CONFERENCE GUIDE SPONSORED by Wednesday, February 12, 2020

CONFERENCE GUIDE SPONSORED BY

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Canad Inns Polo Park CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

conference sessions

Retail Garden centre merchandising

John Zaplatynsky Canada Garden Works John will identify how creative merchandise presentations can transform your garden centre into an inviting and exciting destination.

The Green City - The Importance of Urban Green Space

Bill Hardy, Business Owner Grow & Gather Garden Centre

Climate change is affecting our cities, our communities, and our homes and is changing the way we must design and build our urban landscapes. Each city, town and community must then, seek solutions and develop initiatives that are specific to their needs. Bill will provide an overview of how this can be done.

Achieving Freedom & Profit, do you have what it takes?

Nathan Helder, President Southbrook Consulting

In this seminar you will learn from an industry expert that creating a culture of ownership, operating with an open book management style, paying your staff above industry rates and providing career paths will lead to increase profits and personal freedom. Nathan, a 3rd generation business owner will use first hand examples and share how he transformed Gelderman Landscape Services into a industry leading landscape company.

Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota - What has Slowed the Spread?

Mark Abrahamson, Plant Protection Division Director, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Emerald ash borer has been in Minnesota since 2005 when it arrived in St Paul. The first discovery of EAB was in 2009 and since then it has been found in 20 counties which is much less than was anticipated. Compared to the speed at which EAB has spread generally in the U.S., the rate has been about 1/3 of that in Minnesota. We will consider the history of EAB in Minnesota and why that difference is occurring.

conference sessions

Great Plants for the Prairies

Owen Vanstone, Vanstone Nurseries, Philip Ronald, Jeffries Nurseries, Scott Peter, Aubin Nurseries

Join us for a tour through some of the best new and recent plant introductions for the Prairie region. Expect to learn about everything from perennials and planters to shrubs and shade trees from people that work with these plants every day and can offer firsthand experience. Learn how local hardiness and performance trials offer tremendous insight into the suitability of new introductions to Prairie gardens. This is one session that anyone with an interest in plants won’t want to miss.

The rewards of volunteering

Bill Hardy, Business Owner Grow & Gather Garden Centre

What is a Weasel Worker? How did becoming a Weasel Worker lead to being the head coordinator at the top of the track at the Ladies Downhill during the 2010 Winter Olympics. How did agreeing to volunteer for the 4:00 am shift in the dark and pouring rain of the holding lot at the CanWest Horticulture Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre lead to being a VIP at the 2019 Beijing World Horticulture Expo Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and almost get detained for accidentally sitting in the Chinese Presidents Chair? Join Bill and follow him on his trip down the path of almost 40 years of volunteerism.

What to do with a Downpour: Ornamental Ways to Handle Rainwater

Sean James, Owner Sean James Consulting & Design

Development has resulted in large areas of impermeable surfaces, leading to flooding and damage to infrastructure and waterways. Techniques will be discussed to aid in infiltrating rainwater into the soil while beautifying landscapes and allowing a more unusual palette of plants to be used. We’ll cover how to design and build a rain garden including placement, construction, and plant choice.

Tree risk assessment: Principles, practices and progress

Alex Satel, Senior consultant - urban forestry and arboriculture Urban Forest Innovations Inc.

This presentation examines the elements of tree risk assessment in an urban forest context. Attendees will learn about the concept of risk; tree biology as it relates to risk; tree biomechanics; ‘defects’ and modes of failure; industry standards, best practices and methods of risk assessment; and conservation-oriented options for risk mitigation. The presentation will review the full range of risk assessment practices and methods, from limited visual assessment to emerging and experimental methods employing technology first developed by NASA for use in the space shuttle program. conference sessions

Take Control of your Fleet Vehicle Costs with Jim Pattison Lease and General Motors

Sean Kavitch, Account Executive Jim Pattison Lease and Doug Reimer, Fleet Account Manager GM of Canada

Discussing Fleet Management cost saving strategies utilizing the GM and CNLA/MBNLA discount program.

Introduction to Green Infrastructure

Rohan Lilauwala, Program Manager Green Infrastructure Foundation

Green infrastructure refers to natural and human-made elements that provide ecological and hydrological functions and processes to address environmental resilience and climate change, and include elements like trees, wetlands, rain gardens, and green roofs. This session introduces participants to the rationale for green infrastructure, its elements, benefits, and the principles behind successful policy and implementation of these systems.

