Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association

As 2021 comes to close, we want to wish all of our members, partners, board, committees, and staff a safe and happy holiday season! See you in 2022!

MBNLA will be hosting our joint in-person AGM and Holiday Dinner on Thursday, November 25th at Canad Inns Polo Park. For event details and to register to attend in person, visit our website - https://bit.ly/2ZHH8hO For those unable to attend in person, there will be a virtual option available. Contact our office to receive a link to participate virtually.

Our Fall 2021 Newsletter issue is designed and ready for your reading pleasure! If you are an MBNLA member, check your email inbox to access a copy, or log in to our website (https://mbnla.com/member-login/) to download a copy from the Members’ Only forum. This time around, the newsletter features a message from President Chris Spicer, a quarterly report from MBNLA’s Grower’s Rep, info on the Apprenticeship MB program, an MBNLA student spotlight featuring Kerry Witherspoon, d...etails on member benefits, CNLA articles, and a board report outlining association events and opportunities. Happy reading!

Save the Date! MBNLA will be hosting our joint in-person Annual General Meeting and Holiday Dinner on Thursday, November 25th at CanadInns Polo Park. Stay tuned for further information and registration info, as we finalize some more details.

Many thanks to all of our MBNLA Golf Classic tournament sponsors! For their support of the event and ongoing support of MBNLA. They include... Title Sponsor: HJS Wholesale LTD Lunch Sponsor: Barkman Concrete... Cart Sponsors: Even-Spray & Chemicals, Neudorff North America Putting Competition Sponsor: Gusta Sod Farms Hole Sponsors: SiteOne Landscape, DLF Pickseed Canada, Enns Brothers, Trendscapes, Aubin Nurseries Ltd. - Wholesale Landscapers & Garden Centres, growforge, Steinbach Trailers & RV, Vermeer Canada Inc., Consolidated Supply, Jeffries Nurseries, Ditchfield Supplies, HortProtect, Lacoste Garden Centre, Hepburn Enterprises Inc., Shelmerdine Garden Center, Expocrete, Red River Soils, and Keystone Products

Thanks to our title sponsor - HJS Wholesale LTD - for supporting our MBNLA Golf Classic on September 2nd! Pictured here is the team from HJS at the 18th hole. It was a great day on the green, where 54 golfers networked, teed off, and celebrated a stellar season in the horticulture and landscape industry. Here's looking forward to next year!

MBNLA's Summer 2021 newsletter issue is ready for distribution. Click to download: https://bit.ly/3hyZFn1 Have a read through the wide variety of articles to stay informed on MBNLA activities, a message from President Chris Spicer, information on the Board nomination process, a membership spotlight featuring Jordan Hiebert, details on the province’s apprenticeship program, CNLA articles, and a board report. Happy reading!

MBNLA's Spring 2021 newsletter issue is ready for distribution. Click to download: https://bit.ly/3mHryKl Have a read through the wide variety of articles to stay informed on MBNLA activities, our survey results, a membership spotlight featuring Keith Lemkey, info on MBNLA advocacy initiatives, CNLA meeting reports, a message from President Chris Spicer, and a board report. Happy reading!

We're happy to announce the winners of our MBNLA 'Awards of Merit' and 'Awards of Excellence,' distributed via our virtual awards presentation. Please congratulate: 3 Seasons Landscaping, Geller's Design Build Landscape, Kindret Landscaping, Lawn 'n' Order Custom Landscapes, and lemkey landscape design ltd. For a full list of award recipients and winning projects, visit https://mbnla.com/awards/2021-winners/

Announcing the Class of 2021! In the absence of MBNLA's annual Grow21 event, we've taken our annual awards ceremony online. Grab your favourite beverage, sit back, and enjoy the beautiful projects and winning entries as part of our first-ever virtual MBNLA Awards presentation - https://youtu.be/8vt4VVL9Lpc Many thanks to Brandt Equipment for their support of this event, those who submitted entries, our award recipients, volunteer judges, MC Colleen Zacharias of the Winnipeg Free Press, and board member Stephanie Moskal for her work in creating the presentation.

Our Winter 2021 Newsletter issue is designed and ready for distribution. Have a read through the wide variety of articles to stay informed on MBNLA activities, membership perks, CNLA updates, a message from incoming President Chris Spicer, and a board report. Click to download: https://bit.ly/3iDGYxu Happy reading!

MBNLA wishes you and your loved ones a peaceful and restful holiday break! May there be plenty of joy, memories being made, great food, and some landscaping/horticultural talk around the dinner table, even as our celebrations look different than in previous years. See you in 2021!

