Landscape Ontario - May-June 2024

IGNITING

Greenhorizons Sod Farms is one of the largest nursery grown sod producers in Ontario and has earned a reputation of having a commitment to quality, service and innovation. From large scale municipal projects and world class sports fields, to landscape job sites and residential projects; supplying top-quality sod to ensure your project is a success, is our #1 priority. These are just some of the reasons that Greenhorizons Sod Farms is the Professionals Choice.

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 - Ed Hansen

Past President - Lindsay Drake Nightingale

Vice President - Lindsey Ross

Second Vice President - Jeff Olsen

Treasurer - Pam Cook

Communications

Editor - Robert Ellidge

Multimedia Journalist - Karina Sinclair

Graphic Design Associate - Aisha Shaikh

Account Manager - Greg Sumsion

Account Manager - Liz Lant

Digital Marketing Specialist - Charlotte Guena

Copy Editor - Julia Harmsworth

Communications Coordinator - Angela Lindsay

Accountant - Joe Sabatino

Staff contact info: HortTrades.com/contact

Gerald Boot CLM, Vanessa McQuade, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear LO members,

As the vibrant colours and textures of the season surround us, I find myself reflecting on the unique role we each play as stewards of our profession and the communities we serve. It's a responsibility that goes beyond just landscaping; it's a commitment to nurturing and enhancing our outdoor spaces through biodiversity and sustainability. Our work demonstrates that landscapers and horticulturists are knowledgeable, passionate and integral to a cleaner, greener and more livable world.

The power to transform landscapes into works of art, and to create spaces that not only captivate the eye but also enrich the lives of those who inhabit them is in our hands. But with this power comes great responsibility (yes, I did just use a Spiderman reference) — a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of excellence, innovation and sustainability in all that we do.

As stewards, we are not just caretakers of the land; we are guardians for future generations. Every design we create, every plant we nurture and every project we undertake shapes the world around us, leaving a lasting impression for generations to come.

But our stewardship extends beyond the boundaries of our profession. It encompasses a commitment to the well-being of the communities we call home. Through our work, we have the opportunity to foster connections, inspire change and leave a positive impact on the lives of those around us, clients, co-workers and communities.

As the summer unfolds, let us continue to embrace our role as stewards with dedication and pride. Let us strive for excellence in everything we do, and let our passion for our profession and our communities guide us towards a brighter, more sustainable future.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our profession and our communities. Collectively, we can continue to truly make a difference. We are stronger together.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Students get hands on at Skills Ontario 2024

Carrying on a tradition that’s taken place for more than 20 years, Landscape Ontario took part in the Skills Ontario Competition, an annual two-day event in Toronto where thousands of students from Ontario's secondary and post-secondary schools compete in their trade of choice.

This year, the Landscape Ontario team, made up of a group of dedicated volunteers and staff, supported the Horticulture and Landscape Contest and the Landscape Design Contest, providing supplies, equipment and expertise. Landscape Ontario also ran a workshop for grade seven and grade eight students.

Eighteen students from Humber, St. Clair, Mohawk and Durham colleges competed in

their category with the team from Humber taking home the gold.

The high school competition saw 39 students take part, with Trillium Lakelands District School Board taking home top honours.

Eighteen total winners were announced and awarded with gold, silver or bronze medals and some received money from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (Foundation). They also earned the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition.

Members who would like to get involved with next year’s competition can email Landscape Ontario’s youth engagement coordinator, Ang Wilkins, at awilkins@landscapeontario.com.

Association stakeholders develop key objectives for the future

Landscape Ontario has begun the exciting process of creating a new strategic plan. When complete, the plan will form the backbone of the association objectives staff, volunteers, members and stakeholders will carry out over the next five years and beyond.

The process kicked off in LO’s home office in Milton, Ont., in late March with a two-day planning session facilitated by The Greater, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in creating high-impact strategies for socially-conscious organizations.

The working group was made up of a cross section of members representing different sectors and regions, as

well as members of Landscape Ontario’s provincial board of directors and staff leadership team. The sessions were a deep dive into what matters to members and the impact we want Landscape Ontario to have on communities and the industry as a whole.

The Greater delivered its initial framework in May, which will be reviewed by the executive team, the Landscape Ontario board of directors, staff, and community stakeholders before being finalized and released in August.

New online portal hosts on-demand garden centre training

Landscape Ontario recently launched a new online training portal to help owners of landscape and horticulture businesses efficiently train and upskill new and returning staff.

LOtraining.ca is now home to a series of 13 free training modules designed specifically for the needs of independent garden centres.

Presented by Landscape Ontario’s Garden Sector Group in collaboration with Garden Centres Canada (a part of CNLA), the Introductory Horticultural Training series is facilitated by garden centre veteran Art Vanden Enden. The free series was developed with input from garden centre owners and staff, who participated in a series of live Zoom training webinars held in the spring of 2023.

Spring is a hectic time for garden centre owners, having to deal with hiring, receiving products and forecasting business. Training is often done on the fly, leading to a sink-orswim scenario. The training series provides a convenient and cost-effective way for owners to align staff with essential product knowledge, work expectations and best practices that will not only improve the overall customer experience, but also support employee development.

Modules run 30 to 75 minutes and include a PDF version of the presentation used in each video, links to additional resources and a quiz at the end for self-testing. The portal keeps track of progress through the modules and access is gained simply by creating a login to the site.

Modules include: Introduction to Botany; Garden Centre Customer Service 101; Weather Conditions, Watering and Soils; Lawn Care and Understanding Fertilizers; Annual and Perennials; Shrubs and Evergreens; Trees; Vegetables, Herbs and Edibles; and Container Gardening and Houseplants.

