Landscape Ontario - October 2021 by Landscape Ontario

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

October 2021

Dutchmaster’s

deep roots

Brougham, Ontario-based nursery celebrates 50 years

PM 40013519

PAGE 4

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FUTURE BUSINESS GROWS IN SILENCE

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October 2021 • Volume 39 - No. 07 HortTrades.com Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural profession in Ontario.

Features 4 7

Profile: Dutchmaster Snow and Ice Management Group

Departments 9 20 21 22 26 30

Association News Educator Profile Volunteer Profile Professional News Columns Advertisers

Director of Communications and Publications Scott Barber sbarber@landscapeontario.com, 647-478-3171 Editor Bill Tremblay btremblay@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7550 Creative Director / IT Coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Communications Coordinator and Content Manager Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Sales Manager Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications Coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Digital Marketing Specialist Adele Bedard abedard@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-4144 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF

Sonam Arora, Nolan Bechtel, Amy Buchanan, Joan D’Souza, Kaneisha De Leon, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Lori Harding, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Anna Hulskramer, Liz Lant, Amanda Laszcz, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, Andrew McNabb, Shalini Mehta, Sarah Rafols, Joe Salemi, Christy Sebastian, Ian Service, Jessica Tucker, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Tom Somerville

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby, Nick Winkelmolen Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department - Landscape Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada Phone: 905-875-1805 ISSN 1928-9553 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Views expressed are those of the writer concerned. Landscape Ontario assumes no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2021, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 9x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Trust is embedded in all aspects of our profession

me to deliver a thought-out design that included their priorities as a family. It was my job to listen closely, and combine what I heard from them with my experience and knowledge, to create the backyard of their dreams. As I walked out to my truck with the deposit cheque, I reflected on how I just sold a job that was only 85 per cent worked out and that I had to maintain their trust by getting it to 100 per cent by the time it was going into the ground. Now it is up to my team to live up to that expectation. There is a lot of trust being thrown around. My client trusts us to deliver based on an idea and our previous work; my team trusts that I designed something buildable in the estimated timeframe; and I must trust my team to pull it off. In this case, our trust advantage is previously completing a project for the client. I have seen my team grow, learn and improve since the last project we did with them, but the complexity of our projects have increased. At the core, I believe my team can do it and trust them to pull it off. We often say that trust is both built and earned. Indeed, trust has to be mutual, but at some point, someone has to take the leap to get that chain of trust going. I think maybe it begins with believing in your own capabilities and the talent you’ve surrounded yourself with. I challenge you to find these niche clients that trust you to do what you are good at, and to build a team that earns your trust to build and maintain your exceptional projects.

’ve probably written about this before, but I was reminded this week about how foundational trust is in everything we do. I recently met with a client we had built a project with before. They have moved into a bigger house and missed the pool and backyard from their previous home where we first worked together. My design process includes a lot of collaboration with the client, and we were in the middle of a discussion on budget. Early on, I gave them my rough estimate on where this project would land based on their needs and wants. However, their budget was about 40 per cent less than the cost. Together, we trimmed the nonpriority wants from the design and landed on a project scope we were all happy with. There were still tweaks required, but the construction schedule forced us to proceed with a design that was not fully worked out. I presented a budget with allowances and optional phasing to allow them to hold off on some items, so they could stay closer to their original budget. The client looked at the numbers and asked me some detailed questions. He then looked me in the eye and said: “Do it all.” He qualified his statement by saying he had never regretted spending money on quality products. He only ever regretted not spending enough, then wishing he had. We don’t get this kind of customer every day, but I realized he trusted our process and my honesty. I could have trimmed the project back to their budget, and he would have regretted setting the limit. He trusted

Dave Wright LO President

davew@wrightlandscape.ca

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Member Profile:

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Dutchmaster

MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE WITH A HALF-CENTURY IN BUSINESS, THE NURSERY IS STILL GROWING

small perennials and large truck-spaded trees, as well as everything in between. “We can supply a large residential house where they want large caliper trees and big finished shrubs, and we can also supply something like a restoration job for the side of a highway, where they want small whips that will keep costs down while getting as much vegetation as they can,” Dave said.

hroughout its five decades in business, innovation has played an important role in Dutchmaster Nurseries’ success. The company’s founders, Henry and Frances Tillaart, immigrated to Canada from Holland in 1958. Within a few years of arriving, they managed to buy a 60-acre farm in Brougham, Ont., and began a career in agriculture. Alongside general farming, as well as jobs in landscaping, they grew a few trees on the side for added income. “Every year, tree sales got to be a little more and a little more,” said Dave Tillaart, grandson of Henry and Frances and manager of Dutchmaster. “Eventually, that overtook having any kind of day job.” In 1971, Henry started Dutchmaster with a single farm and three employees. The business would continue to grow from there, as Henry acquired more land and hired more employees to sell caliper trees to landscapers and municipalities. “The first couple of farms were not really ideal, but he reshaped some of the land and used them to the best of their ability,” Dave said. “He grew the business the best he could.” For example, the Brougham farm that now serves as the company’s headquarters was originally swampland and had a poor grade for tree production. Henry was able to rework the site, allowing moisture to drain into a creek, which then returns the water to an irrigation pond. “A lot of that water can filter right back to the pond and we can try to capture it again,” Dave said. “Back then it didn’t look like much. Now it definitely works in our favour.” Today, Dutchmaster has grown to more than 3,000 acres of production, spread across 25 sites throughout Durham Region. During peak season, the company employs about 120 people, including 65 off-shore workers, to produce thousands of plant cultivars. While Dutchmaster is well-known for its caliper and wire basket trees, their product line has grown to include

50th anniversary

In 2021, Dutchmaster celebrates 50 years since Henry officially entered the nursery business. “We’re definitely proud to have come from where we came from, which was nothing,” Dave said. “We now see ourselves as an industry leader and we try to maintain that.” Looking back, industry awards are one of many highlights throughout the company’s history. In 2015, Dutchmaster was named the Grower of the Year at the National Awards of Landscape Excellence. The following year, the nursery earned bronze in the finished plants and trees category at the 2016 International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) International Grower of the Year Awards. “Most importantly, it’s the network of people we’ve developed over the years,” Dave said. “It’s the customers that have been with us for many years and even the other suppliers we have relationships with. The nursery industry as a whole is not as big as people think. Working together with people is something to be proud of.” While the pandemic and an increase in demand has put a damper on celebrating, it hasn’t stopped the Dutchmaster team from reflecting on their 50 years in business. “It’s a big milestone for us, for sure. We’ve dug up a whole bunch of old photos from our archives. It’s good memories to look back and see our roots,” Dave said. “We’ve been busy, but at the same time it’s nice to look back at where we came from and how we got here too.”

