Landscape Ontario - July 2022

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

July-August 2022

C R E AT I N G LandArt team shows award-winning creativity and craftsmanship

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LO MEMBERSHIP GUIDE | HORTPROTECT CLIMATE CHANGE FUND | MPP PARM GILL VISITS LO PAGE 19

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July-August 2022 • Volume 40 - No. 05 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.

2022 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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People — our number one membership benefit

Features 4

Member Profile: LandArt

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Longevity in Landscaping

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HortProtect Climate Change Fund

Departments 18

Association News

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Scholarship Profile

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Professional News

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Columns

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Classifieds

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

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were no surprises — they are tired but still driven for the success of the profession and the organization. They are proud of the accomplishments of their companies as well as those of Landscape Ontario.

Landscape Ontario has several new programs and committees including: The Reconciliation Grove project, Indigenous representation and guidance from the Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry and Valerie (Galley) Bellegarde; By-laws Review Committee; HR hotline available seven days a week from seven a.m. to seven p.m.; and strengthened relationships with OALA and CNLA, to name a few.

The executive team also recognizes that some in the profession have just had enough. They recognize that there is a tightening of budgets and that the landscape profession’s boon may be returning to pre-pandemic levels. Is that really so bad? A calming within the profession may allow us to smile once again on our way to work and to remember why we actually went into this business.

A calming may encourage others to step up and volunteer for Landscape Ontario committees. A calming should encourage us to reach out to our colleagues and meet each other after work just because. People are our strongest resource and it is time to put them back at the top of the list as our number one benefit of membership with Landscape Ontario.

fter two years of dealing with all the logistical intricacies of a world living with COVID-19, which in turn created a huge boon for the landscape profession, colleagues are tired. They are tired of searching for products, dealing with clients who want everything done now, and looking for suitable staff. Some are so tired they are starting to downsize or completely retire from landscaping altogether.

How can we ease the pain? How can we support our colleagues and recognize the struggles many of them are facing? During the pandemic, we were able to access peers regularly through Zoom meetings, COVID and protocol updates through the website hub, and products through our wholesale suppliers. Now we are “Zoomed” out, living with the existence of the virus and all that entails, and scrounging for products whether they are a specimen tree or a piece of pvc pipe or a new truck.

Part of the benefits of being a Member of Landscape Ontario is the wealth of information at our fingertips on the other end of the phone or keyboard. Our colleagues are our most precious resource and we each need to reach out, listen, support and seek advice.

I recently reached out to the LO Board’s executive committee to check in and to see how they are doing individually. They are our membership’s representatives. They are the gauges of the organization. There

Lindsay Drake Nightingale LO President info@yorkshiregardenservices.com

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Member Profile

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By Karina Sinclair

ucked into the heart of wine country in Beamsville, Ont., you’ll find the masters of craft and artistry of LandArt, a design/ build company dedicated to high-end residential landscapes.

This multiple-award-winning enterprise services the Niagara, Greater Hamilton, and Burlington areas. Marketing and sales manager Devon Kleinjan explained that although they take on projects of varying size and scope, their speciality is larger, multi-year design/builds.

“That allows for a certain level of creativity within the craftsmen who are implementing the project,” Kleinjan said. “We call ourselves full service, but that doesn’t mean that one or two people are doing everything.”

Craftsmanship and mastery

TO MASTERPIECES

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Instead, LandArt brings in sub-contractors for electrical and gas work when necessary and employs expert crews in critical disciplines. “We have a masonry crew that sets up for all stone work,” Kleinjan explained. “They don’t touch any landscape components. The carpentry crews, they specialize in the carpentry items, as well as lighting, They know their craft and they’ve been trained and certified in the different pieces that we’re taking on. Our design team is focused exclusively on design and don’t take on administrative or sales pieces.”

Operations manager Matte Crossman believes craftsmanship is a key differentiator for LandArt. “Instead of being a Jack [or Jill] of all trades, we’re a master of one trade,” said Crossman. “We don’t like to venture out too far from our expertise. And I think that’s what makes us special — when a client hires us, they know they’re hiring the real deal. We know what we’re doing. We come in and we do what we say we’re going to do, and then we end with beautiful products and happy results.”

When it comes to design, Kleinjan says: “we’re creating beautiful spaces and renderings of how that would come together. We really don’t limit ourselves with the design capacity.”

He describes how, as the project moves to construction, the crews take ownership of the vision on the job site.

“It’s always really neat to see them come up with a new way of reinventing a standard installation to make

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO our employees to grow as well,” Crossman said. “I do feel that all of our students that have taken the Red Seal are more equipped and feel able to answer our clients’ questions. And it gives them a fundamental base to know what their sector is, what they’re installing.”

Crossman added, “That’s why we offer the Apprenticeship Program. We’ve only heard positive things from our employees that take the course.”

Peacock is one of those fortunate employees who joined LandArt after working in an unrelated field. “Being very new to this and not having any prior experience in landscaping or in trades whatsoever, they signed me up for the Apprenticeship Program,” Peacock said.

“I know that that really helped to provide me with the tools and what was necessary to complete my job fully and give me the confidence to do so as well.”

Knowing his employer invests in his professional development, Peacock is excited to work his way up to foreperson and said: “I definitely feel like a valued member of LandArt, our team. I’m on the right track and I’ve gained a lot of the necessary tools and skills being at LandArt to go to the next step.”

Having completed the Apprenticeship Program, Peacock favours working in construction, but is glad he gained exposure to all the other aspects of the trade.

“It’s so broad. It’s not just construction; it’s plants, it’s plant biology. It definitely gave me more of an appreciation of that aspect,” Peacock said.

Guided by core values

LandArt co-owner Richard Wynia (middle) with team members Matte Crossman and Devon Kleinjan. it that little bit extra and bring things to the next level, whether it’s carpentry, masonry, landscape, all of those have different pieces that they bring to the table,” Kleinjan adds.

Mack Peacock is one of the construction lead hands. He appreciates LandArt’s commitment to quality.

“I’m doing our armor stone and our garden slab steps and it’s very meticulous,” Peacock said. “You have to be very precise with height and with the appearance of the step, making sure everything fits perfectly together and make it look like it’s always been there. That’s my favourite part.”

Dedication to training

Mastery doesn’t happen by accident. It’s made possible through proper training and practice, so LandArt encourages continuous education and skill development.

Kleinjan says each team member has a training budget to spend on books, courses, webinars, or other methods for learning, and LandArt covers the costs of writing professional exams for accreditation. He also said staff is encouraged and paid to attend Landscape Ontario’s events, such as the virtual Landscape Designers Conference and Congress Conference, where individuals pick and choose from various webinars related to their interests.

Apprenticeship

Another training opportunity LandArt takes advantage of is the Horticultural Technician Apprenticeship Program. The program features a combination of on-the-job and school training that leads to Red Seal certification.

“As we grow as a company, we want all of

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There are four core values guiding the LandArt team: beauty, collaboration, transparency, and commitment. “We hire, we fire, and we promote based on those core values,” Kleinjan explained.

First is beauty. “We pride ourselves in creating beautiful landscapes and doing that at a level and a quality that we can be proud of. And it goes beyond making sure that the end product is beautiful,” Kleinjan said, adding that beauty also extends to clean uniforms and keeping job sites pristine.

From the construction perspective, Peacock said beauty means “making sure that everything fits the theme of the landscape.”

Collaboration comes next. “We believe that we’re part of a bigger team here,” Kleinjan said. “Each person has their specific role, but at the end of the day, we are a team and we’re going to pull together to make these things come together.”

As someone who has advanced through the ranks from labourer to management, Crossman enjoys the team effort. “If it’s

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LandArt owners Rich and Christine Wynia planned to be interviewed for this profile, but their new baby had other plans, arriving on the day of the interview. Thank you Devon, Matte and Mack for stepping in, and congratulations Rich and Christine from the LO team!

needed, I’ll jump in the trenches and grab a shovel and then get my hands dirty. I started in the field. So that’s one of the main reasons why it’s a big part of our core values is we like to collaborate as a team.”

Building trust within a team requires communication and transparency. Crossman explained: “one of the most important things is being open and honest. We show our clients everything or we have an open and honest dialog within the company from our senior leadership team all the way down to our field staff.”

This includes fiscal transparency so everyone has a sense of budgets, profit goals, overhead requirements and so on.

Employees can expect direct communication to address performance expectations and skill development.

“We do a lot of reviews,” Peacock said.

“It’s a lot of open communication here, just making sure that everybody is on the same page, on the right track and we’re all headed in the same direction.”

Transparency extends to clients. “Our pricing is completely exposed,” Kleinjan revealed. “We tell everybody what our profit percentage is. There’s nothing that’s hidden on our contract. The price at the beginning is the same as the price at the end.”

