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HortTrades.com • May 2020
Hella Keppo grows a childhood hobby into a lifelong passion.
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STANDING STRONG.
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Canada is a nation worth fighting for. At over 100 locations from coast to coast to coast, Brandt stands strong with you, ready to deliver the equipment, parts and service support that you need to help keep our country running. We salute you.
brandt.ca 1-888-227-2638
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May, 2020 • Volume 38 - 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.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Opportunity or threat?
Features 6 Profile: Stems Interior Landscaping 8 Box tree moth spring tips
Departments 10 Association News 15 Scholarship Profile 16 Volunteer Profile 17 New Members 18 Professional News 20 Columns
Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Multimedia designer/IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Contributor Kim Burton kburton@landscapeontario.com, 647-723 5447 Account manager Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLM lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Scott Barber, Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM CAE, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Joe Salemi, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Martha Walsh
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and people you already have? This could be your chance to pivot and make that change. If it’s strategic, it may give you clarity and save you money. We’ve been through this kind of uncertainty before and hopefully, we’ve all got some lessons-learned tucked away for a time like this. I’ve learned to surround myself with an amazing team and focus on the opportunities. Back in the middle of the 2009 recession, my daughter was three and my son was on the way. My wife was on maternity leave and the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Sleep was a challenge, and I would take an hour nap at lunch because I was so exhausted. I didn’t have the same people around me then that I have now. I thought it was up to me to come up with all of the big ideas and make all of the decisions. At that time, we had been doing some things for over 40 years, but made the decision to make some very difficult changes. The following year saw the best year ever for net profit in the history of the company. We made changes to procedures we are still using today, 11 years later. As a team, we are now developing and testing new strategies. We are sharing and learning from our peers and our competitors. Now is the time to stop looking back at the threats and look forward to the great opportunities. I challenge you to be humble and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you to make 2020 your best year yet.
e know that the COVID-19 pandemic and the impending recession is a threat. So how do we quickly identify and take advantage of the opportunities? I’ve been reflecting on my own business and how to trim the fat and apply a lean management strategy across the whole operation. In times like these, the lean will succeed, and anything that’s not, will require intense and intentional change. This is not the time for business-as-usual — a threat this big can actually make important changes in your business easier. It becomes an opportunity to review your pain points and make structural changes, to pass your headaches on to someone else. If you have people that are nonperformers, now is the time to let them be someone else’s non-performer. If you have a customer that is slow to pay and gives you all kinds of grief, let them be someone else’s grief. If you have a truck that is costing you dearly in repairs, but you keep fixing it because you can’t do without, sell it and let someone else pay for the repairs. Be rigorous. Take a moment to evaluate what’s really in your wheelhouse and determine if they are real barriers to your productivity. Are there things you shouldn’t be doing and other things you should do more of? Is there a service you are doing because you always have, but that doesn’t really make you money? Is there an opportunity to start doing something you could be really good at with the equipment
Dave Wright LO President davew@wrightlandscape.ca
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 2020, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com
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Member Profile:
STEMS
INTERIOR LANDSCAPING TAKES GREEN LEADERSHIP
indoors
By Kelli M. Maddocks
“Passion”
born on November 18, just as the poinsettia season was coming into full swing. So just a few weeks after giving birth, I was out there with daughter in tow, installing and maintaining all my client projects! As a business owner you do what you have to do, and you can’t be afraid to think outside the box. Adaptability is key when it comes to the ever-changing needs of your clients, the needs of the business, and not to mention life in general.” So as Stems Interior Landscaping began to grow, so did Hella’s family. “I knew I needed to finally hire staff when I was six-months pregnant with our second child, and I physically couldn’t get behind the reception desk to water the plants. And once you hire your first person, you never go back. Good staff allow you as a business leader to focus on the business operations, marketing, and growth.” From day one, a core business strategy Hella has adopted and maintained is to create a ‘virtual business model.’ Hella explains, “Having my business run virtually allowed me to run the company right from my home. This obviously was very helpful in the early years while I had three small children to raise — and has now provided the ability to run ‘lean’ from an operational standpoint.” Interestingly enough, another Landscape Ontario member, Valleyview Gardens, has not only been a supportive partner to Hella, but has also helped her to keep costs contained. “Larry and his family have been instrumental in the success of my business. The majority of my plants are housed at Valleyview, so I have minimal overhead, and can offer ‘just-in-time’ inventory.”
is the first impression that comes to mind when speaking with Hella Keppo, President of Stems Interior Landscaping based in Washago, Ont. Passion that shows itself in her personality, but also in her dedication to the power of a beautiful landscape, one that can be enjoyed inside or out. “I’ve always had a natural love of plants,” says Keppo. “When I was a child, I used to take my allowance and purchase plants instead of candy or toys. By the time I reached high school, I had a grow unit in my room, and I began propagating, leading to about 100 plants and 40 different species.” Her passion shows again when it comes to education, as her ‘hobby’ developed into a double-major in horticulture at the University of Guelph. “When the other students stayed on campus over the weekends, I would go home to tend to my plants. I had various tropicals that needed my attention, and I was dedicated to keeping them healthy.” Just as Hella was starting up her business, she then went on to complete her MBA in agriculture. “The profession is constantly changing, and education is essential in order to identify new opportunities for growth, and for your overall success in the industry.” Hella launched Stems Interior Landscaping in 1997 and has seen constant growth since then. In the first few years with the help of her husband, Hella grew her business with, as she describes, his “steadfast support.” While getting the business up and running, pregnant with their first child, and looking after a home, Hella had to quickly figure out just how she was going to do it all. “Our first daughter was
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Plant material is guaranteed for as long as Stems takes care of it.
design, install, and take care of all of the follow-up maintenance,” explains Hella. “The plants are guaranteed for as long as Stems is taking care of them. We respect and appreciate each client, so we take care of their investment as if it were our own. It’s personal for us. Honesty and quality will get you anywhere!” Hella has been an active member of Landscape Ontario since 2001. She describes the ‘value-add’ the organization has afforded her both personally and professionally. “The people you meet and the friendships created “I’VE ALWAYS HAD with other business A NATURAL LOVE OF owners is priceless. You PLANTS,” SAYS KEPPO. are surrounded by likeminded people, who “WHEN I WAS A CHILD, share the same passion I USED TO TAKE of landscape. You’re never alone, and at times MY ALLOWANCE like this, the ability to pick AND PURCHASE up the phone and speak PLANTS INSTEAD with another interior OF CANDY OR TOYS.” landscaper, discussing how we’re coping, and how we’re planning to move forward from this pandemic is critical, and Landscape Ontario provides just this kind of connection and support.” Not surprisingly, Hella praises the many educational and training programs Landscape Ontario offers to its members. “The materials and venues for learning that Landscape Ontario offers are abundant, relevant, and very easy to access. I love the webinars and the online documents; they have so much knowledge to share, and I try to take advantage of it all.” The love and passion that Hella has for her business and her clients is absolutely contagious. “Creating a beautiful interior landscape is a gift that we can bring to people. Think about having thriving life, rejuvenation, and lush beauty, all inside your space, 365 days a year.” Hella’s core values of honesty, integrity, and trust, along with her deep love of plant life, is what makes her such a special business owner. And having the ability to connect people with the natural beauty of the outdoors, in such a unique and vibrant way, is what has made Stems Interior Landscaping an award-winning leader in the industry.
