CanWest is offering four invaluable full day clinics designed to meet the industry and business management needs of landscape professionals and retailers. These sessions fill up quickly so please register now to
avoid disappointment.

Tuesday, September 28th - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

A New Marketing Era ... Are You Ready?

Speaker: John Stanley
John Stanley Associates, Australia

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Designing Sustainable Landscapes
Exclusive for Designers

Speakers:

David Reid
HB LANARC, British Columbia

Melanie Sifton
Humber Arboretum & Centre for Urban Ecology, Ontario

Owen Dell
County Landscape Design, California

About the Clinic
Progressive landscapers: this three-part experts' panel is for you!

Part 1:
Landscape architect David Reid will start the session by offering a glimpse into the ways that leading BC communities including Vancouver, Campbell River, Kelowna and Dawson Creek, are leading the sustainable movement-and how that movement will affect BC business.

Part 2:
A subdivision, a shopping mall, or even one home - all have the potential to clean the air and water, reduce flooding, cool urban air temperature and combat climate change. And all can offer us respite, restoring our minds, bodies and spirits. Yet conventional land management practices too often damage the environments ability to provide essential benefits that support human health and well-being.

In this part of the presentation, Melanie Sifton will provide incredible insight into the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) which is an effort to quantitatively describe the attributes of a sustainable site so that designers/engineers can measure their success (or failure) in achieving the goals to maintain or improve the ability of a site to provide ecosystem services. SITES currently addresses design issues associated with soils, hydrology, vegetation, material selection and human health and offers tools for those who design, construct, operate and maintain landscapes of all sizes. Modeled after LEED, SITES has produced a voluntary set of performance benchmarks to encourage the sustainable design, construction and maintenance of landscapes. As these guidelines become the accepted practices, they will transform the ways we design and build on the land, creating landscapes that nourish life for generations to come.

Part 3:
The non-living features of a garden, or "hardscape," are critical to successful home landscape design. In this final part of the clinic, Owen Dell will present 'Sustainable Hardscapes: Floors, Walls, And Ceilings' - an introduction to sustainable hardscape elements that balance aesthetic, environmental, and practical concerns. Participants will tackle the three elements of the outdoor room: the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. Each segment covers the most environmentally friendly materials and techniques, with plenty of stylish examples and information on availability, design and construction techniques, and creative professional design techniques. The take-away is a new vision of how to develop a cutting-edge hardscape without destroying the planet.

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How to Sell Contracting Services Successfully

Speaker: Kevin Kehoe, Kehoe & Co.

About the Clinic
In this clinic, participants learn about "real world" strategies employed by successful contracting firms who have mastered the art and science of sales. In particular, the focus of the clinic is on tactics for branding, pricing, lead generation, sales management systems and salesmanship.

Kevin Kehoe will provide the tools and examples for the following strategies:

How to establish and communicate a value proposition that becomes your brand and unique sales story.
How to integrate this into web and collateral materials to support the sales process.
How to price and estimate for different services and seasons to win your fair share of work.
How to generate a steady stream of leads to fit into your pricing and estimating system.
How to make a solid first impression in initial meeting - the proper way to conduct a first appointment.
How to manage the potential pipeline of work and organize your staff to convert the necessary number of proposals to achieve your revenue goals and budget.
How to close a sale - approaches that focus on listening to the customer and negotiating from a position of value and strength.

Speaker: Martin Mosko
Marpa Design Studio, Colorado

About the Clinic
In a picture packed 1 hour power point lecture, Martin explains a unique approach to photographing the landscape. He integrates an explanation of contemplative techniques with practical information on composition. Martin will help participants use different metaphors to further their understanding of the balance and harmony of the landscape, wether natural or created.

Mosko will then delve into the basic camera techniques, such as adjusting aperture and shutter speed, and he'll provide an overview of traditional composition. Martin will also discuss a little of the history of fine art photography.

The heart of the clinic is the time we'll spend on the contemplative approach, learning how to "see" from this perspective with exercises and demonstrations. Throughout the workshop, participants will be shooting with their own digital cameras and will receive help from Martin. Participants need only bring their digital cameras and open minds. No experience with photography is required.

- How to access "beginner's mind", and to see with fresh eyes and a still mind.
- Meditation and contemplation techniques.
- How to translate the new way of seeing into a language a camera can understand.
- How to express yourself in a photograph.
- Ancient techniques of composition and realization.
- A better understanding of the structure of a landscape and the structure of a photograph.
- To awaken your spirit and sensitivity to the beauty in the world you inhabit.

