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The Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association along with Landscape Alberta and Alberta Agriculture & Forestry will be hosting a webinar for information on the AGRP as we approach the first application opening on July 1st. More info on AGRP can be found here.

Drew Hiltz and Arvind Cheniveerappan from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will be leading participants through the program guidelines and the application process answering any questions or concerns about how to apply and what qualifies under the AGRP.

Arvind is the Greenhouse Rebate Program Specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the Government of Alberta. Arvind has worked progressively as a horticulturist in India, Ethiopia, USA and now in Alberta, Canada. With an MBA and 17 years of experience and knowledge, he is well versed with the project and business management of the greenhouse production industry. Drew is the Manager of the Rural Initiatives Unit for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Drew is passionate about rural development working in the field under various capacities throughout his career in private, public and not-for-profit environments.

For AGGA and Landscape Alberta members the webinar will be recorded and made available for re-watch at any time.

The Webinar is June 7 2017, at 11:00 am MT. 

Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6488263480

Or iPhone one-tap:

    +1(587)3164436, 6488263480# Calgary, AB

    +1(780)6669719, 6488263480# Edmonton, AB

 Or Telephone:

    +1 (587) 316 4436 Calgary, AB

    +1 (780) 666 9719 Edmonton, AB

    Meeting ID: 648 826 3480

At least five minutes ahead of the meeting ensure you have downloaded the Ring Central Meetings app – https://success.ringcentral.com/RCSupportPortalDownloads  and then call in at the appointed time.  Participation is limited to the 50 people – please register early to ensure you have a space. https://doodle.com/poll/pdxfmtn8sd4izq2d

Download presentation here.

View webinar here.

We are looking for Landscape Alberta member volunteers to plant beds and spread mulch on Friday, June 23, 2017.

Landscape Alberta was again invited to sit on the Landscape Standards review committee for 2017.  Along with members of UDI and City staff from various departments, the group reviews issues and suggests changes to the Landscape Standards. The City in the end has final say on all changes but are open to modification based on our feedback as stakeholders. This year there were very few changes to the landscape standard. There is the release of a new draft Top Soil specification that will come in to effect July 1, 2018.  All other changes take effect July 1 of this year.  Please note the changes take effect on projects tendered and bid after the effective date. The standards in place at the time of approval and /or work are the standards that apply to that job.

Highlights of changes include:

• Identification of tree trenches on all drawings
• Updated detail (LA101) for enhanced Tree Protection Zone
• Increased setback to 6.0 m from field of play on sports fields and added requirement for top soil inspection at time of install for sports fields
• Project Manager or consultant must now provide maintenance records for sports fields
• Grasses in naturalized areas must maintain a minimum height of 100-150 mm during establishment
• Median are now considered a possible site for naturalization and will not require a mowed buffer strip
• Changed seed mix for non-maintained naturalized areas. It will be significantly more expensive with full understanding that this will be adjusted for in project bidding
• CCC inspection season is approximated at June 1^st to October 15^th, with a new clause that “considerable snow coverage will result in immediate end of inspection season”
• This same new wording also applies to FAC with original time lines in place
• Streamlined the inspection timelines to be initiated within 30 days of Parks Pre-Screen approval.
• Contractors must now provide maintenance logs for the period between CCC and FAC.
• A contractor wishing to apply a pesticide on City property or property that is in the possession of the developer and has not yet received FAC, must first submit a completed Contractor Pesticide Use Notification Form to the appropriate service area. This must be sent at least 48 hours (not including weekends and holidays) prior, and be acknowledged by an email confirmation before conducting the treatment. If no response within two business days, the contractor may proceed. Please submit only one site per form. The Contractor Pesticide Use Notification Form may be found on the City of Edmonton website: http://edmonton.ca/business_economy/selling_to_the_city/contractor-pesticide-use-notification-form.aspx
• Updated reference to current edition of Canadian Standards for Nursery Stock, available free to members at https://cnla.ca/training/cnss/

The top soil specifications will be undergoing a stakeholder review in the coming months with Landscape Alberta hosting a focus group session.  We will also be working with the City of Edmonton on a training/standards manual for landscape and tree inspections in an effort to improve consistency of inspections.

Summary of Changes

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/Design_and_Construction_Landscaping.pdf 

Last week the Alberta Government introduced Bill 17, the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act to update the employment standards and labour relations acts.  Highlights include;

• Changes to how banked hours’ work. Under the new legislation hours must be banked at 1.5 times hours worked essentially removing the benefit of banking over straight overtime.  Increased banked time from 3 months to 6 months.
• Enhanced protected leave status for many categories including maternity, compassionate care, and family leaves. Reduced the eligibility for leave to 90 days of employment.  New Personal and Family Responsibility of 5 days per year as unpaid time off, but with protected status.  This covers personal sickness, short-term care of family, or school events of a child.
• Compressed work weeks would now be called Averaging Agreements and would allow for 1 to 12 week averages to determine overtime eligibility.
• Rest periods would now be a minimum 30-minute break (paid or un-paid) for every 5 hours of consecutive employment. With employer and employee agreement, these can be split to two-15 minute breaks.
• All employees would be eligible for general holiday pay, removing regular vs non-regular work day. It would be calculated at 5% of wages from previous 4 weeks.
• Vacation pay to be set at 4% or 2 weeks until 5 years’ employment and will rise 6% afterwards. Half-day vacation increments now allowed up from minimum of 1 day.
• Termination and layoff notices will now require more notice. For 50-100 employees: 8 weeks, 101-30 employees: 12 weeks, and 301+ employees: 16 weeks.
• Nurseries, greenhouses and sod farms will continue to not be considered farms under the Employment Standard Code (we have requested an explanation from the Minister).
• Easing of rules/regulations around formation of a union. This includes automatic certification when more than 65% of employees sign a union card or petition and that the first contract can be arbitrated if an agreement can’t be reached.

