Landscape Ontario - November 2022

Buckle Up!

be blown away by the all-new Husqvarna 580 Backpack Blower!

Weighing less than 28 pounds, this lightweight blower packs a powerful punch with 1,000 CFM of blowing force and air speeds of up to 220 mph. And you’ll stay comfortable all day long with the ergonomic harness and adjustable hip belt.

more at Husqvarna.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Sustainability is our future

For many of us, the gardening season is winding down and planning for the 2023 season will soon begin. The 50th anniversary Congress trade show is being anticipated with glee for the return of in-person networking opportunities. Winter education courses are also starting to roll out. I believe sustainability will be one of the big topics we will all discuss as we connect this winter.

There is an emphasis being driven by landscaping professionals and our clients for more sustainable practices. We have always participated in the greening of the planet and now our clients are expressing their concerns — sometimes rather urgently. Much of it may be budget driven, especially with the economic reports over the past few months, but it is also coming from a place of care and respect for the planet.

Clients are concerned about the amount of water their gardens require, so now they want more frought tolerant plants. They want to plant trees that shade their home from the strong summer sun. They want vegetable gardens and containers to grow their own produce. Clients don’t want to use salt products in the winter because they can leach into the soil. How do we change to meet the push for sustainable gardening and landscaping practices?

How do we work with other organizations, such as Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, etc., to drive sustainability practices forward?

Landscaping professionals graduating from college, university and the Apprenticeship Program are the way

forward. They are being taught by forward-thinking professionals with a strong emphasis on the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental and societal. In 2010, the Academic Advisory Committee for the Office of Sustainability at the University of Alberta defined sustainability as “the process of living within the limits of available physical, natural and social resources in ways that allow the living systems in which humans are embedded to thrive in perpetuity.”

As landscape professionals, we need to look at our businesses and determine how we can continue to be profitable, while being kinder to the planet. We also need to recruit like-minded individuals (clients and employees) to create and maintain spaces that will not destroy the environment, but rather will enhance our spaces. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” With over 3,000 member companies Landscape Ontario has the capability to make great strides to create a difference in the world.

I know of a number of companies in the Greater Toronto Area are making headway including: Ecoman, Quercus Gardens, Matthew Gove & Co., and The Backyard Urban Farm Company. Their guiding principles are totally in tune with the three pillars of sustainability. Check them out for some great examples. Let’s commit to improving ourselves and our companies so that we can all continue to thrive.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and further discussions.

Cheers!

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.

PEACE IN A

By Karina Sinclair

Atthe end of a tree-lined gravel driveway, I come upon a quiet riot of colour; blooms of blush pink, mauve, gold and green drifting together — a watercolour painting come to life. Tall, stately grasses lean with the whisper of a breeze. A low hum of happiness transports me to the bee-loud glade from a favourite W.B. Yeats poem. I hear a bright trill ring out from a nearby tree, and the answering call is met with a swooping flash of yellow; goldfinches have found a home here. The kerplunk of nearby water reveals that frogs have too. This haven of wildlife is the work of landscape designer Karina Lapierre.

Lapierre’s business, Lavish Gardens, specializes in creating and installing naturalistic gardens, designed to invite biodiversity, showcase native plants, and create a deep level of serenity. Lapierre’s journey in landscaping has been an evolution. She started Lavish Gardens in Toronto in 2008, eventually moving to Stirling, Ont., where the landscapes were bigger and surrounded by rolling, pastoral views. She was installing hardscapes — brick patios, walkways and stone retaining walls — and one day asked herself if that’s what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“I slowly became conscious of the more ecological aspects of landscaping, and started installing some meadow gardens, wildflower gardens, and became more conscious of pollinators,” Lapierre said. “And that’s when I really fell in love with my profession and decided to start a more ecologically minded company to give more options to our clients in terms of sustainability.”

Now, Lavish Gardens is renowned for its ecological approach. In addition to meadows, their services include the design, installation, and maintenance of streams, waterfalls, swim ponds and lawn alternatives. They also offer pond remediation and the rewilding of newly developed areas.

FLORA AND FAUNA FIRST

As she guided me through her award-winning Stonehouse Wildflower Meadow project, Lapierre shared that she wanted to know as many plants as possible, especially native plants, to understand how they perform in landscapes. That understanding shifted her focus toward designing sustainable landscapes.

“When I realized that native plants have such a capacity to improve the ecosystem that surrounds us and improve the potential food sources for wildlife, such as pollinators, butterflies, bees, birds, it really made me connect with the profession a lot deeper,” Lapierre said. As we strolled the meadow paths together, coneflowers and goldenrod bobbed their showy heads and Lapierre gently grazed them with her fingertips. It seemed a silent communication, as if each were demonstrating their affection for one another.

IN PURSUIT OF CHILDLIKE WONDER

To pursue this more natural direction, Lapierre decided to define her business’s purpose and mission by asking herself why she and her fellow landscapers do what they do. At first, the answer was simply because they love being outside and being in touch with the seasons. Upon further reflection, Lapierre realized they love being outside because it reminds them of being children.

“When you’re outside as a child, you really notice all those little things, like all the insects and the little animals and the frogs and the birds and how a blade of grass feels in your fingers or in your mouth,” Lapierre said. “When you develop these really biodiverse gardens, you’re constantly in contact with the life that inhabits them. And that’s really our purpose and our mission with our business.”

Lapierre believes it takes a special person to be a landscaper; someone who is willing to work hard, be passionate, and cope with the seasonality of the job. She describes landscaping as sometimes unforgiving and feels it’s important to hire people who can find the pleasure and the beauty in the work.

“I’m looking for people that are interested in nature, that feel validated at the end of a project; that are just mesmerized by the opportunity they got to create these kinds of gardens or to build these kinds of water features,” Lapierre said. “Every year, year on end, our sales are always increasing. People are getting to know our unique qualities. We’re starting to attract real talent, which has been wonderful for me because in the industry we all know how difficult it’s been to try to find good hires.”

She credits Landscape Ontario for boosting the skills and profile of professional landscapers. “I think for many, many years, landscapers had a bad reputation. And Landscape Ontario has brought everybody together and really focused on training and the professional aspects of the business,” she said. “And I myself have taken lots of training courses through Landscape Ontario in the winter on landscaping techniques or even how to run a business better. It’s really helped me to become a better business owner.”

ROOM IN THE ECOSYSTEM FOR ALL

Lapierre has noticed more homeowners are seeking to create an experience in their landscapes, and that they’re also concerned about the environment and the health

of pollinators. The meadows, natural swim ponds, and waterfalls that Lavish Gardens installs resonate with people.

“People call us because we’re us,” Lapierre said. “They don’t call us to get a competitive quote with another landscaper. There are quite a few landscapers in Ontario that are nature focused or ecologically focused. But in this area, there are not a lot of other companies that have the same mindset that we do. And so people call us specifically for being Lavish Gardens.”

There’s plenty of room for more landscapers to offer similar services, though. Lapierre would love to see more of her peers focus on increasing biodiversity. She suggests, “You have to kind of immerse yourself in the study of the local ecology, of the local environment.” Lapierre will admit this isn’t for everyone, but invites landscapers and homeowners to consider it because: “It brings so much joy not only to myself, to our clients, to our staff, but also for the ecosystems around us.”