Over 300 people from across Canada signed up to access the training modules, with each of the eight live webinars hosting 30 to 50 people.

LOtraining.ca, created by Landscape Ontario’s Workforce Development team, will continue to offer flexible training options to suit the needs of association members and industry professionals. Programs will be added to the platform in the coming months and will include new on-demand learning opportunities.

The Introductory Horticultural Training Series can be accessed at LOtraining.ca/intro-igc-2024.

New member benefit: Makita power tools

Makita, a leading emission-free cordless power tool and equipment provider, is thrilled to announce its new national partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA). This collaboration provides CNLA members with exclusive discounts on Makita’s extensive selection of battery-powered products and services.

CNLA members can access these discounts by logging into the membership portal at cnla.ca/login. Members can access special discounts on a wide range of Makita products. The specific discount details will be provided upon login.

CNLA members are encouraged to contact the member services department at memberservices@cnlaacpp.ca to learn more about this partnership and its benefits. The dedicated team will gladly assist with any inquiries and provide additional information about the program.

For more information on the Makita member benefit program and the many others available exclusively to Landscape Ontario members, please visit HortTrades.com/member-savings-programs.

Landscape and horticulture scholarships now easier than ever to access

Students enrolled in recognized Ontario educational institutions can now apply for landscape and horticulture scholarships in just a few minutes online. The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (Foundation) has invested in streamlining the application process and made the online application experience more user-friendly. Applicants can also save their progress and complete the application when time allows.

The Foundation website lists all available scholarships online at OHTF.ca/scholarships. Here, students can apply for one or more of the available post-secondary, apprenticeship or post-graduate scholarships that range from $500 to $2,000.

In addition, horticulture educators can nominate students for a $2,000 scholarship under the Cullen Family Scholarship program. One student per school is awarded a scholarship, with a $4,000 scholarship available for a need-based circumstance and two $1,000 apprenticeship scholarships (any school).

Back in 2018, Blaise Mombourquette was a student at Algonquin College, where he was nominated for the Tony

DiGiovanni Scholarship. The $1,000 bursary recognized Mombourquette for ”exemplifying the qualities that build trust in the profession of horticulture.”

“It is my hope and mission to inspire others — whether clients, future employees or just people I come into contact with — to engage with the outdoors and spend more of their lives growing with the world and people around them rather than turning inwards or toward their screens,” Mombourquette wrote in letter thanking the Foundation for its support.

DiGiovanni’s scholarship fund, along with many others in the program, are made possible through donations from individuals, companies and various organizations. Donations to specific scholarships can be made online via OHTF.ca/donate.

Nominations for the Cullen Family Scholarships and applications for the various post-secondary scholarships are open online until June 30, 2024. Students may be required to supply a transcript and write a short essay based on individual scholarship criteria.

Full details and online applications and nominations can be accessed via OHTF.ca/scholarships.

Snowposium 2024: bigger and better than ever

Landscape Ontario’s Snowposium — Canada’s largest trade show just for snow and ice professionals — is happening on July 31, 2024.

After listening to feedback from long-time exhibitors, sponsors and attendees, Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Management Sector Group has made some exciting changes to make Snowposium bigger, better and more relevant than ever in its 17th year.

NEW DATE

The event has moved from September to July to give business owners and employees the opportunity to get training, learn about the latest innovations, boost business skills

and make big purchasing decisions on equipment — well before the first snowfall hits the ground.

NEW LOCATION

This year’s event will be held at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. With over 40,000 square feet of exhibitor space, the new location is close to Pearson International Airport, making travel to and from the show easy for those arriving from out of town or the U.S.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to making room for more exhibitors, Snowposium is providing attendees with all-day LIVE Stage education right on the show floor —

providing visitors with more opportunities to interact with exhibitors as they learn. Some highlights include snow and ice liability, winter wages and modified pay, and redefining ‘blue collar’ work for attraction and retention.

Whether you are a snow and ice contractor, municipal manager, property manager or a supplier to the industry, this is an event not to be missed! Landscape Ontario members and non-members who register before June 30 will save $20 off the cost of attending. Registration includes access to the trade show, LIVE Stage, parking, $25 meal voucher and more! For sponsorship opportunities, event details or to register, visit snowposium.ca.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Breaking the mould on traditional landscape design

By Julia Harmsworth

Tullia Marcolongo is using lessons learned in the public health sector to make tangible change in landscape design.

Prior to turning to the green trades, Marcolongo studied environmental policy and worked in public health. The climate change emergency — which she says affects the health of humans, animals and plants alike — caused her to switch to a hands-on career that lets her make a bigger impact.

“It’s coming full circle for me. I’m able to integrate health concerns, environmental concerns and climate change into landscape design,” she said.

Marcolongo currently works as a landscape designer for Ecoman in Toronto where she focuses on ecological design, increasing biodiversity by carefully considering the plants she incorporates and

how they work together in communities.

“It’s looking at the bigger picture. It’s not just saying, ‘What plant can I put in there to satisfy the customer?’ It’s looking at, ‘Okay, I’m going to choose this plant over this plant because of pollinators’, and all of that.”

She takes this full circle approach because, as her health background taught her, our physical and mental health is directly connected to the health of our ecosystems. In other words, healthy plants mean healthy humans.

“If we have healthy plants that work together in communities, we know that they won’t die. And they provide very good health benefits such as shade and healthy air,” she said. She added healthy plant communities can mitigate climate change impacts like floods and fires.

An understanding of epidemiology is another key piece from her public health background that Marcolongo brings into landscape design. She pointed to pests like ticks and mosquitoes, which are appearing in our environment in increasing quantities thanks to climate change — and with them, the diseases they carry. Understanding how diseases travel and affect human health informs her designs, further prompting her to rebalance ecosystems.

