Landscape Ontario - January 2022

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

January 2022

INVASIVE L E ARN A B OU T EXI ST I N G A N D E M E RGI N G T H RE ATS

PESTS PM 40013519

LDD moth caterpillar

CONGRESS

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VIRTUAL CONFERENCE LINEUP

Introducing the

NISCO ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD In August 2021 we auctioned off a Toyota Prius, raising $6,125 for:

Now, we are thrilled to announce the Nisco Entrepreneurial Spirit Award We’re looking for LO members who demonstrate excellent entrepreneurial spirit.

There will be one winner of $6,125.

APPLY NOW:

www.niscocanada.com Or scan the QR Code:

DUE DATE February 28, 2022

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

January 2022 • Volume 40 - No. 01 HortTrades.com Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural profession in Ontario.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Features 4 8 14 18

Member Profile: Lake of Bays Congress Conference lineup Invasive pest threats

Peter Guinane gives back

Departments 19 24 25 26 30

Association News

Scholarship Profile Professional News Columns

Advertisers

Director of Communications and Publications Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Creative Director / IT Coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Communications Coordinator and Content Manager Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 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, Lori Harding, 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, 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 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.

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It’s time to look to the future Belonging Committee to embrace, respect and accept inclusion within our profession, which will undoubtedly encourage a wider group of people to enter horticulture. I encourage you to look internally at your own organization to see how you are going to dismantle barriers and breakdown ignorance.

Changes have been made on the Landscape Ontario website and a toolbox of information is available to assist member companies. Increased diversity within the profession will definitely make us better professionals — especially if we are willing to share our knowledge and histories with one another. The future of our profession is linked to labour, so how can we encourage more people to enter horticulture?

2022 is the International Year of the Garden. How are you choosing to recognize this auspicious event? How are you going to use it to push your business further into the future? How are you going to use this incredible occasion to promote horticulture-based careers? How can we continue to encourage the public to take a stand for climate change and make our own profession greener? We are incredibly proud of the work we do to enhance, protect, beautify, nurture, and steward the land, now how can we do it better and with a smaller footprint?

I look forward to your input, discussions, ideas and knowledge. Please feel free to reach out.

’m extremely proud to represent you all for the next two years as President of Landscape Ontario’s Provincial Board of Directors. I would like to thank outgoing president Dave Wright for leading the organization these last two years through the dilemmas that COVID-19 presented for Landscape Ontario and the membership.

David’s legacy was leadership and he carried that out with strength and humility.

We became the “go-to” organization because of the tireless work carried out by the volunteer LO COVID-19 Task Force and home office staff who gathered, researched, and presented accurate, and at times, up-to-the-minute information. Moving forward, we need to remain vigilant and ensure that we don’t let our guard down.

After the trials and tribulations of the last two years, I would like to start my presidency by defining the future. How can we define the future of Landscape Ontario? Of our profession? What will it look like? What does the future hold for ourselves, our businesses, and our staff?

How are we, as an organization, going to evolve? What can Landscape Ontario do to advance the profession into the future?

Landscape Ontario is considered a leader in North America. How do we propel the organization into the future?

The labour shortage is the bane of most landscape companies. Great strides have been made by our Inclusion, Diversity and

Lindsay Drake Nightingale LO President

info@yorkshiregardenservices.com

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Member Profile:

FROM BUSH TO

bounty SUCCESSFUL GARDEN CENTRE STARTED AS A FIREWOOD SUPPLIER

G

By Chris Occhiuzzi

oing from supplying campers with firewood to opening a garden centre may seem like quite a leap, but Linda Boothby had an idea and was determined to see it through.

Two decades later, the Lake of Bays Garden Centre owner is happy she did.

From taking care of gardening needs in the community to offering photogenic displays for passersby, the business has come a long way since 2001.

“When you start these things, you don’t know how they’re going to work,” Boothby said, who got her love of gardening from her mom. “I had no clue when we started the store it was going to grow so much in a relatively short time.”

Located along Highway 60 in Dwight, the eight-acre property was first purchased to meet the firewood demands of a fiveyear supplier contract with Algonquin Park. Boothby and her team – including her children after school and on days off – packed and delivered 40,000 bags of firewood every season, delivering to 700 campsites twice a day from May through Thanksgiving.

At the time of the purchase the property

was all bush, but now it’s home to a welcoming store, greenhouses, a popular food truck, and more.

It all started with Boothby, but they now have an active and loyal 11-person staff, which includes her daughter Emily Keown as manager. The property is also home to her son Tom Keown’s Five Point Landscaping company.

“We started in 2001 on the side of the road in a trailer,” Boothby recalled. Back then, she was selling annuals and soil to locals, cottagers, and tourists.

They moved into the store later that year, and built the first greenhouse in 2002. A second greenhouse followed a few years later.

“We started with bulk sales and then you just grow with what people need,” Boothby said. “Up here in cottage country you try to be everything to everyone. We sell propane, corn for ducks, and other items in addition to our gardening products and services.”

The location is also perfect to attract tourist traffic – Algonquin sees 800,000 visitors a year, most of them travelling right past the garden centre on Highway 60.

The garden centre has added a number of attractions to entice those visitors to stop.

Continued >

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Lake of Bays Garden Centre Owner/Operator Linda Boothby and Manager Emily Keown.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO A food truck on site has become very popular. “This helps us pick up the traffic going by, and as they’re waiting for their orders to cook, they’ll walk around for a bit,” Boothby explained.

There are also numerous attractive displays and sculptures on the property, including a large inukshuk, which draws visitors who will take pictures and then wander around to see what other interesting items are available. Boothby says they’re also planning to build a maze area in the future.

Using the greenhouses to showcase fun items during the change of seasons is a great way to keep traffic coming to the property and also give back to the community.

“One of our greenhouses is turned into a store area for the fall, while the other is being used for a creepy haunted house,” Boothby said. “Entry for the haunted house will be by donation to Huntsville Hospital.”

Boothby and her children have long standing family roots in the Muskoka and Haliburton areas, giving them an in-depth knowledge of soil conditions and climates.

While this helps them know what will thrive

and what won’t, the team at Lake of Bays Garden Centre also finds great value in programs provided by Landscape Ontario.

Over the years, they have attended Landscape Ontario events as well as onsite workshops and online seminars, with topics ranging from DynaScape software to turf and tree maintenance. During the pandemic, they have participated in several virtual courses offered through LO, which is something they would like to keep doing.

Boothby says the virtual courses save travel time and expenses, making it easier for her team to take part in more training.

“With the virtual, we can go back and watch the seminars at any time, which is really helpful as we can’t make it when we’re in our busy seasons,” Boothby said.

