Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Program in SK
The SNLA Board, in consultation with other interested parties, has been meeting regularly to discuss how to initiate a horticulture apprenticeship program in the province.
What's so great about apprenticeship?
According to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, for every $1.00 an employer invests in training an apprentice, the business receives on average a return of $1.38 in value-added equivalent. A national study also found that training an apprentice provides other significant benefits, including:
- increased competitiveness and productivity
- reduced turn-over and increased employee loyalty
- a workforce with updated skills and knowledge and attributes that fulfill the need of the industry and the business
Incentives for Apprenticeship Training
For the Employer: Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit: Employers can receive a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to registered apprentices in designated Red Seal trades for the first two years of their apprenticeship contract. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year eligible apprentice. For more information visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns409-485/412/jctc-eng.html
For the Apprentice: Federal Incentive and Completion Grants: The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year/level up to a maximum is $2,000 available to the registered apprentices once they have successfully finished their first or second year/level of an apprenticeship program.
Visit http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/trades_apprenticeship/index.shtml for more information on the Apprenticeship Completion Grant.
For more information on the Tool Tax Credit, visit http://www.saskapprenticeship.ca/TAX_PROGRAMS/
For more information on the Provincial-Graduate Retention Program visit http://www.aeei.gov.sk.ca/grp
Contact the SNLA if you are interested in learning more about apprenticeship in SK.
Congratulations to Karen Zunti, Saskatchewan’s FIRST Landscape Industry Certified Manager
Karen Zunti, of Warman, SK, has become the first person in Saskatchewan to successfully complete the Landscape Industry Certified Manager exam. The exam consists of a multiple-choice test that focuses on these seven competencies:
- Corporate Financial Management
- Technical Productions in Horticulture
- Human Resource Management
- Leadership & Corporate Citizenship
- Marketing & Sales Management
- Risk, Law & Contracts
- Strategic Business and Succession Planning
Karen’s hard work has successfully paid off, and we congratulate her on her achievements!
If you are interested in becoming Landscape Industry Certified, please contact Julia Ricottone at the CNLA office: 1-888-446-3499, julia@canadanursery.com
SNLA participates in the SK Green Trades Conference
SNLA joined other industry groups at the 2011 SK Green Trades Conference on November 10-12 at the Saskatoon Inn. This annual trade show and conference is hosted in partnership between the Saskatchewan Greenhouse Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association, The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association, and this year for the first time SNLA.
SNLA planned our own stream of speakers and assisted in selling exhibitor booths and sponsorship at the show. We thank the members who came out and enjoyed the event, as well as our exhibitors and sponsors as without their support we could not have participated in this event.
©Copyright 2008 Saskatchewan Nursery Landscape Association
The purpose of this survey is to assist SNLA members in recognizing which Environmental Best Management Practices (EBMP’s) are currently in place in their businesses and what may be some potential areas for improvement or modification.