“Climate change, for me, is what brings it all together,” she said. She is a part of Design for Climate Action, a group of landscape designers and architects advocating for climate-conscious landscaping. Jonas Spring, Toronto Chapter representative to the Landscape Ontario board of directors, told her about the group.

“There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s an exciting field, and I think it’s really important to try and get my fellow designers to really look at climate change when they design,” she said. “If you design with ecology in mind, you are looking at the full picture.”

Marcolongo became a student

member of Landscape Ontario in 2021, as she completed her Certificate in Landscape Design for Climate Resilience at Toronto Metropolitan University. Since then, she has attended the Landscape Designers Conference, Congress and dipped her toe into the Toronto Chapter community — through which she heard about the Chapter’s Bursary Program. She had already started designing a pollinator garden at Joyce Public School in Toronto pro bono, and recommended they apply for the 2023 grant.

After receiving the funding, Marcolongo went all out on the project. In addition to designing the garden, she led the education component, teaching staff when to water the plants, how to compost and how to maintain the garden system. She said this educational piece is essential to cultivating good land stewardship.

“If the students and the staff and the parents see a thriving, successful garden, they see the benefits of it. They also take ownership of it. They want to see it grow and they want it to be successful.”

Marcolongo strives to inspire the students, staff and teachers at the school — and her clients — to take ownership

of the land in this way, so they are more likely to maintain a stable, sustainable and biodiverse garden system.

She is excited about several pollinator garden projects she is working on, as well as green roofs, which she said provide more opportunities for biodiversity. Lots of her clients are aware of climate change impacts and ecological concerns, which makes her job easier.

When asked about her biggest goals or dreams for the profession looking forward, Marcolongo said, “I think a lot about this.” She would like to see a more ecological approach to dealing with waste in the sector. She also advocates for carbon accounting in order to consider how the sector can reduce its carbon footprint.

“We can no longer design like we’ve done traditionally. We need to be aware that there’s so much change we can’t even predict. So how as designers do we think ahead?”

Questions like these are inspiring Marcolongo’s work going forward, as she continues to be a facilitator between landscape professionals and ecological, healthy, climate-focused design.

SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE

High school curriculum inspired a passion for plants

Elliot Alkemade Young received the $1,000 Casey van Maris Memorial Scholarship in 2023 from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (Foundation). This scholarship is available to Ontario students entering their first year of a full-time postsecondary ornamental horticulture program at an accredited educational institution. Candidates are chosen based on their academic performance, as well as a two-page essay about why the student wants to enter the horticulture industry. Alkemade Young heard about the scholarship from his Niagara-area high school’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) teacher.

Once he graduates from Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Alkemade Young plans to pursue Red Seal certification and build a career that allows him to: “Be with plants, and do something that I enjoy and is meaningful.” Alkemade Young also enjoys camping, hiking, and playing guitar, as well as reading to expand his knowledge of the world and horticulture.

Describe any early exposure you might have had to landscaping and horticulture.

I helped family friends with lawn mowing, weed whacking and other outdoor chores. I then took the Green Industries SHSM course in high school and learned more about plant ID and landscape design. I also worked for my uncle's arboriculture company, Shorthills, for two summers.

Who are your role models in the profession?

I look up to and respect all of my teachers, however the person who inspired and motivated me to pursue a career in horticulture the most was my SHSM teacher, Darren Schmahl.

What prompted you to pursue a career in landscaping or horticulture?

Many things prompted me to pursue horticulture, including my grandparents owning greenhouses and [the fact that] many of my other family members also went into horticulture. I also went camping and hiking a lot from a young age and throughout my life.

What are the benefits of a career in the profession?

My favourite part about horticulture is how much variety there is in the field and how many different opportunities there are to make a difference in the world.

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a charitable organization whose mandate is to “ensure a healthy future for the horticulture industry.” To learn more about the many scholarships available under the Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship Program, please visit ohtf.ca/scholarships.

TAKES THE HELM AT CUDMORE'S

By Julia Harmsworth

No one word encapsulates Cudmore’s Landscape & Design like guts — guts to push through bad weather, guts to show up for your teammates when they need help and guts to reinvent an established way of working.

Cudmore’s, a family-owned landscaping and design company in Oakville, Ont., is now in its second generation. It started in 1986 as a retail garden centre in the heart of Bronte, Ont., owned by John Cudmore and Kevin Joyce. Kevin’s brother, Peter, joined a year later to head the landscape construction and design division.

Each of the three owners had three kids who grew up in the business, working in the garden centre and on job sites during summer breaks. When the original three retired, they sold the land and passed Cudmore’s on to Peter’s son, Will Joyce, who is now in his sixth year as owner.

Continued >

Second Generation

Generation

HUMILITY

Joyce started with what he calls “a little bit of a reset.” He cut down to a small number of core staff and focused on garden work, softscaping and planting. The new Cudmore’s grew from there, re-expanding into a full-service landscape and design business, including hardscaping. It also moved locations further east into Oakville.

“To me, that gave us permission to make this new generation our own, instead of having to be the same thing,” Joyce said. “I wanted to reshape where I wanted the company to go.”

Much of this reshaping has to do with culture. Joyce was keen to strip away the ego, or the old-school “macho” (his words) mentality that you always know the answer. He’s intentional about fostering a collaborative, open-minded environment where everyone shares their ideas and learns together.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, a designer of 25 years or an owner — the best idea wins. If we have a new staff member who comes from a different background and has a new idea that’s

better than our idea, we’re not set in our ways. We don’t live by the phrase ‘This is the way we’ve always done it,’” he said.

