The Landscape Ontario Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the story of a landscaper who saw a problem in his everyday work and took a bold step to solve it — not just for himself, but for an entire sector. Our guest today is Brandon Comstock, a self-taught entrepreneur in Calgary, Alberta, and co-founder of not just one, but two very different landscape-related businesses. What began as a passion for solving puzzles on the job-site led him to build a software company that now helps other landscaper business owner boost their profit margins. His journey from hands-on, physical labour to creating digital solutions might seem unexpected, but his experience will resonate with entrepreneurs, problem solvers and anyone navigating a career change. Listen and learn how one idea can take you down a whole new path.

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On today’s episode we are gearing up for the Congress Trade Show and Conference. Hosted by Landscape Ontario, this is Canada's largest and longest-running trade show for landscape and horticulture professionals, happening in Toronto, Ontario, from January 7th to 9th, 2025. If you're in the business of transforming outdoor spaces — whether through landscaping, horticulture, or outdoor design — this is the event you can’t afford to miss. Our guest is Heather MacRae, the trade show director for Congress. With over a decade of experience in bringing this iconic event to life year after year, Heather is here to share what’s new for 2025, some can't-miss features and what makes this trade show a key date on the calendar for industry pros. Stay tuned to the end for a promo code that gets you free tickets to the show.

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As students head back to school this month, many are probably wondering what they should be “when they grow up.” While plenty of adults are still trying to figure that out, high schoolers have a great opportunity to explore different topics before planning their post-secondary path. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a garden path.

In this episode, we talk about how exposure to horticulture and landscaping at the high school level can inspire youth to explore the green trades as a career option. Guest Darren Schmahl has been engaging grade 11 and 12 students through the Green Industries program for the Niagara Catholic District School Board for the past 15 years. Teaching has allowed Schmahl to witness students of all kinds transform as they discover a passion for working in the landscape, so he wants youth and their parents to understand that a career in this field can be rewarding, lucrative and important as we face an ever-changing climate.

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If you own a small or medium-sized landscaping business, you’re probably juggling a long list of priorities. If marketing tasks are something you keep putting on the back burner, then this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast is for you.

Vanessa McQuade and Rob Murray from Intrigue Media are here to talk about what it’s like to partner with a marketing agency. And in the same way you’re an expert in landscaping, Rob and Vanessa are experts in helping landscaping companies like yours grow revenue and gain market share. In fact, one of their happy clients stated that since working with Intrigue, their revenues had increased by 68 per cent in six months. So if costs or uncertainty has been holding you back, listen up and take off that marketing hat. Today we’re talking about budget expectations, setting marketing goals and the value of building relationships with external marketing agencies, so you don’t have to do it all by yourself.

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If you’re looking to explore a career in the green trades but aren’t sure where to start, then this episode is for you. Courtney McCann, the director of workforce development at Landscape Ontario, joins the podcast to outline all the various educational opportunities that are available to people in Ontario looking to gain skills and employment in landscaping, including the GROW program and pre-apprenticeship program at Loyalist College in Belleville. These programs have been designed to help people learn instantly applicable skills and prepare them for genuine, meaningful jobs with companies who share their passion for designing, building and maintaining beautiful landscapes. And did you know they’re all free?

If that piques your interest, be sure to listen because Courtney has all the details about these amazing opportunities to grow your career.

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Have you ever wondered if what you’re doing as a landscaper is moving the dial against climate change? The global situation feels so complex, it’s natural to wonder ‘how can I, just one individual, make a difference?’

Bill Hardy joins the Landscape Ontario Podcast to encourage landscapers to think globally and act locally. As a co-owner of an independent retail garden centre in British Columbia, president of the CNLA, and board member for various agencies — such as the Green Cities Foundation and the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) — Hardy has a wide perspective of how climate change is being addressed by horticulture and landscaping innovations around the world, while also being tapped into what’s happening right here in Canada.

In our conversation, we discuss which countries are leading the way by developing innovative green city solutions, and what an individual landscaper can do to contribute to the big picture. We share some awesome websites you’ll want to check out for inspiration, and even introduce you to a new tool you can use to measure the carbon impact of installing and maintaining a landscape.

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One year ago on this podcast, we met Joe Steeves, a plant enthusiast from New Brunswick. When Joe was born with cerebral palsy, his family had lots of questions about what his future might look like, such as would he be able to hold a job or pursue a post-secondary education? The green trades turned out to be a perfect fit for Joe, and despite his challenges, he has been steadily building a career by working at greenhouses and nurseries. Not willing to stop there, Joe set his sights on gaining a formal education in horticulture and pursuing his dream job. A lot has happened in the past 12 months, so in this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast, we follow up with Joe to hear about what’s been happening with his growing career.

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There's a profound beauty in planting a seed and watching its journey from a tiny speck to a flourishing plant. But what if that journey could also nurture the minds and hearts of children? That's exactly what our panel of guests are doing through their charity, Green Thumbs, which is dedicated to teaching schoolchildren the art and science of gardening.

Sunday Harrison is the founder and current executive director of Green Thumbs Growing Kids, a Toronto community-based not-for-profit now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Their mission is to cultivate environmental stewardship through hands-on garden and food education for urban children and their communities.

Joining Sunday are three Green Thumbs board members. Chanel Harris was an inaugural participant in the school garden program in the early 2000s. Also joining us is Sail Vettivelu, who worked as a summer intern at Green Thumbs in 2009, and has been volunteering with the group ever since. Rounding out the panel is environmentalist and artist, Iris “Ike” Karuna. Ike's relationship with Green Thumbs began as a Child and Youth Care placement student, and continued as a staff member.

All of our guests today are passionate about introducing children to the wonders of gardening and all the related life lessons. From patience and responsibility to resilience and the interconnectedness of life, the act of tending to a garden offers invaluable teachings that extend far beyond the boundaries of the garden bed.

Join us as Sunday, Chanel, Sail, Ike and I delve into the transformative power of planting an early seed and watching it grow, not just in the garden but in the hearts and minds of our future generations.

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Imagine a world where the very design of our neighbourhoods and public spaces serves as a shield against crime. This is the essence of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED for short. CPTED is a concept that underscores the pivotal role landscape professionals, together with law enforcement, have in shaping secure and resilient environments. I’m honoured to be joined by Constable Matthew Hunt, the CPTED coordinator for the Ottawa Police Service, and in this conversation, we unravel the intricate relationship between landscape design and crime prevention, explore the principles of CPTED and uncover practical strategies for landscape and horticulture professionals, like you, to become true guardians of our communities

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In this episode of Landscape Ontario Podcast, we're stepping into uncharted territory as we explore a groundbreaking concept that's been gaining momentum — the four-day workweek.

What would you do with an extra day to yourself? Would you learn a new hobby? Work on a side hustle? Get extra sleep? Play with your kids? Travel? Imagine all the things you could accomplish with that extra day.

To learn how a compressed work schedule can work for a landscaping company, we're talking with Jessie Taynton, the HR manager at Dicam Landscaping. Dicam dared to reimagine the workweek back in 2019, and they've launched this benefit for their maintenance crew and office staff. Tune in to hear how DICAM's company culture has been enriched by something Jessie considers "life-changing."

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