Waterloo this week: December 15, 2010

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

Waterloo Chapter meeting, Jan. 5
The
Waterloo Chapter meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 145 Dearborn Place, in Waterloo runs from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information,
contact Helen Hassard at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354 or helen@landscapeontario.com.

LO this week

Congress is looking for volunteers
This year Landscape Ontario is offering a “give a day to get a day” program at Congress,
where volunteering your time (or your staff’s time) at Congress 2011,
will get you one free day at the Conference at Congress 2012. Volunteers are needed for a number of roles, please
refer to the attached sign-up sheet for a list of all opportunities.
All sign-up sheets must be completed and returned by Fri., Dec. 17. Please send back to Helen Hassard at helen@landscapeontario.com.

Get Smart about Irrigation at irrigation conference
This year’s
line-up at the Irrigation Conference on Jan. 10 includes topics such as
World
Water Trends, Water Efficient Products, the Impact of Irrigation on
Water Resources, and even Business Opportunities with Rain Water
Harvesting.You don’t want to miss out at this great event at the Toronto
Congress Centre. More details and registration are at www.locongress.com, under Education and Conference.

Designer Conference offers creative connections, Jan. 10

In addition to
keynote speakers Rosalind Reed on
Business Plans and
Ron Koudys covering the Impact of Influential Landscape
Architects and Designers on our landscape today, the annual designer’s conference
at Congress 2011 will feature the ever-popular Beth Edney. She will give
some creative solutions to small spaces,
while in another breakout room, Dave Maciulis will talk about creating a
healthy and successful workplace. More details and registration can
be found at www.locongress.com under Education and Conference.

Corporate
Financial Management Study Group, Jan. 10
Are
you working on getting your
designation? If so, you won’t want to miss the full-day Professional
Corporate Financial Management Study Group on Jan. 10 with instructor
Paul Doornbos CLT, CLP. More details and registration can be found at by clicking here.

One IPM Symposium, one date: Jan. 10
Early bird pricing includes lunch, but after Dec. 22, lunch will not be included. Do not delay, register today! You don’t want to miss the opportunity to listen to
respected speakers, Dr. Roger Funk
and Dr. David Shetlar (The Bug Doc). New this year is a networking reception
with thousands of dollars worth of door prizes. More details and registration can be found at www.locongress.com under Education and Conference.

Congress job board applications now being accepted

As
a member of Landscape Ontario, you are exclusively entitled to post employment ads
on LO’s job board at Congress 2011. To find out how
you can take advantage of the job board, click here.

Earn money by taking free safety training program
SCIP is a free training program created by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) that promotes workplace safety, with opportunities coming up in London, Milton and Ottawa. This group focuses on landscaping and related services in partnership with Landscape Ontario. Participating companies receive a one-time fixed five per cent rebate on their firm’s WSIB insurance premiums. To find out more about the program, check out the flyer. Complete and submit SCIP firm application form to Carol Divitkos by Jan. 21, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, 200 Front Street West, 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3J1, by fax – 416-344-3493, telephone 1-800-663-6639, ext. 3431, or carol_divitkos@wsib.on.ca.

Horticulture Review online

An incorrect link appeared in last week’s enews. Click
here to
access the December issue of Horticulture
Review. Anyone may sign up to receive the a free HR online subscription by
clicking
here.

Professional development seminars
Quit hoping for Profit: Plan for it, Jan. 17
Lean and Green: the Landscaper’s Boot Camp for Waste Elimination, Jan. 20
Growing Gretzky’s: How to Find and Develop Superstars, Jan. 21
To register or get more information, click seminars.

Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will present the keynote address at Green Communities on Tues.,
Jan. 11. Ontario Parks Association, Communities in Bloom – Ontario and
Landscape Ontario will come together to celebrate our treasured parks
and greenspaces, and promote the enjoyment and healthy lifestyle
benefits that open spaces provide to Canadians. It will be held in conjunction with
Congress 2011, at the Toronto Congress Centre. Register here.

Special offer on Canada Blooms tickets

Members of Landscape Ontario can buy special bar-coded
tickets in packages of 20 to give
clients, staff, family, etc. You will only be charged $12 for only those tickets handed in at the gate. The regular price is $18. Canada
Blooms 2011 takes place Mar. 16 to 20. Go to Canada Blooms to see the form.

Essential Skills offers webinars

Workplaces are all about change, and
Essential Skills programs can help employees meet those changes, and ensure
that job performance, safety and consistency in work practices are clearly
communicated and understood. The current Essential Skills initiative at the Canadian
Apprenticeship Forum
(CAF) seeks to help employers who sponsor apprentices address this issue. The
project offers employers a series of six webinars that provide a step-by-sep approach for Implementing Essential Skills in the Workplace. For more
information on the project,
contact HRSG, the consultants facilitating the project on behalf of the
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Claire Hall, Project Consultant, 613-745-6605, ext. 313.

Home Sweet Home Competition for contractors
The Home Sweet Home Competition is a new event developed by OntarioGreenSpec.ca, with the help of over 30 green building practitioners, producers and academics acting as advisers and judges. Home Sweet Home consists of two categories: The Home Sweet Home Competition, which awards
builders, contractors, and/or individuals, and the Home Sweet Home Student Challenge
which awards Ontario’s post-secondary students. The new
OntarioGreenSpec.ca Home Sweet Home Competition is open and accepting
entries until Dec. 31. Details are at www.hsh-competition.ca.