By Terry Murphy
Manager, human resource development
Landscape Ontario is pleased to announce a new program to connect the landscape industry with high schools in Ontario. Hopefully, all 800 of them. The program is called Adopt a High School.
Many members talk about the lack of labour and how it forces them to turn down business. With over 150 trades in Ontario competing for high school graduates, we need to get out to the high schools and attract young people to our industry. The new Adopt a High School program will establish your firm in your local market area, and hopefully help interest young people in our industry. It is a win-win situation for everybody. It could also generate new business for you. By mentoring and assisting a high school, we will attract young people into our industry from one of the four pathways out of high school: directly to work, apprenticeship, college or university. We are also branding Landscape Ontario and our industry as leaders in the horticulture industry.
The program is designed to involve LO members with their local high school. The member firm becomes a mentor to the school and assists by connecting the school with our industry. The member contacts the high school of choice and advises the principal, guidance counsellor, co-op teacher and horticultural teacher that the industry wants to help their school learn more about our industry. They need to know that we have a new program to link their school to the landscape industry. Members will meet with the four key high school officials and explain the program and request their cooperation and support. It costs the school nothing but their students can benefit greatly. Once we agree to the partnership, we will put the information on our website. This is an informal agreement with no obligations on either side except a spirit of cooperation to benefit the students.
We want all high school students to know about our industry, Landscape Ontario, career opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and co-op programs. We want high school students to know that they can graduate from high school with a major in landscaping (Ministry of Education, Specialist High Skills Major Program). We want to be present when schools have career talks, trade fair days or if they are doing a school beautification project.
Members may choose to provide a scholarship to their high school and set their own criteria. We can direct your scholarship through the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation, which is a registered charity. Most firms are suggesting $500 annually, but the amount is up to you. All of the details will be listed on the LO website’s scholarship page. This is another branding opportunity for you and our industry.
Landscape Ontario can assist you by providing scripts, computer presentations, literature, materials, booths for career and apprenticeship trade fairs and advice where needed. If you need help making a presentation, our Adopt a High School committee will help you. This is a chance for our industry to develop labour instead of waiting and hoping. If you are interested in participating, please call me for more information (1-800-265-5656, ext. 317). Our goal is to get 100 firms involved in 2007! Can you help?
You may contact Landscape Ontario directly or any member of the committee: Sally Harvey, Hank Gelderman, Paul Doornbos, Bob McCannell, Nick Solty, George Urvari, Alan White, Terry Murphy, Kathleen Pugliese.
