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The Landscape Industry Certified Technician designation provides individuals in the green industry with a means of proving a minimum standard of expertise in tasks typically required within the industry. Landscape Alberta provides Certified Technician exam opportunities in four specialty designations: Softscape Installation, Hardscape Installation, Turf Maintenance, and Ornamental Maintenance. Encourage and support professionalism in our industry – it’s a great way to invest in and grow valuable team members. After two years of August tests, the Certification committee took the industry feedback about the the timing of the event seriously.  Working with our great partners at Olds College we are able to once again hold testing during the off-season.

2018 Certification Exam – Alberta
When: February 23 & 24, 2018
Written exam: Friday, February 23 (evening)
Hands-on tests: Saturday, February 24 (7am – 4pm)
Where: Olds College – Landscape Pavilion, Olds, AB

Participants must register in advance – test preparation materials are provided on sign-up, so start the process now and be well-prepared for this upcoming exam opportunity! 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.

Registration Form

CNLA is seeking to sell exclusive licensing rights to three roses previously acquired by the Association in 2010 as part of their takeover of the AAFC hardy rose breeding program. These numbered roses – a remaining few from the original thousands of seedlings acquired from AAFC – have been tested for cold hardiness and black spot resistance. See the roses >

CNLA is seeking proposals for a one-time purchase of each numbered rose. All commercialization details, including naming of the rose, and where applicable, sale price and royalty rates and collection of royalties will be the responsibility of the successful bidder.

The minimum sale price to acquire an exclusive license agreement will be $5,000 for each numbered rose.

Click here to download the RFP. The deadline to submit your proposal is December 8, 2017.

The Green Industry Show and Conference is back in Calgary for 2017! 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 issues – focusing on a variety of topics with 32 one-hour sessions over the two days.

We have three full-day pre-conference workshops on November 15, designed for more in-depth technical level professional development. One for Greenhouse growers, one for Landscape contractors/estimators and one for those interested in winter container design.

Conference session highlights include landscape pest show and tell sessions with Dr. Ken Fry and landscape design sessions with Joe Salemi. Bob Reeves is speaking on the power of soil, Barbara Crowhurst has two sessions for garden centre professionals which include driving traffic to stores and increasing retail sales, 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.

Landscape Alberta members who pre-register receive free admission into the tradeshow 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. For more information on the Green Industry Show & Conference, to view the full conference program and to register, please visit www.greenindustryshow.com.

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Media contact:
Joel Beatson
(780) 489-1991 ext. 101
joel.beatson@landscape-alberta.com

The provincial minimum wage will be increasing to $13.60 per hour beginning October 1, 2017. This is part of the Alberta governments to move to $15.00 per hour by 2018.

Landscape Alberta was involved in consultations on this and like many small business groups advocated for a more flexible timeline and for the option of a youth or training wage. Members of our sector that compete directly with other provinces and states, especially on nursery production, are most likely to be impacted by the competitive pressure faced by lower cost imports. Landscape Alberta also raised concerns that such a swift increase would push wages near or above $15 an hour even higher.

More information on the increase can be found at https://work.alberta.ca/employment-standards/minimum-wage.html.

Landscape Alberta hosted our annual Landscape Industry Certified Technician test event on August 18 & 19, 2017 at the Olds College Landscape Pavilion. We welcomed 24 registrants (some of whom were working toward their second certification designation – yay!) and we’re proud to announce that three successful candidates achieved Landscape Industry Certified Technician status. It was a busy day with fine weather – we even got to enjoy our luncheon outdoors (that was a first!). We owe a big thanks to Karman DiLisio at the Olds College pavilion for making the site perfect for our industry test event.

It takes the time, dedication and expertise of many industry volunteers to make this test event a success – especially in the middle of prime landscaping season (not to mention vacation season) – so we sincerely thank the tireless folks who stepped up this summer to plan, recruit volunteers, pick up supplies, assemble and disassemble the test site, take on judge responsibilities, provide plant materials, tools and equipment – and to make a valuable contribution to the future of our industry. Thank you!

