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A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication May/June 2015 Vol. 3, No. 3
Landscape Design: Inspirations and Industry TrendsBenefit Plan “Late Applicants”: A Potential Liability?
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Green for Life May/June 2015 I 3
May 7, 2015Arbor Day – Calgary
Grant MacEwan School, Calgary, AB
May 8, 2015Arbor Day – Edmonton
Gold Bar Park, Edmonton, AB
May 14 - 15, 2015Skills Canada Alberta Provincial Competition
Edmonton Expo Centre, Edmonton, ABwww.skillsalberta.com
May 27 - 30, 2015Skills Canada National Competition
Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SKwww.skillscanada.com
June 19 - 21, 2015Garden Days
www.gardendays.ca
September 9 & 10, 2015CanWest Hort Show
Tradex Exhibition Centre, Abbotsford, BCwww.canwesthortshow.com
September 30 - October 3, 2015Communities in Bloom
2015 National SymposiumKamloops, BC
www.communitiesinbloom.ca
October 7 - 8, 2015Canadian Greenhouse Conference
Scotiabank Convention Ctr, Niagara Falls, ONwww.canadiangreenhouseconference.com
November 16 - 18, 2015HortEast Conference & Trade Show
Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton, NBwww.horteast.ns.ca
November 19 & 20, 2015Green Industry Show & Conference
BMO Centre, Calgary, ABwww.greenindustryshow.com
CALENDAR
On the Cover2015 Award of Excellence Winner, ULSMaintenance & Landscaping Inc.,Tatham
Landscape Design: Inspirations andIndustry Trends, Page 13Benefit Plan “Late Applicants”: APotential Liability?, Page 8
MANAGING EDITOR | Joel BeatsonLAYOUT & PRODUCTION | Kyla McKechnieEDITOR |Marnie MainADVERTISING | Erynn Watson
Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a professional publication forthe landscape trade in Alberta.
Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta200, 10331 - 178 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5P: 780-489-1991 F: [email protected]
Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and doesnot endorse the contents of any advertisements herein. Allrepresentations or warranties made are those of the advertiser andnot the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of LandscapeAlberta or its members.
Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without theconsent of Landscape Alberta.
ISSN No: 1929-7114 (print)ISSN N0: 1929-7122 (online)
Landscape Alberta Board of DirectorsChris Brown, CLP, JLG, CSO, CRS Brown Landscape Services Ltd., Chair
Brian Gibson, Green Drop Lawns Ltd., Vice Chair
Steve Wheatcroft, B. Comm, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc.
Cody Brown, Tree to Tree Nurseries Ltd.
Jeff Oudyk, CSLA, AALA, JLG, Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd.
Jordan Voogd, JLG, Sunstar Nurseries Ltd.
John van Roessel, CLP, CLT, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc.
Anita Heuver, JLG, Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.
Landscape Alberta StaffJoel Beatson, CAE, CLP, Executive [email protected]
Marnie Main, Member Services [email protected]
Erynn Watson, Member Services [email protected]
Valerie Stobbe, Trade Show [email protected]
Kyla McKechnie, [email protected]
Cheryl Teo, [email protected]
Advancing the professional landscape industry.
A Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association member publication May/June 2015 Vol. 3, No. 3
Landscape Design: Inspirations and Industry TrendsBenefit Plan “Late Applicants”: A Potential Liability
4 I Green for Life May/June 2015
Industry and Association News... New Board of DirectorsLandscape Alberta held its Annual General Meeting at theCoast Plaza Hotel on March 11, 2015 in Calgary. About 25members were present to hear details on the previous year’saccomplishments and to elect the new board for 2015/2016:
Cody Brown, Tree to Tree Nurseries Ltd.•Steve Wheatcroft, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc.•Jeff Oudyk, Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd.•Jordan Voogd, Sunstar Nurseries Ltd. •Chris Brown, CRS Brown Landscape Services Ltd. •Brian Gibson, Green Drop Lawns Ltd.•John van Roessel, JVR Landscape (2006) Ltd.•Anita Heuver, Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. •
Landscape Awards Presentation and DinnerOur annual Landscape Awards Presentation and Dinnerwas held March 11 at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary, inconjunction with our 2015 Spring Workshop.
