hortwest 2011-09

B . C . L a n d s C a p e & n u r s e r y a s s o C i a t i o n p u B L i C a t i o n • s e p t e m B e r 2 0 1 1

Can you dig it? Call First.

members Value CanWest, says survey

Landscape Certification test on island

Hort Show »» September 27-30

HortWestseptemBer 2011

EDITOR Sheila KeenanDESIGNER Uniquity DesignADVERTISING Suvan BreenTel: 604.575.3516

HortWest is the newsletter of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association. For further information, contact us at:Suite 102, 5783-176A StreetSurrey, BC, Canada V3S 6S6Tel: (604) 574-7772Fax: (604) 574-7773

HortWest is owned by the BC Landscape & Nursery Association, and is published 10 times a year. Views expressed inside do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the Association, but are those of the writer concerned. Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without consent of the publisher.

All advertising and editorial material are to be received one month in advance of mail out date.

HortWest is mailed under Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement N. 0288608. This magazine is printed in Canada by Hemlock Printers.

BCLNA DIRECTORY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lesley Tannen 604.575.3506

CANWEST / MARKETING MANAGER Karen De Jong 604.575.3504

EXHIBITOR RELATIONS / SPECIAL EVENTS Barb Nelson 604.575.3503

SALES ASSOCIATE Suvan Breen 604.575.3516

GROWER & RETAIL ISSUES Hedy Dyck 604.575.3505

PROGRAM ASSISTANT Michelle Linford 604.575.3511

LANDSCAPE ISSUES David Adkins 604.575.3510

LANDSCAPE & CERTIFICATION ADMINISTRATOR Joy Demelo 604.575.3501

FINANCE MANAGER Marvyn Brown 604.575.3507

MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATOR Heidi Henderson 604.575.3502

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Svetlana Edwards 604.575.3513

On the cover: Can you dig it? Find out at Safe Excavation Practices 101 at the CanWest Equipment Demo Day on Sept. 30. See story on page 14 for more information.

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B . C . L a n d s C a p e & n u r s e r y a s s o C i a t i o n p u B L i C a t i o n • J u L y 2 0 1 1

HortWest September 2011

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Message from the President

Sandy Mathies, PresidentB.C. Landscape & Nursery Association

As September progresses all horticulture businesses realize the importance of quarterly goals and accurate timely reports that let you know where

you stand. Bookkeeping is not everyone’s first love but having a system that you can track year after year will let you know when things are changing for the better or getting off track. Bookkeeping is not rocket science but knowing what to do with the information is vitally important. Gathering information has a cost, but not acting on the information can cost your business too.

The CanWest Hort Show in Vancouver, Sept. 28 to 29, and the Equipment Field Day at the Tradex facility in Abbotsford on Sept. 30 are the places to gain the knowledge needed to make those decisions. CanWest offers a great selection of education courses to bring you up to speed. At the Equipment Field Day, you get to try before you buy and compare the different models side by side. Add in the chance to meet with old friends and new suppliers to catch up on everything that has happened and is going to happen.

Education happens wherever you give yourself the time to focus and learn. It may be at a challenging seminar, in casual conversation or through hands-on learning.

The CanWest Hort Show offers opportunities for all of these.

Join us in reviewing your association’s year at the AGM being held in conjunction with CanWest on Sept. 28. See where your dues were spent and what was accomplished, followed by the review of the budget to see what is in the works for the coming year. Then join me for dinner on top of the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside at the President’s Banquet, where our association celebrates the achievements of our industry and the people in it.

Go Back to School with CanWest Hort Show


Board Synopsis

The most recent membership report shows that approximately 29 per cent of BCLNA’s over 700 members are growers, 11 per cent are in retail, 43 per cent are landscapers and 17 per cent fall into other categories.

Historically, BCLNA has not tracked members by commodity group, so these numbers are estimates only as there is crossover between the commodities. The new membership brochure will have a section for members to choose which commodity group they belong to. BCLNA will then be able to gather more accurate numbers on membership by commodity group.

The BCLNA board does not want an increase in CNLA fees. An agreement to increase fees 2 per cent per year for three years ends this year. The board voted in favour of supporting no further

CNLA fee increase for one year. The CNLA board was to meet in Saskatoon in August.

