Landscape Ontario - December 2022

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Superior Performance

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Built for Pros

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.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President - Lindsay Drake Nightingale

Past President - Dave Wright

Vice President - Ed Hansen

Second Vice President - Lindsey Ross

Treasurer - Jeff Olsen

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Director of Communications and Publications

Scott Barber

Creative Director - Mike Wasilewski

Communications Coordinator and Content Manager - Robert Ellidge

Multimedia Journalist - Karina Sinclair

Account Manager - Greg Sumsion

Business Development - Liz Lant

Digital Marketing Specialist - Charlotte Guena

Communications Coordinator - Angela Lindsay

Accountant - Joe Sabatino

Staff contact info: HortTrades.com/contact

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, 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

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Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Keys to long-term success

Our Congress trade show will celebrate its 50th anniversary in January 2023. There are also a number of Landscape Ontario member companies that have been operating for 50 years or more: Sheridan Nurseries, Connon, Zander Sod, M. Putzer Nursery, Aldershot Landscape Contractors, and many more.

What does it take to make it to 50 years? Tenacity, reputation, service, knowledge and skill. The very same things that are needed to get through year one, year seven, a 20th anniversary or even a 70th year. Each owner comes into their chosen green career with a dream, the will and the persistence to “make it.” These are the same qualities that have assisted Congress through to its 50th year (despite COVID-19 kiboshing 2021 and 2022).

The show will be filled with suppliers, educational sessions, and most importantly, people. People who are there for the networking and socializing opportunities, as well as to learn, grow, share ideas, renew friendships and see what’s new.

What is your favourite thing to do on the trade show floor? Do you go to your old stand-by suppliers or do you venture out and seek new opportunities to discuss the latest machinery, irrigation system, or perennial with a new colleague or vendor? Perhaps your favourite part of Congress is to listen to a pro. This year’s lineup of speakers for the Congress Conference is wide

and diverse. The knowledge you can acquire includes everything from fungi to team work to natural swimming ponds or digital marketing. All are designed to help you become a better business person, team leader, and landscape professional.

Or maybe you arrive at Congress a day early to attend the Landscape Designers Conference or the LO Peer to Peer Network Workshop. Perhaps you visit Congress to mingle at LO’s Awards of Excellence ceremony and see the latest and greatest projects by our talented and skilled member community. And if all that wasn’t enough, maybe you love to let loose and party at the ever-popular Tailgate Party (now on Tuesday evening, FYI).

Congress provides so many events that landscape professionals certainly don’t want to miss. And after you’ve schmoozed, danced, and talked until your voice goes hoarse, don’t forget to attend LO’s Annual General Meeting on the morning of Jan. 11 to see what your association and its committed volunteers have been up to this past year.

Congress would not succeed without the terrific team of professionals at Landscape Ontario, including the leadership of Heather MacRae and the support of the wonderful volunteers that make up the Congress Committee. Congratulations everyone on 50 wonderful years of producing the best trade show in the world.

Lindsay Drake Nightingale LO President

info@yorkshiregardenservices.com

Industry experts provide information and demos on the LIVE Stage throughout each day of the show. There is no charge to attend these sessions, so bring out your key staff members to get them engaged and energized for the upcoming season. Here are some highlights from this year’s LIVE Stage program: Hardscape LIVE

INTERLOCK BASICS USING ICPI STANDARDS

Back to the basics including:

• System components

• Job planning and documentation (job layout, planning and material flow)

• Job sequence

Speaker: Terry Childs | Nature’s Way Landscaping

Drive LIVE

SAFE VEHICLE REFRESHER DEMO

Experience a hands-on approach to learning how to apply the Daily Vehicle Inspection Rules to comply with Ontario regulations.

Speaker: Halton Regional Police Service and Tri-Shield Consulting

Green LIVE

GREY TO GREEN: THE URBAN BATTLEGROUND

The ability to find places to plant trees and have them survive is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s intensified urban centres. This presentation will investigate the factors that affect tree establishment in hardscape environments, ranging from project planning, construction, and long-term operations and maintenance of green infrastructure.

By gaining a better understanding of these factors and the challenges they present to the long-term viability of tree establishment in hardscape environments, the urban forest professional will be able to engage and collaborate with allied professionals to develop creative solutions that help ensure trees can be successfully established, but also integrate grey and green infrastructure into a cohesive system.

Speaker: Steve Robinson, BCMA | Manager of Urban Forestry/ City Arborist Roads, Parks and Forestry, City of Burlington

Grab a passport and souvenir glass for the annual Congress Ale Trail! Beverage stations with free craft beer samples will be located throughout the trade show floor. Try one or try them all — it’s included with your trade show pass!

Kress - Booth #328

Landscape Trades - Booth #2325

Rinox - Booth #2566

The Toro Company - Booth #1216

Find inspiration for 2023 at the Congress New Products Showcase, your “road map” of what’s new on the show floor. From new equipment, tools and technology, to new supplies and plant introductions, there’s no better place to get an overview of the latest and most creative product releases.

