COLUMN
The work behind the work How LO is investing in the trades, connecting our communities and fighting for your business EXECUTIVE DESK
I spend a lot of time talking to Landscape Ontario (LO) members — on job sites, at chapter events, over coffee, on the phone. No matter who I'm speaking with, whether it’s a landscape contractor in London, a grower in Niagara or a garden centre owner in Ottawa, I keep hearing the same thing: the work matters and so does having an organization that fights for it. That's where I want to focus my thoughts for this column. Not in broad strokes or abstract language, but in the real, concrete (paver) ways Landscape Ontario is showing up for the landscape horticultural trades right now. Let's start with what keeps most of us up at night: finding good people. The labour shortage in our sector isn't new, but there are new challenges. That's why we've made workforce development one of our top priorities — not as a talking point, but as an investment. We're putting real resources into skills training, professional development and pathways that help people enter and advance in this industry. We're also investing in apprenticeship, because the trades model works. It builds competence, it builds confidence and it builds careers. When a young person can see a clear route from entry-level work to running a crew to owning a business, that changes how they think about this industry and whether they stay in it. This isn't something we can do alone. Building the workforce our industry needs It takes partnerships with colleges, training providers and employers who are willing to invest in their people. LO is leading the charge and we're going to keep pushing until the pipeline of skilled workers matches the demand we all feel every season.
Connecting communities One of the things that makes LO unique is the breadth of who we represent. Landscape contractors, garden centres, growers, lighting and irrigation specialists, designers, snow and ice professionals — we are a big tent, and that's a strength. But a big tent only works if the people inside it are actually talking to each other. That's why we continue to invest in chapter programming, networking events and industry gatherings that bring business owners together across disciplines and across the province. Some of the best ideas I've seen come out of this organization didn't start in a boardroom. They started during a conversation between two members who wouldn't have met otherwise. Whether it's a Chapter event in Belleville, Ont., or a Sector Group conference, these connections matter. They sharpen your thinking, expand your network and remind you that you're part of something bigger than your own operation. Advocating where it counts Here's where I want to be direct: government decisions affect your business every single day. Municipal by-laws, provincial regulations, federal policy — these aren't abstract. They show up in your costs, your hiring and your ability to operate. LO is at the table on these issues. We're engaging with municipal councils on by-laws that impact how you do business. We're working with the provincial government on regulatory matters that affect your bottom line. And we're tracking federal policy from labour and immigration to trade, to make sure our industry's voice is heard. Advocacy isn't glamorous work. It's briefing notes, meetings, follow-ups and building relationships with decision- makers who may not fully understand
the contributions of our industry. But it's essential, and we're committed to doing it well at every level of government. The value of what you do I want to close with something that doesn't get said enough: the work you do matters far beyond the property line. Landscape and horticulture professionals build the spaces where people gather, where children play, where communities unite. You manage stormwater, improve air quality and increase property values. You make neighbourhoods safer, healthier and more beautiful. And when the snow falls, you're the ones making sure people can get to work, to school or to the hospital safely. That story, the story of the impact and value of what you do every day is one we are committed to telling. To homeowners, to developers, to governments and to anyone who still thinks of our industry as "just cutting grass." You deserve better than that. And so does your work. Looking ahead There will always be challenges ahead: labour pressures, regulatory complexity, rising costs. These are real, and they're not going away tomorrow. But I've never been more confident in the resilience and professionalism of this industry, or in the ability of this organization to serve it. LO exists because of you. Every initiative I've described here: workforce development, apprenticeship, networking and advocacy is driven by what we hear from members. So keep talking to us, keep showing up and keep pushing us to do more.
Joe Salemi CAE LO Executive Director jsalemi@landscapeontario.com
MAY - JUNE 2026 | 19
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs