CNLA’s Garden Centre of the Year Award application package is now available. The deadline has been extended to April 30, which gives you plenty of time to enter. Winners will be sent to the National Awards of Landscape Excellence gala ceremony in Olds, Alberta this August.
Download the package at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5esyt9R11BVakI4RDlrQlpqd2M
CNLA has contracted Equilibrium Engineering Inc., an Engineering Firm based out of Nova Scotia, to conduct a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) for our industry. The end result of this project will be a document for Engineers and Architects to use to put a value to products (i.e. trees, shrubs, soil), which already exists for grey Infrastructure (i.e. concrete surfaces), but this information is needed for green infrastructure to help make choices in construction and planning.
The first pilot project will examine water, waste water and retention to help industry sell the benefits of a variety of onsite storm water management methods. A collection and review will be done on the typical cost of installing and maintaining the following items:
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association are proud to announce that the newly revised, ninth edition of the Canadian Nursery Stock Standard will, from this point on, be included within the Canadian Landscape Standard. In addition, we are pleased to offer revised editions of the Canadian Landscape Standard to anyone who has purchased the document since its release in March 2016 (to be mailed out the week of April 3, 2017).
MosaiCanada 150/Gatineau 2017 in production thanks to gardeners from across Canada
MosaiCanada 150/Gatineau 2017, a Canada 150 project funded by Canadian Heritage, the Government of Quebec and the Ville de Gatineau, will be held from July 1st to October 15, 2017 in Jacques Cartier Park, a National Capital Commission park, partner of the project.
The project, under the leadership of Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montreal, consists of creating mosaïculture artworks as a major attraction/event to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary.
The mosaïculture structures will celebrate Canadian Confederation, the Founding Peoples, the First Nations and our Canadian Heritage
Wayne McCutcheon, volunteer gardener from St. Albert in preparing the Wild Rose that will represent Alberta at the Exhibit in Gatineau and will be displayed in St. Albert in 2018
Gardeners from across Canada are at work in greenhouses of Ferme d’Auteuil located at 3185 Avenue des Perron, Laval Québec, the flowers in the mosaïculture artwork representing their respective province or territory.
Mosaïculture is a most spectacular horticultural technique that combines the following different art forms:
Mosaïculture structures representing the provinces and territories of Canada: these mosaïculture artworks have been designed in consultation with each province and territory.
After the exhibition, the structures will return in their province or territory to be displayed in 2018.
· Yukon: Prospector – City of Whitehorse
· Northwest Territories: Muskoxes – City of Yellowknife
· Nunavut: Drum Dancer – Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association
· British Columbia: Chief of the Undersea World (Bill Reid’s Killer Whale) – City of Coquitlam
· Alberta: Wild Rose – City of St. Albert
· Saskatchewan: Mosaïculture Artwork in development
· Manitoba: Polar Bear – Assiniboine Park Conservancy
· Ontario: Niagara Gateway – Niagara Parks Commission
· Québec: Mosaïculture Artwork in development
· New Brunswick: Horse in field – New-Brunswick Botanical Garden
· Nova Scotia: Fisherman and dory – Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
· Prince Edward Island: Red Fox – City of Charlottetown
· Newfoundland and Labrador: Puffins – Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden
The theme of the Gatineau exhibit will reflect 150 years of history, values, culture and arts in Canada, represented by some 40 different structures. Admission to theMOSAÏCANADA 150/Gatineau 2017 exhibit in Jacques-Cartier Park will be free.
“MosaiCanada 150/Gatineau 2017 will demonstrate Canadian savoir-faire and the creativity of the team at Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal, as well as of the representatives of the provinces, territories and our country’s indigenous peoples. It is sure to amaze the hundreds of thousands of expected visitors. For the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, we want to offer a spectacular, one-of-a-kind bouquet – a bouquet like Canada itself”
– Lise Cormier, Executive Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer
Mosaïcultures internationales de Montreal
After a delay, on Wednesday Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau unveiled a largely status quo budget as the Liberal government attempts to prepare for policy changes in the U.S.
