Landscape Ontario - April 2022 by Landscape Ontario

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

April 2022

IN THIS ISSUE

MEMBER PROFILE:

D.B MAW LANDSCAPING PAGE 4

SUPPLY CHAIN STRUGGLES PAGE 6

PM 40013519

Q&A WITH WOMEN IN LANDSCAPING GROUP PAGE 10

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

April 2022 • Volume 40 - No. 04 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.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Features 4

Member Profile: D.B Maw Landscaping Services

Supply Chain Struggles

Women in Landscaping Q&A

Unilock Celebrates 50 Years

Departments 14

Association News

Educator Profile

Professional News

Columns

Advertisers/Classifieds

Director of Communications and Publications - Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Creative Director - Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Communications Coordinator and Content Manager - Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Multimedia Journalist - Karina Sinclair ksinclair@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7550 Account Manager - Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Business Development - Liz Lant elant@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 Communications Coordinator - Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Digital Marketing Specialist - Adele Bedard abedard@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-4144 Accountant - Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF

Sonam Arora, Nolan Bechtel, Janet Behrens, Liz Blaauwendraat, Amy Buchanan, Joan D’Souza, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Rebecca Harrison, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Anna Hulskramer, Melissa Kooiman, Amanda Laszcz, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Brenden McCrory, Kathy McLean, Shalini Mehta, Lisa Pascoe, Sarah Rafols, Jaleesa Rhoden, Daria Ruginis, Joe Salemi, Christy Sebastian, Ian Service, Candice Styles, Vicki Thomson, Jessica Tucker, David Turnbull, Tom Somerville

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby, Nick Winkelmolen Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department - Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805

Take time to enjoy one of the many pubic gardens Ontario has to offer

that surround the castle. The Toronto Botanical Garden and Edwards Gardens at Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. feature spring bulbs, plant collections and woodland walkways. And along the shore of Lake Ontario on Queens Quay West, the Music Gardens designed by Julie Moir Messervy in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma are a treat for the senses. Ottawa will host the 70th anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival from May 13-23, 2022. The downtown parkways, pedestrian walkways and parks will be ablaze with colour and countless varieties of tulips. After the tulip festival there are other beautiful gardens to see, including 50 Sussex International Peace Garden, the National Gallery of Canada Gardens and its interior courtyard garden and the Bank of Canada Plaza Garden, which includes a rooftop terrace garden. This is just a small sampling of many beautiful garden spaces across Ontario. Every community has public spaces with garden displays and many private gardens open for viewing at various times throughout the year. We work diligently and for long hours to create beautiful spaces for our clients, but often neglect to take time to enjoy the beauty we create. We need to remember to take time to also enjoy the beauty to refocus our mind and relax. I encourage you to take a couple of hours out of your busy spring to relax on a park bench or stroll along a path and listen to the birds, smell the fragrant air, breathe deeply, relax your shoulders and take in the beauty of your surroundings. Happy spring! As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

pring is in the air and summer will be here before you know it. The fresh air will help to blow COVID out of our homes and businesses. We will be able to greet, dine, work and enjoy each other’s company without masks. The Landscape Ontario COVID-19 Task Force has continued to meet online since March 2020. That is a lot of meetings to keep our membership informed about various COVID protocols, and other timely safety matters. Their commitment paved the way for a safer landscaping community. As we start to move more freely through our communities, take time to enjoy yourself. For many of us, the spring and early summer is our busiest time of year. If you love gardens like I do, it is also the prettiest time of year. There are so many great gardens and landscapes to see in Ontario. If you have a chance this spring, I highly recommend you get out to see them. Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, for example, features 2,700 acres of blissful gardens, including tulips in spring, followed by a magnificent display of lilacs, right through to the height of rose season in July. In the Windsor area, the Dieppe Gardens have rose gardens with interconnected pathways for a scenic walk along the Detroit River and the riverside Odette Sculpture Garden has art installations and gardens as well. Toronto is privileged to have the beautiful indoor Allan Gardens Conservatory on the aptly named Horticultural Avenue. Also in Toronto, the gardens at Casa Loma showcase breathtaking rhododendrons and azaleas

ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 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 2022, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 9x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please email subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

Lindsay Drake Nightingale LO President info@yorkshiregardenservices.com 3

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Member Profile

ber Profile

Success through

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

D.B MAW

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Huntsville, Ont.

By Chris Occhiuzzi areas. While being a full-service landscaping company – from gardens and irrigation to stonework and lighting – D.B Maw also works with specialists on various projects. His company often works with stoneworker Mike Brown of Brown’s Landscaping and Jennifer Meunier of Majestic Gardens and Landscaping, who specializes in gardening and softscape projects. “I’ll come up with an idea and say, ‘this is great,’ but then Mike will come up with an idea and say, ‘well that’s great, but what if we did it this way?’” says Maw. “So we’ll play off each other.” Together, they figure out the plan right down to the final touches, including plantings, lighting, and irrigation. And the clients get the benefit of having several creative and talented people sharing ideas and collaborating.

ongevity in business comes from understanding the needs of your clients and building a team that can provide those needs. Those are just two of the reasons D.B Maw Landscaping has been successful over the past 25 years and counting. Understanding clients’ needs means more than just knowing what they want the finished project to look like, explains owner Dale Maw; it also means thinking about how your work process will impact your clients.

FULL FORCE FOCUS

“A lot of clients have said that they’ve used other contractors and they’ve sort of been there all summer,” Maw explains. “The project drags on.” By contrast, D.B Maw only works on one project at a time. “We get in, get the job done and move on to the next one.” Maw says clients like to know they won’t be looking at — or moving around — a large landscaping project all summer. This is particularly important in Muskoka, where D.B Maw is based, because the cottage season can be extremely short. Maw’s team makes a point of making sure a project is completed before moving on full force to a new one. If there is overlap between two projects, it is minor. “We’re not spread thin at three or more job sites,” says Maw. “For 75 per cent of the project, our whole crew will be there. Then 25 per cent of the time, there will be an overlap with guys moving on to the next project or finishing up small jobs on the site.”

WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CLIENTS

No matter who is working on the project, though, the clients only deal with one person: Dale Maw. “I’m that go-to guy. I meet and communicate with the clients,” he says. “It keeps things clear and there is no middleman. That leads to the best results.” And when a project involves new home construction, he adds, the best results always come if he can get involved early in the process. Coordinating with other contractors on the site can save the homeowners time and money. “Instead of digging a trench four times — one for hydro, one for propane, one for this, one for that — all that can be done by one person organizing it at the beginning,” he says. “We’ve got a foundation drain going here, so let’s get some eavestrough drains going to the corners, where we know the troughs are going to be.” Once work is underway, Maw photographs every stage of the project — not only for his own records, but also to keep the clients updated on the progress if they are off-site.

