Landscape Ontario - March 2022 by Landscape Ontario

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

March 2022

Enhancing

LIVES PM 40013519

Greentario creates beautiful landscapes and fulfilling careers PAGE 4

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

March 2022 • Volume 40 - No. 03 HortTrades.com Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural profession in Ontario.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Feature

Creating a welcoming and inclusive organization

4 Member Profile: Greentario Landscaping

Departments 10 Association News 15 Volunteer Profile 16 Professional News 18 Columns 22 Advertisers 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, 647-455-1448 Account Manager - Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Business Development - Liz Lant elant@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 Communications Coordinator - Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Digital Marketing Specialist - Adele Bedard abedard@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-4144 Accountant - Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF

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

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby, Nick Winkelmolen Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department - Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805 ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Views expressed are those of the writer concerned. Landscape Ontario assumes no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2022, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 9x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please email subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

directed by Landscape Ontario’s strategic plan and mission. These conversations allow for action to take place in order to transform the organization. Sometimes, board level discussions must then filter down and take place at the sector groups and chapter board levels in advance of a final decision at the board level. This happens sometimes with a funding issue, a bylaw change, or when a particularly difficult or complex motion is put forth at the board level. The board’s directors essentially ask for directional clarity from their chapter boards and/ or sector groups. More often, the board has the hard discussions and through these conversations thoughtful, important decisions are made for the betterment of Landscape Ontario and its large membership. As discussions happen, the board becomes unified in its direction. At times, the board can veer off course, but with guidance they are able to re-focus on the goal of ensuring a sustainable future for Landscape Ontario. There will be stumbles, but more importantly, there will be successes. The Landscape Ontario provincial board of directors is strong and committed to governance and moving the organization forward in a cooperative, cohesive manner. As we look inwards, it will allow the organization to move forward to continue to fulfil its mission: “To be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable climate for the advancement of the horticulture industry in Ontario.” The board of directors drives our organization forward and believes the future of Landscape Ontario is worth defining as an inclusive, diverse and welcoming organization. I welcome your comments and questions.

would like to tell you a story of passion; one filled with emotion, enthusiasm and commitment. The Landscape Ontario provincial board of directors has all three. Collectively, they have hundreds of years of life and work experience. They have committed to volunteering for everything from schools, places of worship, community-based organizations, senior programs, and firefighting services, to lake and biosphere associations, botanical gardens, Canada Blooms, and many other diverse opportunities. Their knowledge base is outstanding and on top of that, they commit to the success of Landscape Ontario. The LO board serves the membership and this is particularly important when difficult topics arise. Board members from across the province bring their individual backgrounds, experiences and influences to contribute to something much larger than themselves. Whether they choose to disrupt the proverbial apple cart and affect change, or go along with the general consensus of the group, they must put personal feelings and attitudes aside and focus on the values and needs of the members and sectors they represent when discussing difficult topics. I recently watched a webinar where the speaker, Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, executive director of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) mentioned three elements that strengthen an organization: authenticity (looking inwards to self), agility (seeing opportunities and overcoming roadblocks), and emotional intelligence (reading the people; what it is to co-exist). These three elements allow for a diversity of conversations to happen in a safe, respectful, trusting environment

Lindsay Drake Nightingale LO President info@yorkshiregardenservices.com 3

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

A LEGACY OF

values

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Member Profile

By: Karina Sinclair

reentario Landscaping is a family business that wasn’t supposed to be a family business. It began in 1986 by Italian immigrant Santo Filice after the plant he worked for moved to a different city. Having a knack for gardening, Filice launched his own landscaping service with just one other employee. Additionally, his wife Ofelia handled the bookkeeping and paperwork and would continue to do so until 2017. His young sons, Lou and Carmine, would help with mowing lawns and other small jobs. “We started working at a very young age with the business,” Lou said. “We were able to work during the summers, on weekends with our father, which gained invaluable experience.” Both sons remember how hard their father would work all day and then go home to spend three to four more hours in his own garden and orchard. As they got older, the brothers studied for other careers, but they were eventually drawn back to the family business. Carm was working as a pension analyst in Toronto when he told his father he wanted to work with him again. He recalls his father’s first answer was a flat out no. “Why do you want to leave a suit-and-tie job with a good organization to come work outside?” Santo had asked his son. “Plus, I can’t afford to pay you what you are currently making.” Carm persisted, and after three months of discussion, his father finally gave in. Both sons joined Greentario in 1996 and have never looked back. Carm says his dad “was a pretty special guy, very generous individual, always jovial. It was a true blessing to be able to work with our father for all those years.” Lou credits his own work ethic to the experience he gained while working with his father. “Growing up in the business, working with your father, you understand what it means to be a hard working man,” Lou said. “Also, the hardest part is being a family man. So now, both of us with our own families, we’re able to take that experience and pass that on, hopefully to our children.”