Announcing the Class of 2021! In the absence of MBNLA's annual Grow21 event, we've taken our annual awards ceremony online. Grab your favourite beverage, sit back, and enjoy the beautiful projects and winning entries as part of our first-ever virtual MBNLA Awards presentation - https://youtu.be/8vt4VVL9Lpc Many thanks to Brandt Equipment for their support of this event, those who submitted entries, our award recipients, volunteer judges, MC Colleen Zacharias of the Winnipeg Free Press, and board member Stephanie Moskal for her work in creating the presentation.

Our Winter 2021 Newsletter issue is designed and ready for distribution. Have a read through the wide variety of articles to stay informed on MBNLA activities, membership perks, CNLA updates, a message from incoming President Chris Spicer, and a board report. Click to download: https://bit.ly/3iDGYxu Happy reading!

MBNLA wishes you and your loved ones a peaceful and restful holiday break! May there be plenty of joy, memories being made, great food, and some landscaping/horticultural talk around the dinner table, even as our celebrations look different than in previous years. See you in 2021!

Announcing the Class of 2021! In the absence of MBNLA's annual Grow21 event, we've taken our annual awards ceremony online. Grab your favourite beverage, sit back, and enjoy the beautiful projects and winning entries as part of our first-ever virtual MBNLA Awards presentation - https://youtu.be/8vt4VVL9Lpc Many thanks to Brandt Equipment for their support of this event, those who submitted entries, our award recipients, volunteer judges, MC Colleen Zacharias of the Winnipeg Free Press, and board member Stephanie Moskal for her work in creating the presentation.

For more info about the comings and goings of the industry, including: Board of Directors Update, City of Winnipeg One Million Trees Campaign, 2020 CNLA Meetings Report, Low Voltage Wiring Installation Requirements, and Benefits of Becoming Certified Journeypersons, check out our Fall newsletter https://mbnla.com/fall-2020-news-from-mbnla/

Our Winter 2021 Newsletter issue is designed and ready for distribution. Have a read through the wide variety of articles to stay informed on MBNLA activities, membership perks, CNLA updates, a message from incoming President Chris Spicer, and a board report. Click to download: https://bit.ly/3iDGYxu Happy reading!

MBNLA wishes you and your loved ones a peaceful and restful holiday break! May there be plenty of joy, memories being made, great food, and some landscaping/horticultural talk around the dinner table, even as our celebrations look different than in previous years. See you in 2021!

If you're looking for something to read this weekend, check out the Axiom 2021 Gardening Insights Survey: Gardening in a COVID-19 World. "Many homeowners surveyed said they were gardening in 2020 because it gave them something to do while stuck at home during the pandemic, provided a source of exercise and helped to cope with stress. But, overwhelmingly, most were gardening to add beauty in their lives." https://axiomcom.com//Axiom-2021-Garden-Survery-Report-202

For more info about the comings and goings of the industry, including: Board of Directors Update, City of Winnipeg One Million Trees Campaign, 2020 CNLA Meetings Report, Low Voltage Wiring Installation Requirements, and Benefits of Becoming Certified Journeypersons, check out our Fall newsletter https://mbnla.com/fall-2020-news-from-mbnla/

If you are interested in Landscape or Greenspace Horticulture, check out this amazing video! Thanks to our friends at The Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association for producing this video!

Planning Around an Uncertain COVID Future: A Green Industry and Garden Centres Canada Webinar Discussion with Dr. Charlie Hall SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, September 8th at 11:00am, EDT... In this webinar Dr. Charlie Hall will discuss the COVID-19 impacts on the green industry seen to date and the likely scenarios going forward including the shape of the economic recovery. A majority of independent garden centres have experienced an exceptional sales season, and now wondering: Will this continue in the future? Will consumers keep coming to the proverbial well? Will they deem garden centres as essential? https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nQs-wWFtS9-sBY0Cdpy1bA

Download our Summer 2020 newsletter https://mbnla.com/summer-2020-news-from-mbnla/

Four short, or long months ago, depending on your perspective, could anyone have imagined the unprecedented demand for products and services provided by the green profession? Although there may be those who unfortunately struggled with the circumstances the world has been facing, almost every sector of the green profession in Manitoba has flourished both in spite of and because of COVID-19. Garden centres and greenhouse growers, nursery operations, arborists, and landscape ma...intenance and construction companies as well as the various suppliers of these operations, have reported sales far beyond what would have been anticipated and far beyond what normal would be. Growth and demand however do not come without their challenges. Tight supply chains, in some instances, have made for long lead times when ordering or products simply are not available. Planning for next year will also present challenges. Will the public purchase what they did this year? How much of what happened this year, will carry over into next year? Clearly this will depend on the state of the world come next spring, but for many, planning and ordering will start this fall with likely still much uncertainty. In the present, the good news is that most green profession businesses will survive this year. For more info about the comings and goings of the industry, including: MBNLA Awards Update, Payment Changes, Green Infrastructure Projects, CNLA COVID-19 Updates, and HRI Launches tHRIve Series download our Summer newsletter here. https://mbnla.com/summer-2020-news-from-mbnla/