A revised “Grow Me Instead” brochure is set to be published. It includes recommendations on alternatives to common invasive plants grown in B.C.

The new brochure will include expanded alternatives, watering requirements and hardiness zones. BCLNA staff are reviewing a random sampling of nursery plants lists to identify which alternatives are available from BCLNA members.

A contribution to a green roofs project is one of the items the BCLNA board approved based on the recommendation of the Industry Development Council. The IDC will contribute $5,000 per year for three years to the project. Because of the current investment climate the

IDC is taking a cautious approach to new projects and is keeping expenditures to a minimum.

BCLNA staff met with Mexican Consulate staff to discuss a number of issues, including the SAWP program. Consular staff will host 20 advisors from Mexico in September to increase their understanding of the experience workers have when they come to Canada.

The board adopted a social media policy to ensure social media is used properly by staff, contractors and volunteers. The policy will help BCLNA staff avoid some of the pitfalls of social media, as well as to use social media to build a stronger, more engaged organization.

Monday, July 18, 2011

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Pounds of Plastic RecycledGardeners and horticulture businesses collected nearly 76,000 pounds of pots, trays and other gardening-related plastic during the second annual National Plastics Recycling Event from June 25 to July 4. That’s 40 per cent more than last year and enough plastic to pack about five 53-foot semi trucks to the brim.

Gary Lewis, of Phoenix Perennials & Specialty Plants in Richmond, was happy to participate in the second annual event.

“The National Plastics Recycling Event is a visionary and important program that provides a means for nurseries across the country to offer a recycling service to our customers,” he said. “Our customers are impressed that we are showing environmental responsibility. They are overjoyed to get rid of their plastic pots without having to throw them out, and we get to do the right thing as a business.”

Gardeners were encouraged to bring clean, dry garden plastics to drop-off depots from June 25 to July 4. In B.C., there were seven drop-off depots: Phoenix Perennials in Richmond, Minter Country Garden in Chilliwack, Cannor Nursery in Abbotsford and Parksville, David Hunter Garden Centers and Port Kells Nurseries in Surrey, and Northwest Landscape and Stone Supply in Burnaby.

Westcoast Plastic Recycling and BFI Canada managed transportation and recycling of the collected garden plastics.

Westcoast Plastic in Richmond accepts pots, trays and other garden-related plastic, including greenhouse poly sheeting year-round from both the public and commercial operations. Growers and landscapers can also return empty pesticide containers at the many locations listed on the Clean Farms website at www.cleanfarms.ca/recyclingprogram.

The National Plastics Recycling Event is scheduled to return in 2012 from June 22 to July 1.

BCLNA Makes its Mark The BCLNA is pleased to announce its logo is now trademarked. An updated logo with the trademark symbol, “TM,” is now available. Those BCLNA members who use the logo on their websites or elsewhere should start using the new logo as soon as it is available. (Trademark works on a “use it or lose it” basis. In order to protect the trademarked BCLNA logo as our own, we need to ensure we use the correct version.)

BCLNA encourages all members to show pride in membership by using the BCLNA logo on websites and other materials. Association staff are aware of some cases where non-member businesses have used the BCLNA logo. When staff become aware of such cases, BCLNA will send bills for membership fees to those non-member businesses.

Requests for the new logo should be made to Karen DeJong, Marketing & Communications Manager at [email protected].

Participate in National Tree DayThe Government of Canada has proclaimed September 21, 2011, as National Tree Day.

“By passing this motion, the House of Commons will ask Canadians to spend just one day reflecting on the link between their lives and that of the tree,” said Royal Galipeau, M.P. Ottawa-Orléans who presented the motion.

“Canadians will dedicate trees, plant trees, learn about trees and appreciate the historical impact the tree has had on Canada’s economic success as a nation.”

BCLNA encourages its members to participate. Visit www.canadanursery.com/nationaltreeday for information on how to participate. There is a ton of information including press release templates and a “Shovel Ready Toolkit,” a step-by-step plan for holding a tree-planting event with a local school.