CREW RETENTION

It’s also important to have a crew of dedicated people who take pride in their work. Maw says he pays a little more than the industry average, but with that he expects a little more from his team. The result is a family-like atmosphere where everyone works hard for each other. “They’re on board with that and they like that direction,” says Maw. “When you’re working and you’re busy, the day goes fast, everybody gets along, we have a good time. If I’m off a job planning something else and I come back, there is never a time where I have to say, ‘go and clean that up, or move this over here.’ They know what to do.”

BIG CHANGES HELPS EFFICIENCY

Success also means keeping up with advancements in the profession. Maw says one of the game changers in the industry over the past 25 years is the stone vacuum lifter, which allows for easier movement and more precise placement of large stones. A patio that used to take five days to complete now only takes two. It’s yet another way that D.B Maw Landscaping stays dedicated to doing the best job possible for their clients. It’s also why they can look forward to many more years in the industry.

WORKING WITH OTHER EXPERTS

After a quarter century in business, Maw says he’s learned that rather than trying to be an expert at everything, it’s important to hire people who have strong skill sets in specific

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Supply chain

STRUGGLES O

ne of the most common topics for discussion during the pandemic (other than the pandemic itself) has been supply chain issues. Just about everywhere you turn, you’re bound to encounter either sticker shock or something out of stock. Landscaping has not been immune, with all sectors facing difficult decisions about what products and services they’ll be able to offer during a time of uncertainty. A variety of landscape sector representatives were invited to share their perspectives at the Landscape Ontario Virtual Congress Conference, held Jan. 18-20, 2022. The panellists included: James Riddell, SiteOne Landscape Supply; Jeff Olsen, Brookdale Treeland Nurseries; Mike Schiedel, Greenhorizons Sod Farms, Jason Ireton, Plant Products; and Jason Vettese, Best Way Stone. They all agreed supply chain issues will continue causing challenges through the 2022 season.

Managing product shortages and rising costs By Karina Sinclair

Unexpected consequences

Although the pandemic has been a major disruptor, other factors have also added to the difficulties. Major climate events like floods, droughts, and hurricanes disrupted exports around the world. For example, an unexpected deep freeze in Texas in 2021 interrupted the availability of

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

sod farmers looking toward alternative crops. “A certain percentage of sod farmers during that time decided that the demand direction was going to go down and they decided to plant corn and soybean, eating up all those available side acres,” Scheidel says. Their forecast was wrong; demand from homeowners rose roughly 35 per cent during the pandemic. The wholesale market also increased about 20 per cent. Thanks to over planting in 2021, Scheidel does expect sod supply to normalize, but not until the 2023 season. Jason Vettese says the hardscaping industry has been “having a pretty great growth year over year” thanks to a value perception shift away from travel toward outdoor living. But when the pandemic began in 2020, most manufacturers shut their doors. “We didn’t know if people were going to lock up their wallets or were going to start spending,” Vettese says. “So everyone kind of took a careful route, not just Best Way Stone, but most manufacturers, also for the safety of our employees. We kind of locked everything up and that really put us behind the eight ball.” New stone and hardscape production facilities are being built in Ontario but even those are at the mercy of limited raw materials. Some manufacturers have been forced to limit their product offering. Vettese says “product innovation has really been paused. Why come up with all these new products when we can’t even supply them?”

resin, which in turn affected output of PVC pipes and plastic pots needed for irrigation and growing inputs. Labour disputes at ports across North America created long delays in unloading shipping containers. Some containers were even lost at sea. Since early 2020, COVID19 has only intensified those existing complications by straining the workforce and presenting new barriers.

Labour shortages

Many growers rely on the 25,000 to 35,000 seasonal workers brought to Canada each year through the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. COVID-19 caused major disruptions to the program. Outbreaks, travel complications, red tape and ever-changing testing protocols meant less temporary foreign workers were available. Workers who contracted the virus needed time off to recover. Those who were exposed needed to quarantine, resulting in temporary closures or complete shutdowns. There were capacity limits for indoor spaces, and for a while, the government stopped all “non-essential” construction, even if that work was outdoors. Some businesses reported they were able to fill some of the labour gaps with employees who moved into the horticulture profession from the service and hospitality industries. However, a significant gap remains.

Availability is a long game

Not every supply chain pain is the current pandemic’s fault. Growers face supply availability that was set many years ago due to long growth cycles. Jeff Olsen referenced the Christmas tree shortage in 2021 as something that was created at the planning stage “10, 12 years ago. And so in our world and the growers’ world, decisions we’re making today are going to impact you three to five to seven years to 10 years from now. And so just keep that in mind when you’re thinking about live goods in terms of what you need on your jobs or in your retail stores.” Plants with long production cycles will continue to be in extremely short supply, especially for residential projects. This includes large cedars, boxwoods, Japanese maples, columnar trees like beech, and large conifers like blue spruce. Olsen suggests it will be difficult to find “anything that you think of when you look at a nice house getting the landscape done. That’s the stuff that’s going to be short.” He predicts this shortage will continue for the next five years, as it takes that long to grow. There has been less demand for commercial projects, so caliper trees for street or park landscaping are still readily available. “There’s some shortages in certain varieties, but generally across the board, they’re not in as bad of shape as the rest of the goods,” Olsen explained. While sod also has a long production cycle, it has a very short shelf life. Mike Scheidel says “it’s a two to three year crop… and once it’s harvested on that skid, it really only has a one-day shelf life.” Sod is also highly localized and perishable, so extra supply can’t be imported from beyond about a 200 kilometre radius. In the pandemic’s early days, the uncertainty had some

Short supply

Both raw and finished goods continue to be hard to source. For instance, growers are challenged with finding enough plastic pots for inputs — something that would normally be ordered a month or two in advance. Olsen says “we are ordering and taking delivery of pots for 2023 just to ensure supply.” The price of pesticides like glyphosate has risen roughly 50 per cent. Demand for grass seed, driven by both homeowners and contractors, has driven prices up 50-75 per cent. According to Scheidel, “everybody relates to fuel and equipment, and both of those line items are in that 25 per cent range. It’s just every year hit from all sides that there has just been increases across the board.” Panellists advised that if you can get your hands on fertilizer and you need it in your business, take it. Some growers are placing orders up to 18 months in advance just to ensure they’ll get some — even though fertilizer has seen a tremendous price increase. Historically, a typical farmer might have paid between three to four hundred dollars for a ton of urea. In early 2022, farmers may need to budget closer to $1,200 for the same amount.