Meet with your peers and make valuable connections at Congress’ biggest networking event! Join fellow Congress delegates on Jan. 10, 2023, at the Delta Hotel for an evening of lively conversation, networking and entertainment. The fun begins at 8:30 p.m.

Need a break or somewhere quieter to chat? Visit the patio lounges located throughout the trade show floor. Lounges include seating and free WiFi.

The Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network is a growing group of business owners and their key managers. Connected together by member-based social media groups, they support and help one another with real-time issues and answers. The network is open to all Landscape Ontario business owners.

LEADING TODAY’S WORKFORCE - RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!

Join professional facilitator Jacki Hart on a journey through who you need to be as a leader in your business. With the current challenges of acquiring, inspiring, growing and retaining a great team, you’ll leave this session with clarity on where you need to grow as the leader of tomorrow’s company, not yesterday’s. Inspired by 34-year LO veteran executive director Tony DiGiovanni’s ‘top 9 qualities of great leaders,’ this oneday interactive networking event will be discussion driven, collaborative and self-reflective.

Specific group discussions will focus on actionable strategies:

• How to demonstrate next-level leadership thinking and behaviour.

• How to more effectively connect with your diverse employee team.

• How to be the exceptional leader who elevates and engages the team.

• How to identify and coach your leadership team through ‘red flags.’

Congress memories

INTERVIEW BY SCOTT BARBER

Having attended every Congress since 1975, Tony DiGiovanni has a lot of memories from the trade show floor. And now that he has retired from his role as executive director of Landscape Ontario, he has no plans to break the streak. Landscape Ontario Podcast host Scott Barber featured Tony on a recent episode of the show, where he reminisced on the important moments and events that have remained with him over the years.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say LO Congress?

It’s actually the beginning of my career. I’ve been going to Congress since 1975, and I have not missed a single one. Back in ‘75, I was a student at Humber College in the landscape technology program. Our class was tasked with building a student garden. So that was my first experience with LO and Congress. We all got together and, you know, we had to work hard to build this wonderful garden.

It was really intense and it was a lot of fun. And I still remember it. From nothing, from an empty hall we built a beautiful garden and everybody just loved it. So that’s what I remember. You know, when you say Congress, it takes me back right to the very beginning of my career in horticulture.

The other thing I remember really clearly was a presentation by LO’s first president Glenn Peister. Back then, my dream was to be a musician. I had taken a year off to pursue music with a band, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. So I decided to go back to school, and I chose landscaping by chance.

My girlfriend’s father, who would become my father-in-law, happened to be a salesperson for Ball Horticulture. I noticed the pretty catalogues in the back seat of his Chevy Impala. And honestly, that was one of the reasons I decided to give the course with plants a shot. The plants in the catalogue were pretty, and they looked cool.

So I enrolled in the landscape tech program at Humber, but I really didn’t know much about the industry. I wasn’t sure if there really was a future career for me in it. I wasn’t sure if I could make a living. And to be honest, my father thought I was crazy. He didn’t understand how he could bring his family all this way — from Italy — to work in the garden. He thought I was nuts. And I became apprehensive. I didn’t know if it was right for me. But the student day at Congress was a turning point in my career.

Congress had a student day when horticulture and landscaping students could visit the show for free. Part of the event was a presentation by Glenn Peister in the theatre at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto where Congress was held at the time. Glenn talked to a room full of students telling us that there was life after school, that there was a career waiting for us, and that it was an important career that did important things. He spoke with such enthusiasm; I still remember it.

SPONSORED BY

JANUARY

DELTA HOTEL BY MARRIOTT TORONTO AIRPORT

Why is Congress important?

Congress is community building accelerated. And that’s what LO is really all about: building community. I’ve used this phrase for a long time, because I truly believe it. LO is a community for mutual benefit and mutual improvement.

And it’s not just about business, although of course it is an important aspect of LO and Congress. But it’s the social connections. The personal relationships. I’m excited for the show every single year because it’s like a homecoming for our profession. You get to see the whole trade together under one roof. And the scale of it, the amount of people, all of the different exhibitors, is so impressive. It’s community building on steroids.

At the end of the day, Congress is a market. And markets have been around since time started. And you need markets for exchange. Markets create prosperity. Trade is important. What you have is a whole bunch of exhibitors and a whole bunch of their clients that are interdependent. And at an event like Congress, you find out what’s new. What new equipment is available. What new products are coming out. These are things that can help you do what you do even better than you did before.

Learning is such a big part of it, too. There’s a ton of learning that goes on and it happens in different ways. It happens formally through the conference program. I can still remember so many speakers I’ve heard at the Congress Conference who have inspired me; who have taught me something I carried with me for years, whether it was something technical, or it was business related.