Continued >

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Three generations

Throughout its history, the Tillaart family has also been at the forefront of Dutchmaster. Currently, the nursery employs eight third-generation family members, as well as three in the second generation. “We are very fortunate to have a business that is three generations,” said Marlin Tillaart, Dave’s father and president of Dutchmaster’s sister company Dutchman Industries. “Each family member brings a different personality and attribute to the business. This is what makes for a strong family business.” Joining the family business was a natural fit for Dave. Growing up, he would often join his father at work, and observe the various tasks required to run a successful nursery. “When you’re doing that, you don’t realize how much you’re learning. All of these jobs — even if some of them seem menial — you’re actually learning a lot from them,” Dave said. “Over the course of a number of years, you actually gather a lot of experience and insight.” After officially joining the company in 2007, Dave explained he was intrigued by the industry, and the constant education it provided. “The business is always growing and changing. The plant selection is always growing and changing. It’s just an interesting industry to be in,” Dave said. “I don’t know if I’d be the type to go into the city and work in an office building. I’d rather work outside with the plant material.”

Dutchman Industries

Family has also played a role in innovation at Dutchman Industries. In the 1980s, the nursery expanded into fabricating its own line of tree spades and nursery equipment. Marlin created Dutchman Industries to fill a void in the tree spade market. As one of the main digging crew leaders at the nursery, Marlin often found the need to make spade repairs in the field. With limited tree spade options at the time, Marlin and his team went to work on making improvements to their equipment to meet their needs. “That’s kind of how Dutchman Industries was born. It definitely did arise out of necessity,” Dave said. “They eventually started making their own designs and their own machines, and they constantly continued to improve their own equipment.” Like the nursery, Dutchman Industries has grown significantly since its inception. Dutchman now produces more than 200 models of spades, tyers, planters and Tree Rex grapples, which are sold worldwide. “I remember milking cows and doing chores with my brother Mike at 10 and 11-years-old. It was hard to imagine that I would never have to leave the farm and years later being able to do business in over 50 countries,” Marlin said. “I think passion, integrity and being humble go a long way in establishing relationships worldwide that will last for years to come.” Although the two companies operate as separate entities, the tree spades are manufactured on the same site as Dutchmaster’s Brougham headquarters, creating a competitive advantage for the equipment company. “They’re constantly getting feedback from guys in the field, and because of that practical experience, they’re really able to develop the product in a way that sets it apart from competitors,” Dave explained. Throughout the last six years, Dutchmaster has been slowly, but steadily expanding. The nursery is now growing on more land, and producing a larger assortment of plants. Looking ahead to the future, Dave expects to see the same steady growth. “It’s not one big thing. It’s just constant development and growth every year,” he said. “If you are continually moving forward and growing, over the course of a few years you look back and think, we really did a lot in those years. But as you’re doing it, it doesn’t seem like a lot.”

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LET IT

SNOW

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO'S SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT SECTOR GROUP IS MAKING GAINS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WINTER MAINTENANCE LIABILITY ISSUES

t the beginning of the year, winter maintenance professionals scored an important win against frivolous slip and fall claims. In January, Bill 118 — The Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act, 2020 — came into effect in Ontario. Introduced by Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller, the Private Member’s Bill reduced the statute of limitations — for claims arising from snow or ice-related injuries — from two years to 60 days. “We were told that these Private Member’s Bills rarely make it all the way. We were told they have a very low batting average,” said Terry Nicholson, vice president of Clintar and chair of Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Management Sector Group. Despite the odds, Landscape Ontario’s members helped ensure Bill 118 received royal assent. Throughout the province, numerous winter maintenance professionals visited their local MPPs to raise the liability issue and its effects on the industry. “We also recognize this is just the start,” Nicholson said. “It doesn’t necessarily remove the liability from us. The Occupiers Liability Act has not changed, other than the statute. There is more to do.” Nicholson joined John Whitehead, principal of Earnscliffe Strategy Group, to outline Bill 118 and the Snow and Ice Committee’s future goals during Snowposium, Landscape Ontario’s annual snow and ice conference, held virtually on Sept. 16.

The New Hampshire model

To address liability issues in winter maintenance, Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Group is looking south to New Hampshire. In an effort to reduce road salt from entering waterways, the state created the Green SnowPro training and certification program, which is designed to educate contractors on winter maintenance best practices, including equipment and material innovations, as well as the science behind de-icing and anti-icing. Persuading contractors to reduce salt use meant New Hampshire had to also address the liability issue. So, the state created legislation to provide limited liability protection to winter maintenance professionals certified through the Green SnowPro program. “They put in a program that is basically an accreditation program that deems a professional knows what they’re doing,” Nicholson said. “In the end, if there is an incident on a property, they’ve really got to prove gross negligence. It’s been a really successful program in New Hampshire.” The Snow and Ice Group is hopeful a similar model will gain the approval of Ontario legislators. “The provincial government needs a couple of environmental wins, and they’ve identified salt as an issue,” Nicholson said. To advocate for legislative change, Landscape Ontario has partnered with Earnscliffe Strategy Group. Continued >

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“We have been working since 2019 to put it into the government’s mind — as clearly and as simply and as effectively as possible — the notion that something like the New Hampshire model would be good for business, people and the environment,” Whitehead said. Bill 118 has demonstrated the government is engaged with the issue, Whitehead explained. As well, establishing an accreditation program is aligned with Ontario’s priorities. For example, the Madein-Ontario Environmental Plan includes the goal of reducing the amount of salt entering Ontario waterways. “There’s good alignment and that’s a very good starting point,” Whitehead said. “Everything we do with government going forward is all about helping them achieve the objectives they’ve identified.” Furthermore, The ability to reduce insurance costs fits into Premier Doug Ford’s ‘Open for Business’ focus. “The members are businesses across the province of varying sizes. They’re saying, ‘if you want to help us to grow, if you want to help us to carry on and be in business, this is the way to do it,’” Whitehead said. “Critically, we’re not asking for money, we’re not asking for tax credits. We’re just asking for some regulatory changes that would help.”