Grow Your Business With Apprenticeship Education! As an employer in the landscape and horticulture industry, the odds are pretty good that you have struggled with staffing your business at one time or another. Maybe even right now. Posting job openings, interviewing and on-boarding probably take up more time than you care to admit. Add training and supervision to the mix and you quickly realize you have a lot invested in each employee. Staff turnover means you continue to rep...eat this activity; sometimes from one season to the next, other times within a single season. This can make it difficult to add shifts or work crews, prepare employees for additional responsibilities and promotions, reduce or focus your personal workload, and, ultimately, grow your business. Follow in the footsteps of other successful businesses such as yours and become an employer-sponsor for an apprentice today. Grow your own talent and shape their skills and knowledge to meet the needs of your company. They will become your core workforce who will share their skills with new apprentices, fill in skills gaps and become the future managers and leaders for your business. How Does Apprenticeship Work? https://mbnla.com/grow-your-business-with-apprenticeship/

Have you read this article in the weekend Winnipeg Free Press? This new, innovative business is right just outside of Winnipeg! All you need to know about fruit, seed, and research! Thanks Colleen Zacharias.

Congrats to Jordan Hiebert (our MBNLA Garden Centre Chair) and everyone at Lacoste Garden Centre. He's done a lot of work for us to allow greenhouses and garden centres to be open again.

Thank you Colleen Zacharias for showcasing Manitoba's greenhouses this week in the Winnipeg Free Press and interviewing our President Guy Dowhy. "Guy Dowhy, president of the Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association (MBNLA) says that independent garden centres and nurseries are an important component of the Manitoba economy. The MBNLA which has lobbied extensively on behalf of the green industry in our province, states on its website, Please keep in mind that government directives always supersede industry guidelines."

Spring is coming! Please check out our latest newsletter and let us know what you think. There is information on the April 16th announcement regarding Greenhouses and Garden Centres opening and more including Apprenticeship Corner, CNLA and Communities in Bloom, Changes in Membership Dues Payments, and Member Benefits. https://mbnla.com/spring-2020-news-from-mbnla/

In order to assist you with getting prepared to open, we have now made available on the MBNLA website PDF signage files for you to use to have signs made. You can download these free of charge. MBNLA will not be coordinating the ordering of the signs, but please use the PDF files we have provided. #COVID #signs #manitoba #landscaping #greenhouse

For more information: https://mbnla.com/greenhouses-and-garden-centers-deemed-es/

Please see the attached announcement from Agriculture Minister Blaine Pederson released today April 16, 2020.

Dear Green Profession Member; Welcome news! As a garden centre and/or greenhouse operation you have now been deemed by government as an essential service! You are the foundation of supplying the green profession with all things green!... The attached announcement from Agriculture Minister Blaine Pederson is posted here. https://mbnla.com//Dear-Manitoba-Greenhouse-and-Nursery-Op Also see the link below for today’s press release announcement and update on essential services. https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47544 It is MBNLA’s intent to provide general COVID operational protocols for greenhouse and garden centre operations soon. Please do your best to respect the governments wishes and the health and safety of you and your staff for the reputation of all greenhouses and garden centres. Thanks for your patience during this time. Sincerely, MBNLA Board of Directors

In case you missed it, watch Guy Dowhy, MBNLA President, being interviewed about the Greenhouse and nursery industry asking to be considered an essential service. Also features Carla Hrycyna from St. Mary's Nursery and Garden Centre Ltd. (Full video and article now) http://ctv.news/wUAjM9P

*Garden Centres & Greenhouse update* Dear Green Profession Colleagues: As a result of ongoing efforts by MBNLA to seek clarity on the status of recognizing greenhouses and garden centres as essential services, a number of garden centre and greenhouse owners were asked to participate in a meeting with government representatives this past Wednesday, April 8. The letter on our website provides a summary of that meeting and the next steps with regard to seeking clarity on the sta...tus recognizing greenhouses and garden centres as essential services. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. Sincerely, MBNLA Board of Directors

Great news for the Saskatchewan Greenhouses!

Great news for Scottish growers.

Thanks to Colleen Zacharias for writing this article. It talks about the importance of indoor plants, your local garden center, and mentions MBNLA at the end.