Talk Dirty: Soil and the Things Living in it

Sean James, Owner Sean James Consulting & Design

We’re learning much about soil and its importance to plant health and climate change. The latest information and science will be discussed. Several main questions will be asked and answered. How do we steward the soil microbiome? What are the beneficial bacteria and fungi? What activities harm the soil and therefore the plants? Can better soil stewardship also mean lower maintenance? It’s a dirty topic, but someone’s got to cover it.

EAB Management and trapping/Lallemand Plant Care- Microbial in Nature

Ryan Longo, Bioforest, Business Development and Technical Specialist

Emerald Ash Borer trapping and treatment strategies. Lallemand Plant Care utilizes microorganisms and bacteria in various applications, servicing many different sectors of plant production from food production to horticulture nurseries. learn more about OMRI listed products that can solubilize organic and Organic phosphorus to an organic herbicide used for buck thorn control.

conference sessions

Preventing the Movement of Pests and Disease in Nursery Stock

Mark Abrahamson, Plant Protection Division Director, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing the movement of pests and disease through nursery stock and insuring that clean, viable stock is available in the market place. To accomplish this task the Department maintains a program to inspect both the stock grow in Minnesota as well as that which is brought into the state for sale.

Making the case for Green Infrastructure

Rohan Lilauwala, Program Manager Green Infrastructure Foundation

The benefits of green infrastructure - like stormwater management, energy savings, increased resilience to climate change, and improved air quality - are well known and accepted. However, these benefits are rarely measured, and their value not included in important policy, investment, and development decisions. This session helps participants understand the principles behind valuing green infrastructure's many benefits, so that these valuations can be used to make better decisions around limited resources.

The Art of Ruthless Execution

Nathan Helder, President Southbrook Consulting

How committed to winning are you? Why do good ideas fail? Why is it so hard to win? How is it that each year we create a new plan, yet there always appears to be reasons why the plan did not happen. Being successful is hinged on being consistent, 100% of the time, Ruthless! Learn how to create the right environment, have the right focus and build the right team.

Tree Planting Solutions for Hard Spaces

Alex Satel, Senior consultant - urban forestry and arboriculture Urban Forest Innovations Inc.

Urban forests lack many of the features of natural forests that are critical for tree survival, and throw a few other challenges into the mix. But don’t despair! Despite the perils posed by urban landscapes, there are ways to effectively and sustainably integrate healthy trees into even the most difficult of hard spaces. This presentation reviews key lessons learned from successful (and unsuccessful) tree planting case studies in highly urbanized and challenging locations that can be applied in any community seeking to go from grey to green. speaker biographies

Nathan Helder is CEO of Gelderman Landscape Services, located in Waterdown, ON. As CEO, Nathan spends over 80% of his time in the role as a coach and mentor. He believes that every business needs to begin with a simple and clear Strategic Plan, have access to real time data with clean financial reporting, and be aware that Culture outperforms everything. In 2014, Nathan created Southbrook Consulting, which focuses on providing customized management solutions for business owners who have become frustrated and worried about the direction and financial success of their companies. Southbrook offers choices ranging from strategic planning workshops to 1:1 consulting. Nathan is married to Michelle and has 2 children.

John Zaplatynsky is the founder of Canada GardenWorks, one of Canada's leading garden centre companies with seven locations in British Columbia. John served as President and CEO for 27 years, retiring in 2010, still serving as Chair of the GardenWorks advisory board. He continues to be active in the industry, serving on the board of Sloat Garden Centres, a San Francisco-based garden centre company with 13 stores in Northern California and acting as an advisor to the Canada Nurseryland group of 100 independent garden centres.