Then there is the social component. The meeting after the meeting. It’s going out to lunch or dinner and developing relationships of trust. Having fun, making friends. It’s bonding with your colleagues. Or an attendee bringing their staff as a way to show, ‘hey, let’s have some fun. Let’s go as a team to see what’s new and to meet with our suppliers.’

And something else I’d like to mention is how important the exhibitors are. They are really the people who make the show possible. And not only that, but their support of Congress has a

PODCAST

THE Listen to the interview at landscapeontario.com/podcast or by searching “Landscape Ontario” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

SHOW & CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE

LOCONGRESS.COM REGISTER AT JANUARY 10, 2023

FUNGI: FRIEND AND FOE KYLE MCLOUGHLIN Ironwood

Arboricultural Solutions

In the urban environment, trees and fungi are inseparable. Oftentimes, we tend to only see the forest for the trees, instead of the fungi. The purpose of this webinar is to begin seeing the realities of the urban forest — that it isn’t just trees. The role fungi play in keeping trees alive (and on the other hand, shortening their life) is not only critical to arborists and clients, but also those who maintain and build landscapes around these trees. This onehour lecture will cover ID skills for decay fungi, introduce ecology of mycorrhizal fungi, and simple techniques for preventing the effects of harmful fungi during and after construction.

TEAM IS A FOUR LETTER WORD JACKI HART

Consulting by Hart

In this 60-minute session Jacki will demystify the reasons why it’s so hard to engage employees, and share four key steps to help improve your results. If getting staff to show up and follow the systems you’ve created is a challenge, then this seminar will help you break through old practices to solve these problems once and for all.

Sponsored by

The Congress Conference is Canada’s premier educational event for landscape and horticulture professionals. Come be part of the return to a live event — and bring key members of your staff along to get them energized and excited for the new year.

FUNDING, PROGRAMS AND TAX INCENTIVES FOR YOUR BUSINESS

PETER GUINANE

Oriole Landscaping

In this period of economic risk you have to know what you are eligible for and to go get it! There are dozens of government grant or loan opportunities you should be utilizing. Employment agencies can connect you with eager workers. And don’t forget the partnership programs available through the CNLA that will also save you a lot of money.

GROWTH ON PURPOSE

VANESSA MCQUADE AND ROBERT MURRAY

Intrigue Media

Are you experiencing any of these challenges:

• Struggling to find and keep great talent?

Spending too much time on leads and clients you don’t want to work with?

Feeling stuck on how to get your business to the next level?

If you answered yes to any of the above, this session is for you.

You’ll learn how building a more purpose-driven company will attract the best customers and team for your business and accelerate your growth.

Sponsored by

NATURAL

SWIM POOLS

DEREK J LIPPERT

Quiet Nature

Derek founded Quiet Nature in 1999 to harness his passion for the great outdoors. His deep love of the natural world manifests itself through his many hobbies, including fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, and tending to his small farm in Ayr.

This session will be a technical discussion covering: various design approaches; equipment and material selections; construction techniques; insight into the “is it a pool or a pond” debate; as well as the implications for building public natural pools.

HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON THE NEW NATURE MOVEMENT

CAROL PASTERNAK

Monarch Crusader

With passion, stories and exciting photography, Carol will present an overview of the ever-expanding interest in butterflies and native plant gardening. Landscapers will leave feeling inspired to enter this profitable, purposeful, and fun market niche. Included are promotion and networking ideas, and quick ways to bring your knowledge up to speed, in plain language.

ADVANCED MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES

BRAD PATON

Shades of Summer Landscaping

This session will explore the maintenance process from spring to end of season. Explaining in detail how to enhance properties throughout the year, Brad will include equipment use, pruning techniques and mulching practices.

Brad will also discuss how to acquire high-end residential clients and how to bill accordingly for work being done.

BUILDING POWERFUL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

ALYSSA “TWIST” LIGHT

The Profitable Innovator

This keynote is for people who feel like they should be further along in their business. Using analogies, parallels and examples from Mother Nature, it speaks to the underrated yet invaluable experiences and lessons we can harness to develop the strong business relationships that help to make our businesses flourish.

Sponsored by

FINDING YOUR NICHE

JACKI HART

Consulting by Hart

PETER VANDERLEY

Vanderley Landscaping

Finding our niche in life can be elusive and difficult. If we fail to understand who we are we will fail to truly accomplish what we want in life.

In this session, landscape business coach Jacki Hart and veteran landscape business owner Peter Vanderley will share their journeys in the green profession, including the twists and turns in the path to finding satisfaction and contentment.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2022 TRIAL GARDENS RODGER TSCHANZ

University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture

Rodger Tschanz is a Research Technician in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. He is a teacher of horticulture, conducts plant breeding experiments and for over 20 years has been managing the university’s ornamental trial program. In this session you will find out what annuals and perennials are new and exciting and have the best garden performance as determined by test plantings in southern Ontario.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

TO

HIRING ROCKSTAR TEAMS

MARK BRADLEY Landscape Management Network (LMN)

Learn proven strategies for hiring and growing a high-performance team. Mark will take you through tested techniques for filtering the best candidates into your hiring funnel, maximizing a new hire’s first three months with proper onboarding, and leverage clear career paths to keep the best talent.