That level of communication is essential for building relationships. Naturally, this leads to commitment, the fourth value.

“Commitment is doing what we say we’re going to do,” Kleinjan explained. “Being on time. Making and meeting appointments and deadlines. We’re transparent with our schedule through construction. And if there’s anything that comes up, we’ll make sure that’s communicated across the board.”

In it for the long haul

To nurture peace of mind for the client, LandArt’s commitment goes beyond the initial project.

“We really focus on maintaining a long term relationship with them,” Kleinjan said.

“We really believe that the landscape should look good when it’s done but it’s an evolving process that gets better with time. We really love to see and experience our properties beyond that first year and well into the future.”

Part of the evolution includes separate maintenance and enhancement crews.

While maintenance might include grass cutting and seasonal cleanups, the enhancement crew continues to add value.

Kleinjan described this as getting the property “in great shape before a big event, a wedding or a family party at their property.

It could also be bringing in urns or planters to really dress the place up.”

Creating positive experiences for clients is rewarding for the LandArt team.

“It never really does get old,” Crossman said. “Seeing the smile on the client’s face of the wow factor on the very final day

when the sod is down, the gardens are in, the stones are all laid out — it always brings a sense of being proud of what you can do that I don’t think you can really get anywhere else. It’s quite something special.

Yeah, that’s what makes me happy here at LandArt.” For Peacock, he finds satisfaction within the team itself, saying he has never once regretted the career change thanks to the people at LandArt. “Everybody is nice. We all work very well together and there’s open communication.

I would say that’s definitely the best part is that people have chosen that this is where they want to be and where they want to work.”

In the future, LandArt is looking to expand their service area and take on more complex projects. The team has noticed a significant uptick in interest of cottage-athome projects that tie interior spaces more closely with the exterior. “We’re excited for what the future holds there,” Kleinjan said.

“I’m a dreamer and a number of us here are dreamers as well. And we’re always looking for that next challenge.”

Member Profile

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WELCOME TO

LONGEVITY IN L A N D S C A P I N G:

LONG HOW PLAN B TURNED INTO A

CAREER

BY KARINA SINCLAIR

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"W W

e have big shoes to fill.” That’s how Claudia Baun described the situation facing the landscape design/ build company she co-owns with her husband Brian. A well-respected employee of theirs is retiring and they wanted to share his story as a testament that it’s possible to enjoy a long career in the landscape profession. So I sat down with Brian, his partner and project manager Jamin Strate, and soon-to-be-retired Ricky Samyn. Together, over cups of coffee, they recounted Ricky’s 25-year-career at B.K. Baun Landscape in Ajax, Ont. First, a little context. Although born in Canada, Ricky grew up in Belgium. After graduating university there in 1983, he found a career in South Africa, got married and had a couple of kids. The complex political climate in South Africa prompted a move, so Ricky immigrated back to Canada in 1997. With no income, he quickly set out to find a new job.

Despite being armed with a degree in landscape architecture and 15 years of landscape management experience with the South African National Roads department, finding equivalent work as a consulting engineer for the Canadian government proved difficult. “I soon realized I don’t have Canadian experience,” Ricky said. “I studied and qualified in the Northern Hemisphere, so I know all the plants there. And when I went to South Africa, I had to learn all the Southern Hemisphere, which was great. I just loved starting plants and getting to grow them, but then coming back to Canada, that didn’t do me any good.”

PLAN B

Three months later, with no job prospects, Ricky realized it was time for Plan B: landscape construction. He put his steeltoed boots to the ground but let his fingers do the walking.

Ricky flipped open the once ubiquitous phone book and began calling landscaping companies. “I literally took the Yellow Pages in this region and I sent out resumes.

Anything that kind of looked good, and I just waited for replies,” Ricky said.

B.K. Baun Landscape, as you can imagine, was positioned near the top of the alphabetical phone directory. They were also one of the first to invite him for an interview.

Now, they joke around as old friends do, but Ricky remembers meeting his boss for the first time: “We had a pretty short chat.”

Ricky presented his CV and was explaining his experience when Brian cut him short with

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO of Landscape Ontario and the courses that they’ve offered and what they’ve contributed to the industry,” Brian said, adding he thought it was important to be an active member and keep growing as a person.

two questions: “‘Can you drive standard?’ I said, yes. He said ‘can you start on Monday?’ I said, no, I have to get my G license converted from my international driver’s license, but I can start on Tuesday.”

And so began Ricky’s long career at B.K. Baun.

It meant starting out at the bottom of the ladder again.

“Yeah, way down bottom. Wheelbarrows and stuff like that because I didn’t have any practical experience,” Ricky said. He had book knowledge of landscape architecture, designing and plants, but no experience with construction or hardscaping. “So it’s basically from the ground up. I worked myself up over time.”

He didn’t expect this new job to be a long-term commitment. “I started with Brian in September and I thought, okay, this is going to be good. I’m going to go until Christmas.” Ricky planned to resume his hunt for consulting jobs in the spring. However, he said Brian “reeled me in and yeah, then one fall season turned into 25 seasons.”

Brian recognized that Ricky’s experience with documentation, managing projects, as well as extensive plant knowledge was exactly what they needed to propel their business forward. “We were just starting to expand our small company,” Brian said. “It was perfect timing. To be organized, that became a big part of our business.”

Fellow co-worker, Jamin quipped, “that’s where I’m a little concerned that the wheels might fall off the wagon when Ricky walks out the door.” Jamin, who will soon take over for Brian, acknowledged that Ricky has a knack for catching things that might otherwise fall through the cracks when everyone was busy.

INFLUENCE BEHIND THE SCENES

Ricky became a trusted influence at B.K. Baun, not as a foreman, but more like a right-hand. “I told Brian I don’t want to be a foreman. I don’t want to be in charge of a crew,” he said. “The 14 years I worked for the South African government, I was in charge and mentally, it’s not my scene.

I’m a good second guy in the background.”

“Ricky does play a big role in mentoring people in this company,” Jamin said. “That vast knowledge really helps us.”

“I’ll have the crews kind of fight over him,” Jamin added, nudging Ricky with an elbow and before teasing that he doesn’t want to “pump his tires too much.” Then he continued in earnest, “I think it goes back to that life experience and his work ethic. He won’t be the fastest guy ever, but consistency, if you want that, then he’s your guy. I would say he’s the first one here every morning, probably last one in here every day.”

Jamin pauses and glances at Ricky before looking away.

“That will be very hard to replace.”

“ YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS.”

SAFETY FIRST

Recognizing Ricky’s versatility, Brian gave him more and more responsibility. Soon, Ricky earned his AZ license and operated the crane truck. Then, with insurance rates for landscape construction and maintenance companies rising higher and higher, he also took on a health and safety role.

Ricky was sent to Landscape Ontario workshops on the topic and joked that he was “‘volunteered’ as the health and safety representative for the company.” As the H&S officer, he learned about legislation and participated in safety groups — first as a worker and then as a supervisor. He also began to standardize training and operating procedures for staff.

“Brian was always a stickler about safety,” Ricky said.

Because they employed a lot of young people who only stayed for the summer season, Ricky delivered the necessary training to ensure everyone followed safe practices.

“That’s one of the first things we say to anybody coming into our company,” Brian said. “It’s what we’re all about.

Nothing is done without first making sure we know what we’re doing and how to do it safely.”

- RICKY SAMYN Ricky’s humble response is: “It’s just the way I’m wired. It doesn’t mean anything special.” He acknowledges that others have taught him valuable lessons along the way, too. “I’ve taken it in, and then I’m going to share because I don’t want nobody to get hurt doing something stupid, right?”

As the operations manager, Ricky continued to help keep the business organized. He created designs, prepared estimates, and updated documentation and policies. “It’s not something that’s written overnight,” he explained. “You’ve got to keep changing and adapting. We got a pretty good system in place.”

That system helped streamline training new hires, and allowed ample time for hands-on demonstrations. “You physically have to go and show all the guys this is the way we’ve known how to do it and it’s worked out best,” Ricky said.

“And touch wood, we’ve had almost no lost-time injuries. I think it’s a good indicator of what we’re about.”

FINDING A PASSION

Ricky became intensely interested in plants, growing trees, and garden maintenance. “My passion was the greenery and the softscapes,” he said, attributing the passion to early memories of helping his Belgian grandfather in their large vegetable patch. “I think that’s where my love started, while helping him out.” To continue his professional development, Ricky became a Certified Horticultural Technician through the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.

Membership in Landscape Ontario is something Brian asserts was key for his company’s and Ricky’s growth. “I’m sure Ricky wouldn’t be where he is or who he is now without the help

THE LONG HAUL

Because landscaping is physically demanding, Jamin said, “I think a lot of guys are worried about burning themselves out early on.” He noted that Ricky taught him to slow down and be consistent. “You can have a good long career in the landscape industry.”

