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Author: Kyla Hardon

Membership Interest Form

Membership Interest Form

About Us

Landscape Alberta (Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association) proudly serves members who operate businesses and organizations in the horticulture industry in Alberta. Please complete and submit the form below so that our Member Services team can with follow-up with you about the benefits of joining your industry association.
Contact Information(Required)
*Business type: (select from list, choose all that apply)(Required)

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Landscape Alberta

Part of the application process for Active membership (landscape contractors, growers, or garden centres) includes verification that your business holds appropriate insurance (liability and WCB), as well as 2 sponsors that can attest to your experience in the industry along with a few more details about the services and products your business provides. Our staff will be in touch very soon to discuss the next steps to make the member application process as easy as possible.
Consent

2024 Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers Auction Donation Form

Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers Auction Donation Form 2024

Name(Required)
Mail to Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers Group, 18051 107 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 1K3. Cheques payable to Landscape Alberta.
Drop-Off Donation
Pick-Up Donation
Please upload photo(s) of your donation(s) AND your company logo.
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 614 MB.

    DED found in Edmonton 2024

    In August of 2024, four trees in the Killarney and Yellowhead Corridor East neighbourhoods in the City Edmonton, were identified to be infected with Dutch elm disease (DED). Although it is not possible to determine how the disease arrived in Edmonton, DED is often brought to new regions through the transport of firewood or by importing infected elm trees. Three of the elm trees were city-owned, and one privately owned.

    Sarah McPike, Biological Sciences Technician with the City of Edmonton and a Director of the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) spotted the initial suspect DED infected tree while driving through the neighborhood.  This tree was completely dead tree with a 55 cm DBH. Sarah observed the tree had peeling bark, with galleries, and numerous larvae and adults of banded elm bark beetle present.

    Samples from this tree were submitted to the Alberta Plant Health Lab (APHL) also located in Edmonton. Since the tree sample was dry and dead no cultures were able to be recovered. Technically, the tree sample came back from the lab as negative for DED, but was strongly suspected that it actually died of DED infection. This tree is not included in the number of the 4 positive trees in Edmonton.

    After an intense surveillance in the area 3 city owned trees along 127 Ave were sampled and tested positive.  They ranged from 15 and 25 cm DBH. Two of them were about 150 m from the initial tree, equidistant east and west from that tree. The third was about 100 m further west.

    The fourth positive tree was found on private property 500 m to the northwest of the western-most positive tree on 128 Ave, and was about 35 cm DBH. A notice was sent to the property owner to remove and dispose of the infected tree. Removal was supervised by the City of Edmonton and CFIA staff.

    The initial tree, as well as all the trees that tested positive for DED have been removed and disposed off as per the Provincial DED Prevention and Control Measures.  Any elms within 20 meters of these elms were also removed as a precaution against the disease having spread by root graft.

    Surveillance and monitoring were intensified in the region of the positive trees.  There are approximately 50 or 60 city elm trees (all 15 - 25 cm DBH) between the positive trees. There are a total of approximately 175 elms on that 127 Ave boulevard. 30+ additional trees with wilt symptoms were submitted to the APHL and all came back negative. Trees with even minor symptoms have been placed on a watch list for continued surveillance.  Several trees with high levels of decline have been removed, even though they did not test positive.

    All of the city elms on 127 Ave have been injected with TreeAzin to help combat European elm scale, which all of those trees had present.

    It is important to note that all suspect DED elm trees, both public and private are the responsibility of the municipality to sample. Under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act (APA) “Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation (PNCR)” the DED pathogen is a named declared pest. All municipalities, counties and MDs in the province of Alberta have the responsibility and authority to prevent and control DED under the APA. The APHL accepts samples only from municipalities, counties, MD’s ad Special Areas, not from the home owner or private pruning companies.

    https://open.alberta.ca/publications/dutch-elm-disease-prevention-control-measures-responsibilities-authority-apa

    Since all Provincial and Federal DED requirements have been followed Alberta is still considered DED free at this point. The City of Edmonton will be doing extensive surveillance for DED and monitoring for the elm bark beetles in the following years.

    City of Calgary Water Crisis

    September 22, 2024

    Earlier this afternoon the City of Calgary announced all water restrictions are lifted and normal indoor and outdoor water use can resume.  This is approximately 1 week ahead of original schedule.  Thank you to City staff and contractors for your efforts throughout the water crisis.

    Hopefully we have a strong month of good weather remaining to get as much work done as possible.   The non-potable water stations will cease operation at 19:00 today.

    This signals the end of formal restrictions in 2024.  Landscape Alberta will now shift the focus of our interactions with the City of Calgary to recovery efforts and lessons learned that will be useful in updating the water-use bylaw in the coming months.

    We are also collecting ideas from industry on ways the City of Calgary can offer businesses impacted by the water crisis.  – https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yYHRJyMl-/  or email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com with your ideas to help ease the pain and/or help with recovery.

    September 12, 2024

    City of Calgary announced today that construction is ahead of schedule.  Repair will be complete by end of this weekend.  Water filling of the water main will begin on Monday, and take approximately 3 days while they also conduct water quality testing as they aim for full system restoration for September 21/22nd.
    This is approximately 1 week ahead of original schedule.  There might still be delays due to weather or other construction issues.
    In the meantime, The City is opening a 4th location at Graves Bridge for commercial access only. This site will open September 12th starting at 5AM. There will be no residential pick-up at this location .
    • Graves Bridge (Map Link)
    • Hours of Operation 5AM-7PM, 7 days a week
    We are also collecting ideas from industry on ways the City of Calgary can offer businesses impacted by the water crisis.  – https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yYHRJyMl-/  or email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com with your ideas to help ease the pain and/or help with recovery.

