14 minute read
2020 Strategic Plan Overview
A few thoughts re: COVID-19 How quickly our world can be turned upside down. Several weeks ago, many of us were following news about the corona virus with mild curiosity, some of us were wondering if we would see any cases in Alberta or Canada. And just like that everything changed. The Global Pandemic was declared two weeks ago, state of emergencies have been declared in every province and every major city, and we are on the verge of a “stay home” or “shelter in place” order, which threatens to shut down most business.
This is a very scary time. I’ve heard from many members who are really questioning the chances their business will survive this crisis, especially in combination with the free-fall in the energy sector. Nobody has lived through anything quite like this before (or they are over 100). We are surely living in interesting times.
I know this first few weeks has been overwhelming for me personally. Adjusting to working from home with two kids under 6 while trying to deal with all things COVID-19 related. Keeping busy sure has a way of keeping my mind off things. The Landscape Alberta staff has reacted tremendously to the work from home protocols (self-imposed) and we all continue to work behind the scenes to help our members.
The news coverage, the ever-changing health orders, and daily updates on the number of infected and tested is relentless. It can be scary, panic inducing, and just an overload of negative thoughts and emotions. A member commented to me today, that these tough times will make us all stronger, which is very true. Maybe the young kids today will get to tell their kids and grandkids about how tough they had it.
All of this has reminded me of a speech I heard from Fred Rogers. His Mother, in times of crisis or disaster, would tell him to “look for the helpers”. They are often in the background or off to the side but if you look for them you will see the best of humanity in terrible times. When you see the helpers he ends, “you’ll know there is hope”. Search “Fred Rogers helpers” on YouTube to fine the video.
Over the last week I’ve been inspired and given hope by so many members. So often there first questions I heard were about how to help their staff, about if they should be bringing up any workers from Mexico this year – in case they can’t get home to their families. I’ll tell you; this isn’t the behaviour seen in every sector right now. I’m blessed to work for an industry filled with helpers. The role of green spaces, gardens, and amazingly designed and built backyards will sure play a role as helper to Albertans in the coming months. The positive impact the work you do as members has on the publics physical and mental health has never been so important.
We are all in this together, and Landscape Alberta is here to help you, the helpers. Stay safe, - Joel
Landscape Alberta 2020 Strategic Plan The board of directors recently engaged in a refresh of the Landscape Alberta strategic plan. This half-day meeting was to re-prioritize and focus the association for the next 3-5 years. Moderated by Victor Santacruz from CNLA, we were able to establish some key result areas, while maintaining flexibility to pivot when the situation required us to (COVID-19 already being a shift in what we were working on). The one-page summary below is a great working document that will be updated each year as we continue our mission of “Improving the professional landscape industry” in Alberta.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM 2019 NOVEMBER 14 & 15 BMO Centre at Stampede Park Calgary, AB
STRATEGIC OUTLINE 2020
Organizational Values
Integrity, Responsive, Member Directed, Value Driven, Committed to Professional Development
Self-Promotion and Public Relations
Strategic Objectives • Develop value proposition to members and potential members • The tangible and intangible benefits • The return on investment for members • The promotion of the value Landscape Alberta delivers to the industry • Promotion of activities, accomplishments and the importance of Landscape Alberta
Professional Development
Strategic Objectives • Make Certification and Apprenticeship more accessible to members and industry • Promote the value of
Certification, Apprenticeship and other professional development tools • Provide education, information, webinars, seminars, meetings to further advance the industry
Government Relations, Advocacy and Strategic Alliances
Strategic Objectives • Be recognized as the voice for the Landscape Industry in Alberta at government and public consultations • Continue to develop partnerships and alliances with government agencies, bureaucrats and elected officials
Membership
Strategic Objectives • Define the objective of
membership requirements • Review credentials and access to the membership for the purposes of tenders, bids or procurement requirements • Grow membership by focusing on previous objectives
Financial Sustainability
Strategic Objectives • Being fiscally responsible and making efforts to expand the resources of Landscape Alberta continues to be a foundational priority
So, What Business Are You Really In?
BY DONALD COOPER, MBA, CSP, HOF
A few years ago, walking through a shopping mall in Calgary, Alberta, I came across a beautiful flower shop. Displayed outside the doorway, in the mall aisle, were mixed bunches of fresh flowers, nicely wrapped and ready to go. A great idea to make that ‘impulse sale’.