Retailers can participate too. Consider these ideas:• Give away seedlings to children visiting

your store on September 21. • Hold a nursery sale in honour of

National Tree Day.

BCLNA News Bulletins

...continued on page 7


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BCLNA Welcomes New StaffBCLNA has seen some staff changes over the past year and responsibilities for some staff have changed. HortWest provides this handy staff directory, so members know who to contact and how to contact them. BCLNA is also pleased to welcome our two newest staff people.

Suvan Breen joined BCLNA in June as Sales Associate. She came to the horticulture industry a decade ago after many years’ experience in the hospitality, tourism and event industry. In that decade, she began the apprentice program, became the owner of Breen Landscape Design and worked in the garden retail sector. Breen’s position at the BCLNA is to work for the members to increase their profile and use their membership to its fullest potential. Her main focus will be on seeking sponsorships and advertisers for BCLNA events and publications, including ad sales for HortWest and booth sales for the CanWest Hort Show.

Svetlana Edwards also joined the BCLNA team in June 2011, as accounting assistant on a part-time basis. She has a degree in economics and has worked as an accountant for many years. Svetlana is fascinated by horticulture and trying (not always successfully) to grow nice veggies and herbs in her community garden plot. Her main goal is to provide sound support and organization in the financial field for BCLNA and our customers.

BCLNA Staff DirectoryDavid Adkins, Landscape Industry Development Coordinator 604-575-3510 | [email protected] Contact for: Landscape issues including standards and bylaws, landscape certification programs, Landscape Awards of Excellence

Suvan Breen, Sales Associate604-575-3516 | [email protected] Contact for: HortWest ad sales, CanWest Hort Show booth sales, Event sponsorship

Marvyn Brown, Finance Manager 604-575-3507 | [email protected]

Karen De Jong, CanWest Trade Show / Marketing & Communications Manager 604-575-3504 | [email protected] Contact for: CanWest Hort Show, and general marketing

Hedy Dyck, Industry Development Manager604-575-3505 | [email protected] Contact for: Grower issues, education and labour, environmental farm planning, P. ramorum certification

Joy Demelo, Landscape & Certification Administrator604-575-3501 | [email protected] Contact for: certification registration, landscape commodity events and meetings, Landscape Awards of Excellence

Svetlana Edwards, Accounting Assistant 604-575-3513 | [email protected]

Heidi Henderson, Membership Administrator 604-575-3502 | [email protected] Contact for: Membership services, CRM administration (Membee), CanWest registration

Michelle Linford, Program Administration Assistant 604-575-3511 | [email protected] Contact for: Canadian Nursery Certification Institute

Barb Nelson, Special Events / CanWest Assistant Manager 604-575-3503 | [email protected] Contact for: CanWest Hort Show, auction, golf tournament, AGM

Lesley Tannen, Executive Director 604-575-3506 | [email protected] Contact for: Board of Directors



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S e p t e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 1National Tree Day

• Create signage that reminds customers to plant a tree in honour of National Tree Day.

• Pair up with landscaper clients – you supply the tree, and they supply the schoolyard planting activity.

• Plant a tree on your property in honour of National Tree Day, and build a how-to-plant seminar around the event for customers.

The CNLA will be compiling a list of events across the country and promoting them to the media. If you plan to participate, contact Joe Salemi at [email protected] with details of your event.

Survey Says: Members Value Membership and CanWest Hort Show

A recent member survey shows the CanWest Hort Show is viewed as a good promotional vehicle for BCLNA. Over

72 per cent of survey respondents said CanWest was the BCLNA event they would choose to bring a non-member to in order to promote BCLNA.That fits in with BCLNA’s plans to heavily promote the benefits of membership at this year’s show.

“This year we’re going to make sure our membership booth is front and centre,” said Executive Director Lesley Tannen.

The survey had a good response rate, with 107 people, (15 per cent of BCLNA’s membership) responding to online questions.

When asked what they liked most about BCLNA, many members mentioned staff. “Staff are seen as helpful, friendly, and professional and really try to address members’ concerns,” said Tannen.

She said members also liked the programs and services BCLNA offers, particularly training courses and networking opportunities. Over 60 per cent of respondents said networking opportunities were their primary reason for joining BCLNA.

