Meet our speakers

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Jamie Aalbers graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc. (Agr) in Horticultural Science and Business and has since been involved in the ornamental horticulture sector in many capacities, including greenhouse grower, mini-rose breeder, research director, trials’ manager and consultant.  For 14 years he worked with Flowers Canada and Landscape Ontario, managing a portfolio that included research, business risk management and government relations.  Fifteen years ago, he took on a part time role to manage greenhouse flower trials and the SR&ED technical reports resulting from those trials.  Currently Jamie is the Growers Sector Specialist for the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, responsible for managing a wide array of national nursery grower issues which include plant health and trade, research and new plant development.

With over a decade of experience in Human Resources, Carla Bailey has honed her expertise while working for a leading landscaping company in London, Ontario. Carla's dedication to creating a positive work environment and resolving employee matters has made a significant impact on the companies she's worked with. Her commitment to staff growth led her to discover and implement various government initiatives to support employee development.

Paul Brydges is the Senior Landscape Architect, and founder of Brydges Landscape Architecture, established in 2004, with over 40 years of combined horticultural and design/build experience.

Paul is Past President of Landscape Ontario, a member of the AALD, APALA, ASLA, CNLA, CSLA,LNS, OALA, and current chair of the National Designer Sub Committee with CNLA.  He lectures throughout North America on the values of design, the environment and collaboration. 

For Paul, it is truly important to create unique and environmentally responsible designs, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to align with the company value of "honouring" nature.

Paul Cushing is a 30+ year veteran in the Golf Course and Sports Turf industries with experience as a Golf Course Superintendent managing the Riviera Country Club, Shadow Creek Golf Club, Torrey Pines Golf Courses and Edgewood Tahoe.  Paul has prepared for and hosted 10 PGA Tour events (5 Farmers Insurance Opens at Torrey Pines and 5 Nissan Los Angeles Opens at Riviera, as well as the 77th PGA Championship at Riviera). Paul was instrumental in bringing the 122nd United States Open Championship back to Torrey Pines Golf Course in 2021.

Paul has also built four golf courses in California during his career.

In 2016, Paul started his own consulting business with Paul Cushing Golf Course and Sports Turf Agronomic Consulting Services.  With his company, Paul works directly with PGA Tour golf courses, as well as the stadiums and practice fields associated with Major League Baseball, National Football League and Major League Soccer.  In addition, Paul works extensively with numerous NCAA stadiums & practice field facilities, private equestrian training facilities, cities and public-school district fields.   Through his entire career, Paul has exemplified a unique ability to revive challenged turfgrass playing conditions. He is adept at finding solutions to restoring deprived soils with sound chemistry solutions.  The focus of the consulting company is to share his experience and knowledge in order to help turfgrass mangers better understand their individual turf and soils issues.  Paul is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Ornamental Horticulture with an emphasis in turfgrass management.  

Originally from Dieppe, New Brunswick, Dianne has worked at Scott’s Nursery in Lincoln (near Oromocto / Fredericton) since 2004.  She is team lead for the Nursery Yard and is tasked with ordering and maintaining a large inventory of trees, shrubs and perennials.  Prior to 2004, Dianne was a Supply Technician in the Canadian Armed forces from 1976 to 1993 when she retired as a Sargent.  From 1993 to 2003 she worked at Forsythe’s Farm and Market in Berwick, Nova Scotia.  This is when her love for everything horticulture began.  She describes herself as a plant collector and is always on the lookout for new and unusual varieties.

Outreach and Communications Coordinator for the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council

Born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Claire holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of New Brunswick. Through her work with local and national environmental and Indigenous non-profits, Claire has found a passion for community engagement as well as environmental and science communications. She is currently the Outreach and Communications Coordinator at the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council, where she engages the public and stakeholders on invasive species and their prevention through outreach activities as well as digital and traditional communications.

After graduating from CCNB Bathurst in Business, Bryce joined a multi line dealership including STIHL in Northern NB. He spent fifteen years there supporting customers with parts, sales and service.  In 2014 he joined STIHL Canada as Manager, Technical Services and Training for Atlantic Canada.  During this time, Bryce has been taking dealer calls for technical support, performing dealer technical training, as well as end-customer demonstrations and training on new products.

