LO this week: Jan. 25, 2012

Durham Chapter this week
Add the Durham Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Ornamental growers safety program, Jan. 30

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Jan. 30, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at Iroquois Parks Sport Centre, Whitney Hall, 500
Victoria St. W., Whitby. This progressive risk management seminar will
engage owners using interactive training techniques to help employers
towards establishing a basic health and safety management program. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Other
programs are scheduled in London and Vineland in February and March.
Lunch is not included.

Durham chapter meeting, Feb. 7
This event will feature Rory Sheehan, a highly
sought-after speaker specializing in conversational sales. He will
teach the non-traditional sales approach to increase
the likelihood of making a sale. This meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Quality Suites Hotel, Bloor St., Oshawa. Please RSVP by contacting Helen Hassard at
1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or hhassard@landscapeontario.com.

Seminars offered in Durham.

Georgian Lakelands Chapter this week
Add the Georgian Lakelands Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Landscape Ontario Snow Day, Feb. 10
Georgian Lakelands Chapter is proud to host Snow Day 2012. Remember the fun you have when you spend a day skiing or boarding? This winter, discover it all over again with a great day at Craigleith Ski Club in Collingwood. Fresh snow, good friends, and a great day at skiing and boarding. Prices are $95 for adults, $75 for students and $50 for children under 8. Price includes breakfast, lunch, lift ticket, fun race, apres ski snack and prizes. Download registration form here. To purchase tickets online click here For more information, contact Lexi Dearborn or Jeff Lee.


Seminars offered in Georgian Lakelands

Check out Georgian Lakelands’ Facebook Page.

Golden Horseshoe Chapter this week

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

Golden Horseshoe chapter meeting, Feb. 9
Join
the Golden Horseshoe Chapter for the first meeting of the new year. It will
feature a Landscaper Roundtable Rant, that will highlight member
issues. The meeting will take place at Appleby Ice Centre, 1201 Appleby Line, Burlington, from 12 – 2:30 p.m. Contact Helen Hassard at Helen@landscapeontario.com for more information.

Job fair in Hamilton
Local and national exhibitors are invited to attend recruitment events
in Toronto and Hamilton. The free-admission job fair will be open to the
general public and includes serious candidates interested in full-time,
contract, summer, co-op, seasonal, volunteer, part-time work, training
and other career opportunities. To register, or find more information,
go to Napp Canada Job and Training Fair.
The first fair is scheduled in Mississauga on Feb, 15, followed by
another fair in Toronto on Mar. 15, and at Hamilton Convention Centre on
Mar. 21, and Mar. 28 in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. 

Seminars offered in Golden Horseshoe.

London Chapter this week
Add the London Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Volunteer opportunity at London Lifestyles Show

The London Chapter will once again participate in the London Home
Builders Association Lifestyles Show, Jan. 27 to 29 at the Western
Fair Grounds. We will educate the public about Landscape Ontario and Green for Life, and promote
London Chapter members. There are three opportunities to become engaged and volunteer for the Chapter: Help install
the feature Garden; man the LO Booth for two-hour shifts; and help
tear down the feature garden. Contact Derek Geddes at
dgeddes1312@gmail.com, or Carla Bailey at cbailey@landscapeontario.com to sign up.
See you at the show!

London Chapter pick-up hockey

Come join your fellow London Chapter members for some pick-up hockey.
Games will be played at the Ilterson Arena every Tuesday, from 2 to
3:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per game. Thanks to Peter Vanderlay (Pete Vanderlay’s
Lawn Maintenance and Landscape Services) and Mike Baker (Heritage
Landscaping), who have organized this exciting opportunity for future
Toronto Maple Leaf draftees. For further info, contact Pete Vanderlay at
vanderley@on.aibn.com.


London Chapter meeting, Feb. 7

Join the Chapter for a buffet lunch at 12-noon, at Best Western
Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road South, London, followed by a seminar
on website development and taking perfect photographs to showcase your
business. Cost is $25 per person, with lunch included. Pre-registration
is required. For more information, contact Carla Bailey at
cbailey@landscapeontario.com.


Ornamental growers safety program, Feb. 29

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Feb. 29, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at WSPS, Century Centre Plaza, 1069 Wellington Rd.,
Suite 113 London. This progressive risk management seminar will engage
owners using interactive training techniques to help employers towards
establishing a basic health and safety management program. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Lunch is not included.

Seminars offered in London
London Chapter Facebook
London Chapter on LinkedIn

Ottawa Chapter this week

Add the Ottawa Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

GreenTrade Expo 2012: Registration now open!

