LO enews December 2, 2020

Landscape Ontario is working with the government to extend the GROW Program into more regions for 2021. But in order to get government approval, we must demonstrate the program is needed by businesses across the province.

The GROW Program has three components designed to address the profession’s labour recruitment and retention challenges:

• Recruiting and training entry-level workers
• Employer of Choice training
• Up-skilling existing employees

Please support these initiatives by filling out a quick survey.

Thank you,
Sally Harvey
LO Director of Education and Workforce Development
 

Register for online Pro-Dev seminars
Learn from the comfort of your home of office this winter with Professional Development Online. Landscape Ontario is excited to offer a wide range of landscape and horticulture education virtually, beginning in January. Add to your skill set and knowledge base this off season, and include key staff to get your team ready for 2021. Visit HortTrades.com for full details.

Congress Connect Conference, Jan. 12-14
The Congress Connect Conference is a virtual event in 2021 that will provide a lot of advantages. The biggest, is that you will be able to take it all in from the comfort of your home or office. That means no travel or accommodation costs. Another huge benefit is your conference pass will provide on-demand access to each and every session, which you can watch anytime for one full year. Register by Dec. 18 to get early bird pricing!

Get inspired at the Designer Conference, Jan. 11
The 2021 Landscape Designer Conference will be loaded with great ideas from leading professionals, including Ron Koudys, Danee Marie Lambourne, and Mark and Ben Cullen. There will also be a pair of panel discussions featuring: Elizabeth Hendriks, Rob Keen, Stefan Weber, Dan Werner, Karen May, Beth Edney, Paul Brydges, Sean James and Haig Seferian. Register by Dec. 18 to get early bird pricing!

Toronto Chapter Winter Social, Dec. 10
LO members in the Toronto Chapter are invited to connect virtually via Zoom to celebrate the season and catch up just before the holiday. Carry on the tradition of the Chapter’s Winter Social. Festivities start at 7 p.m. Details online at HortTrades.com.

Earn CEC’s at the IPM Symposium, Jan. 11
Landscape Ontario’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Symposium has been a uniquely respected event since 1965. Attendees will earn 6 CECs from the IPM Council of Canada. Register by Dec. 18 to get early bird pricing!

Enhance your skills and knowledge this winter 
Landscape Ontario Professional Development seminars are scheduled for 2021 and details are now online. Space is limited with a maximum of 10 participants per in-person seminar. Register before Dec. 31 to get an automatic 10 per cent discount. View course listings at HortTrades.com.

LO is hiring Technical Training Instructors
Landscape Ontario is hiring part time and full time Technical Training Instructors to support the delivery of a new entrant landscape horticultural training and employment program that launched in September 2020 and will continue during the winter of 2021 across three regions (Hamilton, Muskoka/Kawartha regions). Learn more at HortTrades.com.

Show your support for FLP expansion to Ottawa
The City of Ottawa is interested in supporting the Fusion Landscape Professional program and making it available to contractors in the Ottawa area, in order to meet their stormwater management targets. If you are an Ottawa area-based company interested in the program, please complete this short survey.

Algonquin Apprenticeship Program needs support
Unfortunately, the numbers for the level one Horticulture Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program at Algonquin College are quite low this year, and the program is at risk of not running. We do not want to see the program disappear from the Ottawa area. Do you have an outstanding employee that would like to upskill their knowledge during the off-season? The Apprenticeship Program may be the perfect option. Find out more at& Horticulturetechnician.ca.

ApprenticeSearch.com and Skills Ontario survey
Our partner organizations ApprenticeSearch.com and Skills Canada Ontario are surveying young people, parents and skilled trades employers to learn more about how they can best support the next generation of skilled workers. These surveys will be used to inform the types of resources and supports they create for all three stakeholder groups. Take the employer survey

Join LO’s Garden Makeover Team
Over the next two weeks, Landscape Ontario’s Covid-19 Task Force will be selecting recipients of the Garden Makeover Program. We need your help to make these garden makeovers a reality this fall and into next spring. Volunteer to join the garden makeover team! Learn more about the program and read the stories of the 10 winners at: LandscapeOntario.com/hero.

Order safety materials for trucks and equipment
Order up to 10 "Don’t let your guard down" decals at no cost. Simply email Meghan Greaves or call 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2301. Bundles of 100 decals can be ordered at cost for $32.25 per 100. The decals measure eight by 2-1/2 inches. The LO Covid-19 Task Force encourages members to place as many as possible on equipment and trucks. Posters promoting safety and featuring basic action points have also been developed, and are posted for free download. Versions in English, Spanish and French are available, as well as artwork to paste into email signatures.
 

Online Seminars (10-11 a.m.):
Plant Names and why they are important, Jan. 19
Great Qualify = More Clients​, Jan. 20
Science of Phenology, Jan. 21
Lighting 101: Light and photometrics, Jan. 27
If Trees Could Talk, Jan. 28

Visit the Seminars page at HortTrades.com

Visit the Events page at HortTrades.com

Details on advertising in LO enews

Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Canada
1-800-265-5656
rob@landscapeontario.com
HortTrades.com

With more than 2,500 professional members, Landscape Ontario is the province’s premier horticultural trades association. Our mission is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable climate for the advancement of the horticulture industry in Ontario.

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