Horticulture Review Magazine - Landscape Ontario

February 2008

Previous Issues

President's Message

Working together for a better tomorrow

By Robert Adams

The year 2008 is off to a great start. Our biggest show of the year, Congress, was once again a huge success.

Executive Desk

Spring in January

By Tony DiGiovanni CHT

For Landscape Ontario, the period between November and April is our “spring.” We cluster many activities and programs into this period, before you get too busy to participate.

Public Relations

Home office: A full house during seminar season

By Denis Flanagan CLD

On the first week of our Winter Professional Development Series the parking lot at LO’s home office in Milton was jam packed, and every meeting room was full to capacity — a fabulous indication of how keen our members are to improve their practical and business skills.

Human Resources News

Pillars of professionalism - Professionalism is culture in action

By Terry Murphy CLP

Conclusion: During the last year I attempted to highlight an important area, professionalism, that I feel needs attention and development from an industry perspective.

LO Volunteer Profile

Terry Nicholson works to improve certification

“His knowledge and dedication to CHT is the reason the program has advanced so far in the past five years.”

Congress 2008

Industry celebrates at Congress

This year Congress was blessed with a break in the weather, allowing thousands of green industry professionals to make their way to the Toronto Congress Centre (TCC) from Jan. 8-10.

Best booth awards and prize winners

And the winners are...

Special thanks to show sponsors

Landscape Ontario thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of Congress:

LO’s 34th AGM: Proof of member involvement

A large, attentive crowd of members exercised their responsibilities by attending LO’s annual general meeting, held on Jan. 9, in conjunction with Congress.

Education Alliance – delivering success

Landscape Ontario works with the following partners to develop practical, cost-effective education opportunities for the green industry:

Thank you Congress volunteers:

Many thanks to those involved.

Awards of Excellence ceremony reflects industry’s pride

Held on Jan. 8th, in conjunction with Congress, a gala event honoured excellent work done by LO members in construction, maintenance and design.

Motivational Considerations

Do incentive plans work?

By Terry Murphy CLP

In 2008, I would like to investigate the subject of incentive plans and get you thinking about this very sensitive area.

Chapter News

London chapter sponsors leadership scholarship at Fanshawe College

Congratulations to Tricia Johns, the first recipient of the LO London Chapter Student Leadership Award.

Georgian Lakelands Chapter celebrate

Members of the Georgian Lakelands Chapter celebrated the end of another busy season with their annual Christmas social at Georgian Downs on December 1, 2007.

Association News

Green industry leadership training comes to Toronto

Mark your calendars for a unique, world-class training opportunity!

Eight performance areas are keys to growing LO chapters

How can the nine chapters in Landscape Ontario best develop and implement strategic and operational plans? That was the question that faced a roomful of about 60 LO members during the chapter planning session on Dec. 10th.

Working on the links - High school hort students get unique hands-on opportunity

By Michelle Chambers

Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School and the Peterborough Golf and Country Club created a unique experience for high school students in my horticulture class last spring.

Garden Centre Forum

LO retail forum looks at web resources

Each month we post a question to garden centre members via e-mail and print the responses. We thank those members who responded and encourage others to share their thoughts and venture into this forum.

Members In The News

Vermeer’s named retailer of year

Congratulations to Vermeer’s Garden Centre and Flower Shop in Welland, for being named the best retailer of its kind in Canada.

Pat Hillmer retires

After seven years of organizing countless conference sessions, speakers and symposiums, Pat Hillmer retired from her position as LO’s conference coordinator on January 31.

In memoriam: Sarah Lamont

Sarah Lamont, owner of the Planted Earth in Goodwood, passed away on Dec. 21, 2007.

OMAFRA Turf Report

Highlights of new turf research

By Pam Charbonneau

A Happy New Year to all. I hope everyone has had a chance to re-charge their batteries after the busy 2007 growing season.

Legal Issues

Walford v. Jacuzzi Canada: the duty to warn

By Robert Kennaley

As lawyers, we often caution about the risks you run if you are not careful about what you say to clients.

Prosperity Partners

The buck starts here...

By Jacki Hart CLP