Hella has managed to keep her successful business model quite simple from a process perspective. “We go to our clients’ sites and take a look at the building design and infrastructure, including all of the environmental factors that must be considered with indoor spaces. We speak to the client about their budget, what they would like to see or have done, and then we come back to present various options.” Hella makes it clear that she strongly values honesty and integrity. “I’m always up front with each client as to what they can, and maybe more importantly, what they cannot do. I can’t provide a beautiful interior landscape design in a boardroom with very little lighting. If a client asks for something that I cannot in all good conscience provide, then I simply won’t.” It’s that sense of honesty, the quality of the work, and her personal guarantee of all projects completed and maintained, that has seen Hella become recognized as a leader in the interior landscape field. There are several ‘lessons learned’ that Hella has applied to her business throughout the years. One of the best lessons came when the business first began and Hella was attending a seminar in Florida. “I was told that I needed to embrace ‘sub-irrigation’ planters. These planters take the guesswork out of watering. Lechuza is my favourite system to use, as it relies on the simple science of both osmosis and gravity. The plants decide when they need to be watered, and not the other way around. It’s a very natural way for plants to thrive, and allows for very little maintenance.” This advice was put to the test about three weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s amazing that a lesson I learned years ago would become a necessity in the health and life of my current indoor projects,” says Hella. “With all of the office buildings, retail spaces, and schools now closed, our indoor plantscapes can keep themselves healthy, and hopefully survive through this time of such uncertainty.” Hella suggests business owners can benefit from embracing technology. “Stems uses a software-based scheduling program, where my technicians can check-in and check out from the site, directly from their phones. This frees up administration time, and I don’t need to micro-manage.” Gaining customer loyalty and respect is a top priority for the team at Stems Interior Landscaping. “We consult,
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BOX TREE MOTH Look for these signs this spring By Jen Llewellyn OMAFRA Nursery Crops Specialist
Feeding damage from early instar larvae of box tree moth (late May to June).
@ONnurserycrops
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mandibles and will eventually consume entire portions of leaves, often leaving just the margin of the epidermis behind. Note the webbing and frass amongst the chewed foliage and twigs. Where temperatures remain warm, the larvae will feed on the leaves for about 14 days. A second generation of larvae can be found. Box tree moth larvae can be effectively managed with Dipel 2X DF and Xentari — biological insecticide products already registered for use in Canada. In fact, Dipel is the same biological insecticide that is applied by air over the City of Toronto to combat Gypsy moth larvae in the spring. Dipel and Xentari contain a naturally occurring bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), that when sprayed on the foliage, is consumed by the larvae as they feed on the leaves. Within an hour of ingesting the B.t. residue, the larvae stop feeding and then die within two to three days. Foliage needs to be re-treated at least every 10 days to keep an effective layer of B.t. on the leaves during periods of larval activity. We found that one application per larval generation was usually enough to control actively feeding larvae. A second generation of larvae will be active in mid-summer and is another opportunity for insecticidal application.
ox tree moth has been detected in residential gardens in Toronto, Ont., with active populations spanning Steeles Ave. to the north, Leslie Rd. to the east, the Gardiner Expressway to the south and Highway 427 to the west. If you are out scouting for box tree moth in early spring, you will need to look for individual leaves that have a small, visible white cocoon (called a hibernarium), or individual leaves webbed together with a hibernarium in between. Use your fingernail or a knife tip to tease away some of the webbing. If you find a tiny green larva with a black head inside the webbing that is about 4-6 mm long, then you have have found box tree moth. If you find eggs, that is a spider nest. When temperatures become warm in May, the threshold that marks the beginning of larval activity is 15 C. Overwintered early instar larvae will venture out of their hibernarium to feed on surface tissue of the leaves. Young larvae have small heads and mandibles and are only able to feed on the epidermis and shallowly into the underlying mesophyll. Note how only one side of the leaf is chewed, and just from the surface. This tissue becomes desiccated and will turn light brown after a few weeks. Note the webbing and frass amongst the chewed foliage and twigs. Keep in mind that in 2019, we experienced an unusually cold, wet spring that lasted well into the month of June. Where temperatures are warmer, we expect to see larvae more active from early to mid-May. As larvae mature, they shed the skins (molt) in order to increase their body size. Larvae become more greenish and develop a striking pattern of thick black stripes along their body. With each molt, larvae acquire a larger set of
Hibernarium: box tree moth larva overwinters inside until the warm days of May.
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TO REPORT A PEST TO THE CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY: inspection.gc.ca/pests TO REPORT A PEST TO INVASIVE SPECIES CENTRE’S EARLY DETECTION & DISTRIBUTION: eddmaps.org/ontario
What you can do
Raising public awareness on the biology and detection of box tree moth is essential to help control and limit the spread of this pest. Talk to your clients about scouting for this pest on their boxwoods. Employ effective biological pesticide programs and do not move boxwood plants out of the infested zone in Toronto. Since box tree moth has not been detected at or near any wholesale farms and it is a manageable pest, continue to use Ontario-grown boxwood with confidence.
• Watch the OMAFRA Box Tree Moth Webinar on the box tree moth page at landscapeontario.com/box-tree-moth. • Subscribe to the ONnurserycrops blog and @ONnurserycrops on Instagram to receive timely updates. • Inspect all boxwood plants for signs and symptoms of box tree moth. Take a few minutes to pull branches apart to see inside the canopy and inspect closely for chewed leaves, webbing, frass, cast larval skins, cast larval heads, live larvae or pupal cases. Remember, webbing on its own is not a clear indicator for the presence of BTM since spiders are common on this plant. • Report any infestations to the agencies below to help them keep track of active populations. • Treat active larval stages with registered insecticides (e.g. Dipel 2X DF) using a licensed applicator. Treatments should be assessed three to five days post-application to ensure all larvae have been killed. Re-treat if active larvae are found during the following larval generation period (noted below). • Continue to monitor boxwood plants for signs of active larval stages, especially during the periods of May 30 to June 15, July 15 to Aug. 10 and Sept. 1 to 15. • Box tree moth can be a significant pest if left unmanaged. Spread the word about box tree moth to your local horticultural networking group and encourage others to monitor boxwood for this pest.
Damage from late instar larva of box tree moth. Note how edges of leaf margins are left behind (late June).
Late instar larvae of box tree moth.