We especially appreciate the support for the Landscape Industry Certified program shown by Alberta companies that encourage their staff to challenge this test, prove their skills and grow their careers. This program was developed by our industry, for our industry, and continues to be a valuable tool for elevating professionalism and cultivating great team members for landscaping companies across the country. Lead your industry today – get in touch with Jason Young, Certification Administrator at the CNLA office – he can connect your staff with program information, study materials and enthusiasm: jason@canadanursery.com

Please be sure to support the businesses who generously donated material and equipment to make this event happen – good people with great products and services:

• Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. – perfect trees, shrubs and perennials for our test stations – thank you Anita and staff!
• Cervus Equipment, Red Deer – Bobcat skid steer for our test candidates to prove their skills – thank you Diedre!
• Nextcom/digital2way – radios that allow us to keep our event safe and on schedule – thank you Jason!
• Finning Canada, Red Deer – CAT skid steer for site prep and test station – thank you Joe!
• Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply – cool green turf for our Sod Installation test – thank you Eric and staff!
• JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. – tools, tasks, time, and generous hearts – thank you John, Tyler and Andrew!
• Three Seasons Landscaping – supplies, equipment, and hard-working humans – thank you Darren and crew!
• Olds College – for a first-class facility and dedicated staff – sincere thanks from your industry colleagues!

• The Canadian Landscape Standard is a single authoritative resource that is applicable to all regions in Canada.
• The Canadian Landscape Standard documents acceptable practices for landscape goods and services and applies to the areas of administration, planning, design and review.
• These Standards set guidelines and makes recommendations for all major aspects of the landscape industry.
• The Canadian Landscape Standard streamlines the landscape specification writing process by referencing one nationally recognized industry standard.
• Referencing the Canadian Landscape Standard in project specifications can result in better qualified bids.
• The Canadian Landscape Standard is a centralized and comprehensive mechanism from which to effect public procurement policy, legislation, by-laws and regulations.
• The newly revised Canadian Nursery Stock Standard Ninth Edition 2017 is now included as Appendix G of the Canadian Landscape Standard.

The Green Industry Show and Conference (GISC) is back in Calgary for 2017! Our amazing team 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 a format that focuses on variety and 32 one-hour sessions over the two days.                                 

Conference Highlights
This year we have three full-day pre-show workshops designed to fill the need of more in-depth technical level professional development: one for greenhouse growers, one for landscape designers and one for those interested in winter container design.

Conference session highlights include landscape pest show and tell sessions with Dr. Ken Fry and landscape design sessions with Joe Salemi. Bob Reeves is speaking on the power of soil, Barbara Crowhurst has two sessions for garden centre professionals which include driving traffic to stores and increasing retail sales, 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 26 and save on your conference registration fees. Visit www.greenindustryshow.com to register!

Tradeshow Schedule
Landscape Alberta, AGGA, AALA, ISA and ARPA members who pre-register, receive free admission into the tradeshow (onsite tradeshow registration for everyone 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 240 booths, it is the largest green industry show in Western Canada and is an annual must-see event.

Thursday, November 16 – The trade show doors open at 10:30 am and close at 4:30 pm. Join us in the lobby outside of trade show hall C from 4:30 – 5:30 pm for the Eagle Lake Landscape Supply Happy Hour – snacks and a cash bar. Food, drinks and great company!

Friday, November 17 – 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 15 at the Sheraton Suites Eau Claire (255 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary). 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, Nektar. Doors open at 6:00 pm.

On November 16, 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 100.

Let’s Be Social
Do you Tweet, Facebook or Instagram? Use the hashtag #2017gisc when sharing your pictures and social media updates. Follow @landscapeab on Twitter and @landscapealberta on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know about what is happening at the Green Industry Show and Conference.

Contact
If you have any questions about the 2017 GISC, please contact the Landscape Alberta office at 1-800-378-3198, then press 0. All event information is also available at www.greenindustryshow.com.