Pass it along

Higher costs are affecting all sectors. The panellists agreed that to maintain a viable business, those costs must be passed along to the end user. Jason Ireton says “make sure you’re increasing your program cost to your customers. You do not need to absorb this alone.” Vettese says his company has tried to “eat what we can

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

ahead of time for projects in the first half of the year, but to be wary of buying too far in advance, knowing that demand and prices could soften. Scheidel agrees. “We encourage everybody to have lots of communication with their supply chain, with their suppliers and with their customers, and we feel that that’s going to be the most important point for a successful 2022.” Setting expectations is also critical. “Don’t offer the world,” Vettesse says. “If you don’t think you’re going to be able to supply it or service it, try to really narrow what you can control.”

along the way as a manufacturer just to try not to disturb our customer base as much. But at the end of the day, there’s only so much you can do.” The panel also advised contractors to reach out to suppliers and partners early to gather information on availability and potential cost increases that may come later in the season. This documentation can be presented to clients to explain why their project may cost more or take longer than expected. Contractors should also consider adding caveats to quotes, like a 30-day expiration date, to protect against cost increases. Vettese suggests “whether you’re a manufacturer, supplier or a contractor, because pricing will fluctuate, you may have to adjust a quote that’s already gone out already. So having something in there to help protect you in terms of quotes, if you’re quoting three or four months down the road and pricing changes 20-30 per cent, you can’t be expected to do that job for free.”

The future

The big question is whether strong demand will continue as the pandemic subsides and the travel and hospitality industries open up. Vettese says “depending on how this COVID situation unfolds, we may be hitting a saturation point or tipping point where it might start returning back to more normal demand levels in the next couple of years.” No one has a crystal ball to predict how it will all play out in the coming months. But each of the supply chain panellists believes that by communicating early and often with suppliers, being diligent with planning, and passing on increased costs to the end user, you can find success in 2022.

Planning and communication

James Riddell suggests the best way forward is to take time during the off-season to set a more detailed schedule. “In the past, we didn’t know what month the project was going to fall. This is the year where you over-communicate and work with your partner. Your supply chain partners are going to have the greatest impact on your business.” Riddell advises his peers to prepare by buying materials

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London-based group provides networking, community for green professionals

omen in Landscaping co-founders Pam Cook and Carla Bailey joined Scott Barber on a recent Landscape Ontario Podcast episode to discuss the welcoming community they’ve fostered through their group based in London, Ont. Through networking oppotunities and special events, the group aims to provide a supportive community for green professionals and to encourage even more women to enter the profession.. How did you find your way into the landscape profession? Bailey: Coming into landscaping is very kismet for me. It was not what I went to school for, was not what I was expecting to do. And then life changed a little bit and all of a sudden I met Landscape Ontario about 11 or 12 years ago. I started doing chapter coordination in the London chapter, which introduced me to some really interesting business people. Ten years on, I do the human resources for TLC Landscaping. I sit on the London board now, as opposed to being their coordinator. Cook: I started my landscaping industry experience as a Fanshawe [College] student. I took the horticulture program and was really involved with Landscape Ontario with the student chapter, as well as on the local board, then worked my way up through. I’m just obsessed with the green industry, be it landscaping, be it design, be it trees, plants, plant health care, you name it. It’s my jam. And nothing makes me more excited than to be able to participate in it and share my excitement with other people. So that’s kind of where the Women in Landscaping thing came together — finding like-minded individuals who were just as excited about our industry and wanting to share our passion and our love for it and making sure that it gave people the opportunity to stay and know that there’s a long-term career. How did the Women in Landscaping group get started? Cook: It started in 2018 when a group of us within the industry acknowledged a need to support women and to support newcomers into our industry, that there was sort of a disconnect with women who maybe are the only woman in a group or the only woman in a crew who didn’t have that camaraderie or didn’t have that group of people to share with.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO We started out with just a small group of folks actually, and Fanshawe College was our first event. We invited all the students, as well as all of our industry leaders that we knew to come and join us and have a really heart-to-heart conversation about what it meant to be a woman in their industry and what it meant to support each other. Who were some of the early members? Cook: The beautiful thing was it was all walks of our industry, from entry level students coming in, to professionals who have gone through the last 20, 30 years of their career and to come together to share experiences. Sally Harvey [current Landscape Ontario director of education and workforce development] was one of our first speakers to share with the group what it meant to be a woman and growing up through this industry and developing their career. And since then we’ve done a number of meetings together. We’ve done plant walks together. We’ve done youth engagement events as well, where we’ve done a Toucha-Truck where we engaged with the youth in our area and brought thousands and thousands of kids and parents together to experience what it meant to be in our industry. How do members benefit from joining the group? Bailey: It is a ridiculously supportive group of people. Pam touched on we have everyone from students to business owners 30 years into their business and the honest truth is you sit around the table and everybody there wants you to be successful. So if there is a question, there might be 75 answers. To be able to sit in that room and hear of different walks of life and different histories, different paths that they want to go on to, it’s such a support. It really is. What’s it like to have a career in the landscape industry? Cook: Honestly, it’s been absolutely incredible to participate in our industry. It’s a really engaging group of people. There are so many facets to what we do and so many different ways that we can utilize our talents. It’s not one of those careers where you come in and you’re going to do the same thing for your entire career. There’s so many different avenues you can take based on your skills, based on your experience, but also based on your wants and hopes for your career. I think that’s probably the most incredible thing about

this profession. The sky’s the limit. You’re the only person holding you back from succeeding. Bailey: I come from it obviously a little bit differently than Pam. Pam had wanted to be in this industry. I didn’t know about this industry. So there was a lot of wide-eyed early days of ‘okay, this is what this means.’ And learning from the technical language up to the slang that gets used. When I look back, would I change anything? Absolutely not. The opportunities that are out there for people that hustle is pretty much limitless. If you want to go that educational path, there are so many different opportunities there. If you want to eventually move into management, move into ownership, there are so many groups that you can lean on. It’s a billion dollar industry in the province of Ontario. However, it’s very tight knit. People know each other. People try to support each other, which is not traditional. So I think it’s a fantastic, fantastic life I fell into ten years ago. What would you say to women wondering about pursuing a career in landscaping? Cook: I would say don’t let anything hold you back. Don’t look at things as a limitation. There’s lots and lots of different resources. And how you get into this industry and where this industry can take you...ask questions. Get in there. Call up local companies. Call up local organizations: Women in Landscaping, Landscape Ontario. There’s so many people out there that are willing to share their knowledge and share their excitement for this industry. And the first thing you have to do is ask. What do you say to anyone wondering if your group is right for them? Bailey: 100 per cent it’s for them. Obviously, pre-COVID things were a little bit different. The events we were having ranged from career paths, from education, from design skills to human resources skills. There is much you could learn from the speakers we bring in and the community that we have.

