green for life
DESCRIPTION
Green for Life is a professional publication for the landscape horticultural industry in Alberta.TRANSCRIPT
February/March 2013 Vol. 1, NO.1 A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication
Welcome to the inaugural edition Welcome to the inaugural edition Welcome to the inaugural edition of our new Association magazine! of our new Association magazine! of our new Association magazine!
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 3
EDITOR Nigel Bowles LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Kyla McKechnie ADVERTISING Erynn Watson I Phone 780‐489‐1991
Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a professional publication for the landscape horticultural trade in Alberta.
Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta 200, 10331‐178 Street NW Edmonton, AB Canada T5S 1R5 P: 780‐489‐1991 F: 780‐444‐2152 admin@landscape‐alberta.com www.landscape‐alberta.com
Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and does not endorse the contents of any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Landscape Alberta or its members.
Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of Landscape Alberta.
ISSN No: 1929‐7114 (print) ISSN N0: 1929‐7122 (online) Postmaster: Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: 200, 10331‐178 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5 Email: admin@landscape‐alberta.com
Landscape Alberta Executive Committee
President ‐ Dean Falkenberg Greenview Nurseries & Tree Farms Corp.
1st Vice President ‐ Chris Brown CRS Brown Landscape Services Ltd.
2nd Vice President ‐ Dave Montgomery Green Oasis Services Inc.
Treasurer ‐ Arnold van de Ligt Manderley Turf Products Inc.
Past President ‐ Gerard Fournier For Trees Company Ltd.
Landscape Alberta Staff
Nigel Bowles, Executive Director nigel.bowles@landscape‐alberta.com
Marnie Main, Member Services Director member.services@landscape‐alberta.com
Erynn Watson, Member Services Assistant erynn.watson@landscape‐alberta.com
Valerie Stobbe, Trade Show Coordinator valerie.stobbe@landscape‐alberta.com
Kyla McKechnie, Administrative Assistant admin@landscape‐alberta.com
Cheryl Teo, Bookkeeper accounting@landscape‐alberta.com
Calendar of Events
January 30, 2013 CNLA National Awards of Landscape Excellence
Niagara Falls, ON CNLA: 1‐888‐446‐3499
February 19 & 20, 2013 LMN Contractors Workshop
Courtyard Marriot, 10011 ‐ 184 St NW, Edmonton, AB Call Erynn: 1‐800‐378‐3198
February 21 & 22, 2013 LMN Contractors Workshop
at Finning CAT, 6735 ‐ 11 St NE, Calgary, AB Call Erynn: 1‐800‐378‐3198
March 8, 2013 Landscape Alberta GreenPro Conference
Coast Plaza Hotel, Calgary, AB 1‐800‐378‐3198
March 8, 2013 Landscape Alberta Annual General Meeting
Coast Plaza Hotel, Calgary, AB 1‐800‐378‐3198
March 8, 2013 President’s Dinner & Awards Presentation
Coast Plaza Hotel, Calgary, AB 1‐800‐378‐3198
March 14 & 15, 2013 SNLA Annual Conference
Heritage Inn, Saskatoon, SK Call Christine: 1‐888‐446‐3499
March 20 ‐ 21, 2013 On‐the‐Job Training Workshop
Cheyenne Tree Farms, Beaumont, AB Call Marnie: 1‐800‐378‐3198
March 26 & 27, 2013 Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exams
Olds College, AB To register, call Julia at CNLA: 1‐888‐446‐3499
On the Cover: Alberta's Government House is located in Edmonton and was the official residence of the province's first six Lieutenant Governors. It is now used for government conferences, receptions, and dinners. Photo: Nigel Bowles.
