channel for ongoing communication between the two sectors. * The impact of environmental stresses on the survivability of the urban landscape: A review of the literature and recommendations was completed by Vista Science and Technology and can be accessed through the Landscape Ontario website at the shortlink gfl.me/h2U3
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Don’t miss Eastern Ontario’s Landscape & Construction Show…
Now BIGGER than ever! You won’t want to miss this one! With over 100 exhibitors, GreenTrade Expo 2017 is your one-stop place for the latest products, business-building ideas & valuable contacts. Here’s a taste of what we’ve got planned…
The 3rd Annual Awards of Distinction Gala & Casino Night – This ticketed event, held the evening before GreenTrade Expo 2017, recognizes and inspires excellence among our industry suppliers and Chapter members.
A Vegas-style Casino Night follows the Awards Gala.
Great Industry Networking – For business-
growing ideas, new products, or just to reconnect – with over 1,400 attendees and over 100 exhibitors you can network to your heart’s content.
Ottawa Chapter of Landscape Ontario
The night before the show!
The Educational Workshops – The ticketed MTO Contractors Breakfast and FREE business building seminars – offer something for everyone.
New & Exciting Door Prizes – To be eligible, register on-line TODAY!
And much, much more…
February 15th, 2017 • 9 am - 3 pm EY Centre • Ottawa Airport Register on-line TODAY for your FREE admission to GreenTrade Expo 2017…
www.GreenTrade.ca
Brought to you by the Ottawa Chapter of
WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 19
EXECUTIVE DESK Make a life-long impression on actions alone Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director
J
anuary signifies renewal. It’s a new year; the canvas is clean and we start over. Opportunities, challenges and new adventures are before us. Thinking ahead has me also thinking about purpose. How do we crystallize our purpose in the work we do and the relationships we maintain? How do we find meaning day-to-day? How do we make a positive impact? How do we leave a legacy of goodwill and inspiration? These are complex and profound questions people have been asking themselves for generations. They are deeply personal questions. These questions got me to thinking about my own life. Where have my influences come from? What experiences do I remember that have shaped my personality? Here, I will share some select memories with you in an effort to find purpose and meaning from them. I clearly remember my first grade teacher. She had empathy. She cared. I also remember my grade five math teacher because he compared me to my older
sister and wondered aloud if I would be as good in math as her. That experience turned me off math to this very day. As a teenager, I remember my mother sleeping beside me when I was recovering from a car accident. I was very fortunate to have an amazing mom. She had an abundance of love and concern for just about everyone in her circle of family and friends. In college, two incidents influenced my career. Before being accepted into the landscape program at Humber College I was interviewed by program coordinator Rick Hook. Mr. Hook was an intimidating character. He had a rich vocabulary and used words I had never heard before. I was a directionless young man who was wondering if the landscape profession was right for me. As I walked into Rick’s office, he did something I remember vividly to this day. It was a very simple gesture with a permanent impact. He stood up from behind his large and spotless desk and sat in the chair beside me. I have no idea what we talked about, but from this simple experience, I knew he cared. A year later, the landscape department was hosting a seminar featuring a panel discussion on the future of the profession. The panelists were the “who’s-who” of the industry, including the college president and a highly-placed Minister of Parliament (possibly even the Minister of Colleges and Universities). Students were required
to attend and as we filed into the theatre, one of the teachers, Art Coles, took me aside and asked me to moderate the panel. It was a frightening and overwhelming request. I hesitated, but Art kept encouraging me. He had more faith in my ability than I did, so I moderated the panel. I remember the feeling of exhilaration once it was all over. What touched me more was Art’s support and belief in me. Last month, something very interesting happened at the Landscape Ontario office. As I was walking out of a meeting, both Rick Hook and Art Coles were in the lobby looking for me. Both are retired. They were meeting at the LO office as part of the Niagara Parks Alumni Association. I had not seen Rick in decades. I welcomed him into my office and I made a point of sitting in the chair beside him. It was wonderful to relay the story about his simple gesture and how much it had affected my own approach. I also had the opportunity to tell Art about his influence on me. There is a well-known saying, “People may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.” I am sure you have many similar stories and experiences. Now let’s go back to my opening questions. Can these simple memories reveal meaning and purpose? There is a thread of care, concern, optimism and positivity that connect the stories. We all have an awesome opportunity to create memories for others that will connect and inspire generations to come. May our collective New Year’s resolutions involve those experiences that will make our families, employees and customers feel that we care. Your LO family wishes you prosperity, health and happiness in the world. Tony DiGiovanni may be reached at tony@landscapeontario.com.
Next Session January 27, 2017. LO Office, Milton Join fellow business owners for a fun day of networking and blast through the session topics we tackled together in 2016: • Managing Your Brand • Succession Planning • Strategic Planning • Hiring and Keeping Millennials • Effective Delegating
Come armed with your biggest success story of 2016 and the challenges you want to tackle most in 2017. You will leave the session energized and armed with great advice to launch your business to new heights in 2017.
Register online at horttrades.com/p2p
Join the Peer Network today! Visit horttrades.com/p2p to join the Linked in group or email info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com
20 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Myscha will continue to inspire and support the chapters to increase membership by hosting first-class meetings and events. Myscha is organizing our messaging at Congress and is implementing a strategy to follow up with the overwhelming amount of leads generated at the show.
Meghan Greaves
LO’s membership team, profiled left to right, gearing up for this year’s membership campaign.
March of the Millennials By Denis Flanagan CLD Manager of Membership and Public Relations
O
nce again, we will be initiating a membership campaign this year. The vibrant, young and talented membership team of Cassandra Wiesner, Myscha Stafford and Meghan Greaves will be leading the charge (see photo).
Cassandra Wiesner
Cassandra is entering into her second year at Landscape Ontario and has a passion for the environment. She has proven to be a natural fit with many of our programs and has already
established a bee hive and pollinator garden at the Milton site and will be reviving the LO Environment Stewardship Committee. On an daily basis, Cassandra deals with numerous member and potential member inquiries, oversees our data base (which includes updating student members), promotes LO and members via Instagram and deals with many other tasks. Cassandra will be playing a big part in the membership campaign.
Myscha Stafford
Myscha now has three years of experience under her belt in various roles with LO. With her experience, an obvious talent for connecting with members and a knack for creating powerful presentations, she is certainly up to the challenge of overseeing our 2017 membership campaign. Following a successful governance meeting with over 40 members in early December,
Meghan is the most recent addition to our team and is working part-time during the membership campaign. Meghan will start by concentrating on the critical step of member retention for existing members through personalized e-mails and phone calls. In January, Meghan will assist in the process of signing up new members. Meghan is also pursuing a full-time career in acting, which has proven to be a great fit — she has memorized the script explaining the many benefits of membership and has already proven successful in her role of being a persuasive salesperson. Our short term goal is to succeed with an intensive campaign over the next two months, the results of which will be reported to the Provincial Board of Directors in February. During the spring and summer months, we will continue our popular member appreciation days at Associate member’s places of business. This has proven to be a great way to reach out to potential members. We will continue to support the many chapter events and ensure any community projects are promoted to local media. Our long-term goal is to reach 3,000 members in 2017 to coincide and celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Be on the look out for LO’s Marching Millennials, they mean business! Denis Flanagan can be reached at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com or at 905-875-1805, ext. 2303.
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UNDERGROUND WORLD
Locate Rodeo
The competitive spirit among our locate professionals is one of the things that makes the ORCGA Locate Rodeo such a great event. The 2016 event was held Oct. 27-28 at the Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston which proved to be a real challenge for organizers and participants. The competition requires at least 40 volunteers and we thank the industry for their great support. Several of our winners will go on to locate events in the United States next year. Our thanks to Keith Begley, manager, activities, logistics and programs, for his diligent planning and follow-up, which made the event a great success. All sponsorships were sold out.
Geographic Councils (GCs) The annual golf tournament provides a great place for all stakeholders in the damage prevention industry to come together.
2016 year in review By Terry Murphy CLM
I
t’s time to look back on 2016 and ask ourselves if we had a good year. In general, the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) had a very good year. At the beginning of 2016, we were coming out of a year in which we had just moved our head office from St. Catharines to Vaughan. We basically had to replace our whole team with new talent. Even with new people in new positions, the team performed very well. Our events were very well received and successful. This was due to a real team effort by all staff.