THE

PODCAST

Currently, Women in Landscaping is a grassroots organization. We are based in London, Ontario, and we’re making sure that we’re well structured there before rolling out to whatever that might look like [in other communities]. But we’re more than happy to talk about if your community can host this and how we can help you do that yourself. So talk to us. Ask the question. Ask any question. We’ll give you whatever we can. What are some upcoming plans and goals for Women in Landscaping? Cook: We’re all really excited and we just want to get back to being in front of people. We want to get back to engaging as much as we can. There’s some pretty amazing technologies that are in front of us that we can utilize but it’s still not the same as being in-person, networking, participating with one another. We are definitely hitting the ground running this summer. We are excited to announce we’re going to do a Touch-a-Truck for the summer in a central location, same expectations as before, if not bigger and better. It’s free to the public. And what we really want to do is just get in front of people and educate and provide knowledge about what we do, what equipment is out there, what careers are out there, and that everyone is absolutely welcome. Get some kids on trucks, get messy, get dirty, honk some horns, and engage in our community. We have a new, bigger venue and we’re looking forward to that. And we’ve got other things in the works for some in-person events for our community and our network. Where can people learn more about Women in Landscaping? Bailey: The best place is going to be on our Facebook page. Just search for ‘Women in Landscaping.’ It’s been quiet [due to COVID-19] as we’ve been focusing on our families and our immediate needs but as more information comes out for our July Touch-aTruck and our future education sessions, all the information will be there for people.

This interview was adapted from an episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast, published in March 2022. To listen to the podcast, visit landscapeontario.com/podcast, or search for it on your favourite podcast app.

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CELEBRATES

Landscape Ontario: What does it mean to you and the Unilock staff to celebrate the 50th anniversary?

n 1972, Ed Bryant brought the Uni-Stone paving stone to North America, a decision that was instrumental in the development of Canada’s hardscape industry. That paving stone was also the catalyst to the founding of Unilock — a leader in concrete interlocking paver stones for patios, retaining walls, walkways and more, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. Andrew Bryant, Unilock president and CEO, and son of late founder Ed Bryant, said: “Unilock was founded by my father, Ed, on the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and strong partnerships set upon a foundation of integrity, trust and a unique family-oriented culture. “It all started with our first operation in Barrie, Ontario, where we made just 12 stones at a time and limited our focus to municipal and institutional projects. Now we have over 700 employees across 17 locations in six regional companies, have expanded our reach to include homeowners, and have manufactured millions of square feet of pavers. My father’s legacy will live on through our company and employees, our dealers, and the contractors, commercial specifiers and homeowners who continue to rely on our products to enhance outdoor living spaces. We have a lot in store for this year to mark our 50-year milestone and look forward to celebrating with our employees, partners and the industry.” Landscape Ontario magazine recently connected with Andrew Bryant to talk about what it means for Unilock to celebrate five decades in business.

Andrew Bryant: We are all so grateful to hit such a significant milestone — and proud to look back over the past five decades and consider all we have accomplished. Over the years, we have helped pave the way for the Andrew Bryant hardscape industry, and while the company was founded in Ontario, we have achieved much success in the U.S. We didn’t do it alone. In addition to our Unilock team who have been committed to helping us set the gold standard for the hardscape industry in a safe and innovative way, we truly appreciate the important role played by the many partners we have worked with throughout the years. Together with them, we look forward to celebrating throughout 2022 and reflecting on how they have helped mould us into the company we are today — and will be in the future. Can you talk about the foundation your father Ed Bryant established with the company? Why has Unilock been able to sustain success for five decades? My father founded Unilock on a spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and genuine partnerships. He coupled that spirit with a winning combination of people, products and plants, collaborating with others to ensure not only Unilock was successful, but dealers, contractors, commercial specifiers, raw material suppliers, equipment suppliers

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

We welcome all residential And commercial landscape contractors

and others, were successful as well — we all win together. This is the torch that we carry forward as we build upon this foundation and look ahead to the next 50 years. How has the industry evolved over the last five decades? What does the future of hardscaping look like? In 1972, Ed brought the Uni-Stone paving stone to North America, kick-starting the hardscape industry that we know today. Back then, the focus was on commercial projects and heavy-duty applications where the utilitarian benefits of the UNI-Stone held an advantage. But, within a few years, Ed saw the opportunity reach beyond utility and into the residential market, with products that appealed to homeowners aesthetic desires. Today, the hardscapes industry within both the commercial and residential spaces has advanced into an outdoor living category — and lifestyle — driving the focus to be about artistry and beauty, along with quality and durability. Unilock is proud to be a driving force within the industry, having brought innovations like Face-mix technology, unique surface treatments like Umbriano® and ll Campo, and the patented U-Cara Multi-Face Wall System to market. Fifty years ago, we started with one shape and colour; today, we are proud to offer more than 200 paver and wall products and an array of over 200 colour options. As we look to the future, there are certainly a number of opportunities that will continue to shape the industry for our company. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has heightened the desire to have functional, beautiful and safe outdoor living spaces within the home. As the future continues to flow along with uncertainty, we expect investment in outdoor living to continue. Another trend to watch for is mechanization, which will allow for more automated installation methods that make the prospect of working in our industry more attractive to young people. As well, the future of concrete is leaning toward sustainability, with heavy focus on ease of maintenance via technologies that keep spaces looking great for longer, permeability in both commercial and residential applications, and reductions in carbon footprints. Bottom line: the hardscape industry in North America still has tremendous growth potential and we look forward to being a part of it. Why is it important for Unilock to be involved with associations like Landscape Ontario? Unilock was founded on an appreciation of the power of entrepreneurial spirit, combined with a commitment to innovation, and genuine partnerships. The latter — strong partnerships, include associations like Landscape Ontario — that create connections to benefit the industry as a whole. Our industry needs a steady infusion of talent, professional development, training and continuing education and no one company can do it alone. Trade associations, like LO, can drive this, in addition to helping to make the hardscape industry an attractive career choice. In the end, everyone wins.

WE ARE NOW TAKING ORDERS

FOR SPRING 2022

SERVICING THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY

FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS

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ASSOCIATION NEWS BTN shortlisted for International Grower of the Year

19, but will now take place on June 14, 2022 in GreenTech Amsterdam. Winners will be announced at an evening awards ceremony. The IGOTY 2022 finalists are (in alphabetical order): • B unnik Group, Netherlands • B rookdale Treeland Nurseries, Canada • J ens Meyer Jungpflanzen, Germany • L uxaflor Roses, Zimbabwe • M atina Flowers S.A.S, Columbia • M etrolina Greenhouses, USA • P rim’rose (SCA Clementine), Morocco • S itio Kolibri, Brazil • W agagai Limited, Uganda

Longtime Landscape Ontario member, Brookdale Treeland Nurseries (BTN) from Schomburg, Ont., is one of nine ornamental growers being considered as a finalist in the International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2022. The awards — presented by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) are judged by an international jury of industry experts and recognize the best practices in horticulture production by ornamental production nurseries around the globe and celebrate the expertise and energy they give to horticulture. Brookdale Treeland Nurseries is one of the largest growers of garden plants in Canada, specializing in trees, flowering shrubs, evergreens, perennials and tropicals. BTN operates five locations with 600 employees at peak season and has over 500 acres of production. They service over 2,400 retail stores throughout Canada and the United States. The IGOTY awards were postponed due to COVID-

The IGOTY Awards 2022 consists of four categories: Finished Plants and Trees, Cut Flowers and Bulbs, Young Plants, and Sustainability. Bronze, silver and gold awards are presented in each category, and one winner is crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2022’ and given the ‘Gold Rose.’