It was an exceptional year for recognizing valuable industrymembers as four Executive Choice Award recipients werehonored. Gord Koch of Olds College was recognized for hisremarkable leadership in the restructuring of the Horticultureprograms at Olds to create alignment with industry. Thesecond award thanked George Yeaman (G & L Lawn ServicesLtd.) for his long-time service to the Association’s board - hisdedication to the industry is very much appreciated andremembered. The third went to Barry Paxton of Alpha BetterLandscaping Inc. for his time volunteering with LandscapeCanada and helping both the CNLA and Landscape Albertadevelop strategic plans for the HR issues facing our industry.The final Executive Choice Award recognized Harold Voogdof Sunstar Nurseries Ltd. for his many years as treasurer ofthe Nursery Growers Group. The Executive Choice Awardrecognizes members who have demonstrated dedication tohelping the association grow and achieve its long-term goals.Congratulations and many thanks to all of the recipients!
Retired Executive Director, Nigel Bowles, was also honouredas a Lifetime Member of Landscape Alberta. The board ofdirectors bestows this rare membership status to individualswho provide outstanding service to the industry.
The 2015 Landscape Awards celebration featured 27 award-winning projects this year. See pictures of the winningprojects on pages 9 – 12.
We would also like to congratulate the companies whoseaward-winning entries have been nominated for the 2016National Awards of Landscape Excellence:
ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc. – Tatham,•Town of Cochrane, La RocqueJVR Landscape (2006) Inc. – Howard Residence•Salisbury Landscaping – Shemanchuk 2015•High River Flood Recovery Project•
Landscape Industry Certified Evaluation Held at Olds CollegeLandscape Alberta hosted a very successful LandscapeIndustry Certified test event on March 24 & 25, 2015 at theOlds College Landscape Pavilion. Thirty-one candidateschallenged the exam this year and we congratulate allparticipants for their hard work.
This event marks our nineteenth year of providingcertification exam opportunities to industry personnel on theprairies. Landscape Alberta staff members send a heartythanks to each volunteer who gave their time and expertiseto the tasks at hand: planning, calling, judging, timekeeping,emailing, digging, driving, arm-twisting and so much more.We extend a special thank you to our facility host, Olds Col-lege, and the unwavering support of Jack Berggren in theLandscape Pavilion. This event would not be possible withoutthe support of many industry suppliers who provide material,equipment and staff for this annual event. See event sponsorson page 17.
Landscape Alberta Heads to OttawaAs part of our ongoing efforts to improve the labour shortagesituation for Landscape Alberta members, a small delegationtraveled to Ottawa in late February. The team met with seniorofficials and politicians to discuss the historic, chronic andacute labour shortage faced by the landscape industry.
This included requesting immediate changes to the LMIA capapplication process to allow for the seasonal nature of oursector. We also used this opportunity to start a dialogueregarding a long-term solution to our seasonal labour needs.Currently, we are awaiting details on changes to the LMIAprocess and will communicate those as soon as they arereleased. Landscape Alberta will also be reaching out tomembers to meet with their local MPs and MLAs aboutsolutions and encourage anyone with an interest to contactJoel Beatson at the Landscape Alberta office: 1-800-378-3198.
Nursery Producers Educational Bus TourA one-day nursery bus tour has been planned for July 17, 2015in Kelowna, BC. The tour will include stops at BylandsNurseries Ltd., Stewart Brothers Nurseries and Quails Gate
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 5
Winery. Details are just being finzalized andmore information will be emailed tomembers soon.
New Savings Program with Kubota Canada!CNLA is very excited to announce a brandnew Member Savings Program with KubotaCanada Ltd. Members receive 18-22% off thesuggested list price, or discounts of 11-15%off the suggested list price for purchasesmade with 0% financing for 36 months.
Landscape Alberta members are to contactthe CNLA Member Services Team at1.888.446.349 for more informationregarding specific discount amounts and torequest a Member Confirmation Letter,which authorized Kubota dealers will requireto administer the discount.
Grower of the Year AwardBased on member feedback, the applicationprocess for CNLA's Grower of the Year Awardhas been modified to make it easier fornursery growers to participate in thisprogram. The new process will see judgesselecting up to three nurseries from thepreliminary applications that are received andwill invite each to compete as a finalistthrough completion of the full applicationform.
The winner of the 2015 Grower of the YearAward will be invited to receive their awardat the CNLA's National Awards of LandscapeExcellence ceremony in Winnipeg thisAugust.
The CNLA Grower of the Year Award will alsobe submitted to the AIPH Grower of the YearAward, which will be presented at theIPM trade show in Essen, Germany inJanuary 2016. Return airfare and hotelaccommodations will be made availableto the top entrants of this prestigiousinternational event.
The deadline to participate in the preliminaryround of judging has been extended to April16, 2015. Visit http://bit.ly/1MQW8XQ fordetails.
Stats Canada Job Vacancy and Wage SurveyStats Canada is conducting a survey to collectinformation from Canadian employers on jobvacancies for all occupations in all industries.It will provide valuable information on labourmarket demand. The survey will providereliable, comparable information on jobvacancies and wages, and will be useful inidentifying current and emerging labour
market pressures. Detailed information will be asked abouteach vacancy in order to get a comprehensive understandingof the vacancies that exist and the requirements for fillingthem.
The Job Vacancy and Wage Survey will provide labour marketinformation, by occupation, on a quarterly basis for thevarious regions of Canada. This information includes:
the number of job vacancies and which regions are•experiencing the most labour market pressure;the average pay and hourly wages;•the distribution of job vacancies by level of education•and experience sought;the proportion of vacancies that are difficult to fill,•by occupation;the competitiveness of particular jobs.•
Collection period: From February 2 to December 31, 2015Collection method: Electronic questionnaire and telephoneinterview for non-responseSurvey participation: mandatory under the Statistics Act
Minister Ritz announces Royal Assent of AgriculturalGrowth ActAgriculture Minister Gerry Ritz recently announced that theAgricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18) received Royal Assent. TheAgricultural Growth Act will modernize Canadian agricultureand increase trade opportunities for farmers.
Farmers now benefit from greater access to new cropvarieties and the latest technology to remain competitiveand meet the needs of Canadians. This new legislationstrengthens agricultural intellectual property rights throughthe ratification of the Act of the International Union for theProtection of New Varieties of Plants, also known asUPOV'91, improves access to the latest scientific research,reduces red tape and regulatory burden on producers, andexpands global market opportunities.
Minister Ritz tabled, before Parliament, a treaty to ratify theUPOV'91 Convention. The 1991 UPOV Convention is theinternational standard for plant breeders' rights. Being partyto the UPOV'91 Convention will provide access to new andbetter tools to help Canada's farmers and agricultural industrygrow their businesses and bring Canada in line with its majortrading partners.
Elm Pruning Ban Now in EffectTo help keep Alberta free of Dutch Elm Disease (DED), theSociety to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) adviseseveryone to pay attention to the provincial elm pruning ban,which began on April 1 and continues to September 30.
Elm bark beetles, responsible for spreading the deadly DEDfungus, feed on healthy elms and breed in dead and dying elmtrees. If elm trees are pruned during the pruning ban period,these beetles which are active at this time can be attractedto the scent of the fresh wound and possibly infect yourotherwise healthy elm with DED. Once an elm tree is infectedwith DED it will die within that year.
During the winter months, October through March only, elmtrees can be properly pruned of dead wood to help eliminatebeetle habitat. Pruned elm wood must be destroyed (buriedor burned) so that it cannot harbor the elm bark beetles - it isillegal to store elm firewood in Alberta.
Apprenticeship ScholarshipsThe Apprenticeship and Industry Training Scholarships aredesigned to recognize the excellence of Alberta apprenticesand trainees, and to encourage them to continue andcomplete their apprenticeship and occupational training.
For eligibility details and an application form, visitwww.tradesecrets.alberta.ca. The deadline for application isJune 30, 2015.
6 I Green for Life May/June 2015
New MembersWelcome to our
Nigel BowlesLifetime Member
Anew View Landscape Construction Ltd.Jeff SawatzkyPo Box 6098Leduc, AB T9E 2A2Phone: (587) 274-4402Fax: (587) [email protected]
Lazic ServicesDario Lazic4602 Manitoba Road SECalgary, AB T2G 4B8Phone: (403) 888-1155Fax: (403) [email protected]
Rockyview Projects Ltd.Duncan O'NionsBox 1350Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0Phone: (403) [email protected]
Softline Solutions AB Inc.Howard McIntyre4611 Morris RoadEdmonton, AB T6B 2V9Phone: (780) 462-3133Fax: (780) [email protected]
Surface Pro ServicesDoug Atkins3303 57 Avenue SECalgary, AB T2C 0B2Phone: (403) 457-1366Fax: (403) [email protected]
Thank you to our 2015Spring Workshop Sponsors!