Staffing
In November 2015, our accountant of 10 years decided not to move to Vaughan with the new office, but rather to remain in St. Catharines, which meant we were looking for a new accountant. Kim Shepherd was hired and she has proven to be a real asset. In February, our marketing and geographic council person, Lori O’Doherty, resigned to pursue other interests and Jennifer Parent was assigned to this area. It was our staffing plan to hire a new events person and Keith Begley came on board in June. Jennifer worked on the golf tournament and did a great job. At the same time, Ian Munro, president, replaced Jim Douglas, and was only around for a year or so,
22 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
which meant we had a complete change in staff. The old team, which did an extremely good job in all areas, was replaced by a brand new team. What a challenge!
ORCGA Damage Prevention Symposium
Our annual symposium is the key event each year. This three-day event has seminars, an annual general meeting, trade show, guest speakers, Geographic Council meetings, awards banquet and various presentations. The event was held at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood and was attended by more than 250 participants. The events committee is always looking for fresh ideas, so if you have new ideas or thoughts on some interesting events or seminar topics, we welcome your feedback. The 2017 Symposium will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Niagara Falls from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Online registration is open for exhibitors, sponsors and delegates at orcga.com.
Golf tournament
In June, the 11th annual ORCGA golf tournament at Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility in Ajax was a huge success. The sold out tournament was the largest ever for an ORCGA golf event, featuring over 288 golfers. We thank our many volunteers and sponsors who made it a great day. Thanks also to Jennifer Parent who planned the event. Plans are already underway for our 2017 golf event.
While all of our major events are important, the Geographic Councils are key meetings that drive everything the ORCGA does. We have 13 geographic areas and we try to have three to four meetings each year in each area. Head office always has a representative at each meeting. Each council has a chair and a co-chair who must keep their council organized and ensure there is good communication so members know what the direction of the ORCGA is in that area. It is our goal in 2017 to make our councils more strategic and challenging to help us achieve more positive and tangible results, such as increasing membership. We also want to give new members the opportunity to introduce themselves at local GC meetings and tell everyone what they do by having a five minute introduction session. This gives them a chance to share information and to partner on projects where appropriate. The GC’s were well attended and all but one showed a doubledigit increase in attendance in 2016.
Help us to help you
In light of the many changes the ORCGA has gone through, the team, led by Ian Munro, has done a very good job in 2016. Participation in every event in 2016 was either equal to, or better than the previous year. As staff gain even more experience, we look forward to becoming even better in 2017. This can only happen if members and volunteers continue to support us and continue to provide their input, both good or bad about how we can work even better in the damage prevention industry. Please send your comments, suggestions and questions so we can make 2017 another great year. Terry Murphy can be reached at tvmurphy@ca.inter.net.
MEMBERSHIP Did you know…? By Myscha Burton Membership and Chapter Coordinator
O
n Dec. 8, Landscape Ontario hosted its annual Governance day for all chapter and sector group board volunteers. Governance allows members from these different groups to meet and discuss best practices, address challenges and help make decisions that direct the future of the association. This year’s Governance hosted many seasoned veterans as well as a lot of new faces. The common factor between these two groups is that everyone learned something. Throughout the many discussions we heard many members say “Did you know…?” and “I didn’t know…” in reference to membership categories, benefits and the crucial roles both chapter and sector groups play in helping LO and its members prosper. There was a lot of discussion around chapter activities and the huge value in the many networking and educational opportunities these events offer. In that spirit, I present to you, the nine things you need to know and do this winter as an LO member:
You are part of a regional chapter
Each of the nine chapters has its own Board of Directors which includes a president, vice president, provincial board representative, treasurer, secretary and many directors. Your chapter boards work closely with LO staff to host meetings with guest speakers, provide training opportunities and organize social events. Chapters also actively engaged with community greening projects and are your local connection to fellow horticultural professionals.
Staff are members too
Your employees also benefit from your LO membership with discounted pricing on seminars and training opportunities, electronic communications and digital
subscriptions to LO magazine. This winter, sign your staff up for a course at LO. Send us their names and email addresses and we will ensure they receive dig- Employees of member companies can also subscribe to weekly enews and access digital copies of LO magazine to stay informed. ital copies of the magazine and notifications ings run monthly until April and include about upcoming events. Bring them to topics on sales, marketing, staffing, the Congress and to a chapter event — great ever-popular MTO meeting and sample ways to help engage them in the company they work for and in the association vehicle inspection, plus many others. You they belong to. will benefit from expert speakers and the informal meetings that take place before Congress Conference and after the actual meeting are an excelStart 2017 off right by attending Conlent chance to network with colleagues. gress. It is truly the place to be this January. In addition to the massive trade show Ski and Spa Day What are you doing on February 23? The floor, there are also over 25 conference annual Georgian Lakelands Chapter’s Ski sessions, all geared to help you become and Spa Day is a great way to shake off more successful. Whether you are a business owner, manager, or part of a team, those mid-winter blues, see friends and there is a Conference session of interest also make some new connections. Members of every chapter are welcome to to you. attend to ski, visit the spa, or do both.