    September 3, 2024

    Calgary Water Crisis Update - Labour Day 

     Stage 4 water restrictions continue and as such no outdoor watering is permitted with potable water from a City of Calgary source.   

     Landscape Alberta’s advocacy around the free water pumping stations for commercial users appears to have been successful with an additional water pumping location added and additional stations and connection types at each location, which has resulted in little to no wait times.  This of course only serves a portion of the industry.   

    On September 3rd, the City of Calgary announced changes to pumping procedures that have resulted in additional daily capacity.  We’ve engaged with the City already to discuss the potential of movement to Stage 3 water restrictions given this news.  Ongoing, we continue to request financial support for impacted businesses and will work with the City in their review of the water use by-law to ensure equitable treatment for landscape / horticultural businesses in the updates. 

    August 28, 2024

    We are now two full days into the outdoor water restrictions.  It appears usage is still well above the target goal, and thus the lack of capacity to reopen the discussion about an exemption for landscape plantings and construction.
    The first two days for water pumping appears to be going well with the additional location, plus extra pumps at each location.  Wait times have been minimum.  With the majority of use being from landscape customers (100% on the first day).
    The City of Calgary has offered to set up an additional site at Douglasdale that would be open to smaller tanks (less than 5000gal) if wait times arise.  The setup for this new site will take more than a week for approvals, signage, staffing, etc.  We need to know from industry if this needed or not – email yycwater@landscape-alberta.com and comment whether or not you would use this station.
    We continue to advocate for relief for the landscape sector in Calgary, including relaxing of restrictions when possible and financial compensation to impacted companies.
    More info to follow.

    August 23, 2024

    Please see the below message from the City of Calgary regarding the implementation of Stage 4 Restrictions beginning at 12:01 am on August 26th.

    Landscape Alberta has been working very hard to find solutions to this devastating scenario for many in the Calgary landscape industry. This included requesting equitable treatment for business operations, including special allowances for watering for establishment periods and for construction. Given the current bylaw language, and the real fear of system collapse (including boil water orders between now and spring 2025) we have been working with the City in other ways.

    This includes expansion of the water pumping locations to include longer hours, more stations with more hookup sizes, and a priority for business use. Those waiting on CCC and FAC inspections may see more lenience in plant material quality.

    The City of Calgary has also committed to working with Landscape Alberta and it’s members on updates to the water usage bylaw in the near future. This will be an important phase that we can ensure more equitable treatment for our industry for the important work we do.   

    Please see yesterday’s email for a more detailed look at the ongoing efforts, and feel free to send suggestions, thoughts, rants, your story to yycwater@landscape-alberta.com so we can continue to advocate on your behalf. 

    ———

    As you may have heard in the media, The City is preparing to undertake urgent repairs of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main to maintain the health and stability of Calgary’s water system. To complete these repairs, we must once again take the Bearspaw South Feeder Main out of service. 

    Unfortunately, this means that starting on Monday August 26th at 12:01 am we need a temporary return to Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions. We will also be asking businesses and residents to limit their indoor water use like we did in June. This work is expected to be complete by the end of September. 

    About Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions  

    Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions prohibits all outdoor potable water use including:  

    • Watering lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, and shrubs using city water 
    • Washing down any outdoor surfaces, including exterior building surfaces, windows, sidewalks, driveways, or walkways of any sort (unless your business requires it for health and safety reasons) 
    • Filling outdoor decorative features, fountains, pools, or hot tubs  
    • Using potable water for construction purposes such as grading, compaction, or dust control.  

    Non-potable river water pick-up locations 

    During these Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, The City will be reopening non-potable river water pick up locations with designated hours to support businesses and residents.    

    Non-potable water will be available for collection from three sites beginning August 26th: 

    Hours of operation will be 5am to 7pm daily for commercial use, and 4pm to 7pm daily for residential use. 

    Indoor water use reductions 

    In addition to the Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, we are also asking residents and businesses to reduce their indoor water use by 25 per cent to ensure that we have enough water to meet essential needs until the repairs are complete.     

    About the upcoming repairs 

    After the initial June break and hot spot repairs were completed and the feeder main returned to service, we used a device called a PipeDiver to do an inspection of the entire length of the feeder main, which is 10.4 kilometres.  

    Our teams have been working alongside external experts to analyze the PipeDiver data. The data has revealed several new locations that need urgent repair. Some of these spots need to be repaired during this upcoming repair phase, while others will be addressed in our medium-to-long-term pipe rehabilitation plans.  

    While the repairs are being completed, the Bearspaw South Feeder Main will be offline. Without this feeder main, Calgary’s available supply of treated water is greatly diminished. We need to work together to ensure enough water remains available for everyone, as well as for critical uses like hospitals and firefighting. 

    Timing of the repairs 

    These new repair locations are places where we are concerned that the pipe is at risk of breaking in the near term. These repairs will maintain service until a comprehensive rehabilitation plan is implemented. 

    Timing was also influenced by the need to reduce reliance on the Glenmore Treatment Plant before winter water storage becomes critical in September. It’s important to understand that these repairs are planned, preventive, measures to maintain the pipe’s integrity until long-term solutions are finalized. 

    Please visit calgary.ca/watermainbreak for regular updates. You can also visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork for tips on how your business sector can conserve water. 

    August 22 – Update on City of Calgary Water Crisis

    It’s been a busy week as with rush towards August 26th.  The letter to the Mayor / Press release from last week has led to serious interaction with Council, City staff, the media, industry and the public.

