Association News

LO AGM reflects pride and strength

Landscape Ontario’s 2020 Provincial Board of Directors.

Held Jan. 8 at Congress, Landscape Ontario’s Annual General Meeting recognized accomplishments of an industry poised to take on future challenges. Outgoing president Warren Patterson announced the current Executive Board, chapter reps, and sector group reps, and recognized past presidents, who “guide us to our future,” as well as Honorary Lifetime Members, 25- and 10-year members and certified members.

As provincial board rep to the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, LO past president Paul Brydges, gave a CNLA report on that association’s purchase of Communities in Bloom, recognized LO members in national leadership, and reported on plans for the Green Cities Foundation. CNLA will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2022.

Warren Patterson’s President’s report looked back on five priorities identified last year, and listed accomplishments toward those goals. LO secured a grant to hire an employment development consultant; with another $1.5 million in pending grant applications. A pilot program to employ new Canadians in Ottawa is underway. A workshare program will be presented to the Board in February. A new program will recognize Top 100 employers; the first of which will be announced soon. Digital education delivery plans are underway. Our tech audit is still under evaluation.

A committee of engaged younger members has been looking at ways to drive stronger participation through our membership structure. On behalf of the Membership Committee, Lindsey Ross presented recommendations to break active membership into four categories: introductory, member, professional member, and certified professional member. The top category is achieved when 10 per cent of staff members hold a certification. The plan was presented to attendees as a motion, which was carried.

In his Executive Director’s report, Tony DiGiovanni shared the LO staff word of the year: Opportunity. Regarding members’ challenges, he said, “Employee recruitment, retention and development is the number one issue by far, a barrier to future growth.” Profitability is next, with the need for members to charge more for services. There is also a liability insurance crisis for the snow sector. DiGiovanni gave a heartfelt tribute to Warren Patterson: “Warren takes careful action once he has examined all sides of an issue. He is a great listener with quiet wisdom; members trust him. Warren is a natural mentor. The association has prospered on his watch.” DiGiovanni continued by recognizing Paul Brydges on leaving the Provincial Board, saying, “Paul helped members see themselves through the lens of a profession rather than an industry. Paul bleeds integrity.” DiGiovanni looked forward to Dave Wright’s presidency, mentioning he has known Dave since age 17.

“We have done well financially. I am leaving my job in great shape,” noted outgoing Treasurer Ed Hansen in a brief and positive report.

Incoming President Dave Wright took the gavel and reflected on his new responsibility, thanking members for their trust. Wright chose Legacy for his theme, calling legacies, “Something bigger than we are. It’s up to us to carry them on and leave bigger ones. I encourage everybody to leave one. Make it bigger, make it better.”

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Paul Brydges took the opportunity of announcing the Members-at-Large election, to thank Warren Patterson and welcomed him to the Past Presidents’ Club. Patterson responded with, “The older you get, the more emotional. We needed to focus on fund investment, controlled investment in facilities, and how to invest in members. We grew our capital by $2 million, and we are the centre of the landscape profession in Canada. Our strategic plan is the best I have been involved with; we are going in the right direction at appropriate speed. Thanks to the Executive and Provincial Boards and all staff. And thanks, Paul, for the amazing amount of time you put in. I admire you for commitment and energy.”

The new Provincial Board for 2020 includes: Dave Wright, President; Lindsay Drake Nightingale, First Vice President; Ed Hansen, Second Vice President; and Lindsey Ross, Treasurer. Blake Tubby and Jeff Olsen were acclaimed as Members-at-Large.

DiGiovanni closed the meeting with a tribute to retiring Membership and Public Relations Director, Denis Flanagan: “Your passion for our industry is unequalled.”

LO members can save on admission to Canada Blooms 2020

Landscape Ontario members can save $8 off the regular price of individual and bulk tickets for entry to Canada Blooms and the National Home Show, March 13-22, 2020 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto. “Birds of a Feather” is the theme of this year’s festival and the special discounted tickets are a great way to say thank you to staff, family, clients and suppliers for their support over the past year.