“Now, when we find some down time, we can go back and watch the seminars to see what’s new and helpful to our business. The seminars are really good; there is a lot of good info there.”

Even after two decades of successful growth, the passion to learn more and flourish is alive and well at Lake of Bays Garden Centre.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO L A N D S C A P E O N TA R I O

C O N F E R E N C E

THE CONGRESS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE IS SET FOR JAN. 18-20, 2022.

GET YOUR CONFERENCE PASS TO ACCESS 36 SESSIONS LED BY 47 INDUSTRY EXPERTS. “The speaker lineup is truly remarkable, and the range of topics covered has something for just about every green professional” — Joe Salemi, Deputy Executive Director, Landscape Ontario.

REGISTER ONLINE AT: CONGRESSREDEFINED.COM/CONFERENCE

TUESDAY, JAN. 18 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M.

{

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Pond Management The Opportunity and Necessity

Embrace Your Inner Geek

David G Sim, LEED AP | Arbourdale

Grant Harrison | Nextra Consulting

{ Garden Centres Around the World Paul Cooling, Rachel Doyle, Nick Stodel, Leanne Johnson, Karen Moad 8

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO 11 A.M. TO NOON

{

{

{

Sustainability Buzz Word or Buzz Kill?

Innovative Soils in the Modern Construction Landscape

Successfully Recruiting and Retaining Labour

John Bladon, PAg, ISSP The Chimera Group

Jose Haig, M.Sc., B.ES, CUE Earthco Soil Mixtures

Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Christine Moffit, Kathy Thomas, Scott Wentworth OALA, CSLA, CLD

1 P.M. TO 2 P.M.

{

{

{

Get Smooth Operations with Repeatable Systems

2021 Trial Garden Results

Building a More Inclusive Workforce in Green Professions

Jacki Hart, CLP | Consulting By Hart

Rodger Tschanz, MSc University of Guelph

Jeanette “Danielle” Barber, Ph.D.

3 P.M. TO 4 P.M.

Seniors Gardens: A Growing Market with High Profit Potential Ron Koudys, BLA, MEd, OALA, FCSLA, FASLA, RLA(MI), CLD Ron Koudys Landscape Architects Inc. 9

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Susan Poizner | OrchardPeople.com Fruit Tree Care Education

{

{ Protecting Fruit Trees from Pests and Diseases

Profiting From Saying “No” Haig Seferian CLD, OALA, CSLA, FASLA, Beth Edney CLD, CIFD, Frank Ferragine, Jim Mosher

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO L A N D S C A P E O N TA R I O

C O N F E R E N C E

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M.

{

{

{

Garden Spotlight: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew (London, UK)

The Cookie Has Crumbled: Considerations for Digital Advertising Without the Cookie

Building Winning Teams: Keep them and Train Them to Succeed

Richard Barley, MCIH, FLS Director of Horticulture & Learning, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Rob Redden | in-Lite Outdoor Lighting

Zachary O’Connor Web Conductors Inc.

11 A.M. TO NOON

{

{

{

High Level Estimating: Strategic vs.

Tactical Thinking

The Internet of Nature

Container Gardening for Four Seasons

Nadina Galle, Ph.D.

Catherine Karpman From the Garden Shed

George Urvari | Oriole Landscaping

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19 1 P.M. TO 2 P.M.

{

{

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Current Supply Chain Issues and Forecasts for 2022/2023

Optimal Recovery, Sleep and Energy for Optimal Health

Recommended Repertoire of Respectable Plants 4.0

Jamie Riddell, Jeff Olsen, Mike Schiedel, Jason Ireton, Jason Vettese

Dr. Matthew Posa MChiro, DC

Jon Peter NPD, OAC, Colleen Cirillo, Darrell Bley

3 P.M. TO 4 P.M.

{

{

{

Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf

Three Reports Every Landscape Business Needs to Grow Profitability

Trees and Construction Damage

Virtual Screening

Greg Herring | The Herring Group

Kyle McLoughlin Ironwood Arboricultural

REGISTER ONLINE AT: CONGRESSREDEFINED.COM/CONFERENCE 11

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO L A N D S C A P E O N TA R I O

C O N F E R E N C E

THURSDAY, JAN. 20 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M.

{

{

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Preparing the Ground for Healthy Soil

Collaboration with Municipalities and Conservation Authorities

Planning for Success with Strategic Relationships

Glenn Munroe, Greg Patterson, Jon Durzi

Jacki Hart, CLP | Consulting By Hart

Paul R. Brydges, BLA, CLD, APALA, ASLA, CNLA, CSLA, OALA, FLP

Brydges Landscape Architecture Inc.

11 A.M. TO NOON

{

{

{

Budgeting During and Post Pandemic

Indigenous Agriculture Techniques

Peter Guinane | Oriole Landscaping

Isaac Crosby Lead Hand, Urban Agriculture, Evergreen Brick Works

The Plant Parenting Revolution: Connect and Cultivate Houseplants Trends to Maximize Retail Sales Leslie Halleck, CPH | Halleck Horticulture

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

THURSDAY, JAN. 20 1 P.M. TO 2 P.M.

{

{

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Are You Digitally Relevant?

Face the New World of Online Commerce and Communications Head On

PaRx: A Prescription for Nature and Health

Invasive Species for Carolinian Trees

Leslie Halleck, CPH | Halleck Horticulture

Dr. Melissa Lem MD, CCFP, FCFP, Jennie McCaffrey BSc, MA

Kyle McLoughlin Ironwood Arboricultural

3 P.M. TO 4 P.M.

{

{

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Help Your Landscape Shine with Professional Photography

Restoring Ecosystem Functionality and Biodiversity

Succession Planning The Good, Bad, & Ugly

Stacy Bass, Jeff McNeill, Joel Hordyk

Heather Holm Biologist and award-winning author

Nathan Helder, BSc (Agr) Gelderman Landscape Services

REGISTER ONLINE AT: CONGRESSREDEFINED.COM/CONFERENCE 13

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO Spotted lanternfly

Existing and emerging

INVASIVE PEST THREATS A

By Caitlin Ayling IPM Specialist, NVK Nurseries

Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae)

s borders open back up and the movement of people and products increases, so too does the threat of invasive pests. As horticulture professionals, we need to be prepared to battle harmful alien creatures whose introduction and spread threatens the recreational, ecological and economic values of our natural environment.

In any battle, knowing your enemy is critical.

So we must begin by arming ourselves with the knowledge of current invasive species that can be found in our own backyard, as well as the emerging pests that threaten the future of our forests and landscapes. By increasing awareness and sharing key identification features and visual indicators, we can all work together to reduce the spread and potential losses caused by these harmful creatures.