Preparations are underway for the 19th annual GreenTrade Expo, eastern
Ontario’s premier green industry event. This year’s Expo will include an
MTO contractors’ breakfast, business building lunch, networking and new
products, along with educational opportunities, all under one roof.
GreenTrade Expo will take place Feb. 15, at the newly constructed CE Centre,
4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa. Exhibitor applications welcome and
sponsorships are available. Registration and more information may be found at GreenTrade Expo.

Learn how to retain employees

A professional development seminar on retaining good employees in small- and medium-sized business will take place on Jan. 30, from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., at the Ottawa District Hockey Association, 1247 Kilborn Place,
Suite D300, Ottawa. Duane Francis, certified financial planner, will
show how to improve employee retention through financial incentives, and
build credibility for your business by attracting star employees. Topics
will include group retirement, health and insurance benefits, financial
planning for small business owners as well as employees, safeguarding
your business and succession planning. To learn more about the seminar
or register, go to Ottawa seminars.

Ornamental growers safety program

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Jan. 30, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at Iroquois Parks Sport Centre, Whitney Hall, 500
Victoria St. W., Whitby. This progressive risk management seminar will
engage owners using interactive training techniques to help employers
towards establishing a basic health and safety management program. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Other
programs are scheduled in London and Vineland in February and March.
Lunch is not included.

Are you Landscape Industry Certified?

Certification dates for the 2012 Ottawa/Upper Canada Chapters have
just been announced. Candidates will have the opportunity to take the
written tests on Jan. 31 at Algonquin College, and Sept.
27 at Kemptville College. Practical  testing takes place the following day
at Kemptville. For more information or
questions about Landscape Industry Certifications, visit Certifed, or contact
certification@landscapeontario.com.

Green Roof Professional training in Ottawa
The green roof industry grew by more than 28 per cent last year, and the
need for trained professionals familiar with green roof benefits,
design, implementation, and technology has never been greater. More than
400 accredited Green Roof Professionals are now working in the
industry. The courses are now available for GRP candidates preparing to
write the exam. For courses in Ottawa, go to
Green Roof Professional.

Landscape Ontario Snow Day, Feb. 10
Georgian
Lakelands Chapter is proud to host Snow Day 2012. Remember the
fun you have when you spend a day skiing or boarding? This winter,
discover it all over again with a great day at Craigleith Ski Club in
Collingwood. Fresh snow, good friends, and a great day at skiing and
boarding. Prices are $95 for adults, $75
for students and $50 for children under 8. Price includes breakfast,
lunch, lift ticket, fun race, apres ski snack and prizes. Download registration form here. For more information, contact Lexi Dearborn or Jeff Lee.

Winter seminars now online

The new schedule for Ottawa Chapter winter seminars is now available for
viewing and online registration. Opportunities include business
prosperity, social media, irrigation and much more. Safe and secure online registration is available. For more information, contact Martha
Walsh at mwalsh@landscapeontario.com.

Follow us on Twitter

Ottawa Chapter now has its own Twitter account. Follow the tweets on @LndscapONottawa for all the Chapter’s activities.

Ottawa Chapter now on Facebook

Join Ottawa Chapter the new Facebook page, where you can get all the most up-to-date news
and events relevant to the Ottawa Chapter. Don’t forget to LIKE us!

Toronto Chapter this week

Toronto Chapter meeting, Feb. 2

One of Toronto Chapter’s most popular meetings of the year is the annual
MTO meeting. It will take place at Sheridan Nurseries, 4077 Hwy. 7,
Unionville. Rob Kennaley will speak on contracts, followed by Mike
Winegarden from the MTO and Janet Brewer of WSPS. Cost is $25 per
person, and you can purchase tickets online here. Don’t miss out
on this great learning opportunity.

Horticulture pre-apprenticeship student job fair, Feb. 7

Landscape
Ontario, in partnership with Humber College and MicroSkills, presents a
job fair featuring over 20 pre-apprenticeship horticulture
technician students. The February 7 event will take place from 2-5:30
p.m.
at Humber College in the Seventh Semester Room, 205 Humber College
Blvd., Toronto. The Mar. 1 event is from 4 to 7 p.m. at Landscape
Ontario home office, Hemlock Room, 7856 Fifth Line in Milton. There is
room for only 25 employers at each job fair event, so register now to ensure a place at the
fair. For more information on the events, go to job fair.

Green Roof Professional training in Toronto
The green roof industry grew by more than 28 per cent last year, and the
need for trained professionals familiar with green roof benefits,
design, implementation, and technology has never been greater. More than
400 accredited Green Roof Professionals are now working in the
industry. The Courses are now available for GRP candidates preparing to
write the exam. For courses in Toronto, go to
Green Roof Professional.

