Author: Kyla Hardon

As you begin to prepare for hiring in spring of 2017, we would like to remind you of some valuable resources members can use in their recruitment strategy. First is the relatively new website, https://landscape.jobs/. This is free to members and exclusive to the landscape industry. The more employers that post jobs there, the more valuable it will be to job seekers. We always encourage members to use http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/ when recruiting as it helps gather statistics for the Canadian government, which with their updated system, is shared with users. This includes average wages in your area, job outlook, etc. which is useful when you begin to look at your job postings. Another great resource for our industry is www.wagesurvey.ca. This site collects wage data by position and province – Alberta has some of the best data available.

Beginning January 1, 2017, the Government of Alberta has implemented the well-publicised carbon levy.  On 31^st December, they announced plans to offer a Greenhouse Growers’ Rebate allowing operators to recoup up to 80% of the carbon levy paid for heating growing facilities. This will be a two year program. The announcement can be found here.

This is great news as it allows Alberta-based growers to maintain a level playing field with growers in other jurisdictions (including BC, who also have a rebate program for their carbon tax).

The Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (AGGA) was instrumental in advocating on behalf of the collective horticultural industry. With the services of De Paoli & Associates, AGGA was able to engage the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment & the rural caucus committee to make a strong case for the rebate.

At this time, there are no details available about the administration of the rebate, eligibility, payment frequency, or reporting mechanisms. The government hopes to have these details in place by the end of January.

The AGGA will continue to work with the Government of Alberta on this and will communicate details when available. If you have comments or suggestions on the program implementation, please direct these to your Landscape Alberta office or board members.

As a reminder, here are the announced rates being added to major fuel types.

The Olds College Horticulture Program will be hosting its first employer’s presentation morning on February 2, 2017. The presentation concept was developed from discussions at the Horticulture Industry Advisory Committee meeting on December 1, 2016 evolving into a “speed” presentation format. The format structure provides each employer 10 minutes to promote their organization and 5 minutes for student’s question. Students attending the presentations will be from the first year (Certificate), second year (Diploma) and third year (Bachelor of Applied Science) Horticulture Programs. After the morning presentations, accommodations will be made for employers to have one-on-one sessions with students seeking further information and opportunities to provide resumes.

The Olds College Horticulture Program is seeking to have 12 employers representing a broad range of sectors from the horticulture industry to participate as presenters, which leads to selection of potential presenter organizations not being based on a first come, first serve basis.

For those organizations interested in participating in the event, please respond by January 27, 2016 to Gord Koch, gkoch@oldscollege.ca or 403.556.4751

Thank you to everyone who assisted on the TURF National Occupational Framework this year. Turf has been given a second opportunity to validate What people need to do and know to be successful in Turf Production.

As you may recall, the key roles in a farm operation are:

1. Farm labourer – entry
2. Farm worker – experienced
3. Supervisor
4. Manager

WHY is your help critical? Besides ensuring it’s accuracy, these are tools are being developed for your sector…find out what experts like yourself have identified as best practices and expectations.  They serve as a benchmark against which to recruit, select, train and develop employees.

Four surveys have been prepared. Please complete one (or more) of the surveys – each survey focuses on one of the four roles. What is really important is that the person completing the survey has an in-depth understanding of what an employee needs to know and do to be successful, so please forward this invitation to your staff as well.

Farm Labourer: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CAHRC/Turf/FarmLabourer/
Farm Worker: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CAHRC/Turf/FarmWorker/
Supervisor: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CAHRC/Turf/Supervisor/
Manager: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CAHRC/Turf/Manager/

Each survey will walk you through two documents:

1. National Occupational Standard: a list of the tasks organized by major task areas – representing what the person needs to do
2. Competency Profile: a collection of competencies and related observable behaviours required to successful carry out the identified tasks.

Each survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. It is highly recommended you complete it in one sitting however, if you get interrupted you can finish it later as long as you are the only person using your computer.

Note: The survey will be available online from December 7 to December 21, 2016.

Thank you again for your valuable input!

Confidentiality and Privacy
The information you provide will be confidential and combined with other responses during the reporting phase. The raw data will be reviewed and compiled by an external consultant and will not be distributed to any third-party organizations. 

All sections of the survey are optional, however the more information you provide the more accurate the results of the survey. If you provide your contact information at the end of the survey, you may be approached by the external consultant or by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council for further involvement in this project. Your information will be stored separately from the rest of the data collected in the survey to ensure the confidentiality of your responses. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Tracy Biernacki-Dusza, Project Manager, 613-745-7457 x225.

The Career Focus Green Jobs program is offering wage subsidies to help employers with an environmental focus hire new graduates. The program targets small and medium sized businesses to help reduce the cost barriers of hiring new graduates by subsidizing their salary by 50 per cent to a maximum of $13,500 per year. Its purpose is to help employers hire the talent they need and help recent graduates initiate a career.

