An opportunity for change After years in the industry, Keown decided it was time to deepen her engagement with the landscape community, and joined Landscape Ontario (LO). The first meeting she attended was in Huntsville, at the Georgian Lakelands Chapter’s annual Ministry of Transportation (MTO) meeting in 2022. There, she watched an excellent presentation that had hardly any attendance. This experience was an eye-opener, and Emily quickly recognized an opportunity for change. “The Muskoka area is filled with landscaping companies, but I realized that people didn’t see the point in joining Landscape Ontario when meetings were so scattered across the northern area of Ontario. Only one meeting a year would be in Huntsville, and all the others would be in the south,” she said. This observation sparked the idea; establishing a new, locally focused chapter in the Muskoka region. However, creating a new chapter is no simple task. Emily and a group of members from the Muskokas met for over a year discussing this idea. They began by developing a strategic plan to outline the need for a new chapter, the events they would host and the proposed geographical borders. The team pointed out barriers like how Georgian Lakelands Chapter territory covered vast border lines, making events inaccessible for many. The need for region-specific plant training was also highlighted, as the diverse planting zones across Ontario mean that training
Fivepoint Landscaping offers help to clients at any stage of a project. From site clearing and basement digging, to landscape design and construction, planting and/or ongoing maintenance. With over 20 years of experience, Keown highlights how they are most proud of their ability to coordinate every part of the project, making it more efficient and stress free for clients. “What I enjoy most is being able to see a project go from a field of trees to a new home. It’s amazing to see the transformation.” Keown is firm in keeping work separate from her personal life; a dynamic she believes has helped her family in working together for so many years. “Business is business and personal is personal and we are very careful in preserving this,” Keown said. However, she also recognizes how working with family and knowing so much about them is a primary building block to their success, since she is able to support her team members when they need it most. “Since we are so close knit, I already know when they may need extra time off to deal with a difficult situation.” That said, safety and professionalism always come first at Fivepoint. Keown keeps their work culture open and honest to ensure that personal challenges don’t follow their employees into the job site. “Building a culture where people feel supported but still understand the responsibility of the work we do has been a big part of Fivepoint’s success. Like any business, it’s something we continue to learn and improve as we grow,” Keown said.
focused on Toronto would not be relevant to areas like Muskoka. After successfully creating a petition of support from companies across the Muskoka region, Keown presented the formal request to create a new chapter at an LO Provincial Board meeting. “I came to the board meeting with all the material possible and a prepared PowerPoint. I wanted to make sure there was no question that this was needed,” Keown said. From there, the Muskoka North Chapter was born. Once the Chapter was established in 2023, Keown was elected president and momentum accelerated. From hosting job fairs to network luncheons, the chapter continued to grow and thrive, eventually adding on more integrated events as seen in other chapters, like an annual golf tournament and Christmas party. The chapter’s primary long-term goal is to promote youth involvement in landscaping, noting that guidance counselors often steer students toward college or university, overlooking landscaping as a viable career path. To address this, the chapter started two bursary projects this year, one offering $5,000 to students pursuing landscaping- related studies, and the other supporting community projects, especially those involving youth. Inspiring women in the industry Keown stepped back from the president’s role this year to make time for other commitments. However, she remains actively involved in the board. Having
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