Important Note : This clinic is taking place at VanDusen Gardens. The bus will leave the VCC (West) at 8:30 am sharp and return by 5:00 pm. If you prefer to drive directly there, please arrive before 9:00 am and meet us in the Cedar Room. VanDusen Gardens is located at 5251 Oak Street at West 37th Ave in Vancouver.

Seminars
CanWest is pleased to present several seminars at this year's show that cover a variety of industry related topics. Browse below to see session details and speaker bios. Seating in CanWest seminars can only be guaranteed through pre-show registration. Seats may be available at the door but only subject to availability. Please register now to avoid dissapointment.

Estimating & Job Costing
Wednesday, September 29: 8:30 am - 12:15 pm

About the Seminar
"At the beginning of each year, I decide what my profit will be, then I go out and make it happen." Do you start your year with that sentence? If not, get hooked on knowing your business through this estimating mini-workshop with help from Mark Bradley who will teach you a better way to plan-for-profit, and how to use that plan to price your work and manage your productivity. Plan, estimate, execute and improve - this full cycle method for business improvement is changing landscape contracting businesses throughout North America. Don't miss out.

The Enjoy Centre - An Adventure in Retail Innovation
Wednesday, September 29: 9:00 am - 11:15 am

Dazzling Residential Entry Ways
Wednesday, September 29: 9:00 am - 11:15 am

About the Seminar
Make a statement to passers-by and visitors with inviting, dramatic and suggestive residential entry-ways. This seminar will show you how to give properties a step up on curb appeal-one of the most influential factors in improving their real estate value. Drawing on his travel experiences throughout North American and Europe, Paul will provide eye-catching examples and techniques that truly make an entrance.

Sponsored by : TSC Nursery

Garden Retail for Sustainability
Wednesday, September 29: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

About the Seminar
Hole's Greenhouses and Gardens' new project is relocating from its current 2.5 hectare site to a 4.5-hectare parcel of land east of Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park in St. Albert, Alberta. An iconic example of social, economic and environmental sustainability, the Enjoy Centre will be the first garden retailer of its kind in North America. This new facility will create a new model for business and community involvement. Jim Hole will walk you through the Enjoy Centre's pillars of sustainability, the challenge in defining sustainability, in creating a sustainable building, and in incorporating innovations to reduce energy consumption and waste in the garden centre.

Gardening Without Flowers: Fantastic foliage and garden ornament
Wednesday, September 29: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

About the Seminar
Although flowers in the garden may be colourful and beautiful, they are often short lived. It is the foliage of a plant that when carefully selected and planned for, is able to add incredible texture, fragrance and colour to an outdoor setting. Join Paul as he discusses his passion for beautiful foliage and garden ornament and demonstrates how each can be used to add drama and seasons of appeal to gardens of all sizes.

Creating Water-Wise Landscapes
Wednesday, September 29: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

David Reid
HB LANARC, British Columbia

Owen Dell
County Landscape Design, California

About the Seminar
Water conservation is a growing issue in BC and throughout North America, and is becoming a serious consideration for any built-landscape. Learn from David Reid how BC's municipalities are dealing with this issue, what BC landscapers can expect in the future and how these changes will affect their business. Then, set your business apart from the rest. Gain expertise in water conservation practices with Owen Dell who will dive into the principles of hydrozoning.

This is a * HortBasics Training Session * - are you eligible for free training?
See HortBasics Training below for session and speaker details.
Note: This session is open for all delegates to attend.

Bonus: To teach more about B.C.'s horticultural industry and its scope, this session includes a guided tour of the CanWest Show with Rob Welsh, Kwantlen University College beginning at 5:00 pm for eligible participants.

About the Seminar
Consider the impact of poor planting choices. A plant that is not suited to soil conditions, watering regime, climate, light levels, or other factors, will be weak, susceptible to pests and diseases, short lived, and generally troublesome. A plant that is too big for the space allocated to it will require constant, laborious and environmentally damaging pruning to control size; this will continue until the hapless plant is eventually replaced with a more appropriate one. Why create conditions for failure? Learn how to choose the right plant for every condition and how to create stable, sustainable plant communities that require minimal or no inputs of water, fertilizer, pest control, pruning and other costly and harmful needs that are most often created by bad planting design.

Technology to Improve Operations and Profitability
Thursday, September 30: 9:00 am - 11:15 am

About the Seminar
The times are changing and, with the right approach, it's a great thing. In this seminar, Mark Bradley will discuss technologies available today that empower landscape business owners to improve communication, productivity and profit in their businesses. From cell phones to software, he'll demonstrate how these powerful gizmos can improve your bottom line.