Toronto looking for Green Award entries

The City of Toronto’s annual environmental awards of excellence honour
and celebrate the individuals, organizations and companies that are
helping lead the way to a cleaner, greener and more livable Toronto. In
the past, a number of LO members have received this award. Nominations
close at midnight on Feb. 6. Individuals, groups and companies may
nominate themselves or be nominated by another party. To find out more
about the awards, or to register, go to Green Award entries.

Landscape Ontario Snow Day, Feb. 10
Georgian Lakelands Chapter is proud to host Snow Day 2012. Remember the
fun you have when you spend a day skiing or boarding? This winter,
discover it all over again with a great day at Craigleith Ski Club in
Collingwood. Fresh snow, good friends, and a great day at skiing and
boarding. Register for LO Snow day at Congress (Booth E23) you will have
the chance to win your Snow Day Pass! Prices are $95 for adults, $75 for students and $50 for children under 8. Price includes breakfast, lunch, lift ticket, fun race, apres ski snack and prizes. Download registration form here. For more information, contact Lexi Dearborn or Jeff Lee.

Job fairs in Toronto
Local and national exhibitors are invited to attend recruitment events
in Toronto and Hamilton. The free-admission job fair will be open to the
general public and includes serious candidates interested in full-time,
contract, summer, co-op, seasonal, volunteer, part-time work, training
and other career opportunities. To register, or find more information,
go to Napp Canada Job and Training Fair.
The first fair is scheduled in Mississauga on Feb, 15, followed by
another fair in Toronto on Mar. 15, and at Hamilton Convention Centre on
Mar. 21, and Mar. 28 in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. 

Add the Toronto Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmark

Upper Canada Chapter this week
Add the Upper Canada Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Upper Canada Chapter meeting, Feb. 1

Join the Upper Canada Chapter at Holiday Inn Express, 291 North Front
Street, Belleville, for a joint Board and Chapter meeting from 10 a.m. – 3
p.m. This meeting will deal with the Strategic Plan for the Chapter and
make plans for 2012-2013. Contact Dan Clost at dan.clost@sympatico.ca, to rsvp for this event.
Those with dietary restrictions should mention it with the rsvp.

Ornamental growers safety program

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Jan. 30, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at Iroquois Parks Sport Centre, Whitney Hall, 500
Victoria St. W., Whitby. This progressive risk management seminar will
engage owners using interactive training techniques to help employers
towards establishing a basic health and safety management program. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Other
programs are scheduled in London and Vineland in February and March.
Lunch is not included.

Inaugural squash tournament, Feb. 15

Join the Upper Canada Chapter on Feb. 15 at The Harbour Club
Fitness Centre, 25 Dundas St W., Belleville, starting at 1 p.m. for its
inaugural squash tournament. Don’t miss this opportunity to get active and spend some time with fellow Landscape Ontario members.To rsvp your participation, or to find out more contact, Dan Clost at dan.clost@sympatico.ca.

Upper Canada education survey

Landscape Ontario’s Upper Canada Chapter, in conjunction with Workplace
Safety and Prevention Services, will conduct an all-day workshop to
cover annual training and certification requirements for companies
involved in landscaping. The event will be held at Nature’s Way
Landscaping in Gananoque on Apr. 13 and 14, in order for companies to
get a handle on their new hires. Some firms are equipped with in-house
trainers, but many are not. Could you please take a moment to fill out
the survey, so we can tailor the workshop to best fit our industry’s
needs? Landscaping survey.

Are you Landscape Industry Certified?

Certification dates for the 2012 Ottawa/Upper Canada Chapters have
just been announced. Candidates will have the opportunity to take the
written tests on Jan. 31, at Algonquin College and Sept.
27 at Kemptville College, followed the next day with practical  testing 
at Kemptville. For more information or
questions about Landscape Industry Certifications, visit Certifed, or contact
certification@landscapeontario.com.

Check out Upper Canada Chapter’s Facebook page

Seminars that take place in Upper Canada

Waterloo Chapter this week
Add the Waterloo Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Waterloo chapter meeting, Feb. 1
Join the Waterloo Chapter for the first meeting of the new year at the Knights of Columbus, Waterloo, from 7 to 9 p.m. It will feature a Landscaper Round-table Rant that will highlight various member issues. Nothing compares to the voice of experience. We all have the same
problems and issues, so let’s share some solutions and best practices.
LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni will host an interactive
discussion on a variety of industry issues. These include from HR to
insurance to safety and municipal permits. Bring a question. Maybe
someone will have the answer. Contact Rob Tester at rob@tntpropertymaintenance.com for more information.