But there was just one problem. I searched everywhere for a price and there was none to be found. There was no price sign and no price on the flowers...nothing that would allow me to make an instant decision to buy, which is what an impulse sale is.
I nipped into the shop, chatted up the proprietor and asked her how much the flower bunches were. “Oh, they’re $12.00”. she said. “And how do they sell?” I asked. “Not very well and I don’t know why...they’re a great price.”
I asked her what business she’s in. She looked at me as if I had two heads and said, “I sell flowers. Can’t you see that?” “Yes, you do.” I replied, “But that’s not what business you’re in. You’re in the ‘love’ business; the business of helping people express caring, joy, sorrow, support or celebration...and all of that is love. And you’re in the business of making it easy for people to buy. So, what those flowers need is a sign that says, Bunches of love...only $12.00 and I bet you’ll sell out every day!”
I asked her to humour me and give it a try. I also gave her $50 to get the sign made. Then, I asked for her business card so I could call her in one month to find out how her ‘Bunches of Love’ were selling.
I followed up, as promised, and learned that sales of those ‘Bunches of love’ had immediately tripled. She reported that she and her staff were now focused on doing everything with love and treating every customer with a feeling of love, joy and gratitude...and overall sales were already up 15%! In every market, whatever you sell, the business that figures out how to add emotional value to every customer interaction and then makes it easy for the customer to buy will become the dominant player.
How might this apply to your business? Ask and answer these two simple questions...
Question #1:
“What business are we really in?” Define what you sell by how it adds value to your customers’ lives and by how it makes emotional connections with them.
Question #2:
“How can we make it easier for our customers to make a wise purchase decision? How can we become their ‘Caring Coach’?”
So, how can you redefine your business, and the products or services you sell, in a way that focuses you on helping instead of selling while making powerful emotional connections with your target customers. And how can you communicate in words that enhance those connections and change your focus. “Bunches of Love!” did that for a flower shop in Calgary, Alberta.
Since 1970… Quality & Service You Can Depend On
Located 5 kms east of Strathmore, AB on Range Road 245 Specimen Caliper Trees Pot-in-Pot Trees Specimen Evergreens Container Evergreens Container Shrubs Perennials Growers of Quality Nursery Stock:
Each year, we see beautiful, well-designed landscapes that truly showcase the best this industry has to offer. This year, stemming from 39 entries, there were 15 winners in the Merit category and 10 winners in the Excellence category. We congratulate 2019’s winners: Planta Landscape Inc., Pure Landscape Design & Construction, Wilco Contractors Southwest Inc., The Jansen Group, Year Round Landscaping Inc., Terra Landscaping, Park Landscaping, Rockyview Projects, Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. We would like to thank this year’s volunteer judges for taking their assignment seriously and giving so generously of their time and expertise: Raymond Vincent, Erin Faupel, Jeff Wilson, Maria Galdon, John van Roessel, Mark Janzen and Gord Koch. We would also like to give a special thank you to Expocrete, an Oldcastle company, Manderley Turf Products Inc., Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply and Finning Canada for being prize sponsors for the 2019 Landscape Awards. Winners of these top prizes will be announced August 12, 2020 at our Awards Celebration in Edmonton. More details coming soon! THE LANDSCAPE AWARDS PROGRAM The Landscape Awards reflect the association’s commitment to creating and preserving the beauty of the urban landscape. The program is also designed to reward independent landscape contracting professionals who execute top quality landscape projects. The Landscape Awards program has four main objectives: 1. Encourage landscape contractors to be t he best in their field 2. Pr ovide a marketing opportunity to those companies that receive an award 3. Encourage a company’ s employees to aspire to excellence 4. Pr ovide an opportunity to compete in the National Awards of Landscape Excellence Members can enter projects into nine different categories covering construction, maintenance and design. Each entry is evaluated using a set of criteria; the submissions are not judged against each other. There are two award levels: a Merit Award goes to an entry that earns 70-84 points, and an Excellence Award goes to an entry earning 85 or more points. Entries that achieve Excellence status are eligible to be selected for the National Awards of Landscape Excellence, a Canada-wide program developed by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. 2019 Landscape Awards
Excellence
PLANTA LANDSCAPE INC. O’Brien Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50k
THE JANSEN GROUP Kochan Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50k
THE JANSEN GROUP Bradley Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50k
THE JANSEN GROUP Cote Residence Residential Landscape Design
WILCO CONTRACTORS SW INC. Mahogany Central Beach Maintenance Commercial Landscape Maintenance
ROCKY VIEW PROJECTS Banff North Playscape Commercial Landscape Feature
TERRA LANDSCAPING Luxus Group Green Roof/Green Wall
Excellence WILCO CONTRACTORS SW INC. Timberlands MR Commercial Landscape Construction over $500k
PARK LANDSCAPING Paul Kane Park Redevelopment Commercial Landscape Construction $100-500k
WILCO CONTRACTORS SW INC. UD Northwest Commons Park Commercial Landscape Construction over $500k “There are two award levels: a Merit Award goes to an entry that earns 70-84 points, and an Excellence Award goes to an entry earning 85 or more points.”
