Green for Life Magazine May/June 2018

A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication

Green for Life May/June 2018 | 1

May/June 2018, Vol. 6, No. 3

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CALENDAR May 15 - 16, 2018 Grey to Green Conference: Toronto, ON Advancing the professional landscape industry MANAGING EDITOR | Joel Beatson PRODUCTION & EDITING | Carmen Johnson Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a professional publication for the landscape trade in Alberta.

Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta 18051 107 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1K3 P: 780-489-1991 F: 780-444-2152 admin@landscape-alberta.com Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and does not endorse the contents of any advertisements herein.

All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Landscape Alberta or its members.

Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of Landscape Alberta.

www.greytogreenconference.org

May 30 - June 1, 2018 Skills Canada Alberta Provincial Competition: Edmonton, AB www.skillsalberta.com

June 4 - 5, 2018 Skills Canada National Competition: Edmonton, AB www.skillscompetencescanada.com

June 16 - 24, 2018 Garden Days: Canada Wide www.gardendays.ca

For more events visit www.landscape-alberta.com/?page_id=404

CONTENTS

ISSN No: 1929-7114 (print) ISSN N0: 1929-7122 (online)

4 Industry and Association News

Landscape Alberta Board of Directors Brian Gibson, Green Drop Lawns Ltd., Chair

8 2017 Landscape Awards

Ken Ruddock, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Cody Brown, Tree to Tree Nurseries Ltd. Jeff Oudyk, CSLA, AALA, JLG, Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd., Vice Chair John van Roessel, CLM, CLT, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc., Treasurer Keith Plowman, K Plowman Contracting Ltd. Laura Watson, Finning Canada Adam Jansen, The Jansen Group Landscape Alberta Staff Joel Beatson, CAE, CLM,­­Executive Director joel.beatson@landscape-alberta.com Marnie Main, Member Services Director member.services@landscape-alberta.com Valerie Stobbe, Trade Show Coordinator valerie.stobbe@landscape-alberta.com Carmen Johnson, Communications Coordinator carmen.johnson@landscape-alberta.com Cheryl Teo, Bookkeeper accounting@landscape-alberta.com On the Cover Photo: 2018 Landscape Award of Excellence Winner, Year-Round Landscaping, Hewko Outdoor Fireplace Features Follow Our Social Media Instagram: @landscapealberta Twitter: @landscapeab Facebook: @landscapealberta

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14 Finding Opportunites for Profitable Spring (& Fall) Cleanup Services

18 Looking Back on Our Association

INDUSTRY AND ASSOCIATION NEWS Landscape Awards Presentation In conjunction with our Spring Forum, our annual Landscape Awards Night was held on March 8, at The Rec Room, South Common. 82 attendees enjoyed a plethora of video, arcade, and table games before sitting down to a delicious dinner. After dinner our retro-video game themed presentation showcased the winning projects, with winners receiving plaques!

Each year, we see beautiful entries that showcase the best our province has to offer. There were 25 winners in the Merit category and 5 winners in the Excellence category.

Congratulations to: Alpha Better Landscaping Inc., Cutting Edge Landscaping Ltd., Earthlings Inc., Greater Landscapes

by Design, Julia’s Alpine Garden, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc., Landform Inc., Modern Earth Landscaping, Plant Landscape, Solid Landscape Construction & Design Inc., Solkor Construction, The Jansen Group Ltd., Three Seasons Landscaping, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc., and Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Congratulations also to the 2018 National Awards of Landscape Excellence nominees: Solkor Construction - Canmore, Walker Road ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc. - Van Wieren Residence Year-Round Landscaping Inc. - Griffiths Residence

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Receiving the Executive Choice Award was Blaire Cote for his outstanding work on Chestermere Park and David Shore for his contributions to the Canada 150 Garden at the Legislature. Thanks to both of you for all you do for this industry! Congratulations also to Tara Jack who received the Mike Haberl Sr. Award for obtaining the highest score on the Landscape Industry Certified Technician exam. And many thanks to our generous sponsors! You help make events like this possible.

See photos of the winning projects on pages 8 to 13.

2018 Federal Budget Highlights The government is proposing $1.2-billion over five years to create a new five-week “use-it-or-lose-it” incentive for new fathers to take parental leave. The Employment Insurance Parental Sharing Benefit would increase EI parental leave to a maximum of 40 weeks in cases where the second parent agrees to take at least five weeks off.

The benefit covers 55 per cent of the second parent’s income for as much as 12 months.

