Georgian Lakelands this week

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

Chapter working to resolve locates issues
Landscape Ontario is taking a proactive approach on the incredible length of time it has been taking to acquire property locates for all our chapter members. We are trying to secure a position on the advisory locate board — and hope to therefore be able to voice members’ concerns and make the locate process more efficient for users. Any questions or comments, contact Heather Williams.

Learn to work on your business, July 28
The introductory Prosperity Partnership seminar at the LO home office on July 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will get you 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. 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.

Hit the links with the Georgian Lakelands chapter, Aug. 26
Sponsorship opportunities at our upcoming golf tournament are quickly filling up, as we are once again looking forward to a great turn out for this year’s annual tournament. Contact us today to ensure visibility for your company, and come on out and have some fun at Innisbrook – one of the most beautiful courses in the area. For tickets and sponsorship information please contact Heather Williams. Look forward to seeing you there!

Family chicken roast, Sept. 16
We are excited to announce our first annual Georgian Lakelands Family Chicken Roast, to be held Sept. 16 at Bayview Memorial Park in Oro-Medonte, just northeast of Barrie. We invite you and your family to join us for a fun evening. It will be a great opportunity to enjoy each other’s company, and have some fun and great food. Activities are planned for adults and children alike. The pavilion is located a very short walk from a beautiful sandy beach and nearby play areas. Pricing and event details to be announced very soon. Please contact Heather Williams if you have any questions.

LO this week

Eco fees cancelled
The Ontario government has announced it is dropping its controversial
eco fee. Environment Minister John Gerretsen made the announcement that
have been fees attached to thousands of household items as of July 1,
the same day as the Harmonized Sales Tax came into affect. A number of
LO members expressed concern over the fees.

Arborists develop safety practices working with cranes
The Arborist Safe Work Practices Committee is working to improve the
safety in the industry. Appreciation goes out to those who have helped
in the past to create some very good work practices. Currently a draft
safety practice is under development for working with a crane. Members
are asked to take a few minutes and have a look and please provide
comments. The link to the document is Arborist Workshop.

Free landscape business webinar, Aug. 5
A free webinar is being offered by Jeffrey Scott, well-known author,
speaker and landscape business consultant. On Thurs., Aug. 5, the 60
minute webinar begins at 2 p.m., highlighting a case study of one
contractor’s path to healthy growth. Learn how a contractor is
recruiting and developing leaders, and using his whole team to execute
on many innovative techniques, in order to grow to $500,000; and learn
how he is putting in building blocks to take his company to $1-million
and beyond. Reserve your webinar seat now.

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.

Be recognized in CiB awards program
Communities in Bloom Ontario is providing a chance for your garden
centre/company to be recognized along with the winning recipient at the
Ontario CiB Awards of Excellence. Recommend or sponsor an outstanding
project in your community. This program is open to all LO members,
communities, groups and organizations. Please click here for full
details on how to participate in this EASY low cost recognition program.
This Communities in Bloom Ontario recognition program profiles
outstanding projects or groups deserving of acknowledgment and appears
in the CiB Ontario newsletter and website. The deadline for submissions
is July 31. For more information, contact Lee Rozen, executive director,
Communities in Bloom Ontario, 1-877-640-4005, or
cibontario@mountaincable.net.

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.

LO day October 15: Argos vs. Ti-Cats
Put on your black and gold, or double blue, and celebrate Landscape Ontario Day at the Rogers Centre for just $25, to see the Toronto Argonauts play 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. View more information. 

Vineland Research Day, Sept. 16
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Landscape Ontario are presenting a variety of researchers/extension and industry affiliates, who will give short (15 minute) presentations on their programs. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Rittenhouse building, Vineland Centre, 4890 Victoria Ave. N., Vineland Station. At the beginning of the day there will be a hands-on tree liner production session in the Vineland retractable roof houses. Registration is $45, with costs covering lunch, and a CD of trial summaries for 2009 and interim reports for the 2010 season. Any member of the Vineland Stakeholder Advisory or Science Advisory Committee, U of G faculty/ staff and OMAFRA staff are free.  To register, call Kathyrn Goodish at 905-562-0320, ext. 777, or kathryn.goodish@vinelandontario.ca. A barbecue lunch and tour of the grounds is from 12:05 to 1:15. Read for more information.

Snow and Ice Symposium, Sept. 1 and 2
The Snow and Ice Sector Group of Landscape Ontario, in conjunction with the Ontario Parks Association, will host Partnering for Success. The annual snow and ice symposium and equipment display program will feature two days of education seminars focused on running and effectively managing snow removal and Ice management operations. A large display of equipment and technology will also be offered throughout the day, Sept. 1 and 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Kitchener, Ont. Read a brochure on the event.

Artistry with bulbs: Sept. 16 at TBG
Hear Dutch designer Jacqueline van der Kloet speak on bulbs, in a special member-only lecture Sept. 16 at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Her stylish naturalistic designs combine brilliant mixes of perennials and flower bulbs, and her talk will be specifically tailored to industry professionals. The event features continental breakfast, lecture at 9:00 a.m. and a post-lecture tour. Tickets are $15, more information.

Garden Centre contest
Proven Winners is sponsoring a contest for independent garden centres (Canada included) that offers a chance to win $1,000 and be featured in an issue of Today’s Garden Center magazine. Four retailers will win $1,000 U.S. by earning points for creating a Proven Winners Store-Within-A-Store in their garden centre. Click here for more information, contest rules, and to register. Deadline is July 30.

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.

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.

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.

What do you charge to install a tree?
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 please 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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