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO Brian agreed and loves sharing Ricky’s story as proof of longevity. “I just want to say that for young people there is a profession and we can have a great life in this business,” he said. “Ricky has done his 25 years. He’s done very well, drives his Mustang, and only now at 60 is he moving on.”

LIFE AFTER LANDSCAPING

Moving on, but not slowing down. Ricky and his wife are renovating a property to open a bed and breakfast. Brian and Jamin joke about staying there to drink sherry.

Ricky responds with a grin, saying they’ll be charged double. The camaraderie is genuine.

When asked what kept him going day after day for two and half decades, Ricky said he found satisfaction in creating something from nothing. “We get a design, we get an estimate. You start from scratch and you build something that looks awesome. I mean, we’ve won awards for the work that we’ve done, so that speaks volumes, too.”

Jokingly, he admits he’s surprised he lasted this long. His colleagues rib him too, but there’s a real sense of loss as they consider his retirement. They list his honesty, professionalism, consistency, and humour as

just a few of the things they’ll miss most.

Jamin is hoping Ricky might have a “Tom Brady” type of retirement and come back to play for one more season.

Ricky will also miss working with the B.K. Baun team. “They’ve been good to me. I mean, Mama raised no fool. If they weren’t good to me, I would have looked somewhere else. But I saw the company was growing. It’s taken time, as things do like that. And I think they’re in a good spot now. Unfortunately, I’m leaving because at 60 the body starts telling you ‘no, you can’t do this. You can’t do that.’” Instead of giving in to old age, Ricky prefers to step away to begin a different chapter.

With the wisdom earned through perseverance, Ricky has advice for younger people seeking a career in horticulture and landscaping. “You have to do some soul searching and see where your passion is. I think you have to have a love for the outdoors, which I’ve always had,” Ricky said, thoughtfully. “And be patient. Don’t be in a rush, but try to learn as much as you can and get good at a lot of stuff. You’ve got to have a little bit of knowledge of everything.”

With that, the crewmates-turned-friends took the final swigs from their mugs and pushed away from the table to head back to the job site. There is still plenty for Ricky to do before punching out one last time.

Resources for job seekers There are many ways to find work in the landscape and horticulture profession and many employers are currently hiring for the busy season. Landscape Ontario offers help with the GROW Program, the Horticultural Technician Apprenticeship Program, landscape.jobs and the job board at landscape.jobs that connects job seekers with companies looking to expand their crews.

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SUPPORTING A

GREENER FUTURE HORTPROTECT CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH FUND JOINS OHTF INTERVIEW BY KARINA SINCLAIR

What makes this program different from other climate change funds?

eeply passionate about environmental protection, W. Michael Thomas believes landscape horticulture professionals have a key role to play in climate change mitigation. To move green solutions forward, Thomas created the new HortProtect Climate Change Research Fund to help researchers, academics, and non-profit organizations find solutions for climate change, shoreline preservation, and other environmental concerns. By fronting $50,000 of seed money, he hopes others will contribute to the fund to create lasting opportunities.

The fund will be managed by the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF) — Landscape Ontario’s registered charity that provides scholarships and grants to students studying landscape and horticulture — where Thomas has been an active board member for over 15 years. He is also the co-founder of People Corporation, an insurance company that has been providing HortProtect — a customized insurance plan to member companies of Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) for decades. The new namesake fund reflects the group insurance program and the research “is to help ‘protect’ the ‘hort industry’ from the impact of climate changes,” Thomas said. “I like the dual meaning of HortProtect in that way, it lets ensure the future so that it’s safe.”

Landscape Ontario spoke with Thomas about the dangers of ignoring climate change, how those working in this profession can help mitigate climate-related disasters, and what he hopes recipients of the fund might accomplish.

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Well, specifically, as it relates to our board at the OHTF, we’ve been discussing for a while now to have growth in the research area from the funds that we have.

And at the same time, we also were talking about what we saw as a need out there among members to have help in running their practices in an W. Michael Thomas environmentally friendly area in an environmentally friendly way. So with my connection there, I felt this would be the right fit for the OHTF. And my personal feeling is there can never be too much money out there for anybody that wants to do some work in the environment area and climate research in particular.

Why do you think it’s important that we have more support for climate change research?

I’m on three other environmental boards, and one of them is a board that affects water quality and shoreline preservation in cottage country. And we have a big, big debate that gets a bit hostile at times between those wanting to protect the water and the shoreline and landscapers and nursery growers who make their living off working in cottage country and landscaping and building hardscapes, and so on, on shorelines. And I felt we needed to have some tools for people in our industry so they could see the science and the effect that climate change is and will be having. And they can be valuable in the way they conduct their businesses, particularly in my experience around the shorelines in cottage country, so they can still make the living they want to make, but do it in an environmentally friendly way that keeps the water healthy and the shorelines productive with native planting of trees and shrubs and so on, as well as paying attention to not so much hardscaping right on the shore.

It affects everything and we, in the industry of horticulture, can be the leader in that. We can help mitigate disasters with proper horticultural practices on the land.

What inspired you to start the HortProtect Climate Change Research Fund?

My family’s lifestyle is thanks to the work that I’ve done and the support from the industry over 40 years. So I wanted to give back. When I retired from full-time work and just did board work and a little consulting, that was when I had the financial ability and the desire to make a donation like I did and start a fund that I thought would be pretty relevant to the times.

Continued >

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO When and how do you expect that this fund will roll out?

I think we’ll be ready to roll it out by this summer. It’s a seed fund, I call it. The money that’s initially in there, [considering] how much it costs to research in these areas, won’t go too long. So this is to motivate and communicate to others who have pockets that they can spend money on things like this. We’re trying to not only get it out for those that want to apply for grants, but get the word out for those that believe in the cause and will put more money into the fund. So if we can start a communication process in that twopronged area, we’ll be ready to go and hopefully build it up quite a bit over the next couple of years. Information about the fund will be posted on the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation website: ohtf.ca Who are the ideal recipients of this fund?

Non-profit organizations, academic organizations, individuals that are doing research, and in their Ph.D. studies, maybe

their master’s studies — those are probably the groups where they have a practical and emotional interest in climate change. And they may be doing new and creative things.

They’re going to have results that need funding, that are going to help everybody later on.

How influential do you think the horticultural landscape profession is in shaping the conversation around climate change?

Oh, it’s huge. If we take the nursery growers, they’re the ones that provide the plant material. So if they’re providing plant material that’s more native to where they’re working, they’re going to have an influence on the consumer who’s buying. The consumer trusts where it’s coming from. So if those people are planting native, we have less invasive problems. The landscapers, the landscape architects — if they start developing based on environmental and climate change impacts, the people that are paying them the money to do that trust them. That’s how the education will happen through to the consumer.

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What do you hope they do with the money?

I hope they can use it along with whatever other sources of finance they have and need to look at some specific areas that give us some short and more particularly, long-term solutions that are communicable to others in a way that gets some action going so that people will look at the research that’s done and the results of it and say: “Okay, I understand now.

Yeah, I can change a bit to accommodate that in a financially positive way and an environmentally positive way.”

What are the risks of ignoring climate change?

Think of our kids or grandkids, future generations. We want them to enjoy what we have and still do so. The risks are: increased flooding, more fires, and poor water quality, which affects lifestyle — urban and rural — and it affects everything. If we keep going the way we are going, we’re not going to reduce the number of catastrophic events that have been happening.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Spring cleanup at Participation House Markham

Toronto Chapter renovated the outdoor space at Participation House Markham in 2021 as part of LO’s COVID-19 Task Force Garden Makeover Program.

renovated landscape. The space also holds a special place in Milne’s heart.

“I’m at a point in my life where I like giving back more than almost anything,” Milne said, “And to do this for a group of people that have challenges in life, that was an amazing experience.”

Landscape Ontario thanks all the volunteers who have supported this project. See all the garden makeover projects at landscapeontario.com/hero.

Volunteers equipped with sunhats and garden gloves came together on May 14 to clean up a special place in Markham, Ont. Shelley Brillinger, executive director of Participation House, is one of the recipients of Landscape Ontario’s 2020 Garden Makeover program.

The program was created by LO’s Covid-19 Task Force to recognize the dedication of frontline workers during the pandemic with a $5,000 garden makeover. Brillinger generously donated her makeover to Participation House, and Toronto Chapter members went above and beyond to provide some $50,000 worth of landscaping to the facility’s outdoor space.

The mission of Participation House, Markham is to be a leader in enhancing the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through a continuum of services designed to reflect individualized approaches, community involvement and a respect for human dignity.

Landscape Ontario Toronto Chapter president David Milne, owner of Quercus Gardens, spearheaded the construction of the garden and the recent clean up. He knew after construction ended in 2021 that the garden would need some sprucing in the new year and didn’t want their hard work to go to waste.