To help determine the extent of its distribution, we continue to ask that all stakeholders take and hold samples and photos of any moth-like pests they observe on boxwood plants. Email photos to jennifer.llewellyn@ontario.ca. Sightings can also be reported online to inspection.gc.ca/ pests or eddmaps.org/ontario. This information will assist in evaluating the threat and will help to direct the next steps for the industry.
Recently killed larva after ingesting Dipel residue on leaf.
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ASSOCIATION NEWS View from my hot seat on the Covid-19 Task Force By Jeff Olsen LO Covid-19 Task Force member When I volunteered to be a member of Landscape Ontario’s Covid-19 Task Force at the March 19 Provincial Board meeting, I really had no idea what I was in for. The meeting was odd in itself in that it didn’t take place around a conference table — instead it was the first time that I had heard of, or used the Zoom video conference app. It was a weird experience to see fellow board members in their own “Hollywood Squares” on screen, and I don’t think anyone quite understood the etiquette in terms of when to speak and when not to, or when to go on mute and when to tap the microphone to speak. But we all figured it out and got through what we thought would be a one-time thing. Since that day, our Covid-19 Task Force has met via Zoom every single business day at either 4:30 or 5 p.m. for a one-hour update. Our Task Force consists of nine members from LO companies (Alan White, Margot Byers, Jon Durzi, Dave Wright, Jamie Riddell, Terry Childs, Lindsey Ross and me) and eight LO staff. We represent just about every sector of the industry. Our first call on March 20 seems like a lifetime ago, and we spent most of our time on that call setting up for what we thought would be a short-lived blip on our industry’s business. We really focused on communications around hygiene in the workplace and how member companies could stop the spread within their own organizations. We were starting to hear some rumours around government assistance for companies, so we wanted to make sure we were providing that information to members in a timely fashion. Personally, I was coping with the fact that just three days prior, I had laid off 60 per cent of my staff (over 100 people) and my customers were cancelling most of their spring orders. By the end of the day on March 20, we were looking to lose most of what we spent the past 30 years building. The next week would prove even worse as the first announcement of Ontario closing non-essential businesses came, and as a team, we tried to find information for members that would calm their fears so they could keep working. We found none. The original list of essential workplaces was completely vague and therefore, it seemed like our members would be able to fit into one area or another. The emails and phone calls began to pile up with the membership demanding clarity. We again
decided as a group that we were not confident we could provide it, because it was not being provided to us. It got quite heated as the week went on, and another announcement loomed on April 3. Since we were unable to provide clarity that was positive, we took the approach that we should take a strong stance for our members not to work. We foresaw the April 3 announcement being much stronger wording and decided to pre-empt it by letting our members know in advance that they should prepare to stop working in the interest of public health. Needless to say, this was not well-received by our members, but we felt we were providing the safest approach and ensuring that our member companies were protected from public scrutiny and ultimately fines and possible jail time for owners. This was a tough decision, but we believe it was the right one in light of the public health crisis we find ourselves in as a province, country and world. Protecting our workers and their families seemed way more important than a few weeks of revenue — even though we know some member businesses will not survive. I can tell you that as a task force made up of volunteers from member companies, we feel the pain as much as other members do. Each and every one of the task force’s companies are in the same jeopardy as those of other members of Landscape Ontario. We don’t take these decisions lightly as we are also suffering severe casualties in this battle. Going forward, we will continue to fight on our members’ behalf on multiple fronts. We will advocate for you to ensure that when business gets back up and running, our members will be the first out of the gate. We will make sure that all levels of government understand how critical our trade is to the health, safety and well-being of our province. We will make sure our members and their employees understand all of the financial assistance that is available to them, to help soften the blow that this crisis is putting on businesses and families. We will ensure the public is reminded of the importance of our products and services, and how they provide beauty and life to our world. Finally, we will ensure that all of our 2,000+ members understand that we are stronger together than we could ever be as individuals, and that it is critical to support each other’s business during this time. I would like to say how proud I am of my fellow Task Force members who have decided to put their industry first, over that of their individual companies. This team understands the big picture and has their priorities in the right place as they work for you, our wonderful Landscape Ontario community.
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Garden communicators support green profession A group of garden communicators, nursery growers and garden retailers met recently to explore ways to ease the extreme challenges of the Covid-19 crisis. Growers are holding millions of dollars of inventory with no sales prospects due to the pandemic. At an April meeting, they came up with the idea of teaming with garden communicators toward three objectives: driving demand for nursery stock, convincing the government the sector can work safely, and promoting products as health-enhancing. Mark Cullen volunteered to chair the effort, and invited fellow garden communicators Lorraine Johnson, Sean James, Paul Zammit and Ben Cullen to join. Participants from the horticulture profession included: Jennifer Llewellyn, Rob Vanderkruk, Terry Vanderkruk, Terry Caddo and Jeff Olsen. LO Executive Director Tony DiGiovanni asked the group: How do we work together to serve the growers’ need to sell inventory and the public’s need for green? Jeff Olsen said plants are essential to health, including mental health, and applauded the idea of a campaign. Mark Cullen and Sean James agreed on the importance of stimulating demand through garden centres. Lorraine Johnson reminded the group that safety trumps all other activity. Mark Cullen recognized safety’s prime importance, and advocated a rule allowing garden centres to open under the same rules applied to food stores, guided by a best practices document. Jeff Olsen stressed the importance of garden retailers making their case to open first. Rob Vanderkruk said, if anyone questions horticulture’s legitimacy, to ask: Who else will supply green plant material and oxygen? A list of talking points was distributed for participants to promote these points to their contacts. Mark Cullen was energized with the project, which he stated as: Reaching Canadians with credible information. The concept of a unified garden communicators group amplifying their own individual messages through a common banner would be very effective at getting our aligned messages out to the general public.
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Toronto Chapter continues to support community greening projects The Landscape Ontario Toronto Chapter Bursary Program was initiated in 2017 to enhance the opportunity for those who may not have private gardens to cultivate, or who want to garden in the community. The bursary distributes $15,000 in amounts up to $1,500 for greening projects that contribute to environmental and social wellness. This year’s committee members included Skai Leja, David Milne and Matt Gove. The intent of the bursary program is twofold: to encourage and support worthy greening activities in communities, and to promote Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life brand. This year, the program received requests for support of community gardens, pollinator plantings, native plant gardens, laneway rehabilitation projects, as well as organizations that in turn support all these activities through sharing of knowledge and resources. Applications were accepted until March 29, and were required to include a clear vision of community benefit from the project; a viable implementation plan, including a realistic budget; a strong, experienced team of engaged volunteers and ongoing mainte-
nance planning. In many cases, the projects reflected long-term engagement by dedicated community members, and it was gratifying to committee members who reviewed the funding requests to be able to support these enterprising groups. Here are just some of the community projects that were awarded funding this year:
Mashkiki gitigaanan The Medicine Gardens in Anishinaabemowin, is a project focused on strengthening urban Indigenous relationships to land through growing plant medicines and learning how to work with them. In the fall, harvesting and processing of medicines, to be used in community ceremonies.
