June 11, 2013
Saskatchewan update
Landscape Trades devotes space in each issue to provincial association news. This month features Landscape Saskatchewan.
2013 Landscape Saskatchewan annual conference, awards and AGM
On March 14 and 15, Landscape Saskatchewan held its annual conference, awards presentation and AGM at the Heritage Inn in Saskatoon. Once again the conference was a success and a great opportunity for members to get together and compare notes about the industry and business.
This year, Tyler Wist, a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, with an M.Sc. and a B.Sc. High Honours, spoke about how ash trees are food for a wide variety of insects that damage these trees in his presentation, “What’s eating your ash?”
Nigel Bowles of Landscape Alberta spoke on “Staying Out of Court: How to Write a Snow Clearing Contract.” Prior to becoming executive director of Landscape Alberta, Bowles was a successful landscape and snow removal contractor in Edmonton. He has authored and reviewed many landscape industry contracts, and has seen firsthand the consequences of poorly written or non-existent snow removal contracts.
Paul Doornbos of Thornbusch Landscaping in Lansdowne, Ont., made two presentations to attendees. Doornbos is a graduate of Kemptville College of Agriculture Technology. Thornbusch Landscaping was born out of 30 years of varying degrees of Doornbos’s involvement in the horticulture industry. His involvement started as a child in a family greenhouse and nursery business in Niagara, Ont., and has grown into a sincere desire and passion to be a part of the advancement of horticulture in general. Doornbos is both a Landscape Industry Certified manager and technician and has received Landscape Ontario’s Award of Excellence for his work. The first day of the conference, he spoke about, “Beginning Your Own Business: The Importance of Personal Development as a First Step.” The next day, he made a full-day presentation titled, “How to Get The Right Job at The Right Price,” based on the CLP module Marketing and Sales Management, which involves using effective communication in the marketing process. His presentation looked at how market research, pricing strategies, advertising, competitive bidding, contract negotiation and customer service can improve business.
During lunch break on the first day, out-going Landscape Saskatchewan president Aaron Krahn presented Glen Thrasher, owner of G & S Landscape & Excavation, Saskatoon, with the SNLA 2012 Residential Landscape Construction Over $50,000 award. G & S Landscape & Excavation’s submission was for the River Heights Project. Landscape Saskatchewan encourages members to take pictures of the work they do throughout their busy season for submission to the provincial competition. Winners at the provincial level then compete for the National Awards of Landscape Excellence.
Landscape Saskatchewan also held its Annual General Meeting on March 14, electing a new board of directors: Leslie Cornell, president, Cornell Design & Landscaping, Moose Jaw; Lloyd Trask, vice-president, The Lawn Loggers Limited, Saskatoon; Robin Adair, director, Arbour Crest Tree Service, Saskatoon; Luke vanDuyvendyk, director, Dutch Growers Garden Centre, Saskatoon; Jeremy Herman, director, B & B Tree Service, Saskatoon; Aaron Krahn, CNLA representative, Lakeshore Tree Farms, Saskatoon.
On-the-job training
On March 18 and 19, 2013, Landscape Saskatchewan held an OJT Course at Lakeshore Tree Farms, with seven of our association members participating. The training concept of the course is customized for our industry: simple in design and very practical for members to use. It taught those who attended how other people learn and demonstrated the best methods for improving the skills of the trainers. These improvements lead to faster training, more effective and productive trainees, and improved safety and work quality.
Annual softball tournament
Once again Landscape Saskatchewan will host its Annual Softball Tournament on July 20 at the Forest Park 1 and 2 ball fields in Saskatoon. This is an opportunity for members to take a day off work, relax and have some fun with other industry members and family. If you would like to sponsor or register a team, please contact Christine at christine@cnla-acpp.ca.
Landscape Trades devotes space in each issue to provincial association news. This month features Landscape Saskatchewan.
2013 Landscape Saskatchewan annual conference, awards and AGM
On March 14 and 15, Landscape Saskatchewan held its annual conference, awards presentation and AGM at the Heritage Inn in Saskatoon. Once again the conference was a success and a great opportunity for members to get together and compare notes about the industry and business.
This year, Tyler Wist, a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, with an M.Sc. and a B.Sc. High Honours, spoke about how ash trees are food for a wide variety of insects that damage these trees in his presentation, “What’s eating your ash?”
Nigel Bowles of Landscape Alberta spoke on “Staying Out of Court: How to Write a Snow Clearing Contract.” Prior to becoming executive director of Landscape Alberta, Bowles was a successful landscape and snow removal contractor in Edmonton. He has authored and reviewed many landscape industry contracts, and has seen firsthand the consequences of poorly written or non-existent snow removal contracts.
Paul Doornbos of Thornbusch Landscaping in Lansdowne, Ont., made two presentations to attendees. Doornbos is a graduate of Kemptville College of Agriculture Technology. Thornbusch Landscaping was born out of 30 years of varying degrees of Doornbos’s involvement in the horticulture industry. His involvement started as a child in a family greenhouse and nursery business in Niagara, Ont., and has grown into a sincere desire and passion to be a part of the advancement of horticulture in general. Doornbos is both a Landscape Industry Certified manager and technician and has received Landscape Ontario’s Award of Excellence for his work. The first day of the conference, he spoke about, “Beginning Your Own Business: The Importance of Personal Development as a First Step.” The next day, he made a full-day presentation titled, “How to Get The Right Job at The Right Price,” based on the CLP module Marketing and Sales Management, which involves using effective communication in the marketing process. His presentation looked at how market research, pricing strategies, advertising, competitive bidding, contract negotiation and customer service can improve business.
Aaron Krahn (right) presented Glen Thrasher with the SNLA Residential Landscape Construction Award.
Landscape Saskatchewan also held its Annual General Meeting on March 14, electing a new board of directors: Leslie Cornell, president, Cornell Design & Landscaping, Moose Jaw; Lloyd Trask, vice-president, The Lawn Loggers Limited, Saskatoon; Robin Adair, director, Arbour Crest Tree Service, Saskatoon; Luke vanDuyvendyk, director, Dutch Growers Garden Centre, Saskatoon; Jeremy Herman, director, B & B Tree Service, Saskatoon; Aaron Krahn, CNLA representative, Lakeshore Tree Farms, Saskatoon.
On-the-job training
On March 18 and 19, 2013, Landscape Saskatchewan held an OJT Course at Lakeshore Tree Farms, with seven of our association members participating. The training concept of the course is customized for our industry: simple in design and very practical for members to use. It taught those who attended how other people learn and demonstrated the best methods for improving the skills of the trainers. These improvements lead to faster training, more effective and productive trainees, and improved safety and work quality.
Annual softball tournament
Once again Landscape Saskatchewan will host its Annual Softball Tournament on July 20 at the Forest Park 1 and 2 ball fields in Saskatoon. This is an opportunity for members to take a day off work, relax and have some fun with other industry members and family. If you would like to sponsor or register a team, please contact Christine at christine@cnla-acpp.ca.