“I committed to myself that, at the very least, we would go back and get it ready for the spring.” Milne said.

Milne said he was going to do it on his own, but was pleasantly surprised at the turnout of people ready to help on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

“It was [hot] but everybody was there happily and it was an honour to give back.” Milne said.

Volunteers took part in cleaning up the edges of the gardens, pruning plants and removing debris from the area.

Brillinger says residents have thoroughly enjoyed the

LIST OF VOLUNTEERS:

Hanieh Roshan Fekr | Sai Huynh | James Irwin Errol Knight | Paul and Ragul Kumarasamy Mohammad Reza Moharrari | David Milne | Sarah Rafols Adrienne Rupcic | Anson Tam | Joe and Matthew Salemi Continued on page 27 >

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Membership Guide

2 02 2 Cedar Spring Landscape Group

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THANK YOU

Thank you for being a member with Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LO). Your membership with LO demonstrates that you belong to a family of professionals focused on growing a prosperous profession.

to network and discuss the triumphs and challenges in your community or trade. Attend a professional development seminar and pass your new knowledge on to your colleagues. If you have questions about how your membership can best benefit you, please reach out to our team so we can help you make the most of your membership.

Over the past few years, the industry has faced many hardships due to the pandemic but the LO community has continued to remain strong. Our members have helped the environment, their communities and fellow members.

We’ve seen immense growth in our membership, a testament to the Landscape Ontario community and the value it provides to the horticulture industry.

We thank you for supporting the Landscape Ontario community and for being leaders in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable climate for the advancement of the horticulture industry in Ontario. We know that every member makes us stronger!

Have a great year and we look forward to connecting with you soon!

We encourage all our members to use the benefits to their full potential. Get involved in your Chapter or Sector group

Your membership team!

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MEET THE

A PL ACE

MEMBERSHIP TEAM!

TO BELONG LANDSCAPE ONTARIO’S INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT

The Landscape Ontario membership team is here to help with any of your membership needs.

“Landscape Ontario is a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven trade association dedicated to the advancement of the landscape/horticulture profession. We strive to ensure that we are a collaborative and inclusive organization where people of all genders, races, religions, nationalities, cultures, sexual orientations, languages, and abilities are welcomed and can feel comfortable, respected, and valued.”

We are happy to connect with you via email or phone: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

1-800-265-5656 or membership@landscapeontario.com

WHAT HAS THE LANDSCAPE ONTARIO COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHED?

Landscape Ontario and its members work hard to advocate at various levels for those in the horticulture trades. Below are some of the initiatives LO has undertaken and continues to work toward for the benefit of our members and the communities they serve.

• LO COVID-19 Task Force The LO COVID-19 Task Force worked tirelessly to provide support and resources to the horticulture community.

• Bill 118 Thanks to the hard work of Landscape Ontario and its members, Bill 118 came into effect in January 2021. This created huge strides in the snow and ice sector and was an important step in helping to alleviate the insurance crisis.

• Snow insurance crisis Landscape Ontario Snow ​​ and Ice Management Sector Group continues to fight the current snow insurance crisis.

• Garden makeovers Landscape Ontario members volunteered in their communities to honour our dedicated frontline workers by providing 10 garden makeovers across Ontario.

ALWAYS HERE TO HELP 21

21

JOE SALEMI

Deputy Executive Director

Ext. 2327

jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

MEGHAN GREAVES

Membership Services Representative

Ext. 2301

mgreaves@landscapeontario.com

KATHY McLEAN

Professional Development Coordinator

Ext. 2306

kathym@landscapeontario.com

JALEESA RHODEN

Membership Coordinator, Chapter and Sector Groups

Ext. 2333

jrhoden@landscapeontario.com

DARIA RUGINIS

Member Engagement Specialist

Ext. 2331

druginis@landscapeontario.com

GET INVOLVED LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

CHAPTERS AND SECTOR GROUPS-

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING COMMITTEE

CHAPTERS Landscape Ontario is made up of nine regional chapters who meet to discuss issues, share ideas and organize some pretty amazing projects that get the industry together and benefit local communities. Each chapter has its own board with elections held annually for the various positions. Chapters are a great way to meet and collaborate with professionals in your area.

Landscape Ontario’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee is always welcoming LO members who want to get involved in progressing and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our community. If you’d like to get involved, reach out to Committee Chair Ed Hansen by email at: edhansen@ landscapeontario.com.

For more information, visit: HortTrades.com/chapter-map Durham Georgian Lakelands Golden Horseshoe London Ottawa

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR CHAPTER AND SECTOR GROUPS!

Toronto Upper Canada Waterloo Windsor

If you would like to attend, volunteer, sponsor or speak at a chapter, sector or committee group, please contact the following for more information.

Durham, Georgian Lakelands, London, Ottawa, Toronto, Upper Canada, Waterloo and Windsor Chapters Contact Jaleesa Rhoden jrhoden@landscapeontario.com

SECTOR GROUPS Landscape Ontario also hosts nine provincewide sector groups who meet to discuss issues, network and organize events. Getting involved with your sector group is a great way to network and make connections with colleagues from across Ontario.

Garden Centre Grounds Management Growers Irrigation Landscape Contractors

Golden Horseshoe Chapter Contact Mary Thompson mthompson@landscapeontario.com All Sector Groups Contact Jaleesa Rhoden jrhoden@landscapeontario.com

Landscape Design Lighting Group Snow and Ice Management Turf Management

WHERE DO I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON CHAPTER EVENTS? For up-to-date information, visit the chapter pages at HortTrades.com and check LO’s weekly e-news.

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WHERE MEMBERS CONNECT LANDSCAPE ONTARIO EVENTS

ProScape Land Design Inc

L ANDSCAP E ONTARIO

L ANDSCAPE ONTARIO

CONGRESS

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Congress is THE annual trade show and conference for Canada’s horticultural and landscape professionals.

Rated as one of North America’s top rated show for the green industry it features: • 600+ multinational vendors • 15,000+ green industry professionals from all sectors • LIVE stages offering (FREE) skills training • the New Product Showcase • recruitment opportunities and more.

Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence are an annual juried competition that recognizes the breathtaking design and master craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance, design, lighting and irrigation projects created by members.

For more information on the event and to view past winners, visit LOawards.com.

CHAPTER AND SECTOR

EVENTS

Congress has been running for as long as Landscape Ontario itself, and every year Landscape Ontario strives to make it more relevant and valuable – to every corner of the industry. Be an attendee or an exhibitor and connect with the very best in the industry all under one roof!

Landscape Ontario and its chapter and sector groups host some amazing events throughout the year: • Snowposium • Integrated Pest Management Symposium • Landscape Designers Conference • Plant Symposium • Town Halls • Chapter golf and baseball tournaments • Plus many more!

Congress takes place every January, so watch for emails in the fall regarding free member passes to the trade show and discounts for the Congress Conference..

Keep up to date with upcoming events at HortTrades.com/events 23

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP MENT

AND ONLINE

LEARNING Have you attended a professional development seminar? Take advantage of the member pricing on a wide range of professional development and online learning programs. These opportunities cover all aspects of the horticultural field and beyond and we offer new seminars every year.

Arboriculture, Trees and Shrubs

Business/Professional Development Equipment Handling

Grounds Maintenance Integrated Pest Management/Lawn Care

Irrigation Landscape Construction and Installation

Landscape Design Plants

Retail Garden Centre Safety and First Aid

Sustainable Development

Visit HortTrades.com/seminars for more information and to register.

Partridge Fine Landscapes Ltd

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Royal Stone Landscaping Design Ltd

HELPING GROW

THE INDUSTRY AP PRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

GROW P ROGRAM

Since 2015, Landscape Ontario (LO) has been an approved Group Sponsor providing registration support to all employers and apprentices who wish to, or are participating in the Horticultural Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program, which is a Red Seal Trade.

The GROW Program seeks to develop, advance and promote Ontario’s landscape and horticultural profession by providing specialized training to workers and firms.

GROW training programs support new workers looking to begin their career, current professionals seeking to expand their skills, and employers striving to enhance their ability to attract and retain the best possible teams.

LO’s dedicated staff supports apprentices and employers across the province in: • Increasing awareness about the benefits of the program; • Providing registration and troubleshooting services; • Accessing financial incentives and training resources; • Supporting program completion and growing the number of Red Seal Landscape Horticulturists in the profession; • Supporting the development of a skilled and competent workforce.

Find out more at growoutdoors.ca.

JOB BOARD Connect with active job seekers and employers on Landscape.Jobs, the free job board for Ontario’s landscaping and horticulture industry. This board is for the general public where job seekers are matched to landscape and horticulture opportunities on the basis of how well the job fits. This board is for employers, job seekers and future apprentices.