Sponsored by

CHASING GROWTH WITHOUT SYSTEMS

DEREK J LIPPERT

Quiet Nature

The thrill of marketing and selling ‘magazine-worthy’ projects gets all of us fired up. Learning about the latest products, tools, and fancy pieces of equipment keeps our inner kid excited. Chasing high profits as your number one goal satisfies your ego’s need to prove that you could do it, and do it on your own. But, it’s the systems, key people, and overhead needed to create a legitimate business that keep you in the game for the long haul. Pursuing the wrong things in the wrong order can put you out of business in a heartbeat.

Foxwood Botanical Consulting

Are you tired of seeing the same plants being used over and over? Do you ever wish you could recommend a wider selection of trees and shrubs to your clients, but aren’t sure which ones would be successful? Jen and Sean will be talking about some proven woody plant gems that are sure to thrive in many of the challenging landscapes you work in.

Sponsored by

GREG CLARKE

SB Partners

GARDEN WORLD

STEFAN WEBER

Ontario Plant Restoration Alliance

All new habitats come from seed. Horticulturalists around the world are well positioned to have the greatest positive impact by growing more native plants to support restoration efforts. We will discuss large scale seed conservation and plant restoration projects across Canada and around the world. Learn more about how you can contribute to the International Decade on Ecosystem Restoration simply by growing local native seeds and supporting local green businesses.

PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY

JOSE HAIG

Groundwater Environmental Management Services (GEMS)

Process reporting is an essential management function for the successful delivery of construction projects and for real-time inventory. This presentation aims to cover the aspects of using drones as the automated monitoring process and develop a knowledge framework for the effective implementation of automated progress monitoring using photogrammetry via unmanned automated vehicles (UAV).

Sponsored by

CREATING AN INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION: YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW LISA

LANGLEY Organizational Development Consultant

This interactive presentation will give you the insights and tools needed to foster diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in your business, making it a better place to work for not only current and future employees, but for you as well. You will learn what other cultures and companies can teach us about DEI; three techniques to increase your leadership effectiveness; and ways to build an inclusive culture.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MANAGEMENT ON THE

NIAGARA RIVER CORRIDOR

STEVE BARNHART

Niagara Parks

This session will demonstrate the Niagara Parks Commission’s commitment to the stewardship of the Niagara River corridor to protect the future of public green spaces through sustainable tourism management practices.

Sponsored by

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Upper Canada Chapter supports community schools

Landscape Ontario’s Upper Canada Chapter made a positive difference at two local elementary schools this fall. Members came together on Oct. 29, 2022 to volunteer their time, donate trees and fall flowers to improve outdoor learning environments for students.

“Shade trees are sadly lacking in many of our local schools, and the need has never been greater,” explained Rhonda Derue, owner of Derue Designs in Gananoque, Ont., and Treasurer on the Upper Canada Chapter board.

“Our Chapter decided to help out two schools this season by donating and planting 11 shade trees at Marmora Public School and four at Stockdale Public School (SPS). Stockdale also received a new ball diamond and had their front plant bed leaves/weeds removed, beds mulched and fall flowers added. Once Softball Ontario heard about our initiative at Stockdale both the OASA and PWSA enthusiastically donated a huge amount of equipment to enable the kids to play ball again on their new diamond.”

Upper Canada Chapter would like to give a shout out to everyone who contributed:

• Connons Nurseries (Waterdown and Trenton): Donated fall flowers and discounted trees to both schools.

• Dibbits Landscaping Supply (Trenton): Donated soil, mulch to both schools and stone dust for the ball diamond at SPS.

• Willowlee Sod (Ameliasburgh): Donated sod for SPS ball outfield.

• Softball Ontario Association OASA and PWSA: Donated ball equipment to SPS.

• Dimitri’s Pizza: Donated pizza and drinks for volunteers at SPS.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to support these projects:

MARMORA PUBLIC SCHOOL

Lyman Landscaping: Ben Lyman, Bo Manon, Liam Filijeski, Paul Connon Nurseries: Lisa Smith, Ben Austin

STOCKDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL

Derue Designs: Rhonda Derue Lamer Landscaping: Chris Lamer, Bailey and Landon Broadbend Mark of Excellence Landscaping: Mark Lappan

Causative Solutions: Tara Lock Gunn-Duncan: David Gunn The Dewal family: Sarah, Chris, Cohen and Cullen

The total retail value of this initiative was approximately $35,000 split between the two schools.

Members invited to 2023 AGM

All Landscape Ontario members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Jan. 11, 2023, at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport. The meeting will start at 8 a.m. and is preceded by breakfast at 7 a.m.