GREEN STAMP AWARD

Giving special attention to the environment has earned Lavish Gardens some accolades as well. The Stonehouse Wildflower Meadow, the very landscape surrounding Lapierre and I in dreamy colour and texture, won a Green Stamp Award in Landscape Ontario’s 2022 Awards of Excellence program. The award is given to projects that exemplify green practices, using quality construction, maintenance and design in sustainable landscapes. A field of native grasses, sedges, and flowers currently hosting merry bees, butterflies, and birds, it’s obvious why this project deserved the nod.

“When I found out the Stonehouse Meadow won the Green Stamp Award, I was so overjoyed. I had tears in my eyes. Being recognized by your peers for something different that you’re doing is just really fantastic,” Lapierre said. “It makes you feel all grown up, in a sense, but also because the green industry, even though it’s called a green industry, is not always absolutely green. There’s a lot of waste involved in our constructions, our installations. There are a lot of chemicals that are applied to get this picture perfect landscape. And the fact that Landscape Ontario even has a Green Stamp Award is really fantastic and so important in the world that we currently live in.”

PLANTING THE FUTURE Lapierre would love to dispel some misconceptions of native plants and naturalized gardens. “I wish people understood that ‘native plants’ doesn’t necessarily mean weeds,” she said. “Some people think of naturalized gardens as kind of messy and dirty. They might have seen some native gardens that might not have been super artfully installed or maybe they see them at the wrong time in the season.”

Compared to a formal garden where every plant is perfectly placed according to height, size and spread, Lapierre insists her installations can feel just as organized. “You can take any plants and arrange them in combinations that will create beautiful juxtapositions. I wish people understood that better.”

As we chat in the mid-June afternoon sun, many of the plants around us stretch as tall as six feet, and Lapierre explained some will nearly double by autumn. “A lot of people think if you use native plants, you have to use

purely native plants in order to have a benefit on the environment,” Lapierre said, pointing out some red poppies the homeowners had added to the garden. Their saturated ruby hue stood out brightly amongst the muted pastel tones of the native plants. “I feel that people shouldn’t be afraid to mix their favourite introduced ornamental plants with Ontario wildflowers. Combinations are endless. A lot of the time, the cultivars attract pollinators just as well as a native plant. And if you have biodiversity in your landscape, you will see multiple times per day how that biodiversity is helping the creatures around you.”

We pause together to watch fuzzy bumble bees take delight in the bright purple bee balm, their pollen baskets brimming. The feast has been made possible by Lapierre’s thoughtful installation. “I’ve never been stung,” Lapierre told me when I asked if the bees are a bother while she works. “A lot of people might think it’s going to be dangerous, but we work with them all around us. I guess they do speak to us in a sense, because I feel like on some intrinsic level they must know that we’re helping, that we’re there with them as opposed to there to take them away from the landscape. You just do your thing. Let them do their thing. We’re

too busy. They’re too busy. It’s just kind of all works in harmony. We all work in harmony.”

A little farther down the winding path Lapierre plucks a bright green leaf to show me how many plants can engage multiple senses. “This beautiful plant is called anise hyssop and you can make a tea from the leaves that smells like black licorice. The fragrance is incredible.” She inhales the scent before popping it in her mouth. “And it’s delicious!”

Eventually we come to the edge of a five-foot-deep pond. The water is crystal clear thanks to the wetland filtration system Lapierre has incorporated. Water cascades into a small upper pond before trickling into the larger lower basin. Damp footprints fading on the surrounding flagstone suggest we’ve just missed one of the homeowner’s children swimming. A frog basks contentedly on a lilypad. Another blends in with a craggy, moss-covered stone before leaping into the depths, startling the koi. A dragonfly zings past my ear as Lapierre traverses a stone bridge. “Every water feature we create is filled with aquatic organisms instantly,” she said. “Just as every meadow we installed is filled with birds, bees, butterflies, toads, small mammals.”

If you had asked Lapierre in her 20s

what she would be doing in her 40s, she would not have imagined she’d be creating purposefully wild spaces. “It’s just been one thing after another that led me to being able to work on these amazing landscapes that I would have never thought of doing. It just happened this way. I really do hope that I leave a legacy with these gardens,” Lapierre said, her gaze following the dancing flight of a Viceroy butterfly. “Hopefully we’re introducing these plants where they don’t exist anymore. We’re hopefully improving the place of pollinators and butterflies as much as we can. And all these gardens and features that we install — like a pond where a child will learn how to swim or learn how to skate on in the winter — that’s a legacy. And it’s just, you know, fantastic to be able to bring nature to people’s homes.”

We wander back to where we started, finding our way around the crevice gardens, past the rescued bird’s nest on the patio and over the herbs embedded between the flagstones. The lowering sun casts long shadows that sweep across the grassy path. In projects like this, Lapierre creates more than pretty landscapes; she creates the space where you can shrug off the weight of the world and just be present as peace comes dropping slow.

HORTICULTURE

Beyond the obvious environmental benefits, one could say the landscape profession has the power to heal. On a recent Landscape Ontario podcast, Rohan Harrison spoke with Scott Barber about his experience as a ‘steward of creation’ and how he believes green spaces — and those who nurture them — can improve physical, mental, and even social challenges faced today.

Harrison is a lead in the grounds department at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Ont., and has been a member of Landscape Ontario for nearly 30 years. He is also a member of the association’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.

Where did your interest in horticulture and healing landscapes begin?

I’ve been in agriculture my entire life. But what led me into the horticulture profession directly? I would say it’s a generational influence. Throughout my life I’ve been involved through my family farms in Jamaica.

The natural progression was to embrace agriculture as a profession, which I did. Eventually, that love for plants and the outdoors landed me the opportunity to manage a larger commercial farming operation. There, I was responsible for 3,900 workers on a 11,400-acre farm and I was also responsible for the research and production of sweet sorghum.

Interview with Rohan Harrison by Scott Barber

It was while working there I noticed that a certain group of workers, though they were very poor, were always happy. They always seemed so relaxed compared to the factory workers and I wondered, why are these guys always so happy, so relaxed, so carefree?

When I came to Canada, I did not get employed right away. So what I did to fill my day was to read agricultural material. I would refresh my memory on the various research projects I had completed in the past.

During that time, I had a few trips across the border and I heard about Ivy League schools. I’d ask myself why most of the schools had such great landscapes. So I was wondering, was the landscape why the students did so well? Then I came across the work done by a Dr. Roger Ulrich regarding green spaces and health and well-being. That’s when I started to appreciate the reason why those workers back in Jamaica were so happy. I believe it was because they had benefits from the green space they were working in.

Describe what you’ve been able to accomplish at Sunnybrook.

My role at Sunnybrook is to look after the green spaces here. I direct our contractor — who is also a member of Landscape Ontario — to ensure they maintain the same discipline, the same criteria we have for our landscape. To manage it in an organic, sustainable way.

The gardens and the green spaces actually serve as an extension to the important and lifesaving work within the walls of the hospital. We have 33 acres of turf areas, and over 5,700 trees. We have different types of gardens, therapeutic, healing, edible. Every day, patients and their family and staff use the green space around the hospital as a place of escape, reflection, enjoyment, and healing because as you know, there is strong evidence that a real or simulated view of nature plays a huge role if you want health and well-being.