To learn more about the program and LO’s services, visit horticulturetechnician.ca or contact info@horticulturetechnician.ca.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

February 2022

January 2022

March 2022

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STAY IN THE KNOW LANDSCAPE ONTARIO PUBLICATIONS LO members receive free subscriptions to Landscape Ontario magazine, and Canada’s premier horticultural trade publication, Landscape Trades.

If you’d like to add additional subscriptions for members of your team, visit:

andscape Ontario magazine • L HortTrades.com/subscribe • Landscape Trades magazine LandscapeTrades.com/ subscribe

Interested in advertising with LO? Visit HortTrades.com/media-kit to view all of our print and digital marketing solutions and connect with our account managers: GREG SUMSION gsumsion@landscapontario.com LIZ LANT elant@landscapeontario.com

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Celebrating Tony DiGiovanni’s legacy Landscape Ontario is planning a very special event to celebrate Tony DiGiovanni’s retirement. All LO members, green professionals and associated groups are invited to the retirement party on Aug. 18, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Landscape Ontario office in Milton, Ont. We hope you will join us to celebrate Tony’s three decades with the association.

Tickets are $35 each and include a BBQ dinner. There will also be a cash bar. A portion of the ticket price will be donated to the Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship Fund.

Hotel accommodations are available at HOME2Suites Milton.

The association is also calling on the community to make donations to the Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship was created in 2003 by LO members to support students pursuing post-secondary education in the horticulture fields. More than 300 community members contributed a total of $80,000 to launch the fund which is awarded to a student each year who best exemplifies the qualities that build trust in the profession of horticulture.

Over the last 18 years, there have been many exceptional recipients of the $1,000 scholarship.

Blaise Mombourquette, a landscape designer with LO member Yards Unlimited, received the scholarship in 2018 while studying the Horticulture Industries Program at Algonquin College.

“To receive the Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship was so significant for me in realizing my dream of becoming a landscape designer,” Mombourquette said.

“It was an affirmation that it was possible, and that I did have something to give to the industry. I believe that this award, for future recipients, will be a boost of confidence for them in taking the next steps in their careers.”

Niagara Parks School of Horticulture student Mattison Innis received the scholarship in 2021.

“The fact that you’re recognized by your instructors for your character and passion for the industry, it is a really good feeling to be acknowledged for that,” Innis said. “It also relates to the hard work related to your academic successes, which is very inspiring that people notice the hard work that you’ve put in. Getting started in the industry isn’t always easy. So having some monetary support is always helpful to buy tools or textbooks that help you work towards the successes you can have in the industry.”

TO PURCHASE TICKETS HortTrades.com/tony-digiovanni-retirement-celebration TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE TONY DIGIOVANNI SCHOLARSHIP FUND OHTF.ca/digiovanni-fund

In-person Snowposium returns this September Snowposium, Landscape Ontario’s annual snow and ice conference, will return as an in-person event on Sept. 15, 2022. Produced by the association’s Snow and Ice Management Sector Group, the event at Landscape Ontario’s home office in Milton, Ont., will feature a full-day trade show and educational conference, lunch and networking opportunities.

Snow and ice contractors, municipal snow and ice managers, commercial and multi-residential property managers, technical staff, and business owners and managers should attend to hear the latest information on important issues, including: insurance claims, government relations, standards, slip and fall defence strategies, Smart About Salt accreditation and more.

There is no cost to attend the trade show. A full-day conference pass is available at a discounted rate until Sept. 1. After that date, prices increase. Visit Snowposium.ca for full details or to register online.

For partnership opportunities and exhibitor information, please contact Keri MacIvor at 647-723-5445 or email keri@landscapeontario.com.

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ELD Certified!

Landscape Ontario’s endorsed Human Resources provider EIO Solutions hosted a lunch and learn for LO members on May 17. The webinar gave participants the opportunity to learn about Health and Safety guidelines for landscape horticulture businesses, as well as the chance to ask EIO Solutions staff questions.

The start of the presentation focused on Health and Safety Compliance including Ministry required training like the Health and Safety Awareness course (ontario.ca/page/worker-healthand-safety-awareness-four-steps). EIO Solutions HR Director Domenic Richichi explained companies with 20 or more staff on site are required to have a health and safety committee.

Here are some other important questions asked during the webinar: What happens if the number of employees fluctuates?

The guidelines for 20+ employees is only for those that remain in the building each day. However, if the number fluctuates close to 20 people, then it is recommended that a committee is set up.

Are there required topics for safety meetings?

No, there are no requirements, but the presenters recommended the committee puts together a set agenda.

For example, you could start off by talking about the previous meeting and then talking about new actions. That way you have a conclusive agenda to look at each time you hold a meeting.

Do you have any information for employees to utilize?

The Ministry of Labour’s Health and Safety Awareness course is what an employee needs, and it is also mandatory to take. It tells each employee what their responsibilities are, what their rights are and tells them where to go if their company isn’t following the rules.

The next part of the presentation focused on other safety measures more specific to landscaping. This included having an up-to-date safety policy, hiring employees with first-aid certifications in case of an accident and understanding the role of the Ministry of Labour (MOL). Questions from this section included:

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We operate heavy machinery and pay for online training for our employees, is this training necessary?

Should we hire someone to come in to train employees?

The presenter highlighted how a lot of employers train workers through online courses. He suggested people think about employees as if they were your child. You wouldn’t let your kid watch a few videos about driving and then give them the keys to your car. Hiring a trainer is always best since they do the training on site and give employees a mix of both theory and practical application.

Do you need to have a health and safety board at each site?

A physical board is not required, but you need to have the documents available if needed by your employees. These can be kept in a binder, or on a board.

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If we have a sub-trade on site, is it our responsibility that they are trained?

The answer is yes. A sub-trade contract where you explain your health and safety policies is also recommended to make sure everyone is following the same rules.

How do you find out what information you need for these boards?

You can reach out and get a free compliance package by contacting Domenic Richichi at domenic@eiosolutions.com or 426-875-1237.

Tailgate meetings and on-site meetings: are they required?

Safety boards or binders on site are a requirement because you do have to post your policies and have them clearly displayed, whereas the tailgate or safety meetings are not legislatively required, but are very strongly recommended.

An idea for these meetings is to take about five minutes each day and you pick a topic (e.g. lawnmowers) and talk about the safety concerns for using the equipment.

EIO Solutions is offering Landscape Ontario members a free, one-on-one health check that will help employers to attract and retain dependable staff. Over a 90-minute, in-person or online meeting, an EIO expert will analyze business operations and identify ways to save you money, reduce liabilities and streamline operations — producing an action plan that will transform your business, reduce turnover and build a better team. Sign up for your check up at: eiosolutions.com/ landscape-ontario.

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New video series showcases 2022 trial gardens

Watch the videos at youtube.com/landscapeontario Landscape Ontario is showcasing the 2022 trial gardens with a new video series created

by LO’s multimedia journalist Karina Sinclair and trial garden manager Rodger Tschanz. A partnership between LO and the University of Guelph, the trial garden program has provided analysis on new plant introductions for two decades. There are three trial sites: Landscape Ontario in Milton, Ont.; Royal

Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ont; and the Bovey Greenhouses and Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI) in Guelph, Ont. The trial gardens put plants in various growth conditions where horticulture technicians and experienced growers can record and evaluate their performance.

Different species and cultivars are tested for hardiness, growth rate, resilience to pests,

tolerance of soil and light conditions, and other factors. They’re also compared to similar plants for colour, texture, size, and uniqueness.

Each year, plant breeders including Proven Winners, Sakata, Dummen Orange and others, send Tschanz seeds or cuttings of plants they want trialled before taking them to market. Tschanz and his team

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO of researchers apply different stresses to plants to mimic harsh conditions, such as drought or exposure to salt. They’ll try to evaluate why one plant might be prone to disease while another seems resistant. And as the trend for small-space balcony gardens increases, Tschanz is interested to see how perennials perform in containers as opposed to in the landscape. Homeowners, landscape designers, and garden enthusiasts can read the published report of the trial garden results in the fall.

In Memoriam — Richard Emmons Richard Marshall Emmons passed away suddenly on Dec. 21, 2021 at the age of 64.

Born in Dunnville, Ont., Rick spent his childhood and youth at his grandfather’s greenhouses in Welland. His father moved the family to Muskoka in 1975 and established Windermere Garden Centre in Windermere, Ont., a year later.

In 1997, Rick and Colleen became the successors of Windermere Garden Centre, expanding in 2010 to include Windermere Garden Centre Too in Port Carling, Ont. By entering the horticulture profession, Rick followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, great-great uncle Walter (gardener at the world famous Studley Royal in England), great uncle, uncle and his father.