Ornamental growers safety program, Feb. 29

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Feb. 29, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at WSPS, Century Centre Plaza, 1069 Wellington Rd.,
Suite 113 London. This progressive risk management seminar will engage
owners using interactive training techniques to help employers towards
establishing a basic health and safety management program. To register,
or more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Lunch is not
included. Another
program  is scheduled in Vineland in  March. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Lunch is not included.

Seminars that take place in Waterloo

Windsor Chapter this week
Add the Windsor Chapter page and the LO events calendar to your bookmarks

Chapter meeting topic change, Jan. 26
The Windsor Chapter invites you to attend its first meeting of the year, on Jan. 26, from noon to 3 p.m. at Dominion Golf Club, 6125 Howard Ave., LaSalle. The Chapter has had to cancel its photography seminar, but will instead offer a Landscaper Round-Table Rant. This event will highlight various member issues. Nothing compares to the voice of experience. We all have the same
problems and issues, so let’s share some solutions and best practices. For more information, contact Helen Hassard at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or hhassard@landscapeontario.com.

St. Clair hosting Employer Day, Feb. 22
The St. Clair College Landscape Horticulture Club is hosting the annual
Employer Day on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 12-noon – 2 p.m. Landscape
Ontario member companies are invited to participate to seek new talent and also help students with their 
employment decisions. Students will come prepared with resumes and lots
of questions. If interested in attending, contact Jay Terryberry at
519-972-2727, ext. 2874, or jterryberry@stclaircollege.ca before Fri.,
Feb. 17. There is free parking and refreshments.

Ornamental growers safety program, Feb. 29

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant safety
seminar, aimed at ornamental growers, will take place on Feb. 29, from 9
a.m. to 12-noon at WSPS, Century Centre Plaza, 1069 Wellington Rd.,
Suite 113 London. This progressive risk management seminar will engage
owners using interactive training techniques to help employers towards
establishing a basic health and safety management program. To register,
or more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Lunch is not
included. To
register, or for more information, go to Growers Safety Program. Lunch is not included.

Seminars that take place in Windsor

LO this week

HR Toolkit for green industry companies now online
Landscape Ontario is offering a new human resources tool for green industry employers, available free at HRtoolkit. The online resource includes over 100 pages of information, including a policy and procedures manual, along with recruitment and retention tools, to help employers hire staff effectively and keep them engaged. The HR tool kit can be downloaded in its entirety or in sections, for customization based on your needs.

Growers Group annual short course, Feb. 8
The annual LO Growers Group short course moves back to the Legion in Guelph. Over 12 speakers will make short presentations about current nursery management practices and research updates. Download a faxable registration form here. Pre-registration pricing is $65 for members, $75 for potential members and $25 for students. Onsite registration is $90.

Smart about Salt on Weather Network

The Smart about Salt program received some national publicity when The
Weather Network featured segments on the issue of salt use during
winter. To access the video, go the The Weather Network.

Landscape Lighting Conference, Feb. 16
This year’s conference features keynote speaker Doug Alderman from Palm Harbour, Florida, highlights from an award-winning landscape lighting project and invaluable networking and problem solving at round table discussions. Meet with lighting suppliers and learn about the newest techniques and technologies. The conference has moved to Pipers Heath Golf Club on Trafalgar Road in Milton. For more information or to register, visit Lighting Conference.

Building Your Prosperity, Feb. 16
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 4 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.

Contractors lecture series returns to TBG, Feb. 22

The annual Landscape Contractor Lecture series, presented by Landscape
Ontario, returns to the Toronto Botanical Garden. Featured speakers are Haig
Seferian and Terry McGlade.
Registration begins at 6 p.m. McGlade will present a retrospective of
memorable projects, while Seferian will present projects from a
landscape architect’s point of view. There is no cost to register for
this event, but an rsvp to Kathleen Pugliese is appreciated,
1-800-265-5656, ext. 209, kpugliese@landscapeontario.com.


Special-price Canada Blooms tickets: Great gift for staff and clients

LO members may purchase special bar-coded Canada Blooms tickets for $12 each; the regular ticket price is $20. Blooms tickets are a thoughtful gift for clients, staff, business associates
and family. The tickets come in packages of 20, and LO members will be
invoiced after the show, only for the tickets that were presented at  the event. Ticket packages are available by downloading an order form, or from Kathleen
Pugliese at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 309, or kpugliese@landscapeontario.com.