The government proposes investing $80 million in 201819 and $150 million in 2019-20 to support seasonal workers whose EI benefits vary. Additionally, Employment and Social Development Canada will reallocate $10 million

from existing departmental resources to provide immediate income support and training to affected workers.

The budget unveiled details on the taxation of passive investment income inside private corporations. When companies earn between $50,000 and $150,000 in a given year from passive investments, a reduced amount of their active business income will be eligible for the small business tax rate, which will be 9 per cent in 2019. (The upper limit for business income that can be taxed at the small business rate is $500,000.)

The reduction will occur on a straight-line basis, with eligible income decreasing by $5 for every $1 of passive income above the $50,000 threshold. Companies exceeding $150,000 in passive income will no longer be eligible for the rate.

New Member Benefit: Mynmax Mynmax is the latest CNLA member discount program available to Landscape Alberta members, who can now receive access to discounted Rogers and Telus mobile plans from $45/month. Going through CNLA to set up a plan gets members access to the group data pool, which limits data overage charges. Your friends and family can also receive Mynmax pricing on lines set up outside the company pool. Mynmax is based here in Alberta and has been attending local events since the new year.

Members can visit https://mynmax.com/pages/cnla to set up a Mynmax membership account; select CNLA from the drop-down, and start saving.

Skills Canada 2018 Edmonton will be host to two Skills Canada events this spring. May 30 to June 1 is Provincials, and June 4 to 5 is Nationals. Both are taking place at the Expo Centre at Northlands. Over 40 skilled trades compete in a showcase-style event that helps elevate trades careers.

The Landscape Gardening event will feature seven teams from across Canada in a two-day garden build.

Each event brings over 10,000 grade and secondary school students to learn about different career paths.

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Landscape Alberta is a proud supporter of the program.

Our bursaries help Alberta’s team members take time away from work to compete. We also support inevent logistics and the try-a-trade program. Regular donors include Expocrete, an Oldcastle company; Land Tec Landscape Contractors; TreeTime.ca; and Kiwi Nurseries. We are looking for donors to provide landscape lighting and pond kits. Volunteers are also needed to help set-up, tear-down, or talk to students about careers in our industry. To volunteer, donate, or for more info, please contact Joel Beatson: joel. beatson@landscape-alberta.com. expedite the process.

We also had growers report that workers who went into the Ministry office were able to get their visas if they were willing to wait at the office.

SAWP Updates If you have workers who must apply for their worker visas at the Mexican Ministry of Labour, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council advises workers go to the Ministry offices in Mexico City and apply in person. This may incur some travel costs but seems to

the worker visas. If you need work permits expedited, email: mxicoimmigration@international.gc.ca In your email include your company name; LMIA numbers; the timeline workers are expected; and your named worker information, including their names, birthdates, and file numbers.

Mexican Ministry of Labour Contact This is where the worker applications go and where workers pick up their work visas.

Point of contact at Mexico Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS): Karla Quintero (Karla speaks fluent English) Phone number: 011-52-(55) 3000-2700 Ext. 34148 E-mail: Karla.quintero@stps.gob.mx New Contact at Mexican Consulate in Calgary Jesus Cano Tel: 403-264-1259 Ext. 26 Email: jcano@sre.gob.mx

For workers having issue with work permits The Canadian Consulate in Mexico City processes

Growers of Quality Nursery Stock:

Specimen Caliper Trees • Pot-in-Pot Trees Specimen Evergreens • Container Evergreens Container Shrubs • Perennials

403-934-3670 1-866-805-5007

eaglelakenurseries.com sales@eaglelakenurseries.com Located 5 kms east of Strathmore, AB on Range Road 245 Green for Life May/June 2018 | 6

Thank You - 2018 Landscape Industry Certified Exam

Landscape Alberta Family is Growing Landscape Alberta’s Communications Coordinator, Kyla Hardon and her partner Pat Lanoue, welcome their first son, Lucas on February 8th, weighing in at 8lbs, 4oz.

Congratulations to Kyla and Pat!

Congratulations to all of the candidates who participated in the recent Landscape Industry Certified Technician test event, hosted by Landscape Alberta on February 23 & 24, 2018, at the Olds College Landscape Pavilion. We proudly welcome five newly certified Technicians to the ranks!

With sincere gratitude, we thank our dedicated volunteers who commit their time and expertise to this industry-building program, and have done so for over two decades. We encourage you to recognize and support the suppliers who step up every year to make this event possible – lending their equipment, products, and generous support to grow the landscape industry in Alberta. Thank you, and congratulations to all!

