WINNERS of the first Green for Life Award were honoured Jan. 13, at
Landscape Congress in Toronto, Canada’s largest international,
horticultural lawn and garden trade show and conference.
In the category of contractor, the winner was Appleby Landscaping of Milton, Ont. Lemkey Landscape Design Ltd. of Winnipeg was the winner in the design category while Clintar Landscape Management of Mount Hope, Ont. took the winner’s prize in the lawn care category.
The Green for Life Award was created to promote, recognize and reward environmentally-responsible companies in the horticulture, landscape construction and design industry. Winners were drawn from participants completing the “environmental scorecard,” a tool developed by Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, allowing green industry businesses to rate their environmental practices and benchmark for future improvements.
More than 472 entries were made, including more than 287 from Ontario alone.
Participants scored an average of 75.3 per cent nationally and 70.3 per cent in Ontario.
“We are extremely pleased that Appleby Landscape, Lemkey Landscape Design and Clintar Landscape Management are the recipients of the Green for Life Award,” said Nathan Helder, chairman of Landscape Ontario’s Environmental Stewardship Committee and awards judge. “Their dedication to environmental practices is a lifelong commitment, and reflects a growing trend towards environmental stewardship that is not time bound. Environmental assessments are a tool that businesses can use annually to make continuous, incremental improvements and become even more environmentally responsible.”
With more than 25 years experience in landscape design, Lemkey Landscape and Design provides consultation services and complete landscape installation to its clients.
“I am very honoured to have received this award”, said Keith Lemkey, president. “We didn’t start out thinking our actions were ‘green.’ We started looking for ways of disposing our unwanted materials in a manner that was cost-effective, and the end result was more recycling of materials and less in landfills.”
Part of Landscape Ontario’s public mission, Green for Life promotes the joys and benefits of plants and green spaces. The new award program was open to all sectors of the landscape trade industry across Canada. It was designed to raise awareness and recognize those in the industry whose actions demonstrate continuous improvement in environmental stewardship, including responsible environmental practices in the management and operations of these businesses.
Turf Revolution of Ayr, Ont., a recognized industry leader in supplying residential, commercial and municipal customers with innovative products, sponsored the Green for Life Awards.
“Turf Revolution is happy to join Landscape Ontario in celebrating businesses that see sustainable opportunities and embrace green initiatives and innovation,” said president Tammy Lawrence.
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