Plowing ahead

Whitehead explained the probability of success increases when the government is presented with an organized proposal. Landscape Ontario has created a “thoughtful and credible proposal, presented in a constructive and organized way,” he said. Combined with winter maintenance contractors’ willingness to contact their MPPs, a compelling case is being made for an accreditation program. “All of that contributes to moving the yardsticks. There’s a cacophony of noise coming from stakeholders. There’s a lot of people yelling and saying you’re doing it wrong,” Whitehead said. “There aren’t many voices that stand out and say, ‘I have something helpful and constructive here.’ That is where Landscape Ontario is right now.” Currently, the Snow and Ice Group is working with two ministries in particular on an accreditation program — the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. “These are two of the tougher ministries to work with. They’re both very, very regulatory,” Whitehead said. Fortunately, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks is engaged with the idea of creating an accreditation program. As well, the fact Ontario will head to an

election in about 40 weeks is another positive factor. “We’re going to be making sure that if you want to put a checkmark next to something on your environmental list, and we think you need to, this is the opportunity,” Whitehead said. “It has been well salted into the system at this point.” While another Private Member’s Bill is being considered, a government bill may be required to make the New Hampshire model a reality in Ontario. “Getting it onto the timetable is really the next goal,” Whitehead said.

A national standard

The Snow and Ice Group is also working with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to create a recognized national standard for snow and ice management. “We first had to convince the standards association that a standard is necessary,” Nicholson said. “We believe we’ve gotten that far and we’re in the process now of getting the framework together.” The combination of a national standard and an accreditation program will likely translate into a reduction in liability, Nicholson explained. “It’s a bit of a slow process, but there are a lot of people working on it,” he said.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Top national landscape and horticulture awards announced for 2021

Aden Earthworks Winners of the National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) were announced Sept. 15, 2021 via an online event hosted by Mark and Ben Cullen. The awards celebrate the best-of-the-best in landscape and horticulture, recognizing

the outstanding work of companies across the country that are raising the level of professionalism in the Canadian landscape industry.

Continued >

Congratulations

TO THE FOLLOWING WINNERS Aden Earthworks

Strathmore Landscape Contractors LaSalle, Que. HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Commercial Landscape Maintenance for “Rideau Canal Corridor.”

Calgary, Alta. HortProtect National Award of Excellence for Landscape Design for “Lotus Gardens.”

Fossil Landscape Construction

Eagle Lake Nurseries

Edmonton, Alta. CNLA Garden Centre of the Year Award.

Toronto, Ont. Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence for Commercial Landscape Construction for “Musee Picass.” Vancouver, B.C. Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Landscape Construction for “West Vancouver Estate.”

Strathmore, Alta. CNLA Grower of the Year Award.

Para Space Landscaping

Burnaby, B.C. Green for Life Community Award for “Granville Island Project.”

VisionScapes

Millcreek Nursery

The Cultivated Garden

Toronto, Ont. HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Landscape Maintenance for “Ivey Residence.”

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VisionScapes Presented by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), the awards consist of five landscape awards, with each provincial association nominating members from its own provincial awards of excellence competition. In addition, the Green for Life Community Award recognizes incredible projects within communities that benefit the public through the

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO construction or maintenance of green spaces. Lastly, two new awards were added this year: the CNLA Grower of the Year Award, and the CNLA Garden Centre of the Year Award. The National Awards of Landscape Excellence are sponsored by Caterpillar, John Deere, Fenchurch General Insurance Company and HortProtect. To watch a replay of the awards, including videos of current and past winners, visit cnla.ca/awards.

The Cultivated Garden

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GROWing its ranks

Lawn Troopers finds training success by enlisting team members in Landscape Ontario’s GROW: Incumbent Worker Training Program

At the age of nine, Matt Hill, owner of Lawn Troopers, began working toward his dream of owning a successful lawn care company. As he grew, so too did his dreams and goals. Today, Lawn Troopers is a full-service residential lawn care

company serving Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Georgetown, Vaughan, Caledon and Brampton. Over the years, Hill developed his skills, his business and a dedicated team. In so doing, he imparted a strong culture of

Do you have any employees who would benefit from free off-season training this winter?

Nominate them today! The GROW Incumbent Worker Training Program provides professional development to current sector workers nominated for the program by their employer. All successful nominees receive foundational supervisory and advanced health and safety compliance training. GROW staff create individualized development plans with each participant in coordination with their employer. The program is delivered from September 2021 to February 2022. The training course is delivered over 10 weeks. If you have any questions, contact Lori Harding at lharding@landscapeontario.com. The GROW program is free for everyone eligible to enter. For more information, visit growoutdoors.ca. The GROW Program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO leadership throughout the company. During the first year of Landscape Ontario’s GROW: Incumbent Worker Training Program, Lawn Troopers manager Sherry Young nominated team member Jessie Leslie. After three years with the company, Leslie received a promotion to the role of supervisor. In coordination with Young, GROW program staff customized a training plan for Leslie that enhanced her strengths and helped her fulfil her new role with confidence and competence. “Developing strong leaders is a process that requires commitment and determination, and the GROW Incumbent Worker Training Program is a clear-cut way to fast-track key employees,” Hill said. Soon after the program began, Young reported a positive shift in Leslie’s confidence. Armed with that increase in confidence, Leslie enthusiastically tackled new challenges, approaching her new role with vigour. “The program was exceptionally well put together to make the most out of everyone’s time,” Leslie said. “The best takeaway from the program was the

support from other participants, which made for a nice sense of community. It was amazing to learn with like-minded people from all sorts of different companies across the landscape industry.” Since graduating from the program, Leslie has continued to grow into her new role. She was even able to seize the opportunity to display her lawn care skills while working on a project featured in an episode of Holmes Family Rescue, starring Mike Holmes, on CTV. After last year’s success, Young said they are keen to nominate all of their forepersons for the GROW Incumbent Worker Training Program. What’s more, after witnessing Leslie’s success, team members are eager to participate. “Our experience in the program is an example of what happens when you invest in your team. Jessie’s success has paid dividends across our ranks as our staff knows that we are a company that values commitment and dedication and is willing to work with them to reach their full potential,” Young said. “We hope to have all forepersons participate in future programs.”

Member dues invoices were sent September 1 Landscape Ontario members were sent an email on Sept. 1, 2021 that contained an invoice to renew their membership dues. For those members that joined between Sept. 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021 — your membership will now renew on the anniversary of the date you joined. Your payment is due upon receipt of your membership dues invoice. Your engagement in the Landscape Ontario community is tremendously important to us, we would hate it if you lost access to the many benefits that come with your membership. If you did not receive your dues renewal invoice, please contact the LO Membership Services Team at 1-800-265-5656 and they will assist you with paying your invoice or resend the original email containing a unique link that allows you to pay securely online via credit card.