SETTING THE VALUES IN STONE After their father died 10 years ago, it felt like they’d lost the team patriarch. They needed a way to preserve his legacy and foster the values they learned at his side. To do this, Lou said “we wrote them down as part of our mission, our vision and our values. So now everybody can see that and how Greentario lives our values.” Carm added, “So everything we do, no matter what we are approaching, it is with our values in mind.” The seven values that guide the crew at Greentario are now part of orientation and are the first thing on the inside of the employee handbook. Lou says to promote their culture, they have to demonstrate the values daily from the top down. “It’s very important that our experienced staff instills those values in the up-and-coming staff,” Lou explained. “We try to always portray that message: values first, live the values.” Those values were evident during a major snowstorm in January 2022. Many communities in the Golden Horseshoe had a record breaking snowfall. Areas such as Stoney Creek, Grimsby, and the Hamilton area got over 40 centimetres of snow in eight hours. Lou said their various crews, working long shifts and in different divisions, all stepped up to unite their efforts. “The plow trucks, the operators, sidewalk crews, different crews. Then everybody’s like, OK, Timmy’s crew is falling behind. Let’s go help ‘em out guys. In cases like that, everyone works together to get the job done.” Continued >

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GROWING FROM WITHIN Greentario says 99.9 per cent of their business comes from referrals. Wordof-mouth is also how they grow their team, especially when those referrals come from existing employees. Lou says their newest crew leader, who started just three years ago, was a “great referral from one of his buddies.” The brothers also recalled the decision to hire a group of refugees from Kosovo. They had little to no experience in landscaping but were eager to work. “Now one of them is our supervisor for maintenance and one of them is our head foreman in the construction division,” Lou said. “We learned a long time ago — you help people out, you’ll get it back 100 times.” Maintenance supervisor Rasim Xhoni is one of those refugees who started at the bottom and worked his way up. He joined Greentario to help with snow removal a few years after arriving in Canada. “I started landscaping in April 2002 and then from there I worked in general labour for them for a few months and then kind of a lead hand,” Xhoni said. “And the next year, I became a foreman. Did that for about 15 years, I believe, and then moved up to a supervisor.”

LOWERING LANGUAGE BARRIERS “It’s a good news story, in the sense that some of those guys couldn’t even speak a word of English when they joined us,” Carm said. This wasn’t a new problem for the owners of Greentario though. “You have to remember we were the sons of an immigrant,” Carm pointed out. “My dad’s English wasn’t the best. So we got sign language that we made up.” Xhoni recalls the challenge of learning English while working and getting to know his teammates; his empathy and effort to help other newcomers is another example of how teamwork is key at Greentario. “When I came to Canada, I just knew three words: hi, bye and money,” Xhoni said. “And after I learned the language, I always help people. They bring new people to the company, new immigrants, because I’m one of them, I was one of them, and I know how it feels. So I always help them all the time.” Tools like Google Translate help make some communication easier, but out in the field, many tasks can be demonstrated in person. “We just figured it out, you know?” Carm explained. “We trained guys on site. They visually watch someone. You learn and then the language comes with it. Just be patient and everyone gets past it.” Carmine and Lou Filice

TRAINING AND UPSKILLING While some of Greentario’s new employees come in with experience, most are new to the profession. Training is provided to those willing to show up and work hard. Carm says their onboarding process helps new employees understand their role. Greentario has also benefited from hiring graduates from Landscape Ontario’s GROW program. “We’re finding new employees through that program, in which they gain that invaluable experience through Landscape Ontario: basic training, basic experience, how to handle the equipment, how to identify plants,” Lou said. Continuous learning is key at all levels, including the leadership team who recently completed the Employer of Choice program with Landscape Ontario. Greentario is also a member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), and makes use of their training facilities. As union members, staff have access to training during the off-season while also networking with other operators in the profession. Continued >

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

GREE NTARIO ‘ S

VALUES greentario.com/about

Safety first. If you can’t do it safely, don’t do it. We treat our customers as we treat one another, with respect and honesty. We are positive, enthusiastic and stand behind everything we do, the Greentario way. Teamwork is what defines us. We will provide a complete solution that meets all of your landscape needs. We provide peace of mind that your property will always look its best. Each job is done better than the last, while maintaining a profitable business. We value people with ambition and the desire to learn.

With 30 years of experience, and having weathered two recessions and a global pandemic, Greentario feels confident about the future. “Even during the greatest recessions, the snow needs to be plowed, the grass needs to be cut, the litter needs to be removed,” Lou said. “That was our bread and butter, and we grew into the construction division and our snow removal division as well. So it’s very important to recognize what is sustainable.” Lou and Carm believe the future of landscaping and horticulture as a profession is looking brighter than ever. “We are no longer just a guy with a pickup truck,” Lou said. “We’re a profession. We’re highly-skilled, highly-trained to do quality work, safely and by all regulations.” Carm agreed. “Opportunity is all over the place. The industry is continuing to grow. Find what you love doing in it so that you love coming to work every day and you’ll make a great living at it.” Lou encourages his peers to not give up, despite the challenges. “It’s hard work. It’s long hours, but it is a great profession. If you love it, stick with it. The fruits of your labour will happen. Believe me.” Wise words, no doubt, from the legacy of Santo Filice.

