Aspire to GROW
Aspire to GROW
The first Aspire event of the year is coming soon!
First Work + Landscape Ontario: Aspire to Grow
Friday, January 29th, 2021
1:00-4:00pm
GROW Information Session
The GROW Program by Landscape Ontario is a 6-week training program designed to accelerate your career in landscape and horticulture through ongoing training, career development and apprenticeship opportunities – including a paid 2-week placement. Participants will learn about careers in horticulture, the training components of the GROW program, and where a career in the industry could lead.
- Introduction to the profession include: sectors, career opportunities employment types, pathways (apprenticeship, GROW etc.
- Take questions from the group
Networking Breakouts with Industry Professionals
Following the informational session on the GROW program, the various speakers will introduce themselves, their area of sector expertise, and a bit about their journey in the industry. Participants will then be split into networking breakout rooms with past graduates of the GROW program and industry professionals. If you’ve been trying to network during lockdown, this opportunity alone is a great way to get your feet wet while growing your network.
- Panelist introduces them self and provides more detail about their pathway
- Attendees encouraged to ask questions via mic or in the chat.
- Each room will have a small activity related to panelists
Career Pathway exploration with Project Integrate
Aspire to GROW will wrap up with career-pathway exploration with Project Integrate. At 3:00 PM, participants will be facilitated through psychometric assessments to help determine their most successful career paths. A product overview of the free Project Integrate tool will be followed by individual assessments, after which a $10 incentive gift certificate will be provided.
- Project Integrate overview and instruction
- Individual assessments to determine your strongest career pathway
- $10 giftcard upon assessment completion!
Aspire to GROW Speakers
Jessica Tucker is the Environmental Program Coordinator with the Education and Workforce Development team at Landscape Ontario. Her role is to coordinate, support and expand the environmental programs with Landscape Ontario and to coordinate professional development opportunities for members certified in the environmental programs.
Destiny Lacasse has been in the horticulture trade for 8 years. She discovered horticulture in grade 11 when she took a Horticulture SHSM (Specialist High Skill Major) program and graduated with a red seal! After graduating highschool Destiny attended Niagara Parks Commission School Of Horticulture, where she was immersed in academics and practical skills of working and learning on a botanical garden. Destiny is now working towards a diploma in Recreation Therapy at Niagara College and working with a nonprofit organization called project SHARE where she helped provide food to community members in need and managed and grew food in community gardens. Her goal in the next few years is to start up a business in Niagara where I can share a service called Horticulture Therapy. Horticulture Therapy is a service where horticulture tasks are given to clients to better them, socially, mentally and physically!
Mike Palermo started his journey in grade 10 when he took a Landscaping and Horticulture class in high school. He now holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, and has had the privilege to work with companies big and small including Scotiabank, Monsanto, Bio Ag, Bayer Crop Science and now Sevita International.
His interest in Horticulture and Agriculture first started with friends and food! He also developed an interest in finance and business in highschool that brought his two passions together. Mike now works as the Western Ontario Sales Manager with a team of sales people working from field to table with global customers to produce products such as soy sauce, soy milk and Tofu!
Sally Harvey is the Director of Education and Workforce Development for Landscape Ontario. She is a passionate industry professional with over 30 years’ experience as a landscape and horticulture industry employer, educator, and consultant! Sally owns a company called Green Design Landscaping Inc. that specializes in interior & exterior landscapes that provide innovative and horticulturally sustainable solutions to enhance the lives and health of those who enjoy the spaces that they design, build and maintain. Sally is involved with running and collaborating on numerous projects including the apprenticeship program, GROW New Entrant Training Program, Employers of Choice program as well as numerous landscape certifications and standards!
Anna Hulskramer is a Landscape Maintenance crew member at Greentario, Hamilton. After working several years in Social Services, Anna enrolled in Landscape Ontario’s first ever GROW Program. She completed the course and was voted by her peers to receive the Valedictorian award. Anna continues to expand her knowledge of horticultural practices through online seminars and peer-to-peer networking
About GROW
The GROW Program from Landscape Ontario is a 6-week training opportunity – including a paid 2-week job placement – designed to build skills in landscape and horticulture to kick-off careers in the industry. This program, offered free of charge, allows participants to build industry relationships, learn trick of the trade, and land a job in the sector.
Ideal GROW applicants
Youth from the GTA, Hamilton, Halton and Peel regions are particularly encouraged to apply.
This opportunity is not restrictive to youth in these areas; however, the paid placements are in these regions and so we cannot guarantee completion of the program if youth are from outside the above regions.
Participants must be over the age of 18 and unemployed (not under-employed).
About Landscape Ontario
Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LO) was established over 40 years ago with a mandate to promote and advance the Landscape and Horticulture industry through leadership, community, professionalism and stewardship. LO supports its members who design, install and maintain the healthy green infrastructure that provides sustainable solutions to issues created by weather events. LO strives to be the hub that creates opportunities for the current and future workforce to advance their careers and pathways to support this growing industry.