Set yourself up for success in 2022

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Landscape Ontario announces seminar lineup for 2021-2022 Landscape Ontario recently released its annual offering of off-season training sessions via the association’s Professional Development Seminar Guide 2021-2022. A PDF version of the guide is available for download by visiting horttrades.com/ seminars. With a new graphical chart-based layout, the guide includes a listing of more than 50 in-person sessions for all levels of landscape and horticulture professionals — from entry-level workers to seasoned business owners. Most sessions are held at the newlyrenovated Landscape Ontario home office in Milton, Ont., with a selection of titles also offered in various regions across the province. Some of the new sessions this year include: How to Build a Happy, Productive Team (Feb. 22); Mastering Commercial Vehicle Laws and the Roadside Inspection (Mar. 7 or 9); Nematodes (Mar. 19); and Creating Containers that Perform (Mar. 11). Popular favourites will also return, such as: Chainsaw Training (multiple dates); Skid Steer

Certification Training (multiple dates); as well as many irrigation, maintenance, design and business development titles. In-person sessions run from February to April and cost $138 for an LO member or $264 for a non-member unless indicated otherwise. Online professional development continues to expand, and the guide lists more than 60 one-hour online sessions on a wide range of topics, including: vegetable garden design, lighting, soil and drainage, invasive species and more. Online sessions will run from November 25 to March 30 and cost $45 for LO members, and $60 for non-members. Due to public health guidelines, class sizes are smaller and health and safety protocols have been implemented with participant health and safety top of mind. Those who register before Dec. 31, 2021 for any titles held Jan. 1 through to April 2022 will automatically receive a 10 per cent discount.

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Lessons from abroad

Virtually connect to experts from around the world at Congress Conference Landscape Ontario’s virtual Congress Conference will offer attendees the opportunity to learn from experts from around the world in 2022. The annual seminar series returns Jan. 18-20, via Zoom, and delivers 36 sessions featuring 47 leading experts from across the various sectors of horticulture and landscaping. Here’s seven sessions that feature experts based outside of Canada.

TUESDAY, JAN. 18

Garden Centres Around the World 9 a.m.

This session features Paul Cooling from Coolings Nurseries in the United Kingdom; Rachel Doyle, from Arboretum in Ireland; Leanne Johnson from Gardenworks in British Columbia; Karen Moad from Rivers of Yarrambat Lifestyle Centre in Australia; and Nick Stodel from Stodels Garden Centres in South Africa. The five International Garden Centre (IGC) owners and industry experts will share the three most important strategies they have used to grow their business and how that will serve them going forward.

Building a More Inclusive Workforce in Green Professions 1 p.m.

Dr. Jeanette “Danielle” Barber obtained her PhD in Agricultural and Extension Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her research aims to understand motivating factors to help to improve feelings of inclusivity for underrepresented minorities in agriculture. In this session, Barber will provide strategies to help attract and retain diverse candidates, as well as keep employees engaged, motivated and empowered. Continued >

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO Virtually tour the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London, England during Congress Conference.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19

Garden Spotlight: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 9 a.m.

During this session, host Michel Gauthier and Richard Barley, director of horticulture and learning at Kew, will deliver a virtual tour and insights into the work behind-thescenes at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London, England. Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to 16,900 plant species. In September, Kew Gardens set a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of living plants on a single-site botanical garden.

The Internet of Nature 11 a.m.

Dr. Nadina Galle, from the Netherlands, coined the term the “Internet of Nature” (IoN) to help urban development strengthen green spaces. Through research, design and reallife success stories, Galle will demonstrate how the IoN is already being applied to build better places to live. Nadina believes that by weaving ecology with the modern world of technology, her audience will look at cities with a new perspective.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO THURSDAY, JAN. 20

FIVE SEASONS: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf 3 p.m.

Tune in for this virtual screening of the feature documentary FIVE SEASONS: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf. The film immerses viewers in the Dutch designer and plantsman’s work and takes its audience inside his creative process, from abstract sketches, to theories on beauty, to the ecological implications of his ideas. Intimate discussions take place through all four seasons in Piet’s own gardens at Hummelo, and on visits to his signature public works in New York, Chicago and the Netherlands. The film also follows Oudolf as he designs and installs a major new garden at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, a gallery and arts centre in Southwest England, a garden he considers his best work yet.

Three Reports Every Landscape Business Needs to Grow Profitability 3 p.m.

Landscape business owners aim to generate more profit than expenses. However, it’s often unclear what is working and what is not. In this session, Greg Herring, CEO of the Texasbased The Herring Group, will outline three reports that can make a landscape business’ profits stand out from its competition. During this talk, Greg explains these three reports, why they are powerful, and what results should be expected.

The Plant Parenting Revolution 11 a.m.

Houseplants, both old and new, are popular again with homeowners, apartment and dorm dwellers and at the office. Certified Professional Horticulturist Leslie Halleck, from the Texas-based Halleck Horticulture, will cover current growing plant-keeping trends, the future of the houseplant craze, current and future popular plants, plus sales and marketing opportunities and strategies for independent garden centres.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR CONGRESS CONFERENCE Access to all sessions is $225 for Landscape Ontario members, $275 for a non-member, and $40 for a student if registered by Jan. 4, 2022. All prices increase on Jan. 5. Registrations received by Jan. 12 will also receive free entry to the Congress 2022 trade show, January 11-13, 2022 at the Toronto Congress Centre. Conference attendees will also be permitted to replay conference sessions for a limited time period after January 20. For more information on sessions, or to register, visit

HortTrades.com/congress-conference-2022.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Ken Jewett honoured with lifetime achievement award is reminding us how much we need a responsible connection to nature for our health and well-being,” said Meg Beckel, president and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Nature and chair/ex-officio member of the awards selection jury. For the last two decades, Jewett, a resident of Mulmur, Ont., has dedicated his life and personal finances to the planting of native maple trees across Canada. Through MLF, Jewett has provided more than $2.5 million to individuals and groups for planting initiatives and to promote environmental education on the importance of native Canadian maple trees. Jewett created MLF in 2002, after noticing the sugar maples that line rural Ontario roads and farm laneways were in decline. These trees were originally provided by a historic government incentive program to prevent erosion along farmland. Under Jewett’s leadership, MLF created a Thank You Rebate program for rural landowners to help plant native maples. Today, MLF has planted about 130,000 native maples throughout Ontario in partnership with 22 nurseries and several municipalities. These trees represent more than 2,000 km of maple-lined roadways and laneways. “The maple tree, the maple leaf, maple syrup, it’s part of our whole Canadian heritage,” Jewett said. “I saw native maple trees disappearing and being replaced by cultivars and invasive species. I’ve made a pledge to try and stop this, and to help farmers and landowners plant native maples along their roadsides and laneways.”