Learn more in our video interview with Greentario at youtube.com/landscapeontario 8

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

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ASSOCIATION NEWS LO celebrates 2022 award winners Vanderkruk was a founding member of Landscape Ontario, a past president, and an Honorary Life Member. Derue Designs took home the inaugural award for their residential project, Serenity. Watch the video online at gfl.me/hayR. When congratulated, recipient Rhonda Derue said, “I am still pretty stunned by the ‘Neil Vanderkruk Award.’ Such an honour to be the inaugural winner of a legacy award named after such a great man in our industry.” The Neil Vanderkruk Award joins the three highly coveted top awards which honour major contributors to the profession: the Dunington-Grubb Award for highest scoring project in the construction category; the Casey van Maris Memorial Award for the submission with the highest marks for execution and innovation in landscape design; and the Don Salivan Memorial Grounds Management Award for a project from the maintenance submissions that enhances the value of the original landscape. To see a list of all winners, along with photos of their stunning entries, visit loawards.com. You can also watch a recording of the event that originally streamed Feb. 3, 2022. The ceremony was produced by Jennifer Howe of Perfect Sphere Productions. Landscape Ontario would like to thank our presenting partner: G&L Group, and supporting partners: in-lite Outdoor Lighting, Connon Nurseries, Aspire Software, and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Awards of Excellence ceremony is made possible through their generosity.

The glitz. The glamour. The emotive music. The engaging hosts. Despite being a virtual event, the 49th Annual Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony had all the elements of a superlative celebration. In fact, the theme of the event was based on the four natural elements, which host Carson Arthur deftly navigated. Arthur, with a cadre of who’s who in landscaping, tied the various categories of the juried competition to earth, wind, fire and water. The 95-minute show was a feast for the eyes as dazzling image after image of winning projects swept onto the screen. The main categories recognized the creativity and craftsmanship of landscape construction, maintenance, design, lighting, irrigation, and plantscaping projects created by LO members. This year’s ceremony also held a few new surprises. LO’s deputy executive director Joe Salemi introduced the first ever Young Entrepreneur Award. This honour recognizes a member under the age of 35 for outstanding achievement in establishing and growing a successful horticultural business. The inaugural recipient was John Karpov, of Action Home Services. Watch the video online at gfl.me/hayU. Another high honour added to the ceremony was the Neil Vanderkruk Award for Excellence in Landscape Design. It is to be awarded annually to the most outstanding and highest overall scoring project from the design categories. The award, presented by Vanderkruk’s son, Mark, and grandson, Brent, is in memory of a man who breathed life into every endeavour he took on.

2022 AGM looks to define the future Over 100 people attended Landscape Ontario’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held via Zoom, Feb. 8, 2022. Association past-president David Wright called the meeting to order, welcomed those in attendance, and introduced members of the Provincial Board of Directors. The following recaps of the previous year’s activity were provided: • Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) Report, Paul Brydges • President’s Report, David Wright • Executive Director’s Report, Tony DiGiovanni DiGiovanni mentioned the association had a record-breaking increase in new members over the past year, in part due to staff and the volunteer COVID-19 Task Force providing relevant information and

programs that helped members to better cope with the added pressures of doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasurer Lindsey Ross presented the 2021-2022 Audited Financial Statements and the 2021-2022 Revised Budget — both were accepted. Thanks was given to the association’s controller Joe Sabatino for another job well done. Current LO president Lindsay Drake Nightingale addressed members and thanked her predecessors, including “... Dave Wright, Warren Patterson, and Paul Brydges, as their humility, leadership and diligence to the wider membership, staff of Landscape Ontario and the Board of Directors are great inspirations for the foundation of our future.” Nightingale stated the two-year theme of her presidency as: “Defining the Future.”

Nominations for the two Member-atLarge positions were taken, with Blake Tubby returning and Toronto Chapter president David Milne joining the board for the first time. Milne felt honoured to be elected to the board: “I am at a point in my life now where I truly believe that giving back is the best that I can possibly do,” Milne said. “I see this as an opportunity to give back to an industry that’s given me a great life.” Under new business, there was a discussion regarding the land stewardship statement which opened the 2022 Awards of Excellence ceremony. The discussion was tabled and added to the provincial board meeting that followed after the AGM. The board will continue to discuss the issue and report back to the membership with a resolution in the near future.

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LO adds human resource services as latest member benefit Landscape Ontario is proud to introduce a new member benefit for landscape and horticulture professionals in Ontario. EIO Solutions is offering Landscape Ontario members a free, oneon-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. To learn more about this service, visit eiosolutions.com/landscapeontario or visit HortTrades.com/member-savings-programs.