4 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Industry and Association News …
Green for Life Magazine Replaces Prairie Landscape Magazine Prairie Landscape Magazine has become the Landscape Alberta Green for Life magazine, reflecting our new association branding. This new‐look publication will contain more industry and association news, event announcements and bulletins, while retaining must‐read articles. Green for Life magazine will be mailed to members and other key industry people. Others in the industry will be able to view it on the Landscape Alberta industry website, as well as the new “Green for Life” consumer website. The December/January issue of Prairie Landscape Magazine marked the final issue produced by our longtime publisher, Jennett Jackson of Aurora Design in Calgary. It has been a pleasure to work with Jennett and we very much appreciate the dedication and high standards she applied to producing Prairie Landscape Magazine for so many years. Nursery Commission Shelved After two years of discussion, consultation and an industry‐wide survey, the nursery growers have voted to shelve the development of a Nursery Commission for at least three years. The decision came at a recent grower’s group meeting held at Olds College. A Commission is established under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act and is entirely governed by the specific industry sector. With a Commission in place, an industry sector is permitted to collect levies on certain products sold in Alberta, and the generated income is used for the advancement of the industry in the province, as determined by the Commission. In the case of a Nursery Commission, the initial proposal was to direct the funds toward marketing, research, risk management, and technology transfer. Landscape Alberta Executive Director, Nigel Bowles, was “disappointed with the decision, but it was perfectly understandable given the limited response to the polling that was done during the previous year.” Bowles said, “The Alberta Marketing Council (government department responsible for approving commissions) would not recommend the formation of a Nursery Commission unless a majority of the industry supported the establishment of the Commission, and this clearly was not the case.” Our thanks go to all the growers who responded to the survey, attended the various meetings and provided their input to the process. We also wish to thank the Steering Committee members:
Cody Brown, Tree to Tree Nurseries Ltd. Bruce McEwen, Blue Grass Sod Farms & Nursery Ltd. Arnold Heuver, Consultant Harold Voogd, Sunstar Nurseries Ltd. Dean Falkenberg, Greenview Nurseries and Tree Farm Corp. 2012 Green Industry Show & Conference a Big Success The Green Industry Show & Conference (GISC) was held at the Edmonton Expo Center in November and by all reports was a huge success for both conference attendees and trade show participants. The GISC remains the premier green industry event in the prairie provinces and is the third largest of its kind in Canada! The 2012 conference theme was “Sharing the Knowledge” ‐ with over 18 different speakers appearing during the two‐day event, there were plenty of sessions to choose from, and over 300 people did just that. The conference program is jointly organized by Landscape Alberta and the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association.
The 250‐booth trade show, which is exclusively managed by Landscape Alberta, was sold out and, while overall attendance was down slightly from previous years, exhibitors were pleased with the response they received from those in attendance. We recorded 1700 attendee visits to the trade show over two days, representing the following industry sectors: 66% nursery/greenhouse/garden centre, 23% landscape contracting, and 11% government/other. This annual trade show has been very successful for over 35 years, but we face many changes in the industry, especially to the way business is done. With the increase in online sales and marketing, we strive to understand the role that our Green Industry Show plays in the business of our
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 5
industry. So far, feedback from many exhibitors indicates that they still value the face‐to‐face opportunity that a trade show offers, and believe it is an important part of their overall marketing plan. We hope this sentiment continues because revenues from our Green Industry Show help to sustain the association and allow us to fulfill our mandate. Labour Shortages – A Key Issue for Landscape Alberta During the past year there have been a number of initiatives directed towards human resource (HR) issues that will have an impact on the landscape and nursery sectors. Collectively, HR issues are complex because each of our sectors has different needs, and each one is at a different stage of addressing a myriad of labour problems. Adding to the complexity are the challenges posed by having to deal with both the federal and provincial governments with their many different departments, programs, rules and regulations. To address these labour issues, Landscape Alberta has joined with two other organizations in a coordinated response to dealing with the current and long‐term HR requirements of our industry. The first is the Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Short‐ages (ACALS), a coalition of 23 trade, commerce and business associations. This organization has strong leadership from two of Alberta’s largest construction associations: the Alberta Construction Association and Merit Contractors. Because of this and the support from several Chambers of Commerce, it has a reach into the provincial and federal governments that we could not achieve on our own. The second is the Agriculture Industry Labour Council (AILC). This organization represents all of the agricultural producer associations in Alberta, which includes the nursery and sod sectors. AILC specifically addresses issues related to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) and other related foreign worker programs. AILC recently met with the staff from the Mexican Consulate in Calgary to discuss changes to the SAWP as it relates to Mexican workers traveling to work in Alberta. Are You Recruiting Foreign Workers in 2013? With an expected labour shortage looming, many companies are looking to the federal foreign worker programs for a solution. However, there is much to consider before taking this path. There are three different programs that may be applicable for your worker needs, and it is imperative that you first determine which program to access. You must begin the process well in advance of the date you expect to hire workers. If you are reading this now, it may already be too late for recruiting foreign workers for the 2013 season! The three main federal foreign worker programs are as follows:
6 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP). This program is only available to the nursery, sod and greenhouse sectors. Landscape contractors are not eligible to recruit workers through this program. Low Skilled Temporary Foreign Workers (LSTFW). This program, which has received some negative press coverage recently, is best suited for businesses seeking to relieve pressure points caused by a lack of general labourers. The program is open to all industry sectors and is well‐suited to landscape contractors. It should be noted, however, that this is not a low‐cost solution as there are many expenses involved in landing a worker in Alberta.