The Canadian Museum of Nature has honoured Ken Jewett, founder of Maples Leaves Forever (MLF), with its 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. As part of the museum’s Nature Inspiration Awards, the lifetime achievement honour recognizes leadership through innovative projects that connect Canadians with the natural world. “These awards are taking place at a time when the pandemic

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Liz Lant joins LO communications team Landscape Ontario is pleased to announce the recent addition of Liz Lant as its business development representative. Lant brings nearly 20 years of experience in sales and entrepreneurship to her new position at LO. Her previous roles include publisher and founder of Neighbours Magazine, a series of community based monthly publications and account representative for Torstar Media Group. Lant holds a BA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a design diploma from Sheridan College. “I am looking forward to getting to know LO members and becoming knowledgeable about each sector and chapter,” Lant said. “I am especially looking forward to connecting with and learning about the incredible range of suppliers to the landscape industry. We have so much to offer and there are many ways we can bring value.” In the new role, Lant will help educate suppliers and vendors as to how and why Landscape Ontario can assist them in achieving their sales and marketing goals. “As a long time sales professional, for me it has always been about the win-win relationship that happens when we work together to help our partners achieve their goals and objectives.” Liz Lant can be reached at 905-875-1805, ext. 2314 or by email at elant@landscapeontario.com.

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The list of volunteers that helped make the Toronto chapter’s garden makeover a reality continues to grow. In addition to the 15 project sponsors mentioned in the September issue of Landscape Ontario, Ecoman and Terraform also donated equipment for use on the job site. As well, Garry Reisky from Terraform, Max Gainer and Matt Harbury from Little Landscapes and Noah Giguere from Quercus Gardens join the list of 16 volunteers previously published. Shelley Brillinger, executive director of Participation House, was the recipient of the TO chapter’s garden makeover, which she donated to the home for the developmentally disabled in Markham, Ont. The makeover transformed about 7,000 square feet of the facility’s courtyard, and includes a 700-square-foot concrete patio, two retaining walls and various softscape elements. Donations for the project exceeded the original $5,000 commitment, reaching more than $50,000 to complete.

GEORGIAN

TORONTO

WATERLOO

Participation House volunteers

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EDUCATOR PROFILE

Darrell Bley is dedicated to continuous learning teaching skills. After working for six years for a landscape company, I became an instructor here at Niagara Parks, and I transitioned into a full-time instructor very quickly after that. I was teaching full-time here and in the evenings at Niagara College. There’s been a lot of teaching going on.

What is one of the most rewarding aspects of your career as an educator?

Darrell Bley is instructor and curator of the woody plant collections at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture in Niagara Falls, Ont. An educator for more than 35 years, Bley also oversees the school’s internship program, and was an instructor at Niagara College until 2010. Before becoming an educator, Bley owned his own landscaping and tropical plants companies, and worked as a manager for a landscape supply company.

For you, what was the draw to the horticulture profession?

I’ve always enjoyed working with plants. When you’re working with plants, it’s a very rewarding opportunity to look back on something and see a transformation and see a change and see what you’ve created. I think that is really what I found to be a rewarding opportunity.

How did you make the transition into the education side of horticulture?

When I had my companies, I was asked to be on the advisory board for the horticulture program at Niagara College. In the second year of sitting on that advisory board, I was asked if I was interested in teaching a soils course. That was my first step into the teaching realm. From that point forward, I started teaching. For 25 years I taught the Continued Education Program and all the credit courses involved in that. That was a good way to hone my

I would have to look at four things. The top aspect is watching student development, and seeing them grow over the three years they go to school here. It’s really rewarding to see where they then proceed to in the workplace. I keep in touch with a lot of students and it’s nice to see their career path develop. The second thing is those relationships with students during school, but also as they move forward in their careers. The third thing is that I’m always learning something. Personal education and growth is always interesting. It’s always very fulfilling. And the last thing is that in this job I have a lot of opportunities to travel. Those are wonderful memories and great learning opportunities.

You’re known as a mentor to many of your students, what aspect of your teaching style do you think generates this enthusiasm?

I always recognized a really good teacher and I looked at their attributes and what made them a good teacher. When I started teaching, I put a lot of thought into that and the attributes of those individuals.

Are there any new factors in the industry that have encouraged you to change how you educate your students? There’s always new techniques that are coming forward, there’s always new ideas and there’s really excellent researchers that put out a lot of literature. It’s important to stay current and read those articles and read those textbooks. You need to attend lots of conferences. Nowadays with the

internet there’s great ways to learn new information. That really allows you to change content and update content. The more often you teach a course, you realize how to provide that information to make it more understandable and more applicable. We do a lot of field trips and we do a lot of study tours, which allows you to speak with key people, and we can learn a lot from them. We have a lot of good connections in the industry.

What advice would you offer others who are considering becoming a teacher?

As a teacher, I think you need to have passion. It’s a full-time commitment, and as an instructor you have to be constantly learning yourself. I try to take the time to connect with each student individually as well as collectively, but then really strongly individually. You need to be able to change your teaching style, it depends on the audience or student in front of you. What I’ve learned is that students learn differently. I think you need to be patient, and very importantly, you need to be consistent and honest. What’s worked for me is you need to push the learning envelope. If you push in the right direction, you can increase what students can learn.

Is there one lesson in particular you hope your students pay close attention to? There’s a couple of things. One thing I always encourage students to do is if they’re asked a question, and they don’t know the answer, they need to acknowledge they don’t know the answer. Then, they need to look up the details and then share that information. I always encourage students to never stop learning. They need to keep up with qualifications and certifications during and after school. The third thing I would encourage students to do is to constantly network and reach out. I’m a firm believer that if you want a particular door to open, you need to knock on that door.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Caroline De Vries gives back to frontline heroes

“ One of the reasons I would attend chapter meetings in the early days was so I could get out to see what other people were working on. It was a nice way to meet someone face-to-face and talk about troubles and we would have speakers come in to show off their work.” — Caroline de Vries

Caroline de Vries was first made aware of Landscape Ontario while working as a landscape architect in the early 90s. When the recession hit in 1991, de Vries started her own business “by accident,” supplying flower bulbs to the trade. As an LO member, she said she “received great benefits and met a lot of my customers via trade shows, golf, ski and chapter meetings, and was asked by someone if I would join the Toronto chapter board, and I said ‘yes’.” In 2006, de Vries served as Toronto chapter president. “I am a very social being,” de Vries said, adding, “catching up with existing acquaintances and being introduced to new people with similar interests” is what she enjoys most about volunteering. But as both her business and family grew, raising twin girls and then taking care of parents over the age of 90, put de Vries’ volunteer efforts on hold for about two decades. “I had no time after work to volunteer,” she recalls. “But now that my girls don’t require my mothering skills — so they tell me — and both my parents died within five months of each other just before COVID, all of a sudden I seem to have more time on my hands again.” In late 2020, de Vries heard at an AllChapter Meeting that Landscape Ontario had given each chapter $5,000 to recognize an outstanding frontline worker. “At a meeting in January, I believe Tony DiGiovanni mentioned it to our chapter — that we had a winner, and that now someone in the chapter needed to run with it,” de Vries said. “I noticed nobody offered to take it on, so I offered to coordinate the project.” Shelley Brillinger, executive director of Participation House Markham, won