speaker biographies

Bill Hardy has had many roles and responsibilities over the years and has always had an avid involvement in industry professional development and certification. He was instrumental in establishing landscape and retail certification programs nation-wide as well as Mark Abrahamson has worked playing a key role in at the Minnesota Department developing Landscape of Agriculture since 1999. Most Horticulture as a Red Seal of his career has been spent as Trade designation. an entomologist working with invasive species like soybean At home in the lower aphid, brown marmorated mainland of British Columbia, stink bug and emerald ash over the past 40 years Bill has borer. He has been in a become a highly qualified leadership position in the Plant Protection Division for the last 4 management professional in years. The Plant Protection the retail, association, and Division is responsible for the environment horticulture invasive plant pests in industry. Minnesota as well as noxious weeds, and inspection and regulation of several plant industries Bill believes in the power of plants and working landscapes to help including nursery stock, seeds, hemp and seed potatoes. Mark cities become healthier, more livable spaces, and he puts his grew up in and now lives in Wisconsin near the Minnesota border. beliefs into action by committing his time and talent as a volunteer He have a BS from University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and an MS on many initiatives. from State University of New York at Syracuse.

Bill is also co-owner of Grow and Gather Garden Centre in Maple Ridge BC. In his spare time, Andy loves to coach hockey and baseball and speaker biographies

Owen Vanstone is a joint owner of Vanstone Nurseries, a greenhouse and nursery operation located in Manitoba. The company produces a wide range of hardy perennials, shrubs and roses as well as a growing line of herbs, vegetables, and annuals. Owen is involved in plant testing and selection as well as many details in the day to day operations.

Owen has enjoyed developing the perennial trial site at the nursery location. Plant material from several breeders is evaluated for cold hardiness and suitability to the Prairie landscape. The nursery trial site is also host to the All- America Selections trial with a focus on the Herbaceous Perennial category. Owen enjoys evaluating new plants and working to bring the best of them to Prairie gardeners.

Philip Ronald was raised in the Canadian prairies and educated in plant breeding and horticulture at the University of Manitoba and University of Saskatchewan. Philip presently divides his time between teaching horticulture at the University of Manitoba, managing Riverbend Orchards, a 20 acre fruit farm and providing support to the research and marketing programs at Jeffries Nurseries.

Scott Peter has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba. He is also a graduate of the former Greenspace Management program at Red River College. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and completed the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. Scott has over a decade in experience in asset management, insect and disease diagnosis and treatment, and landscape installation.

Currently he is the Sales Manager at Aubin Nurseries in Carman Manitoba, where he also leads the team in plant development.

speaker biographies

“Named by GardenMaking magazine as one of “20 Making a Difference”, gardening has been Sean James’ hobby and profession for over 35 years. A graduate of Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, a Master Gardener, writer, and teacher, Sean focuses on eco- gardening techniques, which makes sense since he grew up surrounded by nature near Crawford Lake in Campbellville. He has participated in the professional advisory committee for Niagara College’s Landscape Program, chairing the Environmental Stewardship Committee for Landscape Ontario, the Environmental Committee for the Perennial Plant Association, moderating the Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook page, judging the All American Selections garden competition and Hamilton’s Monarch Awards Hamilton. He has appeared on many television and radio shows. Sean owns ‘Sean James Consulting & Design’ and instructs at Mohawk College.”

Alex Satel is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds a Master of Forest Conservation (MFC) degree from the University of Toronto. A senior urban forestry and arboricultural consultant at Urban Forest Innovations Inc., Alex leads the development of strategic urban forest management plans for municipalities in Canada and beyond, and specializes in advanced tree risk assessment, including sonic tomography and tree pulling tests.

Sean Kavitch has been in the auto industry for 25 years, and for over 3 years as Account Executive for JPL covering Manitoba. As an Account Executive for JPL, Seans passion is to find clients who have the right fit for what JPL offers, and builds long term relationships as he manages their fleet needs over the life of their partnership.

Doug Reimer is the GM Fleet Account Manager for commercial fleet customers covering Manitoba, Saskatchewan and BC.

Doug grew up in Landmark, MB and grew up in the automotive industry having worked with his father for many years at Landmark Motors, a General Motors dealership. Doug has also worked in automotive training and consulting and for twelve years as a GM Fleet representative. Doug is passionate about building strong partnerships with his ustomers and colleagues with relationships built on integrity and trust.

speaker biographies

As Program Manager at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the lead of its charitable arm, the Green Infrastructure Foudation, Rohan Lilauwala, GRP, has spent the past five years working on breaking down barriers to the widespread use of green infrastructure across North America. Rohan has developed and delivered training programs, tools, resources, and analyses, focusing on green infrastructure performance, costs and benefits. His cost-benefit analyses have helped lead to improvements to the Toronto Eco-Roof Incentive Program, as well as the passage of Denver’s citizen-led Green Roof Initiative.