Landscape Industry Certified dates announced
Are you Landscape Industry Certified? The 2012 Ontario Certification dates are now available by visiting horttrades.com/landscape-industry-certified.

Winter seminar series

Trees and Shrubs: Establishment and Maintenance from the Ground up, Feb. 3
This seminar explores how to maintain trees and shrubs so that they
perform well in difficult urban settings. An introduction to tree and
shrub biology is followed by a discussion of the main stresses on trees
and shrubs, including drought, construction damage, and lack of
nutrients. Participants will learn how to assess a potential planting
site and the proper techniques for plant selection and placement. The
seminar will also cover the basics of proactive tree and shrub care,
including mulching, watering, soil enrichment, staking and the basics
of formative pruning. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and
share case studies from their own work experiences. For other professional development opportunities, go to seminars for more details.

Enforcement blitz and seminars on MSDs
According to the Ministry of Labour (MOL), musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
are still the number-one cause of lost-time injuries in Ontario. To help
end the problem, MOL is conducting an enforcement blitz on MSDs in
February. The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association is hosting
five half-day seminars across the province to help people take practical
steps to reduce MSDs in their workplaces and prepare for the upcoming
MOL blitz. To learn more about the seminars, or to register for one in
your area, go to MSD.

C. buxicola reported in Canada

Cylindrocladium buxicola (also known as C. pseudonaviculatum) and
commonly known as box blight or boxwood leaf drop is a fungus that has
been reported to occur on all Buxus species and cultivars. C. buxicola
has been a serious pest of boxwood in the U.K., Europe and New Zealand
since the mid-1990s. On Jan. 6, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
confirmed a positive find of Cylindrocladium buxicola at a B.C. nursery.
CFIA will conduct further surveys to determine the possible spread of
this disease throughout the rest of Canada. As an immediate
precautionary measure, all growers are advised to be very aware of their
sources of incoming boxwood shipments. More info at www.horttrades.com.

TRIECA conference early bird pricing ends Jan. 31

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Great Lakes Chapter of
the International Erosion Control Association Conference are co-hosting
the first annual TRIECA Conference on Mar. 27 and 28, at the
International Centre in Mississauga. Organizers anticipate it will be a
great event for networking and educating industry professionals. Early-bird pricing is in effect until Jan. 31. Any LO members interested in
participating as a sponsor or an exhibitor at the conference can find
more information, or register at TRIECA, or
contact Patricia Lewis, project manager, at 289-268-3903.

Permacon Innovation Tour 2012

Permacon has announced the dates for its Innovation Tour 2012 seminars:
Feb. 28 at the Hamilton Convention Centre, 1 Summer’s Lane, Hamilton,
and Mar. 1 at Le Parc, 8432 Leslie Street, Thornhill. The events include
educational seminars on Landscaping Challenges by Rob Vogel, and Social
Media by Frank Ferragine. The seminars are free of charge and also
include product workshops, lunch, gifts, a mini-trade show and even a
chance at a door prize. For more info go to Innovation Tour 2012.

Garden Centre training, Feb. 18-19

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington is offering a mixture of
hands-on practical and classroom theory-based knowledge to give novice
employees the training to provide excellent customer service, while
properly caring for living merchandise. The goal is to increase the
level of knowledge and customer service in your retail garden centre to
maximize your sales and profits. The two-day program, each day from 9:30
a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed for garden centre and nursery employees
Experienced professional horticulturalists Jim Lounsbery and Rodger
Tschanz instruct the program, covering topics such as plant basics,
nomenclature, annuals and perennials, soils, insects and diseases,
pruning and much more. For more info, or to register, go to Garden
Centre training.

Airblast 101 Workshop Series

Starting Feb. 27, four airblast workshops conducted by Jason Deveau of
OMAFRA will begin at the first of four Ontario locations. Growers are
invited to take part in one of the interactive
classroom workshops that will include hands-on demonstrations and
dialogue with an experienced airblast technician who will provide tips
on airblast sprayer calibration, maintenance and how to adjust your
sprayer to match your specific crops. Space is limited. To register call
Nancy at 416-622-9771. The $20 workshop fee is paid at door. To see
which
workshop is closest to you, go to airblast workshops.

MOL releases blitz data
The Ministry of Labour has released data on its blitz that took place
from Aug. 1 to 31, 2011 of hazards involving all types of access
equipment at Ontario construction sites. Ministry of Labour inspectors
checked on compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
and its regulations. The blitz focused on the appropriate selection of
access equipment and its safe and proper use.

Free e-news or Landscape Ontario magazine online for your
employees
New member
applications
Bookmark the new LandscapeTrades.com
Minutes of LO meetings