Fallscaping
Thursday, September 30: 9:00 am - 11:15 am

About the Seminar
Gardens in fall are often deemed the poor stepchildren of their showier spring and summer counterparts, and there simply is no good reason why this should be the case. With their dazzling foliage colors, vivid blossoms, and tantalizing berries, fall gardens abound with sensory treats. In an engrossing and enthusiastic look at the marvels of autumn gardening, renowned garden writer Stephanie Cohen will discuss the wealth of suitable and stunning plants destined to be the stars of any garden setting. Profiling trees and shrubs prized for their brilliant foliage, ornamental grasses treasured for their ethereal seedheads, and hardy bulbs cherished for their surprising versatility, this session will encourage gardeners to think beyond the traditional chrysanthemum, kale and cabbage palette.

The Retail Business is Show Business
Thursday, September 30: 9:00 am - 11:15 am

About the Seminar
Your customers rate your "performance" every time they come in contact with you and your business. Their critique starts with what they see, hear and experience. This session will explore merchandising, inventory control, well-trained "actors" and superb "ticket sales" - which are all part of the retail stage. You'll learn simple ways to maintain your "stage" and offer a daily performance that will make a big impact on your audience.

More specifically, this session will focus on :

6 critical areas of your store that your customers form a "mental report card" from and the one most companies ignore.

The "stage"…fixtures, displays, traffic flow, impact zones, signing and more.

The "props"…understanding the "6 Rights of Merchandising" and how they affect your open-to-buy and eventually your ROI.

The "actors" and "ticket sales"…and improving their customer service and sales skills and not just memorizing the line "did you find everything ok"?

The "director"… leadership skills that are critical for putting on a great performance everyday!

Sponsored by : Qualitree Propagators Inc.
Coffee Sponsor: Kato's Nursery (2007) Ltd.

Shrubaganza
Thursday, September 30: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

About the Seminar
In today's marketplace flowering shrubs are hot. Customers in garden centers are looking for easy care shrubs that have attributes such as beautiful flowers, good form, fruit, or fall color. They fit so well in all types of gardens and are wonderful in containers. Landscape designers and landscape architects are using them in new gardens and to spruce up old gardens. These factors make them the "new money making ticket" in the plant world. The Diva is very excited about presenting flowering shrubs that are attractive from spring to fall - you'll be sure to add these to your plant palette.

About the Seminar
The ancient arts of rock-setting and water-shaping have modern applications for serene landscape designs. In this two-part session Martin Mosko will begin by translating some of the most ancient theory on rock-setting into our modern context. He will give a comprehensive review of how to design rock arrangements in the garden and explain how to choose boulders, place them, as well as offer some intriguing ideas on building rock walls and pathways.

Martin will then discuss water - the magic touch in the garden. With lots of photographs, he will describe the two basic approaches to water-shaping, the natural and the formal, and how best to employ each in both residential and commercial landscapes.

Sponsored by : Northwest Landscape & Stone Supply Ltd.

Safe Excavation Practices 101
Thursday, September 30: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

About the Seminar
Each year in BC, there are over 5,000 hits to underground infrastructure causing injury, damages, environmental catastrophes, disruption in utility service and, periodically, death. Even when no one is hurt, these events cost the government and taxpayers millions of dollars. This session provides participants an overview on digging/ excavation responsibilities, safe practice and the One Call process.

Bullfrogs Have it Easy - they eat what bugs them
Thursday, September 30: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

This is a * HortBasics Training Session * - are you eligible for free training?
See HortBasics Training below for session and speaker details.
Note: This session is open for all delegates to attend.

About the Seminar
It's not your father's business anymore! If you are like most businesses your customer base and work force are probably between 18 - 70+ years old and each and everyone has a different behavioural style! So how do you harness those differences in knowledge and energy in a positive way within your business? Whether they are your employees or your customers, you need to adjust your sales and marketing techniques to match their behavioural styles whether they are a savvy Gen Y'er or an age defying Baby Boomer.

You'll discover the fascinating and critical 'behavioural traits' you must recognize about each person you manage, service, and sell to, no matter what their age or how they might bug you!

You will discover:

What is 'YOUR' behavioural style and how you can identify those traits in others.

Communication skills to handle just about anyone in your garden centre.

What your Gen Y customers and employees expect from you as an employer and a business and how you can get them to spread the viral word.

How to look at your business through a woman's eyes when over 75% of your customer base is female.

Bonus: Participants will take a guided tour of the CanWest show, with Rob Welsh of Kwantlen University College, to learn more about the industry and its scope. The tour will begin at 1:00pm - please meet at the show entrance near registration.