Skilled Foreign Worker Program (SFWP). Making a permanent job offer to a skilled worker can be an effective way to fill a full‐time position in your company and bring needed skills to Canada. There are many aspects to the various programs under this banner, far too many to list in this brief article. No matter which program you are considering, employers must do their due diligence when recruiting foreign workers, and there are many resources to help. One is Landscape Alberta’s Foreign Worker Manual. This is a good place to start as it contains many links to various government departments and it will guide you though the minefield of the various programs. The Foreign Worker Manual is available to members via the Association’s website: www.landscape‐alberta.com ‐ click on the Members Only section. If you need your member
password, please call Kyla: 1‐800‐378‐3198 (780‐489‐1991). Non‐members can purchase an electronic copy for $50.00. Landscape Gardener Advisory Committee Elects New Chair Congratulations to Landscape Alberta member Bruce Kay of OnGrowing Works Ltd., who was recently elected to the position of Chair for the Landscape Gardener Apprentice Program (LGAP) Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC). This is a significant appointment because it gives the Association a strong voice on this very important committee. Bruce has served on the PAC for a number of years as a member and was instrumental in the development of the new LGAP curriculum that was introduced in the fall of 2012 at Olds College. Nursery Growers Meeting Update Landscape Alberta’s nursery growers meet on a regular basis throughout the winter months, and at a recent meeting (December 12) a number of sector issues and future events were discussed. Highlights included the new federal Growing Forward 2 program, hail insurance, the nursery commission and invasive weed programs. Also discussed was the annual growers auction (held most recently at the Ramada Hotel in November). The growers were updated by Olds College staff on the work that has been completed on the Botanic Gardens Wetland and what remains to be accomplished. The new Dean of the School of Environment, Karsten Henriksen, was also introduced to the group and he spoke about his vision for working closely with industry to fulfill the College’s mandate.
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 7
Snow and Ice Risk Management By Dan Winstanley, Marsh Canada Limited
If customers hurt themselves on the property you are contracted to maintain, they may demand compensation or even sue you. Slips, trips and falls, after snowfalls and in icy conditions, are leading to more lawsuits than ever before with more Canadian courts finding businesses guilty of negligence and awarding higher compensations for injuries sustained. To complicate matters, it can take months or even years for a claim to be advanced against you, and even longer for a resolution to be reached. Given the consequences of being unprepared, it only makes good business sense to investigate ways of helping to mitigate your exposure.
Snow Contracts
One of the best ways to manage slip and fall risk is by purchasing the appropriate insurance coverage. Snow contractors should not sign any contracts that have a “hold harmless” agreement or accept liability for something that is not within their control.
Contractors should have contracts rather than verbal agreements. This way, if there is ever an issue, there is also a legal document to which to refer.
Snow contracts should include a time and accumulation agreement (e.g. the contractor is responsible to clear two inches of snow within twenty‐four hours of a snowfall, etc.).
Maintenance Logs
Maintenance logs should be kept for a minimum of three to seven years in case there is a notice of claim of which the contractor is not aware.
Site conditions should be logged before and after snow clearing and salting. In the case of a claim, photos would also be helpful.
Log sheets increase the frequency of communication between employee/operator and the owner, and should be provided to customers to show dates, times and condition comments for all parking lots and walkways.
GPS Tracking
If you have access to global positioning system (GPS) tracking on your trucks, this can help prove the time and date your trucks were onsite and even acts as a backup of maintenance logs in case there is ever a dispute.
GPS provides peace of mind in knowing where the equipment is and tracking ability if equipment is stolen.
Notes to Clients about Property Maintenance Issues
If the contractor notices maintenance problems at the facility while performing snow clearance (e.g. leaking eavestroughs), pictures and letters should be promptly sent to the property owner to notify them of the issue. A slip and fall claim can happen due to flash freezing, and the contractor’s contract with their client would most likely not address liability in this situation.