Rick enjoyed his career and cherished his relationships with his staff, customers and suppliers. He was deeply respected in his community. His award-winning skills in design and construction saw him complete projects both large and small in the area. His touch can be found all over Muskoka.

Rick’s family requested donations be made to your local animal rescue, a charity of your choice or for people to plant a memorial tree.

Rodger Tschanz Follow along to learn more about trial gardens and how they influence what goes in your landscape. In our 2022 Trial Garden video series, we’ll explore a full season of growth, from seeds to sensational standouts.

Each year, landscape pros, garden writers and avid gardeners are invited to attend an open house to view and learn about the hundreds of plants in this year’s trial and to vote for their favourites.

Open house dates are: Aug. 12-13 at GTI and Aug. 18 at Landscape Ontario. Details will become available at HortTrades.com/ trial-garden-open-house-2022.

Watch the videos on Landscape Ontario’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/landscapeontario.

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MPP Parm Gill announces expanded funding for LO’s GROW Program government is investing in Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association to train, recruit and upskill the workers of Ontario.”

Launched in 2020 by Landscape Ontario with support from the provincial and federal governments, the GROW training programs support new workers wishing to begin their careers, current professionals seeking to expand their skills, and employers striving to enhance their ability to attract and retain the best possible teams.

GROW includes: New Entrant Worker Training, Supervisory Training, an Employer of Choice Program, and a New Entrant Worker Job Bank. In 2020-21, the program was available for people and businesses in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, as well as the Kawartha/Muskoka region. For 2022, Waterloo and Wellington regions have been added.

“The landscape horticulture trade, like many others, is struggling to find a skilled workforce,” said Amanda Laszcz, Landscape Ontario’s GROW Program manager. “With today’s funding announcement, we are able to continue our important work to support new workers wishing to begin their careers, current professionals seeking to expand their skills, and employers striving to attract and retain the best possible teams. Landscape Ontario’s Getting Ready for Opportunities at Work (GROW) Program is going into its third year thanks to the funding provided through the Skills Development Fund.

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work.”

Watch a video of the announcement on at youtube.com/landscapeontario.

MPP Parm Gill with LO staff in Milton, Ont. on May 3, 2022.

Parm Gill, MPP for Milton, visited the Landscape Ontario home office on May 3, 2022 to announce expanded funding for the GROW Program.

Funding from the provincial and federal government’s for the current fiscal year totals $2.6 million to support the landscape horticulture profession attract, train and retain skilled workers.

Provincial funding is through the Ontario Skills Development Fund, which has provided over $200 million to projects that address labour challenges during the pandemic.

“Our government recognizes the importance of investing in skilled trades for our future generations,” Gill said. “I am proud that our

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Enter the 50th annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence Horst Dickert Memorial Award Recognizing the best use of native plant material well integrated into a designed or implemented sustainable landscape.

For 50 years, the LO Awards of Excellence has recognized the outstanding work, skill, dedication and contribution of both members and outstanding individuals with the goal of showcasing LO members to the world. The awards are adjudicated by impartial landscape horticulture experts.

Projects that reach a scoring threshold from the judging panel are recognized as award winners in their respective categories.

Eligible member companies are encouraged to enter projects to take advantage of the many benefits that come with winning an award. These include: validating the professionalism, creativity, technical skill and talent of you and your team; recognizing the hard work and dedication of your team; and providing peace of mind to potential clients, subcontractors and supplier. It’s also a great marketing tool.

Whether it’s a small build or design, a unique or stand-alone element, or a multimillion-dollar commercial contract, there’s a specific entry category to match the diversity, disciplines and specialities of Landscape Ontario members.

Among the dozens of awards handed out each year, a number of special awards recognize top scoring or outstanding entries. These include: Dunington-Grubb Award For the most outstanding and highest overall scoring project in the various construction categories.

Casey van Maris Award For the project awarded the highest marks for execution of unique and innovative design in landscaping.

Don Salivan Grounds Management Award Recognizing skill that when properly executed, protects or even enhances the value of the original landscape from all projects in the maintenance program.

Green Stamp Award For construction projects that exemplify green practices such as permeable paving, native plantings, water conservation strategies, and green roof technology.

All winners will be announced during a live ceremony attended by members, industry supporters and media on January 10 in conjunction with the Congress 2023 trade show. Winners are also listed in Landscape Ontario magazine, on LandscapeOntario.com, LOawards.com, and are showcased through LO’s social media channels.

For a full list of categories, judges scoring sheets, tips for online entry, past winners, or to enter, visit LOawards.com.

BENCH

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Neil Vanderkruk Award for Excellence in Design For the most outstanding and highest overall scoring project in the design categories.

OUR SPONSORS

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE Manpreet Kaur’s passion for horticulture grows at Fanshawe College On an educational journey that’s taken her from Punjab, India to London, Ont., and soon to Vancouver, B.C., Manpreet Kaur is soaking up everything she can about horticulture everywhere she goes.

Growing up on a family farm in India, Kaur had early exposure to agriculture, horticulture and science from tending crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables. While her peers were compelled to study medicine and engineering, she chose a career that stayed closer to nature. “I’m really interested in flowers and nursery plants and those kinds of things, like ornamentals,” said Kaur.

“That’s why I think I’ll be good in this field.”

Kaur went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, where she describes the experience as largely theoretical. Kaur said, “I spent six years studying, but it was a very broad course. It included so many aspects: entomology, food processing, horticulture, agronomy and so many more subjects. But I was particularly interested in either food processing or horticulture.”

Kaur said it’s unusual for a woman to pursue a career in horticulture in India.

She recalls there was “just two per cent of women in my class and the rest were boys because, in India, girls are not allowed to carry such a future career in this job” as employers tend to prefer men for physical strength. Kaur explained girls are often not allowed to even go to college and she had to fight “to go on this course because I knew I was going to go to some other country where women can pursue their career in this field. That’s why I came here.”

To continue her studies, Kaur chose the Horticulture Technician program at Fanshawe College where she’s learning about nurseries, greenhouses, and plants.

She enjoys the practical knowledge and hands-on experience the college offers, but was surprised to discover the program was so comprehensive.

Kaur admitted, “It was a little overwhelming when I was new here because I was still adapting to the new culture and new people. And the course was a little bit overwhelming for me because it has so many other aspects as well. I didn’t expect that landscape architecture and

Manpreet Kaur earned a post-secondary scholarship through the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation in 2021.

horticulture would be in the same program.

So I’m studying both of them.”

Refusing to be deterred, Kaur dove into the work. She was determined to find her way even though she didn’t know anyone when she first arrived. “I had no friends in the first semester, but I didn’t give up. I practiced on my own. I talked to my teachers about it and I don’t think I have ever scored less on any of the tests or exams.” Kaur maintained a high GPA, and when asked about the scholarship she earned, said “I think my hard work paid off.”

Indeed, and the timing was perfect.

Tuition for an international student is nearly five times more than for a domestic student. “I worked two jobs at that time,” Kaur said, but she was still short on savings. A tuition payment was coming due and Kaur risked additional fines if she couldn’t cover it. “And when I got this scholarship, it was, I guess, 20 days before I had to pay my tuition fees. That scholarship helped me a lot, and I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own without a scholarship.”

Now in her final semester, Kaur is

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looking forward to an upcoming co-op at a nursery in Vancouver, B.C. After that, she is considering an apprenticeship program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University that may include more training in arboriculture.

After spending a few more years in Canada to gain work experience, Kaur would like to return to India to apply her practical skills. With a long summer growing season and beautiful weather, greenhouses are less common in Punjab, Kaur’s home state. Instead, she expects to work in fruit orchards and perhaps tackle a particular challenge: “Strawberries are really hard to grow in Punjab. I would like to try that because the weather is so hot and strawberries are usually so perishable and it’s hard to grow there.”

With her breadth of horticultural knowledge and a passion for plants, Kaur hopes she can nurture an appreciation for ornamental gardening on her home turf. “I want to make it happen there as well because it looks so good,” said Kaur. “And there would be no chance of unemployment because this field is going to grow with each passing day.”

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

REACHING MILESTONES ALONG

THE APPRENTICESHIP JOURNEY

Landscape Ontario would like to acknowledge the apprentices whose hard work and effort see them reach milestones in their Horticultural Technician Apprenticeship Program (HTAP) journey.

Over the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic, these amazing apprentices refused to be deterred as they continued along their chosen pathway throughout a very challenging time.

When LO’s Apprenticeship team asked apprentices about the influence of the Apprenticeship Program in their lives, Anita Dowdle, who recently received her Certificate of Qualification with Red Seal endorsement said, “The Apprenticeship Program not only taught me absolutely amazing skills, but also took me out of my comfort zone, [it] gave me knowledge and confidence not only at work but outside of work too.”