To qualify as a green job, the job must have a green mandate or the employer needs to have an environmental focus. For example, the job must help reduce the consumption of energy and raw materials; limit greenhouse gas emissions; minimize waste and pollution; and protect and restore ecosystems.

For agriculture, as long as the company meets one of the following specifications they are considered eligible for the program: the farm/company has a sustainable mandate or focus which helps protect and restore ecosystems; it has developed and implemented systems to reduce waste within the industry; it produces organic products which reduce the use of chemicals; it conducts research on the environmental impact and resolutions within the industry; or it is an agricultural manufacturing company that develops equipment that reduces emissions and energy use.

Applications must be submitted by December 12, 2016 to offset employment costs until June 2017. For more information on the Career Focus Green Jobs program, contact Jennifer Ash at 613-234-1402 x 221 or jash@biotalent.ca or go to https://www.biotalent.ca/en/career-focus-green-jobs.

Click the image below to view photos from the 2016 Green Industry Show & Conference.

Alberta Agriculture & Forestry has request input from primary producers (growers) on their expected labour challenges in the next 12-36 months.   The survey can be accessed at https://www.forumresearchonline.ca/survey/intweb.dll/project/cawi//mdbl_cawi.

Alternately, members can call 1-866-508-1441 to complete a confidential survey.

This is an important opportunity to express your concerns about the the variety of policy and legislation changes and how they will impact your ability to find adequate labour on your farm.

The deadline to complete the survey is November 25, 2016.

Career Focus Program – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
The Career Focus Program within AAFC will provide $864,000 each year to projects that hire recent graduates in agriculture, agri-food science and veterinary medicine.  Each approved project will be eligible to receive 50% of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $20,000 in matching funds. Applications are processed through rounds and on a first come, first served basis pending availability of funds.

Details here: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/?id=1280434970527 (note timelines)

The Green Industry Show and Conference is back in Edmonton for 2016! Our amazing team of staff and volunteers have put together a conference programme aimed to inform and inspire everyone from designers to arborists, owners to students, growers to contractors. Our conference sessions are timely and responsive to industry issue – with an updated format for 2016 that focuses on variety with 32 one-hour sessions over the two days.

Conference Highlights
New this year are two full-day pre-show workshops designed to fill the need of more in-depth technical level professional development. This year we have two workshops: one for Greenhouse growers, and the other for Landscape Designers.

Conference session highlights include pest diagnosis sessions with Dr. Ken Fry, landscape design process sessions with Gord Koch and Patrick DuChene. Mario Lanthier is speaking on tree pests and root management in nursery production, Paul Zammit with two sessions on edible gardens and winter container arrangements, as well as many more informative and engaging sessions on growing your business, managing work-life balance, improving performance and the latest and greatest in horticultural and business technologies. Everyone will find something to stoke their fire and those looking for continuing education credits will also find sessions to fulfill those needs.

Register before October 28 and save on your conference registration fees. Visit www.greenindustryshow.com to register!

Tradeshow Schedule
Landscape Alberta, AGGA, AALA and ISA members who pre-register, receive free admission into the tradeshow (onsite tradeshow registration is $20.00) and preferred pricing on conference registration In addition to the educational opportunities, all conference attendees have access to the Green Industry Show. With over 250 booths, it is the largest green industry show in Western Canada and is an annual must-see event.

Thursday, November 17 – The trade show doors open at 10:30 am and close at 4:30 pm. Join us on the trade show floor at 3:30 pm for the Ball Horticulture Tailgate Party – hot hors d’oeuvres and a Beer Tasting. Food, drinks and great company!

Friday, November 18 – The trade show doors open at 10:30 am and close at 3:30 pm

Other Events
The Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers Annual Live & Silent Auction will take place Wednesday, November 16 at the Coast Edmonton Plaza (10155 105 Street, Edmonton). Join in the fun at this year’s auction – hot hors d’ouevres and cash bar. Proceeds go toward horticultural research programs and services. Thank you to our refreshment sponsor, HisTree. Doors open at 6:00 pm.

On November 17, members and friends of the AGGA are invited to the AGGA Garden Party. Catch up with colleagues at this relaxed social event and celebrate the recipients of their annual industry awards. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The cost is $15.00 per person. Register at www.greenindustryshow.com.

Enter to Win a Dashcam with the Trade Show Passport
Pick up a trade show passport, visit all participating exhibitors and enter the draw. Passports are available at the trade show registration desk or at Landscape Alberta booth 140.

Let’s Be Social
Do you Tweet, Facebook or Instagram? Use the hashtag #2016gisc when sharing your pictures and social media updates. Follow @landscapeab on Twitter and @landscapealberta on Facebook to stay in the know about what is happening at the Green Industry Show and Conference.

Contact
If you have any questions about the 2016 GISC, please contact the Landscape Alberta office at 1-800-378-3198 or email admin@landscape-alberta.com. All event information is also available at www.greenindustryshow.com.