November 15, 2019
Connect with suppliers, products and experts at Congress 2020
Green professionals will congregate in Toronto from Jan. 7-9, 2020 for the 47th edition of Landscape Ontario’s Congress trade show and conference.

This annual gathering of landscape and horticulture professionals is the ideal place to streamline the process of sourcing suppliers, enriching plant and product knowledge, refining business know-how and simplifies the process of doing business.

The four-day conference program featuring acclaimed experts is complemented with a series of skill-enhancing, live demonstrations that are free to all badge holders. Investing time to attend Congress is guaranteed to increase your creativity, spark your imagination, initiate new supplier relationships and enhance your proficiency in growing your business.

As a green professional, you work hard. At Congress you’ll have the freedom to play hard with like-minded peers at the evening social events. Some newly formatted events will increase the chances of meeting others who will inspire you to achieve your goals, personally and professionally.

The 10-acre trade show features over 600 multi-national suppliers eager to show you tools, equipment, services and innovative products that will improve your ability to meet the demands of the job. Whatever your specialty, at Congress you’ll find all the products, suppliers, experts and trending information that will assist in growing your profits.

Your workload is changing with the arrival of the fall and winter. How are you going to evaluate your team, train them, retain them for the next season or recruit new employees? Congress is the ideal venue for you to post a job, meet students in horticulture and landscape college program. Looking for staff? Participate in the new Recruit LIVE sessions that offer employers an opportunity to network, interview and connect with future employees.

Strategically timed, Congress is when green professionals gather under one-roof, for four days of intense education, innovative products, an exhaustive number of suppliers, leading-edge professional development, community engagement and comradery.
 

Specialists must attend Warm-Up Monday

As a green professional, do you concentrate primarily on a particular subject or activity? Are you highly skilled in a specific aspect of the industry? If you are responsible for grounds maintenance or landscape design or own a business, then you’ll want to kick-start your visit to Congress on Monday, Jan. 6 by attending a Warm-up Monday conference.

Monday offers a series of industry-specific events: IPM Symposium, Landscape Designer Conference and the Peer-to-Peer Workshop. Separately priced, each event includes free trade show admission and admittance to Wednesday night’s new social, Congress After Dark.

Critical to your success in managing turf, is a solid knowledge of how to optimize its growth while controlling pests, insects and weeds. In addition to the technical knowledge acquired, you can earn six IPM Council of Canada CEC’s by attending all six technical sessions.

You’ll enjoy a full-day event at the Designer Conference. It includes plant, creative and business sessions along with lunch, round-table discussions, a networking break, supplier displays and closing reception.

At the Peer to Peer Workshop, instructor Jacki Hart will provide business owners tools to recognize and build team leaders within your company thereby ensuring continued business improvement.

You and your team will want to register early for Warm-up Monday if you specialize in grounds maintenance, landscape design or if you are a business owner or manager. Register at LOcongress.com before Dec. 13 to take advantage of discounted pricing.
 

Enhance business aptitude

You’ll have over 30 professional development sessions to sit in on, plus Owners Only Workshops and two entertaining luncheon keynotes at the Congress Conference, Jan. 7-9.

Who benefits from attending the conference? Owners, managers and key team members who want to increase awareness of industry trends and information that will give you an edge over the competition will find the experts and expertise at the 2020 conference.

You’ll find concurrent sessions ranging from critical horticultural issues to how to intensify business development strategies. Thought leaders, authorities and influences on industry trends like: Jeff Butler, Doug Tallamy, Mark Bradley, Jennifer Llewellyn, Randy Tumber, George Urvari, Catherine Luzena-Hall, Michael Pascoe, Alyssa Light, Jose Haig, and Sean James will share insights and respond to your questions.

The Owners Only Workshops will inspire you on how to make the best use of your valuable time, create a time-saving business plan that will help you retire effectively from your landscaping business.

Graham Sherman, entrepreneur and co-owner of the Tool Shed Brewing Company, is the first conference keynote speaker. Sherman will share how a collaborative approach to business will lead to exponential growth and a loyal customer base. The second keynote, presented by Amber Mac, author, entrepreneur and host, will show you how to adapt and win in a fast-paced economy.

The LO Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Tuesday evening is your chance to see who is recognized for outstanding creativity and workmanship. On Wednesday night, gather with your peers for great networking and entertainment at the all-new Congress After Dark.
 

Free LIVE series

Your trade show badge entitles you to attend twice daily sessions offered at the four demonstration stages strategically located on the show floor. The LIVE Series is designed to give your entire team skill enhancing advice that will improve on the job performance.

Equipment and employees must be transported safely to job sites, at Drive LIVE, Toronto and York Region police officers along with the OPP will be on hand to demonstrate how to comply with Ontario regulations.

Now in its third year, Green LIVE will give you the basics of tree selection, planting and maintenance.

And back for a fifth straight year, Hardscape LIVE will delve into hardscape installation that improves efficiency and profits.

New for 2020, Recruit LIVE is an opportunity for employers and potential employees to network, interview and be hired.
 

Register by Dec. 13 and save

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to educate your team,
meet other business owners, industry experts and leading suppliers. Registration is open at LOcongress.com where you can also take advantage of the early-bird pricing in effect until Dec. 13.
 

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