“Do it!” exclaimed Rebecca MacDuff, who completed her Level 2 milestone. “This

has been an amazing confidence booster for me. I was older than my classmates, and it was a bit intimidating going back as a mature student, but I ended up on the Dean’s Honour Roll for each term, and the President’s Honour Roll for the program.

This has been a game changer. I [even] encouraged my co-worker and she just completed her first term.”

In-class training during the winter can be very exciting because apprentices can take what they learn back to work in the spring to share with their coworkers and employers.

Everyone can benefit from their education.

There are many “tricks and details learned that will make future projects [even more] professional,” said Zoey Hart, who completed Level 1 this past March.

At Landscape Ontario, we are extremely proud of apprentices who demonstrate commitment and resilience during their journey. We know this is just the beginning of many successes to come.

Congratulations to the Horticultural Technician apprentices and journeypersons who reached their apprenticeship milestones in 2021-22. See the list of apprentices at: gfl.me/haPW. ABOUT THE PROGRAM: The Horticultural Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program (HTAP) is a Red Seal trade for the horticulture and landscape profession in Ontario, regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act. In 2015, Landscape Ontario became a Group Sponsor for the program, supporting employers and apprentices through the apprenticeship journey from start to completion.

To learn more about HTAP, visit horticulturetechnician.ca/program/ 441c-horticulture-technician or join us for a free information session to discover all the benefits of apprenticeship. Sign up at horticulturetechnician.ca/events.

W E LCO M E TO T H E N E W H O M E O F

LT WEBSITE L a n d s c a p e Tr a d e s . c o m Follow us @landscapetrades

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Milton mayor proclaims April as Dig Safe Month In a booming voice in true town crier fashion, Mayor Gordon Krantz officially proclaimed April 2022 as Dig Safe Month in the town of Milton, and encouraged support of the safety awareness campaign.

The long-serving mayor announced the proclamation at the Landscape Ontario head office. He was joined by representatives from the Ontario Regional Common Ground

Alliance (ORCGA), Halton Region Water and Wastewater Linear Systems, Enbridge Gas, and Landscape Ontario.

Terry Murphy, one of the board directors of ORCGA, opened the presentation by stating the goal of Dig Safe Month is to raise awareness and reduce the number of utility hits caused by unsafe digging practices across Canada. “It’s almost a billion dollars in

L A N D S C A P E

O N TA R I O

Enter at LOAwards.com

damages. It’s more than 10,000 utility hits,” Murphy said, before introducing Doug Lapp, president and CEO of the ORCGA. Lapp acknowledged collaborating partners, such as local utilities, have a collective desire to encourage homeowners, landscapers and excavators to “call or click before they dig” to obtain locates by calling 1-800-400-2255 or visiting ONTARIOONECALL.CA. Locates map out where utilities such as gas lines, electricity, telephone, internet and TV cable wires, as well as water and sewer connections may be buried underground.

The free service paints markings on the ground to indicate what lays below. It’s important to note that existing locates can become outdated if any work is done in the area, so it is worth requesting a current locate at least a week before starting the dig.

Krantz said “You’ve got to be really, really careful when you’re digging, regardless whether it’s a water main, water sewer or hydro. Whatever it is, it’s really important.”

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) maintains a record of reported incidents from across the country and releases details of estimated costs and causes. Learn more at canadiangca.com.

P R E S E N T S

Open for Entries July 1-Oct. 1, 2022 36

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Unilock creates 50th anniversary scholarships Unilock recently announced the Paving the Future Scholarship that will award $5,000 to deserving students within the landscape construction and landscape architecture fields of study.

To be eligible, students must be in their final year of study, actively involved in their community and demonstrate an ambition of being a thought leader in the landscaping industry of tomorrow.

Diane Williams, VP of Marketing, Unilock, said, “For 50 years, we have been paving the way forward, growing our business through a focus on quality, a legacy of innovation and a commitment to investment. Through contributions like the Unilock Paving the Future Scholarship, we are helping build and shape the hardscape industry with the professionals of today — and tomorrow.”

Applications, including an essay describing why the applicant is passionate about a career in landscape construction or landscape architecture and how they intend

Unilock is accepting scholarship applications until August 31, 2022.

to actively contribute to the overall industry, will be accepted until August 31, 2022.

Applicants can access the application online for landscape construction or landscape architecture. Scholarship recipients will be notified on or around October 10, 2022.

For more information, including eligibility criteria and to apply, see the following webpages below: • S tudents within the landscape construction, landscape management, horticulture landscaping, turf grass management or related fields of

study: unilock.com/paving-the-futurescholarship-landscape-construction/ • Students within the landscape architecture, landscape design or related fields of study: unilock.com/ paving-the-future-scholarshiplandscape-architecture/ Unilock is a manufacturer of concrete interlocking paving stones, slabs and retaining walls, with operations located in Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, Boston, New York and Ontario, Canada.

C E L E B R AT E W I T H U S

January 10-12, 2023

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EXECUTIVE DESK

The Depressed Motivational Speaker

M

any of you know Jim Paluch from JP Horizons. Jim is one of the best speakers that Landscape Ontario (and many other landscape associations) have repeatedly engaged at many seminars and conferences. For over 30 years, Jim has been a perennial favourite.

His skill at energizing and motivating an audience is unrivalled. He has positively influenced thousands of people, including me. Jim has also done a great deal of consulting with individual members.

Many have commented that Jim’s work has changed the way they operate. I have heard some say that their encounters with him have changed their lives.

Jim was one of the first individuals to use email as a tool for constant engagement. His Friday morning email newsletters were welcomed by thousands.

They were always full of wonderful stories that provided wisdom and encouragement, as well as practical and relevant information to help get you through your week. On a number of occasions the topics were so timely that it was almost like he was reading my thoughts.

I find myself using “Paluchisms” like, “hard on process, soft on people” or, “you have a choice: you can be a builder or destroyer,” on a regular basis. His 52-week, Working Smarter Training Challenge introduced the concept of Lean Management to the landscape profession.

His Sales Jams events helped participants reach for results beyond what they ever imagined. He was one of the first to come up with a peer to peer leadership program; I attended one of the events held at Wentworth Landscapes. Jim also founded Come Alive Outside — an organization focused on pulling young people away from their computer screens in favour of exposing them to the wonders of nature.

Without a doubt, Jim is one of the most positive, supportive, energizing and inspiring individuals I know. So imagine my surprise when I received a note from

him a couple of weeks ago to let me know about a book he wrote called: The Depressed Motivational Speaker A Story About Choices.

In his characteristic contribution-oriented manner, Jim’s book is focused on helping people deal with depression. It provides hope, wisdom and solutions.

The book tells a fictional story about a depressed motivational speaker who, after a nonfatal suicide attempt, finds himself in an ambulance driving to a special institution designed to help people who have had the same experience. The story chronicles the experiences and interactions of the depressed motivational speaker with a number of fellow patients as they go through the recovery process.

The characters learn how important it is to realize they are not alone and that they have the power and the courage to make the right choices.

The book was riveting. I found myself totally immersed in the lives of the characters as they made great progress. I was stunned at one of the scenes near the end. Just when I thought the patients were about to be victorious in their struggle, there is a shocking setback that would eventually make sense at the conclusion of the story.

While reading the book, I was puzzled by the character of the depressed motivational speaker. Could there be some autobiographical similarities to Jim Paluch, who I have known for over 30 years as one of the most inspiring and positive individuals?

Was it really possible for someone so outwardly caring, successful and influential to be privately battling with depression?

Here are Jim’s own words explaining his

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motivation for the book: “You see, I really am the inspired, energized, and positive person you have known for so many years. The guy on stage and in your boardroom and in meetings having a blast with a room full of people is truly me.

I’m also a guy who has battled depression for most of his life.

One of the discoveries I was able to benefit from through my work over the past 35 years was realizing that I am not alone in this struggle. It would not be a stretch to say that every day I interacted with at least one person who had experienced or was still experiencing the stifling effects of depression in themself or another person in their life. This feeling wasn’t something only I had been cursed with! I also realized if I could learn to conquer depression, I could also help others do the same. Thus, the journey of writing The Depressed Motivational Speaker began.”

Although the book is a fiction, it is informed by Jim’s feelings, experiences, struggles and choices. His motivation for writing the book is the same as what I have observed for many years: Jim authentically wants to help people. For over 30 years he has focused his wisdom and positive energy on the landscape profession. In his retirement, he is expanding his audience.