The access to green space is very important to our mental health, physical fitness, cognition, immune function, [and can] lower mortality rates. There are so many health benefits that Sunnybrook promotes green space, both as a medical access and also as a mindfulness and a self-care to staff members.

Why have you continued to be a supporter, member, and volunteer with the association for all these years?

Since my background is agronomy, I always wanted to be part of something that appealed to my intellect, to my training,

and provide opportunity and experience. That I could experience continued growth. LO fit the bill. I could see the seeds that were being planted at LO at that time and I thought this could be a great association in the years ahead.

And was I ever right! We were never created to do life alone, professionally, socially or otherwise. LO provided me with a conduit to meet some wonderful professionals, including many genuine, great folks, especially in the turf sector group, and now currently on the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging committee. What a selfless group of professionals. And honestly, today I am better professionally because of my involvement with LO.

What inspired you to join the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee?

Well, it’s a long story, but I really didn’t want to be a part of this committee because of the fear of tokenism. After being around LO since the early ‘90s, I was always challenged by the optics that greeted me at events. At events, I was the only one of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community there. So I’m looking through the lens of someone from the African diaspora. It was very homogeneous, not very inviting, which can be viewed as exclusive.

For marginalized folks, there was no attraction or enticement to join, but I still wanted to be a member, and when I listened to Tony Dungy, Super Bowl coach,

he said something that still resonates with me to this very day.

He said: “I’ve never seen a successful team whose membership pursue different objectives or who rebel against the culture. In fact, a team that isn’t unified and heading in the same direction isn’t much of a team at all. It is simply a collection of individuals.” Tony further reminded us that, “high performing teams of members who strive to own their rules and give their best, they take ownership, they show up faithfully, ready to work hard and give their best to whatever they have been called to do.”

That’s when the true revelation came to me, that, “thinking I’m not the problem, is sometimes the problem.” What am I doing to help realize inclusive, diverse representation in this association that I love? So I ask myself a question: Do I really want to be a part of the problem or a part of a solution?

It’s clear you put a lot of thought and passion into everything you do.

It would be remiss of me if I didn’t also say that I am thankfully blessed to be a member of this team. And I applaud Landscape Ontario’s commitment to strengthening inclusivity by moving the dial forward on racial equity and inclusivity. Thank you to the receptive leadership team and all talented individuals on this subject, Joe [Salemi] and others; they have devoted resources and have held themselves accountable and are making

Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Ont. has 33 acres of green space, including 5,700 trees.

important strides in creating more of a diverse association. And I’m really impressed each member approaches the sensitivity of the objectives, and have faithfully taken ownership of their roles to give this commitment their very best. So I just want to applaud them and say thank you.

What do you hope to see happen with diversity in the landscape profession?

What do I hope? I understand we are

within their respective companies.

This is a first step forward in realizing our stated objective of enhancing each and every life. I may quote Martin Luther King Jr., who said: “The time is always right to do what is right.” And I will reinforce that by saying, if we stand for what is right, what is right will stand.

We may fail at first, but so did Thomas Edison. So did Walt Disney. So did Sir James Dyson. They eventually found a way to succeed. We will find a way to succeed, I believe. So LO needs to be the stadium

of the attitude I employ, because I truly believe challenges produce growth, intellectually, spiritually and professionally. So rather than focus on the challenges I embrace the positive opportunities. When you think about it, ships do not sink because of the water around them; they sink because of the water that gets into them.

If you let those challenges get into you, then yes, you’re going down. So my life is motivated by these cool, harmonized mindsets, one of which is I do not wish that

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

Photo Credit: Sunnybrook Hospital

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation was created in 1979 by a committee of forward-thinking leaders of the landscape and nursery sectors. The original goal of the Foundation was to help fund much-needed industry research. However, its mandate was soon expanded.

Today, the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is the research and scholarship arm of Landscape Ontario. The Foundation’s mandate is to ensure “a healthy future for the horticultural industry,” through financial support of research and scholarships funded by interest generated on capital investments.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION

Donations to the Foundation can be made online by visiting OHTF.ca/donate

Also at OHTF.ca, you will find information on how to support the Foundation in a number of ways outlined below. With a donation to the Foundation, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are “making a difference and leaving a legacy” for the profession you love. You can support the Foundation by:

SPONSORSHIP

Join the Foundation by making a pledge — an annual donation or a one-time gift.

MEMORIAL GIFT

This is a meaningful way to honour a friend, loved one or professional contact, while also helping to support the profession.

LEGACY GIFT

Earmark funds through your estate to sustain the horticulture profession. Contact your estate planner or lawyer to include this legacy provision in your will.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

Many Foundation sponsors share their expertise by speaking to groups and directing their honorariums to the Foundation.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

The Foundation would like to thank all of its donors. A donation is an easy and effective way to benefit Ontario’s horticultural community. The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a registered charity and all donations will receive a tax receipt.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

FOR 2022 PRESIDENT

David Turnbull

VICE PRESIDENT Mike Thomas

SECRETARY Bob Allen

TREASURER Mark Ostrowski

DIRECTOR Joe Salemi

BOARD MEMBERS

Brian Cocks Tony DiGiovanni Hank Gelderman John Peets Tim Rivard Audrey Partridge

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Providing scholarships is particularly close to the hearts of Foundation supporters, who point with pride to the many recipients who are now successful industry members. A list of available scholarships can be found on the Foundation website at OHTF.ca.

The scholarship program continues to grow, and now boasts a number of scholarships supported by individual people and companies:

APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIP

BOB AND RUBY ALLEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

CASEY VAN MARIS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

HENSBERGEN/DEGROOT FUND

HORST DICKERT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

HORTICULTURIST SCHOLARSHIP

JOHN AND RUTH WRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

NEIL VANDERKRUK

INNOVATION AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND

OJ MÜLLER MEMORIAL FUND

OTTAWA CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP

PETER OLSEN MEMORIAL FUND

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS

RUSSEL AND KAREN LONEY FUND

TONY DIGIOVANNI SCHOLARSHIP FUND

UNILOCK COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATIONS SCHOLARSHIP

UPPER CANADA CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS

WATERLOO CHAPTER GREEN INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP

MORE THAN $45K IN SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT

Introduced in 2015, a major component of the program is the Cullen Family Scholarships, which distribute more than $20,000 each year. The program is designed to encourage and inspire leadership qualities in students who have a passion and enthusiasm for the landscape and horticulture profession, with candidates selected by their peers and teachers. Individual amounts are assigned to each school offering a horticultural program.

This year, the Foundation distributed a total of $45,600 in scholarships to students enrolled in horticultural programs across the province.

DEVELOPMENTS

OVER THE PAST YEAR

In the summer of 2021, the Foundation launched a revitalized and rebranded website at OHTF.ca The website features a new logo and is mobile-friendly.

In late 2020, longtime Foundation member and industry pioneer Neil Vanderkruk passed away. The Foundation recently established the Neil Vanderkruk Innovation and Scholarship Fund and is planning to raise $100,000 to create a permanent scholarship in Neil’s name. Similar fundraising campaigns will follow for the other memorial scholarships in order to further preserve the legacy of these exceptional industry pioneers and leaders.

APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIP ($600)

Keegan Stribbell, HUMBER COLLEGE

CASEY VAN MARIS SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000)

Abigail Merson, NIAGARA COLLEGE

HORST DICKERT SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000) Sophia Bearden, HUMBER COLLEGE

TONY DIGIOVANNI SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000)

Adam Fundytus, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE Manuel Spiller, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

CULLEN SCHOLARSHIP APPRENTICESHIP ($1,000) Lauren Loerts, ALGONQUIN COLLEGE

CULLEN NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIP ($5,000) Isaac Dorder, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE

CULLEN FAMILY

2022 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ($2,000) Taylor Davies, RIDGETOWN COLLEGE Alex Feenstra, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Lana Hafez, HUMBER COLLEGE Jacob Ireland, ALGONQUIN COLLEGE Rebecca McSorley, SENECA COLLEGE Jillian Sguigna, FANSHAWE COLLEGE Jessica Wang, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000)

Caleb Faulkner, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE Benjamin Joy, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE Philip Kloet, FANSHAWE COLLEGE

Ashley Legge, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Madelyn Pilkey, NIAGARA COLLEGE Leigha Poortinga, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Kira Varvanina, NIAGARA COLLEGE

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000)

A GREENER FUTURE

Alyssa Atkinson, NIAGARA COLLEGE Estefania Bermeo, SENECA COLLEGE Laura Delmore, NIAGARA PARKS SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE Angelica Deveros, HUMBER COLLEGE Kaitlyn Erickson, FANSHAWE COLLEGE Saba Harvey, SENECA COLLEGE Tyler Haywood, NIAGARA COLLEGE

Jenifar Islam Juthi, SENECA COLLEGE Daniel Mack, SENECA COLLEGE An Nguyen, HUMBER COLLEGE Quinn Nolan, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Amanda Saulnier, NIAGARA COLLEGE

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000)

Ethan Aquino-Chien, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Craig Klomp, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Melissa Kooiman, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

The industry has recognized the unique opportunity in the increased demand for living green solutions to address the environmental impacts associated with climate change. The quest by various organizations to mitigate these impacts has resulted in a wealth of industry-friendly tree supply and planting initiatives. Ensuring the success of urban landscape plantings is not without its challenges, and dealing with these hurdles has been the focus of several important research initiatives managed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, with financial support from Landscape Ontario and the Foundation.

With part of its mandate to support research programs that help to ensure a healthy future for the horticultural industry, the Foundation provided financial support to the following initiatives:

TREES FOR LIFE

Trees for Life takes the learning from the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and GrandTrees Climate Solutions to plant trees with community-based organizations where Canadians live, work and play. As a trusted partner in the Federal Government’s 2 Billion Trees program, TFL launched in 2021 with $2 million in seed funding from that program, matched by donors. TFL is committed to increasing the leafy canopy in communities across the country, and in doing so, helping Canada to meet its 2040 net-zero carbon emissions goal.

GRANDTREES WALK FUND

The Grandtrees Walk Fund identifies and funds the best tree planting initiatives in the Greater Toronto Area. The initiative has provided funding to 25 organizations to plant native trees and shrubs.

ONE BENCH ONE TREE

The One Bench One Tree campaign aims to give back to frontline heroes by offering a moment of rest in nature. The project’s goal is to add at least one bench and one tree to the landscape of hospitals across Canada.

HIGHWAY OF HEROES LIVING TRIBUTE

Since administrative structure is already in place, the Foundation collects charitable donations for the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute (hohtribute.ca). This inspiring campaign seeks to plant two million trees, including 117,000 trees along the Highway of Heroes, one for each of Canada’s fallen soldiers, assisted by the efforts of Ontario nursery growers and contractors.

MEET THE 2022 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Keegan STRIBBELL

APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIP $600

Keegan thanked the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation for the scholarship, as well as his employer Dusty Miller Landscaping for their encouragement. Growing up in a small town, Keegan has always had a love for nature, and this opportunity allows him to continue to pursue his passion.

Caleb FAULKNER

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Caleb is currently attending the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture where looking after plants is his passion. Caleb wants to impact the landscape of Ontario by becoming a consulting arborist and extending the life span of trees in urban conditions.

Benjamin JOY

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

In his first year of the Professional Horticulture program at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Ben is immensely grateful to the Foundation for supporting his career path. Ben has spent time all over Canada working in the silviculture industry and as a farmhand, and is looking forward to gaining experience, new skills and quality instruction that will expand his knowledge base in horticulture.

Philip KLOET

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Philip has been working in the landscape industry for the past three summers with

his father’s business, Rock Crest Landscapes. During that time, Philip has aspired to create unique quality landscapes that serve meaning to customers. This passion led him to attend Fanshawe College to study landscape design.

Ashley LEGGE

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Ashley took the landscaping and horticulture SHSM program in high school and completed a co-op placement with a landscaping company. Currently a first year landscape architecture student at the University of Guelph, Ashley looks forward to using her knowledge and experience to create designs that better the environment and society.

Madelyn PILKEY

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Madelyn’s passion for plants began at a seasonal job in a garden centre in her hometown of Bowmanville, Ont.

She now studies plants on a greater scale in the Horticulture Technician program at Niagara College. Her interest in horticulture stemmed from discovering the beauty within native landscapes and their greater impacts within communities.

Leigha POORTINGA

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Growing up in an agricultural community her entire life, Leigha’s passion for horticulture stemmed from starting a job at a local greenhouse, garden centre, and landscape design business five years ago. She can’t wait to explore the many opportunities this field of work has to offer.

Kira VARVANINA

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

With an architectural degree and a Horticultural Landscape Certificate from Niagara College, Kira hopes to combine her two great passions — design and nature — in order to create a shift toward more sustainable and nature-friendly landscapes. A Toronto resident, her goal is to encourage city dwellers to embrace and cherish surrounding natural habitats.

Estefania BERMEO

JIMENEZ

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Currently studying Environmental Landscape Management at Seneca College and with a background in architecture, Estefania has used her design and creative skills to create beautiful gardens in her courses. Passionate about horticulture and nature, her goals include becoming a Landscape Architect and providing sustainable spaces that offer recreation, education and cultural opportunities for everyone.

Laura DELORME

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Currently in her final year of Ornamental Horticulture studies at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Laura’s journey as an apprentice is coming to an end. She is looking forward to expanding her network and finding fulfilling work in the industry.

Angelica DEVEROS

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

After a very sedentary 17-year career in television production, Angelica decided it was time for a change and chose to study the field of horticulture because it allows her to work outside and be active while still getting the chance to be creative. In her second year at Humber college, she has found a love for plants and garden design and looks forward to a career where she can bring beauty to people’s landscapes.

Kaitlyn ERICKSON

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

In her final year of Landscape Design at Fanshawe College, Katie is currently maintaining gardens at Riverbend Golf Community, working alongside her professor and learning about how to maintain spaces. She is excited to get into the industry and intends to implement sustainable design practices and native species in her work. She is passionate about strengthening ecosystems and getting people engaged with the outdoor world.