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 7
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The very next day, the 22 year-old•employee died while on the job.The Group Enrollment form that was•completed the day before had anincorrect employment start date on it.Based on that, the insurance companydenied the initial life insurance claim forthe parents of the employee on the basisthat the employee did not complete the3-month waiting period.Proof was provided that the employee•did indeed start prior to the 3 monthwaiting period and a subsequent claimwas made by the parents. The insurancecompany, however, denied the claim asecond time as he was determined to bea late registrant under the terms of theplan and did not provide the requiredevidence of insurability.The parents of the employee sued the•employer for negligence in failing toprovide insurance coverage under anemployment contract between theemployer and the employee anddemanded that the employer pay thebenefits that would have otherwiseflowed from the group policy. The totalclaim for damages amount was$92,000.00.The employer claimed that the•employee declined to apply for insurancecoverage which disentitled him tocoverage at the time of his death. Theemployer further claimed that it was theemployee’s sole decision as to whetheror not he enrolled in the plan.What it boiled down to is that, even•though the employer may haveexercised due diligence in informing theemployee of their options to join theplan, decline enrollment, or join as a lateregistrant, they could not prove, beyonda reasonable doubt, that they had doneso. In the end, the judge decided toapportion the liability equally, and theemployer was ordered to pay half of thedamages.
Review the court case details athttp://bit.ly/1CizHt2.
This article is provided by The Investment Guild –offering employee group benefits to membersthrough the CNLA HortProtect insuranceprogram. For more information about thisvaluable insurance program designed forbusinesses in the landscape industry, contactSara Munshaw at [email protected].
Below are the main points extracted from an Alberta Court Case where a firm wasfound responsible for NOT enrolling a new employee into their group benefits plan.The full details of the court case can be viewed by visiting the web link at the end ofthe article.
On July 7, 1998, a young employee started a job at a steel fabrication company•in Alberta. His employment contract provided for a benefits package from aninsurance provider. His waiting period to join the plan, however, was 90 days aftercommencing employment.The Group Policy stated that an employee who becomes eligible for benefits must•make an application for those benefits within 31 days of becoming eligible. Anyapplications after the 31 day waiting period would require that the employeesubmit evidence of his insurability.On February 23, 1999, the Group Enrollment form was completed by the•employee, with his parents listed as the beneficiaries.
Benefit Plan “Late Applicants”: A Potential Liability for Businesses?
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 9
It took two days of judging to evaluate the 32 entries submitted for the 2014Landscape Awards program. The judges gave 20 Awards of Merit and 5 Awardsof Excellence. The 2014 Landscape Awards were presented at the annualLandscape Awards Dinner held at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary on March 11,2015.
We would like to thank this year’s volunteer judges for taking their assignmentseriously and giving so generously of their time and expertise.
Nigel Bowles, Living LegendLise Prosser, Elite Lawn & Snow Inc.Jordan Voogd, Sunstar Nurseries Ltd.Jeff Oudyk, Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd.Donna Brown, Donna Brown LandscapesKerri Buksa, Buksa Designs
We would also like to give a special thank you to Expocrete Concrete Products,Manderley Turf Products Inc., and Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply forbeing prize sponsors for the 2014 Landscape Awards. Top honours went to ULSMaintenance & Landscaping Inc., JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. and HomescapesComplete Residential Landscaping. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!
The Landscape Awards ProgramThe Landscape Awards reflect the association's commitment to creating andpreserving the beauty of the urban landscape. The program is also designed toreward independent landscape contracting professionals who execute topquality landscape projects.
The Landscape Awards program has four main objectives:Encourage landscape contractors to be the best in their field•Provide a marketing opportunity to those companies that receive an•awardEncourage a company’s employees to aspire to excellence •Provide an opportunity to compete in the National Awards of Landscape•Excellence
Members can enter projects into nine different categories covering construction,maintenance and design. Each entry is evaluated using a set of criteria; thesubmissions are not judged against each other. There are two award levels: aMerit Award goes to an entry that earns 70-84 points, and an Excellence Awardgoes to an entry earning 85 or more points. Entries that achieve Excellence statusare eligible to be selected for the National Awards of Landscape Excellence,a Canada-wide program developed by the Canadian Nursery LandscapeAssociation.
High Score Award Winners
Riley Paxton, Homescapes Complete ResidentialLandscaping with Eric Heuver from Eagle LakeProfessional Landscape Supply.