I highly recommend the book. It can be found on Amazon or Kindle. Obviously Jim’s mission to “energize a zillion people” continues.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director tony@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

Landscape Ontario is working for you

T

he past few months have been filled with lots of important work. One of the things I love about Landscape Ontario (there really are way too many reasons to count) is that there is never a shortage of important work to be done. Our show team is fully engaged in putting together a spectacular Congress trade show and conference (in-person) for January 2023. Our membership team has built out and is executing on a wide-scale recruitment strategy. Our communications team continues to keep you informed of all of the goings on within our vast community. Both the GROW and Apprenticeship teams are focused on industry workforce development as our top strategic priority. The entirety of the LO engine is firing on all cylinders!

Here is what we have been up to over the last few months:

Agricultural development charges in Niagara Region

Recently, we learned the Niagara Regional Council had commissioned a report that included several recommendations for economic development in the region. LO’s nursery growers technical analyst, Jeanine West, discovered this report included the removal of the exemption for development charges for agricultural structures — and that those development charges would be classified as commercial. Landscape Ontario and many other agricultural focused associations in the Niagara region took action and collectively presented to the council why this was a monumental mistake.

Together, we were able to convince the council not to go down this path. There is still more work to do, and we are on it.

Employment Insurance reform

Landscape Ontario has been invited to contribute to the EI Commission’s feedback

roundtable to reform and modernize Employment Insurance. We are in phase two of consultations and one of the main issues we are talking about is how the seasonality of our respective sectors doesn’t align with the current EI model. The EI Commission has been receptive to our recommendations. More updates to come.

Building a workforce through LO’s GROW program

The LO GROW program is in full swing recruiting passionate individuals to train and match with employers in landscape horticulture. I have personally spoken with some recruits in the program who have shared amazing stories about how this program is significantly improving their life.

Not only are we working on the top priority for the entirety of landscape horticulture trades, but we are also changing the lives of those we’re attracting. In the Hamilton, Wellington/Waterloo, and Toronto regions, we are running training cohorts through the summer and fall. If your business serves those areas and you want access to trained employees who are ready and willing to work, now is the time to connect with us.

HR Hotline coming soon!

We have been working with EIO Solutions since the beginning of the year to bring members outsourced HR services. The response so far has been fantastic. We are expanding our connection with EIO Solutions to offer the entire Landscape Ontario community access to a free HR Hotline. This hotline will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You’ll be able to call, text, instant message, and email all of your HR related questions.

This free service will be available to every member of Landscape Ontario. Stay tuned for more details.

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Remembering trail blazers

On July 20, Landscape Ontario will host a legacy tree planting event to honour nine industry pioneers. At the front of the Landscape Ontario grounds we have a legacy grove where memorial trees are planted. We have been in touch with the families of those who will be honoured and they have selected their favourite tree to be planted. This tree planting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. that day, followed by lunch and the Landscape Ontario provincial board of directors meeting at 1 p.m.

Tony DiGiovanni’s retirement celebration

Tony hates the word “retirement” and honestly, I don’t think he’ll be able to sit idle for long. I know he’ll be very involved in many Landscape Ontario related initiatives. We will celebrate his decades of contribution on August 18. We would love for you to join us to help him celebrate the next chapter in his journey.

With many more things in various stages of planning, it finally feels like things are getting back to normal, whatever that means. The staff teams are working in a hybrid environment, working a few days in the office and a few days at home each week. This gives everyone the flexibility they need to balance work and life — a reality of today’s workforce. But we are in the office more and more. If you’re in the neighbourhood, drop by, stroll around the ever-inspiring trial gardens, and have a coffee with us. We would love to see you!

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

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Merely urgent vs really important — The difference matters

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operating in this quadrant is burn out, making excuses, habitually blaming others, low team morale, short-sighted decisions, etc.

ike many small business owners, you might find yourself in the role of ‘fire chief’ and ‘solver of all crises’ more often than you’d like to admit, or even planned on when you signed up as an entrepreneur. At the end of the day, this can leave you both running on empty AND frustrated because you didn’t get to the list of things you ought to have. If you’re managing a seasonal business, you are most likely nodding your head in agreement already. If so, read on. This column is about being effective rather than being super busy.

I’m talking about the common confusion between what is merely urgent and what is really important. To quote Dwight Eisenhower: “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”

To clarify the difference between the two:

Quadrant 2: Not Urgent but Important

1. Self-improvement: reading, research, and reflection 2. Clarifying beliefs and values, crafting your dreams 3. Setting your goals, priorities, and plans 4. All your New Year resolutions are Quadrant 2 activities.

5. Training and learning new relevant skills 6. Recreation, vacation, excursion, hobbies 7. Building and nurturing human relationships, networking 9. Health choices, car and home maintenance, choosing proper insurance, managing savings and investments

Quadrant 2 is a ‘decision facilitator.’ It is a quadrant which prepares you for decisions by clarifying your thoughts and priorities, and it’s where you focus to engage in effective activities.

The focus of Quadrant 2 is on the end result — what is really important versus what is merely urgent. These are important matters that are not tagged as urgent. These are “sow now and reap later” activities. This quadrant gives direction and quality to our lives through fulfillment, control, fewer crises and regrets.

Urgent: Urgent matters are those which need your immediate attention and action. They either have a visible and looming deadline, or they are a sudden and unanticipated emergency.

Important: Important tasks are those that pursue achieving a goal or dream. They rarely have an ‘in your face’ deadline. They typically lurk in the weeds of your do list.

Quadrant 3: Urgent but not Important

One of the simplest, yet most profound concepts in time management was put forward by Dwight Eisenhower, promoted

by Winston Churchill and later popularized by author Stephen Covey — the Urgent-Important Matrix.

There are four quadrants formed by the combination of the words important and urgent.

1. Interrupting phone calls 2. Unexpected visitor 3. Most emails, messages, or social media notifications 4. Requests for help from others because you are mostly involved in Quadrant 4 activities 5. Social activities others want you to do but that don’t align with your purpose 7. Meetings, functions, ceremonies where your presence does not matter either for you or for the other 8. Activities that support your ego, not your goals

Quadrant 1: Important and Urgent

1. Tax filing deadline 2. A crying baby 3. Preparation for an important meeting 4. Medical emergency 5. Relationship or financial crisis 6. Depression, severe anxiety, intolerable stress

I like to call this the rabbit hole quadrant. These are tasks that you just think are important. But, once you start understanding the big difference between urgency and importance you realize there are many things you often do which fit here. If some tasks here seem unavoidable, try and delegate them to others and go back to Quadrant 2. We are often mired in this quadrant because we lost sight of strategy and goals. If you have a hard time saying no, you’re likely here often. AND, if you have what I call ‘the Hero Syndrome’ (always looking for ways to be appreciated, please others or be irreplaceable), you’re here often and likely can’t see

In the Action Quadrant you’ll find things that affect you significantly and tasks that have to be tackled immediately.

Some of these tasks are expected urgencies caused by procrastinating until it is almost too late. Some are unexpected urgencies like a medical emergency or accident, a customer relationship turned sour, etc. This is a reactive quadrant — preventing you from being proactive. The long term effect of

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

it…even reading this article.

This is a deception quadrant where you are busy, without doing anything important.

People spend most of their time in Quadrant 3 thinking that they are activities of Quadrant 1. There are many activities that the ego can create as urgent. Urgent to impress, to be faster, stronger, better, smarter, more important, more successful, etc. Sooner or later, all of these become stressful and create urgencies where there are none. Relax, think and act.

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important

1. Gossip, long telephone conversations, reading junk emails, social media like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

2. Going down rabbit holes…getting distracted by online ads, clicking on them and getting absorbed unexpectedly 3. Excessive breaks, daydreaming, interrupting others 4. Mindless TV shows, video games, computer games, watching sports 5. Attending lectures without introspection, or learning within your comfortable bandwidth

This is about impulsive activities. It is a quadrant of the escapists. People exhausted after dealing with urgent matters of Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 3 find solace

here. Stress and boredom are big reasons for people to fall helplessly in this quadrant.

The activities have no value for you or for anybody else. This is the worst quadrant to be in. This quadrant instills guilt as it is a quadrant of waste, and cause dwindling selfesteem.

People who spend time almost exclusively in Quadrant 3 and Quadrant 4 lead challenging lives. It is easy to get trapped in these quadrants if you aren’t sure about your dreams and goals. Somewhere, deep down we know how important Quadrant 2 is but we lack the awareness of importance it carries.

We easily get carried away by the Quadrant 3 ‘image’ or Quadrant 4 ‘feel good’ and avoid the Quadrant 2 ‘simplicity.’

This is about clarity of thought and direction — they are of the utmost importance. Avoiding Quadrant 2 to save time will cost heavily in the long run. Most of us spend too little time in Quadrant 2 because it doesn’t shout with urgency. Try not to delude yourself by saying: “someday I will work on Quadrant 2, for now, let me do the urgent stuff.” That ‘someday’ won’t come.

When we pursue what is most important to us, we will create value for ourselves, our company, and for those around us.

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

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