Ryan Longo is the Business Development and Technical Specialist for Western North America for Lallemand Plant Care. I have an associates degree in Ecosystem Management, hold many different levels of exterminators licenses across Canada and have worked in the tree care industry partaking in insect eradication programs in municipal settings and Right-of-Way herbicide spray programs in utility arboriculture and industrial management. I also have expertise and hold certificates in GIS mapping and forest resource health. I have been working at Lallemand Plant Care's BioForest division for the past two years working closely with communities in Canada in integrated pest management and tree health care. Sponsors

Alternative Landscaping BioForest Technologies Inc. Chris Griffin Jessica Mooney Corner of 34th Street and Pacific Avenue 59 Industrial Park Crescent, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 5P3 Site 400, Box 30, RR#1, Tel: (888) 236-7378 Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5Y1 Email: [email protected] Tel: (204) 727-7289 Web: www.bioforest.ca Web: http://www.alternativelandscapingltd.com BioForest’s purpose is to save trees from pathogens and invasive Alternative landscaping offers landscape maintenance pests while having minimal impact on the surrounding environment And installation services, a garden center and retail through a science-based approach. BioForest specializes in innovative product development and consulting strategies for products servicing the Westman region. nurseries, urban canopy, and commercial forest.

Anseeuw Brothers Ltd. Brandt Tractor Ltd. Stephanie Moskal Kevin Haiko MB-1, Oakbluff, Manitoba, R0G 1N0 3700 McGillivray Blvd, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 5S3 Tel: (204) 557-5890 Tel: (204) 480-4977 Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Web: https://www.anseeuwbros.com Web: http://www.brandt.ca

Heavy Equipment designed to work hard and to deliver productivity Anseeuw Bros. is a provider of landscape supplies and we are the distributor of OMEX fertilizers and adjuvants. We offer high-quality, and efficiency on field. Product lineup from dozers, excavators to water-soluble, foliar and granular fertilizers to the greenhouse, turf, motor graders, wheel loaders and much more. and landscaping markets in Canada. Consolidated Supply Aubin Nurseries Ltd. Chris Buechler Gerry Aubin 986 Powell Ave. Box 1089, Carman, MB R0G 0J0 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0H6 Tel: (204) 745-6703 Tel: (204) 470-3832 Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Web: www.aubinnurseries.ca Web: http://www.cte.ca/ Offering a unique and essential range of container grown nursery Facebook: www.facebook.com/consolidatedsupplycanada stock to meet your garden centre and landscape requirements for Instagram: www.instagram.com/consolidatedsupply Twitter: www.twitter.com/CTE1965 the northern climate. Since 1965, Consolidated has been a proudly Canadian distributor of Landscape, Lawn & Garden, Irrigation, and Golf Industries. Ball Horticultural Company 622 Town Rd., West Chicago, Illinois, 60185-2698 Enns Brothers Ltd Duayne Friesen Scott Palmer Tel: (204) 633-0088 McGillivray at Perimeter Email:[email protected] 25 Highway 3 East Web: www.ballhort.com Oak Bluff, MB R4G 0B2 Tel: (204) 895-0212 Ball Horticultural Company is a leader in all facets of horticulture. Our Email: [email protected] global family of breeders, research and development teams, Web: www.ennsbrothers.com suppliers, and distribution companies has a strong presence on six continents in 20 countries. We live by our founder’s motto: “All the Best and Nothing Else.” Even Spray & Chemical Todd Thompson 2-851 Lagimodiere Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2J 3K4 Barkman Concrete Tel: (204) 237-9095 Nick Dueck Email: [email protected] 909 Gateway Road, Winnipeg, MB R2K 3L1 Web: www.evenspray.com Tel: (204) 667-3310 A supplier of agricultural, horticultural and landscape products used Email: [email protected] in the production of food, flowers and the enhancement of Web: www.barkmanconcrete.com greenspace, greenhouses and golf courses.

Manufacturer of precast concrete products for residential, commercial, agricultural and municipal applications. .