the Toronto chapter frontline worker grant. When Brillinger opted to apply her makeover to the courtyard of Participation House — a facility that enhances the quality of life for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities — the scope of the project grew. The resulting $50,000 makeover provided a new, accessible patio for residents, and de Vries is quick to mention the many individuals and companies who helped to make that happen. The coming together of members for a common goal is something de Vries said was present within the chapter 30 years ago. “One of the reasons I would attend chapter meetings in the early days was so I could get out to see what other people were working on. It was a nice way to meet someone face-to-face and talk about troubles and we would have speakers come in to show off their work,” de Vries said. With a lack of trade shows, in-person seminars and social events due to COVID, de Vries is hopeful of a future where people can once again connect face-to-face. Through a chance encounter at the first Canada Blooms, de Vries crossed paths with the two owners of the Toronto-based Oriole Landscaping — George Urvari and Peter Guinane, resulting in personal friendships and a solid business relationship that is approaching 30 years. Looking back, de Vries said the opportunity to volunteer could not have come at a better time in her life. With limited in-person meetings and face-toface visits through the first half of 2021 due to COVID, organizing the garden makeover allowed her to “meet some really nice people,” and brought back some of that face-to-face, social aspect that is such a big part of her life.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Ontarians see the value of workplace health and safety About eight in 10 Ontarians expressed interest in learning about the health and safety record of a business before accepting a new role By Rod Cook Vice President, Workplace Health and Safety Services, WSIB Hiring the right person for the job takes time, money and resources — and these days, prospective employees are looking at more than just the salary. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest in health and safety, and one of the key questions they ask before accepting a new job is “would I be safe in this workplace?”

A recent online survey conducted by Leger, on behalf of WSIB, revealed 82 per cent of Ontarians are interested in researching the health and safety record of a workplace before accepting a new position. This staggering figure tells us Ontarians are reconsidering what they value most in a potential employer. Landing a job now goes beyond accepting a paycheque, and potential candidates want the reassurance their new boss will prioritize their safety. The WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program can help with that.

A tailored plan for long-term success

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A solid safety plan ensures your business is always prepared, and it will help you attract and retain the talent required to help your business succeed. Through our program, your business can focus on the workplace health and safety topics that are most relevant to you. It’s tailor-made to accommodate businesses of all sizes, in all industries, whether you’re building a health and safety program from scratch or enhancing an existing program. You’ll receive support from dedicated health and safety experts who will help you identify any gaps in your workplace, and figure out which program topics will help you fill those gaps. The aim of the program is to provide you with resources to maximize your workplace health and

safety efforts today, as well as provide the support you need to develop a program that improves and grows along with your business.

Make a strong statement about workplace health and safety

Experience tells us making workplace health and safety a priority — and actively promoting it in your workplace — can change an employee’s behaviour, while helping to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. When you become a member of our Health and Safety Excellence program, you’ll receive a digital safety badge, which will show your customers and employees how important their safety is to you, and how committed you are to protecting them. We will also display your membership on Safety Check — a WSIB database that allows Ontarians to see the health and safety record of your workplace — so prospective clients and employees will see your commitment to health and safety. There has never been a more important time than now to invest in the health and safety of your business. Join the many businesses who are working toward making Ontario safer. To learn more about the Health and Safety Excellence program, visit wsib.ca or email healthandsafetyexcellence@wsib. on.ca.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Flooding in the Netherlands disrupts tulip supply Unprecedented rainfall in western Europe this summer left a path of destruction across the region, including decimating dozens of crops and tulip bulb farms. The Canadian Tulip Festival, in conjunction with their supplier Tradewinds International and growers in the Netherlands, has secured the majority of bulbs set to ship to Canada as part of 2021’s “Classics” Fall Bulb Planting Campaign. However, two of the seven classic varieties available for pre-sale this year with the Canadian Tulip Festival have been partially affected by the floods; the National Velvet and the Hemisphere tulip bulbs. About 33 per cent of the National Velvet tulip bulb stock has been compromised, and will be replaced with the nearly identical Pallada tulip, a deep

ruby red cultivar. As well, two-thirds of the Hemisphere tulip bulb crop was lost to flooding and will be replaced with the Jumbo Pink tulip bulb. The colour palette of the Jumbo Pink is similar to Hemisphere, however, the markings on the blooms are flames of lighter pink, instead of the random speckled effect of the Hemisphere tulip. Working with suppliers and growers, the Canadian Tulip Festival also secured 6,000 additional bags of select Classics tulip bulbs, which will be available via tulipfestival.ca. All proceeds of the bulb sales go to support the Canadian Tulip Legacy, a registered charity devoted to commemorating Veterans of the Second World War and the Dutch Gift of Tulips to all Canadians.

Jan 11-13, 2022

Ontario minimum wage increased by 10 cents Ontario’s general minimum has increased by 10 cents to $14.35 an hour, as of Oct. 1, 2021. The student minimum wage also increased by 10 cents to $13.50 per hour, while the homeworkers minimum wage increased by the same increment to $15.80 per hour. The student rate applies to employees younger than 18-years-old that work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or work during a school break or summer holidays. Homeworkers are employees who do paid work from their own homes. Under the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, minimum wages are now tied to inflation. New minimum pay rates are set by April 1, and implemented on Oct. 1 of each year. If a change to the rate comes into effect partway through an employee’s pay period, compensation will be treated as if it were two separate pay periods, and the employee will be entitled to at least the minimum wage that applies in each of those periods.

Jan 18-20, 2022

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

Ontario looks to harmonize head protection requirements

The Ontario government is examining changes to head protection requirements for workplaces that fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. A proposal by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development would

see head protection rules change to a performance-based approach. The change would encompass a wide range of protective headwear, including hard hats, motorcycle helmets, rope access helmets or structural firefighting helmets, depending

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on the hazard and the activity. In all situations where there is potential for a head injury, protective headgear would need to be appropriate to protect the worker. Where there is no hazard of head injury, such as in the cab of a vehicle, there would be no requirement to wear head protection in that location. The proposal would also allow workplaces to consider other ways to address head injury hazards, for instance by eliminating the hazard or controlling it by using engineering or administrative means. As well, the ministry will examine whether the proposal would increase, decrease or have no effect on the cost of protective headwear for a workplace. To help employers comply with possible changes to head protection regulations, the ministry will publish a guideline or an approved code of practice to accompany the proposed amendments.