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99 years of landscape excellence Salivan Landscape recently announced it has been sold to a new owner. The Toronto, Ont.based full service landscape company has been run by the Salivan family for 99 years. “Salivan landscape was founded by my grandfather and great grandfather in 1923,” Gregg Salivan said. “Next year will be our 100th year in business. We were one of the founding members of Landscape Ontario in 1973. Salivan Landscape has come a long way since those early days, growing to a staff of approximately 100 and a fleet of 55 trucks. I am very proud of what my father and I have accomplished over many decades, fostering a family-like atmosphere with our employees and customers, many for decades and generations.” Gregg Salivan is a past president of Landscape Ontario’s Toronto Chapter and

served on the provincial Board of Directors for many years. He was also the first chairman of the grounds management Sector group. Salivan said he values the time spent networking and learning from “the great people in our industry,” adding, “the uniqueness and value of our industry and Landscape Ontario is unparalleled in the business world. We have grown from the premise that shared knowledge would benefit all and the horticultural industry as a whole.” One of the top awards in Landscape Ontario’s annual Awards of Excellence program is named in honour of the late Don Salivan, who was an outstanding contributor to the association. The Don Salivan Grounds Management

Award recognizes skill that, when properly executed, protects or even enhances the value of the original landscape investment. The winner is selected from all projects submitted in the maintenance program each year. For the company acquisition, Gregg Salivan will be retained in an advisory capacity. The legal name officially changes from Salivan Landscape Ltd to Salivan Landscape Inc. “The sale of our company and the change in ownership will ensure that the stability, quality and growth of Salivan Landscape continues for decades to come,” Gregg Salivan said. “The new CEO is Mr. David Koa. David has a wealth of business experience, an MBA and I am extremely proud to have him lead Salivan Landscape into the future.”

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Lighting Sector Group releases online tool kit Members of the Landscape Ontario Lighting Sector Group have developed an online tool kit for lighting contractors. The Landscape Ontario Lighting Sector Tool Kit is designed to provide contractors with an ever-evolving document that includes handy tips on topics such as: sales, design, service, and planning. The latest version can be viewed online or downloaded via HortTrades.com/lighting-sector-tool-kit. Special thanks to the following committee members who helped with this initiative: Scott Sim, Chair; Frank DiMarco; Cam Hansuld; Carl Hastings; Steve Hernadez; Jon Higo; Don McQueen; James Riddell; Gerad VandenBussche.

Apply online for scholarships by June 30 Each year, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship Program offer over $60,000 in scholarships to students enrolled in secondary and post-secondary landscape and horticulture programs in Ontario. Scholarships are available for specific pursuits, such as landscape design and lawn care, or for specific schools and programs, and for students in a specific geographic area. Scholarships are also available to apprentices and post-graduate students. Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 per individual. Students have until June 30, 2022 to apply for the various scholarships. Each requires a copy of the students’ transcript, and for the Cullen Family Scholarship Program, candidates must be nominated by their program coordinator. For full details and an application form, visit the Foundation website at OHTF.ca.

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EDUCATOR PROFILE Chainsaw safety with Todd Fritzley Landscape Ontario Podcast host Scott Barber recently invited seasoned arborist Todd Fritzley to discuss common chainsaw injuries, laws that govern chainsaw use in the workplace, and why wearing PPE should be considered a last resort. Fritzley has over 15 years experience in forestry and arboriculture and is the owner of BPF Safety and Consulting. He also works with the Grand River Conservation Authority to mitigate hazard tree risks throughout their watersheds. Fritzley always wanted to work outside and was naturally drawn to the forestry and tree care industries. At the very start of his career, he worked with experts in the field who corrected his techniques and taught him “the right way.” Now, Fritzley educates others how to improve awareness and respect for “the most dangerous power tool you’ll put in your hands.”

How do you help others learn about chainsaw safety?

I always had sort of a knack for teaching and I’ve always wanted to teach and show people how to do their jobs safer and more efficiently. I’ve been in this game long enough where I really felt that I could pass what I know on to others. Probably the coolest thing about that aspect of my career is all the different industries I get to work with; the biggest one being landscapers. They’re probably my number one area of clientele and I’ve worked with landscapers all over the province. And I’ve been fortunate to work with you folks at Landscape Ontario, doing some courses for you guys.

What are some of the regulations and laws that govern chainsaw use in the workplace?

That’s probably one of the most confusing things for many industries and employers. First off, there are still a lot of people out there that don’t even realize there actually are laws and regulations when it comes to using a chainsaw on the job. There’s a couple sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, or what we’ve most commonly called the Green Book, where you can find regulations in regards to chainsaw use. And when it comes to landscapers, the two areas where you’re going to find those regulations are

business then it’s definitely something you need to look into and have the proper documentation in place.

How common are chainsaw injuries?

Todd Fritzley under the industrial establishments as well as construction. Depending on what [type of task] your landscaping company is performing with a chainsaw (such as cutting fence posts or clearing a woodlot), it could vary what regulations will be put in place to enforce the use of that tool. I do wish the Ministry of Labour would do a better job of making things just a little bit more clear, because where a lot of the confusion comes in is when you have industries that don’t use chainsaws hardly at all or even on a regular basis. They often feel like they don’t fall under some of these areas of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In my industry as tree care workers, having proper chainsaw training and credentials is a no brainer and it’s expected, whereas for folks in the landscaping industry it’s a little bit of a grey area. And often it’s not enforced until it’s too late. Everyone knows you need first aid. Everyone knows you need ‘working at heights,’ etc. But a chainsaw is one of those things that kind of gets put on the backburner. If you’re a company that’s pulling out a chainsaw half a dozen times or less a year, it’s probably not something you think about in terms of having proof of training and competency. From a legal standpoint, if you want to avoid hefty fines, warnings or charges, if chainsaws are getting used within your

They’re more common than you think. Basically how I open every training course I do is with the statement telling them that this literally is the most dangerous power tool you’ll put in your hands. And the first step in preventing an incident while using that machine is to thoroughly understand how it works. Until you can really wrap your head around that, it’s very easy to become injured from a chainsaw. Unfortunately the stuff you hear about is the stuff that only makes the media. But don’t be fooled. There’s thousands of incidents happening out there. Whether they’re more on the minor side or something where somebody ends up in emerg. If we can generally summarize how these accidents are happening, why they’re happening, the types of workers they happen to...I think it’s important to make that information more public, just for the simple reason of just making fellow workers more aware. And to maybe give them something to think about when they pick up that chainsaw and start cutting up this giant oak that fell on the side of a house. Maybe that’s something that’s just completely out of your wheelhouse.