Facility Sponsor: Olds College Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. Cervus Equipment – Red Deer Finning (Canada) – Red Deer Clintar Landscape Management JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. Three Seasons Landscaping digital2way/Nextcom

Everything you need to create the perfect landscape Sod

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Blue Grass Nursery, Sod, & Garden Centres Red Deer: 1-855-533-4777 Calgary: 1-877-826-0468 Edmonton: 1-780-862-4383

www.bluegrassnursery.com Green for Life May/June 2018 | 7

2017 Landscape Awards 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 the best in their field 2. Provide a marketing opportunity to those

companies that receive an award 3. Encourage a company’s employees to aspire to excellence 4. Provide an opportunity to compete in the

National Awards of Landscape Excellence

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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.

Congratulations again to all the winners! We look forward to seeing next year’s entries and all the amazing projects that our members have to offer.

Thank you to our judges, sponsors, and to everyone who came to celebrate at the awards night!

Excellence

The Jansen Group Ltd. Genesis on the Lakes Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

Solkor Construction Canmore, Walker Road Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Hewko Outdoor Fireplace Residential Landscape Features Highest Score of 2017

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Van Wieren Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Griffiths Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

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Merit

Three Seasons Landscaping Huff Residence Residential Landscape Construction under $50K

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Browning Residence Residential Landscape Construction under $50K

Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. Thomson Family Park Commercial Landscape Construction $100K-$500K ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Dunn Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K Earthlings Inc. Thom Residence Residential Landscape Construction under $50K

Modern Earth Landscaping Brown Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. Broadfoot Residence Residential Landscape Construction over$50K Green for Life May/June 2018 | 10

Continued on the next page...

Solid Landscape Construction & Design Inc. Rogers Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. Mitchell Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

Cutting Edge Landscaping Ltd. Mayfair Village North Residential Landscape Construction $100K-$500K Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Varsity Residence Residential Landscape Construction over $50K Three Seasons Landscaping River Valley Estate Infill Residential Landscape Construction over $50K

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Early Grey School Courtyard Commercial Landscape Construction under $100K

Greater Landscapes by Design Lake Bonavista Landscape Feature Residential Landscape Features Green for Life May/June 2018 | 11

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Slywka Residence Residential Landscape Design Landform Inc. Martin Residence Residential Landscape Design

Julia’s Alpine Garden A Landscaper’s Dream Yard Residential Landscape Design

Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Fell-Panich Residence Residential Landscape Design

Planta Landscape Strother Residence Residential Landscape Design

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Merit

ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Land of Lemurs Exhibit Commercial Landscape Construction over $500K

Planta Landscape Roxburgh Residence Residential Landscape Design Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. River Park - Sandy Beach - Britannia Slopes Commercial Landscape Construction over $500K

Year-Round Landscaping Inc. Britannia Residence Commercial Landscape Construction over $500K

Greater Landscapes by Design Evanston View Residential Landscape Design

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Earthlings Inc. Family Centre - Playspace Residential Landscape Design

Finding Opportunities for Profitable Spring (and Fall) Cleanup Services

Article by Patrick White | Reprinted with the Permission of Turf Magazine March, 2018

For Stephen Carr Property Services, the spring cleanup work involves a lot of raking and blowing, dethatching the lawn and removing burlap that was protecting small trees and shrubs. “There’s a lot of picking things up and tidying things up,” says Carr.

“The crew usually focuses on spring cleanups during all of April and the first week of May. “Then, the rest of May through June we’re doing a combination of cleanups and new landscape [installation] work,” says O’Neil.

Carr began offering a spring cleanup service in the very early days of his company’s operation after discovering that it was usually necessary to do some cleanup work to a yard before the first mowing of the season. So, Carr decided the add-on service might as well be something the company can charge for in addition to the lawn mowing package.

Even in June the cleanups are a priority because it needs to be done to get the mowing crews out onto properties and get the landscaping crew ready to switch gears to focus solely on more profitable landscape/hardscape jobs. O’Neil says that nearly every customer for which the company provides weekly lawn care does sign on for spring cleanup.

“We charge a set price for mowing, and then we quote them a separate price for spring [and fall] cleanups,” he explains.

O’Neil Enterprises, a full-service lawn and landscape firm in Clifton Park, New York, also offers spring cleanups as a standalone service. “Spring cleanups are something we’ve always done—we try to be a one-stop shop for everything,” says owner Mike O’Neil. “Some companies include spring cleanup as part of a package, but I never do. For us, every service is separate—lawn care is one thing, fertilization is another, etc. We don’t package anything.” This approach helps him to avoid having to offer discounts, and he’s found it more profitable.