For Joyce, stripping away his own ego was crucial to learning and growing as a new owner. He grew up in the business, but owning wasn’t always his plan; he went to school for something else and worked in advertising for a few years in his 20s before being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“That diagnosis comes, and it pauses your life,” he said. “When you get news like that, everything snaps into focus really quickly, and for me it was all family, and in a simpler sense, hands in the soil, gardening and a connection with space and gardens and plants. Through that, I decided to make a change and come back into the family business. So the rest is history.”

LEARNING

When he stepped into the ownership role, Joyce embraced learning opportunities. He joined the Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network and became a certified GROW Employer of Choice. He also

encourages his staff to address gaps in their knowledge through LO programs. Two staff members are enrolled in the Apprenticeship program and three have completed the Supervisory Training Program.

Investing in team members’ learning is Joyce’s main strategy to retain an engaged staff. He hires motivated people who want to be there — not those whose resumes meet certain criteria — and then teaches them the trades.

“Learning is so tightly bound to our business model,” Joyce said. “If you’re not growing, you’re not doing anything. That forward motion is so critical to our energy and our culture. For us, staying inspired and engaged with what’s out there keeps our energy and our passion up, and that directly translates to our sites.”

Cudmore’s offers their staff annual learning reimbursements and memberships to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and Burlington, Ont. The team attends LO Congress together each year, which Joyce said is key to understanding what’s out there, staying

on top of what’s new, expanding skill sets and staying inspired.

In 2024, the second generation won its first Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence in the landscape construction program. Joyce said it was really special to be recognized by his peers and sit at a full table of Cudmore’s staff. For him, the award is a symbol of his team’s trajectory.

When asked what sets Cudmore’s apart, Joyce said, “we treat people well.” Half the staff are women; Joyce believes great women apply because they see great women working there. He credited Erica Gordon, long-time senior designer, and Jenn Macpherson, operations lead, for inspiring women to see themselves in a Cudmore’s t-shirt.

“When I set out on this venture, I just wanted to build a community of great people. I think it’s really enjoyable to come to work and to be around this group of people that we’re building,” Joyce said.

GUTS

Looking forward, Cudmore’s will continue to grow intentionally. Lots of people ask Joyce if he’ll ever re-open the garden centre; he’s focused on garden maintenance and property care right now, but he never says never. He has the guts to keep an open mind and a nimble strategy, and is enjoying finding new opportunities for his staff.

He anticipates the landscape trades will become increasingly important in the fight against climate change in coming years. Clients are already asking for more native plants, pollinator plants, support on stormwater management, matrix-style planting and verticallyplanned gardens.

No matter the trends or what lies ahead, Joyce looks forward to continuing to work with plants — his favourite part of the job besides the people. He loves sharing his passion with his staff, clients and two young kids, Jack and Sophie. There’s no pressure for either of them to take over the family business just yet… but again, never say never.

“[Jack] is completely distraught if I do any sort of outside project without him,” Joyce said. “He has his own little wheelbarrow and tool set, and every planting, water feature, anything I’ve done in my backyard, he’s been involved in.

“All you can do is share the passion.”

BIG LESSONS FROM SMALL COMPANIES

By Kali Pearson

At Landscape Ontario, we regularly feature the awardwinning companies behind some of Ontario’s biggest projects. But with more than half of our members running companies with fewer than 20 employees, it’s time to shine the spotlight on some of our small but mighty member companies, who have some serious wisdom to share.

EMILY KEOWN INVEST IN THE BEST

Emily Keown’s roots in landscaping run deep. Her dad was a landscaper, her stepfather is a landscaper and she grew up working in her mother’s garden centre in Dwight, Ont. When her brother Tom founded Fivepoint Landscaping in 2019 on the same property, she soon joined him and is now vice president. Keown says they are big believers in building a sense of pride for their team — and leaning on top consultants to fill in where they lack expertise.

With only 10 full-time employees, Fivepoint does it all — from landscape design, building and maintenance in the summer, to snow and ice removal and property maintenance for seasonal residents in the winter. At their summer peak, the team can expand to 30 or so — but Keown has no intention of getting any larger.

While many companies struggle to attract employees, Keown says that thanks to their investment in branding and equipment, talent comes to them. “We have the newer blowers and the newer excavators and we take care of our things very well,” she said. “We also invest in really nice hoodies and even though it sounds silly, I think all that matters to staff — looking cool. I think to the new generation they all value name-brand clothes and nice cars and that’s just how they’ve grown up.”

Once a new employee gets in the door, Keown invests heavily in safety and training. She also insists that everyone do their part to keep the office and equipment squeaky clean. “As owners, we look after our vehicles and we're very particular on things,” she said. “I think that trickles down. If we notice someone has left something dirty, that person is usually the first one back on Friday afternoon to wash the trucks. But it’s all in good fun.”

This also helps maintain an environment of safety and efficiency. “We don't knock on wood. We don't have a lot of WSIB or health and safety issues. If there’s MTO [roadcheck] we know we aren’t going to be off the road for an hour or get a ticket,” Keown explained.

Keown is also adamant about investing in the services of expert consultants and modern software. Both, she says, have been essential to their growth, efficiency and profitability. “For the first few years, we just used plain old Quickbooks and Excel. I really upped our game when we started using LMN and looking at budgets and putting a strategic plan in place.”

After seeing an article in Landscape Ontario magazine, she reached out to business coach Nathan Helder. “A lot of small businesses may look at it like it's crazy money, but it's so worth it because where else can you get someone else's expert and honest opinion on your baby?” It also saves an enormous amount of time. Whether it’s Helder sharing financial wisdom or their HR consultant drafting contracts, dealing with claims and lending support when employees need to be dismissed, Keown says it’s worth every penny.

“I was always told to hire what you're not good at. As entrepreneurs, we are really good at ideas and thinking outside the box to do things better or faster,” she said. “But when it comes down to the business side of it, we need a little extra help.” Using consultants also means Keown and her brother can continue to be more hands on.

“We don't have the intention of growing any bigger,” Keown said. “We really like the team we have right now. We really like that the people like the management — and everyone seems to come back every year.”

Continued >

DAVID MILNE FOCUS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS

Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting David Milne will know he wears his heart on his sleeve. In fact, one Landscape Ontario member interviewed for this story suggested Milne’s heart is so big it might actually take up both sleeves.

This explains a lot about how Milne defines success — and what has made Quercus Gardens in Toronto, Ont., thrive for over 25 years. “My motivation is not money at all, which maybe sounds weird coming from a guy who owns a business,” he said. “My motivation is to do the work we love, let my staff make a good living and pay my bills.” Milne also considers ‘hugs from happy clients’ a success metric.

Milne left a position with a large landscaping company to strike out on his own when his son was born. “I was managing a couple crews and putting in tons of hours,” he said. “I’m blessed that my wife led a more corporate existence and I happily took on the stay-at-home dad role. But I still wanted to do [landscaping] work because it makes me happy.” As a sole operator, Milne knew it would be more efficient (and profitable) to serve a smaller geographic area, so he distributed flyers in two densely populated and affluent neighbourhoods.

Before too long, there was so much work that Milne and his wife decided to put their son into daycare and expand. But while Milne was happy to add a few employees, he never wanted his business to grow too big. “I have this personal philosophy that the more keys in my key chain, the more complicated my life gets. And I'm really trying to find a way to make my life as simple and easy as possible,” he said. “Last year I had nine people and I was stressed out horribly. This year I have five and life is way better.”

Milne loves mentoring his employees, but has no interest in micromanaging and doesn’t hesitate to let people go if he isn’t able to take them to where they want to go or if their values don’t align. In interviews, he tends to ask about their taste in music, whether they like camping or other personal interests that may indicate they share a connection — and that they have the artistic mentality and passion for the environment needed to work at Quercus.

Milne gives his people lots of support and creative freedom. “I think that's part of having a successful team,” he said. “When you're on their case all the time, that doesn't allow for people to express themselves. How can they bring their best work to the table if they're afraid they're doing it wrong?”

He is also adamant about paying living wages, being a supportive human and offering a stipend that employees can use for healthcare expenses. “I think that as an industry — as a society — this has to happen across the board,” he said. “Do what you can to help out your staff. I can’t offer a profound amount of money, but it’s what my little company can afford to do.”

Milne also operates from the heart when meeting new clients. “I have to connect with them instantly. It's important to me,” he said. “I like to get into their home. I like to look at the art on their wall. I'll ask them about the music they're into, because I need to be able to relate to them on a certain level.” The information he gathers also ensures he creates designs that resonate.

At the end of the day, Milne is profoundly committed to making a difference in the world — for people and the planet. “We are blessed to be here. The odds of life on this planet are so infinitesimal that I feel that we have to do everything we can to protect that,” he said. “I'm part of the generation that helped screw everything up. I want to be a voice for hopefully making things better.”

HEATHER JERRARD COLOUR OUTSIDE THE LINES

As sole proprietor of My Landscape Artist in London, Ont., Heather Jerrard loves having the opportunity to get creative every day.

A self-described theatre nerd and type-A perfectionist, Jerrard loves running her own show but realized early on that she couldn’t do it alone.

Jerrard decided to make the leap into self-employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, when basically no one was hiring. “At the very beginning, honestly, there was no vision. There was no business plan, there was no outline of what it was going to be,” said Jerrard. “I just knew that I loved working in landscaping and I loved landscape design.”

She started talking to her peers at Landscape Ontario, picking their brains one Zoom call at a time. She started reading the books they recommended and learning as much as she could about business and what she could uniquely bring to the table.

On one of those calls, a mentor made a comment that shaped how she shows up in the market today. “I was telling him how I've never really fit in anywhere,” Jerrard said. “I'm too opinionated. I'm too emotional. I feel too much, I care too much. He told me, ‘let your freak flag fly and never apologize for it.’”

She took that to heart and this essential lesson has helped her to find her own unique way to market and position her company. Rather than present a rigid suite of services, Jerrard has a twopronged approach that leaves room for improvisation. One side of her website is for homeowners and the other is for contractors looking to fill the need for professional design. She also leaves lots of room for new projects that help her learn, build community or reach new customers — one memorable project was creating an ash scattering garden for a local cemetery.

“I strongly believe that we are not growing and improving if we're not uncomfortable,” she said. “It's in those moments when we feel uncomfortable that we really see personal growth and development.”

When Jerrard completes a project, the client has a landscape coach for life. This is one of the many ways Jerrard stands out — by continuing to play a leading role for existing clients. She’ll come by or take a call if there’s an issue, and shares insights through her customer newsletters, packed with gardening advice to keep gardens thriving.

“I think it's just important to put yourself out there. I've heard a lot of smaller new businesses say, ‘nobody knows where I am. Nobody's looking me up,’” she said. “Well, what are you doing to encourage people to look you up? Where do people see you?”

Her playful approach to marketing stemmed from that early conversation with her mentor. “I try to be genuine and vulnerable,” she said. “I get business from Instagram because people see me and they're like, ‘I think I'd really like to work with you.’”

While Jerrard has no desire to hire staff, she is hoping to take on co-op students in the next year or so. “Co-ops changed my life and really put me on an awesome path,” she said. “If I can be that one stepping stone for somebody, it'd be "awesome".

At the end of the day, Jerrard’s mission is the same no matter who she is working with. “I want to spread joy and I want to be someone that people want to work with,” she said. “I want to make the world a better, more beautiful place one garden at a time.”

