LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
September 2019
Cultivating
s p i h s n o i t a Rel Laurie-Ann Stuart of LA Gardens takes time to build relationships with clients and landscape pros. Page 4
HortTrades.com 1
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
September, 2019 • Volume 37 - No. 8 HortTrades.com
Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural profession in Ontario.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Features 4 LA Gardens 6 Immigrants in the Landscape Profession 9 Congress ’20
Departments 11 19 20 21 25 30
Association News New Members Events Professional News Columns Advertisers/Classifieds
Editor Robert Ellidge rellidge@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-5645 Multimedia designer/IT coordinator Mike Wasilewski mikew@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5343 Contributor Kim Burton kburton@landscapeontario.com, 647-723 5447 Account manager Greg Sumsion gsumsion@landscapeontario.com, 647-722-6977 Communications coordinator Angela Lindsay alindsay@landscapeontario.com, 647-723-5305 Accountant Joe Sabatino jsabatino@landscapeontario.com, 647-724-8585 Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLM lak@landscapeontario.com, 416-848-7557 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Scott Barber, Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM CAE, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, John Russell, Ian Service, Myscha Stafford, Tom Somerville, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Martha Walsh
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 2019, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 11x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included). For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com
Association membership gives a 20x return on investment
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challenges and continue to work on growing our businesses. This coming together to benefit all those involved happens through LO events and initiatives all the time. I spoke with LO’s executive director, Tony DiGiovanni, just this morning about the fact that some members are having difficulty getting snow and ice insurance. Some simply can’t get insurance, others have such significant increases to premiums that they now have some tough decisions to make. But for one small group of members, their connection has allowed them to go outside the box and work together to form their own insurance program that works just for them. Being able to stay in business and make a profit — that’s priceless. Where would those, and many other successful businesses, be today if not for their investment each year in LO? It all started with a commitment to be part of a community of like-minded professionals. It is only through this commitment that you will also get a return on your annual membership fees. This industry is filled the smart, welcoming and hard-working people. I can still remember the first time I attended a chapter meeting. I didn’t know anyone in the room, yet I immediately felt welcomed and part of the group. It was the start of making sure I got the highest return possible for my LO membership investment. You may not have time make it out to every event or meeting, but put aside the time to attend just a few, and I’m sure you too, will get a 20x return on your Landscape Ontario membership.
n mid-August, all Landscape Ontario members received their annual dues renewal invoices by email. While some may look at the invoice and see just another business expense, I have always viewed it as an investment. I even look forward to the dividends it pays — which can sometimes work out to a 20x return on investment. (The average member saves about $13,000 each year). While the financial benefits are great for your bottom line, there are also huge returns to be had that can’t simply be entered into a line item on a budget or spreadsheet. These returns come in the form of valuable ideas and solid relationships built through being a part of the Landscape Ontario community. The best way to start forming these relationships requires just a bit of effort on your part. Simply attend an LO event, a local Chapter meeting, or a sector committee meeting or event. Cruise the aisles of one of the association’s trade shows, and you’re sure to meet other members to share ideas, solve common problems, source supplies, and grow your business. In July, I attended the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) Garden Centre Summit. The two-day event gathered garden centre owners and staff from different sized operations from across the country. We toured successful operations and spent time discussing challenges, solutions, and of course, many ideas. Knowing we had the support of an entire group, and being able to look for solutions together, left us all feeling energized and inspired to overcome
Warren Patterson LO President warrenpatterson@barriegardencentre.com
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n n A e i t r r u a a u t L S finds her true calling
By Kelli M. Maddocks
L
ife can be funny sometimes. One day you’re in school studying, the next you’re a journalist on a popular classic rock radio station, and only then do you find your true calling. For Laurie-Ann Stuart, owner of LA Gardens in Barrie, Ont., that true calling came in the form of a simple request for help. Born and raised on a farm in southern Ontario, LaurieAnn’s gardening career began as a little girl, gardening alongside her grandmother and parents. “I did come by my love of gardens naturally, however it was never a career aspiration,” says Laurie-Ann. “It wasn’t until I was asked to work on a friend’s garden that my skills were noticed, and soon I was getting regular inquiries about helping out with other garden and landscape projects.” Once she knew this
was going to be a long-term profession choice, Laurie-Ann attended and graduated from the Horticultural Technician Program at Humber College, with top marks in the softscaping disciplines.
Business strategies
When asked about how she set out to build and grow her business, she had several strategies to share. “First of all, don’t try to be everything to everyone. Find one thing that makes you happy, focus on it, and do it with purpose,” she says. Good advice, considering gardening is the focus of what LA Gardens is all about. “We listen to their needs and create beautiful gardens that reflect our customer lifestyles. We intend to do this with integrity, commitment, and a
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
The team at LA Gardens prides themselves on maintaining very high standards for a client base that is very particular about the work being performed. This is achieved in part by asking questions, forming relationships, and getting to know what each client’s garden means to them.
may not necessarily work in another. By walking, talking, and asking the right questions, LA Gardens understands exactly what each client wants for their landscape. When it comes to the staff at LA Gardens, Laurie-Ann settles for nothing but the best. “I have great people around me, and my general manager, Jen Raedts, is exactly that. She understands what needs to be done week-to-week, and will make sure the plants are treated with the utmost care and respect. Jen pays a lot of attention to the safety of all of our staff members, and ensures a safe and friendly work environment. However, Jen’s greatest asset to LA Gardens is her amazing ability to work with colour and texture.”
dedication to making the world a more beautiful place, one garden at a time,” Stuart says. Another key strategy Laurie-Ann shares is the need to capitalize on the opportunities that government grants can bring to a small business. “There are many different ways to get a small business up and running,” Laurie-Ann explains, “they are well worth the investigation, and where you can, definitely take advantage of them.”
Part of a larger community
Laurie-Ann’s partnership with Landscape Ontario has also been a large part of her growth and success. “The networking opportunities within Landscape Ontario are priceless,” she says. “Beyond the fact that there are many events, as well as training, recruiting, and development programs, it’s the ‘knowledge sharing’ amongst members that have been instrumental. You have access to so many smart professionals, that when you come across an issue, need advice, or even just someone to listen, Landscape Ontario and its members are always there.” Laurie-Ann is a volunteer on the association’s Georgian Lakelands Chapter board, currently serving as its president. Her sincere enthusiasm toward “everything landscape,” and particularly within the Landscape Ontario organization, is infectious. She speaks with exuberance and passion, lending her awesome talent, skills, and training to the ever-growing membership within Ontario’s landscape community.
Know your clients
A key principle of Laurie-Ann’s success is to “know your client base.” For LA Gardens, high-end clientele is the demographic they’ve chosen to work with. “Our clients are particular about the work we do for them, just as we are particular in choosing who we work with,” says Laurie-Ann. LA Gardens prides itself on cultivating relationships, and mission-based on getting to know what their gardens truly mean to their clients. Then they embark on creating that vision utilizing sound horticultural techniques. Their mantra is “know your client,” and each and every project they undertake becomes unique and special. Each design is individual, and a technique used in one landscape
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Burmese immigrant, Aye Chan impressed owners at Woodhill Garden Centre so much that in just three years he has been elevated to a lead supervisor role.
Immigrants find opportunities
e h t n i
LANDSCAPE PROFESSION By Indira Kannan
O
f the Six Thinking Hats model, Tyra Nguyen said she most often wears her Positivity Hat. Indeed, her checkered blue sun hat had a big orange smiley face on it when I met her one summer morning at Toronto’s Humber College. Tyra is one of the students in the Horticulture Technician Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program for Women, organized jointly by Humber College, Landscape Ontario and Skills For Change. Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen became a Canadian Permanent Resident last November, and is one of the recent immigrants in the program this year. She worked in event management back home, but was unable to find equivalent work here.