8 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Recruitment, Training and Recognition
Only staff with a minimum of three years experience should be hired
“Smart About Salt” certification is a risk management environmental stewardship program that promotes improved safe snow and ice control practices on parking lots and sidewalks in an effort to reduce the amount of road salt entering the environment. (www.smartaboutsalt.com)
Provide recognition for good driving and due diligence. Staff should be educated through the use of sitemaps with clearly
marked areas for clearing and relocating snow.
Encourage the proper use of maintenance logs.
Tracking Weather Conditions
Dispatch should print‐off and file a record of weather conditions from Environment Canada to prove if there was precipitation, in case of an incident.
Your risk of slip, trip and fall accidents increases dramatically when complicated by the weather elements of snow and ice. Reviewing the adequacy of your insurance coverage and observing some best practices during inclement weather conditions can help ensure you are managing the risks effectively.
Dan Winstanley is a Client Executive with the Consumer Practice of Marsh Canada Limited. He can be contacted at [email protected] or 406‐349‐4601.
Marsh offers general liability and vehicle coverage as part of the
HortProtect insurance program, exclusively for association members
across Canada through the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
(CNLA). The Marsh representative for Alberta is Leah Lefebvre and she
can be contacted at 1‐877‐484‐1966 or email [email protected].
“Given the consequences of being unprepared, it only makes good business sense to investigate ways of helping to mitigate your exposure.”
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 9
Family owned and operated since 1980, we are located on 160 acres of land on the northwest corner of Beaumont and grow over 1,000 varieties and sizes
of ‘Prairie Hardy’ Trees, Shrubs and Perennials. We strive to provide our customers with hardy plants that can survive and thrive in our climate, while
continuing to introduce and trial new varieties as they come available.
Come out to the nursery for a stroll around and enjoy the ‘Pleasure of Plants’
24309 Twp Rd. 510 Beaumont www.CheyenneTree.ca
780-929-8102 [email protected]
It’s no secret that Alberta is facing a labour shortage. Recent reports indicate that in the next ten years, the province will be short 100,000 skilled workers. What are the steps needed to ensure a steady workforce? Recognize that the professional services you provide have a value and charge your clients accordingly – the landscape sector is notorious for undervaluing its services. Develop a company culture that ensures your employees feel good about working for you and therefore less likely to seek work elsewhere.
Build a training program and take advantage of the educational opportunities available in Alberta for our industry. The Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program (LGAP) in Alberta is one of the most rigorous and well‐respected in Canada. The Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship program offers an abundance of hands‐on learning in the hard landscape skills of paver, water gardens, wood construction, irrigation and surveying; balanced with the soft landscape skills of plant identification, tree planting, soil analysis, plant production and landscape design. Landscape Alberta members were the driving force behind the establishment of the program over 25 years ago and have been instrumental in its continued success. Once again, we are leading an initiative to make workers aware of the training opportunities that this program offers for a career in landscape horticulture. But we can’t do it without you! The program information needs to get into your employees’ hands and this is where we can help. We have prepared an information package for employees and employers that will help you and your workers understand what the Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship Program is all about. Let’s get going and develop the skilled workers you need to succeed! To request your free LGAP information package, email admin@landscape‐alberta.com.
Ten Steps to Creating an Apprenticeship Program Planning ahead for your apprenticeship program is an important factor to success. This list of steps was compiled from the practical experiences of employers and can be a great starting point for you.
1. Decide what you need and what you can provide
2. Find an apprentice
3. Register your apprentice
4. Receive training materials
5. Support technical training instruction and time off to
attend classes
6. Prepare your journeyperson
7. Provide on‐the‐job training and pay your apprentice's
wages
8. Monitor your apprentice's progress and keep accurate
records
9. Keep in touch with your Apprenticeship Authority
office. 10. Be proud of what you've accomplished!
Let’s Get Serious About Technical Training
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Field Consultants Calgary: Bruce Martinell ‐ [email protected] Red Deer: Guy Jackson ‐ [email protected] Edmonton: Fred Hill ‐ [email protected]
10 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Most general liability policies include exclusion for liability resulting from the rendering of a professional service. The exclusion is included in the policy for two simple reasons: 1. Not all businesses provide professional
services, so those that do not need this coverage shouldn’t be forced to share the cost for those who do need it.
