landscape saskatchewan Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Insert: Landscape Saskatchewan Management Clinic and AGM March 17, 2015
Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Update Canadian Government Supports Canada’s Horticulture Sector Landscape Industry Certified Technician Program
CNLA Teams up with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Revisiting Canada’s Nursery Stock Standards
Snow Blower Safety & Maintenance
2 I Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015
LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
2014 In Review - Challenges It was a year full of challenges - the weather always being one of the biggest challenges we face in Saskatchewan. This past season I tried to find a way to set up tarps over an entire construction site. You know, like they have in BC when it won’t quit raining and the work must go on! The challenge with that in Saskatchewan is the wind… there is no way to set up a tarp in 50-70 km/hr winds!
So we worked through those challenges and then were blessed with a very long, warm fall. The trees and shrubs put on an amazing display and the weather was great! So why was it so hard to get staff engaged to work in the beautiful, warm fall weather, rather than thinking of their winter vacation?
All of the challenges we face in our industry remind me of why I belong to Landscape Saskatchewan - so I can turn to my peers for information and support. One of the best ways to network with your peers is to attend the 2015 Landscape Saskatchewan Management Clinic, March 17 at the Saskatoon Inn! Mike Lysecki from Landscape Management Network (LMN) will be presenting on numerous topics, including Employee Incentive Systems (ideas on how to motivate staff above and beyond an “hourly wage”). See insert for more information and contact Kyla at the Landscape Alberta office at kyla.mckechnie@landscape-alberta.com to register! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas with lots of quality family time! Keep warm & I hope to see you March 17 at our 2015 Landscape Saskatchewan Management Clinic & AGM.
Leslie Cornell President - Landscape Saskatchewan
CALENDAR OF EVENTS February 9 – 10, 2015 Manitoba Green Show Victoria Inn, Winnipeg, MB. www.landscapemb.com
March 13 - 22, 2015 Canada Blooms, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON www.canadablooms.com
March 17, 2015 Landscape Saskatchewan Management Clinic & AGM Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, SK. kyla.mckechnie@landscape-alberta.com March 24 - 25, 2015 Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exam Olds College, Olds, AB For more information or to register, contact Colin Vince at colin@cnla-acpp.ca
Board of Directors:
LESLIE CORNELL Cornell Design & Landscaping Ltd. President LLOYD TRASK The Lawn Loggers Limited Vice President
ROBIN ADAIR Arbour Crest Tree Service Ltd. Director
LUKE vanDUYVENDYK Dutch Growers Garden Centre Ltd. Director AARON KRAHN Lakeshore Tree Farms Ltd. CNLA Representative
Administrative Support: JOEL BEATSON Executive Director
MARNIE MAIN Member Services Director
ERYNN WATSON Member Services Assistant VALERIE STOBBE Office Services Trade Show Co-ordinator KYLA MCKECHNIE Communications CHERYL TEO Bookkeeper
Contact Us:
For more information on advertising or submitting an article, please contact: Kyla McKechnie at kyla.mckechnie@landscape-alberta.com Landscape Saskatchewan c/o Landscape Alberta 200, 10331 - 178 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5 Tel: 780-489-1991 Toll Free: 1-800-378-3198 Fax: 780-444-2152 www.snla.ca On the Cover Photo Credit: Nigel Bowles
Follow us on Twitter @landscapesk Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015 I 3
LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN
INDUSTRY NEWS
Saskatchewan 2014 Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Update
The province of Saskatchewan (SK) had another busy year preventing and controlling Dutch Elm Disease (DED). To help slow the spread of DED, SK Ministry of Environment conducts surveillance and diseased tree removal activities in seven rural buffer zones around municipalities that are in areas affected by this devastating tree disease. These buffer zones are around the communities of Regina, Moose Jaw, Estevan, Indian Head, Balcarres, Wolseley and Tisdale. In 2014, a total of 246 diseased elms were identified in the buffer zone surveys.
