June 15, 2013
A landscaping program operated by St. Lawrence College has attracted strong interest in the Huntsville area.

The eight-week program from May 27 to July 19 is providing participants with the hands-on skills in landscaping. Huntsville YMCA Employment and Literacy Services is administering the program with a maximum enrolment of 25 people between ages of 15 to 30. Those taking part in the program also were required to be out of school, out of work and not receiving employment insurance.

The program includes practical skills, certifications in WHMIS, first aid/CPR, transportation of dangerous goods and safety training.

According to administrator Tera Alexander, wage incentives are available for employers interested in hiring graduates of the eight-week program. She invites any LO member to contact her at 705-787-0349, or tera_alexander@ymca.ca.

Meanwhile a committee has been formed in the Georgian Lakelands Chapter working towards having Georgian College in Barrie provide a horticulture apprenticeship program.

All green industry members were asked to show support by downloading a form letter, and sending it to Sally Harvey, Landscape Ontario manager of Labour and Education Development, at sharvey@landscapeontario.com. The website to download the letter may be found at www.horttrades.com/georgian-lakelands-horticulture-apprenticeship.

“We are about half-way to getting the number of member  and non-member companies signed up that we need to show support for apprenticeship,” says Lexi Dearborn, a member of the Chapter committee working on achieving the apprenticeship program at Georgian.