Arnold van de Ligt, Manderley Turf Products Inc.and Matt McAdam from ULS Maintenance &Landscaping Inc.
John Van Roessel, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc. andBrian Brooker from Expocrete, an Oldcaste company.
2014 Landscape Awards
10 I Green for Life May/June 2015
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1 2 3
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Merit1. Salisbury LandscapingBreitkreitz 2014Landscape Construction under $50,000
2. Homescapes Complete Residential LandscapingStaveley/Mendham ResidenceLandscape Construction under $50,000
3. Earthlings Inc.Kaskiw ResidenceLandscape Construction under $50,000
4. Earthlings Inc.Kellet ResidenceLandscape Construction under $50,000
5. Solid Landscape Construction & Design Inc.Prentice ResidenceResidential Landscape Construction over $50,000
6. Salisbury LandscapingNixon 2013Residential Landscape Construction over $50,000
7. Salisbury LandscapingCaouette 2013/2014Residential Landscape Construction over $50,000
8. ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc.FullertonResidential Landscape Construction over $50,000
9. Homescapes Complete Residential LandscapingJohnstone ResidenceResidential Landscape Construction over $50,000
10. Alpha Better Landscaping Inc.Legacy - Traffic IslandsCommercial Landscape Construction $100-$500,000
11. Alpha Better Landscaping Inc.Legacy Phase 1 - East West PondCommercial Landscape Construction over $500,000
12. Homescapes Complete Residential LandscapingMcManes ResidenceResidential Landscape Features
13. ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc.Springbank Hill HOACommercial Maintenance
14. Salisbury LandscapingShemanchuck 2015Residential Landscape Design
15. Year-Round Landscaping Inc.Knoll Residence Concept and Planting PlanResidential Landscape Design
16. Earthlings Inc.Storey ResidenceResidential Landscape Design
17. JVR Landscape (2006) Inc.Lennox MacDonald ResidenceResidential Landscape Design
18. Julia's Alpine GardenBernardo ProjectResidential Landscape Design
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 11
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12 I Green for Life May/June 2015
19. Homescapes Complete Residential LandscapingMulloy ResidenceResidential Landscape Construction under $50,000
20. ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc.TathamResidential Landscape Construction over $50,000
21. JVR Landscape (2006) Inc.Howard ResidenceResidential Landscape Construction over $50,000
22. ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc.Town of CochraneCommercial Landscape Construction over $500,000
23. ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Inc.La RocqueResidential Landscape Design
2019
21
23
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Excellence
Showcase your expertise and creativity...Enter the 2015 Landscape Awards!
Watch for information on the 2015 Landscape Awards program in your inbox
in the coming weeks!
The Landscape Awards program is only opento active members of Landscape Alberta.
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 13
A good landscape design can add function andvalue to any yard. Designers take the spacespresented to them, along with the vision of theclient and turn them into beautiful landscapesthat improve the use and value of the property.Landscape Alberta spoke to a few memberdesigners about what inspires their work andwhat trends they see coming in 2015.
How do you approach a design? Whatinfluences your work?Jason Stubbs: I was always taught to see eachgarden as a box and my task was to fill that boxwith the client’s hopes and dreams. As a result,all my design work is a reaction to the clients,their family, their home and their desires for thefinished article. While it’s important for the clientto be heard, sometimes it’s important for theclient to be ignored. That way new and betterideas evolve and take shape.
Kirsten Hironaka: My primary focus whendesigning is to create a usable invitinglandscape. This might sound boring, but there isnothing that saddens me more than a landscapethat doesn’t draw you outside.
Bruce Kay: I begin all my design processes withfirst understanding who will use the space andhow they will use it. I always plan for a balancebetween the intended use, and the client-driven
aesthetic considerations. When selecting material, I look to capture the feelor essence of the space. And finally, as the ideas and concepts evolve, Iconsider the client’s budget which plays a key part of determining the finaldesign.
Where do you find inspiration?Jason: My inspiration has rarely come from other gardens. What I’ve beentaught and, in part, what I’ve learned, is that beautiful design in one disciplinecan be echoed in another. The balance and line of furniture design, theboldness and substance of architecture or the creativity and strata of graphicdesign all enable me to approach design work from a different perspective.
Kirsten: Inspiration comes from all different places for me. What often
Design by Kirsten Hironaka, Earthlings Inc.
