Landscape Ontario’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place Jan. 29, 2025, at the home office in Milton, Ont. Members were invited to attend in person or join online to review the activities of the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2024 and to hear about future initiatives. Below are some key highlights.

Leadership, finances and elections
Association president Ed Hansen recognized milestone members and the contributions of the Provincial Board of Directors. Members approved the agenda, last year’s minutes and key financials, including the 2023-2024 audited financial statements and the 2024-2025 proposed budget. The appointment of Smith, Chappell, Marsh, Vilander as auditors was also confirmed. Rohan Harrison and David Milne were elected for the two Member-at-Large positions on the board.

President’s report
Hansen presented his President’s Report, reflecting on the past year’s achievements and challenges. He highlighted the growth of industry engagement, the success of the Congress Trade Show and Conference, as well as ongoing advocacy efforts to support members.

Executive director’s report
Executive director Joe Salemi presented his report, providing updates on key achievements and future initiatives.

Advocacy and industry updates

• Snow and ice management reform: Pushing for fairer liability regulations.
• Pesticide ban advocacy: Working to allow licensed professionals more flexibility.
• Two-stroke engine ban: Engaging with the City of Toronto on practical emissions solutions.

Growing events and workforce development

• The return of the Green Trade Expo in Ottawa with 1,500 attendees.
• Touch-a-Truck expanding province wide, giving families hands-on industry experiences.
• A successful Congress Trade Show and Conference, with nearly 13,000 attendees.
• A $4.4 million workforce development investment to train and recruit new talent.

Salemi also highlighted Landscape Ontario’s new role overseeing Communities in Bloom Ontario, strengthening municipal partnerships.

Strategic plan presentation and future initiatives
Salemi also presented LO’s new strategic plan, outlining the organization’s direction and priorities until 2030.

Additional upcoming initiatives include:

• A state-of-the-industry report on battery-powered equipment for the City of Toronto, due in March.
• The launch of a new website this spring, integrating horttrades.com and landscapeontario.com.
• Plans for a new training facility, now in the design and approval phase.

These initiatives reflect LO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the industry, support members and drive innovation across Ontario’s landscape horticulture sector. All of the meeting materials, including full reports, are available on horttrades.com/2024-annual-report.