The AGM provides a recap of association initiatives over the past year, and provides insight into future direction and endeavours. It also provides a forum for members to ask questions, offer suggestions and help steer association activities.

This past year, a group of dedicated members took on the task of modernizing the association’s bylaws. They have made recommendations to the Provincial Board of Directors which will be presented at the AGM. If there are any issues that require a vote by members, one representative from each Active Member company is eligible to vote.

The association’s audited financial statements for the fiscal period Sept. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31. 2022 will also be presented, as well as budgets for the current fiscal period. Members are encouraged to access the information prior to the event at HortTrades.com/2022-annual-report.

51 NEW MEMBERS

Landscape Ontario’s annual Awards of Excellence program recognizes the best landscape projects and outstanding individuals within the landscape and horticulture profession. Held in conjunction with the Congress trade show and conference, the annual awards ceremony is a highly anticipated and entertaining evening.

This year’s ceremony promises to be extra special, with a celebration of 50 years of landscaping excellence via a black tie event on Jan. 10, 2023. The evening celebration at the Delta by Marriott Toronto Airport will kick off with the LO President’s

Reception at 5 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 6 p.m.

The awards are a juried competition that recognize the breathtaking design and master craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance, design, lighting and irrigation projects created by Landscape Ontario members.

Top scoring winners from the construction and maintenance programs go on to compete in the National Awards of Excellence program. Many projects from Ontario have won national awards over the years.

The Awards of Excellence ceremony is made possible through the generosity of our Presenting Partner: G&L Group, and Supporting Partners: in-lite Outdoor Lighting, Connon Nurseries, Unilock, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Toro. Companies who entered the Awards program will be entitled to two complimentary tickets and will be contacted directly.

Tickets are $100 plus HST or a table of eight for $700 plus HST and can be purchased online at LOawards.com

2022 Landscape Ontario Annual Report now online

Each year, Landscape Ontario produces an Annual Report that provides a recap of association activities and initiatives. The report includes recaps from each chapter president, sector group chair, committee chair, as well as a full list of volunteers and the association’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year.

Members are encouraged to review the annual report and the financial statements prior to attending the association’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for the morning of Jan. 11, 2023, at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Toronto Airport in conjunction with the Congress trade show and conference.

The 2022-2023 Annual Report covering the fiscal year Sept. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2022 can be viewed online at HortTrades.com/2022-annual-report

Seminars allow you to learn, thrive and grow in 2023

Landscape Ontario recently announced its full lineup of off-season professional development designed to provide resources to industry professionals for both personal and business growth.

The association’s 2022-2023 Professional Development Seminar Series is led by well-respected and experienced industry leaders. The bulk of the 70+ in-person and nearly 50 online sessions are held from Jan. 31 to mid-April, 2023, with some courses happening this fall. Topics fall under 12 main categories. They are:

• Arboriculture, Tree and Shrubs

• Business/ Professional Development

• Equipment Handling

• Integrated Pest Management/ Lawn Care

• Irrigation

• Landscape Construction and Installation

• Landscape Design and Measurement

• Grounds Maintenance

• Plants

• Retail Garden Centre

• Safety and First Aid

• Sustainable Development

Nearly half of this year’s titles are new — a testament to the constantly evolving profession as well as new practices, technologies and ideas that keep those seeking to upgrade their skills at the forefront. Whether you want to learn how to price landscape lighting jobs, get the best from your annuals, or refine your pruning techniques, Landscape Ontario’s offerings cater to every skill level.

Most in-class seminars are $158 for LO members and $284 for potential members. Online sessions are $60 for members and $75 for potential members. Those who register by Dec. 31, 2022 for seminars and sessions held from Jan. 1 through April 1, 2023 will automatically receive a 10 per cent discount.

Low-risk projects exempted from excess soil regulations

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is proposing to amend O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (“Excess Soil Regulation”). To make the rules more practical and focused on higher-risk movements of soil, the ministry is proposing changes to reduce requirements applicable to low-risk projects, and to provide more flexibility when storing excess soil.

In 2019, MECP 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. The regulations are being phased in over several years.

In April 2022, to help give developers and municipalities more time to better understand their responsibilities under the regulation, MECP paused the implementation of the provisions that came into effect on January 1, 2022, until 2023, including provisions related to registration, sampling, analysis and tracking of excess soil. The requirements that were paused will come back into effect on January 1, 2023.

“While there has been general support for the Excess Soil Regulation, we heard specific concerns from some stakeholders on the impact of the regulation on low-risk projects and that specific storage requirements are impractical,” the MECP states on its website.

To help ensure the regulation is effective and practical, MECP is now proposing the following amendments and changes:

Removing reuse planning requirements from low-risk projects

Under the Excess Soil Regulation, as of January 1, 2023, reuse planning requirements would be required for some projects, including filing a notice in the excess soil registry, retaining a qualified person to prepare an assessment of past uses, if necessary, a sampling and analysis plan and a soil characterization report, and an excess soil destination assessment report, as well as implement a tracking system.