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

United States adds new regulations to rose and berry imports The United States has added new rules for Canadian growers who export strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and rose plants stateside. Effective Sept. 14, The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amended requirements to the four plant species in order to avoid the importation of the strawberry blossom weevil. APHIS now requires that plant material from all Canadian provinces be produced in a pest-free production site (PFPS) or a pest-free place of production (PFPP) as per ISPM 10. As well, the material needs to be inspected and found free of pests. For growers on the Canada-US Greenhouse Grown Certification Program (GCP), the United States recognizes facilities with an implemented pest module to support the export of Fragaria and Rosa. Plants that arrive in the United States without the proper certifications will be rejected. To date, the strawberry blossom weevil has only been detected in British Columbia. This

Strawberry Blossom Weevil (Anthonomus rubi)

detection was the first confirmed report of the pest in North America. The insect lays its eggs in unopened flower buds. The female will then chew through the stem just below the bud, and the bud will drop from the plant. Eggs, larvae and pupae are found inside closed flower buds

of host plants. The larvae feed and develop in the fallen bud, which reduces the total number of viable buds on the plant. The lost bud will not be able to produce a fruit once clipped. In Europe, this pest has caused up to an 80 per cent loss of the berry crop.

LEARN, GROW, THRIVE.

LO ACADEMY

Est. 2021

CO N GRESS | SEC TO R S | C H AP TE R S | P E E R TO P E E R PROF ESSIO N A L D E V ELO PM E NT | AS S O C I ATI O N PAR TN E R S

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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

EXECUTIVE DESK

Reflecting on the image of the landscape profession

ow many times have you heard the landscape profession has an image problem? How many times have you experienced it yourself? I remember when I told my father I was enrolled in the landscape program at Humber College. He thought I was making a huge mistake. Earlier on in my career as a gardener, at social gatherings people would ask what I did for a living. Inevitably, they would be surprised when I told them. I could sense they wondered if gardener was a real job, even though it is one of the earliest and most important professions. If you talk to many other trades people, they will tell you they have an image problem too. It seems that any job where people earn their livelihood by working with their hands is somehow suspect and inferior. From a landscape perspective, thankfully this is changing. In many ways the COVID19 pandemic has brought our profession into the spotlight. There has been a steady and increasing awareness of the economic, environmental, aesthetic, lifestyle, therapeutic, social, recreational, spiritual and legacy benefits of gardens, landscapes and green spaces. I believe one of the best ways to counteract the image issue is to be proud of what you do, and do it well. Shine your light. Your work, your attitude, your actions, the way you treat others and your community contributions speaks volumes. As your association, one of our most important jobs is to reflect what you do and who you are — to the trade and to the public. We are proud to do so, as our members inspire us daily. Here is a brief summary and update of some of the programs and activities that reflect our image.

Participation House Garden Makeover

Our profession is at its best when we contribute our time and expertise to those that need it. As part of our Garden Makeover program to recognize frontline heroes, each LO chapter donated a garden makeover to a worthy recipient. Each makeover was supposed to be valued at $5,000. In most cases, the generosity of our members easily exceeded that amount. Recently, the Toronto Chapter completed their project at Participation House Markham, which exceeded a $50,000 value.

One Bench One Tree

One Bench One Tree is a project conceived by the Landscape Architecture Masters students at the University of Guelph. Their mission is “to give back to frontline heroes by offering a moment of rest in nature,” by providing at least one bench and one tree to the landscape of hospitals across Canada. Members of our profession have already joined this project and are contributing time and products.

Trees for Life

Inspired by the success and experience of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute Campaign, which is well on their way to planting 2 million trees on and adjacent to the Highway of Heroes, the board has decided to leverage the experience and expand across Canada. A new foundation has been formed for this purpose. Check it out at treesforlife.ca. On a related topic, Landscape Ontario has never been busier fulfilling its mission and strategic direction. We have also experienced record membership levels. We need all of you to spread the word about the many great programs that you have asked for. By far, the limiting factor in the growth of our profession is workforce development.

Here are two programs that are helping to deal with our image issue and our recruitment and retention challenges

GROW Program

The GROW Program is made up of three activities designed to help recruit and retain employees for your organization. Although it is currently offered in the greater Toronto, Hamilton and Muskoka areas, our goal is to expand it across Ontario. GROW includes the New Entrant Training Program, which provides six weeks of free basic training and a job placement at the end of the program. As well, GROW includes Supervisory and Crew Leader Training, which is open to your team members to develop skills to become crew leaders or supervisors. The third part of the GROW program is the Employer of Choice Program, which teaches business owners and HR managers the attributes that will make your organization attract and retain the best talent.

Apprenticeship Program

To me, the Apprenticeship Program is a gift to the profession. In my view, every member of Landscape Ontario should enrol their staff in the program. The Apprenticeship Program will elevate the skills of your team at no cost to you, if you use the government incentives. There are absolutely no downsides as far as I can tell, and I have personally observed lives change for the better. Act now and register an apprentice by contacting Jessica Tucker at jtucker@landscapeontario.com. My grandfather used to say “if someone wants to give you a gift, take it.” Please take the gift of apprenticeship as soon as you can.

Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO Executive Director

tony@landscapeontario.com

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

MEMBERSHIP

A members-first mindset at Landscape Ontario

n organization’s culture is the foundation of its customer success. And culture is generated from daily actions — both spoken and unspoken — that are displayed or tolerated by leadership and acted on by others. Culture is definitely not a “set it and forget it,” aspect of any business. It requires daily vigilance, or it unravels quickly. Adopting a client-first mindset isn’t easy. It calls for a big shift in an organization’s culture, but the rewards are staggering. To really put the client first, you have to look at the organization from an outside-in perspective, rather than inside-out. We have to understand the needs of our clients, and how to deliver on them. Our flexibility in meeting client needs helps to set ourselves apart from competitors, and it sets us up for big wins. As business leaders, we are nothing without our customers — period. Today, human interactions are increasingly becoming more important and impactful in a world that seems to be becoming less personal. Customer experience includes customer service — it’s all connected. I associate much of Landscape Ontario’s

membership growth with our focus on the member-first mindset — it’s embedded in everything we do. Any opportunity we encounter, or challenge we’re looking to solve, the solution will always need to pass through the “what is best for the member first” filter. Staff are empowered to work with our member community on projects, to seek advice, input and feedback, so we can offer several multiples of value back. An organization is only as great as its employees. Invest in great people with aligned values and help them thrive. When you take care of your people by treating them with honesty and respect and by giving them the opportunities they need to find success in their roles, this will easily translate into them treating customers the same way. We need to proactively help our teams grow and thrive, always monitoring to make sure the right people are in the right roles to find success. I believe that doing this — with thoughtfulness and intention — ensures our customers will be taken care of at the highest levels. This starts with the culture the leadership team lives and breathes. It has to start with

the leadership and become woven into the fabric of the operations of the organization. We have seen this with our amazing staff family here at Landscape Ontario. A culture developed where everyone is there to support each other. No matter what, we have each other’s back. By offering the support the Landscape Ontario staff family needs, the leadership team empowers them to provide the best overall member experience possible. In order to continue to build upon the ever-growing Landscape Ontario community, we’re regularly thinking about how to better serve and provide more value to you. It’s important to us to know what you value most about your membership with Landscape Ontario, so we can have the most relevant impact. Let me know what you value most by emailing jsalemi@landscapeontario.com or by phone or text at 905-220-4106.