Black Creek Community Farm This unique, eight-acre ‘Farm Park’ serves as a community teaching garden. The bursary funds will help to add edible mushroom grow logs which will be part of a Forage Trail.
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Crooked Farmz The LO bursary will be used to provide components and materials needed to make compost tea through community workshops where participants will learn the what, how and why of making and using compost tea to build healthy soil.
West Bend Residents Association This longstanding group of residents in the west end Junction area of the city have greened a number of neglected public spaces over a period of 20 years. This year, they hope to expand their efforts to private properties in the area to build a network of native pollinator gardens that will connect the larger spaces they have previously improved. The effort is part of the Carolinian Canada ‘In the Zone’ initiative. Native plants and mulch are their primary needs.
Sistering Sistering is a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially-isolated women and trans people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed. This project seeks to enhance the
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO mental and spiritual wellness of participants and community members, by transforming a public park space that will be shared to meet a common good. This will lead to increased and visible community collaboration and a better understanding of the importance of shared community spaces.
funds will be used in support of JAC’s Farm to Table Community Garden program, which includes a cooking and nutrition program, as well as selling garden produce through their social entrepreneur market. Market proceeds are reinvested in the community garden.
Kenwood/Wychwood Laneway Gardens
Three west end Toronto BIAs: Bloordale, College Promenade and Queen West stood out from others for their association with a social enterprise organization, Park-
A local mural artist has lent her talents to reduce graffiti and vandalism in her neighbourhood laneways by painting garage doors with beautiful images and working with residents to install little pocket gardens in empty patches of soil. LO’s support will allow the project to expand their reach.
Toronto BIAs
dale Green Thumbs, which implements street planting programs and exhibits a strong commitment to using native plants and promoting sustainable landscaping practices. Updates on these projects will be shared on the Toronto Chapter’s Instagram page and LO’s social media platforms. Through participating in chapter fundraising efforts, LO members can take pride in knowing they have helped to contribute to supporting these deserving projects.
Forest Hill Village – Bilton Laneway Over a number of years, an increasing number of residents in three adjacent low-rise apartment buildings in Forest Hill Village with no other outdoor space have reclaimed, cleaned and greened an orphaned section of Bilton Laneway and turned it into a quiet oasis. Soil has been painstakingly built-up over underlying asphalt and in large donated containers, which now support an expanding colony of native and edible plants. This year’s bursary will provide the luxury of a soil and mulch delivery.
Community Health Centre Garden This visible corner site in the east end of the city has been used as a demonstration garden by the Health Centre for some years. The site promotes low-water, no pesticide, native plant gardening, and includes a green roof on a maintenance shed. The goal is to add better educational signage that explains the garden and its many health and global sustainability benefits.
Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre (DPNCHC) This group requested funds to rejuvenate an older Healing Garden that has changed significantly over the 22 years since it was first installed. It is hoped that restoring the original Butterfly Garden near an existing rail corridor will make it part of a longer biodiversity pathway. Bursary funds will help to restock tools and purchase new plants.
The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment (JAC) Providing free after-school and camp programs and workshops to 200 young girls aged seven to 17 in Etobicoke, the bursary
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Member offers free tree replacement program
Landscape Ontario introduces online learning
In 2020, Northshore Tree Experts will plant a tree for every tree they remove. The Barrie-based Landscape Ontario member launched the “Free Tree Project” earlier this year, and plans on providing a free tree to clients for every tree removed with a DBH of 30 cm. or greater. “Northshore Tree Experts’ slogan is, ‘Deep roots grow a legacy’ because we started this tree service with a deep understanding of the importance of faith, family, and protecting our natural environment,” says Johnny Corner, company owner. “This is not just a way for us to realize the Canadian Dream, this business is an extension of our lives, which demands that it be guided with intentionality and purpose. And while our industry is known predominantly for the removal of trees, one of our purposes requires that we change that perspective through our business directives as a matter of conscience. For that reason, and due to the many benefits provided by urban trees, we decided to debut the Free Tree Project pilot program in our 2020 season.”
On April 16, Landscape Ontario’s popular Professional Development series held its first-ever seminar online. Over 130 virtual participants from the landscape and horticulture profession took part in a free, 75-minute seminar led by Jeff McMann on Basic Tree Maintenance. The online training is just the first in a series of titles planned to deliver the same level of content attendees
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expect from the association’s annual seminar line up, which had all remaining titles cancelled back on March 16 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 22 and 29, instructor Lorne Haveruk will lead a two-part series titled ABCs of Irrigation, an annual title in the series. More topics planned include Canadian Landscape Standards, with Christene LeVatte (May 4), and Introduction to Stormwater Management (May 13) with Kyle Vander Linden. For full details and to register, visit HortTrades.com/seminars and click on Professional Development Online.
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SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE
Meghan Thompson sees many exciting opportunities ahead Thompson explains “It’s so hands-on. You’re literally climbing trees and I’m getting marked to climb a tree. What more could I ask for?” Thompson cites Jeff Rowley, Horticulture Technician at Fanshawe as one of her mentors. “I also work for Fanshawe as a student gardener right now, and he’s taught me a lot outside the classroom. I feel like he’s always got an answer for my questions and in a very practical way.” Thompson says her on-campus work experience includes a mixture of interiorscape in the winter and grounds maintenance and greenhouse production the rest of the year. Whether it’s winter or summer, Thompson takes comfort in her green surroundings all year long. Landscape Ontario’s Sally Harvey is another mentor. “I’m inspired by women in landscaping and everybody knows who she is and she’s built so many connections and made such an amazing place for herself in her craft. That’s something I aspire to be like.” Thompson says one of her dreams is to do some traveling and see the boreal forest in Brazil. To achieve this, she plans to take Fanshawe’s Environmental Design and Planning program which has an option to spend a semester in Brazil to learn more about plants. After completing the four-year Honours Bachelor program at Fanshawe, Thompson plans to make her way across Canada, designing aesthetically-pleasing and sustainable landscapes in various municipalities. Her next destination is British Columbia. “If all goes according to plan, maybe study my Masters in forest sustainability at UBC,” she cites as the next goal in her journey. “I want more people to realize the benefits of nature and the outdoors. In society now, we’ve gotten so lost into buildings and in concrete jungles that we forget the true benefits of just sitting down in nature every once and I want to be able to provide that to people,” she says. In 2019, Thompson received a horticultural scholarship from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation. Her reaction: “I was ecstatic. I honestly didn’t believe it for a second because my classmates are all so very qualified as well. I was genuinely surprised.” Each summer, Thompson volunteers at a week-long vegetarian eco-camp, where she looks forward to teaching about 200 kids aged 9-17 about their impact on the environment. “It’s a pretty awesome experience because I get to talk about plants with kids. It’s a place where everything I’m learning gets put into action. I get to inspire youth while also making an impact.” Wherever her career path leads, Thompson is confident about the future. “I’m excited because it’s such an expanding industry right now. I’m not worried about getting a job. I’m looking forward to how many opportunities there are right now.”