Hort Basics Training

Free training is offered to eligible entry-level employees of small businesses for the two seminar sessions below. Don't qualify? You can still attend these sessions at the listed seminar prices.

The Horticulture Basics® Training Program was developed to address BC's need for skilled entry-level employees. The seminar sessions listed below are being offered free of charge to employed clients who meet one or more of the following criteria:


1. Lack high school
2. Have high school, but lack certification recognized in Canada. Recognized credentials mean any credentials/certifications recognized in Canada such as a trade certificate, Class 1 Driver's License, Commercial Driver certificate, etc.
3. Have high school and recognized credentials, but lack "essential skills".

For more information or to determine eligibility, contact Joy Demelo at 604.574.7772 ext. 101 or by email at jdemelo@bclna.com.

More details about the Horticultural Basics Training Program can be found at www.bclna.com/horticulturebasics.htm.

Note: The Industry Sampler Tour also qualifies for free Hort Basics Training. Funding for the Horticulture Basics Training program is provided through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.



Right Plant, Right Place
Wednesday, September 29: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
With Owen Dell, Owen Dell & Associates, California

Speaker Bio


This is a * HortBasics Training Session * - are you eligible for free training?

Bonus: Includes a guided tour of the CanWest Show with Rob Welsh, Kwantlen University College beginning at 5:00 pm for eligible participants.

About the Seminar
Consider the impact of poor planting choices. A plant that is not suited to soil conditions, watering regime, climate, light levels, or other factors, will be weak, susceptible to pests and diseases, short lived, and generally troublesome. A plant that is too big for the space allocated to it will require constant, laborious and environmentally damaging pruning to control size; this will continue until the hapless plant is eventually replaced with a more appropriate one. Why create conditions for failure? Learn how to choose the right plant for every condition and how to create stable, sustainable plant communities that require minimal or no inputs of water, fertilizer, pest control, pruning and other costly and harmful needs that are most often created by bad planting design. As a bonus, eligible participants will take a guided tour of the CanWest show, with Rob Welsh of Kwantlen University College, to learn more about the industry and its scope.

Register Now

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Bullfrogs Have it Easy - they eat what bugs them
Thursday, September 30: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
With Ann Obarski, Merchandise Concepts, Ohio

Speaker Bio


This is a * HortBasics Training Session * - are you eligible for free training?

Bonus: Includes a guided tour of the CanWest Show with Rob Welsh, Kwantlen University College beginning at 1:00 pm for eligible participants.

About the Seminar
It's not your father's business anymore! If you are like most businesses your customer base and work force are probably between 18 - 70+ years old and each and everyone has a different behavioural style! So how do you harness those differences in knowledge and energy in a positive way within your business? Whether they are your employees or your customers, you need to adjust your sales and marketing technques to match their behavioural styles whether they are a savvy Gen Y'er or an age defying Baby Boomer.

You'll discover the fascinating and critical 'behavioural traits' you must recognize about each person you manage, service, and sell to, no matter what their age or how they might bug you!

You will discover:

What is 'YOUR' behavioural style and how you can identify those traits in others.

Communication skills to handle just about anyone in your garden centre.

What your Gen Y customers and employees expect from you as an employer and a business and how you can get them to spread the viral word.

How to look at your business through a woman's eyes when over 75% of your customer base is female.

Bonus: Participants will take a guided tour of the CanWest show, with Rob Welsh of Kwantlen University College, to learn more about the industry and its scope. The tour will begin at 1:00pm - please meet at the show entrance near registration.

Register Now

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The Solution Centre
For landscapers & retailers

Come with questions and leave with answers. This professionally-moderated, open mic session will allow you to share business challenges and solutions. This is an issue-focused, speedy networking session you can't afford to miss!


Costs
Admission to solution centre workshops are free of charge to anyone registered for seminars or clinics.
Otherwise a $10 drop-in charge will be collected at the door for each session.


Solutions for Retailers
Wednesday September 29th : 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
With Jim Hole, Hole's Greenhouses & Gardens

Speaker Bio


Solutions for Landscapers
Thursday September 30th : 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
With Mark Bradley, Landscape Management Network

Speaker Bio


Solutions for Landscapers Coffee Sponsor : Peel's Nurseries Ltd.

Register Now


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Registration
There are several quick and easy ways to register for the CanWest 2010 Clinics & Seminars. Please click on the link that suits you best and please register early to receive Early Bird discounts and to avoid missing out on your chosen sessions due to sell outs.

Online Registration

Contact the CanWest Show team

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