Golden Horseshoe this week: March 16, 2011

Golden Horseshoe Chapter this week

Add the Golden Horseshoe Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Golden Horseshoe Chapter meeting,
Mar. 24
The Golden Horseshoe Chapter welcomes you to its annual spring MTO
meeting, which takes place at Hamilton Builders’ Supply, 1067 Barton St. E., Winona,
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This meeting will feature Ian Walters of the MTO and J. Paul Lamarche. Don’t miss out
on this popular meeting! Contact Helen Hassard at 1-800-265-5656, ext.
354, or helen@landscapeontario.com for more information.

Compact excavator safe operator training, Mar. 24

This course is designed to provide written, oral and practical
instruction on the competent use of excavators, and meets the competent
training specifications as outlined in the OH&SA Review of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act, and particular regulations that
pertain to excavator operation. Learn legislative requirements,
equipment inspection including manual identification, safe operating
practices, hazard awareness including specific worksite hazard
awareness, fuel safety awareness and operator responsibilities.
Participants will review control mechanisms on various excavators and
have a written test and practical evaluation on an excavator of your
choosing. The course takes place at Bobcat of Hamilton, 370 McNeilly
Rd., Stoney Creek, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are required to
bring PPE, work boots, gloves, etc. Cost is $221, and lunch is not
included. Look here for more information  ALLAN: NEED A LINK HERE, or to register.

Skid steer certification training, Mar. 31

Individuals who want to learn how to operate a skid steer safely and
correctly should attend this seminar. It will include instruction on
basic operator safety, inspection, and equipment characteristics in
accordance with applicable OSHA regulations and equipment manufacturers’
guidance. Each participant will receive classroom evaluation and
demonstrate proficiency in a simulated job-site environment.
Participants are required to bring PPE, work boots, gloves, etc., for
this seminar. Cost is $221, and the course runs at Bobcat of Hamilton,
370 McNeilly Rd., Stoney Creek, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look here for more
information, or to register.

Peel Halton job fair, Mar. 30

Employers have the opportunity to recruit and interview potential
candidates on-site at the Peel Halton Job Fair at the International
Centre, Hall Five, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga. The event begins at
10 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m. The one-day job fair serves the Peel and
Halton regions. For more information, go to Job Fair.

LO this week

Landscape Ontario greets visitors entering
Canada Blooms
Don’t
miss the LO garden at Canada Blooms,
running through Sunday in the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition
Place. Over 40 member companies came together in a co-operative building effort,
and the stunning result makes the festival and our industry proud! Opening day attendance filled the aisles as visitors took advantage of what’s new for this year’s gardening. For more
information, visit www.canadablooms.com.

Green for Life Survey: Find out what your customers think!

Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association need
your help! We would like to ensure that our Green for Life campaign is
reaching your customers the way we had intended. The initiative was
launched to promote the many benefits of landscape horticulture,
attracting new clients for you, our members. We have designed a survey
to gauge consumer awareness and help shape the campaign’s future in a
way that best suits your needs. Please help us by distributing this link
to your clients: www.surveymonkey.com/gflpublic.

Keep employees informed with e-news
Each week members of Landscape Ontario receive the latest and relevant
information on what is happening in their association and industry. But
many employees of members are not receiving this information because
they are not signed up for the LO e-newsletter. All it takes is a name,
email address and Chapter location. Send the information to LO This Week and start having your staff stay informed.

Ministry of Labour holding workshops

A one-day workshop at six locations across Ontario will feature
information about the hazards and safety measures that the Ministry of
Labour will be looking for in workplaces. Participants will also receive
prevention strategies and resources that can be used to keep employees
safe from injuries and illness and the business free from fines and
penalties. Learn how the MOL is planning to respond to the Tony Dean
panel recommendations about changes and improvements to the health and
safety system in Ontario. To find out more information about the
workshops, locations, or to register, go to Health and Safety.

Hire summer students

Businesses can apply to receive a $2-per-hour, per student hiring
incentive by contacting the nearest Employment Ontario Summer Jobs
Service agency. Visit the Employment Ontario website.

Industry Canada creates SME benchmarking tool

Industry Canada has created a web page benchmarking tool which provides
background information on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The
program provides access to industry averages for income statement and
balance sheet items, financial ratios and information on profitability
for small- and medium-sized businesses, and features detailed financial
data on more than 600 industries across Canada, including more than 30
performance benchmarks to help small businesses determine how they
measure up to their competitors. To access the page go to Benchmarking.

Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop, Apr. 6

Only 10 spots remain in a one-day interactive workshop will target
strategies to develop an effective Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for construction sites. The fundamental steps in
designing an ESC Plan will follow the industry’s guidelines and
integrate techniques that make the plan usable on a construction
project. The workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the
Earth Rangers Building, The Living City Campus at Kortright, Vaughan.
Cost is $350, plus HST, and includes lunch and course materials. For
more information, or to register go to Erosion Workshop.