Letters of Support needed for new worker program in Eastern Ontario

Landscape Ontario is pleased to present to you a potential program and opportunity for Ottawa Chapter employers to take advantage of. If approved, it will help you to address your skilled workforce needs. 

We are asking employers to complete the Letter of Support (see Step 1 below) by March 5, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. if they are interested in participating in and supporting this program. We are looking for employer sponsors, guest speakers, work sites to tour, etc. The more employers that engage, the better the program will be for the profession and the participants! 
 
Landscape Ontario has partnered with several organizations on the delivery of pre-apprenticeship programs aimed at women and with proven success. In addition, we know that 37% of apprentices currently registered in the Horticultural Technician Red Seal apprenticeship program are female. Our profession stands out in terms our engagement and employment of females compared to other trade professions and thus LO recently received approval to proceed with a Phase 2 application in partnership with the Ottawa Community Immigration Services Organization (OCISO) and Hire Immigrants Ottawa (HIO).
 
The proposed project will support an innovative pilot approach intended to support closing the landscape and horticultural labour gap in the region. This project will test a pilot that connects Visible Minority and Newcomer Women (VMNW), (over two seasons) to employers. Employers will have the opportunity to support the participants in acquiring the knowledge, skills and abilities that will lead to successful employment and ultimately lead to a career in the landscape and horticultural industry. The pilot will test the model within the Eastern Ontario Region with the intention of expanding the program across Ontario and Canada.

Please follow the steps below to add your firm to the list of potential ‘Employer Supporters/Participants’, no later than Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. 
 
Next steps for employers:   

1. Download the Letter of Support.
2. Copy and paste the content onto your letterhead. Edit accordingly.
3. Fill in the company information where there are yellow highlights identified in the document (please remove the highlights).
4. Check off the boxes that reflect your firm’s level of involvement/support. Feel free to add more.
5. Print, sign, and scan the letter.
6. Email it directly to Sally Harvey at: sharvey@landscapeontario.com

Thank you in advance for your support of this innovative pilot project. Landscape Ontario and our partners are really excited for the potential and impact that this project can have for the profession in the Ottawa region. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.