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“I need to go to the property and walk around to see what’s involved before I can give someone an accurate price.”

Pricing Plans When he first started offering spring cleanups, Carr used somewhat standardized pricing for the service, but he says he’s found that in order to make sure the work is profitable, each property needs to be carefully evaluated before quoting clients a price.

“It depends on things like how many leaves there are, whether there are acorns everywhere, how much

winter debris there is on the lawn. So, our cleanups vary in price,” he states. “If I get a call and they say, ‘Hi, Stephen, I have a house on XYZ Avenue and I need a price for a spring cleanup,’ I can’t...throw some numbers at them or work on averages. I need to go to the property and walk around to see what’s involved before I can give someone an accurate price.”

Since he’s already there in person because of other work, O’Neil has found that meeting in person makes a huge difference when it comes to closing sales.

Carr estimates that only about 10 percent of his spring cleanup work is done for clients who he doesn’t already provide lawn care services for.

AFTER CLEANUP

BEFORE CLEANUP

O’Neil agrees that an on-site inspection is necessary before pricing a spring cleanup job. “To be honest, the client who calls and is looking for a price over the phone, that’s not who we’re looking for,” he explains.

O’Neil says that while spring cleanups aren’t as profitable as concrete work or installing a new landscape or hardscape, they do represent a profitable part of his overall business. They’re more profitable than a service like fertilization, and they’re even more profitable than lawn mowing, he says. “And mulch is the most profitable part of cleanup work,” he adds.

Sales Success O’Neil says fall is the best time to sell spring cleanup services. “Whenever we do a fall cleanup—say a new client calls us and says they want leaves picked up— we always present them with their options for spring cleanup and a rough scale of price because there will be market changes in things like mulch,” he explains.

O’Neil notes that he’s the only company who is talking to them about spring cleanups at that time of the year.

“In the spring, there are 10 companies talking to them about it,” he says. “If I can sell it to them and say they’ll be the priority in the spring, it shows they’re important.”

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“We usually only do that if they are neighbors of clients or we provide snowplowing services for them or we have some other connection to them,” he notes.

“Otherwise, we need to take care of our regular customers first and then we can take care of additional people if we have the time.”

Carr says that doing a good job on a spring cleanup can be a way to make a good first impression and get your foot in the door with a new customer, who might later request some other lawn or landscape service. “Any service you do, if you provide a good service, you’re going to have an opportunity to do more business with that customer,” he says.

Cleanup Challenges Carr points out that spring cleanup work is very labour-intensive. Aside from running a dethatcher [his company uses a Walker mower with a JRCO dethatcher on the front], most of the work has to be done by hand and there aren’t many shortcuts.

Rakes are a go-to tool for spring cleanups, and even the other equipment that’s used that is powered—blowers and power brooms—is still handheld. So there’s not

“Any service you do, if you provide a good service, you’re going to have an opportunity to do more business with that customer.” much about the work that can be automated, and this needs to be factored into the price, as well. “There are a lot of man-hours involved in both spring and fall cleanups,” he states. “Good things take time, and you need to make sure you take the time to do a good job.”

Labour is a challenge for many companies in this industry. “I think pretty much everyone will say that, at least in this area,” says Carr. Because spring cleanup work is often the first work done to kick off the lawn and landscape season, it’s important to line up employees well in advance to be able to work early in the season.

And there are environmental challenges to spring cleanup work, Carr notes. “We have late snowstorms, so that can be an issue, and then that snow melts, so there’s a lot of moisture in the ground—everything is wet. So, you have to let things firm up a little bit before you go out there, especially with equipment.”

Stephen Carr Property Services doesn’t include mulch as part of its spring cleanup services, so it also needs time to begin putting down mulch for customers in May. Spring, after all, only lasts so long.

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A Look Back at Our Association

Tony Heuver, Mrs. Getty, Gerry Johnson, 1988

L-R: Lee Krahn, Vic Krahn, Gloria Beck, Sheryl Wotherspoon, Dwayne Beck and Bill Janzen.

Green Survival Float for Klondike Parade, c. 1970’s These photos have been idenitified to the best of our ability. If we made an error or if you can identify someone in a photo, email admin@landscape-alberta.com so we can update our records.

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Green for Life May/June 2018 | 19

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