These tiny insects, similar to aphids, attack hemlock trees by attaching and feeding at the base of its needles. Their feeding can cause premature dieback of buds and shoots, foliage discoloration, and needle loss, and can even cause death over a period of three to 10 years. The immobile, flat, black nymphs begin feeding on the nutrients and sap from the underside of the twigs in spring, but then cease feeding throughout the growing season. In mid-October, they resume in order to develop into adults and begin laying egg masses of up to 300 eggs in white, woolly egg sacs. The best time to inspect for this pest is from March-May, as the egg sacs become more visible in late spring (Fig. 1).

Be aware, they can easily be confused with spider

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Dangerous pests IN OUR BACKYARDS

1.

webbing and bird droppings.

Although the loss of our native hemlock stands (Tsuga canadensis) would significantly impact entire forest ecosystems, in the landscape our ornamental hemlocks may also be vulnerable. Previous Ontario detections of HWA occurred in 2019 in Wainfleet and Niagara Falls. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) also confirmed its presence in Fort Erie in October 2021. The young nymphs, or “crawlers” are the only mobile stage, hitching a ride on birds and other animals, or by wind.

This is of major concern as bird migration patterns provide a dangerous pathway for increasing the spread of this devastating pest. Currently, no single management tactic has been successful in controlling HWA, but silvicultural, chemical and biological control options continue to be explored.

Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Box tree moth was first detected in the Toronto area in 2018 and has since been expanding its geographic spread.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has been using pheromone trapping across the province since 2019 and has confirmed moth sightings as far as Hamilton, Milton and Niagara this past year. This pest is of particular concern for our landscape staple, boxwood (Buxus spp.), although burning bush (Euonymus alatus) and Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) have also been known to act as hosts in Asia and Europe. Control of this pest is critical in the caterpillar life stage as it can cause substantial defoliation. Larval control significantly aids in curbing the spread, as the adult moth can travel as far as 10 kilometres laying 10-20 eggs in each cluster.

From September to May, the larvae can be found overwintering inside an inconspicuous white webbed hibernarium. Alternatively, there may be individual leaves webbed together where the tiny black headed green larva can be found. In mid-late May, those larvae will begin feeding on the surface of the leaves, ingesting only the epidermal layer. Leaves that appear bleached or have a “window-pane” effect are a good indication of previous damage.

At later stages, these caterpillars develop black stripes along their bodies and can consume entire leaves, leaving behind only the margins as well as webbing and frass deposits (excrement). This may actually be less obvious than it sounds, so pulling the branches apart to check the interior of the plant is the best way to confirm their presence.

There can be as many as three generations a year, providing multiple opportunities to monitor and control the caterpillars. Historical observations suggest larval feeding occurs during the following time periods: May 30-June 15; July 15-August 10; and September 1-15.

The biological control product Bascillus thuringiensis (Trade names: Dipel 2X DF, Bioprotec and XenTari) has been registered for use in Canada, but should only be applied by a licensed technician. Evaluating larval kill three to five days post-application will determine if a repeat treatment is warranted.

Continued >

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Box tree moth

Box tree moth caterpillar

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EMERGING 3.

2.

LDD moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) Formerly known as gypsy moth, LDD moth has received significant media coverage as their spread and rapid defoliation has been evident across Ontario in recent years. The August 2021 edition of Landscape Trades magazine featured an article entitled “Appetite for Destruction” which provided excellent recommendations on suppression and control measures.

The tan coloured egg masses can be found on tree trunks and the undersides of branches, but may also be hiding on outdoor furniture, plant pots, vehicles and landscape equipment. Present from late summer to early spring, these masses should be carefully removed and destroyed by soaking in a bucket of soapy water.

This will help prevent mass hatching in late April-early May when the tiny, black caterpillars may be seen dangling in the wind by a small thread, looking to land on a suitable food source. These young larvae feed mostly during the day, and it is at this stage where pesticide applications should be targeted.

The biological control product Bascillus thuringiensus (same product as used for box tree moth control) is very effective at this life stage. Later stage caterpillars have five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of red dots along their backs and their head capsule changes from black to yellow (Fig. 2). At this stage, they are no longer susceptible to biological pesticide applications, so alternative control measures should be implemented such as burlap bands, sticky traps and manual removal.

Once the caterpillars cease feeding in June-July, they will look for a protected area to build their cocoons. The dark brown-purplish pupal cases are often found near their fuzzy shed skins in crevices of thick bark or on the underside of branches or leaves. They may also be found on furniture, rocks, pots, wheel wells or bumpers.

Manual removal of pupae can help reduce adult moth emergence in July-August and subsequent egg laying opportunities. The females are a white, fuzzy, flightless moth that can sometimes be found congregating in groups laying their egg masses.

Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope in the battle against this devastating defoliator in the form of naturally occurring biological controls. Along with an introduced wasp species that parasitizes the LDD eggs, there are fungal and viral pathogens that have proven to help control the caterpillar life stage.

Male LDD moth

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Elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) Elm zigzag sawfly gets its name from the distinct zigzag damage caused by the early stage larval feeding (Fig. 3). As the larvae mature, they can consume entire leaves, obscuring their initial signature characteristics. Significant defoliation, branch dieback and crown thinning can occur in elm trees (Ulmus spp.) at any stage. There may be as many as six generations per year, allowing this pest to continue feeding from May-October.

In summer, the pupa spins a light lattice-like cocoon on the underside of leaves, branches and shoots and emerges as an adult in four to seven days (Fig. 4). Flagging and branch mortality in the upper canopy is a good indication of high infestation levels. The stress from this feeding damage, although not typically fatal, can significantly increase the vulnerability to other diseases such as Dutch elm disease.

The first reported sighting in North America was in Sainte-Martine, Que. in July 2020, but as of October 2021, there have been almost 200 iNaturalist observations in Ontario as far as Ottawa and Brockville. This pest is of particular concern as it can survive winter temperatures as low as -30 C and as an adult can travel up to 90 kilometres per year. It is more important than ever to increase the awareness of this pest, as it has the potential to cause serious and irrevocable damage to the biodiversity of our forest ecosystems.

4.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

THREATS ON OUR DOORSTEP 5.

6.

Strawberry blossom weevil

(Anthonomus rubi) Strawberry blossom weevil is a small, black, snout beetle, known to cause damage to strawberry, raspberry, rose and blackberry flower buds. The adults become active in spring when the female lays her eggs inside the developing bud.