2. Insurance companies will want to investigate your qualifications before offering or including the coverage.
The type of insurance needed to fill this gap is marketed under a few names. It may be called professional liability, malpractice liability, or error’s and omission’s liability. Whatever name it’s marketed under, the insurance coverage will be similar. Here are two hypothetical but very possible examples of cases that could arise in which a landscape contractor may need professional liability insurance. Landscape Construction (Design/Build) Firm A landscape contractor is hired to design and build the gardens, a retaining wall, walkways and steps to the main entrance of a new store. The work is designed and constructed to specification. Just prior to opening of the store, the local building inspector visits the premises and determines that the width of the handicap ramp does not meet local by‐law requirements. Additionally, the steps leading to the entranceway do not meet the by‐law requirements as the materials used were not of the non‐slip type, and the rise and run of each step is abnormal. As a result of the omission to investigate these requirements, the store is delayed in opening while the alterations are made. The storeowner sues the landscaper for financial loss arising from these design flaws. Tree Removal Service A tree removal company is consulted regarding a diseased tree. A property owner is concerned that the tree, in its weakened state, may fall onto utility lines. Upon inspection the consultant suggests that with some TLC the tree may recover and suggests a health care procedure. A few
Professional Contractor’s Liability
Professional landscape contractors typically carry two types of liability protection. These are the general liability and automobile policies. Both these policies are designed to provide coverage for allegations of negligence arising from the actions of your business. However, there is a potential gap in coverage for those companies that provide services such as design or consultation, for which the necessary insurance is quite inexpensive and deserving of attention.
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 11
months later, the tree falls over in a windstorm, striking the utility lines and knocking out the power and phone services to 20 local businesses and 50 homes. The utility providers, businesses, homeowners and their respective insurance companies sue the property owner alleging he failed to take proper care in maintaining his property. Although the homeowners insurance company will take care of him, when they learn about the advice received by their client, they immediately turn around and subrogate against the consultant to try and recoup some of their losses alleging that an error committed by the tree consultant led to the accident. Whatever type of operation you are responsible for, it’s important that you speak with your insurance representative to ensure you have the right coverage. A little legwork ahead of time could save you months, even years of litigation that often follow insurance claims. We know that when it comes to insurance policies there is a tendency for ones eyes to glaze over and simply renew your current policy from year‐to‐year. But as noted above, a little bit of legwork could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress in the event of a claim. Landscape Alberta encourages all members to speak with our endorsed liability insurance provider, Marsh Canada, prior to the expiry of their current policy. The Marsh representative for Alberta is Leah Lefebvre. She can be reached at 780‐917‐4855 or 1‐877‐484‐0966.
Serving Canada with Prairie Hardy Trees
We coordinate freight to your site. Approximately
320 miles to Calgary, 500 miles to Edmonton
Northwest Montana Grown Grower of cold hardy, large
caliper B&B Shade, Ornamental & Evergreen Trees
3240 MT Hwy 35 Kalispell, Montana 59901
1-888-349-1422 fax: 1-888-349-1455 www.fourseasonsnurserymt.com
Colorado Blue & Green Spruce, White & Black Hills Spruce Ash Aspen Birch CVI Shubert & Crabapple Hawthorn
Maple Poplar Lodgepole, Ponderosa & Scotch Pine
Welcome to our New Members (November 15, 2012 - January 15, 2013)
MARL Technologies Inc. Jackie Innes 5603 ‐ 54th Street Edmonton, AB T6B 3G8 (780) 435‐8500 (780) 434‐7242 [email protected] www.marltechnologies.com
Mar‐Wes Holdings Ltd. Brenda Montey Box 7836 Edson, AB T7E 1V9 (780) 723‐3391 (780) 723‐2804 [email protected]
Van Belle Nursery DeVonne Friesen 34825 Hallert Road Abbotsford, BC V3G 1R3 (888) 826‐2355 (604) 853‐6282 [email protected] www.vanbelle.com
12 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Estimating tips and items you should not overlook We have learned three crucial lessons about the hardscape business: 1) Know your margins and estimate properly, 2) Don’t underestimate the impact of repairing the damage done during construction, 3) Don’t underestimate the fact that trained, experienced technicians are exponentially more important on hardscape jobs. Things to keep in mind when pricing Many contractors proclaim that their margins are smaller on hardscape jobs. I question this train of thought. Hardscape is simply more competitive on pricing than other areas, and you must have your ducks in a row when it comes to knowing your costs and production rates. Our model uses the same profit margin as softscape installation. It is important to use an overhead recovery model to estimate and price work. Overhead is overhead, whether planting or building a wall. If you base your pricing on a material markup, don’t forget that hardscape is equipment‐intense, and you need to recover the cost of that equipment over its lifetime.