Over 60 per cent of respondents have been BCLNA members for six or more years; 42 per cent of respondents have been members for more than 11 years.

BCLNA AGM and Awards Party

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Light breakfast served at 7am meeting begins at 7:30am No charge but pre-registration appreciated

President's Banquet & Awards Party:

Happy hour begins at 6pm; Dinner begins at 7:30pm Enjoy panoramic views of Vancouver's harbour and city from the 19th Floor of the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside. Only $99 for BCLNA members! $120 for non-members. Can't attend the dinner? Join us at 9:30pm when the doors open to everyone! (No-host bar.)

Register online at www.canwesthortshow.com

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...continued from page 4

88

One might not think a warehouse could be homey, but Eddi’s Wholesale Garden Supplies’ new distribution centre in Langley has a warm, friendly feel.

After four decades in business, the company moved into its new distribution centre in 2010. The warehouse is a vast 156,000 square feet—the size of approximately three football fields—with four acres of parking. Company President Ed Les explains the straightforward reason for the new building. “The other one was too small. We’d run out of room.”

The company has experienced remarkable growth in 43 years. “Our garage was our first warehouse,” says Ed. The new distribution centre in Langley is their fifth warehouse. He estimates the

company started with about five product lines and 20 customers. They now have over 1,900 customers and the warehouse stocks products with 14,000 different SKUs. Inventory is managed with an automated system and inventory control guns. Each aisle has a two-letter code and

each product has a bar code, which help workers to find and pick orders. Orders are shipped to customers across Canada, some as far away as Thunder Bay.

Ed and Diane have seen many changes during their time in the business.

“The product lines have really changed,” says Diane, Vice-President of Eddi’s Wholesale. “We originally didn’t go into gift items at all but now we have to.” Garden centres now carry items such as jackets, hats and jewellery and customers visit garden centres as a shopping destination, not just for basic gardening supplies, she says. So Eddi’s Wholesale carries not just soil, fertilizer and pots, but also items such as garden furniture, rubber boots and statuary.

Industry Bits

Personal Touches Bring Family Feel to Warehouse

Ed and Diane Les of Eddi's Wholesale Garden Supplies Ltd. outside their new distribution centre.


West Creek Farms.indd 1 10/27/08 10:39:14 AM

The 2011 CanWest Hort Show offers a host of options for garden centre owners, managers and staff. Here’s our top five reasons retailers should attend this year’s show.1. EXCLUSIVE HALF-DAY WORKSHOP FOR RETAILERS

Retail marketing expert Jonathan Matteson, of Kellogg Garden Products, shares marketing tools that will increase profitability and customer satisfaction. 2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL LEVELS OF RETAIL STAFF

Choose from 10 seminars including:

• Twenty Questions: The Plant Diagnostics Edition, with Jim Chatfield, Extension Specialist, Ohio State University

• The Female Factor: How to use Her Playbook to Up Your Sales Game, with Mary Charleson, Charleson Communications

3. AFFORDABLE PRICING ON SEMINARS

If your company sends more than four people to a seminar, group rates are available. $55 per person, per seminar for BCLNA member companies registering by Sept. 9. 4. BOUTIQUE GARDEN SHOPS TOUR

Learn behind the scenes details from a number of successful retail settings with Deb and Rod Sirman, Greenland Garden Centre, on Friday, September 30. 5. NEW PLANTS & SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS SHOWCASE

The hottest new products and sustainable solutions for your customers.

Check out all the details and register online at www.CanWestHortShow.com

2011 CanWest Hort Show: Retail Round-up

99

Industry Bits

While the purpose of the distribution centre is all business, Ed and Diane have added several personal touches. Outside the warehouse, along a narrow strip, there is a large vegetable garden. Ed tends the garden and leaves veggies in the lunch room for employees to take home.

“He prefers to be out in the dirt rather than in the office,” says Diane. Diane, along with daughter Lori, picked out all the interior paint colours, tile and carpet. She also added an unique decorating touch to the lobby, where an old clawfoot bathtub acts as a planter. The tub used to belong to Diane’s parents. “She didn’t want to throw it out, so we had to put plants in it,” says Ed.

