March 15, 2011
Over 1,000 attendees confirmed that the 18th annual GreenTrade Expo has become a must-attend event for anyone involved in the landscape trades in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.

With 85 exhibitors, the Feb. 16 show at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, focused on creating new industry avenues through business-building, introduction of new products, business seminars and networking opportunities.

Over 40 volunteers contributed to the success of this year’s event. “Support and services vital to a vibrant landscaping industry were delivered. It was all about face-to-face quality conversations, and this was echoed by many attendees and exhibitors,” said chapter coordinator Martha Walsh.

Seminars were delivered by speakers Sheila James of Workplace, Safety Prevention Services, Joan Johnston of Peter Knippel Nurseries, Dave Harrington of Full Dimension Group, Mike Lysecki of LMN, and the pruning workshop by Bill Bitz. They all provided leading edge information under one roof.

Luncheon keynote speaker was legendary Hockey Hall of Fame member, former head coach and current general manager of the Ottawa 67’s, Brian Kilrea. He provided stories of a hockey career that spans 60-plus years.  Kilrea also signed copies of his autobiography, They Call Me Killer, co-written by TSN’s James Duthie.

Proceeds from the day’s event were donated to the Brian Kilrea Teaching Room at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The Ottawa Chapter thanks Brian Kilrea for donating his time in support of our industry. Great hockey stories were had by all.  

The Chapter also thanks the following sponsors and contributors for their generosity and support: Ginsberg Gluzman Fage and Levitz LLP Chartered Accountants, Bradley’s Insurance, Connon Nurseries NVK Holdings, Smith Petrie Carr and Scott Insurance Brokers, Twin Equipment, The Dominion (Insurance Company of Canada), Landscape Management Network, Agrium Advanced Technologies, Peter Knippel Nursery, Greely Sand and Gravel, Canlok Stone, Dutchmaster Nurseries, B & T MacFarlane, Petersen’s Turf Farm, Gro-Bark (Ontario), Manotick Tree Movers, Yates Custom Lawn Sprinklers, Jim Tubman, Tom’s Air-Cooled Engines, Carswell Custom Employee Handbooks, Full Dimension Group, Geosynthetic Systems, Ottawa Construction News, TGraphics – Tom Lilly, MacFarlane Data Services (MDS) and Koffman Signs.

The Chapter looks forward to seeing everyone next year at the 19th annual GreenTrade Expo on Feb. 15.