Landscape Design: Inspirations and Industry Trends
14 I Green for Life May/June 2015
happens is my mind is focused on a particular element of a designand I notice ideas on the internet or in magazines and books. I reallylike using websites like houzz.com; lots of great inspiration there.And of course, there is also inspiration that comes from visitinggreat landscapes in person.
Bruce: I am inspired by natural landscapes and recreating thosenatural places. There exist those spaces in nature that just make usfeel right in the world, and I am always inspired when I am in them,can design them, or have created them for others to enjoy. Thepatterns I refer to as “Landscape Archetypes” commonly connect usto designed outdoor spaces when they appeal to our simplesthuman needs by providing shelter, or protection from harm.Landscape Archetypes that inspire me include:
A Cave, which creates a space with protection from all sides, top andbottom, allowing the person within to view, and thus know, the onlypotential source of a threat, while free from wind, sun and rain.
A Promontory, or high point, which maximizes vistas and providesprotection by height, but is wide open to the elements.
A Harbour which is a space that generates positive space or “arms”that wrap around the space being used.
I have been fortunate in my career to have many mentors thatinspire me. Some of my mentors that continue to impact my designprocess include Christopher Alexander and his book PatternLanguage, Julie Moir Messervy, Virginia Burke and Ruth Olde whoconnects landscape to household utility terms such as living rooms,hallways and kitchens.
What is your favourite part of designing a landscape for a client?Jason: Undoubtedly the act of revealing design work for clients is ahugely exciting element of the process. I’m always looking to addelements in to a design that surprise and excite my clients; thingsthat elevate the space in to something unique. Then at the garden’scompletion, taking the time to connect with the finished space,breathing it all in can be incredibly rewarding.
Kirsten: My favorite part of designing a landscape is when I get a
Design by Wade McArthur, OnGrowing Works Ltd.
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 15
solid chunk of time in the wee hours and the creative juices areflowing; where all the thoughts that have been rolling aroundin my mind are actually set to paper.
Bruce: I thrive on working in collaboration with a client who isinspired by my concept design process. When a client and Iwork on creating and envisioning and dreaming togethertoward the same intended experience - this is my favouritepart of landscape planning.
What new industry trends do you see coming this season?Jason: Trends are for charlatans and as a result I have alwaysfelt that trends belong in the bin. If something looks asrelevant now as it did 200 years ago, then the chances are it’lllook as relevant in 200 years’ time. So, study the history andevolution of Landscape Design, apply the rules and then breakthem where you can.
Kirsten: I definitely see a trend to be more water consciousand being more creative with groundcovers, rather than usingthe traditional Kentucky blue grass mixes.
Bruce: Water awareness continues to be a strong trend.Specifically slow water, promoting both passive and activewater harvest for re-use. Going back to the old ways with newtechnology and understanding rain gardens, bio-mimicry,water harvesting and food production in place of lawnmaintenance, continue to dominate trends.
What past trends are you happy to see fall out of favour?Kirsten: I don’t know… garden gnomes? Just kidding, butseriously I have seen way fewer “gravel-scapes” and thatmakes me happy!
Bruce: Inappropriate lawn areas and irrigation systemsalways disappoint me, and I am ecstatic to see people areunderstanding that the trend of having a green lawn is nolonger the sustainable or responsible thing to do.
Are consumers finally understanding the true value ofpaying for a professional design?Jason: Initially people need to see more value in landscapingand the effect a well-considered landscape can have on howthey interact with the space. The opportunities afforded by aprofessional landscape design can elevate the space fromsomething dull and mundane to something magical. Thedesign process allows them to be part of that evolution ratherthan a bystander with a cheque book.
Kirsten: I think that consumers are beginning to understandthe value of designers because we have begun valuingourselves. I would say the answer to the question is yes.Consumers can see the difference a professional design canmake to a landscape and they want that for themselves.
Bruce: I believe it is our role as horticulturists to educateour clients. Through this education, our clients have alwaysunderstood the value of our ideas, designs and experience,and we remain grateful for the amazing work opportunitiesthey provide because they know the value of what they arepaying for.
Jason Stubbs from Salisbury Landscaping in Sherwood Parkworked with a small garden design practice in London andDublin before starting at Salisbury. His focus is on designinggardens that amaze and inspire clients, leaving them withsomething unique that remains relevant for years to come.
