Horticulture Review Magazine - Landscape Ontario

March 2010

Previous Issues

President's Message

The Landscape Ontario gene

By Tom Intven

Altruism is the behaviour or act in which an individual sacrifices its own wellbeing for the benefit of others.

Executive Desk

Sometimes one simple word speaks volumes

By Tony DiGiovanni CHT

I recently had an opportunity to visit the home office for Sunshine Grounds Care in Orangeville, Ontario.

Professional And Workforce Development

Time to develop safe start to new season

By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP

As the season quickly approaches, it is time for employers and supervisors to prepare and organize their staffing needs, based on prepared budgets.

Public Relations

Obamas to plant vegetable garden at White House

By Denis Flanagan CLD

When this headline appeared in The New York Times earlier this year, it certainly caught people’s attention, both gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

Systems For Success

Creating a field labour budget

By Mark Bradley

Dan and Bill discuss the next key component of his operating budget: the field labour budget.

Feature

Building feature garden is truly a team effort

By Beth Edney CLD

The premise was to review improving the presence of Landscape Ontario at Canada Blooms.

Association News

Ottawa industry shines at GreenTrade 2010

Ottawa Chapter staged a successful trade show and education event on Feb. 17.

Growers Group Short Course continues to reward

The annual Growers Group Short Course provides an opportunity for nursery growers to learn about new research and best practices, while giving attendees a chance to mix, mingle and network with colleagues.

LO’s lighting symposium has a bright future

The Lighting Sector Group’s lighting symposium has a very bright future, judging by the capacity attendance at the inaugural event.

Aldershot Greenhouses receives $245,000 in federal funds

Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State presented the company a cheque for $245,000.

LO panel attracts good audience at RBG symposium

Sustainable horticulture was the theme at Living Plants, Liveable Communities, recently held at the Royal Botanical Garden.

Congress TV winner

The membership department of Landscape Ontario offered the TV as a prize.

Industry News

OHRF supports research chair

The Ontario Horticultural Research Foundation has announced a $100,000 contribution toward a research chair at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) at the University of Guelph.

Federal government to ban fertilizer-pesticide products

The federal government announced a decision to “uncouple” fertilizer-pesticide combination products intended for lawn and turf uses.

Protective clothing essential on the job

Regulations require that a worker wear and use the protective clothing and equipment necessary to protect against hazards.

New weed killer expected this summer

If all goes according to plan, members of the lawn care industry will have a new weapon in an arsenal that was wiped out following the Ontario pesticide ban in April 2009.

Housing numbers continue to improve

According to Statistics Canada, housing sales and construction both continued the trend of increasing numbers.

TBG appoints new executive director

Toronto Botanical Garden’s new executive director Aldona Satterthwaite assumed the position on March 8.

Taskforce planned to fight emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) has been detected in four locations in the Niagara Region.

Industry wants education and certification as part of Toronto’s emission control plan

The meeting in early February provided an opportunity for LO members to express their opinions about the city’s proposal to reduce emissions from outdoor power equipment.

New turfgrass display garden at GTI

Warm season grasses will be planted in 2010.

LO Staff Profile

Rachel (soon-to-be Cerelli) Burt

Certification and project coordinator

Chapter News

Another fabulous day on the slopes

Georgian Lakelands Chapter members were happy to see LO members come up from the Toronto and Waterloo Chapters to join in on the fun at its annual Snow Day in Collingwood.

Pick-up hockey keeps landscapers in shape

By Daryl Bycraft CHT

Every Wednesday for the past few winters, members of the London Chapter of Landscape Ontario, along with employees and associates, take to the ice for some pick-up hockey.

Letter To The Editor

Haiti needs long-term help

By Tony Lombardi

LO members are asked to help after a devastating earthquake near Haiti.

No change to migrant worker program

By Betty-Anne Gifford

It has recently come to my attention that a number of employers are concerned about the integrity and longevity of the F.A.R.M.S. program.

Member Profile

Big family creating big business

The ten van Stralen brothers, from left, Seth, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Tim, James, Derek, Ben and Mark.

OMAFRA Nursery And Landscape Report

Best practices in fungicide application

By Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau

Crop diseases are caused by a variety of pathogens, but it’s the fungal pathogens that are the primary cause of crop loss worldwide.

Hort Protect

Survey reveals attitudes towards health benefit plans

By W. Michael Thomas, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., R.F.P.

During difficult economic times, health care plan members especially rely on their group benefits programs.

Legal Issues

Protect against workplace violence and harassment

By Robert Kennaley

The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace), 2009, comes into effect on June 15, 2010.

Prosperity Partners

A new economy means new thinking!

By Jacki Hart CLP