December 15, 2011
New year is time to energize yourself
By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP
Manager Education and Labour Development
It is hard to believe that Congress is approaching once again. This is always a time of year to which I look forward. It is a time of renewal. The New Year energizes me to reach out for new opportunities that will help us to achieve goals both on a personal and business level. New opportunities require planning, education and training to be successful.
As your partner in prosperity, Landscape Ontario offers you many opportunities to gain a fresh perspective with the vast professional development and training seminars presented in the
Prosperity Partner Professional Development Guide released last month.
www.horttrades.com/professional-development-guide-2011-2012, and within the Congress Conference guide, is available for a sneak peak at: www.horttrades.com/congress-conference-guide-2012 and is also included in your next issue of Landscape Trades.
Our conference and events coordinator, Kristen McIntyre has worked diligently to make sure that the 2012 Congress conference offers you more ‘Tools for the Trade.’ Over three days the conference will provide such things as tips on how to trim your costs, sharpen your skills and build a competitive edge. I can promise that you will be inspired and energized.
Again this year, we are pleased to provide the Monday warm-up programs prior to the trade show on Jan. 9 that includes:
Tuesday through Thursday (Jan.10-12), the Conference will focus on prosperity for both business owners/operators and employees. Business development highlights include sustainable best practices, innovation, sales and marketing, operations, safety, human resources, and planning for our future.
New this year: The Irrigation Conference is moving to Wednesday afternoon.
New this year: New speakers and a new format with sessions offered in the mornings only to allow attendees to spend quality time on the trade show floor. With more than 27 sessions, including three-hour owner-based workshops, attendees have many options to expand their knowledge.
New this year: All conference pass holders are invited to ‘life lessons at lunch’ with interactive business focused discussion and networking sessions. It is included in your conference pass.
Check your Conference guide for more details, or contact us.
Teachers/Instructors and their students are encouraged to attend the 2012 Congress trade show. Go to: www.horttrades.com/sessions-for-students-and-teachers.
In addition to the many conferences and seminars available to teachers and students, we are also presenting free special sessions; one for students and teachers, and another for teachers only.
It doesn’t stop there. Sector events, Chapter meetings and events are planned throughout the year, all offering an opportunity to learn, improve your business and network within your community that we proudly call Landscape Ontario.
I encourage everyone to start now about your professional development plan. Take advantage of the early bird discounts. Use the savings to bring another staff person to Congress, or register him/her in a seminar.
Safety remains a hot topic with the introduction of the Ornamental Growers Safety Program seminars by the Farm Credit Canada Ag Safety Fund. These promise to deliver compliance awareness and the return on investment that a progressive safety program can provide in every workplace. The cost benefit of a safe workplace is PRICELESS!
The Landscape Ontario Safety Group is returning with a record performance this past year. The 2010 Safety Group scored and celebrated a record high score of 5.74 per cent out of a possible six Twenty-five Safety Group firms received a rebate cheque. The total rebate was over $60,000 in October. We congratulate those who participated in building their safety programs, and reaped the benefit.
The 2012 Safety Group will deliver an increase in service and value this year. WSPS Workplace Safety Prevention Services is visiting each member in February to provide safety program development resources. This will be followed by a voluntary spot-check in August and September to provide feedback and advice on how and where improvements are needed. Register now for the 2012 Safety Group. Go to www.horttrades.com/safety-groups.
Contact Sally Harvey at sharvey@landscapeontario.com
Manager Education and Labour Development
It is hard to believe that Congress is approaching once again. This is always a time of year to which I look forward. It is a time of renewal. The New Year energizes me to reach out for new opportunities that will help us to achieve goals both on a personal and business level. New opportunities require planning, education and training to be successful.As your partner in prosperity, Landscape Ontario offers you many opportunities to gain a fresh perspective with the vast professional development and training seminars presented in the
Prosperity Partner Professional Development Guide released last month.
www.horttrades.com/professional-development-guide-2011-2012, and within the Congress Conference guide, is available for a sneak peak at: www.horttrades.com/congress-conference-guide-2012 and is also included in your next issue of Landscape Trades.
Our conference and events coordinator, Kristen McIntyre has worked diligently to make sure that the 2012 Congress conference offers you more ‘Tools for the Trade.’ Over three days the conference will provide such things as tips on how to trim your costs, sharpen your skills and build a competitive edge. I can promise that you will be inspired and energized.
Again this year, we are pleased to provide the Monday warm-up programs prior to the trade show on Jan. 9 that includes:
- 47th Annual IPM Symposium
- Landscape Designers’ Conference
- Certified Landscape Professional Study Group that includes an exam writing option.
Tuesday through Thursday (Jan.10-12), the Conference will focus on prosperity for both business owners/operators and employees. Business development highlights include sustainable best practices, innovation, sales and marketing, operations, safety, human resources, and planning for our future.
New this year: The Irrigation Conference is moving to Wednesday afternoon.
New this year: New speakers and a new format with sessions offered in the mornings only to allow attendees to spend quality time on the trade show floor. With more than 27 sessions, including three-hour owner-based workshops, attendees have many options to expand their knowledge.
New this year: All conference pass holders are invited to ‘life lessons at lunch’ with interactive business focused discussion and networking sessions. It is included in your conference pass.
Check your Conference guide for more details, or contact us.
Teachers/Instructors and their students are encouraged to attend the 2012 Congress trade show. Go to: www.horttrades.com/sessions-for-students-and-teachers.
In addition to the many conferences and seminars available to teachers and students, we are also presenting free special sessions; one for students and teachers, and another for teachers only.
It doesn’t stop there. Sector events, Chapter meetings and events are planned throughout the year, all offering an opportunity to learn, improve your business and network within your community that we proudly call Landscape Ontario.
I encourage everyone to start now about your professional development plan. Take advantage of the early bird discounts. Use the savings to bring another staff person to Congress, or register him/her in a seminar.
Labour market partnership
The Employer Human Resource Policy and Procedure Guide and Employee Handbook and other tools funded by Employment Ontario are to be released in January to help our employers manage their human resource asset. Stay tuned.Safety remains a hot topic with the introduction of the Ornamental Growers Safety Program seminars by the Farm Credit Canada Ag Safety Fund. These promise to deliver compliance awareness and the return on investment that a progressive safety program can provide in every workplace. The cost benefit of a safe workplace is PRICELESS!
The Landscape Ontario Safety Group is returning with a record performance this past year. The 2010 Safety Group scored and celebrated a record high score of 5.74 per cent out of a possible six Twenty-five Safety Group firms received a rebate cheque. The total rebate was over $60,000 in October. We congratulate those who participated in building their safety programs, and reaped the benefit.
The 2012 Safety Group will deliver an increase in service and value this year. WSPS Workplace Safety Prevention Services is visiting each member in February to provide safety program development resources. This will be followed by a voluntary spot-check in August and September to provide feedback and advice on how and where improvements are needed. Register now for the 2012 Safety Group. Go to www.horttrades.com/safety-groups.
Did you know?
You can stay on top of the Ministry of Labour news and updates by subscribing to the newsletter entitled, What’s New? To subscribe, go to www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/whatsnew/.Contact Sally Harvey at sharvey@landscapeontario.com