In her final year of the Horticulture Technician Program at Fanshawe College, Meghan Thompson says her planned career in the horticulture profession is in part due to having “a little bit of a hero complex.” “I really like helping people,” Thompson explains. She originally began studying to be a paramedic, before switching to horticulture. “We have a huge issue with the environment and climate right now, and I think it’s really important I address that, and I would be helping a lot of people in doing so.” Growing up on the western isles of Scotland, Thompson says horticulture was an influence at an early age. “I was submerged in more fauna than any other kid I know. I think that had an impact.” She also has memories of climbing trees as a kid — something her parents encouraged. “I would even bring bugs in to the table,” she recalls. “Coming to school in Canada and being here, I felt drawn to the outdoors and that I should be outside. I knew I could never work in an office and I could never sit down like that.” At Fanshawe, arboriculture and plant identification are favourite classes. “Latin is a wordly language, so I like that I could go anywhere in the world and talk with anybody about plants,” she says. When it comes to arboriculture,
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VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Ron Koudys volunteers to make the world a better place
“I could have played golf or I could have travelled more for pleasure, but I feel that being engaged in your community and doing as much as you can to make the world a better place is a noble calling.” — Ron Koudys
For Ron Koudys, his reasons for volunteering so much of his time to the landscape industry over the years aren’t all that different than his reasons for working in the industry in general. “I love volunteering, and I feel that I have something to offer,” he says. “And that’s been the hallmark of my life. Even the approach I take in landscape architecture; it’s certainly a business, but I come alongside our clients and help them solve problems.” As a landscape architect, he has been helping those clients for almost 40 years as the owner of London’s Ron Koudys Landscape Architects. As a volunteer, he has been giving back even longer. Ron’s full catalogue of volunteer efforts is too long to list here, but the highlights include him being a founding member of Landscape Ontario’s Designer Sector Group board, which was instrumental in developing the Certified Landscape Designer program. He has also been a regular speaker at various Landscape Ontario events, has donated many landscape designs to community projects, and has served as a director for several organizations, currently including Sustainable Development Technology Canada. One of Ron’s first landscape-related volunteer roles was with Habitat for Humanity in London, where he and his students at Fanshawe College designed and built gardens for 14 homes in the 1980s and 90s. “We’d do the design as a student project and then all of the students would show up on a Saturday morning and we’d build the whole garden in a day,” says Ron. “It was a real joy to be working side by side with the people who would be living in those homes and to know that you were making a real difference in someone’s life.” Around the same time, Burlington landscape architect Haig Seferian called up Ron to try to figure out a way to organize landscape designers in Ontario. Long story short, that led to the formation of LO’s Designer Sector Group and eventually
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the landscape design certification, the landscape design conference, and more. “And now it’s a national program,” says Ron. “The CNLA (Canadian Nursery Landscape Association) has taken this little idea that Haig and I had and has now organized designers across Canada. Now there is a lot of cross-collaboration, and I think we’ve really promoted excellence in the design industry, which is great.” For the past eight years, Ron has been on the board of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), which is a foundation created by the federal government to support Canadian technology companies that address climate change, clean air, clean water, and clean soil. Within the SDTC, Ron represents green industries — landscape, agriculture, etc. — and one important issue that he and his colleagues have been trying to address during the COVID-19 crisis is how they can help ensure Canadians have access to the food they need. They’re doing that by leveraging the logistics companies the SDTC has invested in, says Ron. But they are also thinking about how they can help organize a food industry that is inherently diverse. “There are all these different streams — from eggs to pork to chicken to fresh fruits and vegetables — and they’re all coming from different places,” says Ron. “So how do you organize that whole industry so that it’s working in concert rather than individually? So we’re talking with the agriculture ministry right now about that issue and hopefully we can provide some leadership.” This is obviously a big, complicated issue to tackle, but as his volunteer history shows, clearly that’s not an issue for Ron. “At the end of the day, we only have so much life to live and we choose how we want to live it. I could have played golf or I could have travelled more for pleasure, but I feel that being engaged in your community and doing as much as you can to make the world a better place is a noble calling.”
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
NEW MEMBERS DURHAM
GOLDEN HORSESHOE
TORONTO
UPPER CANADA
Jones Pools Brian Coughlan 6379 Main St Stouffville, ON L4A 7Z6 Tel: 905-642-9522 Membership Type: Member
1610312 Alberta Ltd Jonathon Paglia 75 Cathedral Crt Waterdown, ON L8B 0S1 Tel: 905-981-0999 Membership Type: Member
Hillholm Gardening Ltd Karen Henderson 113 Lindsey Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1E5 Tel: 416-991-5067 Membership Type: Introductory
Shades of Green Landscapes Alyssa Vanden Engel 129 Champagne Cres Amherstview, ON K7N 0B5 Tel: 613-417-7014 Membership Type: Member
GEORGIAN LAKELANDS
Dekker’s Landscapes Daniel Dekker 26 St Peter St St. Catherines, ON L2T 1N9 Membership Type: Member
K Kitchen Contracting Keith Kitchen 76 Kennedy St Aurora, ON L4G 2L5 Tel: 416-993-4597 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
WATERLOO
1830246 Ontario Inc O/A McMullen’s Management Derek McMullen 625 Sarah St N Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1E9 Tel: 705-706-5762 Membership Type: Professional Member Colin’s Haulage Inc Colin Ellsworth 2661 Radar Rd Hanmer, ON P3P 0B4 Tel: 705-688-6973 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Ed Leimgardt Contracting Ed Leimgardt 3249 County Road 42 Creemore, ON L0M 1G0 Tel: 705-446-5182 Membership Type: Member Jones Custom Framing Ltd Adam Jones 3870 Line 13 N Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0 Tel: 705-329-7015 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Nor-Tech Power & Controls Bruce Dixon 2691 White St Val Caron, ON P9N 1B2 Tel: 705-897-8889 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Ralph MacDonald Construction & Aggregates Ltd Ralph MacDonald 56 Wellington St Creemore, ON L0M 1G0 Tel: 705-466-2807 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Rugged Earth Landscaping Inc Sean Christie 710 Phillips Cres Huntsville, ON P1H 1B4 Tel: 705-380-4413 Membership Type: Professional Member Simcoe Block (1979) Ltd Scott Barrie 140 Ferndale Dr N PO Box 250 Barrie, ON L4M 4T2 Tel: 705-728-1773 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Friday Harbour Resort Adam Kent Innisfil, ON Membership Type: Individual
Green Effects Property Maintenance Inc Ryan Wallace 15 - 405 Plains Rd E Burlington, ON L7T 2C9 Tel: 289-242-1833 Membership Type: Member
Perfect Property Maintenance Kings Inc Tony DiSalvo 301 - 3120 Rutherford Rd Vaughan, ON L4K 0B2 Tel: 647-825-3408 Membership Type: Member
Griffin Landscape Management Solutions Inc Debbie Cleland 219 Park Ave E Dunnville, ON N1A 0A8 Tel: 905-701-5296 Membership Type: Member
Redwood Lawn and Garden Maintenance Brent Anderson 5716 Eighth Line Milton, ON L9E 1A6 Tel: 905-875-1759 Membership Type: Member
LONDON
South Simcoe Landscape Construction Kyle Beatty 98 Holland Vista St Holland Landing, ON L9N 0T4 Tel: 905-235-3211 Membership Type: Member
Bayfield Tree Service Inc John Vanderhaar 74862 Bronson Lane, RR 1 Bayfield, ON N0M 1G0 Tel: 519-524-0178 Membership Type: Member
Copperhill Group Ltd Andrew Schiedel 460 Snyder’s Rd E Baden, ON N3A 4H9 Tel: 519-497-0078 Membership Type: Member Warrior Landscaping Tim Oliver 102 Taylor Dr Grand Valley, ON L9W 6P1 Tel: 416-316-9223 Membership Type: Member
WINDSOR DeLuca Sales and Service Kirk Deluca 50 Sandwich St N Amherstburg, ON N9V 2T7 Tel: 519-817-4700 Membership Type: Associate
Michael Wilhelm Excavating Ltd Michael Wilhelm 4163 Road 109, RR 1 Stratford, ON N5A 6S2 Tel: 519-273-3413 Membership Type: Associate
OTTAWA 6772447 Can Inc Tom Orr 92 Bingham Rd Haley Station, ON K0J 1Y0 Tel: 613-880-1487 Membership Type: Member A&Z Interlock Design & Build Adam Askew 2014 Calypso St Limoges, ON K0A 2M0 Tel: 613-219-9862 Membership Type: Member E C Carruthers & Sons Utility Construction Craig Carruthers 13758 Coulthart Rd Cryseler, ON K0A 1R0 Tel: 613-448-1244 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
Stam Nurseries Inc.