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Hot topics explored at 2022 Landscape Designers Conference Primal needs, design challenges, native plants and drone technology were just a few of the hot topics explored at the 2022 Landscape Designers Conference. The virtual event on Jan. 25, 2022, began with the Landscape Design Sector Group AGM. Chair Haig Seferian touched on how the landscape design profession is being promoted through various events and educational programs throughout Ontario and beyond. Aina Budrevics and Steve Barnhart from the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) also discussed their efforts to advance the Professional Practice Act. Attendees also learned that the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence requirements will be adjusted over the next three years to better align with the National Awards of Landscape Excellence, so top winners can compete at that level. Additionally, an updated Canadian Landscape Standard is now available for download as a source for best practices for landscape designers, architects, and contractors. The conference presentations were met with high praise. Survey feedback suggested attendees found all panellists passionate, knowledgeable and engaging despite the virtual platform. Many still miss the in-person experience, but designers from other provinces appreciated the chance to connect online. To cap the event, East African horticulturist and designer Wambui Ippolito gave a compelling keynote presentation where she encouraged all to consider how the structured — or unstructured — landscapes of their childhood influenced who they are today. Ippolito proposed the need to wander in the green, weeds and all, is a primal need that can’t be fulfilled in “policed” and perfectly trimmed landscapes and should be considered when designing future projects. As the conference was presented with recognition of the OALA, attendees earned continuing education credits for OALA and Certified Landscape Designer (CLD) designations. A recording of the conference is available for purchase. Landscape Ontario would like to thank presenting sponsor: in-Lite Outdoor Lighting; and supporting partners: Aquascape, NVK Nurseries, Unilock, Spring Meadow Nursery, Southbrook Accounting.

Inspiration overload for garden lovers at 2022 Plant Symposium Landscape Ontario’s London and Ottawa Chapters co-hosted the 2022 Plant Symposium on Feb. 15, 2022. The Zoom event was open to the public, and was free for students and educators. More than 600 people signed up to watch the program. The day began with Paul Gellatly of The Botanical Collection. Boasting a personal collection of over 800 tropical plants, Gellatly shared his passion and insights in his presentation titled, Tropical Treasures: Rare and Unusual Houseplants - Trends Through Time. Attendees gushed about the presentation in their feedback, leaving remarks such as: “I found the whole presentation to be very fascinating and he made me feel like I wanted to go buy some new houseplants,” and: “His explanation of all those plants was so captivating.” Tony Spencer of The New Perennialist inspired attendees to rekindle their relationship with the wild. His talk, Wildscaping: Explorations in Naturalistic Planting Design, demonstrated how the natural approach is both beautiful and practical. Spencer earned comments such as: “Excellent speaker. Wonderfully comprehensive

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO overview, coupled with a tremendous amount of fine design detail.” The symposium also included two discussion panels. The Growers Panel addressed the state of the industry from the perspective of nursery stock producers. The Native Plants Panel discussed the difficulty of meeting the increasing demand for native plants, and explored the value of nativars versus true native plants for pollinators. Nick McCullough capped the day off with his presentation, Inside the Design, that impressed the need to plan projects from inception to maintenance and that collaboration with homeowners is crucial at every step. After viewing all the eye candy in this session, attendees felt inspired by McCullough’s aesthetic, saying “Super enthusiastic and energetic; presented really beautiful design work.” Registered attendees, and those who purchased access, will be able to view the recordings 30 days after receiving a link from organizers. Landscape Ontario is grateful for support from presenting sponsors: Ontario Association of Landscape Architects and NVK Nurseries; and session sponsors: Baseline Nurseries and Garden Centre, Grand River Natural Stone, Ritchie Feed and Seed, and SiteOne Landscape Supply.

No shortage of greats ideas at 2022 Congress Conference Garden eye candy? Check. Technology and business growth ideas? Check. Inspiration and broadened perspectives? CHECK! With 36 sessions led by 47 industry experts, the 2022 Congress Conference had something for everyone. The virtual event ran Jan. 18-20, 2022. Attendees pre-registered for topics of choice, and then logged in to Zoom to see live presentations and ask questions. Some sessions were even eligible for the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs). All sessions were recorded and only registered attendees have access to those recordings until the end of March. If gaining access to a wealth of current and relevant information like this appeals to you, be sure to attend in 2023. As one might expect of those working in a green profession, sessions about plants were big hits. Of note, recordings of the sessions Garden Centres Around the World, 2021 Trial Garden Results, and Recommended Repertoire of Respectable Plants 4.0 have been very popular. Business-related sessions such as Successfully Recruiting and Retaining Labour, Embrace Your Inner Geek, Profiting by Saying No, and Succession Planning struck a chord with business owners looking to solve labour issues, improve project management or integrate technology into their workflow. There were plenty of sessions for landscapers, too, including Pond Management, Innovative Soils in the Modern Construction Landscape, and Invasive Species for Carolinian Trees. The session with the most live attendees and recording views combined (as of print time) was Sustainability – Buzz Word or Buzz Kill? This session explored where the world is headed with sustainability, how to reconcile the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social equity, and economic demands), and how to shape your business to be fit for the future. Landscape Ontario would like to thank presenting sponsors: Banas Stones, Beaver Valley Stone, Rinox Group, STONEarch, and supporting sponsors: Alumni Association of the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture, A.M.A. Horticulture, A.V.K. Nursery Holdings, Compost Council of Canada, Earthco Soil Mixtures, in-lite Outdoor Lighting, Natural Stone Traders, NVK Nurseries, Rymar Grass, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Toro, and Turf Care Products Canada.