LO booth
The LO booth at Congress will be a little different this year. It will still be the hub for information about Landscape Ontario, but we are putting an emphasis on the community that is Landscape Ontario and are encouraging everyone to visit our booth to connect with fellow professionals. Our members are what make Landscape Ontario what it is, and we encourage you to share in this communal ownership of LO and utilize the booth for your networking needs.
Tailgate
Where can you get great (free) food, entertainment and dancing and the bestof-the-best horticultural professionals? The answer is the Congress Tailgate Party. Happening Jan. 11 after the trade show closes, Tailgate brings everyone together in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Admission is free with your trade show badge. You will regret not coming to this.
Chapter meetings
Chapter meetings are in full swing all across the province this winter. Meet-
Winter seminars
There are over 100 seminars happening this winter. Many of these are hosted at LO’s home office in Milton, with some held regionally throughout the province as well. The full list of topics and dates as well as registration can be found at horttrades.com/seminars. There is literally something for everyone, and remember, you and your staff are eligible for the member savings on these courses.
Sector-specific lectures and conferences
This winter, the annual Lighting Conference and the Lecture Event for grounds management and landscape contractors return with great speakers. LO’s sector groups provide topics of relevance to their professions and provide a great venue for contractors, suppliers and educators to get informed on the latest method and technologies in the field. All event details are available on horttrades.com, or you can contact me directly at myscha@landscapeontario.com or call 1-800-265-5656 ext. 2333. WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 23
APPRENTICESHIP Make 2017 a year of training By J. Alex Gibson LO Eastern Ontario Apprenticeship Program Development Coordinator
T
he Apprenticeship Program provides employers a cost-effective and industry-specific tool for training staff. The program is a
Apprenticeship success story: Greentario Located in Hamilton, Ont., business partners Lou Filice and Carmine Filice, CLP have 40 employees and have been serving LO’s Golden Horseshoe Chapter region for over 25 years. Greentario recently registered six apprentices and Carmine shares his thoughts on the program. What benefits do you see in training your employees through the apprenticeship program? A strong organization begins with a strong, well-educated and skilled workforce. My business partner and I are serious about providing upward mobility and building a skilled workforce. Through the program, each individual will increase their skill set which will benefit them personally and the team with which they work. The result, a stronger, more skilled Greentario. What would you say to another employer who might be considering putting their staff through the apprenticeship program? There is no down side to encouraging and providing avenues for your staff to increase their skills through training and education. A skilled worker is always an asset, regardless of their title or position.
24 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
mix of 20 per cent in-class training and 80 per cent on-the-job work experience. Employee apprentices work with company trainers during their regular work day to complete the required on-the-job competencies log-book for the program. The apprentice also works for 12 weeks (usually January through March) to complete two in-class training sessions offered at one of five colleges (Algonquin, Fanshawe, Humber, Loyalist and Mohawk) across the province. The apprentice takes approxi-
mately three to four years to obtain all program requirements. Once these requirements are met, and the apprentices successfully pass their final exam, they will gain their Red Seal (a training designation recognized across Canada). A number of employers who have invested their time in the program have noticed improved employee retention and overall job satisfaction. Why not join the growing number of companies who are taking advantage of tax credits, financial incentives training benefits, and improved employee retention that comes with participation in the program?
LO is here to support you
For more information about the Apprenticeship Program or to register, contact Alex Gibson at 613-809-5093 or apprenticeship@landscapeontario.com and visit horticulturetechnician.ca.
MEET TWO GREENTARIO APPRENTICES Kyle Ramsden enjoys tree planting and the ability to work outdoors in his first year in the profession. What were your top three reasons for registering in the Apprenticeship Program? 1. Government subsidies 2. Employer encouraged me to participate 3. Was looking for post-secondary training in the profession What would you say to someone who might be thinking about registering in apprenticeship? Consider this an amazing opportunity if you’re looking to break into the landscape profession. It will help improve your skills, as well as your productivity. Corry Moffatt has been working in the landscape profession for nine years, and says the major benefits are working outdoors and that people really appreciate the work he loves so much. What were your top three reasons for registering in the Apprenticeship Program? 1. Further my career 2. Great experience 3. Study my passion What would you say to someone who might be thinking about registering in apprenticeship? It is a great opportunity to get the experience you will need to become a great leader in the landscape, maintenance and hardscaping fields.