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

Landscape Ontario members have access to exclusive savings on everyday business expenses.

HortTrades.com/member-savings-programs 27

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

SMART ABOUT SALT

Winter maintenance is a complicated art and science practices. For example, increasing temperatures promote more freeze-thaw cycles through the day and season, which typically require more attention from winter maintenance professionals. The science also considers the wide variety of equipment that might be considered for use. Everything from differentiated blades that promote better snow removal, to brushes and equipment that is used to apply pre-wetted or liquid anti-icing and de-icing products (salt). When coupled with the art of winter maintenance, the science of snow and ice removal helps us understand how to achieve optimal winter maintenance results. Often, the combination of art and science can promote improved safety, reduced costs, as well as better relationships and outcomes for facilities and the environment. While it is difficult to capture the experience and practical knowledge that underlies the art of winter maintenance, the body of science is growing exponentially. In this regard, many university researchers and others are actively working collaboratively with winter maintenance professionals and others. The growing and ever-changing knowledge surrounding winter maintenance is captured by those that promote best practices through training, such as the not-forprofit organization Smart About Salt Council (SASC), which works throughout Canada and the United States to support the winter maintenance industry, including contractors and facility owners/operators. SASC re-evaluates its award-winning training, certification and validation programs annually, to ensure the leading thoughts on winter maintenance are included. To learn more about the Smart About Salt Council (SASC) and its not-for-profit training, certification and program validation efforts, visit smartaboutsalt.com.

or those that just have a cursory appreciation, winter maintenance may seem uncomplicated. After all, it is undeniable the profession has low barriers to accessibility when compared to other industries. Misogyny aside, too often for example do we hear the description of the industry being characterized as “Chuck and his truck,” a phrase that suggests an unsophisticated industry. For anyone involved in winter maintenance — be it supply chain managers, insurance and risk management professionals, facility owners or operators and the winter industry practitioners — it’s obvious that winter maintenance is anything but unsophisticated. For those that take the time to better appreciate the winter maintenance industry, they understand the practice involves both art and science. For example, the art of winter maintenance involves the ability to consider a work area, and to understand where low points might allow water to accumulate, where shaded areas might require different management strategies and of course how to keep facility owners and operators — i.e. the clients — happy. The science of winter maintenance is complicated and growing year-over-year. It offers insight into best management practices by considering all variables. The science of winter maintenance examines, in detail, the products involved in addressing snow and ice. Typically salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2), have welldefined negative impacts on our environment, such as on soil, vegetation, surface water and its biota, wildlife and groundwater. However, these salts remain necessary to promote safety. As well, the science surrounding winter maintenance considers weather conditions, as well as climate changes, and how they impact winter maintenance

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

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Keep your promises A strong communications system will ensure your team meets its obligations

communicators, and constantly ask themselves what they could do better. They are nimble, observant and openminded. With the slightest hint of a customer being confused or on a different page, they dive into why, by asking questions such as: what did we say or write that led the customer to think that? Or what didn’t we write or say? How could we word our contracts differently? Do we need to change the order of clauses? How could we create a simple visual for customers to refer to their contract? After act assessment: Taken from a military framework for debriefing an event, Glenn and his team are always asking themselves (and their customers) how did we do? They take the feedback and discoveries seriously, and quickly implement solutions to inefficiency and inaccuracies. Scope of work: Glenn is very proud of how detailed his design build contracts are. Yet he knows there’s always room for improvement. “We’re not perfect, but we sure try to be,” he remarked in our interview. Digital change orders: Every business owner knows it’s difficult to manage changes on the fly, to get written approvals and to make sure materials are ordered in a timely way. And the biggie: to make sure everything is billed properly and in a timely way. Glenn’s team has created digital change orders, which put the right info into the right hands immediately. They also automatically update the customer’s budget, and their projected completion date on their project.

believe there are few events in business that may derail a customer’s trust and confidence more than a broken promise. Promises are what bring a customer into your business, whether it’s your brand promise, a value exchange promise, a service delivery promise, a design/build promise or a dream fulfilling promise. Whatever promises you and your team have made, keep them. The challenge of keeping promises lies in the crevices of your communication systems. Yet, many businesses struggle with clear communication. Without clear and timely communication that’s consistently delivered, it’s pretty tough not to disappoint sooner or later. Last month, for our monthly Peer To Peer Network Business Bites session, I hosted Glenn Curtis, principal at Plantenance Inc, based in Montreal. Glenn, who is also a business coach in our profession, is celebrating his company’s 40th anniversary this year. An impressive and rare milestone — especially with the added accolades of countless Awards of Excellence from Landscape Ontario for his team’s design/build talent. In preparation for our hour-long chat, Glenn and I talked about how he ensures his company keeps its promises to their customers. I pulled a “Top 6 tips” from our chat, and that’s what we discussed for the Business Bite session. Here’s Glenn’s Top 6 recommendations: Continuous improvement teams: Every winter (no, they don’t do snow anymore), the staff descend upon a large envelope full of notes, which have captured ideas and dropped balls as the season progressed. They sort and prioritize the notes, and then dig in to solving the root causes of communication and service issues. The end result is team engagement in new or tweaked systems, which are designed to continually fine-tune or replace the processes that failed. Expectation training: Each spring, Glenn brings in professional trainers from outside the company to assist with training employees on how to anticipate, communicate and manage customer expectations. The three C’s — communicate, communicate, communicate: The team at Plantenance are excellent

The systems that help to manage both the volume of work and the precision of keeping promises at Plantenance are all living systems. They are constantly changing, adapting, tweaking and celebrating success. The Plantenance team sets a great example of how to use the concept of continuous improvement, with a dash of humility, to get the job of keeping promises done really well. If you missed registering for the session, watch here in December for info on how to purchase the 2021 Business Bites series of 10 info-packed sessions from professionals across our association!

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

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