What are some of the most common hazards?

One of the most common hazards in chainsaw operation in terms of the machine itself is rotational kickback. I believe that’s the first step in protecting yourself from that piece of equipment. It’s not your PPE. All that stuff is important but if you understand how that machine works and what it’s actually doing when it makes contact with the material, that will make you a lot more aware and prepared for rotational kickback. There’s four reaction zones of the chainsaw bar where the chain is spinning around the guide bar and we teach a system called Push Pull No Go. We take that bar and chain and break it up into four different sections of reactional forces. We know we can cut with the top and bottom part of the bar. But where we need to pay close attention is the bar nose

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO tip where the chain is going around. We call it the no-zone or the kickback zone. Should that make contact with whatever it is we’re cutting, that’s what causes the rotational kickback. We need to constantly be aware of where that bar tip is, especially if we’re dealing with piles of branches and trees. Additionally, one of the number one causes for lost time in the workplace with chainsaw use is musculoskeletal disorders. So sprains, strains, overuse of certain parts of the body, that sort of thing. If you’re swinging around a tool that you’re not used to using, you’re going to become tired and fatigued quite quickly and quite easily. When you get tired you get complacent, you get lazy. And that’s often where accidents happen as well.

How important is PPE for chainsaw operators?

be showing up to put in a retaining wall in our landscaping job wearing running shoes; it’s just simply not legal. We have to have CSA-approved work boots, the head protection, the ear protection. There’s a lot of components to the PPE. We need to have it in place for chainsaw use. Aside from it being law, more importantly, yes, it does help protect us should there be a mistake. Knock on wood, I’ve been pretty fortunate through my career where I haven’t been part of anything too serious when it comes to an incident. But I have had my share of close calls that if my PPE wasn’t in place, it could have ended badly. I’ve taken some pretty good blows to the head from debris from the canopy of trees, and if I hadn’t been wearing my hard hat it definitely would have been a more serious situation. Probably the most important piece of

PPE is your last line of defense. Like, we don’t want our PPE to have to do its job. That’s why I really stress on the importance of knowing and understanding how the machine works — the mechanics and the physics of the wood, compression and tension, understanding all those things. You look at PPE from two different ways. Number one, it’s the law. I mean, we can’t

This interview was adapted from an episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast, published in February 2022. To listen to the podcast, visit landscapeontario.com/ podcast, or search for it on your favourite podcast app.

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I wanted to briefly go back to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the three rights of the worker: the right to refuse, the right to participate and the right to know. My message to everyone out there is do what you feel is within your wheelhouse. No one needs to be a hero out there. No one needs to feel macho and fight over the chainsaw to knock down that giant tree. Know what’s within your capabilities, your skill sets.

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Any final words you’d like to share?

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PPE a chainsaw operator should wear is your leg protection. Whether it be actual chainsaw pants or chaps, those are so important because in the majority of incidents out there with the saw making contact with the body are from the waist down.

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PROFESSIONAL NEWS Research updates of interest to greenhouse and nursery growers

As their name suggests, the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance (COHA) brings together members of all sectors of ornamental horticulture with a mandate to obtain government recognition of the value of the sector. A key function of COHA is to advance the sectors through access to collaborative industry-government research opportunities. A commitment to ongoing knowledge transfer is provided through their research website: COHA Connections. A new article posted in February will be of particular interest to the greenhouse floriculture sector: University of Guelph professor Dr. Barry Shelp provides insights into his research projects on “Optimizing nutrient delivery in greenhouse-grown chrysanthemums.” The seemingly simple question explored by Dr. Shelp is “how low can you go.” In another update of interest to nursery growers, the Quebec Institute for the Development of Ornamental Horticulture (IQDHO) plant health monitoring team shared results of research into the monitoring of spruce spider mite populations in field-grown cedar crops. COHA manages a total of 10 research projects on behalf of the ornamental sector through their participation in Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s AgriScience program. Research project updates are posted to cohaconnections.ca.

Province pauses excess soil rules The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is proposing to temporarily delay the implementation of its latest set of excess soil requirements. The changes are listed under O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (“Excess Soil Regulation”) that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. MECP is proposing to delay the changes until Jan. 1, 2023. “In 2019 we finalized a new Excess Soil Regulation, supported by risk-based soil reuse standards, to make it easier and safer for industry to reuse more excess soil locally,” Chris Lompart, director, environmental policy branch, MECP, said. “We have been phasing in the Excess Soil Regulation over a number of years. The majority of changes are already in place and the most recent phase of changes came into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. We have recently heard that developers and municipalities need more time to implement the provisions and to better understand their responsibilities.” Lompart added, “MECP is committed to work with our stakeholders and setting clear rules to support the appropriate beneficial reuse of excess soils and to work with municipalities and other law enforcement agencies to help put a stop to the illegal dumping of excess soil. To help give developers and municipalities more time to gradually implement the provisions and better understand their responsibilities under the new regulation, we are proposing to delay the implementation of provisions that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2022 until Jan. 1, 2023. We welcome your feedback on the proposed amendments, which are available for public comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario until April 10, 2022.” The regulatory framework as it was in effect prior to Jan. 1, 2022, remains in place. “This includes the criteria defining excess soil as a resource for reuse, and not designated waste, if they are met,” Lompart said. “This also includes the related excess soil reuse standards and rules, and exemptions from the need for waste-related approvals in various circumstances.” Feedback on the regulations is open until April 10 at ero.ontario.ca/ notice/019-5203.

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The Canadian Common Ground Alliance’s (CCGA) latest Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report shows a three per cent decrease in reported damage events in 2020 compared to 2019. The report is a confidential database where various stakeholders may enter information related to damages to buried utilities. Key findings include: the total number of reported damages Canada-wide totaled 11,573, which is a drop of three per cent from 11,949 in 2019, and four per cent from 12,041 in 2018; natural gas and telecommunication facilities were affected in 83.4 per cent of damages, 40.9 per cent and 42.6 per cent respectively; and the most common known root cause of damages was excavation issues at 36.7 per cent. Contributing to DIRT is voluntary. The report does not reflect the total number of damages that take place in Canadian provinces and there is no legal obligation for reporting such damages, the CCGA says. Visit canadiancga.com to read the full report.

CEA research projects get federal funding On March 4, 2022, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced over $1 million in funding for seven businesses under the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program. ISC is a challenge-based research and development program that offers Canadian small businesses the opportunity to develop solutions, products, and technologies leading to a more prosperous and competitive sector. Four of the funded projects fall under the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Farming Challenge. The following projects will receive up to $150,000 each to develop advanced automation and robotic technologies to improve work productivity and operational efficiency: • K inova will develop a low-cost and accessible multi-produce picking solution using Kinova’s existing lightweight robotic manipulator technology; • C irculus Agtech Solutions will develop a plant health control system using computer vision and an automated organic liquid nutrient analyzer to reduce visual inspection requirements; • M ycionics will develop a robotic packing system to completely automate the processes of harvesting fresh-market quality mushrooms; • S mart Pix Robotics will develop a 3D modelling system to enable the digitization of greenhouses at a micro-precision level to enhance labour efficiency and productivity. If successful at the proof of concept stage, projects are each eligible for up to $1 million under Phase 2 of the ISC Challenge for prototype development.