    The Landscape Alberta working group continues to work towards meaningful solutions to the crisis for industry.  It has become clearer this week that the City lacks the ability to grant our request for exemption to Stage 3 for the landscape industry.  We’ve gathered data that suggest the landscape industry for new plantings and construction activity only would consume approximately 3.95 mega liters per day, or about 1% of the total restricted volume.  The current water use bylaw does not allow for exemption of one industry, as it only describes usage.  Combined with many other requests to the City, the cumulative total of potential exempt water use would put the system at real risk of failure.

    What we’ve heard back.

    1. Additional water stations with additional pumps will be added starting August 26th with a focus on contractor usage.
      • Sites include Baker Park, Odgen and now Bankside in Fish Creek.
      • Non-city stormwater ponds can be used for up to 6,250 cubic metres of water if provincial guidelines are met.
    2. The process for CCC and FAC cannot be granted a blanket exemption, but the City does offer to view sites based on the lack of water access this year as a mitigating factor in granting approvals.
    3. Air is unable to be used for testing irrigation systems due the inspection standards required.

    What we have asked for as additional support from the City of Calgary.

    1. Increased pumping locations and expanded hours of operation (5:00-22:00 daily)
    2. A permit system to allow for turf projects above 1000 sqft to be established. Would require registration/approval.
    3. Access to grant funds or tax rebates to assist companies in the additional costs of operations, including labour/equipment.
    4. Additional support for the water alternatives message and the importance of green infrastructure – we are the original environmentalists and not wasteful with water as some might have been led to believe.

    Landscape Alberta will continue to advocate on behalf of the entire landscape industry in a professional and productive manner.  We understand frustrations are sky high right now, but we also need to ensure a healthy relationship with City administration as we move into consultations on the water use bylaw and other policy.   The future decisions will have long reaching and lasting impacts on the industry, and we need to be sure a more favourable position for the landscape sector.  After August 26th, we will work with City officials to monitor the ongoing water usage to evaluate if the actual consumption changes such that our original requests might be revisited.

    What can you do?

    1. Please direct feedback to City of Calgary Staff to yycwater@landscape-alberta.com instead of directly to staff contacts.  We’ve had reports of unproductive, unprofessional language – which is frankly unacceptable.
    2. Write your councillor / Mayor and thank them for being responsive. Ask for additional support, including the items above.
    3. Plan for extra time, extra hours, and work that doesn’t involve water (if there is any of that left) or look to projects outside City limits.
    4. Find water totes to outfit your trucks and trailers with the ability to take advantage of water pumping and hauling options.
    5. Educate customers about alternative methods to assist with watering with non-potable water sources and the impacts they can have to keeping their landscape projects successful.
    6. Pray for enough rain for the plants, but not so much that any time is lost on work.

     

    Landscape Alberta is deeply concerned for the well-being of its Calgary based member companies and their employees’ livelihoods if they are unable to work through another round of stage 4 water restrictions.  The City of Calgary will essentially shut down an entire industry during one of the busiest points of the year, approximately 20% of all planting is done in September each year. 

    With immediate repairs required by the City of Calgary they have all but ended the landscape season for many in the area.   Nearly 50% of the 2024 landscape season will now be lost.  Most companies are reporting the need for widespread layoffs (40-60% of staff). 

    We are asking the Mayor Gondek, City Council, and staff to please find a solution that will keep us working to make Calgary a green place to live, work and play. 

    Landscape Alberta has requested the following main items: 

    1. The landscape industry be permitted to operate at Stage 3 rules regarding watering for establishment of new plants and for construction activities (i.e. pouring and cutting concrete)
    2. Remove all water restrictions ahead of shutdown to allow for increased watering schedules.
    3. Amend city inspection standards and practices to allow for projects to be completed this year. (thus, unlocking progress or completion payments that would otherwise be delayed 6 months)

    Resources

    Letter to Mayor Gondek

    Press Release – Calgary landscape industry is drowning

    Social Media Stories (Click to download or scroll to save images to your device)

    Call to Action one pager for print and display

    Change.org Petition https://chng.it/g552M9S4BQ Have your family, friends, staff, suppliers, customers sign this petition to show support for an industry on the verge of disaster.

     

    Message template: 

    Dear [Name], 

    My name is [Author Name], I work/own [XYZ Landscaping] in Calgary, AB.  We employee [123] people each year and as a small business collectively make up the heart of the Calgary economy.  This year has been very difficult with the ongoing water crisis.  News of a further ban on outdoor water use in September is devastating. 

    The inability to water new plantings for establishment or complete construction projects through September will have the following impacts on my company. 1) $ value or % of sales lost, 2) number of or % people to lay off 3) other impacts. 

    I encourage you to work with Landscape Alberta, the trade association for professional landscapers, to find a solution that will help save my business and the jobs of my peers and friends. 

    Sincerely,  

    [Author Name] 

    [Author Company] 

    What You Can Do

    City Contacts:

    Mayor Jyoti Gondek – themayor@calgary.ca 

    Ward 1 Sonya Sharp – sonya.sharp@calgary.ca 

    Ward 2 Jennifer Wyness – jennifer.wyness@calgary.ca 

    Ward 3 Jasmine Mian – jasmine.mian@calgary.ca 

    Ward 4 Sean Chu – sean.chu@calgary.ca 

    Ward 5 Raj Dhaliwal – raj.dhaliwal@calgary.ca 

    Ward 6 Richard Pootmans – richard.pootmans@calgary.ca 

    Ward 7 Terry Wong – terry.wong@calgary.ca 

    Ward 8 Courtney Walcott – courtney.walcott@calgary.ca 

    Ward 9 Gian-Carlo Carra – gian-carlo.carra@calgary.ca 

    Ward 10 Andre Chabot – andre.chabot@calgary.ca 

    Ward 11 Kourtney Penner – kourtney.penner@calgary.ca 

    Ward 12 Evan Spencer – evan.spencer@calgary.ca 

    Ward 13 Dan McLean – dan.mclean@calgary.ca 

    Ward 14 Peter Demong – peter.demong@calgary.ca 

    Six tips for photographing landscapes with your phone

    Six tips for photographing landscapes with your phone

    By Stuart Service, CNLA Media Coordinator

    The most challenging part of landscape photography is figuring out how to translate what we see into a picture. It happens to me all the time; I walk through the forest taking a whole mess of photos, and then when I check them out later think to myself, “these just don’t show enough of what I saw.”