Saba HARVEY

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Saba is currently completing her second year of studies at Seneca College in the Environmental Landscape Management Program. She has a passion for working outdoors and is especially interested in ecological landscape design and urban agriculture. She is excited to start a new career in the landscape industry and work alongside colleagues who value the principles of environmental stewardship.

Tyler HAYWOOD

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Tyler enjoys the hands-on portion of the program at Niagara College and looks forward to classes held on campus. Tyler looks forward to the prospect of a bright future, by gaining the education needed in order to be successful in doing something he loves.

Jenifar ISLAM JUTHI

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Jenifar is currently pursuing the Environmental Landscape Management

Program. She became interested in the landscape industry when she dove into horticultural research during her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. She aspires towards landscape research supplementing creative and artistic landscape designs.

Daniel MACK

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Daniel Mack has been working in landscaping for 15 years. He was trained on the job, acquiring expertise in pond and water feature maintenance as well as finedetailed bed grooming. Since going out on his own, he has shifted focus onto native plants and permaculture techniques. He is currently enrolled at Seneca College, through which he has successfully written grants in support of the installation and maintenance of a forest garden.

An NGUYEN

POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

An Nguyen took a different turn in her career from the financial industry by enrolling in the Landscape Technician program at Humber College to pursue her passion for plantation and gardening design. She aspired to urban landscape design for its essential contribution to developing green and healthy living conditions and improving urban environment quality.

Ethan AQUINO-CHIEN

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Ethan is currently in his final year of his Masters of Landscape Architecture at University of Guelph. He is researching and writing his thesis on the design principles relating to safe integration of disc golf courses into existing mix use green spaces. He hopes to share his passion for the growing sport in a safe and sustainable way where all parties of the outdoor space can co-exist.

Craig KLOMP

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

A current graduate student pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, Craig’s undergraduate studies were focused in Architectural and Environmental Studies from the Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto. His main passion is environmental landscape architecture, specializing in sustainable landscape architecture and its practices. Craig aspires to become a leader and advocator in the space of sustainability and landscape architecture while practicing deep community engagement as a designer.

Melissa KOOIMAN

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

A graduate student at the University of Guelph pursuing an MLA degree, Melissa fell in love with the industry six years ago while on a summer position with a local company in Wellington County. She hopes to give back and plans to use her MLA degree to pursue both private landscape design and post-secondary level instruction.

Sophia BEARDEN

HORST DICKERT SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

For several years, Sophia had been working as a baker and after being laid off due to COVID-19, decided to use the opportunity to start a new career in a field that truly inspires her. After completing her first year of the Landscape Technician program at Humber College, she had the opportunity to work at the Humber Arboretum, where she gained hands-on experience controlling invasive species and restoring naturalized landscapes.

Adam FUNDYTUS

TONY DIGIOVANNI SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

In his third year at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Adam has come to appreciate how valuable large green spaces are to communities and the people within them. He looks forward to a career that nurtures nature and hopes to use his positive attitude and work ethic to enhance public gardens or to help establish new ones.

Manuel SPILLER

TONY DIGIOVANNI SCHOLARSHIP $1,000

Manuel Spiller is a design intern for NAK Design Strategies in Ottawa, Ont., a teaching assistant and Master of Landscape Architecture student at the University of Guelph. Manuel studies hospitals’ tree coverage to understand the factors for well-treed sites, and Chair of One Bench One Tree — an organization donating trees and benches for rest to hospitals to commemorate healthcare workers for their sacrifices during the pandemic. He is also advocating for barefoot paths, linear, and family playscapes.

DONATE TO THE OHTF SCHOLARSHIPS AT

FUND BALANCES

FOUNDATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

YEAR END YEAR END

AUG. 31, 2022 AUG. 31, 2021

General Fund ($148,054) $344,389

Dunington-Grubb/Sheridan Nurseries Research Fund $269,722 $244,896

Growers’ Group Research Fund $448,984 $399,558

Ottawa Chapter Val Kirshner Scholarship Fund $84,847 $75,506 Scholarship Fund $103,169 $95,214

Casey Van Maris Scholarship Fund $35,487 $32,526

IPM Symposium Research Fund $208,550 $185,592

Tony DiGiovanni Scholarship Fund $232,317 $110,814

John/Ruth Wright Scholarship Fund $77,946 $69,365

Horst Dickert Scholarship Fund $0 $0

JT Somerville Fund $12,203 $10,859

Highway of Heroes (TFL) Fund $1,157,747 $1,932,914

Unilock/Designers Group Fund $14,422 $11,889

Hensbergen/Degroot Scholarship Fund $31,155 $27,725

Russel/Karen Loney Scholarship Fund $11,480 $10,217

Cullen Family Scholarship Fund $11,953 $8,747 Robert/Ruby Allen Scholarship Fund $26,551 $23,628

1 Bench 1 Tree Fund $10,491 $3,194

Peter Olsen Scholarship Fund $36,958 $32,890

OJ Muller Memorial Scholarship Fund $13,037 $11,602

Grandtrees Walk Fund $50,720 $246,962 Neil Vanderkruk Innovation & Scholarship Fund $81,332 $0 Hortprotect Research Fund $53,809 $0 Cecil Delworth Fund $81,250 $0

Waterloo Chapter Scholarship Fund $74,542 $66,336

TOTAL FUND BALANCES $2,980,616 $3,944,823

YEAR END YEAR END

ASSETS (CURRENT) AUG. 31, 2022 AUG. 31, 2021 Bank $288,766 $437,939 Accounts Receivable $96,123 $104,400 $384,888 $542,339

LONG TERM

Investments $2,525,326 $3,344,879 Investment-Vineland Consortium $57,711 $57,711 Accrued Interest Receivable $70,018 $40,366 $2,653,055 $3,442,956

TOTAL ASSETS $3,037,944 $3,985,295

LIABILITIES (CURRENT) Accounts Payable & Accrued Charges $57,328 $40,472

ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCES

Fund Balances-Regular Funds $1,731,129 $1,761,753 Fund Balances-Special Projects $1,249,487 $2,183,070 $2,980,616 $3,944,823

TOTAL LIABILITIES/FUNDS $3,037,944 $3,985,295

STATEMENT OF

YEAR END YEAR

$494,135

TOTAL

$49,927

$1,739,455 $1,713,457

$2,207,642

ASSOCIATION NEWS

You’re invited to Congress!

All Landscape Ontario members are invited to attend the Congress Trade Show for free on Jan. 10-12, 2022, at the Toronto Congress Centre. Congress is Canada’s largest and longest running trade show and conference for landscape professionals. With over 400 exhibitors covering more than eight acres, Congress is a onestop-shop for the latest equipment, tools, materials and supplies — everything you need to do what you do best.

CONGRESS CONFERENCE

LO members also get access to special pricing for the Congress Conference, which returns in-person Jan. 10-12, 2022, at the Toronto Congress Centre. Sessions cover a wide range of horticulture, business management and special interest topics. We hope you’ll consider getting passes for key staff members to get them energized and excited about the new year.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

You won’t want to miss the special edition of the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence on Jan. 10, 2023, at the Delta by Marriott Toronto Airport. The annual juried competition recognizes the breathtaking design and master craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance, design, lighting and irrigation projects created by LO members. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the event will be bigger and better than ever. Get your tickets online at loawards.com.

