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50+ learning hours at Congress 2020

Landscape Congress has been running for nearly as long as Landscape Ontario itself, and will be marking its 47th year in January. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the annual conference and trade show at Toronto’s Congress Centre, giving those in the industry a chance to further their education, see the latest equipment and supplies, and network with their industry peers.

The largest event of its kind in Canada and ranked as one of North America’s finest conferences for the green industry, Landscape Congress is aimed at landscape contractors, lawn care professionals, snow and ice contractors, grounds management personnel and those employed in the fields of landscape design, hardscaping, irrigation, lighting, garden centre retail and interiorscaping.

More than 45 presenters will provide more than 50 hours of professional development during the three-day conference Jan. 7-9. Featured speakers and their topics include:

Tuesday, Jan. 7
A guide to restoring the little things that run the world. (Dr. Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware). The presentation is a reminder of the role that insects play and the changes the world must make in its landscapes and its mindset toward keeping insects on the ground and in the air.

The ins and outs of managing four generations in the workplace. (Jeff Butler, JButler International, Cohasset, Mass.). Butler will provide a guide to show how companies can thrive with employees spanning the four generations of baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z. Topics include strengthening cross-generational communication, handling generational conflict and leveraging multi-generational opportunities.

Integrated pest management of trees, shrubs and lawns: a holistic approach. (Dr. Max Schlossberg, Penn State University). The presentation will review categories and examples of control methods and identify practical applications related to residential and commercial landscape management. The presentation will also include being able to identify indicator weeds and nutrient deficiency symptoms in grasses and ornamentals.

Art of scaling: building a company without working impossible hours. (Mark Bradley, CEO, LMN, Markham, Ont.). Bradley will show how to build a business and not a job and how to reduce a company’s reliance on just the founder. The presentation will allow attendees to understand why customers do business with their company, will show how to prioritize quarterly strategic planning, will demonstrate how to spot the difference between an opportunity and a distraction, and show how to work smarter and not harder by knowing when to delegate.

Marketing systems for attracting homeowners. (Robert Murray and Vanessa McQuade, Intrigue Media Solutions Inc., Guelph, Ont.). The presentation will provide proven marketing systems to create a steady inflow of the right customers, allowing the business owner to work smarter, not harder, and watch his business grow.

21st century leadership: how to cultivate leadership in today’s workplace. (Jeff Butler, JButler International, Cohasset, Mass.). The presentation will look at the psychology of leadership works, debunking the biggest myths that are often preached about leadership. Butler will demonstrate how anyone can develop leadership traits to create life-changing adjustments to get extraordinary results.

Wednesday, Jan. 8
Stormwater management: the role of the landscape and horticulture profession. (Michael Albanese, Avesi Stormwater and Landscape Solutions, Hamilton, Ont.). This session will provide an update on current storm water challenges, as well as an inspiring overview of the opportunity for the landscape and horticulture profession to play a significant role in keeping communities safe.

Landscape contractors: the new eco warriors. (Dr. Lynda McCarthy, Ryerson University, Toronto). The landscape contractor is seen as a key participant in developing solutions to mitigate damage to municipal ecosystems. The presentation will take a closer look at such solutions as well as integrated landscape management strategies.

Speed networking. (Beth Edney, Designs By the Yard, Toronto). Attendees will move around the room, make new connections and discuss hot topics, providing a more personal and interactive setting for exploring key issues pertaining to horticulture and the landscape profession.

The art of ruthless execution. (Nathan Helder, Gelderman Landscape Services, Waterdown, Ont.). His presentation follows the idea that being successful hinges on being consistent 100 per cent of the time. Attendees will learn how to create the right environment, have the right focus and build the right team.

Working with difficult clients. (Andrew Wall, Sandler Training, Milton, Ont.). The presentation will look at effective strategies for changing perceptions and creating mutual beneficial business relationships as a means of winning back difficult customers.

Biophilia: the roots of landscape design. (Elizabeth Freeman, Calabrese Architects, Burlington, Vt.). The session will explore the implications of biophilia and biophilic design in the landscape design industry.

Thursday, Jan. 9
Demystifying soil specifications: a practical guide to soil. (Jose Haig, Earthco Soil Mixtures, Toronto). The session will cover understanding soil specifications, types and uses of soils, things that make Ontario soils unique, practical applications, and the future of soils.

Understanding the 2019 Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide. (Dr. Darby McGrath, Vineland Research and Innovative Centre; Ian Bruce, Bruce Tree Expert Company; and Dr. Glen Lumis, University of Guelph). The presenters will explore the Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide that is made up of summaries of up-to-date research and a series of corresponding field sheets that refine the information to actionable items.

For more information or to register, visit locongress.com.