    If you’re finding that photos of a client’s garden don't seem to show off the beauty of what you see, here are a few tips that might help troubleshoot through this dilemma. These are also the most common smartphone-photography hiccups I’ve come across when going through the collection of photos of the projects being considered for National Awards of Landscape Excellence.

    Make sure your phone’s camera is on its best settings

    A brand new cell phone out of the box is usually on its default, middle-of-the-road setting. This means the photos will be a size and quality that’s probably good enough to text to a friend. However, we’ve got award-winning ambitions, and a textable pic ain’t going to cut the mustard! We need to capture photos that are big and detailed enough to show off outstanding work to multiple judges. In the example above, I found the maxed-out settings of my phone when selecting the aspect ratio, 4:3 48MP (megapixels), resulting in photos with substantially better quality and a file size ten times bigger than the default settings. Every phone has its own technical personality to contend with, so what worked for me to max out the settings might not be the same for your phone. Go into your camera’s settings and make sure it’s set to the highest resolution available so that 100% of hardware is in use.

    Clean the lens

    If your pictures have similar, foggy lighting as above, there’s probably a fingerprint smudging up the lens. A quick wipe with your shirt is enough to remove fingerprints and grease. The fix to this problem doesn’t need to be fancy as smartphone camera lenses are built for wear and tear and are scratch resistant.

     

    Is it the right time for pictures?

           

    The picture on the left was taken midafternoon during a sunny day, creating dark shadows around much of the plant material. The picture on the right was taken during a cloudy day and, although the trees are still casting some shadows, the lighting is a lot more consistent throughout this landscape, improving visibility of all the plant material and hardscaping.

    The best time for photos is when the sun is just peaking over the horizon in the early morning or late afternoon, or anytime during cloudy overcast conditions. During those three moments, the daylight is diffused, softer, and less likely to create a harsh, contrasty look. Taking pictures in the afternoon might lead to disappointing results as the sun is exceptionally bright, creating too dramatic a lighting difference between the shaded and full sun areas of the garden. Another tip, especially when taking photos of gardens with lots of blooming plant material, is to take the photos in mid-July to early August when most plants are their most established.

    Compose the photo before taking it, and make minor crop adjustments to refine that composition

    Think of every photo as though it’s a grid of nine rectangles. Whatever you consider to be the neatest part of the landscape – and in the case of the above photo at Riverside Park in Guelph, ON, I chose that circular garden in the back – make sure that focal point is located a little to the left or a little to the right of the picture. That’s the only factor I was really paying attention to when taking the above photo, and everything else just seemed to fall right into place, with the pathways and trees leading the viewer’s eye across the photo. I cropped the photo a little bit more to align the interlock path with the bottom-third of the image because I’m fussy like that. Take lots of pictures – try the same photo in different ways. Crouch down, get low to the ground to try a different vantage point, turning the focal point this time to be the complex interlock or a nice collection of shrubs in the foreground. Then try another angle by getting up onto a stepladder or walking up a hill to get high enough to see more of the landscape in the picture.

    Don’t pinch your screen – zoom in with your feet!

    A cell phone camera doesn’t have that same zoom capability as certain DSLR lenses or broadcast video cameras. By pinching out on your screen to zoom in, the picture is being stretched. The above photo would look a whole lot better had I just walked 30 feet closer, instead of zooming in from where I stood, stretching out the pixels, and turning this otherwise decently composed photograph into something distractingly grainy.

    Tidy up the property

    Make sure the garden is looking its best by removing weeds and dead foliage from both the plants and the lawn. It's always a joy when an animal wanders into the frame while taking landscape photos though, so Muffin, my parents’ Havanese puppy, hopefully stays right where she is after I clean up the debris.

    A collection of quality landscape photos is the essential step to having spectacular work considered when applying to a provincial association’s annual awards program. No matter what kind of smartphone you have currently, the potential to take a nice landscape photo is less about hardware, than it is about being mindful of composition, lighting, and cleanliness of the area. With those factors in mind, and with a little bit of practice, you’ll be well on your way to putting the best foot forward when photographing your completed landscape projects.

     

    Original print Summer 2022, Green for Life magazine

    City of Calgary Water Disruption Updates

    August 23, 2024

    As you may have heard in the media, The City is preparing to undertake urgent repairs of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main to maintain the health and stability of Calgary’s water system. To complete these repairs, we must once again take the Bearspaw South Feeder Main out of service. 

    Unfortunately, this means that starting on Monday August 26th at 12:01 am we need a temporary return to Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions. We will also be asking businesses and residents to limit their indoor water use like we did in June. This work is expected to be complete by the end of September. 

    About Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions  

    Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions prohibits all outdoor potable water use including:  

    • Watering lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, and shrubs using city water 
    • Washing down any outdoor surfaces, including exterior building surfaces, windows, sidewalks, driveways, or walkways of any sort (unless your business requires it for health and safety reasons) 
    • Filling outdoor decorative features, fountains, pools, or hot tubs  
    • Using potable water for construction purposes such as grading, compaction, or dust control.  

    Non-potable river water pick-up locations 

    During these Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, The City will be reopening non-potable river water pick up locations with designated hours to support businesses and residents.    

    Non-potable water will be available for collection from three sites beginning August 26th: 

    Hours of operation will be 5am to 7pm daily for commercial use, and 4pm to 7pm daily for residential use.  