PURE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Skinny Oasis Residential Landscape Construction under $50k
PURE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Country living Residential Landscape Construction over $50k
PLANTA LANDSCAPE INC. Amonson Residence Residential Landscape Construction under $50k
Merit
PURE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Modern lines Residential Landscape Construction under $50k
PURE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Curb Appeal Residential Landscape Feature
Merit
TERRA LANDSCAPING The Brackenbury Residence Green Roof/Green Wall
YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPING INC. St. Margarite Manor Commercial Landscape Construction under $100k
ALPHA BETTER LANDSCAPING INC. Hillcrest Phase 10 – Lot 24 MR Commercial Landscape Maintenance
YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPING INC. Buffalo Rubbing Stone School Commercial Landscape Construction under $100k
WILCO CONTRACTORS SW INC. Currie Officer’s Mess Gardens Commercial Landscape Construction $100-500k
WILCO CONTRACTORS SW INC. Springbank Hill Community Park Commercial Landscape Construction $100-500k ALPHA BETTER LANDSCAPING INC. Confederation Park Lagoon Deck Commercial Landscape Construction $100-500k The functional use of this landscape was the primary focus of the design. The family with young children required a practical and flexible layout as part of the landscape. Maximizing views and access to the lake was also encouraged. Because of the slope down to the water of the backyard and the effect of a walkout basement, the terracing was an essential aspect from the first stages of design. The grading and retention was carefully considered to meet code while avoiding the use of guardrails as the view of the lake plays a significant role. This was a challenge, because we had to keep the terracing to a minimum, without exceeding grade change maximums, and keeping the walls low to eliminate the requirement of guardrails. The end result is very successful. This is mainly due to the careful curvilinear configuration of the layout of these spaces. Each terrace had its own use, starting from the covered patio, to a putting green, open lawn area to accommodate a trampoline and soccer practice, transitioning to an informal fire pit area next to the water, a synthetic grass space for gear and water sport storage and finally to the rock and dock for water access. The homeowners are thrilled with their backyard and find it to be a beautiful and safe place for family gatherings. The software used for the development of these drawings includes AutoCAD. BRODERICK JR. RESIDENCE - LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS | GRADING AND DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS | DETAILS CONCEPT DESIGN BEFORE PHOTOS L1.00 | LANDSCAPE SITE PLAN / 1:200 1/L7.00 | SITE RETAINING WALL SECTION / 1:75 2/L7.00 | RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTION DETAILS / 1:30
PLANTA LANDSCAPE INC. Broderick Residence Residential Landscape Design L4.00 | LANDSCAPE PLANTING PLAN / 1:200
3/L7.00 | RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTION DETAILS / 1:50
ALPHA BETTER LANDSCAPING INC. Legacy Phase 10 – 76 MR Commercial Landscape Construction over $500k ALPHA BETTER LANDSCAPING INC. Livingston – Stage 1 Pond - A Commercial Landscape Construction over $500k L5.00 | GRADING AND DRAINAGE PLAN / 1:200 PRODUCED IN AUTO CAD “Members can enter projects into nine different categories covering construction, maintenance and design. Each entry is evaluated using a set of criteria; the submissions are not judged against each other.”