Lefebvre Landscaping Pierre Lefebvre 5325 Power Dam Dr, RR 1 Long Sault, ON K0C 1P0 Tel: 613-936-3353 Membership Type: Professional Member
593836 Hwy 59, Burgessville ON N0J 1C0
Growing quality shade trees and evergreens
Ottawa Good Time Centre Bryan Thoms 450 West Hunt Club Rd Ottawa, ON K2E 1B2 Tel: 613-222-9071 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
P: 519-424-3350 F: 519-456-1659 info@stamnurseries.com
stamnurseries.com 17
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
PROFESSIONAL NEWS
HELP EMPLOYEES MAINTAIN POSITIVE
DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK Many people may experience stress and anxiety related to the coronavirus outbreak. As more and more people physically isolate or enter quarantine, supporting employees during this difficult time can be key to helping employees with their mental health while building a level of trust. Here are some tips to promote positive mental health: Encourage employees to stay connected with friends, family and coworkers through e-mail, social media, video conferencing and telephone. Think of it as physical isolation while maintaining social relationships. At times of stress, we work better when we know we are not alone. Encourage those working from home to try and maintain a healthy balance by allocating specific hours for work, a consistent schedule, and if possible, a designated work area. This allows “work” to feel more like work. Keep things in perspective. Remind employees that this is a temporary period of isolation and their efforts are helping the greater community. Encourage employees to take regular breaks. A quick walk around the block, playtime with the kids or indulging in a healthy snack can make a world of difference.
Kindness and patience go a long way. We are all adjusting to this new normal and each person operates differently. Make time to talk and be supportive of your employees’ current needs and concerns. Be flexible, reassuring and understanding. If you have employees who normally struggle with their mental health, they will likely require additional support. Utilize resources at your disposal. Does your organization have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place? Remind staff that the EAP is there if they need support. Nothing in place? Take advantage of local crises or distress resources and centres which are readily available. Take care of your own mental health. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. Being good for your employees’ means being kind to yourself. This article was prepared by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS). For more checklists and tips for working at your home office, check out the COVID-19 resources at www.wsps.ca, or email customercare@wsps.ca.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Phillip Stephan joins Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) has appointed Phillip Stephan as its new Vice President, Business and Client Development. Stephan joined Vineland’s senior management team on April 1. Stephan will lead the organization’s business and client development activities to strengthen relationships and build new partnerships for Vineland and its research teams. He joins Vineland after almost a decade with Canadian-based Saskatchewan Research Council, where he held various management roles, including Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Vice President of Agriculture and Biotechnology. “Phillip brings a strong background in executive management and experience in the research and technology sector to help us continue building on Vineland’s reputation as a leader in agricultural innovation,” says Vineland President and CEO Ian Potter. “One of Vineland’s hallmarks is that we work closely with the industry to develop solutions addressing the sector’s challenges and Phillip will play a key role to help us strengthen and expand our efforts in this area.” Stephan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Lethbridge and a Master’s of Science in Biomedicine from the University of Calgary. For more details about Vineland’s research and innovation, visit www.vinelandresearch.com.
In Memoriam — Ray Piester Ray Peister passed away on April 7. He was 91. Few can reflect on Ray Peister without visualizing his constant smile and recalling his gentle nature. Joining McLean-Peister Ltd. in February 1961, he was a dedicated and trustworthy member of brother Glenn’s landscape construction business, rising to the position of VicePresident of Sales, until his retirement in 1994. Ray was often charged with the task of delivering bids to Toronto, at times racing down Highway 401, to then find a parking space at Yonge and Bloor, and a pay phone to call back to the office, then scribble down the quote amount and deliver the tender, just in time to beat the clock. After his retirement in 1994 he constructed Westhill Meadows, a pitch and putt golf course in Waterloo, Ont. Ray was very active at Chicopee Ski Club for decades, with he and his wife Lyn accepting the Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1994 for their devotion to the race program. His athletic family became topnotch racers. He is survived by sons Rick (Kate) and Mike (Caroline), six grandchildren and a great grandson.
New tool helps clients scout for box tree moth The Box Tree Moth Industry Working Group has developed an information piece for landscape pros to share with home and property owners that educates them on how to scout for damage and presence of box tree moth. A native to eastern Asia, box tree moth was first discovered in North America in Etobicoke, Ont., in the late summer of 2018. Larvae of box tree moth feed on boxwood foliage from mid-May to early September and may cause defoliation if left unchecked. The flyer includes many colour images that show overwintering larvae and feeding damage from both young and mature larvae. The tool also explains best practices for removing clippings in order to minimize the spread of the pest, as well as the need to employ a licensed landscape or lawn care professional that can treat infected plants with Dipel. The industry group has been working closely with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to closely monitor and contain the spread of the pest. For more information and resources, including the education piece, a pest identification card and details on lifecycle, visit HortTrades.com/box-tree-moth.