    Indoor water use reductions 

    In addition to the Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, we are also asking residents and businesses to reduce their indoor water use by 25 per cent to ensure that we have enough water to meet essential needs until the repairs are complete.     

    About the upcoming repairs 

    After the initial June break and hot spot repairs were completed and the feeder main returned to service, we used a device called a PipeDiver to do an inspection of the entire length of the feeder main, which is 10.4 kilometres.  

    Our teams have been working alongside external experts to analyze the PipeDiver data. The data has revealed several new locations that need urgent repair. Some of these spots need to be repaired during this upcoming repair phase, while others will be addressed in our medium-to-long-term pipe rehabilitation plans.  

    While the repairs are being completed, the Bearspaw South Feeder Main will be offline. Without this feeder main, Calgary’s available supply of treated water is greatly diminished. We need to work together to ensure enough water remains available for everyone, as well as for critical uses like hospitals and firefighting. 

    Timing of the repairs 

    These new repair locations are places where we are concerned that the pipe is at risk of breaking in the near term. These repairs will maintain service until a comprehensive rehabilitation plan is implemented. 

    Timing was also influenced by the need to reduce reliance on the Glenmore Treatment Plant before winter water storage becomes critical in September. It’s important to understand that these repairs are planned, preventive, measures to maintain the pipe’s integrity until long-term solutions are finalized. 

    Please visit calgary.ca/watermainbreak for regular updates. You can also visit calgary.ca/savewateratwork for tips on how your business sector can conserve water. 

    Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions for Business - PDF

    August 20, 2024

    It's Crunch Time!

    Landscape Alberta is deeply concerned for the well-being of its Calgary based member companies and their employees’ livelihoods if they are unable to work through another round of stage 4 water restrictions.  The City of Calgary will essentially shut down an entire industry during one of the busiest points of the year. 

    With immediate repairs required by the City of Calgary they have all but ended the landscape season for many in the area.   Nearly 50% of the 2024 landscape season will now be lost.  Most companies are reporting the need for widespread layoffs (40-60% of staff).

    Landscape Alberta has requested the following main items from the mayor and city council: 
    1. The landscape industry be permitted to operate at Stage 3 rules regarding watering for establishment of new plants and for construction activities (i.e. pouring and cutting concrete) (if an industry exemption isn’t permitted, find a outdoor watering schedule that works or reduce water in other areas).  Current data shows the landscape sector uses less than 1% of total daily water estimates.

    2. Remove all water restrictions ahead of shutdown to allow for increased watering schedules.

    3. Amend city inspection standards and practices to allow for projects to be completed this year. (thus, unlocking progress or completion payments that would otherwise be delayed 6 months)

    Unfortunately, the damage has already started. Layoffs have begun. Work has been cancelled. And the shut off hasn’t even happened yet. 

    Help us help the industry. Share, post and tag the city, mayor and councilors in your social media. Write or call your councilor EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Set a timer, call each day until they find a solution that let’s the landscape industry work.

     

    Have your family, friends, staff, suppliers, customers sign this petition to show support for an industry on the verge of disaster.  https://chng.it/g552M9S4BQ

     

    Tag @landscapeab / @cityofcalgary / @jyotigondek in your stories of how this pending water shutoff will impact your business, your people and your family.  These grassroot stories make a difference and we can share and amplify each others messages for greater impact.

    Templates and contact information at our website >> www.landscape-alberta.com.

     

    August 9, 2024

    As the city is preparing for a return to Stage 4 water restrictions, we want to remind you of our ongoing efforts and communication with the city on this issue. With that, we are resending the link to our Water Survey that was sent earlier in the season during the first round of water restrictions.

    Also, a quick reminder about the importance of keeping track of your losses, extra expenses, lost or postponed work, etc.  It could be crucially important in any future financial supports from government or in insurance claims or contract disputes.

    Please take 5-7 minutes to fill out the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/hWvQ0CSMpP

    Share the survey within your network. To help us prepare for an upcoming meeting with the city, we need your data to show how much this is negatively impacting our industry.

    For ongoing updates on this matter, please visit our Water Restrictions Update page on our website at https://www.landscape-alberta.com/city-of-calgary-water-disruption-updates/.

    August 7, 2024

    The City is preparing to undertake urgent repairs of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main later this month to maintain the health and stability of Calgary's water system.

    Although The City completed repairs to the five sections of the pipe that needed urgent repairs in June, recent analyses from acoustic monitoring and PipeDiver results of the full 11 kilometres of the pipe revealed several new locations that need urgent repairs. Some of these new locations are places we're concerned the pipe is at risk of breaking in the near term, so we need to act quickly with repairs and are making plans to begin within a few weeks. Others will be addressed in our medium- to long-term pipe rehabilitation plans.

    We anticipate this near-term work to begin August 26 and run through most of September (2-3 weeks). We are in the process of finalizing these dates and will share the exact timing when we have it

    Benefits of Immediate Action

    The timing of these repairs is very important to managing our water supply through the winter. Calgary is a big city on two small rivers. When the feeder main is out of service for repairs, we get most of our water from the Glenmore Reservoir (Elbow River). We need to act now so that we can be done the repairs in time for river flows to refill the Glenmore Reservoir so that there is enough water for later in the fall and winter when we draw on it heavily. We also need to minimize the risk of the feeder main breaking unexpectedly in winter when we would not be able to refill the reservoir because river flows are too low. This could put our water supply at risk within a matter of weeks.

    Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions and Indoor Water Conservation
    To address these new locations, we will need to stop flow through the feeder main again and will be relying very heavily on the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant for most of our water while the repairs are completed. During this time, we know that we will not be able to supply enough water to meet normal demand.