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A friend who worked for the City of Toronto’s parks department alerted her to the preapprenticeship program and she snagged a spot just in time. Already, she has big plans. “I think to get experience you have to be ready to go from the bottom. But down the line, I don’t think I would be just doing this. I have the vision to manage a park on my own,” Nguyen said. Workers like Nguyen would be a godsend for Ontario’s landscaping profession, which, according to industry experts, continues to face a severe, and growing, worker shortage. Michael Pascoe, Program Co-ordinator of the Horticulture Technician course at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., says this is partly driven by demographic changes,
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
misconceptions among young Canadians about the nature of work and skills required, and competition from more lucrative sectors. Richard Zoltek, Program Co-ordinator of the Landscape Technician program at Toronto’s Humber College, agrees: “Parents themselves don’t value landscaping. They think it’s not a real job. I think that’s a direct result of poor guidance counselling. We don’t have enough exposure to promote ourselves to potential students.” Meanwhile, employers are desperate for talent. At Humber College’s annual job fair this year, 38 employers showed up, each looking to fill two to four positions. As Zoltek points out, there simply aren’t enough students in his program. Pascoe estimates there are at least 1,600 entry level
call on one of our repeat staff and say we need one, two or three guys. And they will find them in their community or through friends or relatives. It’s a pretty good system because if we know our employee and trust them, they would try and bring somebody that’s likable and trustable too.” As with any workforce, employing new Canadians comes with challenges on both sides. Some new immigrants are not fluent in English and the industry often needs more than a mere familiarity with the language. Nguyen conversed with me easily enough in English, but was worried about learning the names of plants that were so different from those in her native country. Rabia Ali, another student in the pre-apprenticeship program, immigrated to Canada from Pakistan last
jobs across Ontario that are still unfilled, and says immigrants could help fill the growing gap. “Typically our industry has targeted North American people using the traditional approach,” Pascoe noted. “I think we have to be much broader in selling our profession to new immigrants. Landscape Ontario is doing some work with refugee settlement programs, and nationally they lobby the Canadian government so that our industry is on their radar.” Employers like Toronto’s Oriole Landscaping and the family-owned Woodhill Garden Centre in Thornhill (where I work part-time) already employ a number of immigrants. At Woodhill, about 80 per cent of the part-time staff are immigrants. Rob Ammaturo, one of Woodhill’s owners explains: “If we’re short-staffed, usually during our peak time in May to July, we just
December. She has an master’s degree in horticulture, but is concerned that much of what she learnt back home may be outdated or irrelevant here. There are also more material concerns. Many immigrants need time to get their driving licence in Canada and this can affect their pay. Julie Poirier, who handles human resources for Oriole, notes, “Having a driving licence gives them the opportunity for longer hours because drivers need to come to the yard first and bring the truck back to the yard at the end of the day.” Being laid off in the winter is also hard on those looking to establish themselves financially, but some actually find it useful. “Currently I think I want a job that I can work in the summer and in the winter I can take time off, maybe fly back to my country. The money I make will be less, but right now
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Left: The Horticulture Technician PreApprenticeship Training Program for Women helped both Rabia Ali, who immigrated from Pakistan and Tyra Nguyen, originally from Vietnam. Right: An immigrant from Brazil, Suzy Taeko Mitsuzono is enrolled at Fanshawe College and has a post-graduate degree in genetics.
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Left: Omar Abdeen immigrated from Jordan and previously taught English in Uruguay. Right: Oriole Landscaping crew leader, Bassem Suleiman came to Canada three years ago as a Syrian refugee.
I miss my family more!” says Nguyen. For those who prefer full-time jobs, many companies now offer year-round employment with tasks like snow removal, or help employees upgrade their skills in the off-season. Jacqueline Silva, an immigrant from Chile, feels it’s important for employees to know they have opportunities for upward mobility. Silva says in her first year at work, she was not even allowed to touch a leaf blower. “In the beginning I noticed that the industry is thinking, ‘Oh they are labour, they have no brain, we can just make them work, work, work and they’re not gonna complain,’” Silva recalls. “But I do have a brain, and I can design and I can decide as well what to do and not to do.” Silva took the issue up with her employer and the response was immediate. She was made a supervisor in her second year, and then a manager. She now works as a manager for a different company, Canadian Landscape Services. There are many success stories. At Woodhill, Burmese immigrant Aye Chan was hired just three years ago as an entrylevel worker. Ammaturo says Chan soon impressed management with his commitment to work and to learn, and notes he is now a supervisor and the head person in their yard. Syrian refugee Bassem Suleiman, who came to Canada three years ago, is a crew leader at Oriole. Opportunities to grow go hand-in-hand with pay. “If you expect to have a quality individual, you better be paying,” says Humber’s Zoltek. “This is an industry that I think has shortchanged itself in some regards by not offering their employees better
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salaries. Maybe it’s not just money. Maybe it’s more of options, more control of certain aspects of the company,” Zoltek adds. Some employers are on board. Oriole set up a group retirement savings plan for employees this year; it also offers workers overtime pay and help with financial literacy or renting. “And they sometimes aspire for more responsibility which we have given to whoever is capable,” Poirier adds. Even international students, who form the pipeline of the future workforce, have higher expectations. Omar Abdeen and Suzy Taeko Mitsuzono, from Jordan and Brazil respectively, are enrolled in Fanshawe College’s Horticulture Technician program. Abdeen has a degree in philosophy and has taught English in Uruguay. He is interested in horticultural therapy and says he will look at what the industry can offer. “I travel a lot so I’m still not sure…but if I’m going to stay in Canada, it would have to be with somebody that has a wealth of experience in what I’m looking to specialize in.” Taeko Mitsuzono has a post-graduate degree in genetics and is interested in working at a nursery or in landscape design. “I don’t like just cutting grass, you know, I want to do something more than that if it’s possible,” she says. “But if not, I cut grass. I just need a job!” she added, with a laugh. Whether it’s a stronger work ethic or higher education or work experience, new Canadians and potential immigrants have a lot to offer the landscaping profession. It’s up to employers to find ways to optimize these workers’ talents to fill their skills gap and fuel their own growth.
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
O W N E R S A N D S TA F F
CAN ALL BENEFIT
FROM ATTENDING
Congress '20 I
n a matter of months, you’ll be completing jobs, laying off or recruiting staff, dreaming of hot vacation spots and re-engaging with family and friends. The number-one thing you will want to do before shutting down for the season is to develop a game plan to bring your key staff to Landscape Ontario’s Congress ’20, January 7-9 at the Toronto Congress Centre. Like most business owners, you will want to set goals and make resolutions for the 2020 spring season. By developing project strategies, business goals and sending your key personnel to the Congress Trade Show and Conference, you’ll be set up for a productive start to the new year with an empowered, educated team. Why is it critical to attend Congress with your team? As a business owner, your greatest challenges after securing projects, is to work on the business and have your team trained and ready to hit the ground as a dynamic force. The Owner’s Only Workshops, included with a one-day or full conference
pass, and the Peer to Peer Workshop, a ticketed event on Jan. 6, are must-attend events for you. The show is perfectly timed to meet your team training needs before they disperse for well-deserved vacations. From the 600 plus multi-national suppliers, free show floor demonstrations and comprehensive conference program offering business, horticultural, practical and technical ideas from experts and leaders, you have a one-stop opportunity to cross-train or uptrain your team for the skills they’ll need to ensure your future success. “All green professionals, whether they are business owners or employees, are looking for new tools, techniques, and products, that can assist in completing jobs efficiently and cost-effectively,” says Heather MacRae, Director of Events and Trade Shows at Landscape Ontario. “Each year, volunteer show committee members diligently work to make Congress a premier educational event that compliments thousands of products and services, presented by our industry suppliers. Continued >
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There are always new aspects to the show, such as this year’s Recruit LIVE, Patio Lounge, and Congress ‘After Dark’. Visitors are guaranteed to learn something, meet people and have fun.” Before sending your staff to the show, give them a specific aspect to cover: exhibits, conferences sessions, demonstrations, exploring new products, meeting with new suppliers or building relationships with existing suppliers. By having them focus on a specific task, they’ll learn more and bring back better information, develop new contacts and re-enforce the positive relationships you’ve built for the company. This will also ensure they enjoy their Congress ’20 experience to the fullest. Mark your calendars now for Congress ’20 which kicks-off on Warm-up Monday (Jan. 6). Here, you will learn about practices and changing conditions that impact turf management, ensure optimal growth and minimize conditions favourable to pest insects, weeds and pathogens at the IPM Symposium. Also on Jan. 6, the Landscape Designers Conference allows you to explore your creativity, get advice on plant choices and build solid strategies for a profitable business. The final Monday event is for business owners who want to step-up their leadership game. The Peer to Peer Workshop is a customized look at current issues affecting all business owners, and the January sessions takes input from you on what topics should be focused on in subsequent sessions. With a one-day or full conference pass, you and your staff can attend the Congress Conference sessions that run Jan. 7-9, where you will acquire business, practical and technical knowledge. Concurrent sessions run mornings and afternoons, along with keynote speakers at lunch. Leading experts will take on topics of paramount importance to green professionals, including: a multi-generational workforce, pest and stormwater management, plant selection, water features, traditional, digital and social marketing, leadership and secrets for hiring great people. Luncheon keynote sessions are not to be missed! On Tuesday, Graham Sherman, Co-Owner of Tool Shed Brewing Company, will share why adopting a collaborative approach with your competitors can actually be a healthier way to do business. Is your company taking advantage of disruptive new technologies, or simply being disrupted by them? In the Wednesday keynote, Amber Mac will look to leading organizations to explore the practice of relentless adaptation. Keynote sessions are open to one-day or full conference pass holders only. You’ll gain valuable knowledge at the LIVE series that take place twice daily on the show floor. At Hardscape LIVE you’ll delve into hardscape installation techniques that improve efficiency and profits. With a focus on proper tree selection, planting and maintenance strategies, Green LIVE will help you deliver a better product and service to your customers. Equipment and employees must be transported safely to job sites, and at Drive LIVE, police officers will be on-hand to demonstrate how to comply with Ontario regulations. New for 2020, Recruit LIVE is an opportunity for you and your employees to network, interview and be hired. The LIVE series is free with a trade show badge. To register for the Congress Trade Show and Conference, visit LOcongress.com. The website features many details that will assist you in developing the strategies for bringing your team to Congress ’20. Warm-up Monday events, conference sessions and pricing are all available online.