Kirsten Hironaka is the principle designer for Earthlings Inc. inLethbridge. She graduated from Olds College with a diploma inHorticulture in 1998.
Bruce Kay, Certified Landscape Horticulturist is the owner ofOnGrowing Works Ltd. in Cochrane. He has worked in variousroles and aspects of the industry for over 30 years, creatingvisions for his clients.
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Business for SaleEstablished and well respected high-endresidential landscape construction companybased out of Invermere, BC is for sale. Mostprestigious client list in the province. Forinquiries, contact Rick at [email protected].
Design by Jason Stubbs, Salisbury Landscaping
Buying? Selling? Hiring?Rates start at $46 per inchCall 1-800-378-3198 to book
your space today!
16 I Green for Life May/June 2015
Exhausted or Drunk -Behind the Wheel It Makes No Difference
Our society considers it unacceptable to operate a motorvehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In Alberta, thelegal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .05 percent.At this level, drivers are considered to be impaired. Thinkingand reflexes slow down, judgment may be impaired, speechmay slur, and there may be problems with memory. Driversin this condition should not operate, nor should they beallowed to operate, any motor vehicle.
A 1999 study by Australian researchers on the effects of
lack of sleep on human performance mayforce us to look at worker fatigue in the sameway. Since fatigue or tiredness is so difficultto measure, the researchers comparedimpairment due to sleep deprivation withalcohol-induced impairment. While thelaboratory setting may not always reflect the“real world”, the results may surprise you.
Subjects were kept awake and asked toperform four tasks at hourly intervals. Thetasks judged the accuracy and speed ofsubjects on grammatical reasoning andvigilance (watchfulness) tests. Findings of thestudy suggest that after only 20 hours ofsustained wakefulness, a person may be asfunctionally impaired as someone with aBAC of .10 percent. That’s a level of alcoholintoxication greater than the level legallypermitted in Alberta.
The results of this study support thesuggestion that even moderate levels ofsustained wakefulness reduce performance toan extent greater than is currently acceptablefor alcohol intoxication. Since approximately50 percent of shift workers typically spend atleast 24 hours awake on the first night shiftof their work period, these findings haveimportant implications to industries involvingshift work.
The results are also important for anyoneworking extended hours over multiple days orweeks with inadequate periods of rest. Sincesleep debt is cumulative, we can expect to seesimilar performance impairments in workersfatigued due to a lack of sleep.
The message? Sleep deprivation needs to be taken seriouslysince extended periods of wakefulness cansignificantly impair worker performance. Mostemployers have company policies to deal withalcohol and drug use. Some employers arenow introducing fatigue managementprograms to prevent injuries and financiallosses. No one would allow an intoxicatedperson to operate a motor vehicle. Perhaps it’stime to reconsider our attitudes towardsallowing someone who hasn’t slept for thepast 20 or more hours to operate a vehicle ordangerous equipment.
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Lost for words? Sleep loss means you may have difficulty•finding the words for what you want to say. Uh …uh … uh … Taking more risks? Fatigue causes some people to take more•risks as they try to avoid additional effort. Only a few seconds? A “microsleep”, one of those naps lasting•four or five seconds, is long enough for you to travel more thanthe length of a football field at highway speeds.
Danger signs If you experience any of these symptoms while driving, take themas a warning that you could fall asleep without meaning to.
Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves. •You have trouble keeping your head up. •You can't stop yawning. •You have wandering, disconnected thoughts. •You don't remember driving the last few miles. •You drift between lanes, tailgate or miss traffic signs. •You keep jerking the car back into the lane. •You have drifted off the road and narrowly missed crashing. •
If you have even one of these symptoms, you may be in danger offalling asleep. Pull off the road and take a nap. (National SleepFoundation)
Source: Work Safe Alberta
Green for Life May/June 2015 I 17
2015Sponors
18 I Green for Life May/June 2015
A look back at our associationHelmut & Jane Huebner, Juniper Landscaping Ltd.
Robert Sproule, Salisbury Landscaping
Pat Butler and Alf Savage
Marlene Semko
From L to R: unknown, Jane McIntosh, Jenny Munson, Vay Pollock, SandraLastiwka and Alison Munro.
The people in these photos have been identified to the best of our ability. If wehave made an error or if you are able to identify someone in a photo, pleaseemail [email protected], so we can update our records.
Tom Lastiwka, Tom’s Tree Farm Southern Chapter Summer BBQ c.1980
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