    Unfortunately, this means we need a temporary return to Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions on August 26 and asking Calgarians to limit their indoor water use like we had in June.

    Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions bans all outdoor water use including:

    • Watering lawns, gardens, flowers, trees, and shrubs using city water.
    • Washing down any outdoor surfaces, including exterior building surfaces, windows, sidewalks, driveways, or walkways of any sort unless your business requires it for health and safety reasons.
    • Filling outdoor decorative features, fountains, pools, or hot tubs.
    • Using water for construction purposes such as grading, compaction, or dust control.

    We will also be asking residents and businesses to reduce their indoor water use by 25 per cent to make sure that we have enough water to meet essential needs until the repairs are complete.

    To support businesses during these Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions, The City will be reopening non potable river water pick up locations with designated hours for businesses and residents.  We also anticipate a fire ban will be implemented to mitigate fire risk during a time of critical water supply.

    Until these repairs begin, Calgary remains in Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions. 

    How your business can prepare

    We want to give Calgarians as much notice as possible to plan for this work and associated restrictions. Your cooperation and understanding are crucial as we complete these critical repairs. We ask that you take the necessary steps to prepare for Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions and a 25% reduction of indoor water usage without compromising health and safety. You know your business best, but to help you out we have prepared some guidance for different sectors (Web Link) and highlighted some preparedness actions below:

    • Review staffing needs during repair timeframe
    • Look for opportunities to shift work to conduct activities that do not use NEW water supply during repair timeframe ( eg: winterization)
    • Accelerate and conduct maintenance checks in advance of Stage 4 or delay until after repairs.
    • Utilize watering times in Stage 1 and consider preparing to shut down irrigation systems for Fall/Winter
    • Make plans to access non-potable river water stations during repair timeframe

    Leading up to the repairs, we will be hosting regular livestreams at calgary.ca/live . You can also visit  Calgary.ca for the most up to date information. Thank you for your support and commitment to our community's well-being.

    The City is committed to keeping all businesses and facilities open with everyone doing their part.

    ----
    The City has offered to meet with Landscape Alberta and members to help clarify issues and to work together on ways to navigate this very difficult situation.  If you would like to attend this meeting please let us know.  If you have ideas on ways we can help your business through this please also send them along as we need the collective brain power on this problem.
    As the City states above we hope the advanced noticed does offer some room to pivot and plan, but understand this will come at a steep cost.

     

    July 23, 2024

    We are now in Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions
    Under Stage 1, outdoor watering with a sprinkler, hoses and in-ground irrigation system is now allowed up to two hours per week during set days/times. Always check your soil moisture first and use only the water that is needed. Below is a high-level summary of what is allowed and not allowed during Stage 1. Further details can be found at http://www.calgary.ca/restrictions, including exceptions for businesses for health and safety or for core business needs.
     
    What you need to know during Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions
    What outdoor watering is allowed?
    What outdoor watering is not allowed?
    Using a sprinkler or irrigation system is limited to 2 hours/week according to a specific schedule that is determined by your property’s address:
    • Addresses ending with an even number can water on Wednesday or Saturday.
    • Addresses ending with an odd number can water on Thursdays or Sunday.
    • Watering is limited to a maximum total of two hours from 4-7 a.m., 9-11 a.m. or 7-10 p.m.
    Multi-unit residential or business properties with more than one address are allowed to water on one even day per week (Wednesday or Saturday for two hours total) and one odd day per week (Thursday or Sunday for two hours total), regardless of the number of units or irrigation zones.
    Using handheld watering cans or hoses with automatic shut-off nozzles is allowed anytime.
    Watering new grass or seed is allowed anytime.
    Using water for construction purposes including dust suppression, compaction, concrete mixing and other construction-related activities, and maintenance activities for irrigation systems is allowed any day/time.
    Washing down outdoor surfaces, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways, unless for health and safety reasons (e.g.: to remove bodily fluids).  As an alternative, use a broom to clean hard surfaces.
    Washing your car on the driveway or street.
    Filling fountains or decorative features.
    More information
    It’s important that all Calgarians do their part, and we thank you for your co-operation during this situation. While The City strives to take an education-first approach, violations of these restrictions may lead to fines starting at $400.
    The City is monitoring Calgary’s water usage closely to determine what restrictions continue to be necessary. If you need more information, please visit calgary.ca/restrictions

    July 18, 2024

    City of Calgary Moves to Stage 2 water restrictions!

    Under Stage 2, outdoor watering with a sprinkler, soaker hoses and in-ground irrigation system is now allowed up to one hour per week during set days/times. Always check your soil moisture first and use only the water that is needed. Below is a high-level summary of what is allowed and not allowed during Stage 2. Further details can be found at Calgary.ca/restrictions , including exceptions for businesses for health and safety or for core business needs.

    What outdoor watering is allowed?
    What outdoor watering is not allowed?
    Sprinklers, soaker hoses, or in-ground sprinkler systems (including testing) can be used one day per week during the following schedule that is determined by address.
    • Addresses ending with an even number can water on Wednesday or Saturday.
    • Addresses ending with an odd number can water on Thursday or Sunday.
    • Watering is limited to a maximum total of one hour from 4 a.m.- 7 a.m.; or 9 a.m. -11 a.m.; or 7 p.m. -10 p.m.
    Using handheld watering cans or hoses with a trigger spray nozzle/watering wand or drip irrigation with an automatic shuf off is allowed any day/time.
    Truck mounted hoses and nozzles permitted for Bulk Water and HCU permit holders.
    Watering new grass or seed is allowed any day/time.
    Using water for construction purposes including dust suppression, compaction, concrete mixing and other construction-related activities, and maintenance activities for irrigation systems is allowed any day/time.
    Certified Water Managed Sites may water at any time of day, within the specified water use reductions.
    Washing down outdoor surfaces, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways, unless for health and safety reasons (e.g.: to remove bodily fluids)  As an alternative, use a broom to clean hard surfaces.
    Washing your car with water on the driveway or street.
    Filling fountains or decorative features.

