September 10, 2024
Touch-A-Truck events help to support local communities
Volunteers from various Landscape Ontario Chapters and Women in Landscaping teamed up to hold five Touch-A-Truck events in communities across Ontario on July 20.
These one-day interactive events offered local residents 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.
Landscape Ontario would like to thank the members who displayed equipment, those who volunteered to organize and run the events, and the many sponsors who contributed to make the events possible.
Visitors were asked to bring non-perishable food items to support the Burlington Food Bank, and in all, 33 pounds of food and $263 in individual donations were received. The chapter also donated $1,000.
A special kids zone area sponsored by Bobcat of Toronto/Oaken Equipment and Paradigm Fleet Services offered face painting, balloon artists, chalk stations and more.
Landscape Ontario would like to thank the many members who participated and supported the event, including: Jim Edmonds, Scott Laporte, Jacob Wallace and Chris Church.
Chapter board member Scott Laporte from Unique Landscape Services said, “The community support was outstanding, with fantastic participation from both vendors and attendees. It was heartwarming to see so many young minds captivated by the event, and we hope this experience inspires them to pursue careers in our exciting landscape industry. Let's not forget, the trades are not only essential, but also fun and rewarding!”
Chapter president Jim Edmonds said, "We are thrilled at the turnout and excitement that was created for our inaugural Touch-A-Truck event. The response we had from our vendors was overwhelming and we are so proud of our industry professionals that work so hard but were more than willing to volunteer their time on a Saturday to give back to the community we all serve. This is an event that a couple other chapters have run in their local areas so when I heard how much fun it was, I was glad to spearhead it for our chapter as well. The look on the kids' faces as they honk horns and climb onto some of our industry equipment is really priceless. Being a father myself, I'm proud of what we were able to put together for an event like this that made so many kids and parents happy. Thank you to all those who made it happen and we look forward to making it an annual event with bigger and better features that will definitely bring more smiles every year.”
Krista Kay from the Burlington Food Bank remarked, “The donations collected will feed approximately one household. Financially, the donations really help to purchase food from our suppliers which is great! It was a great equipment turnout and a beautiful summer morning for an event!”
Exhibitors:
Bobcat of Toronto/Oaken Equipment
Burlington City Fire Department
Burlington Food Bank
Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited
Double D Crane Service Inc.
Galer Farm Equipment Limit
Greenworks Commercial Canada
Lightning Equipment Sales Inc
McFarlan Tree Care Inc.
Paradigm Leasing
The Gardener Landscaping
Unique Landscape Services
Verwey Automotive
WPE Landscape Equipment
The Forest City Community Church in London, Ont., was transformed into a hive of activity that introduced the community to the profession on July 20.
Over 25 companies represented the profession, plus a number of industry organizations, including the International Society of Arboriculture Ontario and Build A Dream.
Organziers would like to thank the many volunteers from Women in Landscaping and the London Chapter, including: Grand River Brick & Stone, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Blue Jay Irrigation, and Stone Paradise.
WIL co-founder Carla Bailey said, “We continue to be amazed at how much our profession gives back on days like Touch-A-Truck and WIL/LOLC continues to push for these events throughout the province.”
Landscape Ontario would like to recognize the following individuals and companies who made this event possible: Thomas Hoyle, Life Long Landscapes; Griffin Kozij, Kozy Landscapes; Ed Hansen, EXT.TECH; Joan Johnston, Peter Knippel Nursery; Jen Sib, Maçonnerie Dépôt; Jenna Kelly, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Amanda Carrigan, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Caroline Agnew, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Shane Saunders, JR Lawn and Snow; Plant Products (Presenting Sponsor); Bernwood Contractors, Central Precast, Cohen and Cohen Natural Stone, Crepin Landscape Depot, EXT.TECH, Hansen Lawn and Gardens, Itag Promotions, Life Long Landscaping, Thunderbolt Contracting, Greenlife Garden Care and Landscaping; Wild Ridge Landscapes, Ottawa Artificial Grass (Kids Zone Sponsors).
Exhibitors said it was an excellent opportunity to meet the local community and give back and that they are looking forward to the event again next year.
Exhibitors
Exel Contracting
Horticare
Terrapro
Hansen Lawn and Gardens
Postcard Perfect
Wildridge
Davey Tree
Surgenor GM Ottawa
Thunderbolt Landscaping
Manotick Tree Movers
Crepin Landscape Depot
Clintar
Featuring live demos, food trucks and fun for kids, the event also featured a Stuff-A-Truck campaign that collected 185 pounds of food and over $125 in donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. The collection was enough to provide 407 meals to those in need.
Landscape Ontario would like to recognize: Blake Sicard, Missy Tester, Anne-Lise Watson-Baxter, and Trevor Garner for their volunteer efforts with the event as well as the following companies: Coleman Equipment (Presenting Sponsor), Faith FM, United Rentals, Cooper Equipment Rentals (Supporting Sponsors), Stone Place, Banas Stones (Kids Zone Sponsors).