WELWYN WONG ELEVATE THE INDUSTRY

When Welwyn Wong started out in the Ottawa area 24 years ago, there weren’t many — if any — landscape designers selling big ticket projects. A lesser entrepreneur may have seen that as a sign the market wasn’t ready. But Wong was convinced there was a niche to be tapped creating breathtaking, higherbudget projects. She just had to help people understand their value.

“I was often met with the people who would say ‘why would I hire you when my grandmother has a beautiful garden and she didn't need a designer?’” said Wong. “I realized after the first year that I actually had to promote the industry. What makes the difference is when you hire a designer to do your landscaping and how vital that service is.”

Wong started to approach the Ottawa Citizen with story ideas, and quickly became the go-to source for gardening expertise, offering homeowners tips and advice for making their outdoor spaces more beautiful and unique.

“I think that then gives a level of trust. People trust that ‘yes, these people know what they're talking about,’” said Wong. “I think it heightens the awareness of what we bring to the table as designers.”

To be fair to the people of Ottawa, even Wong didn’t realize that landscape design was a thing until she saw it in print. As a little girl, Wong spent school holidays side by side with her architect father, dreaming up designs at his drafting table. But her father cautioned her away from the field and she enrolled in a general science program instead. “I floundered around and tried a little bit of engineering and a little bit of art and a little bit of I have no idea,” she said. Her little sister, seeing Wong’s struggle, encouraged her to explore the path she really wanted. “She found this pamphlet for landscape architecture at the University of Guelph and shoved it in front of my face.”

Welwyn Wong Landscape Design is now a dedicated team of three, expanding to five or so in the busy season. She said a big challenge over the years has been retaining staff when there are larger firms that can keep people employed year-long. Through Landscape Ontario, Wong found out about a wage subsidy program that tops up employment insurance over the winter months, which she said has been a huge help. “It's a wonderful program for anyone who wants to try and retain their staff,” she said. The program covers 60 per cent of wages and she budgets throughout the year to bring that up to 80 per cent.

The core team works hard in the busy season and looks forward to having the months of December, January and sometimes part of February off to recharge. She also places a lot of focus on mentoring her team. “I would say that in the smaller firm everyone gets to wear many hats, so you get to learn a lot more about what is involved with running the company,” she said. “You become vital more quickly than I think in a bigger company.”

Sometimes all that education means her employees end up striking out on their own, but Wong takes that in stride. “There are plenty of clients to share,” she said, adding that being part of Landscape Ontario has helped shape this perspective. “I know we're all pseudo in competition with each other, but in the end we benefit. In the thick and thin of things, we all band together and increase our capabilities.”

Seasonal employers and overtime: Are you risking a costly settlement?

Seasonal employers in Ontario, such as landscapers, winter services and pool maintenance providers, face unique challenges when it comes to overtime rules under the province’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”).

These rules can be complex to navigate. Failing to comply may result in investigations by the Ministry of Labour (MOL), incurring additional administrative costs and even legal proceedings. It is important for employers to understand the intricacies of industry-specific exemptions to effectively navigate the distinct overtime rules outlined in the ESA.

ARE YOU A SEASONAL EMPLOYER?

Section 22(1) of the ESA outlines the general overtime entitlements of employees who work more than 44 hours per week. Section 22(9) states there are exemptions from the general overtime entitlement. Sections 8, 14 and 15 of the Ontario Regulation 285/01 (the “Regulation”) list the exemptions commonly known as “seasonal work exemptions.”

For the purpose of this article, a "seasonal employer" is an employer who hires employees falling within Section 8 of the Regulation, which sets out certain categories of employees

who are not entitled to overtime pay, no matter how many hours they work in a week. These include landscape gardeners, or those responsible for installing and maintaining swimming pools. Employees engaged in specific agricultural activities such as growing mushrooms, flowers for retail and wholesale trade, laying sod, and growing trees and shrubs for retail and wholesale trade are also exempt from overtime entitlements.

DOES THE OVERTIME EXEMPTION APPLY TO YOUR BUSINESS?

It is critical to note that even if your business falls under this category, it does not necessarily mean the special rules about overtime pay apply to all your employees. The exemptions are tied to the specific duties outlined in the Regulation. In the real world, it is common for job roles to have overlapping duties that fall within and outside of the overtime exemption, sometimes known as "on-site" and "off-site" duties. While "on-site" tasks may not trigger overtime, "off-site" activities, such as administrative work, could fall under the general overtime rule under the ESA.

LEGAL EXAMPLES

In Greg Howlett v 2417890 Ontario Inc. o/a JKAT Landscaping, the employee, Mr. Howlett, disputed the MOL’s investigation decision ("MOL Decision"), which stated he was not eligible for overtime as a landscape gardener. The Ontario Labour Relations Board (the "Board") considered this case and altered the MOL Decision.

The main question was whether the landscape gardener exemption applied to all work performed by Mr. Howlett, given he spent some time doing construction work, which is outside the scope of landscaping. The Board concluded Mr. Howlett was entitled to overtime pay for the construction period. In other words, the employer was ordered to pay overtime for the work performed outside the scope of landscaping.

Similarly, while someone may be responsible for the duties exempted from overtime entitlements, such as pool maintenance during the summer months, if this designation does not continue when they perform different tasks for their employer during the winter, the employer has to pay overtime for their winter works.

Second, it is important to note not all employees in seasonal businesses are exempt from overtime pay. In Riverside

Landscape Contractors Inc. v. Carr, the Board ruled an employee who drove a truck and worked on the construction of a stormwater facility for a landscape company was not a landscape gardener, and the landscape company was ordered to pay him overtime.