PROSPERITY PARTNERS Abracadabra! Three unexpected steps to improved team results By Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager
I
n last month’s column, I introduced the concept of the Invisible Business Arena. This is the place in which the communication disconnects, and drivers of cohesiveness and missed opportunities dwell in most businesses. This intangible space lies in between your metrics, KPIs, apps and company-specific procedures. It’s where collaboration trumps coersion and making sustainable change can be a dream come true. It’s also where frazzled entrepreneurs can find ‘aha’ moments when they least expect them. Given practice and the right tools, the invisible barriers blocking your next level of success can be transformed into your best advantage. Based on my experience coaching countless business owners, the following are just a few of the simple steps you can take to strengthen your team. When practiced consistently, these steps will help to accelerate results and improve your ability to focus on what you need to.
Show them what it looks like
Attention to detail; accurate completion of tasks to the company standard; sequence of work flow; pace; efficient processes; safe work practices; proper equipment operation; materials handling methods; and roper use of apps and systems for flow of information. All of the above (and many more) can most effectively be conveyed by demonstrating first-hand what is required and expected. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then demonstration is worth a million. We work in a profession of people who like to be on the move, and who, on average, prefer hands-on learning; seeing and hearing all at the same time. The reality is, when the pressure is on (and you are pressed for time), you force yourself to clearly demonstrate what’s required just once, then you will get a far better end
result, over and over again on that task. Quick verbal instructions rarely work, and texts are even less effective in conveying critical (and often visual) details.
Explain the importance of their role The days of finding reliable, loyal labourers who are willing to work tirelessly day after day without a sense of future opportunity or valued contribution are pretty much over. My advice is to get used to it. As employers, we are now in an era where our labour force is looking to have different (and additional) basic needs met than an entry level or moderately-skilled labourer did a generation ago. Today’s workforce is looking to understand where they fit in and in what ways their contribution matters. This trend has become an important part of successful onboarding — and a key component in employee retention. The more you can articulate and demonstrate ways in which employees can be successful, the better. This includes providing a clear job description which includes accountabilities — these are simply a list of what a successful employee accomplishes. This list can be baked into a performance evaluation template. Performance evaluation? Yes, that’s the meeting you have with every employee, two or more times a year, to identify areas they are working as expected and other areas that need improvement. Here is an example of accountabilities for a landscape maintenance lead hand: • Excellence in leadership (proactive, motivational, team building) communication and interpersonal skills • Manages project budgets effectively • Follows and enforces the company employee manual and safety program • Applies exceptional plant care knowledge proactively • Ensures safe, timely and professional completion of crew tasks • Manages conflict within the guidelines of company violence and harassment policy • Provides clear direction and responds to crew member questions with respect • Prioritizes, delegates and plans effectively (use of time, materials and equipment) • Demonstrates keen focus on customer
experience and proactive communication • Operates company vehicles in a safe and professional manner • Practices good housekeeping of tools, etc. on all sites at all times • Brings concerns, ie: safety or staff issues promptly to the attention of management • Follows and engages staff in company procedures and policies as outlined in the handbook • Punctual, dependable and “steps up” in peak season when needed • Attends all mandatory meetings, contributes appropriately and collaborates with peers • Actively contributes to effective management of resources (schedule, logistics, etc.)