Over the last 33 years, DED has moved from east to west along various river valleys that contain native American elms. It is still thriving in areas such as the Qu’Appelle Valley, Souris, Red Deer, and Carrot River systems. In addition to these river valleys containing native elms, DED continues to cause losses of high value elms in many towns and cities throughout southeastern SK.
minimum, even though DED is found in their buffer zone in high numbers. In 2014, the Ministry of Environment removed a total of 118 diseased elm trees in the rural buffer zone, up from 64 in 2013. The City of Regina removed a total 5 elms trees in 2014, up from 3 in 2013. The City still has an estimated 70,000 elms and spends approximately $145,000 on the program annually.
DED was found in the natural stands of elm trees at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park north east of the City of Moose Jaw in the early 2000’s. Since that time, Moose Jaw also implemented an aggressive DED prevention/control program. This last year, the Ministry of Environment removed a total of 38 diseased elms in their buffer zone and a total of 16 were removed by the City.
Surveillance and the removal of infected elm trees is ongoing in several provincial parks in the diseased area of the province. In 2014, a total of 112 elm trees were marked for removal in Echo Valley and 8 in the Katepwa Point Provincial Parks, as well as 3 at Regina Beach Recreation Site. All infected trees are disposed of according to provincial DED regulations.
This last season, a total of 136 samples submitted to the provincial Crop Protection Laboratory tested positive for DED, with no new communities reporting DED. Municipalities such as the Cities of Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Melfort, North Battleford, and Yorkton still remain DED free. Each of these municipalities has a DED prevention program in place.
Canadian Government Supports Canada’s Horticulture Sector
Outside the buffer zones, municipalities (urban and rural) are responsible for DED management within their jurisdictions. Both the City of Moose Jaw and Regina operate a complete a DED prevention/control program. This includes monitoring for all elm bark beetles, surveillance of DED, elm pruning and removal of dead or DED infected elm trees, basal spraying, elm firewood collection and public awareness. Each city removes and properly disposes DED infected trees.
In 1981, the City of Regina reported one confirmed case of DED. It reappeared in 1990 and since then, through an aggressive prevention/control program, Regina has been successful at keeping DED within their city limits to a
4 I Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015
On November 13, 2014, The Honourable Kevin Sorenson, Minister of State (Finance) and Member of Parliament for Crowfoot, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment of $2.3 million to the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance for a national research cluster to help address the industry’s top priorities. This cluster, comprised of industry partners and research organizations across Canada, will harness Canada’s expertise in areas such as water and nutrient management and sustainable production. It will also help the industry tap into new market opportunities at home and abroad.
Landscape Industry Certified Technician Program
The Landscape Industry Certified Technician designation provides individuals in the green industry with a means of proving a minimum standard of expertise in tasks typically required within the industry. Landscape Alberta provides
LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN Certified Technician exam opportunities in four specialty designations: Softscape Installation, Hardscape Installation, Turf Maintenance, and Ornamental Maintenance. Encourage and support professionalism in our industry – it’s a great way to invest in and grow valuable team members.
2015 Certification Exam - Alberta When: March 24 & 25, 2015 Written exam: Tues. March 24 (evening) Hands-on tests: Wed. March 25 (7am - 4pm) Where: Olds College - Landscape Pavilion, Olds, AB
Participants must register in advance – test preparation materials are provided on sign-up, so start the process now and be well-prepared for this upcoming exam opportunity! The deadline to register is March 10, 2015.