    Stage 2 details can be found here (pdf).

    Although the outlook remains cautious the path appears to be pointing towards a move to Stage 1 by Monday.

    July 15, 2024

    The City of Calgary has provided a few updates today.  First, at 2pm they turned on an additional pump at Bearspaw, if this added pressure holds for the first 72 hours we could be looking at an easing of restrictions by Thursday, July 18th, and perhaps return to normal by next Monday.

    Second, they have now expanded the definition of construction to include maintenance and testing of irrigation systems (not regular usage though).  Please see memo linked below from the City outlining this position.  Please note the reporting of customer locations for daily work is not a suggestion endorsed by Landscape Alberta and we plan to advise the City against this action as too cumbersome.
    For the full update from today or to watch the recording please visit - https://www.calgary.ca/emergencies/critical-water-main-break-june-2024.html

    Final_Letter to CPCIA re Maintenance of irrigation systems

    July 10, 2024

    We have the following memo (linked below) update from City of Calgary regarding Stage 3 water restrictions.

    This does allow for watering of new sod, trees and shrubs (newly planted) and the continued watering using non-potable sources for other existing landscapes.  It also does open the door to limited irrigation system usage.

    Updates can be found here as well - https://www.calgary.ca/emergencies/critical-water-main-break-june-2024.html but the attached letter addresses specific concerns from our industry.

    The City has indicated that they are going to reviewing the current bylaw and will engage us in that the process, so we will have our chance to talk about the value of green infrastructure and hopefully arrive at a policy that allows the landscape industry to operate during drought situations moving forward.

    We have asked for a timeline on return to Stage 1 or 2 and they have indicated they can not provide it at this time.  We will of course continue to monitor and engage with the City.  If you have questions or comments please feel free to reach out.

    FINAL Letter to CPCIA and Landscape AB re allowable watering methods

    Update July 6, 2024

    The City took another big step in our recovery from the Bearspaw South water feeder main break moving Calgarians from Stage 4 water restrictions to Stage 3 and lifting the fire ban. With the progress made to this point, we have deactivated the Municipal Emergency Plan and ramped down the involvement of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency in this incident.
    Under stage 3 water restrictions, the following is / isn’t allowed under the Water Utility Bylaw 40M2006:
    ✅ Hand water (watering can) gardens, trees, shrubs
    ✅ Water for construction purposes
    ❌ Sprinklers
    ❌ Hoses watering
    ❌ Washing Outdoors (cars, windows, exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, etc)
    ❌ Filling residential outdoor pools or hot tubs
    ❌ Filling of fountains & decorative features
    ➡️ EXEMPTIONS
    ▪️ Public outdoor pools and spray parks will receive an exemption from Stage 3 restrictions and will re-open beginning today. We don’t have specific dates for when each feature or facility will re-open, but you can visit calgary.ca/sprayparks for real-time status of City wading pools and spray parks. This exemption is to acknowledge that local forecasts point to potentially dangerous heat and we want to create an environment for all Calgarians to be safe from the heat. All street sweeping will also resume Monday.
    ➡️ FIRE BAN
    ▪️The fire ban has been lifted. With the impacted pipe operating at 55% capacity while pressure is increased and the line is tested, the City of Calgary Fire Department is confident in the water supply needed for emergencies.
    Our daily updates are now completed. We will continue sharing developing news and important updates with Calgarians regularly. Please visit calgary.ca/16AveWaterMain for updated information. You can also sign up to receive City of Calgary Newsroom updates at newsroom.calgary.ca.

    Update July 3, 2024

    Indoor water restrictions are now lifted, we expect outdoor restriction to be lifted very soon.  Please check https://www.calgary.ca/emergencies/critical-water-main-break-june-2024/water-main-break-updates.html for the most recent news/updates.

    Also, a quick reminder about the importance of keeping track of your losses, extra expenses, lost or postponed work, etc.  It could be crucially important in any future financial supports from government or in insurance claims or contract disputes.

    Please take 5-7 minutes to fill this out. https://forms.office.com/r/hWvQ0CSMpP

    Update June 20, 2024

    The City of Calgary has entered the first phase of supplying Calgary’s construction industry with non-potable water so they can get back to work during this building season.

    They are working closely with local contractors to open two locations on the Bow River to provide non-potable water for construction work only. This water is not safe for drinking and not for the general public. It is intended temporarily for commercial construction and landscaping activities as a way to support this industry through our current Stage 4 water restrictions.

    Those eligible for accessing this non-potable water includes contractors working on capital projects for The City of Calgary and regional customers; contractors with active development agreements or permits; commercial landscaping companies; bulk water station users; and those with hydrant connection unit agreements.

    Location of sites

    Location: North Site: West Baker Park Boat Launch: 4320, Bow River Pathway
    Starting June 20, 2024
    Time 2 PM (when fully operational - from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

    Location: South Site: Ogden Boat Launch: 3303, Bow River Pathway
    Starting June 21, 2024
    Time TBC (when fully operational - from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

     

    Update from City of Calgary – June 19

    We’re (the city) working closely with Calgary's construction industry, to open two locations over the next few days on the Bow River to provide non-potable water for construction work.

    This water will be free of charge and will be the responsibility of the end user to ensure that water is appropriate for its intended application.

    More information is available below (link) with more details rolling out today.

    Calgary can now allow access to river water for businesses (msn.com)

    The City also announced they hope to have repair work completed by July 5, if all goes well.

