February 15, 2012
Ottawa AGM has full house and full agenda
By Martha Walsh
Ottawa Chapter coordinator
Despite the winter storm warning on Jan. 19, the Annual General Meeting for the Ottawa Chapter saw 48 members in attendance.
Held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Barrhaven, the AGM was brought to order by Chapter vice president Ed Hansen, who chaired the meeting. Sheila James, of the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, spoke to members about musculoskeletal disorders. She noted that the Ministry of Labour will stage a blitz program in February.
Stacy Elliott of Bradley’s Commercial Insurance gave a presentation, entitled, Insurance Minute. She informed members about new insurance for social media applications and how that might affect their business. The meeting was sponsored by Cohen and Cohen Natural Stone and the lunch was sponsored by Plant Products.
Kennedy Johnston, chair of the Ottawa Certification Committee, informed members of this year’s written and practical certification examinations in late January at Algonquin College and on Sept. 27 and 28 at University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus. He also presented attendees with the Ottawa information sheet, which included photos of local certified members.
Phil Tuba from Algonquin College informed members of the new Landscape and Design program that will begin in the fall of 2012. This new program has been developed with much industry input, including feedback from Landscape Ontario.
Executive director Tony DiGiovanni was featured speaker at this year’s AGM. He began with the question, “What is it that we can do to make Landscape Ontario relevant to members so that any and all of you will come to every meeting and participate?” He spoke to the relevance of membership in Landscape Ontario and how face-to-face interaction is the most relevant.
Richard Rogers CLT of R J Rogers Landscaping, a 2012 Awards of Excellence recipient, commented, “It has been almost full circle with my participation in Chapter meetings, since I joined LO. I got more value being face-to-face, than I do spending too much time on a computer screen. The new venue has energized me, and now I do not want to miss a meeting; it hasn’t always been like that, but now I am pleased with the changes and re-energizing.”
Joan Johnston, past president of the Ottawa Chapter, and owner of Peter Knippel Nurseries in Gloucester, said she was also pleased with the new location and programs and how dynamic the board has been in the past year.
DiGiovanni also addressed the Pillars of Success within the Prosperity Partners system.
Ottawa Chapter vice president Ed Hansen shared anecdotes on a Ministry of Labour inspection at his business. He said he is now aware of what is involved, and is sharing that information with other members.
The Ottawa Chapter Board of Directors for 2012 are: Chris Burns, Clintar Landscape Management — Ottawa, president; Ed Hansen, Hansen Lawn and Garden, vice-president; Sundaura Alford CLD, Yards Unlimited, treasurer; Sarah Johnston, Greenlife Landscaping, past president; Bruce Morton, Greenscape.ca, provincial board representative and trade show chair; and directors: Patricia Stanish, Patricia Stanish Landscape Designs, Stacy Elliott, Bradley’s Commercial Insurance, Kelly Mulrooney-Cote, Geosynthetic Systems, Tim Dyer, Kings Creek Trees, Jim Curran, Lafleur de la Capitale, Chris Urquhart, Green Unlimited, and Bert Minor CLD, Prebbel Enterprises.
Ottawa Chapter coordinator
Despite the winter storm warning on Jan. 19, the Annual General Meeting for the Ottawa Chapter saw 48 members in attendance.
Held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Barrhaven, the AGM was brought to order by Chapter vice president Ed Hansen, who chaired the meeting. Sheila James, of the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, spoke to members about musculoskeletal disorders. She noted that the Ministry of Labour will stage a blitz program in February.
Stacy Elliott of Bradley’s Commercial Insurance gave a presentation, entitled, Insurance Minute. She informed members about new insurance for social media applications and how that might affect their business. The meeting was sponsored by Cohen and Cohen Natural Stone and the lunch was sponsored by Plant Products.
Kennedy Johnston, chair of the Ottawa Certification Committee, informed members of this year’s written and practical certification examinations in late January at Algonquin College and on Sept. 27 and 28 at University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus. He also presented attendees with the Ottawa information sheet, which included photos of local certified members.
Phil Tuba from Algonquin College informed members of the new Landscape and Design program that will begin in the fall of 2012. This new program has been developed with much industry input, including feedback from Landscape Ontario.
Executive director Tony DiGiovanni was featured speaker at this year’s AGM. He began with the question, “What is it that we can do to make Landscape Ontario relevant to members so that any and all of you will come to every meeting and participate?” He spoke to the relevance of membership in Landscape Ontario and how face-to-face interaction is the most relevant.
Richard Rogers CLT of R J Rogers Landscaping, a 2012 Awards of Excellence recipient, commented, “It has been almost full circle with my participation in Chapter meetings, since I joined LO. I got more value being face-to-face, than I do spending too much time on a computer screen. The new venue has energized me, and now I do not want to miss a meeting; it hasn’t always been like that, but now I am pleased with the changes and re-energizing.”
Joan Johnston, past president of the Ottawa Chapter, and owner of Peter Knippel Nurseries in Gloucester, said she was also pleased with the new location and programs and how dynamic the board has been in the past year.
DiGiovanni also addressed the Pillars of Success within the Prosperity Partners system.
Ottawa Chapter vice president Ed Hansen shared anecdotes on a Ministry of Labour inspection at his business. He said he is now aware of what is involved, and is sharing that information with other members.
The Ottawa Chapter Board of Directors for 2012 are: Chris Burns, Clintar Landscape Management — Ottawa, president; Ed Hansen, Hansen Lawn and Garden, vice-president; Sundaura Alford CLD, Yards Unlimited, treasurer; Sarah Johnston, Greenlife Landscaping, past president; Bruce Morton, Greenscape.ca, provincial board representative and trade show chair; and directors: Patricia Stanish, Patricia Stanish Landscape Designs, Stacy Elliott, Bradley’s Commercial Insurance, Kelly Mulrooney-Cote, Geosynthetic Systems, Tim Dyer, Kings Creek Trees, Jim Curran, Lafleur de la Capitale, Chris Urquhart, Green Unlimited, and Bert Minor CLD, Prebbel Enterprises.