Landscape Ontario’s Professional Development Guide, listing the association’s many offseason seminars and training courses, is now available. A copy of the Guide is polybagged with this issue of Landscape Ontario magazine.

LO’s popular training series offers a wide range of courses led by experts in their fields on everything from business development to equipment operation to irrigation and landscape design. Each year, new topics and new instructors are added based on feedback from seminar participants and the landscape profession. Some of the new seminars this year include: Electrical Troubleshooting for Irrigation Systems, Advanced Green Roof Maintenance, Outdoor Fire-Pit Construction and Introductory Sketchup.

Seminars are classroom-based, but many include a hands-on work component as well. Participants should note any prerequisites for the seminar this wish to attend, as well as any tools, supplies or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required.

A number of seminars will prepare participants for Landscape Industry Certification, the Fusion Landscape Professional program and Water Smart Irrigation Professional program — two programs available exclusively to LO members.

Participating in many of the seminars can also qualify individuals to earn Continuing Education Credits/Units (CECs/CEUs) from other allied associations, including the Irrigation Association (IA), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and Accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) to name a few. Recertification credits for Landscape Industry Certifications can also be earned.

The series kicks off in October, with seminars running through April 2018. The bulk of seminars are held at the LO home office in Milton, Ont., with select titles offered regionally to various LO chapters. Please note, due to ongoing road construction, the LO site is only accessible from the north via Steeles Ave. There is no access from the south.

Plan your off season training now. Register online by Dec. 31 for any seminar held January to April 2018 to automatically receive a 10 per cent discount. LO members and individuals with qualifying certifications also enjoy lower pricing on seminars.

Details and online registration for all seminars in now online at horttrades.com/seminars.