The white legless grubs feed and develop inside the bud, (Fig. 5) emerging as adults about a month later. Both male and female adults create feeding punctures along the flower stalk, causing withered flowers and aborted fruit set. Occasionally, the female will lay her eggs in open flowers, where the resulting larvae cause scarred, rotten, malformed and ultimately unmarketable fruit. Yield losses can vary among crops, but some reports suggest that strawberry production can be reduced by up to 90 per cent, and in roses, as high as 80 per cent damaged buds were reported.

The first North American detection was in 2019 in Abbotsford, B.C., and it has since been confirmed in wild hosts throughout the Fraser Valley and metro Vancouver.

Strawberry blossom weevil adults have also been found feeding on pollen and nectar of such plants as dandelion, buttercup, mullein, oxeye daisy, and astilbe. The CFIA is currently assessing the level of economic and environmental risk of this pest and as of September 2021, has issued a federal regulation order on rubus, fragraria and rosa plant production and exports to the U.S.

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) Spotted lanternfly is a uniquely coloured planthopper that can easily be distinguished from other pests in the landscape. The adults are approximately one inch long and hold their grey coloured forewings with distinct black spots like a tent over their body, hiding the bright red portions of their hind wings (Fig. 6).

The first three stages of the spotted laternfly are similar in appearance as the nymphs are mostly black with white spots. The fourth stage before becoming an adult is black and red with white spots. The adults and immature nymphs congregate in large swarms and use their piercing/sucking mouthparts to feed directly on the sugary tissues of young stems and foliage. This can lead to a heavy buildup of honeydew, which in excessive amounts can cause the

growth of bacterial and fungal moulds to occur at the base of the plant. In late summer, the adult females lay eggs inside a grey, mud-like mass.

Although they prefer to lay eggs on their favourite host, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), the masses have also been found on stones, furniture, firewood, pallets, boats and vehicles.

Spotted lanternfly will also feed on over 70 other tree species, including maple, oak, poplar, willow, walnut, and pine. However, stone fruits, apples and grapes are especially preferred.

It has not yet been identified in Ontario, but as of 2020, it has been detected across the Niagara border in New York State. This close proximity to our fruit-tree and viticulture region is of particular concern as this pest poses a significant economic threat.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

There are several ways to help in the battle of limiting the spread and potential damage caused by these invasive species. By becoming informed and sharing this information with your coworkers, employees, friends and family, you can help increase awareness. It is important that we are all aware of how these pests increase their spread and eliminate those activities, such as moving firewood and plants. Last, but certainly not least, report any sightings and observations immediately to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at inspection.gc.ca.

For more information on reporting pest sightings, the Early Detection and Rapid Response Network (EDRR) and addition resources, visit invasivespeciescentre.ca or invadingspecies.com.

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PETER GUINANE

gives back

P

SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPE BUSINESS OWNER FINDS TIME TO SUPPORT INDUSTRY INITIATIVES the opportunity to work as an industry, while much of the economy was still locked down. We wanted to demonstrate our gratitude to the Ontario government and the public, and we wanted to highlight the value of our industry by creating wellness spaces. Gardens support mental and physical wellness, and that’s something we wanted to demonstrate with this program.

The gardens that we have been building have been fantastic.

eter Guinane is one of the most dedicated Landscape Ontario volunteers. He’s on the provincial board, the contractor’s Sector Group, as well as the COVID-19 Task Force. Guinane also finds time to volunteer with both the LO Garden Makeover campaign, and the Green Cities Foundation #GreenMyCity project at St. Matthew’s House in Hamilton, Ont. All this while running Oriole Landscaping, a successful Toronto-based landscape design/ build company alongside his long time business partner George Urvari.

Guinane recently joined the Landscape Ontario Podcast to share why he gives back to LO and the GCF.

Scott Barber (SB): Why do you contribute to Landscape Ontario?

Peter Guinane (PG): Tony DiGiovanni always talks about the meeting after the meeting.

And that’s all the networking you do with other professionals at events. And I have always been happy to share what little knowledge I had, because for every gift you give somebody, some idea or improvement or experience that you’ve had, you always get twice as much back in return.

Participating at Landscape Ontario has become an insatiable learning experience.

Being part of the LO Board and being on the landscape contractor’s commodity group, it puts me at the cutting edge of skill and product development, safety training, government policy, supplier networking.

New products that come out are presented to us at LO. I’m getting to see that stuff first, which is a real benefit to my company.

SB: What has it been like being part of LO’s COVID-19 Task Force?

PG: It’s been great, but when it started, it was terrifying. We had no idea where the pandemic was going to go. We had no idea what the health risks were. There were a lot of questions. The severe lockdowns came into effect and I had no idea if my business would survive; if my family would be safe.

These were huge question marks, which bred a lot of anxiety both in me and our staff.

SB: Tell us about your involvement with the Green Cities Foundation, including the project at St. Matthew’s House.

The best way to get information as quickly as possible was to be on the committee whose mandate was to get information.

It’s been more successful than I could have imagined. I have to give a shout out to Alan White who championed the creation of the task force, and Dave Wright, the President of Landscape Ontario, for their leadership. It has been a tremendous honour to be part of that group.

SB: Why are you a supporter and contributor to LO’s Garden Makeover campaign to give back to frontline heroes?

PG: As a group, we wanted to do something to communicate our gratitude to the province. We talked about tribute gardens, and how we could demonstrate our value to society. Our profession was out working 100 per cent at that point. We had been given

L A N D S C A P E O N TA R I O

C O N F E R E N C E

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PG: The Green Cities Foundation is an initiative from the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association which has a mandate to bring green spaces to communities. They have some corporate supporters including some big names who have donated to bring that message of horticulture to needy communities.

The project in downtown Hamilton for example, is in a resource deficient neighbourhood, when we talk about a lack of green spaces and parks. The area is particularly hard hit by issues around community health and poverty, and bringing this improvement to the community is immensely uplifting. I believe providing access to green space benefits the entire community, and it’s one of the most impactful things I can do.

This interview was adapted from an episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast, published in November 2021. To listen to the podcast, visit landscapeontario.com/podcast, or search for it on your favourite podcast app.

Hear Peter Guinane speak about budgeting “During & Post-Pandemic” at the virtual Congress Conference, Jan. 18-20, 2022. Register online at: congressredefined.com.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Georgian Lakelands awards celebrate 25 years of history LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

Robert Adams

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR:

Joel Dorion, Bayridge Landscape DESIGNER OF THE YEAR:

Lexi Dearborn, Dearborn Designs & Associates BEST POOL/WATER FEATURE OF THE YEAR:

The Landmark Group, and Blue Diamond Pools PROPERTY MAINTENANCE OF THE YEAR:

The Grounds Guys of Barrie

BEST MASONRY INSTALLER OF THE YEAR:

Country Roots Masonry & Landscaping SOFTSCAPE INSTALLER OF THE YEAR:

Nicole Pattenden Landscape Design LIGHTING INSTALLER OF THE YEAR:

Ideal Landscape Services

SAFETY AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR:

Hank Dubee and Robert Herlichka VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:

Laurie Ann-Stuart, LA Gardens

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR:

Sunbelt Rentals Barrie

SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR:

Jordanna McCutcheon

Hill’N Dale Landscaping owner, James Godbold was awarded Employer of the Year by industry peers.