The main office is open concept, which suits the nature of the business. Headed by Ed and Diane, Eddi’s Wholesale is a family business. Their son-in-law, Joe Cassetta, is general manager, and the management team is rounded out by Ed and Diane’s children: Lori Cassetta, Ted and Tim Les.

The personal touch even extends to the road leading into the distribution centre.

“We had a big argument over that with the builders,” jokes Ed. “I said, ‘You know, we should call this ‘Eddi’s Way.’ They said, ‘No, you’re not getting your way.’”

“So it’s Eddi’s Crescent,” says Diane.

Exterior of Eddi’s Wholesale, which took builders, Double V Construction, one year to complete.

Ed Les maintains a large vegetable garden along one side of the distribution centre.


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Bruce McTavish was re-elected by the Canadian horticulture, seed and forestry representatives at NAPPO to chair the Canadian Industry Advisory Group to the North American Plant Protection Organization. He has also been recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre where he will provide representation from Western Canada to the Vineland Board of Directors.

McTavish is an instructor in the School of Horticulture and the School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and past president of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. In addition to consulting, education and research work, McTavish plays an active role in the nursery sector as a member of the advisory board of Bylands Nurseries Ltd. and provides oversight to container production for Pickett's Nurseries Ltd.

AgriStability DeadlinesProducers take note of some important upcoming deadlines:

September 30, 2011: Deadline to submit the 2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form without penalty.

December 31, 2011: FINAL deadline to submit the 2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form with penalty of $500/month.Maximum reduction will be $1,500.

For more information call toll free 1-877-343-2767 to speak to your AgriStability representative. Or visit www.agf.gov.bc.ca/agristability

Industry Bits

BCLNA Member Named to Vineland Board

Visit us at the CanWest Hort Show and spin the wheel for a chance to

lasso a special show gift

Vancouver Convention CentreSeptember 28-29, 2011

Booth: 1216 - 1220

Always Call Before You Dig


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Congratulations to the following candidates who have successfully completed their new designations through the Landscape Industry Certified program. The certification exams on July 8 and 9 had 12 new and 11 retest candidates (plus two who were in progress from January's written test). There were eight passes.

Ornamental MaintenanceMatthew Harvey, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc.

Richard Heaven, CLT Rich Earth Garden Service

Scott Magee, CLT RCB Garden Service

Brandon Oishi, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc.

Softscape Installation Nicholas Funke, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc.

Michelle Barker, CLT District of North Vancouver

Turf Maintenance Taylor Squires, CLT Groundworks Design Inc.

Certified Manager Lesley Tannen, CLP BC Landscape & Nursery Association

This event would not have been as successful without the help of our committees and volunteers. Thank you to all those who volunteered and to our sponsors:

Premier Sponsor: Facility Sponsor:

Silver Sponsors: HortEducation BC , BC Safety Authority MRD Landscaping Inc. Station Sponsor: Para Space Landscaping Inc. Equipment & Material: Fraser Valley Equipment, ECHO, Kwantlen, Creative Embroidery, Finning

The next certification testing date in the Lower Mainland is scheduled for October 21 and 22.

Certification Test Pilot on Vancouver IslandThe Landscape Industry Certified program is going to Vancouver Island in November. Exam dates are set for November 18 and 19 at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Victoria.

Tony Bobbit, Island Chapter Chair for BCLNA, has been a huge advocate for certification on the Island and helped jumpstart the process to get testing up and running. “I am very excited to help bring certification to the Island. Many members have talked to me about wanting it to be here, so it is great to see it happening,” he said.

“We are starting by running a single module this year, and we chose softscape installation. I hope that success this fall will lead to more modules being offered in the future. This is a great way to set your company and staff above the rest, so get registered and get certified.”

Cable Baker, Certification Chair is also pleased that the BCLNA can bring this opportunity to Island members.

“If this pilot is a success and we have lots of participation of candidates and volunteers then we could look at making this an annual event.” The Pacific Horticulture College at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific is pleased to partner

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with the BCLNA to offer the certification program on Vancouver Island. In the competitive horticulture industry, standards in training and certification must also be upheld by colleges and other training organizations to improve the

consistency, quality, and professional standards of individuals in the industry. By offering the certification program on Vancouver Island, BCLNA is raising these standards locally to meet the industry demands for qualified workers.