Projects on low-risk sites, such as land that has been used for agricultural or residential purposes, may be triggered to complete these requirements if they are within an area of settlement and intend to remove 2000 cubic metres or more of excess soil. In response to concerns that these requirements are too onerous for low-risk projects, the following is proposed.

• To amend the Excess Soil Regulation such that the reuse planning requirements would not apply to a project area if it is used or was most recently used for an agricultural or other use, a residential use, a parkland use, or an institutional (e.g., schools) use, as defined in the Records of Site Condition Regulation (O. Reg. 153/04).

• As a consequence of this amendment, Section 14 of the Excess Soil Regulation would be revoked because it would no longer be necessary.

• This exemption would not apply,

however, to a project area if the project leader determines that the project area was used as an enhanced investigation project area or that it is impacted by historical contamination.

• As part of this proposal, opportunities may be taken to clarify in the regulation the triggers for the reuse planning requirements and to clarify the scope of remediation projects subject to these requirements.

Soil storage amendment

In Section C of the Soil Rules document, incorporated by reference in the regulation, the general soil storage rules state that, for the purposes of Section 24 of the regulation, soil must be stored in stockpiles and the maximum size of each stockpile shall not exceed 2,500 cubic metres. This has been found to be limiting by some stakeholders depending on the size of their site. In response, the following amendment is proposed:

• Amend the Soil Rules document to allow soil storage piles to be a maximum of 10,000 cubic metres. Other soil storage rules would continue to apply, including the requirement to prevent any adverse effects from the storage of soil.

These amendments are proposed to come into effect on January 1, 2023. Learn more at the MECP website: ero.ontario.ca

Excess Soil Regulation analysis: Robert Kennaley

On April 21, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks paused the implementation date for the notice, reporting and tracking provisions of Ontario’s On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (O.Reg 406/19) until Jan. 1, 2023, to give stakeholders time to better understand, and plan to meet, its requirements. The Ministry also advised that it would take the time to consult on refinements “to ensure they are clear, practical, and focused to circumstances for which they are most necessary.”

On Nov. 4, 2022, the Ministry confirmed that the Regulation’s notice, reporting and soil-tracking provisions remain scheduled to come into force on Jan. 1, 2023. In response to specific concerns raised during consultations, however, the Ministry announced its intention to tweak the Regulation, in limited ways, before the implementation date.

The Ministry firstly announced that, in certain circumstances, it would exempt certain “low risk” sites from the Regulation’s reuse planning requirements (that is, where the project area is or was most recently used for a residential, parkland, institutional or “agricultural or other” uses, all as defined in Regulation 153/04 Records of Site Conditions). The Ministry also advised that it intended to increase the size limitation on soil stockpiles from 2,500 to 10,000 cubic metres to provide flexibility if a project area has limited space for storage.

The proposed changes are subject to the results of a consultation process scheduled to end on Dec. 3, 2022, during which time stakeholders were invited to share their thoughts on the proposal. Although, in the announcement, the Ministry advised that “opportunities may be taken to clarify in the regulation the triggers for the reuse planning requirements and to clarify the scope of remediation projects subject to these requirements,” it also made it clear that the “need for transition provisions” and “other regulatory amendments” will be considered if (and only if) they “clarify, but do not substantively change” the Regulation. This, we suggest, is important. We suggest that a number of points can be taken away from the announcement.

First, while many stakeholders had hoped or believed that the sheer scope of the testing requirements for excess soils would be reduced, it does not appear that this will occur. The Ministry has made it clear that (other than in relation to so-called “low-risk” sites), there is no plan to reduce the testing requirements.

Second, those responsible for or involved in the movement of excess soils in Ontario will accordingly need to revisit the Regulation to ensure they are familiar with its requirements and ready to implement them as, and when, required. The requirements will have a significant impact on the timing and cost of construction projects, such that a failure to accommodate for them will make it difficult to bring projects in on time and on budget. Pre-planning for project development and contract execution will be critical in this regard.

Third, the contractual allocation of responsibility and risk needs to be considered. The lion’s share of responsibility under the Regulation lies with the “Project Leader(s),” who are responsible (where applicable) to file a notice in the excess soil registry, retain qualified person(s) to provide and report on assessment and testing, and implement a tracking system to ensure that excess soils are disposed of for a beneficial use as required. Significantly, however, the responsibilities can be assigned to others under contracts or subcontracts. Accordingly, risk allocation of who is responsible to do what should be detailed and accounted for at the planning stages, in drafting contracts and subcontracts, as well as in estimating and in execution.

Rob Kennaley is with Kennaley Construction Law, a construction law firm with offices in Simcoe, Toronto and Barrie.