Contact: Colin Vince: colin@cnla-acpp.ca Toll free: 1-888-446-3499 ext.8615
CNLA teams up with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business
The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) has partnered with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to extend the many benefits of CFIB to CNLA/provincial association members. Through this partnership, Landscape Saskatchewan members will benefit from reduced CFIB membership fees, a savings that will directly affect members already affiliated with the two associations. Some of the many benefits made available through CFIB are: • Additional proactive lobbying with all three levels of government • Access to significant discounts for payroll processing, courier shipping, and more • Online business training courses for both employers and employees • Unlimited access to CFIB Business Counselors in every province
These are just a few examples of how CFIB can help you improve your business. At the same time, CFIB is working for its 109,000 members and all small businesses to improve the entrepreneurial environment in Canada. CFIB lobbying has generated positive results from the federal government, such as: • Establishing the Code of Conduct for the credit and debit card industry, which gives you leverage when dealing with your processor • Helping all business owners plan for their retirement by fighting for and achieving the $750,000 capital gains exemption for small business
•
Ensuring business owners keep more of their retained earnings by achieving lower small business corporate tax rates federally in every province
With a high number of CNLA members already members of CFIB and the excellent synergies between the two associations, the partnership was a logical step.
For Landscape Saskatchewan members who currently belong to CFIB - CFIB will contact you by phone to review the partnership and renew your CFIB membership at the usual time. For our members who are not current CFIB members - here's the next step: Connect with CFIB by visiting http://www.cfib.ca/cnlamembers for more information and to join. We are very excited about this new relationship and encourage all members to check it out!
Revisiting Canada’s Nursery Stock Standards
One of the most visited pages and downloaded documents on the CNLA website is the Canadian Standards for Nursery Stock. First published is 1967, the nursery stock standards provide an important minimum quality benchmark and the document is referenced by landscape architects and designers, developers and government agencies in landscape contract specifications.
In consideration of the changes to technology and production techniques since the publication of the most recent version published in 2006, it is time to once again review and upgrade this important industry standard. Landscape Saskatchewan member Aaron Krahn, Lakeshore Tree Farms Ltd., has volunteered for this committee on behalf of the association, along with others from across Canada.
MEMBER BENEFITS
Caterpillar: Save up to $2000 on select CAT equipment and attachment purchases and 10% off the list or book rate for anything rented through the Cat Rental Store.
NEBS: Members Save 15% on printed products (including logo design). Receive discounted rates with NEBS Payweb payroll system.
Mark’s: 15% off the majority of Mark’s workwear clothing, footwear and safety accessories. For more information on these or any other member benefit discount programs, call CNLA Member Services at 1-888446-3499 ext. 8645 for Chelsea or ext. 8655 for Christine. www.cnla-acpp.ca/benefits
Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015 I 5
LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN
Landscape Onsites lesson: Snow Blower Safety & Maintenance
Objective: to ensure crew members understand and can demonstrate the safe operation of a snow blower. Training Materials: snow blower, operator’s manual. Personal Protective Equipment: insulated work boots, hat, warm gloves, layers of clothing, eye protection and hearing protection.
Lesson: Snow blowers are an efficient way of removing snow from paved surfaces that are too small for a larger plow to reach. Snow blowers shouldn’t be used on gravel surfaces as they can pick up and throw the stones at high speed.
•
Check the air filter regularly and clean or replace if necessary. Refer to the operator’s manual for regular maintenance recommendations.
Safe operating tips: 1 Don’t use a snow blower unless you have been properly trained and have read the operator’s manual. 2 Wear warm footwear with good traction on slippery surfaces. 3 Know how to stop the engine quickly in case of emergency. 4 Scan the area to be plowed and remove visible debris. 5 Be aware of the 15 m danger zone around the blower and make sure no bystanders are near. 6 Make sure you are working in enough light to see where you are going.
Each year emergency rooms see patients with severed or mangled fingers because they didn’t think before putting their hands in the snow blower chute to clear blocked snow. Always turn the engine off, disconnect the spark plug and be sure the auger has stopped rotating before attempting to clear a blocked chute.
Plan snow clearing patterns around the direction of the prevailing winds. While this can be difficult on some days, snow blowing is more efficient and visibility is improved when you blow with the wind.
Direct blowing snow away from people, buildings and vehicles.