Information and registration forms for certification exams are available at www.bclna.com or call Joy Demelo at 604-575-3501.

Wild Meeting for Landscapers

There was a little monkeying around going on at the Landscape meeting that NorthWest Landscape & Stone Supply sponsored on August 9.

For those lucky enough to participate, Northwest organized a fun afternoon at WildPlay Element Park in Maple Ridge doing the Monkido Classic challenge, which included two hours of swinging, climbing and zip lining through the trees. After an afternoon of fun, NorthWest treated participants to a tasty, filling meal that they had definitely worked up an appetite for. Anne Kulla from Huckleberry Landscape Design was elected as the new Landscape Commodity Chair. Welcome Anne. Laurie Anderson, who has been a fantastic leader, will ease Anne into the position over the next couple of weeks. Thank you Laurie for all of your time and effort.

The evening ended with lots of industry updates and a special presentation from BC Common Ground Alliance and Spectra Energy educating our members on the importance of knowing who to call and when. For those who missed it, BC One Call will be putting on a special presentation at the September 30 Outdoor Equipment Demo Day at 11:30 a.m.

HortWest September 2011Iotron Technologies.indd 1 1/25/11 1:45:05 PM

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HortEducation BC

In the May issue, HortWest featured an interview with production apprentice Melody Raymond and her sponsor, Sylvia Mosterman, of Mosterman Plants Inc.

This month HortWest features landscape apprentice Dillon Mennie and his sponsor Jeff Foley of Para Space Landscaping Inc. Mennie has completed Level One of the landscape horticulturist apprenticeship program. He previously worked for Para Space Landscaping and decided to further his career by beginning the apprenticeship program.

Q: Dillon, why did you choose landscape horticulture as a career?

DM: I found horticulture interesting, especially how plants grow, morphology and botany. I have also always been interested in constructing things. Designing and installing a landscape puts both of those aspects together and is very satisfying.

Q: What kind of support has Para Space Landscaping provided to you as an apprentice?

DM: Full financial support, tuition, books, as well as indenturing me for the duration of my apprenticeship. They have also provided support by giving me experience on jobs that coincide with my schooling and what I’m learning.

Q: How has the knowledge you have gained in the program benefited your work experience?

DM: In my first week back to work I was completing a soil installation. A resident came out with some questions about soil composition. The soil class I recently completed allowed me to easily answer the client’s questions.

Q: Jeff, why did you decided to sponsor Dillon?

JF: We pride ourselves on having the most accredited staff of any landscape company in the province. The apprenticeship program is comprehensive and has an excellent reputation in the way of curriculum content and calibre of instruction.

Q: What do you hope to gain, as a business owner, by having a trained employee?

JF: We hope to better serve our clients, increase the productivity on our job sites, and increase the knowledge and skill set of our staff. Sponsoring an apprentice is an easy way to accomplish all three of these goals.

Q: How has having Dillon on staff benefited you and your company?

JF: By sponsoring Dillon we have hopefully helped a young and passionate newcomer to the industry turn his horticultural interest into a career. This creates great opportunity for both him and our company.

It has been our experience that passionate and well trained team members are infectious by passing their knowledge and excitement onto other staff.

Go to www.HortEducationBC.com for full details on how to become a sponsor or an apprentice and for more information on available training institutions, as well as provincial and federal tax credits available.

Annika Ingram works with HEBC, managing youth apprentices and marketing its many apprenticeship programs. She has her Diploma in Horticulture Technology – Landscape Design.