There are several areas of concern for members.  First, the change to banked hours’ program is especially impactful to seasonal (weather dependent) businesses.  The removal of this option will equally effect both employees and employers. The new Averaging Agreements might provide some relief, but it is too early to tell without the exact regulations in place. The removal of secret ballot requirement for formation of a union (still applies to 40-65% of employees voting in favour) is a cause for a concern as it removes democratic rights from the process.

Landscape Alberta will be communicating with the Minister of Labour directly over the coming weeks.  We will also help provide resources regarding the changes in a way for employers to best update their own policies and practices. The new rules and regulations are anticipated to take effect January 1, 2018.

For more info on the changes, visit Employment Standards or Labour Relations.

The next test date in Alberta is August 18-19, 2017 at Olds College campus. A summer test means candidates can use the season’s field experience to build skills toward their success on test day. It also means we can offer the Turf Maintenance Technician test without mowing snow! Get the ball rolling – register today by contacting Jason Young, Certification Co-ordinator at CNLA: jason@cnla-acpp.ca, or call toll-free 1-888-446-3499 ext. 8620.

For generations, agriculture has made significant contributions to Canada’s economy, food supply, environment and culture. On July 1, 1867, the federal Department of Agriculture was created and the first Minister of Agriculture was appointed. Today, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, provides leadership in the growth, development and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

Join the celebration agr.gc.ca/agriculture150.

Landscape Alberta and a group of local landscape companies are working to build a new park in Chestermere, AB. We are converting the skateboard park, located at the corner of Rainbow Road and Chestermere Boulevard, into a premiere park for the community to enjoy. The vision is to develop a park which will foster community engagement and be a landscaping showcase for the City – all through the generous in-kind contribution of our time, talent and resources.

The idea, which originated with Synergy, coincides with the establishment of the Reidbuilt Center for Community Leadership, which is intended to support local non-profit organizations. Recently Chestermere City Council and staff have agreed to support this project and re-allocated funding for much-needed irrigation. A more robust landscaping plan has been developed, and the next step is to broaden the involvement of local landscaping companies to help make this exciting project a reality.

The park will be installed in two phases. The first, large trees, loam and irrigation will be installed. The second phase of this park installation is the garden bed and shrub planting, as well as laying sod.

Phase 2: June 2-3, 2017 (weather dependent)
Foothills Premium Mulch                1700 sq m            Donated
Sod                                                        4180 sq m            Donated
Karl Foerster Grass                          111                         Donated
Little Bluestem Grass                      23                           Donated
Blue Gramma Grass                       56                           Donated
Flame Grass                                     18                           Donated
Shendandoah Switch Grass        47                            Donated

Please contact Kyla for more information or to donate materials, equipment and labour. 
kyla@landscape-alberta.com   |   P: 780-489-1991 x106   |   C: 780-218-5203

Project Partners

• City of Chestermere
• Synergy Chestermere
• Alpha Better Landscaping Inc.
• Foothills Nurseries Ltd.
• ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc.
• Landscape Alberta
• Chestermere Honey Bee Society

Thank you to our Donors!

• Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.
• Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply
• Manderley Turf Products Inc.
• Foothills Nurseries Ltd.
• Alpha Better Landscaping Inc.
• Saunders Construction Ltd.
• Pollyco Group
• Alta West Tree Movers
• Heatherglen Golf Course
• Brazel Construction Ltd.
• Wilco Contractors SW
• Homescapes Complete Landscape Construction
• The Grounds Guys
• Burnco Landscape Centres Ltd.
• Top Spray
• Wheatland Trees Ltd.

A new sub-committee of CNLA’s Landscape Canada committee is working towards a national centre of excellence (outdoor living museum) in Ottawa.

Did you know that Canada is the only G7 nation without a national garden? This is an opportunity to establish one that acts as a centre of excellence to educate youth on living green infrastructure, as well as a public gathering place that displays Canada’s rich horticultural heritage.

The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative will help fund internships for post-secondary graduates and high school students working in the agriculture industry. These internships would include activities or projects that benefit the environment.

Funding is available through the following two streams:

1. Green Farms Stream: Farm operators could receive up to a maximum of $10,000 per youth intern, 30 years old or younger, including high school students to implement projects that are environmentally beneficial.
2. Green Internships Stream: Employers in the agricultural sector but not directly on farm could receive up to a maximum of $16,000 per post-secondary graduate intern to undertake environmental activities, services or research that will benefit the agriculture sector.