ASSOCIATION NEWS
Toward belonging Building a diverse and healthy profession By David Milne Landscape Ontario DIB Committee Co-chair
way for our trade to move forward, but we still have quite a distance to travel. Monocultures have proven to be unhealthy and unsustainable. The most productive and sustainable ecosystems are those with the greatest diversity. Just look at a healthy coral reef system, a rainforest or the very landscapes we design, install and maintain. The number of different species existing together is incredible, and together they form a community that thrives. Recent research shows us that a healthy, productive soil is a profoundly diverse ecosystem with literally thousands of different organisms. This is the very foundation on which everything else we do flourishes. Small or large, both ecosystems and our businesses benefit when there is diversity.
Cultural historian Thomas Berry said, “The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.” If we embraced this idea, we might solve some key issues facing the landscape profession today. The landscape and horticultural trades have long struggled with finding and retaining staff. There are several reasons for this, but a significant one is that many in our society do not see themselves as being represented. They don’t see a place on our crews where they feel they belong. This is a hurdle when trying to attract new talent into our trade. To continue to meet the needs of our clients and raise the perception of our profession, we need to create an environment that is inclusive, where individuals from all walks of life feel respected and treated
as equals. Otherwise, we’re missing out on a gold mine of skills, perspectives and talents. Addressing this has never been more important for our industry to move forward and be seen as professional. A few years ago, my sister attended the Landscape Ontario (LO) Congress trade show as she has a keen interest in gardening. Afterwards, she said, as a woman, she did not feel included. She felt like a foreigner in a male-dominated space. Similarly, Rohan Harrison, an LO provincial board member, has shared that, as a person of colour, there was a time when he did not see himself reflected in LO messaging. When I walk the floor at Congress now, I am pleased to see the makeup of attendees has become more diverse. Embracing this diversity is the only
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