Whether to meet suppliers, learn from experts, or see the latest tools, equipment and technology, Congress offers something for every member of your team.
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ASSOCIATION NEWS Oriole Landscaping hosts first “Let’s Talk Shop”
With over three decades of experience creating and maintaining some of Toronto’s most beautiful landscapes, Peter Guinane and George Urvari of Oriole Landscaping have overcome their share of obstacles, challenging clients and jobsite mishaps. But with level heads, a strong partnership and the passion to continually improve, the duo have always come out the other side stronger, wiser and ready for the next challenge. On July 25, Urvari and Guinane hosted about 50 landscape and horticulture professionals at their East York office and operations centre, for the first “Let’s Talk Shop” event. An initiative of the Landscape Ontario Contractor Sector Group, the networking event included dinner, a discussion on problem solving and best practices for landscape businesses, plus a tour of Oriole’s operation. During the tour, Urvari emphasized the importance of organization and the need for detailed systems and processes. One example is their use of large labels and signs accompanying all tools, equipment and materials throughout the yard. Perhaps the most impressive part of Oriole’s operations centre is the efficiency in which staff load and offload trucks to start and finish each day. While most tools and equipment remain on trucks to cut down on load
and unload time, additional materials, fuel or equipment is picked up or dropped off along a meticulouslyorganized loop throughout the yard. This system is particularly important for Oriole, because of its Toronto locale: minutes lost at the yard in the morning can grow exponentially in traffic getting to job sites. However, the Toronto market also has benefits, offering perhaps the largest potential upscale client base in the country. It’s also a competitive marketplace, with a plethora of companies vying for clients in coveted neighbourhoods such as Forest Hill, Lawrence Park and Rosedale. Oriole Landscaping didn’t always swim in those waters. During the first few years in business, Urvari recounted cash flow struggles that almost ended the company. Fortunately, the pair found a rather simple solution: “We decided to just raise our prices, to see what would happen,” Urvari said. It worked. Projects continued to come in, and margins were even better. Now, Urvari, who also does consulting work and speaking engagements, encourages burgeoning businesses to do the same. If you are interested in hosting a Let’s Talk Shop event at your business, please contact Amy Buchanan at amy@landscapeontario.com.
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In memoriam – Joe Kerr Joe Kerr died peacefully at his home in Toronto, Ont., on June 11, 2019. Joe joined Unilock as Sales Manager in 1982, at a time when the company was operating exclusively within Ontario, however, owner, Ed Bryant’s vision for the company was much grander than this, and Joe quickly became Ed’s ‘right hand man’ in turning this vision into reality. Together, Ed and Joe developed the Ontario market, then moved on to expand operations to Chicago, New York, Detroit, Boston and Ohio. For a time, Joe and his wife Joan moved with their two young sons to Brewster, New York, where Joe served as General Manager, assembling a team to Joe and Joan Kerr. start up operations there. Returning to Toronto in the early 1990s as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Joe and Joan Kerr joined Ed and Heather Bryant in welcoming the employees of newly-acquired Risi Stone and Decraloc to the Unilock family over the next few years. These two couples powerfully projected the Unilock family culture that remains a bedrock of the company today. Joe is fondly remembered by Unilock employees, distributors, suppliers and industry association colleagues, as a no-nonsense, action-oriented business leader who played a critical role in the advancement of the paver industry. As well, he is recognized for his dedication and desire to connect with people not just on a business level, but personally as well. Joe retired from Unilock in 2010 after 28 years of service. Joe will be dearly missed by his beloved wife Joan, their sons, Sean and Michael, daughter-in-law, Duana and grandson, Theo. He is survived by his brothers: Leo, Terry and Brian, as well as sister, Marie. Joe’s brother, Chris and his parents are predeceased. Joe’s wishes were to forego a traditional funeral, however, his family are planning a celebration of life, for which details will be shared at some point in the future. Donations in Joe’s name will be gratefully accepted at AnsweringTTP.org.
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
TLC Landscaping wins first-ever London Chapter baseball tournament
The winning team from TLC Landscaping.
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Landscape Ontario London Chapter held its first annual baseball tournament at Stronach Park in London, Ont., on June 23. The eight teams who competed in the all-day event included: Beamish Landscaping, V&P’s Topsoil & Landscape Supplies, TLC Landscaping, Egon’s Landscape, Mountview Landscaping (three teams), and Grand River Brick & Stone. Participants enjoyed a fantastic, sunny day of baseball. Congratulations to the team from TLC Landscaping, winners of the tournament. Thanks to Adam Arsenault and the golf committee comprised of Ryan Marshall, Greg Schaafsma, Matt Edwards and Bill Degraaf for organizing the event and to the following sponsors for their support: BobCat of London (Diamond sponsor), Permacon Group (Lunch sponsor), Grand River Brick & Stone (prizes), Tillsonbrand (trophies). More pictures of the event can be found online at gfl.me/h5Ut or on the London Chapter Facebook page.
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Prepare for the winter ahead at Snowposium 2019 While we are still enjoying the final days of summer, it won’t be long before the snow and ice season begins. Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Committee would like to invite you to Snowposium 2019 on Sept. 26. This year’s conference and expo will be held at Landscape Ontario’s newlyrenovated home office, at 7856 Fifth Line South, in Milton, Ont. “Snowposium has sold out in previous years and we are looking to do the same again this year. If you are in the snow and ice industry, this is one event you don’t want to miss out on,” said Terry Nicholson, chair of the LO Snow and Ice Committee. This single-day event will feature a trade show, outdoor demonstrations, speakers, educational sessions, and networking opportunities for those professionals responsible for keeping our roads, sidewalks and parking lots safe during winter months. Nicholson added, “This event will be a chance to hear what Landscape Ontario and the committee’s efforts are with respect to the push for legislative change around slip and fall claims.” The full-day event will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will include:
• A single-day trade show featuring the latest snow and ice equipment, technology and services from 26 exhibitors. For a full list of exhibitors, visit Snowposium.ca. • Educational sessions (paid registration) with topics covering industry trends, slip-and-fall insurance, salt and liquids and more. • Complimentary lunch for all conference registrants, with lunch tickets available for sale to all pre-registered attendees. • Face-to-face opportunities with leadingedge vendors at the trade show. • Outdoor demos for conference registrants. Tickets are $85 per LO, SIMA or SAS member or $115 per non-member if registered by Sept. 13. Prices then increase to $125 per members and $150 per non-member. For a list of exhibitors, conference sessions and registration, visit Snowposium.ca or by contact Keri MacIvor at 647-723-5445 or keri@landscapeontario.com.