Dan is a Fellow to the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and founder and principal of Glenn Group Ltd. landscape architects and park planners. For 40 years the Fredericton based firm has been providing site design solutions to communities, primarily across Atlantic Canada,

with a focus on tourism, heritage and recreation. For our talented team of designers, technologists and managers every project starts with a story. Although our projects have been

recognized with several awards, helping communities invest wisely for long term sustainability has been our greater goal. Dan served two terms as president of the Atlantic Provinces

Association of Landscape Architects and has proudly supported Landscape New Brunswick as a member for close to 40 years, but he’s been an unwavering Toronto Maple Leafs fan for 57 years and counting.

Co-founder www.ext.tech

President of Landscape Ontario

Ed Hansen, currently serving as president of Landscape Ontario, began his journey in the landscape industry by founding a company focused on design, build, maintenance and snow services. Over the years, his visionary leadership transformed the company into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, known for its innovation and quality.

Recognizing the need for technological advancement in the industry, Ed co-founded EXT-TECH, a pioneering and revolutionary landscape management software. This platform empowers landscape businesses with tools to enhance efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

Dan discovered his interest in the green industry through working in a summer job at MacArthur’s Nursery and furthered his education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (now Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus) in Landscape Horticulture.  Upon completion Dan worked in the field of Arboriculture and acquired his Journeyperson status from the Ministry of Training and Labour of Ontario.  Dan began his career with the City of Moncton’s Parks Department working in various roles from Horticulturist to Foreman to Supervisor and eventually his current role as Director of Parks where he oversees operations of Horticulture, Sport fields, Urban Forestry, Arenas and Grounds Maintenance where managing expectations among a wide variety of stakeholders is a daily occurrence.

Sasha Hunter, Territory Sales Manager for Aquascape (Southwestern Ontario and the Maritimes), is an award winning Landscape Designer with over 28 years of experience in the green industry.  Graduate of Fanshawe College for Landscape Design, she also received her CLD designation through Landscape Ontario.  Sasha has received multiple awards for design and was presented with the Community Leadership Award.  Sasha has a passion for nature and design.  She loves creating beautiful, unique spaces for people to connect with each other, while surrounded by nature and water.  Designing beautiful Aquascape Ecosystem Water Features is her specialty.  Sasha is an avid gardener and plant geek.  When away from her desk, you can find her hiking, biking, at the beach, off in the woods somewhere with her camera or digging in her garden and enjoying nature on her own or with friends and family.

CTO, Landscape Management Network

Mike Lysecki has been in the Green and Snow industries for over 20 years - first as Director of Operations at one of North America's top 100 landscape contractors, and now drives technology and product development at LMN.  Mike is also one of the landscape industries most prolific educators - having taught well over 5,000 contractors how to run and grow more profitable businesses.

Tom started in the green Industry in the early 1990’s working for The Scotts Company selling ProTurf products to Golf courses on Long Island and Westchester County USA. In 1998 he went to work for Hunter Industries and have been here since covering several different roles. 1998-2004 Golf Irrigation; 2004-2009 Residential/Commercial Irrigation.

In 2009 Hunter Industries purchased FX Luminaire and he moved to start up a division in the Northeast USA. In 2018 his position moved to more of a Hybrid role covering both Landscape Lighting and Hunter residential and commercial irrigation.

Lives in beautiful Deep River Connecticut, USA.

Founder & CEO, Strategic Advisor, Marketing Manager at Milberry Marketing LTD

Cait is a seasoned strategic advisor and marketing manager with close to 15 years of experience working with various brands, bands, and businesses across North America. Cait is passionate about building sustainable strategies that deliver results and has a proven track record of creating compelling content that supports these strategies. With a deep understanding of the latest marketing trends and technologies, Cait is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their goals and drive growth. She loves teaching workshops and hosts multiple podcasts, and when she is not working, you can find her at rock concerts or with her dog Stevie.