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Highway of Heroes surpasses two million tree goal

The Highway of Heroes (HoH) Tree Campaign exceeded its goal of raising $10 million to plant two million trees in honour of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. On Nov. 2, 2022, HoH planted its last trees at Fort York in Toronto, Ont., and hosted a special commemoration for campaign supporters as well as members of the CAF.

“Our campaign to reforest the Highway of Heroes is complete and we are thrilled,” Mark Cullen, Board President and Volunteer Chair of Canadian Trees for Life and the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign said. “The Highway of Heroes was born out of a genuine concern for climate change and inspired by Canadians who gave the highway its name: those who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, plus Silver Cross moms, families and friends.”

The HoH campaign was inspired by the hundreds of Canadians who stood along Highway 401 to salute the fallen military members who served in the war in Afghanistan as they were driven down the 170-km route from CFB Trenton to the coroner’s office in Toronto. From that significant and moving event, the route was named the Highway of Heroes.

Nearly 2.5 million trees have been planted by HoH since the campaign was founded in 2015, including: 117,000 “hero trees” planted directly adjacent to the Highway of Heroes in memory of all Canadian soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in war; as well as more than 2,370,000 “service trees” planted within 30 kilometres of the Hwy. 401 corridor in honour of those who served since Confederation and including the War of 1812.

Landscape Ontario is a proud supporter of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, alongside the federal and provincial governments, many municipal governments, numerous community organizations and foundations, and more than 3,500 Canadian donors. Together, we have created the world’s largest living memorial.

The Highway of Heroes continues with the national organization Trees for Life.

“The next chapter is an exciting, new focus to increase the urban tree canopy across Canada and honour our everyday heroes who improve our lives,” Cullen explained. “We call this program Trees for Heroes, a campaign run by our national charity, Canadian Trees for Life. Is there a hero in your life that you wish to honour, thank or remember? A frontline hero or health care worker, first responder, teacher or loved one? Why not have a native tree planted in their honour? Will you join us as you did on the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and support Trees for Life and Trees for Heroes? Find out more at treesforlife.ca.”

EXECUTIVE DESK

A homecoming for the landscape trades

It’s been three years since we have been able to come together as a community for Landscape Ontario’s Congress Trade Show and Conference. During the pandemic, we tried taking the trade show online and it was clear that it wasn’t really what the community was looking for. We took the conference online and because it offered the convenience of being able to watch all of the sessions, and at your own pace, you embraced it. But what we all want now is to see each other in person at the Toronto Congress Centre once again.

LO’s Congress Trade Show and Conference is one of those events that involves much more than simply browsing the latest in equipment, products, and services. It’s even more than our worldclass education. It’s a homecoming. It’s where relationships are formed, strengthened, and renewed. It’s where most of us got to know the truest value of

Landscape Ontario: its ability to bring the landscape trades community together.

Our events team has been working extra hard to make this one of the most exciting, valuable, and successful shows to date. Through the tremendous leadership of Heather MacRae, LO’s Director of Trade Shows and Events, the team has been attracting high-profile exhibitors, coordinating activities and events, collecting payments, and dealing with every challenge that comes their way with grace. Thank you Heather MacRae, Amy Buchanan, Keri MacIvor, Gregory Sumsion, Liz Lant and Meagan Sheehan. And thanks also to our communications team led by Scott Barber, with Robert Ellidge, Mike Wasilewski, Angela Lindsay, Karina Sinclair, and Charlotte Guena. It takes incredibly skilled people to put together and pull off an event that has the size, scope and breadth of Landscape Ontario’s Congress Trade Show and Conference.

This will be my 20th year at Congress, but my first with Landscape Ontario. More importantly, it is Landscape Ontario’s 50th anniversary! So many people have invested their time and effort to make Landscape Ontario what it is today and this is our chance to celebrate that together.

I’m looking forward to being able to connect with as many of you as possible. Please consider this your personal invitation to experience Landscape Ontario’s Congress Trade Show and Conference. Visit locongress.com to register using the Promo Code 50YRJS to get free admission to the trade show and all that it entails.

Joe Salemi CAE LO Executive Director jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

Landscape Ontario’s membership team is excited to connect with the landscape and horticulture community at the 50th anniversary Congress Trade Show and Conference, Jan. 10-12, 2023 at the Toronto Congress Centre. If you haven’t already done so,

MEMBERSHIP

Connect with us at Congress 2023

please register via LOcongress.com using the Promo Code 50YRLOMAG to redeem your free pass. Not only do you get free access to the trade show for all three days, you also get access to 15 hours of free education via the LIVE Stage, free admission to the Tailgate Party, and more!

While at Congress, be sure to stop by the LO membership booth (#1221) to find out how to get the most out of your membership. The membership team will be conducting a short survey for both members and non-members. Those who provide their input will be entered into a draw to win an Apple iPad.