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Ottawa Chapter golf tournament raises money for youth Nearly 100 golfers took to the links on July 24 at the Canadian Golf and Country Club in Ashton, Ont., for the Landscape Ontario Ottawa Chapter golf tournament. Presented by Geosynthetic Systems, proceeds from this year’s event went to support Youturn Youth Support Services. Youturn was chosen as this year’s charity as they provide direct to client evidence-informed, individualized services, helping high-risk youth develop the skills to become strong participating members of the community. This year, seven members of Youturn’s board of directors participated in the tournament, including: president Shirley Rocque, past president Lynn Lahame, and volunteers Mary Durst and Joanne Innis. Prior to tee off, all registered golfers received a snack pack, donated by Ritchie Feed and Seed, a branded golf towel, courtesy of The Sam Group, and were treated to a barbecue lunch, sponsored Greely Sand and Gravel. The day featured spectacular weather and a number of fun and interesting contests courtesy of various sponsors. Some of the prizes up for grabs at this year’s Volunteer Lindsay Ross (left), sells an arms length of raffle tickets to LO’s Denis Flanagan.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO tournament included: a $10,000 hole-inone, sponsored by Robertson Rent-All; a weekend Cadillac rental, courtesy of Surgenor Truck Group; a signed Aaron Sanchez Toronto Blue Jays jersey, donated by Youturn; a big screen TV and iPad, two all-access passes to Congress 2020, and a free Landscape Ontario membership. The membership prize was won Ottawa Chapter Associate member, Go Mobile Communications. After golf, attendees enjoyed a great networking opportunity and a pig roast dinner, sponsored by Gifford Carr Insurance Group. Congratulations to the team from Gifford Carr Insurance Group, winner of the Best Foursome, and to Lafleur de la Capitale, winner of Most Honest Foursome. The event ran smoothly thanks to the support of Ottawa Golf Committee members: Randi Lee Bell, Steve Montcalm, Chris Urquhart and Jennifer Siba, who worked diligently throughout the day, and volunteers: Amber Montgomery from Green Unlimited, Mary Stewart and Lindsey Ross from Living Green Landscaping, and Olivia Urquhart — an outstanding volunteer at the event for the past six years.
Thanks also to the following sponsors who contributed to the success of this year’s tournament: Geosynthetic Systems (Title Sponsor), Greely Sand and Gravel (Lunch Sponsor), Gifford Carr Insurance Group (Dinner Sponsor). Premium Hole Sponsors: Manderley Turf Products, Nextra Consulting, Surgenor Truck Group, Robertson Rent-All. Hole Sponsors: Hawthorne Cleaning Systems, Oaks Landscape Products, Manotick Tree Movers, Bradley’s Insurance, Go Mobile Communications, Central Precast, Marketplace Events Ottawa Home Shows, Yates Sprinklers. The Ottawa Golf Committee will be attending the Youturn Youth Support Services annual general meeting in September to present a cheque to their Board of Directors with the money raised from the event. To learn more about the organization’s services, visit youturn.ca.
CE A L P R YOU RS E D OR ALL F FOR NG I G DIG
Ottawa Golf Committee members, Jennifer Siba (left) and Chris Urquhart (right), are joined by Shirley Rocque from Youturn Youth Services.
7314 Sixth Line, Milton, Ontario, L9E 0Y1 Phone: 905-878-7226, Fax: 905-878-8737 Email: yard@putzernursery.com
Trees Shrubs Evergreens Broadleaf Evergreens Vines Ferns Perennials Groundcovers
WWW.PUTZERNURSERY.COM 15
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Top picks from 2019 Trial Garden sites
Trial Garden Manager Rodger Tschanz, leads a tour of the Guelph site at this year’s open house.
Over 60 industry professionals got a sneak peek of the latest new plant varieties at the annual Trial Garden Open House, held Aug. 15 at sites in Guelph and Milton, Ont. The day began under sunny skies at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute with a speaker program. Rodger Tschanz, Trial Garden Manager at the University of Guelph, spoke about some of the new perennials in this year’s trial. Brendan Stewart and Karen Landman, also from U of G, spoke about their experience with wexPOPS — a pop-up garden initiative they were involved in this July and August. Hamilton Public Works Department’s Marcia Monaghan and Neil Schofield talked about their challenges and successes with container and specialized plantings. The talks were engaging and generated an active question period. Activities then moved outside with a tour of the Guelph trial site, followed by a tour of the trial gardens at Landscape Ontario’s home office site in Milton. About 20 industry professionals made the trek to
Tillsonburg, ON Specializing in field grown and potted cedars along with perennials, trees and shrubs of both deciduous and evergreen varieties.
Availability list includes plants not in catalogue
519-688-0437
info@pottersroadnursery.com
PottersRoadNursery.com 16
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO Milton as the weather quickly turned from sunshine into sporadic, torrential rainfall events. From all accounts it was a great day and the rainfall didn’t dampen the mood. Each year, industry pros who tour the gardens get to vote on their favourite plants at both sites. Here are this year’s results: Top 10 annuals Digitalis Pink Panther Verbena Superbena Sparkling Amethyst Imp. Zea Pink Zebra Coleus ColorBlaze Wicked Witch Begonia Move2 Joy Pink Verbena (Unnamed cultivar of Verbena bonariensis an All-America Selections Judging Entry) Bidens Campfire Flame Dahlia Grandahlia Sincerely Antirrhinum Monaco Orange Calibrachoa Cabaret Good Night Kiss Top three perennials Echinacea Supreme Elegance Achillea Firefly Peach Sky Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red Top shrub Hydrangea Tuff Stuff
Waterloo Chapter families enjoy a fun-filled day Landscape Ontario Waterloo Chapter held its annual Family Day event at Bingeman Park in Waterloo, Ont., on July 21. The over 48 people in attendance, half of which were kids, were treated to discounted admission to the park, plus a full lunch, prizes and many kid-friendly activities that included: face painting, bouncy castle, mini golf, and more. The day serves as a thank you to both members and their families for supporting chapter initiatives and provides a fun day for the families of green industry professionals to connect and catch up after a busy spring season. Organizers would like to thank Grand River Stone’s Kitchener location for their support and for donating the kids raffle prize. Congratulations to Jordyn Smith, winner of the bike raffle.
A tailored approach to risk management At Gallagher we tailor risk management solutions and insurance coverage to the changing needs of your landscape business. Our commitment to the highest service standards makes it easy for you to do business with us. Sharon Mitchell 905.948.2672 sharon_e_mitchell@ajg.com
For more information
ajgcanada.com 800.267.6670 © 2018 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited
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Bruce Ryckman 905.752.8746 bruce_ryckman@ajg.com
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Serenity garden opens for patients and staff
Milton District Hospital’s new Serenity Garden.
The Milton and District Horticultural Society (MDHS) held a grand opening celebration on June 20 to officially open the new Serenity Garden and Milton District Hospital. The project took just over a year to complete with the help of many volunteers, sponsors, individual donors and partners. LO member, Rain Gods, provided labour and expertise to install and irrigation system, Terra Greenhouses donated $2,500 worth of plant material and Landscape Ontario donated a flowering crabapple. Designed by MDHS, the garden is located in a fully accessible area for patients, families, visitors and hospital staff. The garden offers a peaceful, zen-like atmosphere with beautiful trees, shrubs and benches where people can sit and reflect, visit and talk, or just take a break in beautiful surroundings.