Exhibitors
Clean'N Seal
Coleman Equipment
Conestoga Contracting Group Inc.
Creative Landscape Depot
Green Horizons Group of Farms
Helmutz Landscape
Kerr and Kerr Landscaping and Property Maintenance
Landscape Plus
RS Landscape and Construction
Your Salt Connection
Chris Lamer (far left) and Lisa Smith (second from right) from Landscape Ontario’s Upper Canada Chapter present the proceeds of the Touch-A-Truck event to CDC Quinte’s Rachelle Baldock and Ruth Ingersoll (far right).
Upper Canada Chapter members presented the Community Development Council of Quinte (CDC) with a donation of $9,500 following the Touch-A-Truck event held at Connon Nurseries in Trenton, Ont., on July 20.
Supporting sponsors, Sprouts Premium Earth Products, Dibbits Landscape Supply, VanSoelen Landscaping, and Schoonhoven Landscape & Industrial Services each donated over $1,000 to CDC — whose goal is to improve access to community food while also using food to unite and build community.
About 1,000 to 1,500 people attended the event that included a Stuff-A-Truck campaign that collected non-perishable food items, baby items and individual donations to CDC.
The event included a horticultural planting area and educational component to complement the 19 various pieces of equipment on display from 10 companies.
Volunteer organizers Lisa Smith, Stephen Poole, Karina Lapierre, Chris Lamer and some of the Connon Nurseries team are extremely happy with the event and are already looking forward to having the event again next year.
Exhibitors
Connons Nursery
Lammer Landscaping & Snowplowing Ltd
Lavish Gardens
Pembuilt Machinery
Petit Landscaping
Picture Perfect Landscaping
Sprouts Premium Earth Products
Wentworth Landscape
Willowlee Sod Farms
Measurements Canada
View photos and videos of the Touch-A-Truck events at gfl.me/hbLv.
PHOTO GALLERIES
These one-day interactive events offered local residents 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.
Landscape Ontario would like to thank the members who displayed equipment, those who volunteered to organize and run the events, and the many sponsors who contributed to make the events possible.
Golden Horseshoe Chapter
About 30 pieces of machinery varying from small equipment to large dump trucks, trains, cranes and trailers were on hand at the Golden Horseshoe Chapter Touch-A-Truck event at St. Paul The Apostle Parish in Burlington, Ont.Visitors were asked to bring non-perishable food items to support the Burlington Food Bank, and in all, 33 pounds of food and $263 in individual donations were received. The chapter also donated $1,000.
A special kids zone area sponsored by Bobcat of Toronto/Oaken Equipment and Paradigm Fleet Services offered face painting, balloon artists, chalk stations and more.
Landscape Ontario would like to thank the many members who participated and supported the event, including: Jim Edmonds, Scott Laporte, Jacob Wallace and Chris Church.
Chapter board member Scott Laporte from Unique Landscape Services said, “The community support was outstanding, with fantastic participation from both vendors and attendees. It was heartwarming to see so many young minds captivated by the event, and we hope this experience inspires them to pursue careers in our exciting landscape industry. Let's not forget, the trades are not only essential, but also fun and rewarding!”
Chapter president Jim Edmonds said, "We are thrilled at the turnout and excitement that was created for our inaugural Touch-A-Truck event. The response we had from our vendors was overwhelming and we are so proud of our industry professionals that work so hard but were more than willing to volunteer their time on a Saturday to give back to the community we all serve. This is an event that a couple other chapters have run in their local areas so when I heard how much fun it was, I was glad to spearhead it for our chapter as well. The look on the kids' faces as they honk horns and climb onto some of our industry equipment is really priceless. Being a father myself, I'm proud of what we were able to put together for an event like this that made so many kids and parents happy. Thank you to all those who made it happen and we look forward to making it an annual event with bigger and better features that will definitely bring more smiles every year.”
Krista Kay from the Burlington Food Bank remarked, “The donations collected will feed approximately one household. Financially, the donations really help to purchase food from our suppliers which is great! It was a great equipment turnout and a beautiful summer morning for an event!”
Exhibitors:
Bobcat of Toronto/Oaken Equipment
Burlington City Fire Department
Burlington Food Bank
Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited
Double D Crane Service Inc.
Galer Farm Equipment Limit
Greenworks Commercial Canada
Lightning Equipment Sales Inc
McFarlan Tree Care Inc.
Paradigm Leasing
The Gardener Landscaping
Unique Landscape Services
Verwey Automotive
WPE Landscape Equipment
London Chapter
Over 4,500 people attended the London Touch-A-Truck event held by Women in Landscaping (WIL) with support from Landscape Ontario’s London Chapter (LOLC).The Forest City Community Church in London, Ont., was transformed into a hive of activity that introduced the community to the profession on July 20.