PRICING

Early bird deadline: Dec. 16, 2022

CONGRESS TRADE SHOW

Member: Free with Promo Code 50YRLOMAG Student / Educator / Media: Free Non-Member: Early bird: $30 | Regular: $50

CONGRESS CONFERENCE

Member: Early bird: $225 | Regular: $275 Non-Member: Early bird: $275 | Regular: $325 Student / Educator / Media: Early bird: $40 | Regular: $50

R E D E E M Y O U R F R E E L O M E M B E R P A S S E S F O R C O N G R E S S W I T H T H E P R O M O C O D E :

and

team up on video series

— Neil Beech

It is with great sadness that G.C. Duke Equipment announces the passing of Neil Beech, company vice-president at the age of 53. Neil fought hard against a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis for many months.

Neil began his career 35 years ago as an equipment demonstrator representative and ultimately became the company’s vice-president.

Neil will be remembered for his work ethic, loyalty, sense of humour and devotion to his job.

He will be missed by his family, many friends, co-workers, suppliers, and customers with whom he crossed paths with over the years.

As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Neil to The St. Joseph’s Hamilton Health Care Foundation or a charity close to your heart would be sincerely appreciated by the family.

New benefit: Know More Hazard

Know More Hazard recently announced a new partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) to provide member businesses across Canada with a 10 per cent discount on the base rate when signing up with Know More Hazard.

Know More Hazard is a Field Level Hazard Assessment app developed by landscape contractors for landscape contractors. This app enables users to easily and simply complete Field Level Hazard Assessments (FLHAs), such as safety audits and vehicle inspections, on the spot at the worksite. All that is required is a mobile device with a data service. This app is fully customizable for any company, and managers can instantly see and manage documents in real time when the assessments and inspections are submitted right from their computer or mobile device.

Know More Hazard is offering all CNLA members a 10 per cent discount on base rates when signing up.

To get started, login via the CNLA website at cnla.ca/login. If you require a login, or more information on member programs like this, please contact the member services department at memberservices@cnla-acpp.ca

to save you time.

Virtual IPM Symposium set for January 5

The 2023 edition of the annual IPM Symposium will be held Jan. 5, 2023, as a virtual and recorded event. The full-day event will feature the latest research and cultural practices for those responsible for minimizing conditions favourable to pest insects, weeds, and pathogens. The uniquely respected event has been held since 1965.

Attendees will learn the latest about soil, controlling invasive phragmites, species identification, tree care, spray oils, and more. Updates will also be provided from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as turf research projects at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.

Attendees can earn six Continuing Education Credits (CECs) from the IPM Council of Canada by scoring 70 per cent or higher on an exam within one week of the symposium. Some sessions also qualify for CEUs from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and all sessions qualify for Landscape Horticulture Certification (LHCP) CEUs.

Discounted pricing is available to all attendees until Dec. 16, 2022.

Member: $150 until Dec. 16, then $200 after.

Non-Member: $200 until Dec. 16, then $250 after.

Student: $40 until Dec. 16, then $50 after.

Full details and online registration is available under the Featured Event menu at LOcongress.com

Designers event returns January 9

A full-day conference for landscape architects and designers will return to Toronto on Jan. 9, 2023.

The annual conference is an initiative of Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Designer Sector Group, and is presented with recognition of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA).

The event will kick off at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Toronto Airport at 8:30 a.m. with the Landscape Designer Sector Group AGM. Lunch and network breaks are included, as well as a networking reception after the last session concludes at 4 p.m.

Sessions will be recorded and made available to registered attendees for a limited time after the event and the recording will also be available for purchase at a later date. Those attending will qualify for OALA Continuing Education Credits. Attendees can also earn one Landscape Horticulture Certification CEU for each conference session attended.

Topics this year include a design charrette, project management, design software and technology, ecological restoration, and more.

Discounted pricing is available to all attendees until Dec. 16, 2022.

Member: $175 until Dec. 16, then $225 after.

Non-Member: $225 until Dec. 16, then $295 after.

Student: $75 until Dec. 16, then $125 after.

Full details and online registration is available under the Featured Events menu at LOcongress.com

PROFESSIONAL

Ontario launches skilled trades career fairs

annual career fairs so more students and parents know university isn’t the only path to success. We will continue to make historic investments to attract more young people to rewarding, lucrative and purpose-driven careers in the trades, and ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses and our economy.”

The Ontario government is launching career fairs this fall to prepare the next generation of young people for rewarding and well-paying jobs in the skilled trades. These fairs address labour shortages in high-demand sectors and help deliver the province’s ambitious infrastructure plans, including building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

“Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation, which means when you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government is launching these

Level Up! is a series of dynamic, multi-day career fairs highlighting the 144 different skilled trades. For the first time, students in grades seven to 12 will have the opportunity to learn about these trades through interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities, while hearing directly from tradespeople and local employers about these lifechanging careers. The first career fair kicks off Oct. 25 to 27 in Mississauga, with subsequent fairs planned in London, Sudbury, Ottawa and Thunder Bay.

“We are on a mission to fill the skills gap by better connecting and ultimately inspiring Ontario students to enter these good-paying jobs that are in demand. We are expanding career fairs and enhancing pathways to apprenticeship throughout the curriculum,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “By placing a real emphasis on life and job skills like coding, financial literacy and budgeting, we are ensuring Ontario students graduate with a competitive advantage and land good-paying jobs.”

Minister McNaughton made the announcement at Oriole Landscaping on Oct. 18, 2022.

The new G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre includes 14 new research plots.

GTI opens new facility

From sports and recreational fields to home lawns, a new turfgrass centre has opened at the University of Guelph that will foster research and education to support Canada’s multibillion-dollar sports, golf and residential turf industry.

The new G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre will be the centrepiece of the recently relocated Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI), which marks its 35th anniversary as a national leader in research, extension work and professional development for the study of turf. Staff and leaders of the GTI cut the ribbon officially opening the new facility on Sept. 16, 2022.

The new centre will serve as a research, education and resource hub for the Canadian turfgrass industry as well as the headquarters of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, Sports Turf Canada and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation.

Its development was funded largely by the Government of Ontario through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO).

“We’re excited to continue our work in this new state-of-theart research and teaching facility,” said Dr. Eric Lyons, director of the GTI and a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture. “We are tremendously grateful for the support from the provincial government, individual donors, organizations and the industry who made our new location possible.”

The GTI’s new location covers about 17 acres at the east end of the U of G campus. Fourteen research plots provide different combinations of turfgrass cultivars, mowing heights and soil types.

Researchers will build on previous studies of environmental aspects of pesticide use, evaluation of grass species, varieties and seeding methods, sports field construction, fertility and management programs, and the biological and cultural control of diseases and weeds.

The research grounds, laboratories, diagnostics clinic and study space will continue to support and foster a strong Canadian turfgrass science program and attract new generations of academics, said Lyons.

Funding opportunities are still available for the GTI’s new maintenance and teaching building where students will learn irrigation installation, machine maintenance and landscape design.