Garden Centre Symposium leaves the Congress nest Landscape Ontario’s annual Garden Centre Symposium, previously held in conjunction with the association’s annual Congress trade show and conference, is venturing out on its own. Previously held in January, the new Garden Centre Fall Dinner is scheduled for Oct. 24 at Piper’s Heath Golf Club, 5501 Trafalgar Road, Milton, Ont. The new venue is located just south of Derry Road and will also provide future space for the event to grow. Organized and hosted by LO’s Garden Centre Sector Group, the evening event will also include presentations to winners in this year’s LO Garden Centre Awards of Excellence program. After the awards ceremony, the event will dive deep into conversations centred on today’s hottest industry topics, as submitted by you. Share your thoughts on a range of retail-relevant issues with your peers in a live discussion format. A moderator will keep things moving along and ensure everyone is heard. The LO Growers Group runs a similar format at its annual Fall Dinner Meeting and participants find this type of open information sharing very useful in helping to identify future trends and issues, and to help solve common problems within the sector. The event is your opportunity to talk to your peers about how to make your business and sector even stronger and to take time to discuss the trial, tribulations, challenges and successes of another season. Discussion topics can be submitted at the event of in advance to Amy Buchanan at amy@landscapeontario.com. Tickets for the event are $45 each and include dinner. The registration deadline is Oct. 15, 2019. Visit HortTrades.com/garden-centre-fall-dinner-2019 for online registration and details.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
NEW MEMBERS
PA L A C E P E R E N N I A L S Proudly growing perennials f� over 30 years
GEORGIAN LAKELANDS A.R.G. Contracting Randy Gould 28 Algonquin Trail, Tiny, ON L0L 2T0 Tel: 705-739-5317 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
Scenic Stone Landscape & Design Inc Daniel Pacheco 3359 Cardiff Cres, Burlington, ON L7M 3X9 Tel: 647-988-8793 Membership Type: Active
LONDON
A1 Custom Painting Ann McIntaggart-Doyle 40 Robert St Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 2Y2 Tel: 705-627-4734 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
1564242 Ontario Ltd o/a Can Sweep Stacy Eldridge 7927 Glendon Dr, Box 805 Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0 Tel: 519-264-9446 Membership Type: Active
Canadiana Earthworks & Landscaping Kris Boothby 2311 Limberlost Rd Huntsville, ON P1H 2J6 Tel: 705-349-9010 Membership Type: Active
Stewart Webb and Sons Ltd Richard Webb 9967 Lakeshore Rd Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0 Tel: 519-238-2167 Membership Type: Active
Downey Enterprises Derek Downey 251 Christopher St Stayner, ON L0M 1S0 Tel: 705-428-2757 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
TORONTO
Landscapes of Muskoka Fitzmaurice Brothers Carpentry Jamie Doran 21 Armstrong St Bracebridge, ON P1L 1CL Tel: 705-641-1804 Membership Type: Active
Eclipse EIO Kevin Trainor 12B-644 Millway Ave Vaughan, ON L4K 4H4 Tel: 416-748-9879 Membership Type: Associate Fernmark Homes Fernando Marques 40 Hulst Dr, Bradford, ON L3Z 2T3 Tel: 905-252-6255 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
Nevin Metzger Landscaping Nevin Metzger 111 Dinsmore St Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0 Tel: 705-351-2469 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
Oakville Lawn & Property Maintenance Jason Carusi 1426 Wallace Rd Oakville, ON L6L 2Y2 Tel: 289-981-0189 Membership Type: Active
Perfect Post Hole Thomas Dwyer 3 Apple Valley Lane Everett, ON L0M 1J0 Tel: 416-720-1349 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
UPPER CANADA
Purdy’s Mechanical Ltd Tyson Purdy 7482 County Rd 92 Stayner, ON L0M 1S0 Tel: 705-737-7901 Membership Type: Chapter Associate Silva Solutions Alexandre Silva 5555 8th Line Cookstown, ON L0L 1L0 Tel: 705-718-8039 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
GOLDEN HORSESHOE Landmark Structures Co Mina Agaybi 3091 Harrison Crt Burlington, ON L7M 0W4 Tel: 905-319-7700 Membership Type: Associate
Gordon Barr Ltd Jeff Brown 156 Duff St Kingston, ON K7K 2L5 Tel: 613-542-4922 Membership Type: Associate Stampkrete Casey Down 528 Baptist Church Rd Stirling, ON K0K 3E0 Tel: 613-813-6839 Membership Type: Chapter Associate
WINDSOR Pat’s Lawncare & Maintenance Richard Austin 115 South Riverview Dr Amherstburg, ON N9V 3R3 Tel: 519-796-7673 Membership Type: Active
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Over 1200+ varieties of perennials Many unique and hard to find varieties Fruits and succulents Great fern, hosta and ornamental grass selection, premium tropical selection, premium annuals, hardy vines, Ontario Natives, clematis, herbs, and water plants
Catalogue at
palaceperennials.com
519-542-8353 866-843-0438 (sales) sales@sipkensnurseries.com
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
TRANSFORM THE WORLD. DESIGN WITH VECTORWORKS. Vectorworks Landmark is the all-in-one program that will transform your design, modelling, and presentation workflows - created just for you as a landscape designer.
EVENTS Full details and registration information for all events can be found online at HortTrades.com/events or at specific chapter or sector pages. Sept. 19
Nursery Growers Summer Tour Spend the day touring nursery growers and retailers with your peers. Sept. 19-20
LO Peer to Peer Muskoka Summit Residence Inn Gravenhurst A popular, two-day event for business owners and top managers. Sept. 19
Download a free trial at VECTORWORKS.NET/LOM
Shop Talk with the Toronto Chapter Goodlot Farmstead Brewing Company, 18825 Shaw’s Creek Rd., Caledon No agenda, no speakers, just an informal get together to talk shop. Sept. 21
Windsor Chapter Golf Tournament Sutton Creek Golf Club, Essex A nine-hole event that includes a full steak dinner. Sept. 25
National Tree Day Lubar | Courtesy of Campion Hruby Landscape Architects and David Burroughs
Celebrate the many benefits of trees by hosting a tree planting at a local school, community centre or church. Sept. 26
Snowposium 2019 Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton A full day conference, exhibitors, demos and more. Snowposium.ca. Sept. 26
Georgian Lakelands Putting Challenge Cascades Putting Course, Blue Mountain Village Register your group for this annual fun competition. Sept. 27
Waterloo Chapter Golf Tournament Conestoga Golf and Conference Centre Help support KidsAbility, plus Chapter scholarships and school greening projects. Oct. 1
LO Awards of Excellence entry deadline Enter your construction, maintenance and design projects via LOawards.com by midnight. No extensions! Oct. 4
Upper Canada Chapter Golf Tournament Loyalist Golf and Country Club, Bath New date for this event to benefit the Chapter’s scholarship programs. Oct. 24
Garden Centre Fall Dinner Piper’s Heath Golf Club, Milton LO’s Garden Centre group will hold a new fall event featuring dinner, networking, relevant discussions and presentation of LO Garden Centre Awards of Excellence.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
PROFESSIONAL NEWS Top landscape pros announced at 2019 National Awards of Excellence
National Award winners from across the country took centre stage in Abbotsford, B.C.
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The National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) took place on Aug. 14 in Abbotsford, B.C. This year, over 130 people attended the prestigious event to celebrate the 2019 National Award winners, whose projects demonstrated the bestof-the-best in the landscape horticulture profession. Presented by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), the event also gave attendees a chance to connect with the CNLA Board of Directors. The evening included the announcement of
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO five awards in the Landscape category, plus two Outstanding Retail Achievement awards, and the Green for Life Community Award. Congratulations to the following:
• Land-Con Ltd. of Concord, Ont., winner of the Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Construction. • Les Artisans du paysage inc. of Quebec City, Que., winner of the Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence in Residential Construction. • Donohoe Design Inc. of Vancouver, B.C., winner of the HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Landscape Design. • Para Space Landscaping Inc. of Burnaby, B.C., winner of the HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Maintenance. • Alternative Landscaping of Brandon, Man., winner of the HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence in Residential Maintenance. • Bylands Nurseries of West Kelowna, B.C., and Cedar Rim Nursery of Langley, B.C., winners of the Outstanding Retail Achievement award. • Highway of Heroes Tree campaign, winner of the Caterpillar Green for Life
Community Award which recognizes significant contributions made to the ornamental horticulture sector by an individual, corporation, or community. The National Awards of Landscape Excellence recognize Canadian companies that have actively participated
in significantly raising the level of professionalism in the landscape profession. Each province nominates members from its own provincial awards of excellence competition, which are then entered into the national awards. Next year’s ceremony will take place in Edmonton, Alta.