LO members have two options when purchasing the tickets: pay now, or pay-per-use. Single, pay now tickets are available at a cost of $12 each, with payment required for each ticket at the time of ordering. Bulk, pay-per-use tickets are available in packs of 20, with payment processed at the conclusion of the festival. Members are only charged for those tickets redeemed at the event, making the pay-per-use packs an ideal that doesn’t break the bank.

Upon ordering, payment information is required for both options, regardless of payment option. Get your staff, clients and suppliers excited about the upcoming season by giving them access to the largest horticultural showcase in Canada.

An order form is available online at HortTrades.com/canada-blooms-2020 or by contacting Meghan Greaves at mgreaves@landscapeontario.com or 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2301. Discounted tickets make a great gift for clients, suppliers and staff.

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Awards ceremony recognizes the best of 2019

Winners of the 47th annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence were announced live, on-stage to a packed audience of about 700 people at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport on Jan. 7, 2020. Held in conjunction with the association’s Congress trade show and conference, the highly-anticipated, ticketed evening event sported the theme: “Emerald Gala: celebrating LO members creating emerald cities.”

Each year, LO members submit projects for awards via the awards website at LOawards.com. Entries were then reviewed and scored by a panel of green industry professionals. Projects that score enough points from the judges are then deemed winners of an award. This year, two of the volunteer judges, Alistair Johnston and Jamie Riddell, teamed up with LO’s Meghan Greaves to host the event.

The awards program recognizes outstanding projects in the landscape and horticulture profession, as well as individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing the profession.

About two-dozen students took the stage as recipients of various horticultural scholarships awarded each year by the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and the Cullen Family Scholarship Program.

Throughout the evening, the following individual awards were presented: Chapter Achievement Award Nick Solty Environmental Award 10,000 Trees Come Alive Outside Design Challenge Niagara College, Frank Ewald Junior Award Chris Muller Garden Communicator Award Sean James Legacy Award Karl Stensson Trillium Award

The Region of Peel and York Region Prosperity Partners Leadership Award Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Lindsey Ross, Janet Mott, Christine Moffit, Blake Tubby

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Lindsay Drake Nightingale was also recognized as recipient of the 2019 Monica van Maris Woman of Influence Award, presented at the Toronto Botanical Garden in the spring of 2019.

Outgoing LO president, Warren Patterson officially became a member of the pastpresident’s club and received a President’s Ring for his leadership role over the past two years.

The evening concluded with the announcement of the top three awards. The Don Salivan Grounds Management Award, for the top maintenance project, was given to

Snider Turf and Landscape Care.

The Casey van Maris Award, awarded to the project with the highest marks for execution of unique and innovative design in landscaping, was given to Land-Con. Seferian Design Group took home the Dunington-Grubb Award for the most outstanding and highest overall scoring project from the various construction categories.

Winners from the Garden Centre and Growers programs were also recognized during the ceremony.

Organizers would like to thank the

Winners gather on stage at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

volunteer judges, as well as ceremony presenting partner, G&L Group, and supporting partners, Connon Nurseries, and Dynascape Software.

Top scoring winners from the LO Awards of Excellence program represent the province at the National Awards of Excellence Program, with winners announced in mid-August.

The ceremony was broadcast live over Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The full video, as well as individual segments can be viewed via Landscape Ontario’s YouTube page. Links to the video and all winners can be found via LOawards.com.

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Volunteers work to light up site at night

Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Lighting Sector Group has been working on plans to keep the association’s newly-renovated building visible to Highway 401 traffic throughout the night. Pictured here, sector group members, Carl Hastings, Frank DiMarco, Ken Martin and John Higo recently spent a day on-site installing temporary landscape lighting that highlights the front garden ginko, engraved rock and flag, as well as additional lighting for the 120-foot wide sign and dry stone wall. Infrastructure was put in place during the design and construction of the building to ensure a proper showcase of lighting to visitors, the profession and the public in the future. Thanks also to Turf Care Products Canada ands SiteOne Landscape Supply for donating supplies.

Landscape lighting on display for all to see thanks to the generosity of some LO members.

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