Partnership working to improve long-cane raspberry production

Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation will be collaborating with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, OMAFRA, Fenwick Berry Farm as well as other industry partners to explore long-cane raspberry production under protected environments in Canada.

The project will develop a high yielding, energy efficient, fully integrated and scaled long-cane raspberry production system for Canada’s climate. The protected environment system will be capable of producing raspberry crops at farmscale outside of the normal growing season for long-cane raspberries.

Additional outcomes of the project include: providing flexibility to stagger the planting time and manage labour demands ultimately achieving year-round production. Protected structures will also create a more sustainable environment, alleviate the environmental stress factors related to climate change while generating renewable energy.

A proof-of-concept research production system will be installed to evaluate and develop technologies improving resource use efficiency and optimizing the system performance. Market size and acceptance, various variety performance, growing substrates, fertigation regimes, integrated pest management strategies, solar panel and automation technology integration will be evaluated. Growers will have options to fully adopt the system with new construction or partially adopt for retrofitting existing facilities. The system also has the potential to be adapted for other crops with modifications and/or additions.

Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is proud to lead one of 15 teams granted a Spark Award, the initial award phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge. The challenge aims to discover innovative tools and technology solutions to enable Canadian growers to cultivate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Qinglu Ying, PhD, Vineland’s Research Scientist, Plant Production was one of the successful grant recipients leading Vineland’s participation in the project application.

“We’re thrilled about the announcement. Participation in the challenge is limited, so we’re excited to be part of an exclusive group who can significantly contribute to research focused on food resiliency and sustainability,” says Ying. “Vineland is well-positioned to take on this project, being a leader in applied research in Canadian horticulture. We also have a strong legacy of working closely with growers, not only in Niagara but across the country.”

The Homegrown Innovation Challenge, funded by the Weston Family Foundation, aims at increasing the sustainability and competitiveness of the out-of-season berry industry in Canada.

The $50,000 seed funding will support the first of three phases of the challenge.

Results are expected by December this year, at which time the team will apply to the Shepherd phase. If successful, there is a potential to advance the project with further research and funding of up to $1 million to develop proof-of-concept of the system within a time period of up to 18 months. Innovation teams advancing through each phase of the Challenge have the potential to receive in total up to $8 million dollars.

Qinglu Ying

EXECUTIVE DESK

Our path is paved with a solid foundation

The last time Landscape Ontario welcomed a new executive director was nearly 34 years ago. And to think, Tony took the job on a one-year trial. We are forever grateful for his tremendous dedication and commitment to advancing the landscape trades. Tony leaves a lasting legacy. There’s no doubt he casts a long shadow, and I have heard often he leaves very big shoes to fill. This is true on all accounts. I plan to let my own light shine bright, and let’s be honest: there is nobody on the planet that could fill Tony’s shoes. I’m ready to walk in my own shoes and blaze a path, built on a solid foundation, that we can all be proud of.

I am humbled, as your new executive director, to have the support of the Landscape Ontario board of directors, staff team, and our member community. If you asked me if I could see this happening 20 years ago, I’d probably ask you what an executive director did. Around that time, I was just getting started with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (early 2003) with almost no exposure to the landscape and nursery sectors. My first week with the CNLA was spent feverishly getting up to speed so I could be useful at Landscape Ontario’s Congress trade show the following week. That was my introduction to this amazing community. Nothing like jumping straight in.

When I left the CNLA in late 2012, I promised myself that, should the opportunity arise, I would put my hat in the ring to return to Landscape Ontario in hopes of

being Tony’s successor. I held on to that dream for eight years as I moved on and grew as a leader, managing the operations at Dynascape Software. As vice president, I traveled all over the United States, visiting and consulting with hundreds of landscape designers and landscape contractors. I learned a lot about the challenges that landscape businesses face on a daily basis.

Then, during breakfast with Tony prior to the AGM at Congress 2020, my life changed forever. You see, not long before, Tony had offered me a job at Landscape Ontario, and I had told him that when he was ready to retire that I’d be interested.

Well, it was during our conversation at breakfast that morning he let me know he was planning his retirement and that he would like me to be part of his succession plan. It was a proud moment, and humbling at the same time. We spent the next month or so working out the details.

We planned that I would come in as LO Deputy Executive Director and Director of Operations and start April 1, 2020. We had no idea it would be two weeks after the world was shut down over a pandemic.

My introduction came at LO’s COVID19 Task Force meeting to discuss how we were going to get everyone back to work. I took the same approach as when I started with the CNLA and jumped right in. I haven’t stopped since. We certainly had a lot of runway to prepare for Tony’s retirement and me coming on board as executive director – two and a half years of runway. In that time, we’ve been through a pandemic,

canceled Canada Blooms and Congress (both twice), and grew our staff team from around 24 to over 40 by securing provincial government grants to advance the landscape trades through recruitment, upskilling, and apprenticeship.

My first month as executive director has been filled with chapter events, conferences, government meetings, announcements, celebrations, calls with members, and more. The welcome I have received has been overwhelming and humbling.

My big kid dream of becoming LO Executive Director has come true. I have made a career of observing the challenges and barriers the landscape trades face on a daily basis. In this role, I have the opportunity to do something about it directly. I can only do it with your help. So many of you face significant challenges when it comes to skilled labour. Let’s work together to develop strategies so we can continue to design, install and maintain Ontario’s landscapes, gardens and living green infrastructure.

We are committed to serving the landscape, nursery, and garden centre community here at Landscape Ontario. It’s through this commitment that we are dedicated to the advancement of the landscape trades. I know you have ideas and solutions and I’d love to hear about them from you. Feel free to reach out to connect with me by email or by phone 905-220-4106. I’m looking forward to connecting with you. I hope to see you at Landscape Ontario Congress, January 10-12, 2023.

Joe Salemi CAE LO Executive Director jsalemi@landscapeontario.com

MEMBERSHIP

A team of experts at your disposal

Landscape Ontario’s membership team is always on the lookout for ways to help the Landscape Ontario community save money — something that’s top of mind in these times of high inflation and skyrocketing prices. In fact, some of the recent additions to the already long list of exclusive LO member benefits are so amazing that it’s hard to even put a dollar amount to how much your business can save.

KSMI Weather App

Starting Nov. 1, 2022, LO members* received access to hyper-local weather data, real-time threat alerts, plus access to hundreds of provincial/municipal road weather systems via the KSMI Weather App. The technology allows you to make informed decisions year round about where and when to send crews based on interactive radar, mapping tools, weather alerts, live cameras and road conditions.

The app also allows you to push email and SMS notices to anyone on your team in real-time for threats such as lightning, strong wind, hail and wind. The archive feature allows you to log, export or document weather data for various reports, including evidence for insurance in the event of damage or loss.

Visit HortTrades.com/ksmi-weather-app for details.

EIO HR Hotline

Introduced this past summer, the EIO HR Hotline allows LO members* to connect with an HR expert to ask questions about employment policies — everything from hiring to severance, and everything in between. Available seven days a week via phone, email or live web chat, EIO managers will guide you through best practices for

things like vacation pay, health and safety mandates, or navigating through a pressing emergency. There’s no limit on hotline usage. How can you put a dollar value on that?

Visit HortTrades.com/hr-hotline for details.