Bakker celebrates anniversary J.C. Bakker & Sons (Bakkers) of St. Catharines, Ont., is celebrating 70 years with an open house during the second week of September. “We look forward to hosting many customers and industry partners,” said general manager John Bakker III. “We are also delighted to concurrently host this year’s Landscape Ontario Industry Auction on Sept. 12.” Founded in 1949, with horticultural roots as far back as the early 1900s, Bakkers began with John Bakker Sr., an immigrant from the Netherlands, who settled his family in the Niagara Region in 1948. John Bakker Sr. brought with him over 25 years’ experience as a grower in the Netherlands. The first 10 years in Canada were difficult – a few teenage boys, a few spades and hoes, an old cultivating horse, and $300 in the bank. Brothers, Dave Bakker Sr. and John Bakker Jr. (d. 2012) continued growing the business, working closely with government, universities, the International Plant Propagators’ Society and crews in the field, supervising all aspects of the work to grow some of Canada’s finest nursery stock. Today, third and fourth generations of family from both brothers are involved in the nursery’s daily operations. Bakkers began as a wholesale operation, but also catered to local consumers through an award-winning retail garden centre from 1971 to 1987. Now, Bakkers delivers nursery stock to garden centres and select mass merchants across North America.
BRAUN CONTINUOUS WIRE BASKETS
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Stam Nurseries Inc. 593836 Hwy 59, Burgessville ON N0J 1C0
Growing quality shade trees and evergreens P: 519-424-3350 F: 519-456-1659 info@stamnurseries.com
WWW.BRAUNGROUP.COM 1-800-246-6984
stamnurseries.com 22
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Ministry blitz to focus on silica dust and diesel exhaust From Oct. 1 to Dec. 27, 2019, the Ministry of Labour (MOL) will conduct focused inspections in Ontario workplaces around respiratory hazards specific to silica, welding fumes and diesel exhaust, and musculoskeletal disorders. The workplaces being visited include ones in the construction sector.
Respiratory hazards Between 2008 and 2017, long latency illnesses – illnesses in which there is a long delay between exposure to a diseasecausing agent and the appearance of disease symptoms, accounted for the largest proportion of allowed WSIB benefit costs. Over two-thirds of allowed long latency illness claims over the past 10 years come from: lung cancer, pleural plaques, mesothelioma, asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are all associated with respiratory exposures. Cancer Care Ontario and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre estimate that exposure to asbestos, diesel engine exhaust, crystalline silica and welding
Respiratory hazards are the focus of a health and safety blitz this fall.
fumes cause about 1,300 cancer cases a year in Ontario. Gases, dusts, vapours, and fumes may be present at construction projects. They are referred to as ‘respiratory hazards’ when they can make a worker sick or die from being breathed in. Examples of respiratory hazards include:
• Silica dust from cutting and breaking concrete, sandblasting or removing refractory ceramic fibers. • Lead dust and fumes from grinding, welding, cutting or brazing surfaces coated with lead-based paint. • Solvent vapours from adhesives, paints, strippers, cleaning solvents, and spray coatings. • Carbon monoxide from operating gas-powered equipment in poorly ventilated work environments. Continued >
fall DINNER GROWERS
An initiative of the Landscape Ontario Designer Sector Group
A full-day event!
MONDAY JANUARY 6, 2020
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
REGISTER BY DECEMBER 13 TO SAVE MONEY! $145 for Members and $195 for Non-Members For details and registration, visit LOCONGRESS.COM
Piper's Heath Golf Club, Milton, ON
Join us at the annual Growers Fall Meeting to network, enjoy dinner and participate in a lively discussion.
Admission to Congress 2020 Trade Show and Congress ‘After Dark’ is included with registration. The Congress Conference and other special events are a separate fee.
For more information and to register, visit horttrades.com/tag/grower Initiative of:
The 2020 Designers Conference is presented with recognition of the OALA. Sessions qualify for OALA Continuing Education Credits.
G ROW E R S G RO U P
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
merald GALA
BEST projects
for landscape construction, maintenance and design at loawards.com ENTRIES CLOSE OCTOBER 1, 2019
Employers must take every reasonable precaution to reduce workers’ exposure to respiratory hazards. This includes: engineering controls (such as local exhaust ventilation), work practice controls (such as using wet-cutting techniques), administrative controls (such as minimizing the number of workers exposed to the hazard). When workers cannot be adequately protected from these controls, employers must provide respiratory protective equipment suitable for the hazard to the workers and workers must use that equipment. Inspectors will check that proper controls and work practices are in place, respirators are well maintained, workers have been trained on how to use the respirators properly, respirators are fitted to ensure an effective seal between the respirator and the worker’s face, worker exposure to airborne concentrations of hazardous biological or chemical agents listed in Ontario Regulation 833 are under the occupational exposure limits.
Musculoskeletal disorders Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the top lost time injury at work reported to WSIB in Ontario. In 2017, MSDs represented about one-third of all accepted WSIB lost time claims. Inspectors will check that:
• Employers have provided training to workers on safe manual materials handling practices. • Items are being manually handled in a safe manner. • Items are being stored in a manner that does not endanger a worker when manually handling those items. • Work areas and routes to and from work areas are kept free of obstructions so extra demands are not placed on workers when manually handling items. • Handling items while the worker is on a ladder is being performed in a safe manner. • Access to and egress from a work area is appropriate so that physical demands are not increased. • Adequate housekeeping is taking place so that a worker can use assistive devices (for example, carts) and there are not increased demands when manually handling items. For more resources on ergonomics and MSD prevention, visit the online version of this article at gfl.me/h5UU.
MONDAY JANUARY 6, 2020 A full-day event, with lunch and closing reception. Held in conjunction with Congress 2020 REGISTRATION FEE: E n $125 until December 13 n $165 after December 13 Admission to Congress 2020 Trade Show and Congress ‘After Dark’ is included with registration.
For details and registration, visit LOCONGRESS.COM
Return unwanted or obsolete pesticides for free CleanFARMS Ontario and partner, Croplife Canada has announced 28 one-day-only drop off locations across the province that will accept obsolete and unwanted pesticides for free. The 2019 collection program will run Sept. 20 to Oct. 1, 2019. Once collected, a licensed hazardous waste hauler will safely manage the products and send them for environmentally responsible disposal via high temperature incineration. Each drop-off site lasts only for a single day, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The program, which began in 1998 has collected over 500,000 kgs. of obsolete pesticides, with about 120,000 kgs. collected in 2013 alone. The next collection in Ontario will take place in 2022. For more information, call 1-877-622-4460 or view a list of drop-off locations and dates at gfl.me/h5U5.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
EXECUTIVE DESK
The new Landscape Ontario
A
fter spending a year in temporary offices, the Landscape Ontario staff are finally back home. Our completely renovated building looks great from Highway 401 and the members that have visited are extremely proud and impressed by the inside. Our theme of “renewal” this year is a very fitting one. Our new building belongs to you — our members. It is meant to reflect your values and your professionalism. It is kind of like a church/synagogue/temple. It belongs to no individual and paradoxically, to all. It is a place where everyone will experience the culture of “mutual improvement and benefit” that is at the core of why we exist. It symbolizes competency, character and trust — all the attributes we want to reflect as a profession. Every time members and potential members visit, we hope they come away enriched. It is a place for learning, training, listening, growth, debate, social interaction, prosperity and legacy. We want it to communicate the feeling of family, unity and purpose. Our purpose is to advance the landscape and horticultural profession. Our vision is to grow a prosperous, professional, ethical, recognized, valued and contributionoriented industry. Every activity in the new LO will align with this purpose and vision. It has been quite a journey to get to where we are. We are thankful for the hard work and vision of our pioneers who laid the strong foundation that has made Landscape Ontario one of the largest, most active and engaged horticultural associations in the world. Nearly 30 years ago, the association executive developed its first strategic plan. I still remember the process. The board of directors at the time asked the past presidents to review every aspect of the association. That activity was led by chair Casey van Maris. The office was located in an industrial strip mall on Matheson Rd.