Among the announcements that could impact employers were an option for parents to receive EI parental benefits over an extended period of up to 18 months at a lower benefit rate of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings. EI parental benefits would continue to be available at the existing benefit rate of 55 per cent over a period of up to 12 months.
For employers, a review of maternity and parental top up policies would make sense as the extended period at the lower rate could have an impact on the top up amounts. Employer costs for these leaves could increase as a result of this change.
Canadians can expect to see a five-cent increase in EI premium rates in fiscal 2018 -19, up to $1.68 per $100 of insurable earnings, with some of that additional premium being used to fund expanded access to benefits.
In addition, as anticipated, Wednesday’s budget did not include a tax on employer-sponsored health and dental benefit premium.
As expected, the Liberals also announced that it would be phasing out the Canada Savings Bond program.
March 14, 2017 – The Alberta Government has made available the details of the proposed rebate on the carbon levy. Full details can be found here: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/general/progserv.nsf/All/pgmsrv460
As previously announced this applies only to greenhouses heated with natural gas or propane, and only for eligible production area. Submission of Applications will be accepted during the following Application submission dates:
To apply a grower must fill out the application form, including a calculation for eligible fuel use. Provide invoices for natural gas or propane for the application period and complete a mandatory producer survey. Please note at this time the survey link only works in Internet Explorer. Forms can be submitted by email or regular mail as per the application.
To be eligible, you must have a commercial greenhouse in Alberta with sales of eligible crops exceeding $20,000 in the 12-month period prior to application. Eligible crops include vegetables, fruits, bedding plants, cut flowers, ornamental plants, tree seedlings, medicinal plants and other plants grown in commercial greenhouses. For further information, please contact Alberta Agriculture at 310-FARM (3276) or agrp@gov.ab.ca
Our annual Landscape Awards Presentation and Dinner was held March 8 at the Telus Spark Centre in Calgary. This year there were four recipients of the Executive Choice Award. The first went to Ron Oudyk from Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd. for his commitment to raising professionalism in the industry through his support of the apprenticeship program, Ronald McDonald House, and Skills Canada Alberta. The second award went to Jack Payne, from Classic Landscape Centre for his keen involvement in development of the Canadian Landscape Standard. The third recipient was Phil Paxton from Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. for his role in bringing the Canadian Landscape Standard to life. The last award went to Anita Huever from Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. for her massive effort in the Bill 6 consultation process. The Executive Choice Award recognizes members who have demonstrated dedication to helping the association grow and achieve its long-term goals.
Gloria Beck presented long-time colleague and friend, Tony Heuver, with the Lifetime Member award for all his years of dedicated service to the association and to our industry. It is beyond well deserved and well overdue. Congratulations to Tony!
The Landscape Awards program received a record 53 entries this year, with 39 awards presented. Congratulations to Alpha Better Landscaping Inc., Earthlings Inc., Homescapes Complete Landscape Construction, Julia’s Alpine Garden, Landform Inc., Modern Earth Landscaping Ltd., Park Landscaping Ltd., Planta Landscape Inc., Solid Landscape Construction & Design Inc., Surface Pro Services, Terra Landscaping Ltd. ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. and Year-Round Landscaping Inc.
Watch for pictures of the winning projects in the upcoming May/June 2017 issue of Green for Life magazine or click here to view them online.
We would also like to congratulate those companies whose award-winning entries have been nominated for the 2017 National Awards of Landscape Excellence:
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Click the thumbnails below to view photos from our 2017 Landscape Awards Red Carpet. To download a photo, click on the thumbnail. Once it opens, right click on the image and click “Save As” to save on your computer.
The national Professional Development Committee thought that the Landscape Industry Certified Manager manuals needed a refresh from when they were last edited in 2006. All seven manuals for: Corporate Financial Management, Technical – Exterior Landscaping or Interior Landscaping, Marketing and Sales Management, Leadership and Corporate Citizenship, Innovation, Strategic, Business and Succession Planning, Risk/Law/Contract/ Government, and Human Resource Management all were updated. Not to worry, the written exams have not changed – as the testable content is still relevant. The manuals themselves have been changed to include better diagrams, updated information, and an improv
ed layout. Order yours today!