If you don’t anticipate and build into the estimate the need to repair the path of destruction, you can consume your profits at the end of the job through re‐grading, repairing and rerouting irrigation, re‐sodding, and repairing sidewalks, fences, drainage, dog fences, utilities, etc. Anticipate these costs and either bid them in or write clear disclaimers. I caution you, though, that all bidders are not equal. Make sure the customer knows they need to be comparing apples to apples when taking bids. It is not uncommon to come up against a competitor who does not provide a detailed quote. They are only clear enough on the quote to be legally defensible when they tell the customer at the end that it is a change order to repair the turf from the curb to the work area. Use this to your advantage as an opportunity to educate your client and become their advocate. Finally, trained, experienced, competent and honest technicians are crucial. We had a job last year that involved walls up to 7 feet high—with stairs, landings and planters. A string line was run improperly at layout. This, coupled
Hardscape Lessons to Preserve Your Profit By Michael Becker, Landscape Industry Certified Manager
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 13
with the fact that the 90° walls of the house were not built at 90°, led to an error that did not show up until the patio was laid up to the wall. The result was a project that exceeded three times the allotted man‐hours because the foreman and designer assumed the house was square. This is something a more experienced hardscaper would have checked in the initial layout. Technician Tip: Get Certified Make 2013 the year you decide to get Landscape Industry Certified. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) offers several certification programs, and the most popular is the Landscape Industry Certified Technician‐Exterior exam. This written and hands‐on test is administered throughout Canada by provincial association licensees (Landscape Alberta). The exam encompasses a choice of specialty areas ‐ softscape installation, hardscape installation, turf maintenance, ornamental maintenance, or irrigation. Recommended study materials, available from the CNLA, offer solid preparation for the exam. The Landscape Training Manuals for Technicians with supplemental videos can also be used for general in‐house training for your company. Take a tour of the technician exam videos at h t t p : / / www . c a n a d a n u r s e r y . c om / P a g e . a s p ?PageID=122&ContentID=716&SiteNodeID=99&BL_ExpandID= ‐ study manuals are available from the CNLA ([email protected]). In today’s marketplace, having certified staff gives us an added competitive and professional edge that we can use to our advantage. And as professionals, certification helps boost our career portfolios and makes us more valuable to our employers. I can tell you firsthand that becoming Landscape Industry Certified has upped my game ten‐fold and made me more marketable to customers, and it can do the same for you. Winning bids, impressing customers, distinguishing yourself from the competition—these are just a few of the potential benefits of becoming certified. Michael Becker, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, has been involved in the landscape industry since the early 1980s. He is the owner of Estate Gardeners Inc. in Elkhorn, NE, and is the chair of PLANET’s International Certification Council.
Reprinted with permission from GreenIndustryPros.com
The next Landscape Industry Certified testing dates in Alberta are March 26 & 27, 2013 ‐ hosted by Landscape Alberta members at Olds College in Olds, AB. Call Julia Ricottone, Certification Manager at the CNLA, 1‐888‐446‐3499 for more information or to register in the program.
Landscape Awards Presentation
Friday, March 8, 2013
Reception: 5:30 pm, Dinner: 6:15 pm
Coast Plaza Hotel, 1316 - 33 St NE, Calgary
Join us and recognize the recipients of the 2012 Landscape Awards.
Tickets: $70 per person before February 22 ($80 per person after Feb. 22)
Contact: [email protected] 1-800-378-3198
2012 Landscape Award Sponsors
HEAD GARDENER Invitation for Expressions of Interest
5-year term Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage
Nanton, Alberta
The University seeks a Head Gardener for the Coutts Centre. Set on 165 acres of the former Coutts family homestead, the Centre has designed and richly detailed gardens featuring collections of native and exotic trees, flowering shrubs, roses, mixed grass and wild-flower meadows, and extensive perennial beds. The Centre is particularly interested in the propagation and development of native Prairie plants and plantings and in the use and development of sustainable gardening practice. Ideally suited to a sole proprietor, the services will be provided by one Journeyman Landscape Gardener (or equivalent qualification) with at least 7 years of relevant experience and extensive knowledge of gardening and horticultural practice, particularly relating to native grasses and prairie plants. For more information, please refer to the notice at: http://bit.ly/VOG8in Deadline for submissions is February 28, 2013.
