April 2008

Previous Issues
President's Message

Getting value from LO: A spring checklist

By Robert Adams
It’s finally spring again, and those of us lucky enough to be in the green trades are checking off lists.
Feature

Canada Blooms delights winter-weary crowds

Over 100,000 people had the chance to whet their collective appetites for the upcoming gardening season when they visited the 12th annual Canada Blooms.
Public Relations

LO, Communities in Bloom and community spirit

By Denis Flanagan CLD
During this year’s Canada Blooms, Landscape Ontario and Communities in Bloom (CiB) partnered to create an eye-catching display to help promote the CiB program.
Executive Desk

What is your mission?

By Tony DiGiovanni CHT
Last month at the CNLA meetings in St. John, N.B., I found myself sitting at a bar having a stimulating conversation with Phil Paxton about the mission of Landscape Ontario.
Motivational Considerations

Employees respond to informal and formal incentives

By Terry Murphy CLP
One of the best ways to describe anything is to create it in a diagram or chart.
Your Questions Answered

What’s the hold-up in membership approvals?

By Stephanie Smith
It has been another fun-filled and exciting month at LO with productive meetings, chapter elections and Canada Blooms.
Association News

Prosperity wears many hats

By Bob Tubby CLP
At LO’s Annual General meeting in January, past president Bob Tubby reflected on the theme he chose for his presidency and how it can span out to benefit the entire green industry.

Free publicity in the Toronto Star

Elaine Carey, author of the weekly Landscape 101 column in the Toronto Star, reminds LO members to take photos of their projects this year, so they can be featured in the paper.

McCloskey International open house

McCloskey International of Peterborough held a recent open house at its Peterborough manufacturing plant.

Changes to Certified Horticultural Technician program

By Terry Murphy CLP
The CHT installation and maintenance programs will see major changes take place before our next 2008 evaluation days, scheduled for July 17-18 in Milton, Aug. 14-15 in Kemptville (Ottawa), and Sept. 25-26 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

LO office greens up its act

An important part of going green is telling your story to others, so they may recognize what you are trying to accomplish. Perhaps they may learn from you, and, most importantly, hold you accountable.

Sustainable plans for environmental stewardship committee

Green is the new black. But, if horticulture is the original green industry, we’re not doing a very good job of telling people about it. LO created its environmental stewardship committee to help spread the good word, but recognize that first we need to get our house in order before we promote our green message to the public.

LO Provincial Board highlights

The following is a report on the Provincial Board meeting held Oct. 24, 2007 at the LO home office in Milton.

Human resource development manager position open at LO

With the approaching retirement of Terry Murphy, Landscape Ontario is looking to fill the position of professional and human resource development manager (PHRDM).

Many contribute to success of LO’s management training efforts

This winter, LO organized over 50 business management seminars to help members prepare for the Certified Landscape Professional evaluations.

Niagara Parks Commission receives Ontario Parks Award

The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) is pleased to have received the Ontario Parks Association’s (OPA) Protecting Tomorrow Today award.

Funding announced for women in horticulture

A special pre-apprenticeship program for horticultural technicians will provide an opportunity for women, thanks to provincial funding from the Ontario Women’s Directorate.

Canadale wins perennial marketing contest

Congratulations to Canadale Nurseries of St. Thomas, winner of the North American-wide 2007 Perennials Mar­ket­ing Contest, sponsored by Plant Publicity Holland and the Perennial Plant Association.

Pick Ontario launched with free flower giveaway

To raise awareness of both the variety and quality of flowers produced by Ontario growers, Flowers Canada (Ont.) inc. launched their new Pick Ontario campaign with a free floral giveaway at Union Station in Toronto.

Floral stamps dress up plain envelopes

Canada Post has issued a set of two 52 cent stamps featuring peonies.
In Memoriam

Diana Snow

We regret to announce that Diana Snow, from Artemis Landscaping, passed away on Jan. 24, 2007, after a long illness.

Don Salivan

Don Salivan, owner of Salivan Landscape Ltd., and a founding member of Landscape Ontario, passed peacefully with his family by his side on March 14 in Sarasota, Florida.
Industry News

MTO safety rodeo is a first

Landscape Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation have scheduled a truck and trailer inspection day at the LO home office in Milton on Thurs., April 24.

Plans to revitalize former Vineland research station

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has established a Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
Human Resources

New National Occupational Standards nearing completion

The CNLA, through the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), is nearing completion of an updated National Occupational Standard (NOS) for ‘Landscape Horticulturalist’.

Foreign Worker Wages

The CNLA has produced a primer for industry members looking to the foreign worker programs to solve the low labour situation in many areas of the country.
Commodity Group Updates

Interiorscape group brings plants to children in special home

Members of Landscape Ontario’s Interiorscape Commodity Group combined their hearts and the group’s finances to help children with chronic and life-threatening illness at The Darling Home for Kids in Milton.
Chapter News

GreenTrade Expo 2008 a success!

The Ottawa Chapter is pleased to report another great industry event, GreenTrade Expo 2008.

Profit Builder’s Day – presented by The Big Backyard Show

We were proud to have presented two absolutely outstanding business presentations at GreenTrade Expo.

Algonquin student chapter learns from LO professionals

By Jennifer Hendricks
First- and second-year students from Algonquin College’s Horticulture Program and ten students from Kemptville College celebrated Landscape Ontario Student Day on Tues., Mar. 18.

Ottawa honours Sheila James

For more years than most of us can count, Sheila James of the Farm Safety Association has been standing behind our eastern Ontario Landscape Ontario members to help them run safe and profitable businesses.

Contractors learn from talented designers

The contractors’ commodity group held its annual Landscape Lecture series on February 19, at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

Special thanks to Bob Tubby

As Bob Tubby’s term as president of Landscape Ontario came to a close this January, the Ottawa Chapter took a moment to thank him for his years of work.
Legal Issues

The new Master Format for construction specifications

By Robert Kennaley
Last month, in the first part of an article on changes in commonly used construction documents, I wrote about the new CCDC 2-2008 Stipulated Price Contract.
Hort Protect

Auto liability coverage – is a million really enough?

By Darren Rodrigues
In this day and age, one doesn’t need to be a millionaire to experience a lawsuit.
OMAFRA Turf Report

Snow covers 2008’s turf challenges

By Pam Charbonneau
Two years ago we had the winter that wasn’t.
OMAFRA Nursery-Landscape Report

Emergency registration for EAB, know your water

By Jen Llewellyn
Just before Christmas, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources applied for an emergency use registration for a product that may help protect non-infested ash trees against emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).
High School Horticulture

Saugeen Greenhouse Program Involved in Community

By Julie McClement
When students begin the horticulture class at Saugeen District Secondary School, they know their participation extends far beyond the walls of the school’s 1,500 square foot production greenhouse.
Prosperity Partners

Do more of this!

By Jacki Hart CLP
It’s April, the snow’s gone, and the lid just blew off of your down time.
© 2024 Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association