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Feds give $535K to Flowers Canada Growers Canada’s floriculture industry got a boost from the federal government in February. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment close to $535,000 to support Flowers Canada Growers (FCG) projects to develop market opportunities, address industry challenges and contribute to a stronger Canadian agricultural sector. Flowers Canada Growers is the national trade association of the Canadian floral industry. Canada has more than 2,400 farms producing floriculture products (2016 Census). The ornamental horticulture sector represents the largest portion of Canada’s horticulture industry. “Canada’s flower growers are proving their resilience, innovation and adaptability with creative solutions to increase economic growth in the floriculture sector,” said Minister Bibeau in a press release. “This investment for Flowers Canada Growers Inc. will help many Canadian growers to have the tools they need to capitalize on new markets while expanding their local businesses.” Nearly $460,000 from the AgriMarketing Program is aimed at bolstering Canada’s reputation as a high-quality floriculture producer, and to increase and diversify exports to international markets. “Canadian flower growers have seen steady growth in both export and domestic sales in recent years thanks to the generous support received through the AgriMarketing Program,” said Andrew Morse, executive director of FCG. FCG will also work with farmers and floriculture businesses to provide trade-related information and support, training and certification to enhance industry knowledge and maintain access to international markets. An additional $75,000 has been earmarked for addressing insurance challenges. Morse explained in a press release: “The AgriRisk initiative is assisting Flowers Canada Growers conduct a feasibility study for the development of a viable long-term comprehensive insurance coverage solution to support reduced insurance premiums for the floriculture greenhouse sector. Flowers Canada Growers (FCG) is extremely grateful for the financial support being provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.”

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EXECUTIVE DESK

Collective efforts to enhance the profession ere are some recent activities Landscape Ontario has been involved with in our collective effort to advance the profession.

legacy project that is stimulating a great deal of interest. Recently, TBG hired a new executive director and we look forward to supporting Stephanie Jutila in her new role.

Trees for Life

Box tree moth

We have been supporting the very successful Highway of Heroes Living Tribute campaign, which is on track to plant its last tree this November. This magnificent effort to plant two million trees on or adjacent to the Highway of Heroes was initiated by Mark Cullen, our indefatigable Chair. Based on the experience and success of the campaign, the HOH board decided to start a national foundation called Trees for Life (TFL). Inspired by the federal government’s 2 Billion Tree Commitment, TFL is partnering with organizations and tree affinity groups interested in raising funds and in-kind resources to plant trees across the country. This exciting initiative is already showing success. TFL has leveraged a $2 million grant to plant hundreds of thousands of trees with many partners. Let me know if you want to participate.

Toronto Botanical Gardens

There are exciting plans for expanding the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) into a world-class destination. Landscape Ontario has a seat on the TBG board of directors. We look forward to contributing to this

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The extensive effort to control an infestation of box tree moth in the Etobicoke area was not successful. Unfortunately, the pest has spread to Niagara and north to Barrie. This led to the U.S. shutting its border to imports of boxwood. A national committee chaired by Jeff Olsen is focused on doing what is necessary to mitigate the spread of box tree moth in order to open the border back up.

Vineland Greening the Landscape Consortium

Landscape Ontario is providing support and strategic direction to the consortium on two main projects. Grow contracts: There is a disconnect between supply and demand for street trees. This includes quantity as well as species selection. One of the potential solutions is contract growing agreements between municipalities and growers. We are exploring the complexities of this issue with the aim of facilitating alignment between municipalities and growers with respect to the future supply of trees. Research, training and education knowledge transfer: Vineland wants to

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become the hub for research and evidencebased information that will lead to the success of tree survival.

Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition

Landscape Ontario is a founding member of this coalition that aligns many stakeholders trying to make “green infrastructure the new normal.” The coalition has had success raising awareness for the value of living green infrastructure to government officials.

OALA/LO committee

We meet once a month with OALA in an effort to collaborate in activities that advance the green profession. The committee was initially formed to work on government relation efforts aimed at achieving a Practice Act for landscape architects and a Name Act for landscape designers. Although this is still the priority, the mandate has expanded to include other collaborative activities such as education and professional development partnerships.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director tony@landscapeontario.com

LEARN, GROW, THRIVE.

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MEMBERSHIP

Investing in people leads to growth

early 10 million Americans left their jobs through the pandemic. The impact has been felt in Canada, too, to a lesser extent. Resignations were highest in the tech and healthcare sectors, so, why do I refer to this when we’re all working so hard to solve this puzzle of recruiting great people to work in our businesses? It’s the lessons learned from those organizations that are doing it well that we can benefit from. There are many reasons why people stay in their job or career. Being valued tops many of the lists I have come across. At its foundation, it means a fair and livable compensation package. You can keep and attract quality people by offering a rewarding compensation package. This shows a company values people right from the start. Creating competitive or industry-leading compensation packages is a great way to ensure your people feel satisfied and valued. These tangible and foundational elements can include: fair and livable base pay; holiday and vacation pay; raises, bonuses and incentives; time-off programs; health and wellness benefits; retirement contribution matches; performance pay; volunteer days; and transportation reimbursement. Prioritizing a work-life balance demonstrates that you value your people. There is often a connection between worklife balance and both employee performance and job satisfaction, so prioritizing this element of the workplace can create meaningful results. Maintaining a healthy and balanced work environment can reduce stress, prevent burnout, save money and promote a considerate company culture. Here are some ways to prioritize a worklife balance for employees: offer wellness days; promote health and wellness; establish flexible work hours (where possible); allow remote work opportunities (for office staff, as I do recognize this isn’t an option with our people in the field); provide generous paid time-off programs; and have respectful offhour communication expectations. Celebrating accomplishments can keep

teams and people engaged, so consider acknowledging both large and small work achievements, like: reaching quarterly sales goals; onboarding new team members; securing new clients or renewing contracts; and successfully implementing new processes and/or systems. You can publicly acknowledge these achievements, highlight them in company-wide communications, share a handwritten thank-you note to employees as a personal and thoughtful gesture, and even post on your social media. Recognition programs are another way to highlight the exemplary work done by teams or individuals. Consider asking your people what type of recognition they desire most by conducting a company-wide poll. Investing in your people shows you value them, such as offering professional development opportunities in-house or paying for courses, conferences or tuition

reimbursement. Consider sending your teams to Landscape Ontario’s professional development series or enrolling them in the Congress Conference seminars. Crosstraining between teams or functions also is a pretty effective and cost efficient way to have people learn and discover new skills. Formal or casual mentorship programs also offer employees engaging opportunities to give or gain support and guidance. There are many more ways to make people and teams feel valued. When you put each of these tactics into practice, you’ll benefit from increased productivity and company growth.