MENTOR OF THE YEAR:

Lexi Dearborn, Dearborn Designs & Associates EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR:

Ove 90 people attended the Georgian Lakelands Chapter Awards of Distinction dinner on Dec. 2, 2021 at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ont. The awards are held to recognize outstanding suppliers, volunteers, employers and companies within the Chapter.

The first award of the evening, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Robert Adams, the Chapter’s first president, who was instrumental in its formation 25 years ago. Adams recalled the first meeting at the Holiday Inn in Barrie on Dec. 23, 1996: “Back then, the Toronto Chapter was split into Toronto East and Toronto West,” Adams recalled, “so I would have to drive all the way down the 400 just to go to meetings.” In order to form the new Chapter, Adams easily surpassed the required number of signatures, paving the wave for a new chapter covering Northern Ontario.

Georgian Lakelands Chapter board member, Jon Cundy emceed the evening and thanked the many companies who donated product for the attendee gift bags and raffle prizes. Cundy also recognized the many volunteers, including Jordanna Flood, chapter secretary, who helped to organize the event.

Cundy also congratulated all nominees for being recognized by their industry peers and announced the following winners:

Hill’ N Dale Landscaping

ACCESSORY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR:

Bobcat of Barrie

HARDSCAPE INSTALLER OF THE YEAR:

Rob McNeil

HARDSCAPE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR:

Georgian Bay Outdoors, and SC The Depot PLANT SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR:

Clearview Nursery

The Chapter would like to recognize the following event sponsors: GEORGIAN BAY OUTDOORS (Dinner Sponsor) THE DIAMOND STUDIO IN THORNBURY

S.CHARLEBOIS HAULAGE & EXCAVATING BEST WAY STONE

UNILOCK

LEWIS MOTORS

BRICK STOP

MUSKOKA ROCK GENERAL SEED

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STONE ARCH OAKS LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Ottawa Chapter volunteers give back to frontline workers

tel: 905 689 4022

When ICU nurse Elise Da Ponti found out she was selected to receive a garden makeover from Landscape Ontario in recognition of her work during the pandemic, she was overwhelmed.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Da Ponti said. “It just meant so much to me and our family. I didn’t get into nursing for recognition, I do it because I love helping people. But to be acknowledged like this, after the last two years, it is just truly amazing.”

Da Ponti works as an ICU nurse at Ottawa General Hospital. She lives with her husband Marc-Andre, a paramedic, and their five yearold son Noah. In 2021, they moved into a new home in ClarenceRockland, just east of Ottawa.

A brand new build, the home provided a blank canvas for project coordinator Lindsey Ross, who has also served on LO’s Covid-19 Task Force throughout the pandemic.

“Being part of the Task Force, it was important to me to be involved in the Ottawa Chapter project,” Ross explained. “We did a design, and then installed the steps, walkway and front gardens in early November.

It was really nice to work with the volunteers and we are very appreciative of the suppliers who provided the materials and plants.”

Nine volunteers from five companies contributed to the project.

Da Ponti says the front landscape was more than they could have imagined.

“When we first found out that we were going to receive a garden makeover worth $5,000, we were so excited. With the new house being built, we didn’t know when we would be able to complete the landscaping. And now, to have this fantastic entranceway built by this amazing team of professionals, we are so grateful.”

Ross says the project would retail for much more than $5,000.

“It was great to see how excited the Da Ponti family was to see the finished work,” Ross said. “They are wonderful people.”

Thank you to all the companies and individuals who contributed to the garden makeover: Materials donations: Alliance Gator Bolduc Geosynthetic Systems Goldie Mohr Ltd Greely Sand & Gravel Greenlife Nursery Killaloe Wood Products Ritchie Feed & Seed Robertson Rent-All

Installers: Alliance Gator Canton’s Mindful Gardens Living Green Landscaping Peter Knippel Nursery Wild Ridge Landscapes

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

In Memoriam — Joerg Leiss Joerg Leiss passed away November 12, 2021, surrounded by family. He was 93.

A nurseryman, brother, husband, father — Joerg Leiss was a force of nature.

He approached life with enthusiasm and passion, mastering all that he touched.

Joerg was an avid horticulturist, working in the industry until his late eighties. He is survived by Ute (Kurt) and his youngest sister Sigrid (Art).

Born Sept. 16, 1928, Leiss left his siblings in Germany and emigrated to Canada in 1952. Joerg was hired by Sheridan Nurseries, where he worked until his retirement as a manager and chief propagator.

During the early years, he studied horticulture at the University of Guelph at night and by distance — learning while supporting his family. Joerg was an author of dozens of articles on plant management and attended international conferences to present his papers for decades. Upon retirement, never one to rest, he began teaching horticulture at Humber College. While still working at Sheridan, he and Francis opened their forward-thinking business, Living Carpets, which specialized in ground covers and perennials, long before they were the environmentally savvy thing to plant. They continued this business until 2018 when they left their beloved farm in Wiarton, Ont., where they had created an oasis of exotic and distinct plants “acquired” world-wide and both moved to Listowel.

Joerg was blessed to have a partner and equal in his wife Franziska (Schiele). Francis stood beside him in the soil of their nursery during their early years at Erindale Nurseries and on the mountain tops of their journeys. Married for over 69 years, Francis’s devotion permitted Joerg to soar. Joerg and Francis had four children in five years: Peter (Peggy), Michael (Mary), John (Lynda) and Elisabeth (Don). He was very proud of each of them as they pursued their respective careers and was especially fond of his grandchildren, Alex, Matthew, Susannah, Mark, Angela, Alexa, and Joerg.

Joerg’s intelligence and voracious reading habits were legendary among family and friends. He could debate any topic, tell you the name of any river in the world, and followed the news and politics closely. He loved to monitor the weather and started many conversations with his observations on the chance of rainfall or snow. This made the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease even more tragic for all who knew and loved him. While the disease robbed him of his quick wit, he remained charming and loving to the end. Joerg’s family have asked the community to join in celebrating his legacy and life by tending to your garden.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

In Memoriam — Sabrina Goettler Sabrina Goettler passed away November 26, 2021. In Sabrina’s 43 years she touched so very many lives with her humour, sharp wit, compassion, loyalty, devotion and love. She will be forever cherished by her partner Andrew, her two small children Declan and Harper, her sisters Brittany and Vanessa, her parents Fred and Elaine, in-laws Dan and Ruth McCarty, and brothers-in-law Adam and Arlen, as well as countless friends and family. Sabrina passed away in her home after a courageous battle against cancer. Her spirit never gave up.