14 I Green for Life February/March 2013
Olds College Find Remains of Ancient Reptile
Hort Mart Rates:
1x 3x 5x 1 inch $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 2 inch $79.00 $70.00 $62.00 3 inch $118.00 $105.00 $93.00 4 inch $158.00 $140.00 $156.00
Call us today at 1-800-378-3198
To book your space today!
Your ad goes here!
Contact us
1-800-378-3198
or email
to reserve your space.
Hort Mart
An Olds College employee recently discovered an exceptionally well‐preserved champsosaur fossil in Olds, Alberta. Champsosaurs were semi‐aquatic fresh water reptiles that resemble a small crocodile, measuring about two metres in length. They lived 120 – 55 million years ago – this specimen is from the Paleocene, about 60 million years ago.
The fossil was encased in rock that was moved during a campus landscaping project. Upon discovery, the college
emailed a photograph to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and a senior technician went to investigate. “At first glance we thought it was a dried banana peel,” admitted Leona Megli, grounds technician at Olds College, who found the specimen in a remote rock bed under some debris. “At closer look we realized it was something much more valuable, but the last thing you think you’d find in your job is a 60‐million‐year‐old fossil!”
“This is an exciting find,” says Dr. Donald Brinkman, Director of Preservation and Research at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. “Two kinds of champsosaurs lived during the Palaeocene Epoch in North America – Champsosaurus and Simoedosaurus. Only two specimens of Simoedosaurus have been reported previously in North America – one from Saskatchewan and one from North Dakota. This specimen discovered in Olds is the rare Simoedosaurus.” Outside North America, Simoedosaurus fossils have been found in Europe, so finding its remains in North America adds evidence for an interchange at some point between the two continents. The fossil is currently in the preparation lab at the Royal Tyrrell Museum as a priority specimen.
News Release November 8, 2012. Royal Tyrrell Museum and
Olds College
GreenPro Conference 2013
Recruiting Programs that Work: How to Attract and Land the Best Employees
Building Effective Training Programs that Get the Right Results
GreenPro Conference A power packed workshop for your business!
March 8, 2013 I Coast Plaza Hotel I 1313 – 33 St. NE. I Calgary
Register online at greenpro2013.eventbrite.ca 1-800-378-3198
Workshop Rate: Advance After Feb. 22 Member $169.00 $189.00 Non Member $199.00 $219.00
Learn how to ask questions that will “root out” what you really need to know
Know how to make your company more attractive than your competitor
Know why the first 90 days is so critical to new employees’ success
Implement training programs with set up, tools and delivery systems
Measure the outcomes that matter the most from a training system
REGISTER BEFORE FEBRUARY 22 AND SAVE $$$
Landscape Alberta is proud to host our annual winter professional development event ‐ the GreenPro Conference ‐ on Friday, March 8, 2013 in Calgary. Labour issues are front and centre for our industry this year, and we are featuring a bona fide industry expert whose goal is to ensure you come away from his workshop with real‐life tools and knowledge that you can implement and profit from. Right now. Bill Arman (The Harvest Group Landscape Business Consulting) worked for the largest landscape company in the world, ValleyCrest Companies, for nearly 30 years. He held every position from gardener to regional vice president, overseeing a 25 million dollar landscape maintenance portfolio. He also served as Vice President of Human Resources where he developed training, performance management, and recruiting programs for more than 6500 employees. Whether it’s a multi‐million‐dollar business, a fancy consultancy or a one‐person operation, Bill has found it all still comes down to one thing—the people. Bill has interviewed, hired and trained thousands of employees ‐ and he is passionate about sharing his knowledge with owners who build successful companies by investing in people. Author of the Industry’s First Book on Recruiting and Hiring Bill believes the industry’s greatest challenge is finding, attracting, getting on board, keeping and growing the
right people. With his first book, The Harvest Way for Recruiting and Hiring the Right People, and the accompanying Harvest Recruiting Kit, Bill shares his tips, tactics and techniques for building the best teams in the industry. You can learn more about Bi l l at www.harvestlandscapeconsulting.com (he’s a plant‐loving horticulturist!) and you’ll find valuable insights in the videos and podcasts under “Free Stuff”. Your next step… register for our GreenPro Conference to learn from Bill Arman, get the need‐to‐know update on changes to our federal Employment Insurance program, celebrate at the President’s Dinner and Landscape Awards Presentation, and attend Landscape Alberta’s AGM (with breakfast!)
Green for Life February/March 2013 I 15