Joe Salemi CAE LO Deputy Executive Director jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

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UNDERGROUND WORLD

Education is invaluable

hen I hear about someone who drops out of any education program for whatever reason, I am deeply saddened and upset. While I understand there may be circumstances that prevent a person from continuing their education, my experience as a teacher is that many simply don’t truly understand the value of education. In this day and age, to me, education is priceless. With much of education now held virtually, educators hopefully realize the quality of education has been somewhat lessened. I would like to explore the tangible and intangible aspects of this education to determine its value. Education helps you grow as a person, in your career, and in your life.

Dollar value

Can you put an actual dollar figure on the value of education? I believe you can. Personal placement firms, management consulting firms and many industry human resources professionals can tell you what salary or wage to expect for a given occupation depending on the individual’s education level. With minimum wage in Ontario at $15 per hour, a 40-hour work week is worth $600. That translates to over $30,000 annually. A graduate of the Ontario Apprenticeship program will average between $18 to $20 per hour, earning them over $10,000 more per year than those without the added education. Education has a definite, tangible value. It can be quantified. The more you have and the higher the standard, the higher the annual income you can obtain.

Is apprenticeship education?

I have always said that the best kept secret in education is apprenticeship training. Here are some of the important features of most apprenticeship programs: •9 0 per cent of the training happens on-the-job by working in a particular trade (professionally trained). •1 0 per cent of the training happens in a classroom (horticulture has two 12-week sessions). •A pprentices can qualify for Employment Insurance while attending the in-class portion. •S elf-employment is easily achieved if one wants their own business. •E very skilled trade is looking for more qualified workers, so employment options are vast. •T ools are offered for free or at low cost. Industry always has available apprenticeship positions and they are always in demand. Most trades also have better than average annual incomes. Apprenticeship education is low cost and very marketable in industry.

Comparing post-secondary education

Let’s assume you want to compare a fouryear college or university program to an apprenticeship program. Those taking a college or university program are out of the employment picture for four years and are fortunate to get summer employment at minimum wage. In apprenticeship, you work for those four years at a competitive wage, and when you are completing your in-school portion of the training, you can

Terry Murphy CLM tvmurphy@ca.inter.net

receive Employment Insurance benefits. You are also building up your Canada Pension at the same time. At the end of the four years, an apprentice has four more years of experience in their trade whilethe university graduate is starting from scratch. Many university educated people do not get hired in their field when they finish their four-year program. Since the apprentice has already been working for four years, they may be ahead in salary upon graduation.

Education is a choice

Please understand that I am certainly not against any higher education. Any high school student with good grades should definitely consider furthering their studies at a college or university. For those who are academically inclined and love to study, enrolling in higher education is a great path to take. If you are not inspired by more years of academic studies, and like to work with your hands and build things, then apprenticeship is rewarding journey. Both routes come down to individual choice. Making the choice that fits your circumstance and loving what you do is what finding the right career is all about.

Conclusion

There is no wrong choice with postsecondary education. But what is wrong is not taking any opportunity to further your education once you complete high school. We are lifelong students and in a competitive and ever-changing world, continuing education is essential.

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PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Becoming an Employer of Choice

any of us attend workshops or seminars in the off season with big intentions of implementing what we learn. The frustrating reality is that much of it doesn’t stick and we go back to our old ways. Thanks to a handful of ambitious participants in the Landscape Ontario Employers of Choice (EOC) GROW Program, that trend may soon be over with the creation of a blueprint for future seminar and program participants to come together and implement what they’ve learned. EOC participants Aaron Harpell, Elissa Janca, Cassie Zelewski, Don McQueen and Julie Poirier formed an accountability group after completing the 10-week program and they continue to meet regularly. The five collaborators meet for an hour online to review, contemplate, discuss and formulate plans to apply the tools and tips learned in the LO Employers of Choice program into their company activities, policies, training and processes. I’m so impressed with this dynamic group that I would like to share some responses from various members of the group. What inspired you to come together as a group to implement the tools learned in the Employers of Choice Program? As the training was coming to an end, I was worried that all the good work I planned to do wouldn’t happen without someone to hold me responsible. With Jacki’s support, I reached out to others in the program to form an accountability group of other participants. Without the support and motivation from my colleagues in the horticultural industry, I know that it would have been much harder for me to stay focused during the off-season. Together we

created an “All-Star Accountability” weekly schedule where we spend an hour together on Microsoft Teams. What process has your group created to support implementation — given that each of you may have different priorities. We started with a round up of where people are in their process as well as any roadblocks to progress. We cultivated a supportive culture to foster clear communication about these challenges, recognizing that not everyone will be focusing upon the same issues, but value the insights of all participants. Recently it was decided for one member to take the lead each week and show the rest of us what they had done. This proved positive, none of us wants to be the person who said ‘I did not get my work done’. Peer pressure can motivate one to do a lot of work in a short period of time! What is the hardest challenge you face when translating the ideas and frameworks you learn in a workshop, into sustainable improvements in your company? To gather the ideas from the workshop and resources, and then communicate them effectively to staff, to involve them in the implementation, and to FOLLOW UP. Also, knowing that this is a self-directed effort and we have helped each other be disciplined. What is your approach to implement the concepts you learned at the GROW Employers of Choice Program into everyday action? We all seem to agree that we couldn’t implement everything we learned in the program, but weekly improvements on the key initiatives we each chose are proving

Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com

to have an amazing impact. We’re each working to get buy-in from staff, and setting some metrics or lead indicators in place — so that we can measure results (what gets measured gets done). What are the top three benefits of belonging to your accountability group? It’s totally helped take concepts into reality, it’s created excellent peer connections in the industry to work with. It’s also been awesome to see how we face similar challenges in different businesses and that the solutions reflect our unique perspectives. It’s been great to challenge my own assumptions and see the diverse ways to accomplish the same thing. We all feel we have four new industry friends whom we can bounce ideas off of, and ask for help solving a problem without feeling embarrassed or stupid. “If anyone has been sitting on the fence about taking part in professional development like the Employers of Choice program, I say DO IT! Well worth the time and effort,” - Julie Poirier. “I found the material from this course extremely valuable and didn’t want to lose the momentum gained throughout the EOC course over the winter months!” - Aaron Harpell. “Going forward we will try and review the additional module resources during our weekly meetings. There was so much great material accompanying each module. We will continue to take turns leading. It’s awesome,” - Elissa Janca. To find out more about the Employers of Choice program (free to LO member company owners and HR managers), contact Joan D’Souza at jdsouza@ landscapeontario.com.

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