Golden Horseshoe this week: Nov. 16, 2011

Golden Horseshoe Chapter this week

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

LO this week

Feedback request on your member magazine

A mailed copy of Landscape Ontario magazine (formerly Horticulture Review) should be in your hands. The new name and look reflect the efforts of volunteer leaders from the Branding Committee, who envisioned LO’s Green for Life marketing/identity initiative. In addition, its content was reorganized. What is your take? Please answer a quick, three-question survey here.

Conference line-up announced; registration is open!
Tools for the trade … the Conference at Congress, Jan., 10-12, welcomes many new and exciting presenters.
Featured speakers include Kyle Lacy, Jody Shilan, Ron Koudys, Bill Arman, Jeff Mowatt, Jim Chatfield and many more! See the speakers and sector events in the new 40-page Conference Guide. Now in its 39th year, Landscape Ontario’s premier show
attracts close to 12,000 buyers.
To find out more about the conference and reserve you spots go to Congress 2012

New accessibility standards coming in January

As of Jan. 1, 2012, all employers in Ontario who provide goods and
services must be compliant with Accessibility Standards for Customer
Service issued under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Act. Employers will have a legislated obligation accommodate customers
with disabilities. The province has a
website explaining the new rules, while a number of companies are
providing seminars on the issue. Go to seminars to see dates and prices.

Smart
about Salt Essentials training, Nov. 17

Become a Smart about Salt-accredited operator through a training
program that will take place at
LO home office, 7656 Fifth Line, Milton, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. Once certification is achieved, a company can promote its operators
as Smart about Salt Accredited. To find out more about the program, or
to register for the Nov. 17 course, go to Smart about Salt.

Integrated Water Management for Buildings course
Developed jointly by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and American Society
of Irrigation Consultants, the Integrated Water Management for
Buildings and Sites course on Nov. 18 will provide technical and economic
information on the design and performance, based on the “Net Zero Water”
concept. This approach promises to significantly reduce the consumption
of potable water in buildings. Tuition is $199, plus HST, and includes a
100-page course manual. For more information, and to register, go to
Integrated Water Management.

Concrete paver installation course, Dec. 5-6
The Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute (ICPI) is holding its Concrete Paver Installation course at the LO home office in Milton. Participants will learn about job planning, estimating, contracts, correct selection and techniques for base preparation and edge restraints and about specialty products. For more information about the two-day seminar, click here, or call the ICPI at 703-657-6900. Download the registration form here. To take advantage of the LO member price, members are asked to contact Kathy McLean.

Fall seminar series

Envirobond Certified Installer This program is designed to help educate
contractors that install Envirobond products. Learn about tips and techniques,
as well as improved performance. Listen to
contractors share their tips and tricks from experience in the field. By
becoming an authorized Envirobond technician, you can educate your
crew and increase your exposure. It also gives you a direct link to Envirobond
staff who will walk you through any problem or situation. It’s a session that will enhance your skill level, as well as allow you to come away with a certification to tell your customers about.

For other opportunities to receive professional development, go to seminars for more details.

NEW! Intro Sage Simply Accounting, Nov. 21
NEW! WSIB Claims Management Tips, Nov. 22
NEW! Rapport and Relationship Building, Nov. 22
Risk Management & the Law in Construction: Avoiding Problems and Getting Paid, Nov. 25
Dry Stone Walling 101, Nov. 28 and 29
NEW! Envirobond Certified Installer, Nov. 29
NEW! Close the Sale! Dec.5
Building Your Prosperity, Dec. 7
Great Landscape Contractors, Great Landscape Businesses,Dec. 12 and 13

Building Your Prosperity, Dec. 7
Get started on to the road of success. This program is intended to help
green industry members clarify what they excel at and what components of
their business needs attention and improvement. The seminar will take
place at the LO home office in Milton, from 9 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. The cost to LO members is $115, and non-members is $192. Check out
the online survey, to measure your strengths and weaknesses in the five Prosperity Pillars. To find more information, or to register go to Building Your Prosperity.

Looking
to hire?

Recognizing the need for labour in all industry sectors, Landscape
Ontario is pleased to provide an Employment Board again this year for
our Active, Interim and Associate Members just outside the LO booth at
Congress 2012. For more information visit job board.

Time to join a Safety Group

The 2012 WSIB/Landscape Ontario Safety Groups Program helps industry firms develop a Ministry
of Labour compliant safety program for their workplaces. Firms will
select five WSIB safety elements at the start of the year, and then
initiate or improve upon them by attending at least three compulsory
meetings. Working with other members, the initiatives are put in place
by the end of the year. Along with an improved safety record, there are
financial benefits in the form of rebates from WSIB. For more details
and to participate in the 2012 program, go to Safety Groups.

Greenroof
professionals meet in Philadelphia

Cities Alive 9th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference takes place Nov.
30 to Dec. 3 in Philadelphia. The largest gathering of green roof and
wall
professionals in North America, this conference offers a number of
opportunities for education, networking and socializing. To find out
more about the event, go to Cities Alive.