Volunteers are the engine that fuels Landscape Ontario (LO). Members dedicate hundreds of hours each year to serve on various boards and committees to steer decisions about the association’s future direction and initiatives. Volunteers also organize and implement many projects that strengthen individual and industry relationships, demonstrate the value of outdoor spaces or raise money to support a local charity.
Here are just a few recent contributions by volunteers of LO Chapters or Sector Groups:
Toronto Chapter memory garden
Landscape Ontario’s Toronto Chapter and Beech Nurseries teamed up to sponsor the Memory Garden at the IG 
Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, held May 30 in downtown Toronto. The concept was simple: create a beautifully landscaped garden with various plants and trees to provide a space for family and friends to gather and hang photos and messages for loved ones affected by dementia.
Toronto Chapter board members Wendy Ladd and Alex Eremita championed the initiative.
“Many people shared that they had tears in their eyes when they clipped on the photos of the ones they love who have passed,” Ladd said. “When Alex and I left, we both said to each other, ‘That was a good thing the Toronto Chapter did, and we made a difference.’”
Learn more at gfl.me/hbZw
Muskoka North Chapter helps send local kids to summer camp
Ryan Lachance, a board member of LO’s Muskoka North Chapter, has watched the local Drag-a-Tote campaign flourish.
Held June 19, this year’s event featured expert-led talks, exhibitor booths, food and friendly competitions among attendees. For Lachance, the real win is that all food proceeds go toward the YMCA Fill a Bus campaign, which gives children facing financial barriers the opportunity to attend summer camp. The event also helps professionals connect.
“When you bring a large group of like-minded people together, the conversations that happen organically are invaluable,” he said. “People share ideas, learn from each other and build relationships that carry forward into how they run their businesses.”
Learn more at gfl.me/hbZx
Building green spaces and relationships
Getting involved with an LO Chapter or Sector Group helps you build stronger relationships with other industry professionals and with other organizations that believe in the value of landscape horticulture and the importance of creating beautiful outdoor spaces. Here’s a few examples of some recent volunteer initiatives that were possible through collaboration:
• LO’s Grounds Management Sector Group members were joined by participants from Fanshawe College, community volunteers and local councillors to rejuvenate the Children’s Garden at the historic Lucy Maud Montgomery House in Norval earlier this year (page 4).
• Waterloo Chapter members teamed up to plant 175 trees at Chicopee Hills Public School on May 14 (page 8).
• Muskoka North Chapter members and Trees for Life collaborated to plant trees for a Hero Forest at Bala Sports Park on April 20 (page 9).
Now is the right time to get involved
Landscape Ontario always welcomes members to join a Chapter or Sector board. If you are interested in making an impact, contact Cel Logarta at clogarta@landscapeontario.com to find out how you can lend your skills and expertise to make a difference in your industry or local community.
Gail Pope
LO Membership Admin Assistant
gpope@landscapeontario.com