September15 Bloom GalaVanDusen Botanical Garden www.bloomgala.com

27 CanWest Hort Show ClinicsVancouver Convention Centre www.canwesthortshow.com

28 BCLNA AGM Vancouver Convention Centre

28 President’s Banquet & Awards PartyRenaissance Hotel Vancouver Harbourside

28-29 CanWest Hort Show Trade Show & SeminarsVancouver Convention Centre www.canwesthortshow.com

30 CanWest Hort Show Equipment Field DayTradex Exhibtion Centre, Abbotsford

October19-20 Landscape Ontario’s ExpoToronto Congress Centre www.gardenexpo.ca

21-22 Certification Exams(CLT, CHT, CLP, CLD) Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley www.bclna.com/certified.htm

November17-18 Green Industry Show and ConferenceEXPO Centre at Northlands, Edmonton www.greenindustryshow.com

18-19 Certification ExamsHorticulture Centre of the Pacific, Victoria www.bclna.com/certified.htm

December8 Industry Christmas PartyDelta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre

Constructing a Landscape Career By Annika Ingram


Industry events and programs

14

Being involved in the digging/ground disturbance community today means knowing what is under the ground. My involvement with the Common Ground Alliance has made me aware of the numerous steps required to keep myself, employees, company, customers and the general public safe. If you are reading this article and you don’t think this applies to you, think again.

For many years, if I was digging a hole or performing some type of ground disturbance, I did so with no phone call, no maps, no worries. Well, no more. I now know that it was a dangerous and wrong thing to do. I was also very lucky that I did not hurt anyone or damage any underground infrastructure. Knowing what lies beneath is critically important and seriously impacts all areas of our industry.

If you are a grower you probably have buried cables and conduits running to greenhouses, outbuildings, barns or several residences of your property and you might even have a high pressure transmission pipeline running through your acreage. If you are a retailer, selling larger trees and shrubs, you need to alert your customers to Call Before You Dig and allow those buried utilities to be located and marked before planting.

Providing them with information of who to call before planting that large calliper tree you sold to them will ensure that these customers are around to return to your business.

For architects and designers, the design process begins with determining the utilities that lie beneath the ground. Calling for underground infrastructure information can prevent future problems with installing or building your designs.

For the landscape industry, whether you are an installer, a maintenance company, irrigation installer or an arborist, knowing where the utilities are and what you are responsible for in regards to due diligence in essential.

Failing to “call before you dig” could end in a serious injury, or worse, a fatality. It only takes one accident and your insurance coverage might go up. At the end of the day, we want everyone to go home to their family and friends safe and uninjured. (Right now, B.C. residents should call 1-800-474-6886 before they dig. The Canadian Common Ground Alliance has applied to the CRTC to have 811 become the national “call before you dig” number.) The Common Ground Alliance is where we, as an industry, have input in the development of best

practices and regulations. We also have the opportunity to forge a working relationship with a group that may be unaware of our presence. I encourage all provinces, who have yet to have an industry representative on their provincial Common Ground Alliance to “dig in” (but call first!!), get involved and get a volunteer member involved in your local Common Ground Alliance. Attending the WEI Conference in California recently made me see clearly that the utility organizations do value our opinion and we have much to learn and benefit from working together as we collectively strive for a better, safer industry. The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (www.canadiancga.com) is the voice of Canada's Regional Partner Common Ground Alliances. Their mission: "Through shared responsibility among all stakeholders, the CCGA works to reduce damages to underground infrastructure - ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices."

For more information on the Canadian Common Ground Alliance and to find a chapter in your province, visit the website, or contact Brian Ramor [email protected], Mike Sullivan, Chair for the Canadian Common Ground Alliance at [email protected] or Liz Klose, Landscape Priorities Manager, at [email protected].

Brian Ramor, of Think Green Landscaping, is a member of BCLNA, Landscape Canada Committee and BC Common Ground Alliance, and newly appointed Canadian Common Ground Alliance CNLA Liaison. Brian represented the landscape sector at a recent Western Energy Institute Conference in California.

Focus on: Safety

The Underground World: What Lies BeneathBy Brian Ramor, CLT, Think Green Landscaping

Underground Safety Presentations at Demo Day

Friday, September 30 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tradex Convention & Exhibition Centre, Abbotsford

BC 1 Call will be doing a special presentation, 'Safe Excavation Practices 101' during the Outdoor Equipment Demo day at 11:30 a.m. Fortis and Spectra Energy will do a presentation in the afternoon about natural gas and underground safety.

CanWest's Equipment Demo Day is a new, post-show, outdoor event that will take delegates out of the city and into the country. The massive outdoor field at Tradex is the perfect location to showcase the latest outdoor power equipment for landscapers, growers and garden retailers.