    City of Calgary Extends Water Restrictions

    The recent news that that water restrictions are now extended an additional 3-5 weeks and the City of Calgary (and surrounding areas) are now in a state of emergency is devasting news for the landscape horticulture industry.

    Landscape Alberta is working on an advocacy campaign for industry to help limit the impact to small businesses and their employees.

    In order to fully understand the impact this is having on members we’ve created a short survey to help assess the economic impact of this prolonged ban on outdoor water use.  Please take 5-7 minutes to fill this out.  https://forms.office.com/r/hWvQ0CSMpP

    Landscape Alberta also has the following recommendations.

    • Find an alternate water for pumping / purchasing large quantity of water. Many members are retrofitting 1000-gallon water totes into their vehicles to modify their work practices.
    • Equip all vehicles, social media and websites with signage / messages that clearly state you are not using City water.
    • Equip every vehicle with records of water source / purchase records to ensure quick proof can be provided to any bylaw officials or customers.
    • Review force majeure clauses in contracts and any other ways to help mitigate losses.
    • Connect with your business insurance provider about potential claim on business interruption coverage. They will often want details regarding lost revenue and what you’ve done to limit losses.
    • Amend existing contracts to include warranty / watering services are null and void if Calgary (or municipality) enacts outdoor water restrictions/bans.

    Please review the clarifications on Stage 4 water restrictions.  Anything planted at final customer site is considered ‘sold’ and cannot be watered.

    Landscape Alberta will be engaging with the City of Calgary (and others) on potential solutions to current water shortage and inquiring on behalf of industry with both the municipalities and provincial government on financial support for impacted businesses and employees.

    To ensure you are up to date on all the work on this issue please sign up on this contact page: https://www.landscape-alberta.com/sign-up-for-city-of-calgary-water-disruption-updates/

    Calgary: Clarification on Stage 4 Water Restrictions

    We've been hearing from some members about ongoing concerns with the current water restrictions in place in Calgary.  Today we reached out to clarify the Stage 4 restrictions when it comes to plant materials.
    Please see the information below.  While this situation in unique in regards to the conditions under which stage 4 was implemented it is also eye opening to what future summers may look like.  There will be time once service is restored to engage the City with our input and suggestions.

    -----------------

    We are currently using the Outdoor Water Use Restrictions outlined in Schedule E of the Water Utility Bylaw which is our only tool to enforce water use reductions.

    All citizens and businesses, including car washes have been asked to reduce their indoor water use but these actions are voluntary.

    As you have referenced "Watering plants, shrubs and trees for commercial sale" is an activity that is allowed during Stage 4 restrictions. However, the adjacent column indicates that this applies to "Nurseries, garden centers, turf tree farms and market gardens and community gardens". Therefore, this is to be interpreted as trees/plants which are not yet planted in their final location can be watered with potable water provided by Calgary Water Services. If a tree/plants have been installed in its new home, it is considered sold. A financial transaction need not have taken place.

    Further, Schedule E indicates that "Watering of New Grass Plantings (sod or seed) with reasonable evidence of recent installation: sod within 21 days seed within 45 days" is allowed in Stages 1-3, but NOT during Stage 4. This is due to the severity of any situation leading to Stage 4 restrictions.

    All contractors requiring water to continue doing their jobs (eg. watering newly installed plants/trees) have been asked to source water outside of Calgary's water service area. Bulk stations in Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere and Strathmore receive Calgary's potable supply and SHOULD NOT be used. All other bulk stations in the region can be used to fill trucks.

    Non-potable water is another option for irrigating newly installed plants.
    ------------
    We hope this helps clarify the situation and provides some information in your communication with staff and customers.

    Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Found in Vancouver

    The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB - Agrilus planipennis) in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. These detections, which are outside of currently regulated areas for emerald ash borer in Canada, are the first detections of EAB larvae in BC.

    Emerald ash borer is a highly destructive insect that attacks and kills ash trees (Fraxinus sp.). It is a federally regulated pest in Canada. EAB is currently found in parts of six provinces and is spreading to new areas via the movement of firewood and ash material (such as logs, branches and wood chips). This pest poses no threat to human health.

    The CFIA has put movement restrictions in place to protect Canada's landscape and economy by preventing the spread of emerald ash borer to non-infested areas of Canada. Effective April 2024, the movement of all ash material such as logs, branches, and woodchips, and all species of firewood from the affected sites, is restricted. The property owners in the affected area have been notified of these restrictions.

    Infested ash trees in North America generally die after two to three years, but heavily infested trees have been observed to die after only one year of beetle attack. In Alberta the number of ash trees growing in municipalities can often reach as high as 40%!

    EAB is not listed under the Agricultural Pests Act (APA) making it difficult to prevent and control EAB in Alberta. Having a pest named on the act empowers urban and rural municipalities to enforce control measures under the authority of the APA.  Landscape Alberta along with other stakeholders like STOPDED, ISA Prairie Chapter, Alberta Parks & Recreation Association (APRA) and others will be asking for immediate action from the Provincial government to help protect the nursery industry and Alberta’s urban forests.

    Federal Carbon Tax Rebate for Small Businesses

    Budget 2024 launches the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses
    This new refundable tax credit will urgently return proceeds from the price on pollution from 2019-20 through 2023-24 to an estimated 600,000 businesses, with 499 or fewer employees, in provinces where the federal backstop applies. This would deliver over $2.5 billion directly to these small- and medium-sized businesses. The only requirement to receive the automatic, ongoing direct payments is for eligible business to file their taxes. To be eligible for the 2019-20 to 2023-24 payments, the deadline to file a tax return is July 15, 2024.
     https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2024/04/budget-2024-growing-canadas-small-businesses.html