Seasonal employers need to understand the differences between duties that are and are not exempted from overtime pay before making overtime policies or budgets. This is particularly important when an employee's role involves a combination of different duties. To prevent legal complications, it is essential to keep accurate documentation of the time spent on different duties. A lack of clarity in determining job duties, such as in the cases discussed above, can lead to misunderstandings regarding overtime entitlements and result in expensive tribunal or court procedures.

Lai-King Hum is senior partner and founder of Hum Law in Toronto, specializing in employment law. If you need guidance call (416) 214-2329 or complete a free assessment form online at gfl.me/hbJ7.

Be on the lookout for invasive pests this season

Landscape and horticulture professionals are reminded to routinely monitor trees and shrubs for two invasive pests that pose a major threat to Ontario landscapes: spotted lantern fly (SLF) and box tree moth (BTM).

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY

Last year, live and dead spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adults were positively identified by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ontario and Quebec. This 2.5 cm long pest with grey spotted wings and bright red hind wings already has a

history of causing major damage in the northeastern United States and is literally on our doorstep.

Spotted lanternfly prefer to lay eggs on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), however masses have also been found on stones, furniture, firewood and boats. SLF feed on over 70 tree species, including maple, oak, poplar, willow, walnut and pine, but prefer the sweet taste of many types of fruit trees. With the pest detected across the border in New York State, it poses a huge threat to Canada’s grape (wine) and fruit tree industries

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in the Niagara Region as well as the province’s forestry industry.

In its first three stages, SLF appears as a nymph that is mostly black with white spots, and then becomes black and red with white spots in its adult stage. Adults congregate in large swarms to feed directly on the sugary tissues of young stems and foliage, which leads to a heavy buildup of ‘honeydew’ which can cause bacterial growth and fungal mould.

Any sightings of SLF should be reported immediately to CFIA using the link gfl.me/hbJH.

BOX TREE MOTH

Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) was first detected in Toronto in 2018 and has recently spread across the province and throughout Eastern Canada.

In mid-May, small black-headed green larvae emerge from white webbed hibernarium

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Spotted lanternfly poses a serious economic threat to Ontario's wine, fruit and forestry industries.

and feed voraciously on boxwood leaves. The caterpillar later develops a black stripe along its body and leaves behind webbing and frass deposits (excrement).

After about two weeks of feeding, the pest develops into an adult moth that has white wings with brown margins. The adult lives about 14 days and can fly between seven to 10 km where it will lay tiny, flat yellow eggs on the underside of leaves.

Box tree moth typically has three life cycles per year: May to mid-June, July to mid-August and early September.

Caterpillars can be controlled using an application of Bascillus thuringiensis (Dipel 2X DF), which is registered for use in Canada and is safe for people and pets. Plants should be inspected after five to seven days to see if a second application is required.

Clippings from infested plants should be placed in a securely closed black plastic garbage bag and left in direct sunlight for 48 hours in order to effectively kill the caterpillar larvae.

On May 14, 2024, the CFIA updated the regulated area

voraciously on boxwood leaves, leaving behind skeletonized foliage.

• Defoliation: Severe infestations lead to defoliation, weakening the plants and making them susceptible to other stressors.

• Silken webbing: Similar in appearance to spider nests, box tree moth larvae spin a fine web around a couple of boxwood leaves in the fall, creating a small protected ‘house’ for the larva to overwinter. These can be difficult to find but are usually located deeper within the foliage.

• Life stages present: If you see larvae (green caterpillars with a black head) or adult moths (white wings with light brown margins), it is clear you have box tree moth. Adult moths are nocturnal and are not often found within the boxwood foliage, so the life stages you’re more likely to observe are larvae, and in some cases, pupae.

Landscape Ontario has many resources online to help industry professionals in the fight against box tree moth, including a downloadable pest identification card, life cycle infographic, images of infested boxwood, safe disposal practices and more. Simply visit LandscapeOntario.com/ box-tree-moth.

Many

Do you have the watch? EXECUTIVE DESK

In my role here at Landscape Ontario, I stand amidst a community of hard working and passionate entrepreneurs. They are dedicated to their work and committed to running high performing, well-respected businesses that connect people to their outdoor living spaces.

Back in April, 70 leaders from the Landscape Ontario community joined us for the annual Peer to Peer Network Spring Leadership Summit. To help guide our day, we brought on former U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer and CEO of manufacturing facility Peak Demand, Jon S. Rennie. The event focused on inspiring landscape business leaders to be conscious of their impact on their staff, their influence as leaders and staying true to their vision while navigating everyday challenges.

All of this is crucial to empowering teams to do their work with excellence, knowing they have your full support. Empowered teams are high performing, have less drama and are more stable.

Whether our influence is positive or not, understanding how what we do impacts our teams is vital to our ability to lead. Do you notice how the conversation or behaviour changes when you enter a room? That’s exactly what I’m referring to.

Your people notice the big and the small things you do. Whether you realize it or not, everything you do has an impact.

Jon’s focus for our workshop was to make sure that all 70 of us knew we “have the watch” over our organizations and our people. This means that as leaders we take full responsibility for outcomes, while ensuring our people are supported and empowered to do their best work.

Running a landscape business comes with a unique set of challenges — from the seasonal nature of our work to economic pressures. These stressors can strain workplace dynamics, but they also remind us of the importance of supporting one another. At Landscape Ontario, we are committed to providing resources and guidance to our members to help them navigate these challenges while maintaining a respectful and safe work culture.

Safety is the bedrock of the landscape horticulture trades. It’s not just about wearing high-visibility clothing, hard hats, hearing and eye protection or safety boots. It’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, secure and valued. We understand the well-being of our people is important, and it’s our obligation as employers to make sure our people are safe. From the moment

Joe Salemi CAE LO Executive Director jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

a seedling is planted to the time a landscape design comes to fruition, safety will always be at the core of what we do.