An award-winning Certified Landscape Designer (CLD), Sabrina attended the University of Guelph for Horticulture, specializing in Landscape Design, and after graduating went on to also complete the Landscape Design program at Ryerson University, and finally pursued studies there in Business Management.

She was owner of The Site Collective, a landscape design and project management studio, serving clients in the GTA. She enjoyed working with clients to create incredible spaces, uniting plants, stone, wood and metal; artistic, living architectural expressions.

An avid supporter of the green industry, Sabrina sat on the Landscape Ontario Toronto Chapter board, serving as treasurer from 2008-2016 and was active with the association’s Landscape Designers Sector Group, offering her time to organize events and engage members and the general public. In her winters, Sabrina taught courses for the Apprenticeship Program at Humber College, was a speaker at the Congress Conference and taught professional development seminars at Landscape Ontario.

Friends and family will be invited to gather together to celebrate Sabrina’s life at a future date.

For those offering support to the family at this time, we thank you for your support and would ask you to please visit a page created to support Andrew, Harper and Declan at gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-sabrina.

Assocation AGM to be held February 8 All Landscape Ontario members are invited to attend the assocation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on February 8, 2022.

This year’s AGM is scheduled to take place both in-person and online via Zoom.

Members will get a recap of association activities and hear what is planned for the years ahead. If there are any issues that require a vote by members, one representative from each Active member company is eligible to vote. The AGM is just one of many events where LO members can provide feedback to help direct the initiatives and energy of the association on current and future endeavours.

All members are encouraged to read the 2020-2021 Annual Report, including the assocation’s Audited Financial Statements prior to attending the AGM. The information covers the fiscal year Sept. 1, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2021 and is available online at HortTrades.com/2021-annual-report.

Full details and registration will be available soon.

Found at LandscapeOntario.com/Podcast 22

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

In Memoriam — Ike Vanderwoude

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

NURSERY GROWERS

Ike Vanderwoude passed away peacefully on November 8, 2021 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 91.

Well-known and respected in the landscape industry, Ike founded Ike Vanderwoude Landscape Supply in 1974 and provided many local landscapers with their first-generation hardscape products. Initially a major supplier of railway ties, the company soon expanded to supply pressure treated lumber and first generation interlocking brick and concrete retaining walls.

An honest and humble gentleman, Ike was generous, hard working and always willing to lend a hand. His values are still a large part of the family run business nearly 50 years later. He will be dearly missed by many.

If desired, as expressions of sympathy, donations to Mount Nemo Christian Nursing Home would be appreciated by the family.

Those wishing to sign a tribute wall or to register their attendance can do so via kitchingsteepeandludwig.com.

VIRTUAL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Brought to you by

PRESENTING PARTNER

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

““

Neil’s legacy was firmly rooted in giving.

It was his belief that in life or in business, if everyone could give back just a little more than they had received, we would all be richer, especially in spirit.”

”

Tony DiGiovanni Executive Director, Landscape Ontario

Help us reach our fundraising goal 23

Visit: ohtf.ca/nvk-fund

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE

Horticulture becomes a cure and a calling Staysail Shedd has found both a remedy and a career in horticulture.

In 2019, Shedd suffered a stroke, and struggled with some aspects of her recovery.

“Mostly I was having really terrible panic — lots of panic, lots of anxiety. That was kind of the worst part of my recovery,” she said. “I was struggling with ways to deal with it that wasn’t heavy medication.”

During her recovery, she noticed tending to her houseplants provided some relief. So, she added a few more plants, then a few more and then more on her deck in the spring.

“It just kind of spiralled from there,” Shedd said. “It was the mental effects that were really relieved for me… I just found being around nature calmed that for me.”

Shedd began to research the relief provided by gardening and realized it was a form of therapy.

“Horticulture therapy does actually have benefits. I stumbled on it by mistake, really,’’ she explained. “The combination of finding something to do, working with plants and getting my hands dirty, just kind of clicked for me.”

Before her stroke, Shedd had a minimal interest in horticulture.

“I grew up in New Brunswick, so I always spent a lot of time in nature, on the water or in the woods,” she said. “I’ve always had plants, but it wasn’t much more than that.”

After experiencing the healing abilities of horticultural therapy, Shedd made it her mission to pursue a career in the field, and enrolled in the Horticulture Technician Program at Humber College. Now in her second year of the program, Shedd recently received a Horticulturist Scholarship from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation.

“The plant courses are my favourite, of course,” she said. “But it’s all been a good challenge. Learning construction and learning how to design gardens has definitely piqued my interest.”

After graduation, Shedd hopes to start her career in landscape design or manage the installation of landscape projects.

“I’m hoping that will eventually lead me down the horticultural therapy route, once I have a little experience under my belt,” she said.

Her career goals also include delivering horticultural therapy to people for which it is inaccessible, via the installation of residential therapeutic gardens, and through online portals. She is already working on a series of online nature walks.

“For those who are immobile, I hope there are some therapeutic benefits to even watching nature on TV,” she said. “I’m excited to explore horticultural therapy further and see where it can go.”

And for those who may question the legitimacy of horticultural therapy, Shedd has some advice: “Just give it a try. There’s no harm in trying. Just the combination of being outside and touching the ground and touching a plant or being under a tree has a tremendous effect,” she said. “Maybe If you try it, you’ll believe it for yourself.”

“ The combination of finding something to do, working with plants and getting my hands dirty, just kind of clicked for me.”

— Staysail Shedd

To learn more about the many scholarship opportunities available to students pursuing a career in the green industry, visit OHTF.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Vineland releases 2021-2022 Innovation Report Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) released The 20212022 Innovation Report, containing updates on various research projects and highlighting efforts to build a national network for innovation in the agricultural, horticulture and greenhouse growing industries.

Vineland researcher, Rose Buitenhuis, program leader, biological crop protection, is heading up a project looking for new tools to fight common greenhouse plant pests. The project is is currently testing three nabid predator species, collected in the Niagara region, to determine which one has the greatest potential to control pests in Canadian crops. Nabids are common natural enemies of greenhouse crop pests like aphids, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies.

The report states that, “Depending on the pest, growers can experience crop losses of five to 20 per cent; if the pest transmits a plant virus, losses can go as high as 100 per cent.”