Listen to them
If your door is open, they will come, and you will build inclusivity in your company culture. If your door is closed, (ie: you project yourself as being authoritarian and unwilling to change your ways) they will not bring their creative ideas, nor their full potential to their work. Some of the best ideas I ever built into my landscape company operations and systems came from my staff. What was best for my business often came from listening to the growing collective wisdom of my team, rather than from an outsourced system. This led to sustainable changes made to improve efficiency and effectiveness. When new ideas come from them, you need not worry about gaining buy-in. In addition to gaining right-fit solutions to improve productivity, a better, more cohesive team can emerge. The bottom line is when people know their opinion counts, they try harder. A cautionary note for clarity: this concept doesn’t mean your employees are given permission to ‘drive the company bus,’ or that in any way you create an expectation whereby you would adopt every suggestion they make. Rather, you encourage their ideas, discuss benefits, weigh pros and cons, and adapt where beneficial — with an open mind and a sharp eye on outcomes. I suggest you identify where you business is truly performing and contributing to profit and where it isn’t. Then consider what invisible factors may be contributing to your results. I can pretty much guarantee the true drivers of your success (or lack thereof) are hiding in the ether between your systems, policies and productivity. Jacki Hart may be contacted at peertopeer@landscapeontario.com. WWW.HORTTRADES.COM 25
CLASSIFIEDS
ADVERTISERS
All classified ads must be pre-paid by credit card. Rates: $50.85 (HST included) per column inch Min. order $50.85. 15% discount on ads run for entire calendar year. Box Numbers: Additional $10. Confidentiality ensured. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). January deadline is Dec. 10. Space is limited to a first come, first served basis. To advertise: E-mail your name, phone number and ad to Robert at classifieds@landscapeontario.com. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $67.80 (HST included) for Associaton members and $90.40 HST included for non-members. Website ads are posted for 31 days. View ads online at www.horttrades.com/classifieds. Post employment ads for free at landscape.jobs.
Arctic Equipment Mfg. Corp.
www.arcticsnowplows.com
866-757-1243
Page 28
www.braungroup.com
800-246-6984
Page 18
www.emal.ca
416-293-3077
Page 13
www.expresswaytrucks.com
800-558-7364
Page 18
www.georgian.ca
705-733-3777
Page 2
www.glwp.ca
877-266-0636
Page 11
www.avalancheplow.com
905-844-2229
Page 10
www.landscapestore.ca
905-336-3369
Page 12
www.lewismotorsinc.com
705-728-3026
Page 7
www.metalpless.com
866-362-1688
Page 5
www.muskokarockcompany.com
705-687-8700
Page 9
www.newroadsleasing.com
416-587-1021
Page 17
Nisco National Leasing
www.niscocanada.com
888-634-9559
Page 8
Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.
www.sipkensnurseries.com
866-843-0438
Page 21
South Oakville Chrysler Fiat
www.southoakvillechrysler.com
905-845-6653
Page 11
Uxbridge Nurseries Limited
www.uxbridgenurseries.com
877-655-3379
Page 16
www.krausnurseries.com
905-689-4022
Page 10
Braun Nursery Limited East Metro Auto Leasing Expressway Hino Waterloo Georgian Chevrolet Great Lakes Wood Products Inc. Ledex Industries (Avalanche Plows) Legends Landscape Supply Inc. Lewis Motor Sales Inc.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WANTED, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER /ESTIMATOR Preferably with your own business, to work with Bouwmeister Landscaping Ltd., an award winning company that has been in business in York Region and the GTA for over 36 years. Must have experience in design, sales and project management. Bouwmeister Landscaping is highly respected in the industry. Please contact Gary at garyb@bouwmeister.com
Metal Pless Inc. Muskoka Rock Company Ltd. Newroads National Leasing
V. Kraus Nurseries Ltd.
Lecture Event
Featuring the Landscape Contractors Lecture Series and Grounds Management Lecture
February 8, 2017 LIONHEAD GOLF AND CONFERENCE CENTRE
8525 Mississauga Road, Brampton, Ontario
Join industry peers and learn about lighting industry specific issues. Meet with suppliers to find out about new products and technologies. REGISTRATION Early bird pricing until Jan. 25th $90 per member, $110 per non-member Regular pricing after Jan. 25th $110 per member, $130 per non-member. Includes sessions, lunch, trade show and reception.
LIGHTINGCONFERENCE.CA 26  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017
Tues., Feb. 28, 2017
2:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fontana Primavera Event Centre, 77 Woodstream Blvd, Vaughan, ON L4L 7Y6
Join your peers for creative inspiration, education and understanding (and dinner!). Early bird price until Feb 14th: $25 for member or non-member Then goes up to $40 for member or non-member. Ticket includes dinner.
LandscapeLecture.ca
An inititiative of
Together we
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Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Toda, Dank, Obrigado, Mahalo, Danke, Grazie, Hvala, Arigato ...
Congress ’17
has FABULOUS partners ...you guys rock! CONGRESS SHOW PARTNERS
H A R D S C A P E CO M M I T T E E
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28  LANDSCAPE ONTARIO JANUARY 2017