Final Approval

The BCLNA welcomes the following new members as of the July 18, 2011, board meeting:

Split Rock Sekw’el’was Native Plant Nursery, Kim North, Lillooet, Active Grower

Terra Tea Solutions Inc., Brooke Godin, White Rock, Associate (Interim)

Tree Leaders Nurseries, Chris Behiels, Kelowna, Active Grower

The BCLNA welcomes the following new members as of the August 15, 2011, board meeting:Coastal Grounds Maintenance Ltd., Mark & Michelle Handfield, North Vancouver, Active Landscaper

The Flower Spot, Scott Jeppesen, Vernon, Active Retailer

Hillcrest Farm Market Inc., Chanchal Bal, Kelowna, Active Grower (Interim)

Integral Design Ltd., Chad Plater & Bob Ingram, Victoria, Active Landscaper

Tentative Approval

The following companies will become BCLNA members at the next board meeting unless a member provides a valid reason for not accepting the application:

Lemar Tree Spades, Les Poffenroth, Airdre, Out of Province


marketplace

NEW BCLNA

members

CROFTOGrower Services

U

JVK–Western Officeo/a Crofton Grower Services8168 River Way • Delta, BC

Ph: 1-800-498-7403 or 604-946-5641 Fx: [email protected] • www.crofton.ca • www.jvk.net

• A Wide Variety of Hardgoods Round & Square Pots, Plug Trays, Nursery Containers and More...

• Annuals and Perennials Rooted and Unrooted

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Call us for all yournative and ornamental

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Tel: 604-533-8281Fax: 604-533-8246

1-888-327-7705email: [email protected]

3666 - 224th Street, Langley, BC V2Z 2G7 Canada

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For Sale Established tree nursery for sale located in Nipawin, SK. Includes all tree inventory and nursery equipment. Contact Morwenna Sutter - Lane Realty Corp. (306) 327-7129.

For HireFossil Project Services is a leading landscape construction company that has built some of Vancouver’s most spectacular and challenging outdoor spaces. We are currently seeking enthusiastic and conscientious individuals with the right skills to join our team in the role of TEAM LEADER.

This is an intermediate leadership position, responsible for leadership and hands on completion of construction work, driving progress on site, and contributing to the success of the project.

Join our team and work on Vancouver’s most spectacular and challenging outdoor spaces. View a complete Job Description at www.fossilprojectservices.comApply to [email protected] with an up to date resume and cover letter.

For HireEngage Agro Corporation is a leader in the supply of crop protection products for specialty crops markets in Canada. Our business model focuses on the development, registration, and marketing of crop protection products for niche markets. We are now growing our business into the Golf, Sod Protection, Greenhouse, and Nursery markets, and are in need of a TECHNICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE to create demand at the end-user level and with our retail partners.

In the role of Technical Sales Representative, you will be the credible source of information to your customers. You will develop and execute sales plans working with the Business Unit Managers to convey technical information and create demand for the company's product line.

Our ideal candidate will enjoy the sales process and have a strong background in the turf, greenhouse, or nursery markets in Canada. We offer competative salary, bonus potential, benefits package, and car allowance. For more information contact us directly: [email protected]

classified

Call 1-888-2BRANDT for a demo or visit www.brandttractor.com for more information on our products and financing options.

For 75 years Brandt has proven we understand your business by providing the most versatile

landscaping equipment available today – like the 318D and 320D-Series Skid Steers. Maneuver

into tight spots with 100% more front glass, 50% larger top window, and lower side windows for

best-in-class visibility. The two-speed transmission provides both the torque for heavy lifting, and

speed for faster low-load maneuvering. And, with easy-switching Worksite ProTM Attachments you

can make quick work of all your multi-season projects. With 21 locations across Western Canada,

and Brandt’s uncompromising commitment to after-sales support, you’ll have a machine as

reliable as the company that sold it to you.

Powerful Value. Delivered.

Improving thelandscape.

BRATR-0100C_Land_Tire_Skid_Steer_8.5x11.indd 1 11-03-11 3:19 PM

hortwest 2011-09

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