We welcome all residential And commercial landscape contractors

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FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS

M. Putzer Hornby Nursery Ltd. “Growing today for a greener tomorrow” 7314 Sixth Line, Milton, Ontario, L9E 0Y1

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

In Memoriam — Manfred Kastrau

Nursery Growers Short Course covers everything from roots to tree tops

It is with great sadness that the family of Manfred Kastrau announces his passing on Jan. 26, 2022, after a brief illness at the age of 91. Manfred will be lovingly remembered by his wife Ilse of 39 years, his sons Peter (Leslie), Eddie (Rob), and Martin, as well as his granddaughters Lindsay, Kyra and Sydney. Manfred was born on Nov. 3, 1930, in Kelstern, Sask., and moved to Germany shortly thereafter. He spent his early adulthood studying his passion of horticulture throughout Europe. Upon returning to Canada in 1956, he humbly began building his lifelong joy of Kastrau Landscaping and Nurseries Ltd. and quickly became recognized as a devoted entrepreneur for his outstanding talents and passion for landscape and horticulture. His work was his hobby and even well into his ‘80s, Manfred could still outwork people half his age. He took immense pride and joy in working alongside his son Peter, who now carries on his legacy with the same passion and drive that he had. Manfred was well known and respected in the community for his wealth of knowledge in trees and shrubs, not to mention his handcrafted kindling bundles. He will be dearly missed by many extended family, close friends and all those who were fortunate enough to know him. He touched so many lives with his kindness and gentle heart. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Trinity Lutheran Church in his name.

“Production, Production, Production” was the theme for this year’s Nursery Growers Short Course. The virtual symposium, held Feb. 2, 2022, was presented by the Landscape Ontario Growers Group and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Speakers delivered a full day of webinars on IPM for Box Tree moths, the automation and data management of measuring tree trunks, challenges and opportunities for a local and genetically diverse seed supply and other production related topics. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre shared how the RootSmart propagation system has proven to help prevent root defects and deflections for trees. NVK Nurseries revealed how they have improved soil fertility, biodiversity and microbes, increased crop growth, and decreased weeds and erosion by growing cover crops on their bare soil. Attendees were also treated to video tours of Van Belle Nursery, Robinson Nursery, and several Bailey Nursery sites. The course finished with an introduction to new tree cultivars suitable for Ontario, with a demonstration of how cultivars are chosen and developed in the first place (hint: it takes much patience and time). Landscape Ontario would like to thank presenting sponsor: Kam’s Growers Supply; and supporting partners: Plant Products, Gro-Bark, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, and A.M.A Horticulture.

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VOLUNTEER PROFILE For the love of sunsets and soils Teresa Matamoros joined Landscape Ontario’s Georgian Lakelands Chapter board about eight years ago and currently serves as chapter president. She has been actively involved in organizing many of the chapter’s annual events and her company, Garden Holistics, based in Thornbury, Ont., has been a member of has been a member of the association since 2006.

Do you do any other volunteer work? In the past I have volunteered at Congress. I sometimes help with Rotary events in town, and I love volunteering to look after my grandchildren when I can!

Who inspires you in the landscaping/horticulture world?

In the 1990s I took a plant materials course at Ryerson for my Landscape Architecture Certificate and it was taught by Paul Ehnes of Greenery Unlimited. He inspired me so much with his enthusiasm and knowledge that I started working for him, and continued to do so for 10 years until I started my own business. He is my mentor still today.

How did you first connect with Landscape Ontario?

I first heard of LO in the early ‘90s when I was doing the Apprenticeship program.

What led to your participation on the Georgian Lakelands Chapter board?

I was introduced to the possibility of sitting on the board by Lynne Barnes of Heartwood Landscaping more than 10 years ago and then joined the board when Lexi Dearborn was president about seven or eight years ago. Lexi is a great inspiration and I was impressed by the others on the board at the time.

Teresa Matamoros

What is one piece of knowledge, wisdom or understanding that you try to impart on each of your clients?