What about investing in training for our people? Regular training sessions and awareness programs are vital to equip our people with the tools they need to be successful in their work. This includes the most entry-level, junior positions we have. Technical and safety training are vital, but so is training that includes respect in the workplace. It’s through education and training that we can transform our workplaces into safe havens for creativity and collaboration.

We tend to our businesses and the landscapes we shape; let’s also tend to the garden of our workplace culture. Let’s water it with respect, shine upon it with integrity and remove any weeds that may sprout. Our collective obligation as employers is not just to the land we sculpt, but to the people who pour their sweat and soul into it.

Together, we can create a thriving industry where safety and respect are as natural and essential as the earth beneath our feet. Let’s continue to grow, not just in our landscape horticulture endeavours, but in our commitment to a workplace that stands as a testament to our values of safety, respect and kindness.

To learn more about Jon, visit jonsrennie.com/about. Everyone who registered received Jon’s books, I Have The Watch and You Have The Watch: A Guided Journal After reading Jon’s book twice, I highly recommend you add those titles to your reading (or listening) list.

Waterloo Chapter finds innovative ways to connect with members MEMBERSHIP

Landscape Ontario’s Waterloo Chapter is home to 280 members, almost a quarter of whom have been a part of the association for 20 years or more. The chapter also hosts the association’s longest-running chapter event, the Waterloo Fall Freeze Up holiday party. Waterloo boasts a long history of achievements, but its board of directors continues to look for innovative ways to connect with local members. These include initiatives like live steaming chapter meetings and a new approach to onboarding members.

The chapter’s board is serious about engaging new members with an onboarding committee, the only one of its kind among Landscape Ontario’s 10 regional chapters. Chaired by Colin MacMillan of Riverwood Landscaping, the committee is tasked with reaching out to new members in the chapter to encourage full participation in events and initiatives. MacMillan was motivated to chair the committee after reflecting on his own experience after joining Landscape Ontario.

“I joined LO in 2018, having owned a company in the industry since 2016,” he said. “I began by attending meetings and going to Congress. While I attended a few sessions before the spring break, I got into the summertime rush and did

not return to an LO meeting until October 2022 when Rob Tester asked me to come. When I returned, I was immediately included. My opinion was asked and I felt very welcomed. As I was added to the board, I started to get to know people and became more involved. Being more comfortable enabled me to participate more and get a lot out of it. I believe that I needed other people to speak to me first to build my comfort to get out of my shell.”

Landscape Ontario’s members often cite networking as one of the key benefits of their membership, but that doesn’t mean it comes easily. Going into an unfamiliar environment and meeting new people can be stressful. Having someone invite you to a meeting or event, tell you you’re welcome and introduce you around could make the difference between membership for a year and membership for life. Joining Landscape Ontario is a little like joining a gym. If you want to see a return on your investment, you have to get out and exercise. And who couldn’t use some extra motivation to work out?

This past year, Waterloo Chapter has gone beyond the typical approach to chapter meetings with a series of workshops led by Grant Harrison of Nextra Consulting. His “Unlock Your Full Business Potential” workshops covered a

Evan Dickson LO Director of Membership Services edickson@landscapeontario.com

wide range of critical topics for business owners, including human resources, marketing, strategic planning and risk management. These same topics are covered by the Certified Landscape Horticulturist Manager (CLHM) exams, making the Unlock Your Full Business Potential series an excellent primer for those who wish to pursue CLHM certification. The workshops were recorded and are available to watch online. You can watch the series right now at gfl.me/hbAR.

Chapter president Blake Sicard of Creative Landscape Depot feels ease of access is important. “No doubt we live in an increasingly busy world,” Sicard said. “By live streaming and posting chapter meetings on YouTube, the information provided has never been more accessible and convenient. Member engagement will continue to be the focus of the Waterloo Chapter moving forward.”

To a large extent, Landscape Ontario is an association of entrepreneurs. The spirit of constant improvement and future-focused thinking is alive and well in Waterloo. If you’re a member in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and would like to learn more about how to get involved in this vibrant chapter, contact Karri Bylsma, LO Membership Event Specialist at kbylsma@landscapeontario.com.

How crews can help create social content SOCIAL SNAPSHOT

Anew landscaping season is underway and your crews are back outside building and maintaining new landscapes. This is a great opportunity to gather content for your social media and website. Here are some best practices for them to follow so your team can help — and ensure that what they capture reflects your company’s values:

1. Determine what you want to show on your social accounts: Do you want to showcase finished landscapes, a team of experts, your capacity to deal with complicated projects, your specialty or your ties to a specific area?

2. Create a checklist: Give your team ideas for shots and videos that will help demonstrate your company’s values. For example, a picture of the work accomplished at the end of the day, a group photo, someone

using a special tool or piece of equipment or a team collaborating on installing a unique feature.

3. Take a few hours for training: Share your goal(s) with your staff, show them exactly what kind of content you want and how you would capture it. You can make it fun by having a contest of who captures the best content.

4. Design a professional company look: Provide your crews with branded clothing to ensure your business is easily identifiable, and for a more consistent look.

5. Practice proper safety: If crews are performing work, ensure images and video show them wearing the proper PPE, such as ear and eye protection, seat belts, guards on equipment, and so on.

6. Keep things tidy: Remove branded coffee cups, water bottles and any debris lying around to demonstrate your commitment to keeping an organized and orderly jobsite.

7. Get clients involved: Nothing says “hire me” like an image or video of a proud, happy client. Ask their permission first and get your client and crew together to capture the finished product.

8. Look for inspiration: You can get some great ideas from companies whose employees are active on social media: LMN on LinkedIn, Bold and Permacon on Instagram.

Charlotte Guena

LO Digital Marketing Specialist cguena@landscapeontario.com

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