Over 25 companies represented the profession, plus a number of industry organizations, including the International Society of Arboriculture Ontario and Build A Dream.
Organziers would like to thank the many volunteers from Women in Landscaping and the London Chapter, including: Grand River Brick & Stone, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Blue Jay Irrigation, and Stone Paradise.
WIL co-founder Carla Bailey said, “We continue to be amazed at how much our profession gives back on days like Touch-A-Truck and WIL/LOLC continues to push for these events throughout the province.”
Ottawa Chapter
Approximately 400 people attended Ottawa Chapter’s Touch-A-Truck event at the Nepean Sportsplex in Nepean, Ont., where about 25 machines and trucks were on hand. The event also featured a planting station, sandbox, sidewalk chalk drawing and an artificial turf wall with a cutout for face pictures.Landscape Ontario would like to recognize the following individuals and companies who made this event possible: Thomas Hoyle, Life Long Landscapes; Griffin Kozij, Kozy Landscapes; Ed Hansen, EXT.TECH; Joan Johnston, Peter Knippel Nursery; Jen Sib, Maçonnerie Dépôt; Jenna Kelly, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Amanda Carrigan, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Caroline Agnew, Hansen Lawn and Gardens; Shane Saunders, JR Lawn and Snow; Plant Products (Presenting Sponsor); Bernwood Contractors, Central Precast, Cohen and Cohen Natural Stone, Crepin Landscape Depot, EXT.TECH, Hansen Lawn and Gardens, Itag Promotions, Life Long Landscaping, Thunderbolt Contracting, Greenlife Garden Care and Landscaping; Wild Ridge Landscapes, Ottawa Artificial Grass (Kids Zone Sponsors).
Exhibitors said it was an excellent opportunity to meet the local community and give back and that they are looking forward to the event again next year.
Exhibitors
Exel Contracting
Horticare
Terrapro
Hansen Lawn and Gardens
Postcard Perfect
Wildridge
Davey Tree
Surgenor GM Ottawa
Thunderbolt Landscaping
Manotick Tree Movers
Crepin Landscape Depot
Clintar
Waterloo Chapter
The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium hosted Waterloo Chapter’s Touch-A-Truck event that saw nearly 1,500 people show up to see the 30 pieces of equipment on display from nine LO member companies.Featuring live demos, food trucks and fun for kids, the event also featured a Stuff-A-Truck campaign that collected 185 pounds of food and over $125 in donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. The collection was enough to provide 407 meals to those in need.
Landscape Ontario would like to recognize: Blake Sicard, Missy Tester, Anne-Lise Watson-Baxter, and Trevor Garner for their volunteer efforts with the event as well as the following companies: Coleman Equipment (Presenting Sponsor), Faith FM, United Rentals, Cooper Equipment Rentals (Supporting Sponsors), Stone Place, Banas Stones (Kids Zone Sponsors).
Exhibitors
Clean'N Seal
Coleman Equipment
Conestoga Contracting Group Inc.
Creative Landscape Depot
Green Horizons Group of Farms
Helmutz Landscape
Kerr and Kerr Landscaping and Property Maintenance
Landscape Plus
RS Landscape and Construction
Your Salt Connection
Upper Canada Chapter
Chris Lamer (far left) and Lisa Smith (second from right) from Landscape Ontario’s Upper Canada Chapter present the proceeds of the Touch-A-Truck event to CDC Quinte’s Rachelle Baldock and Ruth Ingersoll (far right).
Upper Canada Chapter members presented the Community Development Council of Quinte (CDC) with a donation of $9,500 following the Touch-A-Truck event held at Connon Nurseries in Trenton, Ont., on July 20.
Supporting sponsors, Sprouts Premium Earth Products, Dibbits Landscape Supply, VanSoelen Landscaping, and Schoonhoven Landscape & Industrial Services each donated over $1,000 to CDC — whose goal is to improve access to community food while also using food to unite and build community.
About 1,000 to 1,500 people attended the event that included a Stuff-A-Truck campaign that collected non-perishable food items, baby items and individual donations to CDC.
The event included a horticultural planting area and educational component to complement the 19 various pieces of equipment on display from 10 companies.
Volunteer organizers Lisa Smith, Stephen Poole, Karina Lapierre, Chris Lamer and some of the Connon Nurseries team are extremely happy with the event and are already looking forward to having the event again next year.
Exhibitors
Connons Nursery
Lammer Landscaping & Snowplowing Ltd
Lavish Gardens
Pembuilt Machinery
Petit Landscaping
Picture Perfect Landscaping
Sprouts Premium Earth Products
Wentworth Landscape
Willowlee Sod Farms
Measurements Canada
View photos and videos of the Touch-A-Truck events at gfl.me/hbLv.
PHOTO GALLERIES