Telephone legal advice

LO members* also have access to unlimited telephone legal advice seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight (24 hours a day in emergency situations). There is no limit to the number of times you can call or the duration of the call.

Ask questions about employment or staffing issues, mergers and acquisitions, accounts receivable, contracts, or taxrelated matters.

According to the Law Society of Ontario, the average cost of a lawyer in the province ranges from $90 per hour for a law clerk/ student to $325 per hour for a senior counsel with over 20 years of experience, so there’s no telling how much money you’ll save by utilizing this amazing benefit.

Visit HortTrades.com/telephone-legal-advice for details.

Save money, time and get peace of mind

Let’s face it: we all worry about money. But business owners are pulled in so many directions — managing crews, pleasing clients, dealing with suppliers, and so much more. So when things come up that are not your area of expertise, or that lure your focus away from your business, take a minute to connect with the professional services made available through your LO membership. You’ll not only save time and money, you’ll gain peace of mind by getting a clear roadmap to solving a particular problem with LO’s great team of experts behind you.

* Available to all Member, Sole Proprietor, Chapter Associate and Associate membership categories.

Daria Ruginis

LO Member Engagement Specialist

Tillsonburg, ON

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

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Motivating and engaging your team

After five years of focusing my attention on the behaviour differences between generations in the workplace, I’ve come to a few conclusions. I’ll share the highlights (I’d like to say ‘Coles Notes’ but my Millennial and Gen Z readers might roll their eyes and stop reading).

The ‘Millennial Problem’ is an opportunity

For the last 10 years, many employers have thrown their arms up in frustration at trying to understand how to work with Millennials. But it’s actually not that hard. In general, they’re not lazy or self-entitled. Millennials are highly creative and prefer to work as a part of the ‘hive mind’ collective. They want to collaborate and need frequent encouragement in real-time. They are now in their late ‘20s through early ‘40s.

The employer/ employee clash comes when older generations operate with the old paradigm toward work in our profession: commit to a company, show up, work hard, hit the targets and collect your pay. As for feedback, well, no news is good news, right? Not any more. If you’re a Gen X (early ‘40s to late ‘50s) or Baby Boomer (60-ish to early ‘70s), then you’re likely frustrated with the attitude of most younger people that you hire because of the work ethic you perceive them to have.

A Millennial employee who finds themselves in the midst of a company led the old way will run screaming in the opposite direction and search for a workplace where they will be treated as a collaborative and valued person on the team from day one. As for the ‘show up’

part, Millennials are social and community minded. They crave being valued and appreciated. If there’s something in their personal life or circle that trumps your targets and budgets, they may not show up for you every day. They dislike conflict, so if they know they’ll get in trouble for taking a day off they just won’t call in to get the hassle. They may or may not work the long hours in a day or week that you would, but they will work as hard — if you meet them on their terms. Paid time off is a great example of how to help Millennials feel more committed to the company. Paid time to do a community or volunteer project can be a very good benefit to offer.

Gen Z is wired very differently than Millennials

Now in their mid-’20s and younger, this cohort aren’t as needy as Millennials may seem. They aren’t as set on being a part of a collaborating, co-creating group. This generation has a bit more independence. They want to know how they are doing and measure their own progress or success on individually assigned projects or goals.

This generation is highly curious and extremely protective of their life-work balance. (Note that ‘life’ comes first). They are timid, curious, social and a bit flighty, easily intimidated, sensitive to criticism — of either themselves or of others around them — if it is not accompanied with coaching. They aren’t afraid to learn, but they insist on feeling they’ve been set up for success. If they don’t, they’ll bolt for the door. Culture therefore, is critical. This generation needs to feel autonomy — a tough challenge for employers running

crews and welcoming entry-level workers into a company that’s set up with a hierarchy of levels of authority.

Companies who successfully engage this vibrant, bright and curious generation are those who have shifted the leadership paradigm around the meaning of hard work and life balance. If you want to have success building the team you need, then get with this program: Life Work Balance. Ask what that means to them and engage in conversation.

Motivating the team

I recently coached a husband and wife business owner team who are part of the Millennial generation. They were asked for advice on motivation. After proudly describing a bonus system they’d devised for their teams (including how a shared leaderboard displayed employee points earned on performance each month), I asked if the program worked. They both laughed and said it was an absolute failure. One of the terms they kept using was, “here are the numbers we need to meet.” BINGO. Externally defined goals in a bonus system based on achieving numbers that were meaningful to the owners and not the team. And, a system designed to publicly shame those who were struggling to meet targets. Doomed to fail. Their team is mostly younger Millennials and Gen Z over 20.

The solution we discussed was Gen Z-based thinking: Stop talking about gross profit or job costing targets up front. Start talking about what is scheduled for any given crew for a week and let them figure out how to get the work done on time and to standard. Consider setting in place more of a salary than an hourly rate. It’s easier than you might think.

Imagine if an employer were to turn it around into a Gen Z context and say, “I’ll pay you $x.xx per week for the season. Some weeks will be heavier than others depending on the time of year. The attention to detail has to be met. The schedule will be reasonable. If you and your teammates can figure out a way to get the work done at or above standard, in less time, then you get paid time off.” Individually motivated to get what they want (more time off) and a steady paycheque.

— BINGO.

Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager

EDUCATOR PROFILE

Alice Power works toward a brighter future

By Gail Pope

Alice Power was awarded the Horticultural Educator of the Year Award by Landscape Ontario in 2021 for her steadfast support and advocacy of the landscape and horticulture profession.

For over a decade, Power has worked for Skilled Trades Ontario (previously called the Ontario College of Trades) where she has spearheaded projects including the development of training standards, curriculum and examinations for the Horticultural Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program, and provided support for the Red Seal Program at the national level.

What makes horticulture education so important to you?

I don’t think the general public realizes the amount of skill and knowledge that is required to become a professional in this sector, as is the case with many trades. The amount of knowledge is just phenomenal. Just think about the number of plants that need to be identified by a horticultural technician or the amount of tree species that an arborist must know how to identify. Or the knowledge to manage plant health and growing conditions, manage pests

and diseases. Then there are also the skills needed for hardscaping and implementation of green infrastructure. That’s why education is so important — it supports this knowledge and skill development of the sector.

Do you think horticulture has a bright future in Ontario?

Absolutely! With an increased society awareness of climate change and the health and wellness benefits of green spaces, the public and government is seeking the leadership and expertise of this trade. Municipalities understand the value of learning from this trade in helping them take steps in vital areas such as storm management and other climate mitigation strategies. Just think about how much greenspaces have made a difference to our mental health during the pandemic and how many people wanted to enhance their outdoor living spaces. People are starting to realize the value of this sector and I think that this is only going to get better.

What does winning this award mean to you?

To be recognized in a sector that I love so much is incredible, I feel quite emotional. And really, it is about the relationships that are forged with people in the trade, the experts. They are the ones that help me create the products, including the training standards and assessment tools. It is a collaboration using my skills to develop training standards and their content knowledge. I feel so fortunate to have an opportunity to work with people from this vital sector, with whom I enjoy working with and am continually learning from. How lucky am I to get paid to ask trade experts questions, to facilitate their expertise and knowledge to create provincial apprenticeship training standards?