Premium grower to the landscape trade • Specializing in exceptional quality trees & evergreens
8080 BALDWIN ST., BROOKLIN, ONTARIO L1M 1Y6 sales@uxbridgenurseries.com P: 905.655.3379 • 1.877.655.3379 • F: 905.655.8544
www.uxbridgenurseries.com 19
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
EXECUTIVE DESK
Choose to plant hope
T
here is no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis has caused a great deal of stress for everyone. Our normal lives have been turned completely upside down. Our ability to make a living and support our employees and our families has been questioned for probably the first time in our lives. This collective experience has been unsettling, to say the least. Yet through all of this, many of you have stepped forward to help and support each other. Many of you are active in your community — volunteering and providing assistance. Many of you are posting positive and encouraging messages on social media. Many of you have taken time to reach beyond your own personal circumstances to write supportive emails, cultivate friendships and make encouraging phone calls. The expression of care and concern has been inspiring to observe. At the risk of leaving many people out, I would like to acknowledge some of you in person. Most of these individuals are not comfortable with recognition or accolades, but I am moved to mention them. The Landscape Ontario COVID-19 Task Force: Alan White (Chair), Jeff Olsen, Jon Durzi, Dave Wright, (President of Landscape Ontario), Peter Guinane, Margot Byers, Terry Childs, Lindsey Ross and James Riddell. This group of contribution-oriented volunteers meets every day and sometimes on the weekend. They are directing the Landscape Ontario support to the membership. They are hosting weekly webinars. They provide feedback and leadership. Even though they are going through the same unsettling circumstances that everyone else is, they have stepped up to help. So far, they have met 29 times since the province announced the emergency order. What exemplary duty. Russ Springer: Early on, Russ brought together a group of leaders to figure out how to work safely in a pandemic. The leadership and initiative from this group led to the expansion of our COVID resource page. Members of the group who stepped up to help are: Kim and Andrew Barz, Jim
The LO COVID-19 Task Force has been holding Town Hall webinars each Tuesday to keep members up-to-date.
Edmonds, Paul Cisterna, Tom Finucane, Carmine Filice, Keith Phillips, Dave Wright, Grant Harrison, Phill Sexton and Pat Springer. Hank Gelderman: Throughout this COVID ordeal, Hank has called or sent emails of encouragement. He has stressed over and over again the importance of communicating positive messages of hope and support to the membership. Jacki Hart: Jacki coordinates LO’s Peer to Peer Network. Since the COVID crisis, Jacki has brought together this everexpanding group on many occasions. The meetings are not only supportive and encouraging, but they also provide helpful and practical information that will help members thrive in the midst of adversity. Jacki is a master facilitator. Jim Paluch, Jeffrey Scott, Mark Bradley, Phil Harwood, Scott Wentworth: These world-class contributors all stepped up to contribute their time and wisdom to help lift everyone up, using webinars to communicate that message. Don McQueen, Krista Kent, Stacey Carruthers, Paul Brydges, Anna van Maris, Ben Zlotnik: These individuals contacted us
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to offer their help as mentors to others. Jennifer Lewellyn: Jennifer is the nursery/landscape representative for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). She has contributed way beyond the call of duty by bringing together Ontario’s grower community on a regular basis. The meetings are always full of helpful information, support and encouragement. We do not have the space here to recognize the hundreds of other individuals who have offered assistance and encouragement. There are countless numbers of other contributions by many members of our work family. We are blessed with an amazing and responsible community of people who want to be part of the solution. As we collectively experience this COVID crisis, it is so important to know we are not alone. As people, we are not meant to be alone, but we are stronger together. Together we will get through this. We choose to plant hope.
Tony DiGiovanni LO Executive Director
tony@landscapeontario.com
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
MEMBERSHIP
Landscape Ontario is here for you
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soon. We appreciate how difficult this situation is for business owners and your staff. We want you to know that we are here for you as an association. It has been wonderful getting to chat to members across the province to see how everyone is handling this situation. Members have been getting involved in their communities, delivering meals for those in isolation, producing hanging baskets for front-line health care workers, and giving back despite the uncertainty of the world. Thank you for sharing these stories with us, they make the world seem brighter! The biggest question we are being asked is if your business is included under the essential workplaces list released by the province. The list is difficult to interpret, and many business owners are looking for clarity on how to continue operations (if they are allowed to) and what direction they can give to staff. We understand these are incredibly difficult and unprecedented times. This is a steep learning curve that we are all navigating. If you have questions about operating in this current climate, or about the many support programs available to you, your company and your staff, then please visit the resource hub at HortTrades.com/covid-19-resources or give us a call. In these difficult times it is important to take stock of the blessings we have and the community we are lucky to be a part of. The support that members have shown each other during this pandemic is incredible. The LO family is rallying together to navigate these uncharted waters and figure out how to operate in this climate of uncertainty. Your association remains here for you. Together we will get through this. Stay safe, stay healthy and take care.
ith everything going on in the world, I find myself feeling incredibly thankful for Landscape Ontario. I am thankful that LO allows staff to work from home and to have the resources to be able to do this. I am thankful that our horses live in the backyard so we can continue to care for them when boarding facilities in Ontario have had to close their doors to horse owners. And most of all, I am thankful for this sense of security that we all take for granted at one time or another, but that becomes so real in times like these. I am also thankful that this unprecedented situation has given us all the opportunity to rise to the occasion and change the way we do things. When things go back to normal, or maybe a new normal, we will have new tools and resources to streamline our operations that we may not have explored had it not been for this situation. Landscape Ontario has made information more accessible than ever for members through the COVID-19 resource hub on HortTrades.com, as well as offering our first-ever webinars which have been incredibly successful. Town hall-style discussions with our COVID-19 Task Force, business coaches and other professionals have hosted webinars as well. Chapter boards are meeting via Zoom and Google Hangouts to plan for education meetings this fall (which may also be digital). As an association, we are using technology like never before. It is new, it is scary and it is exciting. Thank you to the members who have embraced and supported these changes. Over the past few weeks, the Landscape Ontario team has been making phone calls to all members to check-in and see how they are doing. If you haven’t yet heard from us, we will be calling
Myscha Stafford LO Membership and Chapter Coordinator myscha@landscapeontario.com
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO In Table 3, we see locate companies marked 376,519 underground utility lines landscapers and 196,720 for fencers in 2019. These are the potential opportunities for hits and damages in each sector.
Notifications analysis
UNDERGROUND WORLD
Underground hits dramatically reduced
E
ach spring, I anxiously await the new Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) DIRT Report that includes the latest statistics on underground utility hits for the previous year. The 2019 results were beyond my expectations with a provincial reduction of 9.8 per cent over 2018. Even more impressive is the reduction in hits by the Fencing Industry, which has over the years, has driven up the total number of Green Industry hits. The Fencing Industry reduced hits by 22 per cent last year. The Green Industry still makes up 14.8 per cent of the total hits in Ontario. This is a reduction from 16.5 per cent in 2018. This is all very good news as we begin the 2020 excavation season. The following explains the data compiled on hits, locate requests and notifications. The provincial totals in Table 1 look good, but need to compare them to the overall level of excavating activity to put things into perspective.
how many different utilities are present for that street address. Each utility present has to be located and marked individually. This is called a notification. There may often be eight to 10 different utilities for a single property. This determines the number of notifications associated with a particular locate request. The tables below looks at locate requests and the resulting notifications. The number of notifications represents the number of possible hits that could happen in a particular year. Industry looks at the number of hits because they are what result in damage and repair costs. I will focus on the landscape and fencing sectors as they make up most of the total hits in the Green Industry Sector.