One piece?? Well, I try to impart my passion for the importance of our soils and how compost can remedy almost anything that is ailing in a garden. A healthy garden is dependent on healthy soils. And, don’t rake up or blow off all your leaves from the garden beds, please!

How has the membership within the Georgian Lakelands Chapter changed over that time?

What is the best part of your day? What makes it all worthwhile?

When a client calls to say what a great crew we have and what a great job they did! I love making a difference in client’s gardens, to create beauty and maintain it. AND, I never thought I’d say this, but I love getting up early to see the sunrise!

The membership has grown a lot in the last few years and I see we have more members from the far reaching areas of our chapter. With Zoom now being an acceptable method of communicating we can have connections to almost anywhere in our chapter. There are also more women in the landscaping business and on our chapter boards.

Do you have any passions outside of plants?

I love canoeing and outback tripping, cooking and eating great food.

HELP ENSURE A HEALTHY FUTURE

DONATE TODAY ohtf.ca/donate 15

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PROFESSIONAL NEWS Toronto Botanical Garden hires Stephanie Jutila Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) hired Stephanie Jutila as its new executive director in January to support the garden through its transformational growth. Jutila’s career spans more than 23 years in nonprofit and cultural organizations. “Stephanie brings unique experiences and perspectives in planning, program delivery, community engagement, nonprofit administration, and the essential work we must continue to do around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access,” TBG said in a media release. “As a seasoned public garden leader, she focuses on inspiring a passion, curiosity, and awe of the natural world, in people of all ages, while fostering care and stewardship of ecosystems. This dedication is based in the awareness that public gardens and parks are one of the greatest tools to engage and connect our communities with nature while elevating a community’s health, well-

being, and prosperity.” Before joining TBG, Jutila served as the first president and CEO for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. During her tenure, Jutila led the public/private partnership with the City of Des Moines, Iowa, transforming the former municipally operated facility into a vibrant public garden. Her work experience also includes positions at the American Horticultural CMYK

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Society, Smithsonian Institution, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Additionally, she has served on local and national boards of arts, environmental, and cultural organizations, including the American Public Garden Association, and the Garden Club of America. Jutila received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Minnesota, where she also studied non-profit management and museum studies. In 2021, she completed the George Washington University – Center for Public Leadership Excellence’s e-Co Leadership Coaching Certification. Beyond her professional experience, Stephanie is a nature enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by inspiring landscapes, just 20 miles from the shores of Lake Superior in Cloquet, Minn.

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Skilled Trades Ontario replaces Ontario College of Trades

Free HEPA filters for agri-food employers

Skilled Trades Ontario officially replaced the Ontario College of Trades on Jan. 1, 2022. The Ontario government said the new crown agency will improve trades training and simplify services. “The new agency will promote and market the trades, develop the latest training and curriculum standards, and provide a streamlined user-friendly experience for tradespeople,” the government said in a media release. “These changes will result in more workers for in demand jobs and prepare Ontario for a strong economic comeback.” Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, said the province is redrawing the system to address labour shortages. “The skilled trades provide well-paying and rewarding careers that are vital for our economy,” McNaughton said. The new online services will help apprentices manage their careers in one place with an online one-stop shop for scheduling classes and exams, submitting forms, paying fees and more. The Ontario government says the changes will reduce the skilled labour shortage the province currently faces by making it easier for more people to learn about and enter the trades, including reducing processing and registration times for applicants from 60 days to 12. “The creation of Skilled Trades Ontario is an important milestone, and one I am thrilled to be a part of leading,” Michael Sherrard, Chair of Skilled Trades Ontario, said. “The implementation of a successful apprenticeship and skilled trades system is critical to the economic growth and success of our province, and today’s announcement is the next step in securing that future for us all.”

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) announced it will provide 5,500 HEPA air filter units to employers with international agri-food workers (IAWs) living in congregate settings. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect our provincial agri-food supply chain, and it is critical that we continue doing everything we can to keep agri-food workers safe,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These HEPA filters will provide farmers with another tool to use to help in the fight against COVID-19, all while ensuring agri-food workers have a safe environment to work and live in, and people can continue to access the safe and healthy food grown and made in Ontario.” HEPA filter units, in conjunction with other prevention and control strategies, can help remove harmful airborne pathogens and improve air quality. The HEPA units will be deployed in partnership with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services at no cost to employers through the voluntary Registry of Employers International Agri-food Workers. Farms and agri-food businesses that employ and provide housing to IAWs are eligible for one HEPA filter unit per employerprovided congregate living setting. In order to calculate the number of HEPA units each business is eligible for, businesses are asked to update the registry with all locations where housing is provided and the number of structures at each location. Learn more at omafra.gov.on.ca.

