As we reflect on another transformative year for Landscape Ontario, it is with great pride and optimism that I share with you our accomplishments over this past fiscal year. This year has been marked by significant achievements and growth within our industry, all while navigating the evolving challenges that impact our trade.

 

At Landscape Ontario, our mission has always been to foster a vibrant, sustainable and innovative landscape horticulture sector in Ontario. Throughout this time, our dedicated volunteers, members and staff have continued to uphold this mission, exemplifying resilience, creativity and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.

 

This report highlights the collective efforts and milestones we have achieved together. From groundbreaking initiatives and successful advocacy efforts to the expansion of our training programs and community outreach, it is clear that our association remains at the forefront of advancing landscape horticulture excellence.

 

As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to supporting our members, advancing professional standards and promoting the benefits of horticulture in enriching our lives and communities. Together, we will continue to grow, innovate and lead the way in the horticultural industry.

 

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to our shared goals.

 

Government Relations

 

Snow and ice management liability reform

Landscape Ontario’s Snow & Ice Management Sector Group continued to push for legislative reform to balance the level of liability between the contractor and the property owner/manager. Meetings continued with several provincial government ministries, including the Premier’s Office, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, and the Ministry of the Attorney General. 

 

While pushing for legislative reform, Landscape Ontario’s Snow & Ice Management Sector Group continued to work on the training and accreditation program that snow and ice management contractors will be asked to participate in. 

 

If our lobby effort is successful, we will see a fair and equitable relationship between snow and ice management contractors and property owners/managers. We will see all snow operators engage in training and accreditation as a way to demonstrate to all that this is an upstanding professional sector.

 

Pushing for regulatory change: Cosmetic Use Pesticide Ban

Landscape Ontario’s Turf Management Sector Group has been working with the Premier’s Office and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for regulatory change to the Cosmetic Use Pesticide Ban. If passed, the regulatory change would allow anyone who is licensed and accredited through the Integrated Pest Management Council of Canada to apply pest control products currently under ban in Ontario. The ban would remain in place for all who are not licensed and accredited. 

 

City of Toronto studying ban on two-stroke engines

Landscape Ontario has been front and centre working with City of Toronto council and staff as an industry advisor as they study what a potential ban on two-stroke engines might look like. Earlier last year, the City of Toronto published a staff report on what a proposed two-stroke engine ban might look like. Through Landscape Ontario’s government relations committee, we took the position that a zero emissions future for outdoor power equipment is achievable through a longer-term phased approach working in collaboration with municipal partners across the province. Landscape Ontario does not believe that a ban will achieve what the City of Toronto is striving for with their zero emissions by 2040 goal. We will continue to lead and support the discussion on battery powered outdoor equipment with the City of Toronto and other municipalities across Ontario, supporting the needs and interests of our members.

 

Communities in Bloom Ontario

On June 1, 2024 Landscape Ontario officially took over operations of Communities in Bloom Ontario. Now a committee of Landscape Ontario, Communities in Bloom Ontario is committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community participation and the challenge of friendly competition. Communities participate with others in their population category within their province. Provincial judges evaluate the communities on the six program criteria and award a bloom rating from one to five blooms (five being the highest ranking) at a provincial awards ceremony in the fall, where communities receive a certificate with their bloom rating.

 

In August 2024, Landscape Ontario staff represented Communities in Bloom Ontario at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual conference in Ottawa. We met many mayors, council members and Members of Provincial Parliament and were able to spread the great message of Communities in Bloom Ontario. 

 

Through acquiring Communities in Bloom Ontario, Landscape Ontario is deepening our connection with the hundreds of municipalities across Ontario. 

 

Canada Summer Jobs Grant

Landscape Ontario was successful in our Canada Summer Jobs Grant application this year and was able to bring on three eager and passionate students. In April 2024, we worked with Milton MP Adam Van Koeverden to host a job fair for job seekers and employers through the Summer Jobs Grant. Well, we hosted over 1,200 job seekers that day. Young people, indeed, do want to work!

 

Membership

Landscape Ontario’s members are the lifeblood of this organization. As a member driven organization, we depend on our members to guide and inform the strategic direction of Landscape Ontario. We know the economic times are difficult for many of our members. We hear the challenges in our discussions with business owners and we are seeing the reflection of those difficult times in our membership numbers. With larger drop off numbers than what is typically expected, we are witnessing the impact of those tough economic times.

 

Landscape Ontario’s membership committee has a strong action plan that will take a serious look at our recruitment and retention strategies. We believe that we are stronger together as a community and that working together is always the best way to get things done. We are confident that as the economy starts to improve, so will the demand for landscape and gardening services which, in turn, will see many of our members’ businesses thrive once again. 

 

Landscape Ontario remains committed to supporting all businesses in the landscape horticulture trades in Ontario. 

 

This past February, we began the work to implement our new Association Management System - a Salesforce based platform that will streamline the experience for our members. You will see a new process to renew your membership, a new event registration process, and all of your information in one place where you can keep it up to date. 

