January 2009 -

Landscape New Brunswick's application to have our landscape trade designated by the New Brunswick Apprenticeship board has been approved. The official name at this time is Landscape Horticulturist. This means that when everything is in place, we will have support from the NB government for training courses and apprentices will also have some support as they take courses. We will prepare an overview for discussion at ACES, Feb. 24 & 25. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!!

In the meantime, there are 2 projects that require some volunteer assistance.

1. To develop the necessary materials for the NB apprenticeship program, we need to create an Advisory Committee to work with the NB Apprenticeship department. The committee is to be made up of 3 employer representatives and 3 employee representatives. The work will involve several meetings in February, March & April in Fredericton. Representatives will be reimbursed for their expenses (travel, food & hotel if necessary) and receive a small per dieum (about $70). Ideally, the employee representatives will have their CHT (at least one Maintenance and one Installation CHT would be the best).

If you are interested in participating and / or have an employee you would recommend, please contact Jim at the LNB office. By January 30, please!

2. Most of you know that landscape Horticulturist has also been approved as a Red Seal trade. This is national recognition for the trade and will proceed concurrently to our process in NB. A consulting group has been hired to develop on-the-job training materials. The first draft has been completed and is ready for testing. The Maritime testing will take place in Halifax on March 30 and 31. The objective for the participants is to go through the training materials, go back to their company and try teaching other people with those materials and communicating the results back to the consultants. We would like to send 2 or 3 CHT’s to participate (at least one maintenance and one installation). Again, expenses will be covered, although there is no money for the employee’s time.

If you have a CHT who you would like to send, please contact Jim at the LNB office.

Let us know if you have any questions. This is great news for the future of our industry in New Brunswick!

Darrell Nameth, CLP
on behalf of the LNB Education Committee