LO members are also invited to attend the 50th annual Awards of Excellence ceremony at the Delta Hotel across the street. Buy your tickets online via LOawards.com for the black tie evening celebration and see this year’s winners announced live. It all kicks off at 5 p.m. with the President’s Reception, followed by the ceremony at 6 p.m.

The following morning (Wed., Jan. 11), the association will also hold its Annual General Meeting, also at the Delta Hotel. Join us for a recap of activities and initiatives over the past year and hear what LO has planned for the future. The AGM is your chance to have a say and to vote on motions that arise.

There’s so much to see and do at Congress, but be sure to stop by and chat with your LO staff who also have booths throughout the trade show. Check out:

• GROW (booth #755): Learn about the free training programs to advance crew members to supervisory positions, how to attract right-fit employees and retain your best people, and more!

• Apprenticeship (booth #757): Learn how to get up to $10,000 each for two employees — just for signing them up to this amazing program. It’s a winwin for all.

• Landscape Trades (booth #2325): The LT team will be handing out free copies of Canada’s premier horticultural trades publication, including the popular State of the Industry Issue. The booth is also home to an Ale Trail stop, so come by to enjoy a free beer sample!

This year’s Congress is sure to be a memorable event. The annual gathering of landscape professionals under one roof was started by our association pioneers 50 years ago, and is one of the reasons why our community enjoys the success and status that it does today. Congress is a place to connect with old friends — and make new ones — as we look toward the next 50 years.

Amy Buchanan CMP LO Director of Membership abuchanan@landscapeontario.com

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Inspire, protect and grow the next generation

As we finish a year that started with COVID-19 lockdowns, and ends with hope that we are rounding the bend toward a live, face-to-face Congress, my attention is focused on how I can best support Landscape Ontario member entrepreneurs and managers in 2023. The answer lies in the wisdom of seven words.

After travelling to speak at conferences from coast to coast this past fall, plus hosting the two-day LO Peer to Peer Network Muskoka Summit, I’m absolutely sure that solving the workforce dilemma in every province and sector, plus improving employee engagement, is crucial to a successful 2023. The solution isn’t easy. It requires an industry-wide paradigm shift in thinking. Those who know me have heard me talk about this for several years now. I’ve seen it coming, and I’m frustrated by the resistance to change from literally hundreds of business owners and managers I’ve engaged on the topic this year.

Listen up. I truly believe we are all on the cusp of a moment in our profession that’s unprecedented in many ways:

• Like never before, we have momentum of consumer engagement in the value of the plants we provide and landscapes we create and manage.

• We also have momentum in credibility for our contractors, with whom millions of homeowners across the

country have engaged like never before through the pandemic.

• We are finally positioned to ride upward trends on pricing — where every customer will totally understand that our costs have soared exponentially, along with everything else around them. Inflation is out of control. Now is our moment to raise prices so we can pay our staff properly.

• Despite rising interest rates and increased travel, consumers (primarily residential) are still showing more interest in when they can get work done, rather than how much it will cost. If you have it, they’ll buy it. If you can meet their timeline, most prefer that to bickering on price.

• Government subsidies and funding for apprenticeship training have never been higher for supporting the costs of training your employees.

• The GROW Program is unprecedented in preparing new employees for you and for training budding supervisors — all for FREE.

• There is unprecedented public awareness of climate change, carbon emission targets, flood mitigation, pollinator threats, and habitat loss among other issues. We need to leverage our contribution to solving each of these issues and more.

• There are also Gen Z (under 28)

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

employees who are willing to show up engaged, aligned, interested and growth oriented as long as you make the effort to shift your thinking and adapt to meet them where they are starting from, and be the life coach they need to succeed.

I know the biggest stretch for most owners/ managers is to put trust into that last bullet point. I’ve personally witnessed it across Canada again this year. I know for sure that if your company has a staffing dilemma, then it’s more the fault of your approach to attracting, hiring and retaining than anything else. In order for landscape business owners to leverage this moment to its highest potential it will require avoiding the seven most expensive words in business: “Because we’ve always done it this way.”

The bottom line? 2023 is your chance to level up your business, despite any downward economic pressures you might need to navigate and despite the challenges of trying to find new staff in 2022. Carpe Diem. Seize the day. 2023 is poised to be our time in the history of our profession. Will we rise to the top? We have hope like never before. We will be proud like never before. I can feel it. I can see it. Go out there and be the best you can be. Show up as leaders who inspire, protect and grow our next generation like never before. You’ve got this, if you want to.

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Trees for Life treesforlife.ca Page 27

The world’s most advanced breathing machine

Introducing Trees. This once-in-a-million-year innovation doesn’t just clean the air we breathe, it has powerful Earth-cooling abilities and can improve our mental health. But in so many places, nature’s inventory is quickly running out.

You can help turn things around. Donate now and join us in increasing the tree canopy in communities across Canada at TreesForLife.ca

Thank you to our sponsors and supporters.