Ottawa this week

Read all about upcoming Ottawa Chapter news and events at HortTrades.com

Special early-bird foursome price
The Ottawa Chapter 2010 golf tournament is offering an early bird special package starting at $675. After July 15, it’s $775. The Ottawa Chapter Golf Tournament will take place at the Canadian Golf and Country Club in Ashton on Aug. 27. Registration is at 11 a.m. The putting contest is from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., with the shotgun start at 1 p.m. For more information contact Martha Walsh or download the registration form for the tournament.
 

Learn to work on your business, July 19
The introductory Prosperity Partnership seminars will get you started on to the road of success. This program, on July 19, at Garden Creations of Ottawa, 5100 Bank St., is intended to help green industry members clarify what they excel at and what components of their business needs attention and improvement. A seminar workbook will be provided. Cost of workshop includes lunch. Register for the seminar online.  Don’t forget to take the free online survey to measure your strengths and weaknesses in the five prosperity pillars.
 

Register for certification, Sept. 17
Landscape Industry Certification testing takes place on Sept. 17, at Kemptville College. We are currently accepting registrations for both applicants and judges. Sponsorships are also available. For further information, check out our Landscape Industry Certified page, or contact Rachel Burt.

LO this week

Growers Research Auction, July 15 at Landscape Ontario in Milton
Come and take part in the auction, Growers Awards of Excellence and Membership Appreciation Day. There is still time to donate plant material or other products to the July 15 Grower’s Auction, which raises funds for horticultural research. Celebrate Member Appreciation Day starting at 9:30 a.m., with presentations from industry experts on edge restraints and new ideas for decorative containers, tour the Trial Gardens, visit with your endorsed suppliers and learn about great money-saving opportunities. Contractors, designers, grounds management, garden centres; enjoy lunch on us, then bid on outstanding nursery stock and landscape products.
View the complete agenda online. To inquire about donations, contact Kathy McLean, or Kathleen Pugliese.

July Horticulture Review online

Read about the new project that will green Ontario’s highways, the upcoming Snow and Ice Symposium, as well as succession planning hints, a member profile and our regular columns. Access the July issue of Horticulture Review.

LO day October 15: Argos vs. Ticats

Put on your black and gold, or double blue, and celebrate Landscape Ontario Day at the Rogers Centre, where the Toronto Argonauts will be playing their rivals, the Hamilton Tiger-cats. LO has set aside a block of tickets for our members to enjoy a fun day out and a great networking opportunity. Open to all LO members across the province, Windsor to Upper Canada. Buses will be available to bring in members from surrounding areas, based on demand. Contact Helen Hassard, 905-875-1805 ext. 354, for sponsorship info. Stayed tuned for more information.

Landscape Industry Certified 2010 exam date options


Looking to get Certified? Register today for one of our two remaining practical tests: Ottawa Sept.16-17 or Milton, Sept. 30-Oct.1. Register for the new test, or register for the re-test.
Already certified? Volunteer as a judge.

Advertising opportunity in LO Member Handbook
Take advantage of a year-round advertising investment from North America’s most vibrant horticultural trades association. The Landscape Ontario Member Handbook: is a hefty spiral-bound reference that mails to all LO members. It’s a reference tool that contains complete member listings with contact information, both Actives and Associates. It also features high-interest association information, including board and staff contact info, endorsed suppliers, LO event and initiative highlights and more. Visit our site for information on ad rates for the member handbook.
 

Ontario apprenticeship employer bonus
Employers are eligible a $1,000 taxable grant for every apprentice in their employ who completes an apprenticeship program and earns certification. The initiative is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010. Employers will be sent a letter from the province with information about the application process when their apprentice has completed either the Certification of Qualification or a Certification of Apprenticeship where a certification examination is not available. Once on file, the employer will be issued a grant cheque when the records indicate that an apprentice in their employ completes their apprenticeship.
 

Learn to take great photos, Aug. 12

Gain a greater understanding of how to make a powerful photograph. Client presentations, marketing materials and the LO Awards of Excellence program all require quality photos. This course covers composition, natural and artificial lighting and everything you need to know about filters, formats and controls. Participants should bring their cameras, existing images and marketing material for review. The course takes place at the LO Home Office in Milton, from 9 a.m. to 3:30. Learn more about the photography course.
 

Better Business Workshop
Add some horsepower to your business engine! Landscape Management Network, in partnership with Landscape Ontario and the Prosperity Partnership offers a two-day workshop on July 12 and 13 that will change the way you run your business. Leave the workshop having built a budget specific your company, calculated profitable rates for your crews, equipment, and materials, and how to implement operations systems that turn consistent, profitable results. For more information, see the seminar schedule and look for course LBM018 Seize Control of Your Operating Budget.
 

Labour needs survey on small-scale farms
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is researching labour needs on farms with less than $100,000 in gross receipts. Visit cahrc-ccrha.ca, or call CAHRC at 1-866-430-7457, ext. 228, to complete the survey by phone. CAHRC works with industry leaders, governments, and education stakeholders to research, develop and communicate solutions to the challenges in agriculture employment and skills development.
 

Trial garden open house, Aug. 20

Visit the University of Guelph annual trials at the LO office in the morning, and see for yourself how next year’s crop of new plants performs in the landscape. Trial garden manager, Rodger Tschanz will present his findings. In the afternoon, follow him to the University of Guelph trial gardens at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute to learn how the new plants fared in another zone. The public is invited to tour the gardens at LO on Aug. 21. To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities available with the Trial Garden, contact Rodger Tschanz, or Kathleen Pugliese.
 

Tree valuation survey

The International Society of Arboriculture, Ontario Chapter, is conducting tree valuation research. Go to the Plant Appraisal Guide to take part in the installation cost survey. The Society asks LO members who plant trees to fill out the survey form.
 

Government seminars on HST
 

Express yourself in LO’s online forums
 

Allan Dennis, editor 905-875-1805, ext. 320
 

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