Among its most recent efforts, Vineland has undertaken a focused effort to expand its reach across Canada to support the growth of the national agriculture innovation sector by establishing a cross-country network for horticulture. During the last several months, Vineland solidified a partnership with Bioenterprise — a driving force behind Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech engine that paves the way for new and bigger opportunities in horticulturefocused innovation.

Another partnership with Niagara College and the University of Guelph is helping to develop the Greenhouse Technology Network — a collaboration to attract new business opportunities to the agriculture sector.

“We know our strength lies in research and innovation,” writes Tania Humphrey, Vineland’s vice president, research and development. “That’s why we are always looking across the country and internationally for new ways to further leverage our expertise, build our network and connect to more people, companies and organizations. Working together, we can create more impact.”

The report also outlines the Greening the Landscape Research Consortium. Led by Darby McGrath, program leader, plant responses and the environment, this initiative will set research priorities, reflecting industry needs and access training and skills development, innovative data, network connections and emerging knowledge. They will also take part in an urban forestry pilot project.

Consortium partners make up a range of stakeholders from across the industry, such as municipalities, governments, conservation authorities, nongovernmental organizations, professional associations, suppliers, nurseries, landscape professionals, developers and consultants. Consortium members will have access to case study findings and resources as part of Vineland’s goal to build an information network and a collective capacity for solving common industry challenges.

The full report is available in both English and French via Vineland’s website at vinelandresearch.com.

Call Us Today 905-888-5555

W h a t ev e r y o u r a p p l i c a t i o n , w e h av e y o u r co n c r e t e r e a d y t o p o u r.

D r i v ewa y s - Wa l k wa y s - Pat i o s St e p s - P o r c h e s , Fo ot i n g s - Sw i m m i n g P o o l s G a ra g e / B a s e m e nt F l o o r s a n d m a n y ot h e r a p p l i c at i o n s .

www.stouffvilleredimix.ca 25

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EXECUTIVE DESK

Y

Examples of the best our profession has to offer

our friends at Landscape Ontario wish you a healthy and prosperous 2022.

May you continue to use your care, talents and creativity to enhance the lives of all you meet.

Awards of Excellence ceremony

The entries by LO members for this year’s Awards of Excellence are spectacular. Be sure to join the livestream via LOawards.com on February 3 at 6 p.m. to see the best our profession has to offer.

At the heart of the awards program are individuals and teams who have learned to work with and maintain the elements in nature and put them together in a way that communicates emotionally, brings forth many benefits, expresses care for the environment, reflects creativity, reveals beauty and inspires others to continually improve.

For over 32 years, I have witnessed the passion, skill, experience and enthusiasm that provides a thread of continuity from one year to the next and from one generation to another.

The work performed by our talented profession contributes and elevates. It improves the spaces we live, work and play in.

It provides legacy. If you have not entered the

Awards before, it is a great way to showcase your work and inspire others.

Neil Vanderkruk scholarship fund

Neil Vanderkruk was a major contributor to our profession and to the association. You can read about him in previous articles of LO magazine and online at ohtf.ca/nvk-fund.

In recognition of Neil’s many contributions, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation started a Scholarship and Innovation Fund and hopes to raise $100,000. The interest will pay for scholarships in perpetuity.

Here is the criteria for the fund: “The Neil Vanderkruk Scholarship is available to students entering or currently enrolled in an accredited horticultural institution and have at least two summers employed by a Landscape Ontario member. Special emphasis will be taken into consideration for those who possess an entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for furthering and developing the horticulture industry. Strong leadership qualities and volunteering experience will be required to receive this scholarship.”

I would like to thank the Neil Vanderkruk Scholarship Committee of Rita Weerdenburg, Bill Deluca, Paul Offierski and Hank

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Gelderman, for their work and I would also like to thank those companies and individuals who, as of December 13, have donated $54,400 toward the goal. Thank you!

If you would like to donate, please go to ohtf.ca/nvk-fund.

The future

Landscape Ontario experienced record growth last year. We are one of the largest, most active and engaged landscape/ horticulture associations in the world. The reason is the foundation of values that have been responsible for growing our wonderful organization and will be the fuel that keeps it going.

At our core we are a community for mutual benefit and improvement. We are an interdependent group of people who care for each other. Collectively we work together to build a prosperous, professional, ethical, respected, valued and contribution focused profession. Our common work is to enhance lives.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

tony@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

Landscape Ontario supports employee recruitment and retention efforts

I

t’s no secret that across the trade, everyone is dealing with the issue of not having enough people to do the work. This has been a perennial challenge now exacerbated by the historic demand on landscape services as a result of people being home through the pandemic and wanting to enhance their outdoor living spaces. Lower enrolment in landscape programs and less people entering the trade in general is compounding this now critical challenge.

Landscape Ontario has been working tirelessly on this issue, seeking guidance and direction while putting significant resources to move the needle — through our great work with the GROW program, immense work through Apprenticeship, advocacy for Temporary Foreign Workers, employee health care benefits, and now an outsourced HR service.

To get good, long-term employees, it’s important to offer employee health benefits. As job seekers look at potential opportunities, they will look to see what the total compensation package looks like.

For those employers who aren’t offering employee health benefits, you just might be skipped over. The job market in virtually all sectors has morphed to favour job seekers. To stand out as a top tier employer it’s foundational to offer employee health benefits.

Then of course it’s important to have an employee health benefit program as a way to retain the great people you already have

on your team. Offering a traditional health benefits package sets the foundation as an organization that cares about its peoples’ health and welfare, but there’s other available options that a segment of your team may find more appealing such as a health spending account. These are pools of funds that employees can access for things connected to health and well-being: like a gym membership, buying a bike, or yoga classes. You set the criteria around what the health spending account can be accessed for. For your younger team members, this may be more appealing than a traditional health benefits plan.

Landscape Ontario offers an excellent employee health benefit program through the CNLA HortProtect program, offered

by People Corporation. If you haven’t met Pamela Cooze at People Corporation, you need to. She will put together an employee health benefit plan that will fit your company, big or small, and it’s accessible to everyone within the Landscape Ontario community. Gone are the days of cookie cutter employee benefits plans.

Get in touch with Pamela via 905-470-9840, ext. 5211 or pamela.cooze@peoplecorporation.com.

We have recently partnered with EIO Solutions to offer outsourced HR services to the LO community. For smaller member companies, it’s difficult to stay on top of the latest developments in employment law, payroll, recruiting, and retention. EIO stands for Employee Investment Optimization. It’s

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

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a management science that lets you control employee costs, reduce waste, and reinvest the savings to address things like recruiting, engagement, and retention.