 

Green Trade Expo

Landscape Ontario’s Ottawa Chapter has brought back the Green Trade Expo to the EY Centre. An incredibly successful trade show was hosted mid February 2024 with nearly 1,500 people over the span of two days. This was the first time the Green Trade Expo has been planned by the staff team at Landscape Ontario in Milton with strategic direction and guidance from the Ottawa Chapter Green Trade Expo planning committee. 

 

Touch-a-Truck expands province-wide

This summer on July 20, 2024 five of Landscape Ontario’s chapters hosted Touch-a-Truck events. Volunteers from these chapters made it all possible. These one-day interactive events offered local families a chance to get up close and personal with different types of industry vehicles and equipment, plus a chance to explore and learn about the many benefits of landscaping and the various career opportunities available.

 

My son Matthew joined me that day as we visited the events in London, Kitchener and Burlington before we went and celebrated his eighth birthday with his friends. 

 

Chapter golf tournament tour

Landscape Ontario president, Ed Hansen, and I toured six of nine chapter golf tournaments this summer, meeting nearly 1,000 people on the courses. We sponsored a hole at each of the chapter golf tournaments and hosted a fun game where if you teed off with my eight year old son’s junior driver, you would receive a limited edition Landscape Ontario hat. Together, Ed and I handed out just over 700 hats this summer. 

 

We had a great time connecting with members and those new to Landscape Ontario. We also learned a great deal. We learned about some of the challenges that the industry is facing and we learned that even though not everyone loves to golf, people most certainly love spending the day with their teammates. 

 

Ed and I can’t wait to do this again next summer with those three chapters we weren’t able to get to.

 

Growers tour returned

After quite some time, the Growers Tour made its return this summer. With nearly 80 people on the tour, we explored Brookdale Treeland Nurseries, Sheridan Nurseries and Connon Nurseries. It was an excellent day connecting with nursery professionals and learning about the operations of our valued members. 

 

Workforce Development

In April 2024, the Ontario government announced a $4.4 million investment in the landscape horticulture trades. Landscape Ontario was the recipient of that significant investment, allowing us to recruit and train individuals to get them employed with you, our members. 

 

Landscape Ontario’s GROW Program, now in its fourth year, is fully funded through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development - through the Skills Development Fund. We are tremendously grateful and fortunate for the funding and the opportunity to drive engagement with Ontarians to bring passionate people into the landscape horticulture trades. 

 

Congress Trade Show & Conference

Landscape Ontario’s Congress Trade Show & Conference continues to be the premier landscape horticulture event in Canada and a close second in North America to the Equip Expo hosted in Louisville, KY. This January, we saw nearly 13,000 professionals experience and explore the trade show floor, connecting with their peers, building their network, learning about best practices, seeing what’s new, and purchasing what they need for a successful season ahead. 

 

New website and refreshed brand

In addition to many technology upgrades this year, Landscape Ontario is building a new website that is expected to launch early in 2025. Our new website will consolidate horttrades.com (our trades website) and landscapeontario.com (our public website). 

 

To coincide with the new website, we have been working to refresh Landscape Ontario’s brand. The subtle refresh to our logo pays respect to our history and brings modern design to our world class organization. To accompany this brand refresh is a complete set of new brand guidelines. Stay tuned for their release to our community in the new year. 

 

Operations and staff

Landscape Ontario continues to be a well-run and managed not for profit trade association. With an annual operating budget of $5.9 million this fiscal year, we concluded with a healthy surplus once again. 

 

This year, we introduced a new association management system (Salesforce), a new email marketing platform (Hubspot) and a new project management platform (Monday.com). By integrating best in class software solutions, we are streamlining and automating processes to create more capacity for our high performing teams. 

 

Landscape Ontario now has over 40 professional staff (some of which are funded through our successful grant programs) who make sure the heart of Landscape Ontario continues to beat. 

 

I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff. Their hard work, dedication and passion are the driving force behind our success. It is their commitment that enables us to achieve our goals and continue to grow as an organization.

In closing

As we close the chapter on the 2023-2024 fiscal year, we stand on the shoulders of the collective achievements and hard work of our volunteers, members and staff. This year has been a testament to our community’s resilience and innovative spirit. Together, we have navigated challenges, embraced opportunities and strengthened our commitment to excellence in landscape horticulture.

 

The progress and achievements outlined in my report reflects our unwavering dedication to advancing the landscape horticulture trades, promoting sustainability and enriching our communities through green spaces. Our collective efforts have not only driven significant industry advancements but have also solidified Landscape Ontario's role as a leader and advocate for the landscape horticulture trades.

 

Looking ahead, we are excited about the future possibilities and the continued growth of our association. We remain steadfast in our mission to support our members, foster professional development and champion the value of horticulture in enhancing quality of life.

 

Thank you to all our volunteers, members, supporters and staff team for your contributions and dedication. Together, we will continue to cultivate a thriving and sustainable landscape horticulture industry.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Joe Salemi, CAE
Executive Director

Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association