Locate request analysis
Remember that a notification is the request for a locator to mark the location of a specific underground utility. It is the potential for a utility hit. So the true measure of the efficiency of an industry is the number of damages (utility hits) compared to the actual number of notifications. The number of hits per notification for the landscape industry is 0.000916 and fencing is 0.00191. The landscape industry has about the same number of underground hits as last year, and almost double the number of underground utilities to worry about, compared to those of the fencing industry.
Other news
ORCGA: The ORCGA is operating with one staff person in the office each day and the other three working from home. They are closely following all the recommended COVID-19 rules set out by the government. It is business as usual, but in a reduced form. Damage prevention courses are being developed for workers and supervisors involved in excavations. I will provide more information next month. ON1CALL: Everything is as normal as possible and they are working as best as possible under current government restrictions. All locate request calls are processed as usual.
When ON1CALL receives a locate request for a specific property, it is analyzed to see
In Table 2, the total number of locate requests to ON1CALL in 2019 for the landscape sector was 82,968. The fencing industry total was 53,749. Hits per locate request for landscapers was 0.00416, while fencing was 0.00699. The actual number of hits was much improved for the fencing industry, however, their level of business (measured in locate requests) was greatly reduced in 2019 compared to 2018.
TABLE 1: ANNUAL NUMBER OF UTILITY HITS
TABLE 2: LOCATE REQUESTS TO ON1CALL
TABLE 3:
CATEGORY 2018 2019 CHANGE LANDSCAPING 341 345 +1.1% FENCING 483 376 -22.2% IRRIGATION 8 7 -12.5% AGRICULTURE 1 4 +300% ONTARIO 5,042 4,934 -9.8%
CATEGORY INTERLOCKING LANDSCAPING TREE PLANTING TOTAL LANDSCAPING
2018 2019 3,880 4,209 22,136 23,021 53,518 55,738 79,534 82,968
CATEGORY INTERLOCKING LANDSCAPING TREE PLANTING TOTAL LANDSCAPING
2018 2019 16,270 17,808 97,242 101,804 205,770 256,907 319,282 376,519
FENCING
59,468 53,749
FENCING
213,044 196,720
Locate requests and notifications
Terry Murphy CLM
tvmurphy@ca.inter.net
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Conclusion
The overall improvement on utility hits in 2019 is very encouraging. Hopefully 2020 will continue that reduction with even less damage.
RESULTING NOTIFICATIONS ON PROPERTIES
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
PROSPERITY PARTNERS
What? So What? Now What!
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e have landed in a strange place. We should all be a month or more into celebrating an early spring start, poised to break sales records of past years. But this year, spring is full of fear, confusion, hesitation, stop-work orders, fines, tension, polarized debates, newlylaid-off staff, minimal cash flow and mixed messages to property owners and clients. For me, each of the past six weeks have been filled with dozens of hours of working with business owners to CTRL>ALT>DEL on their plans for the year and helping them to pivot toward something else — something surreal and completely different. Finding calm and purposeful intention amid chaos and fear is hard work. It’s way harder than being in the customary slip stream of long spring hours and frenetic work days. And being intentional about emerging from the COVID-19 era, able to look back, proud of how we handled ourselves, our team, our business viability and our brand, is the key goal at the moment. There are silver linings tangled in between the unanticipated conversations with staff, suppliers, customers and creditors. Silver linings that have emerged in ways least expected. For example, the team at Landscape Ontario have shown its members how much they care and how nimble they can be to support us. LO has cranked out a series of webinars aimed at providing information and updates at least a couple of times each week. I started twice-weekly, online video chats with hundreds of LO Peer to Peer Network members to offer resources, mentoring, hope, and connected-
ness in which many have found comfort in knowing they are not alone in their fight to survive through COVID-19. Giving members a place to share frustration and solutions has been an important part of helping them to regain their momentum and focus. Countless volunteers have risen to the occasion to participate on committees, or to offer insight, knowledge and advice in online meetings and webinars — all to keep our profession informed and moving forward through unprecedented stress and disruption. All companies across this province have been forced to re-think, tighten up and show empathy. Last month, I was asked by LO executive director, Tony DiGiovanni to moderate two webinars that included four of my professional business coach peers: Mark Bradley of LMN, Jim Paluch of JP Horizons, Phil Harwood of Grow The Bench and Jeffrey Scott of Jeffrey Scott Consulting. We talked about ‘what to do’ and ‘how to think’ through this crisis. Here, I will share some of the great advice that was discussed in that webinar, as a way to help you to keep moving forward.
Be conscious of your mindset
Judgment keeps us stuck. Acceptance moves us forward. Find the courage and resolve to accept that we are in an unprecedented situation. There’s no manual for this — yet. You’re going to have to think differently about your business more than ever before, to create new solutions and efficiencies that align with current reality. It might
Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com
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not be pretty, and you need to build your own bridge to success while you’re walking across it in the weeks and months ahead. Breathe. Focus. Grow Forward. Even if it seems counter-intuitive, you’ve GOT this.
Manage your stress level
Make time to unplug every week. Go outside. Have some fun. Decompress. You can’t lead others, or manage your company brand or bank account, if you’re overwhelmed. Pay attention to your ‘self-talk.’ Don’t panic. You’ve GOT this.
Focus on what you can control and what you can influence
Don’t spend time on things you can’t control. To help with this, answer three key questions:
What has happened that I didn’t expect? WRITE IT DOWN. So What does that mean to my business, cash flow, team, etc.? WRITE IT DOWN. ALL OF IT. Now What can I leverage and change to adapt and keep growing forward? WRITE DOWN EVERY IDEA, RESOURCE, RELATIONSHIP, etc. Devise a framework of a plan. Be nimble, and be prepared for a few ‘what if’ scenarios.
We are stronger together. Your company is stronger with you working hard to start with the end in mind: emerging from COVID19 as a viable, stable, efficient company, with an engaged and grateful team and a loyal customer base. Onwards!
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
CANADIAN SOLDIERS LIVE FOREVER Join us in planting 2 million trees along the 401 Highway of Heroes, a tribute to the men and women who fought for Canada in our wars, and a living memorial to the 117,000 who died for freedom. You can participate in honouring our military, protecting the environment and beautifying North America’s most travelled highway. Visit hohtribute.ca or call 905-875-0021 to get involved. Illustration by Rick Jacobson
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