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EXECUTIVE DESK

The value of trust

number of years ago, I read a book called The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey Jr. The book relayed many stories and shared real-life examples of individuals and companies who saved huge amounts of time, money and resources while generating significant financial and social benefit for all involved. High trust relationships naturally accelerate productivity. The theme of the book is that low trust environments come with a hidden

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tax. Just think of the cost of all the documentation required for just about any transaction. The world is full of multipage contracts, detailed specifications, thick policy documents, extensive review processes and comprehensive employee manuals. Think of all the “red-tape” generated when trying to get anything done. A lawyer once told me the reason why he was so detail oriented to the point of obsession was because “he lived in an f-upped world.” His default was “no trust” based on his experience (and perhaps his career choice). He almost ruined a deal we were involved with because of this obsession. The deal also took much longer than it should have. I recall one story about a company that had a very extensive hiring process focused on finding candidates who had integrity and character as well as experience and competency. The employee manual had one paragraph: We hired you based on your trustworthiness. Reflect that in all your interactions (this is a paraphrase). Recently, a fellow team member told me the story of her sister’s job search. She had applied to a number of organizations that highlighted “unlimited” sick days and vacation, as well as abundant benefit plans focused on mental and physical wellness. It turns out this is a new human resource philosophy called Unlimited PTO (Paid Time Off). You can find many online articles about this revolutionary approach. The process is not as free as it sounds, but it is based on a high trust agreement that the priority is a mutually agreed job performance. It is an interesting approach. I wonder how it works in reality. In a way, it reminds me of another book I read called The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink. The book talks about the importance of autonomy, mastery and purpose as main motivators. The PTO model follows these motivations.

Coincidently, I also came across a social media post that was shared by LO member Ben Zlotnick: From Jack Parsons I don’t care whether you come into the office at 10 a.m. I don’t care if you choose to work from home or not. I don’t care if you work from the garage while they fix your car. I hired you for a job and I trust you to get it done. Just let me know what you need from me to be successful in your role and I will show up for you. Life happens! You don’t need to justify to me why you need a day off. You don’t need to explain how sick your child is to leave early. You don’t need to apologize for having a personal life. Yes, I care about results, but I also care about you. We are all human and we are all adults. I lead people. I don’t run an adult day care centre. Advice for anyone hiring: 1. Select the right people. 2. Agree on deliverables (be crystal clear). 3. Provide proper tools and support. 4. Get out of their way.

Food for thought. The speed of trust.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director tony@landscapeontario.com

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MEMBERSHIP

Leverage Landscape Ontario to manage your expenses

e’ve all heard the advice that business owners need to know their numbers to make real improvements in their business. So, how well do you know yours? You may not know your finances down to the last penny, but you do need enough financial awareness to make quick and effective decisions. When we’re intimately connected to our businesses through our finances, we can see the critical levers we can pull to make course correcting adjustments at the right time. Driving revenue is tremendously important, which is why so often we focus on how we can maximize sales opportunities. But what about looking at our costs and finding creative ways to reduce the flow of cash going out the door? This is where membership with Landscape Ontario becomes more like a business partnership. Together with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Landscape Ontario makes significant savings available to you on regular overhead expenses. Among the biggest and more popular offerings is the truck discount that provides a savings of $10,000-$15,000 off new Chevrolet, GMC, or Dodge pickup trucks. Landscape Ontario members saved nearly $7.5 million when buying vehicles last year alone. It seems the pandemic has accelerated the use of technology for many businesses and one of these is the onset of contactless payments. Many independent garden retailers had this well sorted beforehand, but for some contractors this was new ground they were breaking. Credit card processing comes with difficult to understand fees. Among the very long list of discounts available to you with your membership is a preferred merchant services provider with transparent fees. From equipment, vehicles, tires, fuel, work wear, office supplies, and training, to HR services, insurance and merchant

processing — Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association continue to work toward getting the deepest discounts available so you can run the most effective and efficient business possible. So, the next time you’re taking a deep dive into reviewing your overhead costs, I challenge you to stay connected to the impressive list of expense savings

immediately available to you through Landscape Ontario. For more details, visit HortTrades.com/member-savings-programs.

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

HortTrades.com/member-savings-programs

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SMART ABOUT SALT

Taking care of people, profit and the planet PEOPEL

PEOPLE

BEARABLE EQUITABLE VIABLE

PLANET

PROFIT

SUSTAINABILITY

PLANET: This measures how environmentally responsible and friendly a business can be.

n 1994, John Elkington — the famed author and entrepreneur, coined the phrase “triple bottom line” as his way of measuring business performance. Elkington’s idea was that businesses can be managed in a way that not only makes money, but which also improves people’s lives and the wellbeing of the planet in a mutually supportive and noncompetitive way. In short, the triple bottom line (TBL) maintains that companies should commit to focusing as much on social and environmental concerns as they do on profits in a win-win-win framework. TBL theory assumes that instead of one bottom line, there should be three: profit, people, and the planet. A TBL seeks to gauge a business’s level of commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its affect on the environment over time. According to the framework, all businesses benefit from considering these three “bottom lines” at the same time: PROFIT: This is the traditional measure of corporate profit — the profit and loss (P&L) account. PEOPLE: This measures how socially responsible an organization can and should be.