Since there is so much information we are posting, we will regularly post a summary of new items you can find on our #covid19 resources page. https://mbnla.com/covid-19/ Best Practices for Sanitation information Government of Canada Guidance for essential services: employers and employees in Spanish PDF Government of Canada... Support required for Ornamental Horticulture producers during COVID-19 pandemic A document to support AIPH members’ discussions with governments when asking for financial assistance Garden to maintain wellbeing in isolation - AIPH Factsheet How flowers will keep you well during quarantine - AIPH Factsheet Marsh Canada COVID-19 Webinar (How) Will Your Insurance Policies Respond? Monday, April 6 1 and 3 PM EDT

Tonight on CTV News Winnipeg Guy Dowhy, President of MBNLA, spoke on Greenhouses wanting to be considered as an essential service. https://mbnla.com/ctv-news-economic-dry-spell-for-greenhou/

Dear Green profession member; Please see the MBNLA website mbnla.com/covid-19 for the new letter that has been sent to government agencies requesting clarity on the need to identify the provinces greenhouse growers, nursery operations, and retail garden centers as essential services. You can also find on the website a Microsoft Word version that provides you with an opportunity to tailor the letter to your operation should you wish to use it with your local MLA or MP. Please ...tailor the areas in bold in the letter to your operation. We would encourage you to remain consistent with the messaging MBNLA has created. Also on the website is a press release that was forwarded to various media outlets across the province with the intent of exposing the plight the profession is facing at this juncture. MBNLA President Guy Dowhy was interviewed by CTV news tonight for broadcast on tonight’s 11 p.m. news and will be shown again on tomorrow’s news. We have been told that the province will be re-visiting the essential services health order this coming Tuesday, April 7. Clearly there is no time to waste on contacting your local government representative. Please see the following FB link as many garden centres have being asking for a conduit for discussion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/351607008867511/ Sincerely, MBNLA Board of Directors

*Update from the Province* Dear Green Profession member; Please see the response below to one of our numerous letters sent to provincial Ministers today. We will be reviewing what our strategy is with our grower representative to identify our next course of action to take place before the end of the week.... Thanks, Rob Officer, Executive Director **** Thank you for your email and letter, it has provided us with insight into the nursery and landscaping industry. At this time, nursery and garden centers are not included on the critical services list included with the public health orders. Therefore, all centers are required to close to the public. However, that does not prevent them from operating online and providing their products by delivery or pick up methods. As well, all employees should still follow social distancing practices as recommended by the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer. As you understand, the response to COVID-19 is evolving so we suggest you keep up-to-date on the most current information on our website. If new public health orders are issued and you are unsure on how they impact your industry please feel free to reach out by email. Regards, Critical Service Provider Issues Management Unit Emergency Measures Organization

Dear Green profession colleagues; As many of you are aware the Manitoba Provincial Government yesterday issued a health order directive to identify essential businesses in response to the COVID pandemic. The list clearly identifies some sectors of the nursery and landscape profession while either omitting or not clearly identifying others. Greenhouse growers, nursery operations and retail garden centers were not clearly identified in this directive. In response to this omiss...ion, MBNLA along with two, one well respected, engaged and supportive MBNLA greenhouse and retail garden center owner, and one well respected, engaged and supportive MBNLA nursery operation conducted a thorough review of the letter and provided input to the letter to insure it met their sectors needs on very short time lines. This letter was then forwarded today to the Premiers Office and Ministers of Agriculture, Economic Development and Health. The letter is now available from our COVID resources page https://mbnla.com/covid-19/ for everyone’s access. We would encourage you to download the letter and use it to send to your local MLA or MP. Furthermore, we encourage you to put your competitive nature aside and join with other growers, retail garden centers, nursery operations, and anyone else in the profession in lobbying your local MLA or MP. This is now about an entire industry not just one business. Sincerely, MBNLA Board of Directors ***** MLA list: https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislat//mla_list_constituency.html MP list: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search?province=MB

Last week MBNLA forwarded to its members a document containing useful information related to operating in these uncertain times. In order to streamline this process- minimize e-mails and the need to save documents forwarded to you- MBNLA has made the decision, starting today, to post information through a direct link on the MBNLA home page- found here- https://mbnla.com/covid-19/ - that will be constantly updated. Please be clear that anyone, members or non-members, have access to this resource. We will continue to share links to articles and resources as the situation evolves in Manitoba. If you find more that would be valuable to your fellow MBNLA members please email them to [email protected]. Please use the Member Forum to connect with other landscape professionals and to share your concerns with the MBNLA Board of Directors.