The first (and most important) step in the EIO process is understanding your current strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities through an EIO Health Check, which includes: • A 60-Point EIO Audit+Scorecard that will reveal current and hidden costs and liabilities.

• A Leadership Team Behavioural Assessment that will profile the right people to hire.

• An EIO Action Plan to address your most pressing needs and kick off your optimization journey.

Building a more productive and dependable workforce with a free 1:1 EIO Health Check from EIO Solutions can be the start of significantly improving your organization’s culture. If you’re ready to start the process, get in touch with Frank Buonpensiero via 1-855-440-3993, option 1, or landscapeontario@eiosolutions.com.

Two fantastic ways to level up your profile and organizational culture of caring for the health and well-being of your people, two incredible organizations that can help you get to where you want to be. It’s more important now than ever to be focused on the health and well-being of your people.

That sentiment, threaded through your company will attract good people who will want to work for you for years to come.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SMART ABOUT SALT

Let’s make our voices heard The winter maintenance insurance model is broken it’s time to demand change

L

ike so many things that are complicated, winter maintenance is largely taken for granted. Those that don’t appreciate the science that underlies snow and ice removal often characterize activities as simply shoveling, plowing, and spreading salt.

Winter maintenance professionals understand

Tillsonburg, ON Specializing in field grown and potted cedars along with perennials, trees and shrubs of both deciduous and evergreen varieties.

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that to ensure safety, many, many variables have to be considered, including: weather, infrastructure, pavement temperatures, available equipment, labour, etc.

This lack of understanding exacerbates the challenges winter maintenance professionals face. One of the single largest challenges surrounds insurance. While many insurers have in recent years exited the space, those that remain are in many instances dramatically raising premiums — even for companies with no claims history. In part, this is due to the fact that personal injury claims (slips and falls) are often settled. It’s often cheaper to avoid court (and associated legal fees) by agreeing to a financial offer. These costs are then passed along and are reflected in increased insurance costs. In turn, for those winter maintenance contractors who continue to operate, increased costs must ultimately be reflected in the service charges for clients.

Many stakeholders (winter maintenance professionals, insurers, building owners/ operators, etc.) agree that the current system is broken.

Some jurisdictions have taken meaningful steps to address the situation. New Hampshire has adopted a framework that sees state-of-the-art winter maintenance and salt reduction practices that prioritize public safety while mitigating salt usage. Commercial salt applicators certified by NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) Green SnowPro under RSA 489-C, and property owners or managers who hire them, are granted limited liability protection against damages arising from snow and ice conditions. This is a program that the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) is proud to support through the delivery of award-winning training programs.

A growing number of groups representing

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a broad coalition of stakeholders have been advocating in Ontario for similar legislative considerations that support business and are a win for the environment. You can help.

Each of us can connect with our elected provincial representatives (MPP’s), to make our voices heard. Each of us should demand the necessary changes to ensure businesses and the environment are supported.

A recent parallel that was successful was the Landscape Ontario led advocacy effort that achieved changes to the Occupiers Liability Act through Bill 118 in 2020. The legislation provides that no legal action can occur to recover damages for personal injury caused by snow or ice against an occupier or an independent contractor, unless notice of claim is filed within 60 days (down from two years). A significant victory to be sure, but much more is needed to address the many more challenges facing the industry.

To quote a well-known activist, “To say nothing is saying something. You must denounce things you are against, or one might believe that you support things you really do not.” Those of us that do appreciate the complexity surrounding winter maintenance must educate those that aren’t as knowledgeable and advocate for the necessary changes.

To learn more about the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) and its not-for-profit training, certification and program validation efforts please visit smartaboutsalt.com.

Lee Gould Executive Director, Smart About Salt Council

lee.gould@smartaboutsalt.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

S

Lead on!

Last year, I hosted an LO Peer To Peer Network Business Bite session with Jim. As usual, whenever I hear Jim speak, it’s from the heart and he always says something profoundly helpful that’s simple to do. Jim’s simple, profound words of wisdom for leaders were, “focus on what’s happening THROUGH you, rather than what’s happening TO you.”

He hit the jackpot with that one sentence.

I shared it with several teams I work with, and they’ve transformed the results they’re getting, especially when it comes to engagement and building trust. By focusing on ways in which you can make a positive impact (or quickly notice and correct a negative one), it opens up a space to be focused on others rather than self. By having this mindset, it invites a focus on how your words and actions are impacting others, and helps you to catch yourself when you’re putting yourself ahead of those around you. Focusing on what happens through you sets up others to feel hopeful, proud and supported with empathy. And that’s what your younger staff are in need of.

This connects with Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last philosophy. I think Simon put it best when he said: “There are leaders and there are those who lead. Leaders hold a position of power or authority, but those who lead inspire us. Whether they’re individuals or organizations, we follow those who lead, not because we have to, but because we want to.”

As you head into this new year, give yourself the permission to honestly and humbly consider ways in which your words and actions are either contributing to improved team engagement, or getting in the way of it. Yup, there it is… from my vantage point as a business coach, consultant and trainer, there are many who lead businesses and teams who are actually getting in the way of the one thing their business is starving for: improved engagement and retention.

So, lead on! Lead in a way that’s humble and engaging, that builds hope, pride and empathy for each and every one of your staff — each and every day.

My very best wishes to each of you for a healthy, prosperous new year. Together, we truly are Prosperity Partners.

o, what’s your plan for your business in 2022? By now, some of you will have developed your sales strategy, marketing plans, projections, KPI’s and other targets for the year ahead. Others take more of a ‘go hard and it should work out’ approach, and some of you will be somewhere in between.

When it comes to your plan for the team in 2022, how are you planning to roll out staff engagement, training and retention — both for returning staff and building the new team? In what ways will your company culture support attracting new staff, recruiting, orienting, onboarding, training and building ‘sticky’ personal improvement paths?

What are you going to do differently this year to get improved results?

Without a doubt, employee recruitment and retention is the number one challenge I hear from employers across the country. So, how will you do more to improve your team this year?

Here’s an idea from my friend Jim Paluch of JP Horizons.

Jim has (once again) written a great book to help nurture impactful mindsets and approaches for leading others. Five Important Things, is an energy-packed book that explains why success can be simple. The Five Important Things are: 1) Continue to learn 2) Appreciate people 3) Set goals 4) Develop a positive attitude 5) Don’t quit

If you read Jim’s book, you’ll understand why applying these vital success principles to your own life (work life and home life) really matters. These principles are really well-aligned with solutions for the ongoing difficulty most employers experience connecting to and engaging with multiple workplace generations at the same time. Creating a culture of continuous improvement and appreciation will feed positive attitudes, support reaching goals, and encourage the tenacity you need your team players to have when the going gets tough.

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

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