In the context of winter maintenance, we can offer the following scenario. A snow and ice removal company implements segmented plow blades. The new equipment boosts the ‘business’ bottom line with more efficient operations, less fuel consumption and lower labour costs. From a ‘people’ perspective, you’ve got happier clients, reduced slip and fall risks to the public, and employees who benefit from working with better tools for their job. Finally, from an environmental perspective, better equipment and winter maintenance practices means less salt is needed. Lower salt use means less leaching into watersheds where it can have negative effects on ecosystems. It’s a win-win-win. Those wishing to learn more about the unique programs and services offered by the Smart About Salt Council and how they support professionals in the winter maintenance industry, including contractors and facility owners/operators, are encouraged to visit smartaboutsalt.com.

Lee Gould Executive Director, Smart About Salt Council lee.gould@smartaboutsalt.com 20

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PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Building strategic relationships — Part 2

n the February issue of Landscape Ontario magazine, I shared the first two steps I use to build strategic business relationships. Let’s continue with the final two steps.

Step 3

The opportunities to build better relationships in your business run both broad and deep. How often do you make time to assess if your team is maintaining business relationships in the way you’d like them to? Are staff consistently aligned with the company brand speaking on your behalf? When I used to own a landscape company, I had a combination of horrific realizations that staff were unintentionally misaligned with my business brand when interacting with others. So I set out to create a strategy to consistently and proactively manage those relationships. I had assumed that staff would use common sense when dealing with others. I was wrong. Common sense is actually just information plus experience. I realized staff had neither the same information (context) nor the same experience that I had or used when engaging with clients. I created a list of opportunities our team had to make an impression, and put guidelines and processes in place for each. I then listed 50 touchpoints, which could occur on any given day between my team, clients and prospective clients. These covered many areas: website, social media, phone/voicemail protocols, cell phones, office visitors, signage, staff conduct off-site, print media, emails/contracts/ correspondence, interviewing, hiring, and more. The touchpoint list and the resulting strategies helped guide my team to act and think in a way that was aligned with my company brand. Take a moment to consider how many ways your staff interacts with your clients, the community and beyond and create a strategy to guide them.

THE FOUR STAGES OF BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS FROM YOUR CLIENTS PERSPECTIVE

I am a stranger I am a supplier

BUSINESS PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE SKILL LEVEL FOCUS OF CULTURE RESULTS FOCUS

I am a I am a desired supplier trusted advisor

Research

Establish

Grow

Manage/Mentor

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Culture of experimenting

Culture of doing

Culture of competence

Culture of engagement

Start-up

Growth

Profit

Profit and growth

MY MILESTONES

Step 4

This model is an excellent way to benchmark and identify the nature of relationships in your business, and in each division of your business. First, assess your current client list and consider whether they view you as a: stranger, supplier, desired supplier or trusted advisor. What would it take to convert each into the next category? (see chart) When you consider this for each division of your company, some of your services may be at level 3, but others may be at level 1 or 2. Some may NEVER reach level 4. Level 4 isn’t better; it’s different. It’s deeper. Some companies never go this deep on building relationships. For example, price focused businesses — their strategy isn’t to be a desired supplier or a trusted advisor — it’s a volume play, not a loyalty play. If you’re looking to build your business on loyalty, then there’s value in recognizing which offerings and clients you currently have at each level, and how to nudge them into the deeper levels. Whatever stage you think you’re at now, it’s likely actually one stage lower. A very common mistake is to over-evaluate. When we over rate ourselves, we don’t reach and stretch our ability, and we don’t challenge our status quo. Developing the

focus of culture is key, and it’s important to perfect that focus before thinking of moving to the next level. Level one start-ups have a culture of experimentation. Level two businesses are building momentum by ‘doing’ the work. At level three, established ‘trusted supplier’ companies start to perfect pricing, production rates, systems, consistency and attention to detail. By this stage, you know what you do well and what you avoid taking on — playing only to the strengths and competency of the team. Once a company reaches level 4 across all divisions, there is a culture of engagement (core values, common vision, focus, alignment, retention, and career growth). This is a tough stage to reach in today’s workforce climate, and happens in companies where a focus on culture, consistency and excellence prevails. I hope you’ll consider using the frameworks I’ve provided to challenge yourself to think more strategically about the relationships in your business.

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

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PRESENTS THE

NISCO ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD

Now is the time to apply for the Nisco Entrepreneurial Spirit Award We’re looking for LO and ISAO members Who demonstrate excellent entrepreneurial spirit. There will be two winners of $6,125 each – One from each association.

APPLY NOW:

www.niscocanada.com Or scan the QR Code:

DUE DATE March 18, 2022

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