Brad has been part of the Green Industry for over 30 years. He graduated from Olds College in 1997 with a horticulture diploma; majoring in landscaping. In 1999, Brad was one of the first in the trade to become a Certified Horticultural Technician in Alberta. Growing up in a construction family outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, he learned the value of professionalism and setting yourself apart from the competition at an early age. After graduating from college, he spent time working in both the Green Industry and the commercial construction industry in Nova Scotia, Alberta, North & South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Eventually, Brad settled back in Calgary where he started Fiddler’s Green Landscaping in the spring of 2001. Brad is married to Crystal, and has 2 sons, Gavin and Thane.

Eastern Canada Sales Manager, Hunter Industries®

Paul Proulx is a graduate of Turf Management from the University of Guelph.  Paul has been in the green industry for over 25+ years and is an active member of Landscape Ontario.  Early in his career, Paul was a lawn care business owner for 12 years in Guelph, Ontario with over 5,000 customers and 11 service vehicles. He is a Class C Golf Course Superintendent and holds 5 Landscape Exterminator Licenses with the Ontario Ministry of Environment.

Paul has worked as Hunter Industries’ Eastern Canada Sales Manager for 13+ years.  His territory encompasses the area from Winnipeg Manitoba east to Saint John’s, Newfoundland.  Married for over 31 years, Paul has 2 adult children and lives in Kawartha Lakes region near Peterborough, Ontario Canada.

Tara Ralph is the founder and principal designer at Canopy Landscape Design. She earned her degree in Landscape Architecture from Dalhousie University, holds diplomas in Horticulture from NSAC and the University of Guelph, and is a certified Red Seal Horticulturist. Tara combines a robust educational background with hands-on expertise with over 20 years of experience in landscape design and more than 30 years in management and business development to her work.

Active in professional organizations such as APALA, CSLA, AALD, LNS, and CNLA. Tara is committed to advancing the fields of landscape design and horticulture through her practice and ongoing

professional development.

Tara views her work as an extension of the land, harmonizing natural and built environments to create designs that integrate nature, architecture, and culture. Her strong focus on building

meaningful relationships with her clients results in unique solutions, customer satisfaction, and

long-term collaborations. Through her innovative designs and ecological approach, Tara continues to transform landscapes into sustainable, inspiring environments.

Peter Reid has dedicated over 40 years to the landscape profession, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to every project he undertakes.  Formally educated in Nova Scotia, Peter spent over 28 years leading a successful landscape design, construction, and garden maintenance company in Ottawa.  His education extends beyond the classroom, having honed his skills through the "School of Hard Knocks," where he embraced daily opportunities to teach and learn. 

In 2012, Peter returned to his roots in Nova Scotia, where he has since been working as a landscape designer, consultant, and advisor to both homeowners and business owners. His passion for the industry is evident through his involvement with the Atlantic Association of Landscape Designers, where he served as a past president and remains an active participant in their mentorship program. 

Peter’s approach is informed by decades of hands-on experience, both the successes and challenges, from starting, growing, and selling businesses. His deep understanding of the landscape industry makes him an invaluable resource, committed to helping others achieve their vision.

Landscape Manager, Island Coastal Services, Charlottetown, PEI

Jamey got his start in the profession in 1989 with Morello Associates Landscape Architects.  In 1993 he started Red Oak Landscaping and managed and operated it until 2016.  He then went on to assume the position of Landscape Division Manager for Island Coastal Services Limited in Charlottetown, PEI, where he continues today.

Jamey has attained many certificates over the years, including all of the Landscape Industry Certification levels for Technicians in Ornamental Maintenance, Turf Maintenance, Softscape Installation and Hardscape Installation obtained in 2006.  Through Apprenticeship, Jamey also received his Certificate of Qualification for Horticulturist Landscaper Greenskeeper in 1989 and then his Red Seal Certificate for Landscape Horticulturist in 2011.  He is also has his ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) certification.

Throughout the years Jamey has been an active member of the Construction Association of PEI and the Professional Development Committee with the CNLA.  From 2017- 2022 Jamey was an active member of the National Technical Committee and judge for the Canadian National Skills Competition.  His multitude of experience in the field is evident as a multiple winner of Landscape of Excellence awards for Design Build, Commercial Construction, Best Residential Construction and a Specialty Award for Landscape Design.