Landscape Ontario update May 6, 2020

It is time to be thankful! It is time to shine as professionals!  

 

Although Landscape Services and Lawn Care have been operating since Monday, today we received great news that Garden Centres will be fully open by Friday. As one of the first professions to be allowed to work, we are thankful to the government for their trust. It was wonderful to hear Premier Ford’s words today.  

 

“Today following consultations with my cabinet, our health officials and key stakeholders I am prepared to announce that as of Friday May 8th at 12:10 am Garden Centres and Nurseries will be allowed to open. So heading into Mother’s Day this weekend please be sure to support your local Garden Centre and Nursery and pick up some nice flowers for all the great mums out there.”  — Doug Ford 

 

Landscape Ontario will be publishing a full page advertisement in the Toronto Star tomorrow, thanking the Premier and Government Officials for placing their trust in our profession. Here is the letter: 

 

Open letter to Premier Doug Ford, Members of Provincial Parliament and Ontario Health Officials: 

 

We are the independent Garden Retailers, landscape professionals, designers and family-run growers of Ontario.

 

Our professional trade association, Landscape Ontario, represents over 2,500 independent, family-run operators.

 

We wish to thank the Ontario government, the Ford COVID-19 response team and the health care professionals in this province for your confidence in us. We asked for permission to “open for business” following strict health and wellness guidelines and you gave us that. We feel privileged by your trust and we pledge to honour your confidence in the horticultural profession by doing our best to uphold the protocols that are in place.

 

We believe in a safe workplace. We believe in providing healthy and safe shopping environments. We also believe that our work provides health benefits that you are striving to meet. Gardening is an outdoor experience with the natural world that enhances mental and physical well-being. Often it provides fresh vegetables, herbs, fruit and berries that improve food security and assists Canadians as we strive for a more sustainable lifestyle.

 

We are the landscape and garden professionals of Ontario. We would like to commend the hard work of front-line health-care providers for your hard work and the risks that you take every day. Thank you. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Dave Wright, President, Landscape Ontario

Alan White, Chair, Covid Task Force 

Tony DiGiovanni, Executive Director of over 2,600 member companies of Landscape Ontario

Mark Cullen, Chair, COVID 19 Retail Task Force, Landscape Ontario 

Frank Ferragine, Frankie Flowers 

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Don’t miss tomorrow’s Webinar, Thursday May 7, 1 p.m., with Frank Bourque, George Urvari, Jason Taylor, Marc Levesque, Jacki Hart and Glenn Curtis called “Coming out of a Crisis with Strength.” Register here.

 

On Tuesday May 12 at 10 a.m., our Town Hall Webinar will be on: “NavigatingYour Workforce During COVID While Staying Focused on Health and Safety.”  Register here.

 

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Thank you to the Landscape Ontario COVID Task Force. Alan White (Chair), Jeff Olsen, Jon Durzi, Dave Wright, Peter Guinane, Margot Byers, Terry Childs, Lindsey Ross and James Riddell. They met 34 times so far, and were focused on helping you deal with the COVID crisis.   

 

Thank you also to the LO COVID Retail Task Force: Mark Cullen (chair),  Frank Ferragine, Jeff Olsen, Lorraine Johnson, Rob Vanderkruk, Terry Vanderkruk, Jennifer Llewellyn, Paul Zammit, Ben Cullen and Sean James. This amazing team of garden communicators, growers and retailers delivered massive press, effective government relations and great results when our spring plant sales were in jeopardy.

 

Finally thank you to our Landscape Ontario, CNLA and Canada Blooms staff family. We are focused on helping advance the landscape profession 

 

It is time to celebrate. It is time to work. Happy Spring!