Maintenance tips: • Always perform a circle check on the blower before loading it on the truck or trailer. • Be sure to take enough gasoline in an approved container. Disconnect the spark plug wire before performing any maintenance tasks. • Check the oil levels and top up if necessary.
Welcome to our New Members
Innovation Place Kyla Ledingham 1 North Access Road Saskatoon, SK S7N 1Z5 (306) 933-8401 Fax: (306) 933-8201 kledingham@innovationplace.com www.innovationplace.ca
Junction Lumber Mervin Swiderski Box 97, RR 6, S 1 Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J9 (306) 961-8070 cgalbers@hotmail.com
6 I Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015
Source: Landscape Onsites. Visit the CNLA website at www.canadanursery.com to view other lessons from this manual – you can download individual lessons or order the full Landscape Onsites manual. Industry Training As a member of your provincial association, you qualify for member savings programs with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA). Take advantage of these training programs to keep you and your staff safe. Employers First: Members receive a 10% discount on over 40 landscape and safety training courses.
LS Training System: Members receive 5% savings on published rates for training modules.
Visit www.cnla-acpp.ca/benefits for more information. Keon Garden Centre 2008 Marcy Duffey Box 1498, 1645 Stadacona Street W Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7A8 (306) 693-6771 Fax: (306) 691-0558 keongardencentre@sasktel.net www.keongardencentre.com
Rispens Landscaping Ltd. Philip Rispens PO Box 32123 Regina, SK S4N 7L2 (306) 699-7737 philip@rispenslandscaping.com www.rispenslandscaping.com
Blizzard Conditions
Blizzard conditions aren't uncommon to anyone who has been through a Saskatchewan winter. That's why, as a driver, it's important you know how to safely get through the worst that Mother Nature has to offer.
Plan ahead Planning ahead is the best way to protect yourself during the winter months. Check the weather and road conditions before travelling, not only for your place of departure but also for your destination.
An excellent resource is the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, which provides up-to-date road information for every corner of the province. The line can be reached toll free at 1-888-335-7623.
Prepare your vehicle It's always safest to stay off the road when a blizzard is forecast. But when travel is absolutely necessary be sure to dress warmly and pack extra clothing and blankets. Check that your vehicle is in tip-top shape and ensure you have a full tank of gas.
Another essential for your vehicle is a roadside emergency kit. Put together and maintain a kit that has: • • • • • • • • •
a shovel blankets snow brush ice scraper flashlight batteries flares booster cables candles
• • •
first-aid kit food water cup
Before you leave, it's also a good idea to contact someone at your destination to let them know when you expect to arrive.
During a blizzard Unfortunately, taking precautions against blizzard conditions doesn't mean you can prevent them. If conditions deteriorate while you're on the road, stop at the nearest town or rest area and wait until it's safe to drive.
If you find yourself stranded with your vehicle: • Remain inside your vehicle because it will offer you protection from the harsh winter elements. • Run your engine sporadically to get some heat but be careful not to run out of gas. In that case, the blankets, candles and matches you packed in your roadside emergency kit will serve you well. • When running your engine, ensure that your vehicle's exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ice. If it's plugged, fumes will seep into your vehicle, resulting in possible carbon monoxide poisoning. • If you find you need fresh air, your best option is to slightly lower the windows facing opposite the wind direction and open your vehicle's heater vent.
