New Executive Director of Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., Dean Shoemaker, has put together a news update for the membership.

In 2009 the Flowers Canada (Ontario)- Cecil Delworth Golf Tournament was again able to raise significant funds for the Cecil Delworth Foundation for Research in Floriculture.

pickOntario was recently featured in the St. Catharine's newspaper "The Standard". This article highlighted the main goals of pickOntario and the increasing knowledge of locally grown but flowers and potted plants.

Ontario MOE held a consultation meeting in London on March 1, 2010 to provide guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions reporting which took effect on January 1, 2010.  The regulation requires that all emitters who generate a greenhouse gas, as defined in the regulation, are required to report through on-line registration.  The regulation requires that all facilities that are emitting 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent or more, per year, must report.

It is with mixed thoughts and emotions that Andrew Kuyvenhoven, President of the Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. Board of Directors, wishes to announce to the membership a change in the Executive Director of your industry association.  Dr. Irwin Smith who has tirelessly served the association since February 1999 will be retiring mid-April.

Flowers Canada (Ontario) participates in a Technical Advisory Committee under the Occupational Health and Safety Act with the Minsitry of Labour.  One aspect of MOL enforcement is through a proactive blitz on a specific safety hazard.  This February will be a blitz on forklift safety. 

Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., along with the floriculture industry as a whole, is pleased to welcome Carol Mitchell as Ontario's new Minister of Agriculture. Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. Board members Andrew Kuyvenhoven and Ted Oorsprong along with pickOntario Marketing Director, Dean Shoemaker had the opportunity to  present Minister Carol Mitchell with a locally grown bouquet on Monday, January 25, 2010.

Premier McGuinty today announced major changes to his Cabinet.

A new round of EFP funding is starting on January 15th, 2010.  Growers can contact their local EFP representative for more application instructions.

The Toronto Congress Centre was this year's location for the Grocery Innovations Canada (Oct 26-27, 2009).  The annual show is presented by the non-profit trade association Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), which represents over 4,000 grocery retailers across Canada.