The LO Building Committee recently met at the newly-renovated home office for a tour and to discuss the landscaping plan for the site.
in Mississauga, Ont. It was a typical office condominium with a few offices and an unfinished storage area. It was worth about $180,000. Sitting around tables in the storage area, surrounded by stacks of boxes, the past presidents began to envision the future. Here are some of the ideas written into that first strategic plan: The association’s home office of the future would include a 50-acre site, located within 30 minutes of the airport. It would become a hub for all related associations. There would be professional development courses offered, including practical programs. It would include demonstration gardens and a school. It would even be a place for research. About four years after the strategic plan was approved, John Van Wissen of Van Wissen Garden Centre dropped by the office. He had read the strategic plan and suggested that the association purchase the 50-acre Shemin Nurseries property in Milton. It had just gone on the market for $1.23 million. I told John we could not afford it, to which he promptly responded, “Then what is the use of a strategic plan?” There is a lot
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more to the story which I will elaborate on in future articles, but suffice it to say that John’s prompting made the Milton home office purchase a reality. It also highlights the huge importance of setting goals. After all these years, we continue our important habits of envisioning the future and setting goals, but we also work hard on maintaining our core values and principles. Although the “New LO” is exciting, we must continue to respect our founding principles and values in order to continue our success. At heart, we are a family that cares for each other and the community we serve. We are a community for mutual benefit and mutual improvement. We are in the business of enhancing and enriching lives. We are planning to hold an Open House in late October for everyone to celebrate the new Milton office. Watch for your invitation soon. We look forward to celebrating the new LO with you.
Tony DiGiovanni LO Executive Director
tony@landscapeontario.com
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Staying connected
M
any successful business owners know the value of making as many business and personal connections as possible. Maintaining client and supplier relationships are also very important. On your behalf, Landscape Ontario also spends a lot of time strengthening relationships with many other groups, organizations and individuals. Below are just a few of the connections we continued in 2019.
Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA)
The OHA have over 28,000 members across the province. Each year, LO is involved in several projects with OHA and also attends their annual convention, held this past just in Windsor, Ont. The convention included a tour to several LO members at their place of business. One particular stop, at Orchard Farm Nursery, had a very special meaning. Owner, Karl Klinck hosted the group and was proud of the fact that his dad was, in fact, a past president of the OHA. Each year at the convention, LO donates a tree. This year, a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) was planted by the Windsor parks department in the beautiful Dieppe Park which runs along the banks of the Detroit River (see photo). Over 300 people from across the province attended the convention this year and the 2020 event will be hosted by the District 10 group of horticultural societies in the London area.
Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG)
LO maintains a seat on the TBG board of directors to offer advice and to stay in touch with the exciting expansion project. The goal is to create a unique, 40-acre botanical garden in conjunction with the City of Toronto, that integrates with the local ravine system. The expansion plans will ultimately involve many of our Associate members (as suppliers), and our Active members when construction gets underway.
(L to R): Jay Terryberry, president LO Windsor Chapter; Margaret Laman, OHA District 10 Rep; Charles Freeman, OHA Vice President; Katherine Smyth, OHA President; at a tree planting to commemorate the 113th OHA convention.
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The LO Toronto Chapter often use the facilities at the TBG for meetings and recently, funds were donated specifically to support the children’s garden and educational programs for young people at the TBG, which align with LO’s strategic plan of encouraging youth to be actively involved with gardening/horticulture. The ultimate goal is to inspire them to choose the green profession as a career.
Environmental Landscaping Management (ELM) program at Seneca College LO also maintains a seat on this advisory board to represent members. This gives us an opportunity to provide input on course content and to get involved in job fairs. We are also helping support an exciting new program the college would like to launch in 2020 — a four-month Pre-Apprenticeship training course directed primarily at women living in shelters and social housing, who are interested in exploring careers in the agriculture/horticulture sectors.
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
LO is a member of the corporation which owns the Ex, allowing us to attend meetings that involve horticulture and the flower competitions which remain a popular component of the annual event. Our colleague, Albert Graves from Bloemen Décor, also continues to create amazing vignettes with gnomes and animals made of moss and plants that are widely photographed by visitors. Emphasis here is promoting horticulture and the use of LO members to the public. Speaking of which…
AM 740 Zoomer Radio
Charlie Dobbin continues to host a popular phone-in gardening show on Zoomer Radio where she provides gardening updates and advice to the many avid listeners. When Charlie is away, yours truly fills in as host. For two Saturdays in August, I broadcasted from the station’s Liberty Village studio to answer questions and to promote LO members through the Toronto Green Streets Challenge that took place Aug. 18 at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor. To complete the connections noted above, the entire 5,000 sq. ft. of sod supplied by Fairgreen Sod for the Toronto Green Streets Challenge was then donated to the TBG. To connect with me, or any of the groups noted above, I can be reached at 905-8751805, ext. 2303.
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
MEMBERSHIP
Follow the LO brick road….
A
nother summer has quickly flown by, and to be honest, it’s been a doozy. The wet spring caused delays for those in the profession and many business owners are stressed, employees are stressed, and even the plants are stressed! At times like these, we all need something positive to keep us motivated through the home stretch. Why not give your staff a chance to showcase their hard work by entering projects in Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence program? This year’s theme, “The Emerald City” celebrates the many innovative projects by LO members across the province. This is your chance to be recognized as one of the bestof-the-best in Ontario. Winning an award showcases the talents of your team and adds a unique credential to your company resume. Below are some tips from the judges for entering your projects this year:
A picture is worth a thousand words
The images submitted along with your entry are primarily what judges base final decisions on. If you’re not confident in your picture-taking skills, hire a professional. Landscape Ontario is happy to connect you with companies that specialize in landscape photography. When photographing your site, make sure it is tidy and free of all debris. We require at least eight images, but please, no more than 15. Do not edit or enhance your photos! The judges may disqualify a project if the images have been retouched.
All in the details
any images or project descriptions. Winning projects must demonstrate compliance with all safety regulations (railings, fences around pools, etc.). Judges look for master craftsmanship, so be sure to show off the details that best reflect your skills. Entries will only be accepted until Oct. 1. Winners will be announced on Jan. 9, 2020 at the awards ceremony, held in conjunction with Congress. You will receive one ticket in the mail to the ceremony for each entry. Additional tickets can be purchased through the Congress website. This year, you also have the option to reserve an entire table. If you have any questions please contact me at 1-800-265-5656 ext. 2333.
All entries must be complete and adhere to the entry guidelines. There are many fine details that can make or break your submission. Your company name, logo and or reference to the client CAN NOT appear in
Myscha Stafford LO Membership and Chapter Coordinator myscha@landscapeontario.com
Use different categories
The LO awards program truly has something for everyone. You are allowed to enter the same project in multiple categories if they apply (such as Design and Construction), but to do this, you must submit the entry twice for it to be considered in each category. If there is a very unique element of a project, consider entering the Special Interest category. If you know of an LO member who maintains one of the sites you built, encourage them to enter it in the Maintenance program — you could have a triple treat on your hands for a winning design, construction and maintenance award.
Make your project summary stand out
The project summary is your opportunity to tell the judges why your project should win an award. Judges are looking for a point form description of your project that highlights specific issues, key features and special or unusual site problems. Keep it brief; no fewer than 50 words, but no more than 300 words.
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO • GPS records: Showing equipment whereabouts by time of day. • Hand written diaries: Snow contractors performing the salting and plowing keep hand written diaries each time they attend the site to note the state of the lot, weather conditions, any issues or deficiencies observed, information not able to fit on logs, work performed, etc.