Driving in a blizzard isn't high on anyone's to-do list but being prepared for it should be. By planning ahead and knowing how to react to a blizzard, you'll safely escape winter's wrath. Source: SGI
Landscape Saskatchewan News Winter 2015 I 7
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landscape saskatchewan Schedule 8: 30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am
12:00 pm 12:30 pm 1:15 pm
2:00 pm 2:15 pm
3:00 pm
Management Clinic March 17, 2014
Saskatoon Inn, 2002 Airport Drive, Saskatoon, SK
Breakfast Welcome & AGM Getting Jobs Done On Time, On Budget (with break) With all the focus on time studies, site measurement and dialing in your estimates, many companies have lost focus on what really counts when it comes to profit: finishing your jobs on time and on budget. Every hour/day over budget is not just increased costs, but it’s also hours and days of lost capacity for more sales. Attendees will leave this session with: • Ideas and systems to setup and plan jobs before they start • Ways to teach order of operations and job staging • A system to setup estimates for simple job costing with no extra time/effort • Ways to make staff care enough to make it actually happen
Lunch (included) Landscape Saskatchewan Awards Celebration Going Paperless: Streamline Your Operations, Sales and More! Don’t waste another year spending hundreds of hours sorting, filing and re-entering paperwork. Your staff’s time would be far better spent preparing and checking estimates, collecting payments, planning and preparing jobs… the real work that impacts revenue and profits. Mike will give an overview and demonstration of a variety of paperless solutions used in his landscape operations, from sales and estimating, job management/smart phone integration, fleet management, time tracking and more. If you’re looking to streamline your operations and improve productivity this year, you can’t miss session.
Break Employee Incentive Systems: How to Motivate Staff Above & Beyond Compensation If you don’t measure your employees and relay the results to them, they have no way of measuring their success. On the other hand, with an understanding of their measurements, they can reassure themselves, despite minor setbacks (which would usually lead to lost motivation) that they are successful. And when they know they’re successful, they’re motivated. Need a greater motivator – tie measurements into a bonus structure. When you tie measurements into a bonus structure, you create opportunities and, therefore, incentive. In this session, Mike will show you how to create an incentive system that allows you to ‘fairly’ differentiate your employees. Learn how to set realistic and attainable budgets and sales goals for your employees. Learn how to communicate these to your employees and explain how your measurement system and bonus structure will work. People don’t reach their true potential unless they’re measured or know how to measure themselves. If you implement a system that measures people on efficiency and productivity, your newcomers will see opportunities.
End of Day
Thank you to our Sponsor
About our Speaker: Mike Lysecki Mike has served as Director of Operations at TBG Landscape for nine years, and now heads up the Landscape Management Network as their director. He’s been a guest speaker on landscape business management topics from Australia to Oklahoma and most places in between! Mike is currently working on fabricating a small army of landscape robots designed for mowing, hardscape installation and serving exotic cocktails.
landscape saskatchewan Schedule 8: 30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 1:15 pm 2:00 pm 2:15 pm 3:00 pm
Management Clinic March 17, 2014
Saskatoon Inn, 2002 Airport Drive, Saskatoon, SK
Breakfast Thank you to our Sponsor Welcome & AGM Getting Jobs Done On Time, On Budget (with break) Lunch (included) Landscape Award Presentations Going Paperless: Streamline Your Operations, Sales and More! Break Employee Incentive Systems: How to Motivate Staff Above & Beyond Compensation End of Day
Register online at https://lsmanageclinic.eventbrite.ca or fill out the form below and send to Fax: 780-444-2152 Email: admin@landscape-alberta.com Mail: 200, 10331 - 178 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5
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Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________
Prov: ________ Postal Code: ____________________
Phone: ________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________ Please select one: Member: $159.00/person
Non Member: $199.00/person
Sponsorship: $150.00 Yes! I would like to sponsor the 2015 Landscape Saskatchewan Management Clinic & AGM (Sponsors will receive their name/logo on all event promotion material (subject to date of agreement); name/logo included in Landscape Saskatchewan News on the event sponsor page; prominent name/logo on sponsor signage at event; and recognition during awards presentation). # of people
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GST 5% (107595530 RT0001)
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Registration must include payment. Registrations will be accepted at the Landscape Saskatchewan office until 4:00 pm on Friday, March 12, 2015. Registrations after this date will be on-site only, and must include full payment by credit card or cheque. Cancellations will be accepted until March 3, 2015 and registration fees, less a 25% administration fee, will be refunded. Sorry, but all registrations cancelled after March 3, 2015 will not be refunded. If the event is cancelled by the association, a full refund will be granted.