SNOW LIABILITY
Battle of Evidence:
The side with the best records often wins a slip and fall lawsuit
W
inter maintenance season is just around the corner. What steps are you and your company planning to take during the winter of 2019/2020 to protect yourselves from the risk of a slip and fall lawsuit? Slip and fall claims as a result of snow and ice are abundant. Throughout your career, it’s more likely than not that you will face a lawsuit arising out of your contractual snow maintenance duties. It seems these claims are part of the business, right? What can you do? Well, you can prepare your defence in advance. The best preparation is to keep accurate, contemporaneous, and detailed documents of your snow removal activities. To mount a successful defence in a snow maintenance liability claim, snow contractors must be able to “demonstrate” that their actions met the standard of a reasonably prudent snow maintenance contractor. How does a court determine what a reasonable standard would be? Our courts will usually start with the contract between your company and the property owner. Did the snow contractor perform the services it agreed to perform? For the most part, snow contractors’ obligations flow from the contract. The contract is the primary source of the snow contractors’ obligations, and failure to fulfil contractual obligations will be evidence that the snow contractor failed to take reasonable care, and by doing so, breached its duty of care to the injured plaintiff. So the key here is to fulfil the terms of the contract! In order to demonstrate to the court that the standard of care was met, proof will be required. As defence counsel, we work with snow contractors to establish proof that contractual obligations were met. In order
to do this, we require proper evidence. We need written records. Paper. Records that are contemporaneous and kept as part of the usual course of business can be admitted into evidence during a trial. The key here is to make sure your workers keep good records of their work. This helps to establish that your company has fulfilled the terms of its contract. The best snow maintenance companies will have a comprehensive record keeping system that typically includes:
• A diary of communications from and to the owner/property manager: Communications such as emails, call-outs, special requests and/or concerns, offers to pre-salt, warnings of approaching bad weather, and reporting of damage to the owner/property manager. • Patrol logs: The time of the patrol, snow contractors performing the patrol, where the snow contractors walked, description of what the snow contractors observed, weather, temperature, etc. • Weather watch diaries: A diary kept by the person who watches the weather at the office to note weather conditions and weather patterns each day. This will take the place of having to preserve all of the documents relating to weather. • Snow plow logs: The time of snow removal, equipment used to remove the snow, precise location of snow removal, snow contractors performing the snow removal, weather, temperature, etc. • Salt logs: The time of salting, type of salt or ice-melt, amount of salt used, equipment used to spread salt, precise location of salting, snow contractors performing the salting, weather, temperature, sun/overcast/dark.
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Nobody likes doing paperwork. It may seem like extra work or an inconvenience, but these records provide invaluable evidence that may help you successfully defend a claim someday. In Hawkins v. Village Mall Shopping Centre (2006) Inc., 2015 CarswellNfld 124, the plaintiff slipped and fell in a mall parking lot that had very slippery conditions. The snow contractor kept salting, but it would freeze over quickly. As was its practice, the snow contractor kept a log of its daily activity, including the day of the incident. The log showed that it salted the Village Mall parking lot at 4:47 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The log records also showed that the parking lot was plowed by a loader. The question in this case was, “whether the system in place for dealing with snow removal and ice control was adequate.” The court was satisfied that the snow contractor’s system disclosed a rigorous and vigilant attempt to control of the freeze-thaw-refreeze conditions as they developed. During the afternoon of the incident, the salting operator was continuously applying salt. The operator responded to the conditions, and followed the directions from their supervisor, the property owner. Even though the operator’s efforts ultimately were not effective, they were a practical response to the conditions, and that was all that reasonably could be expected. In the circumstances, the court concluded that a system was in place that was adequate to respond to the risk and the plaintiff’s case was dismissed. Make no mistake: snow maintenance companies who maintain accurate, contemporaneous and detailed records have the best chance of success in defending slip and fall cases. In order to avoid exposure to liability, a sound record keeping protocol is essential.
Visnja Jovanovic
Moodie Mair Walker LLP
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
PROSPERITY PARTNERS
September Summit:
The Peer2Peer Network signature event A bumpy start to 2019
Without a doubt, this season has pressed many with whom I’ve spoken, way out to their max. A late and wet spring started everyone off, no matter what sector, causing a disruption to the timing and flow of normal spring production. Add to this, customer demands for a faster-than-ever pace to get their work done or product delivered on time, and stress levels are higher than usual across the profession. (I know, staffing concerns are high as well, but that’s a whole other topic on its own). In my 25 years of experience as a contractor, and more recently as a business coach, I see the impact on business owners and leadership teams from this type of weathercaused stress fall into two main categories:
• Either missing or chasing last year’s numbers, plus this year’s growth targets. • The stress on owners, staff and families that comes with business growth and resources stretched thinner than usual. I haven’t heard from anyone in our industry whose phone isn’t ringing, and who isn’t really crazy busy. This is a great sign that our expertise, services and products are in high demand. But with that comes a fast pace that often blows past our plan and/or our capacity to manage operations proactively on-the-fly. Well, have I ever got a solution for you! On Sept. 19 and 20, there’s a signature event happening in Muskoka, Ont., that you don’t want to miss. The LO Peer to Peer Network Muskoka Summit is a highly-engaging and informative two-day workshop that will focus on two key challenges that so many in our industry are struggle with each year:
1. Knowing what your numbers are telling you, and what to do about it. 2. Scaling-up your business and how to survive rapid growth.
Day one will see workshop hosts, Joe Salemi, from Dynascape, and yours truly, dive deep into helping you compare your business results with bench-marked industry data on crucial factors for business success. These include:
1. Overhead metrics by company type and revenue range 2. Sales stats on closing rates and sales effectiveness 3. Current estimating trends (breakevens, average markups and profit) 4. Equipment ROI patterns 5. Revenue trends 6. Expense averages 7. Marketing ROI Top takeaways will include a working spreadsheet to guide you through reviewing all of the above, and learning to identify the patterns in your own numbers. You will also learn to identify your business trends, and discover tips to improve them. Bring your current: Year to Date, Previous Year Comparison, Profit and Loss Statement if you want to (not required, but encouraged). On day two, we will host a power-packed panel featuring three industry professionals who have successfully navigated business growth – each using different techniques. In addition, there will be two professional consultants rounding out the panel. This workshop will be moderated by Tony DiGiovanni, Executive Director, Landscape Ontario and feature: Janna Bradley, COO, LMN; Scott Wentworth, President, Wentworth Landscapes; Kevin Scott, President, Muskoka Landscapers; Tyler Lockhart, Business Investment Consultant, Muskoka Futures; and myself. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and explore the impact on business owners of scaling up a business way beyond where they had ever envisioned. The stresses that
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come with business growth affect the owner, the leadership team, and their families. This power panel of experts will answer targeted questions around the impact of business growth, and will join you elbow-to-elbow in break-out discussions for exploration into managing the stresses of business growth.
I can’t leave my business for a couple of days
This event is going to deliver relevant information that runs deeply into and broadly across these two top challenges facing most entrepreneurs and managers this year. It’s so tough to get your head wrapped around stepping away from your business while you’re in the thick of it — and spend two days working on YOU as an owner or manager. What I can say for sure, is that the dozens of business owners who have already made the leap of faith and taken the time in the past to attend this professional development mid-season retreat, have never regretted it. As counter-intuitive as it may feel, leaving your business behind for two days is a great opportunity for both you and your staff. It’s a great way to test the processes, systems and collaborative communication channels within your business. Hold a quick meeting with your team before you leave to clarify what the expectations are while you’re away. This will be an important test to see how solid your systems and decision-making filters are, when you return, so that you learn where to improve and how to make adjustments. Hopefully by the time you read this column, the conference will not yet be sold out. Visit HortTrades.com/p2p for details.
Jacki Hart CLM Prosperity Partners Program Manager
info.peertopeer@landscapeontario.com
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
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JOIN US AT SNOWPOSIUM 2019! A conference focused on relevant business issues and exhibitors with the latest equipment and technology makes this the snow event you don’t want to miss.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
join us
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO’S NEWLY RENOVATED SITE 7856 FIFTH LINE SOUTH, MILTON, ON L9T 2X8
for the
Garden Centre Awards of Excellence
SNOWPOSIUM.CA
at the event
Enjoy dinner, networking, and a lively discussion on relevant issues in the industry.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
Piper’s Heath Golf Club
SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND EXPO
5501 Trafalgar Road, Milton, Ontario.
Brought to you by
Tickets are $45 each and include dinner. For more information, visit horttrades.com/tag/garden-centre
SN && I CIEC E COGM MU I TPT E E SOW N OW RO
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LANDSCAPE ONTARIO
CONGRESS 2020 CANADA’S PREMIER GREEN INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE
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