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Growerof the Year

Growerof the YearGeneral Information The RBC Grower of the Year Award is a part of the CNLA’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) program. Now in its third year, the RBC Grower of the Year Award has been designed to showcase excellence in all areas of wholesale nursery production in Canada. The Growers’ Award program is unique in that this national program is part of an international awards program, and the winning Canadian entry will be automatically qualified to participate in the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) Grower of the Year Award.

CriteriaThe RBC Grower of the Year Award has been designed to encourage participation from companies of all sizes. CNLA will follow the criteria as established by AIPH to ensure the winning Canadian nursery is eligible to participate in their international awards program.

Companies will be judged on the following criteria: 1. Economic Performance and Marketplace Position 2. Innovation in Production and Growing Techniques 3. Market Orientation and Company Image 4. Environmental Standards 5. Human Resource PoliciesMore detailed information on each of these criteria can be found elsewhere in this application form.

Judging The judging panel will consist of industry and business experts, including growers, horticulturists, educators and related business professionals. Judges will use a standard score card as developed by the AIPH. Judging scores will not be released to participants, however, judges’ comments can be provided upon request following the National Awards of Landscape Excellence ceremony in February 2013.

As the judging panel will represent various business disciplines and regions of Canada, judges will review each of the applications individually. There will be no meeting of the panel members for the purpose of judging the entries.

The Growers’ Committee would like to acknowledge the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH)

Deadline for Submission/Entry RequirementsAll submissions must be received by midnight, Friday, November 30th, 2012. Late entries will not be considered. Application forms and all related materials can be submitted via e-mail, by CD or on a memory stick. The entrant may submit a single hard copy of their application form and related materials for verification purposes; however, it is mandatory that all materials be submitted in electronic format to allow for easy transmission of all entries to the judging panel. Entrants are required to use standard electronic formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe .PDF files. Photos may be submitted as .PDF, .JPG or .TIFF files. Video clips can be included as .mpeg files, or by providing links to commonly available venues such as YouTube, etc.

CNLA reserves the right to contact entrants after the deadline to obtain alternate electronic versions of any materials for the purposes of using text and/or images in promotional materials or for the preparation of the National Awards of Landscape Excellence audio-video presentation.

Winning Entries/PrizesThe winning entrant will be announced to the trade at the CNLA National Awards of Landscape Excellence, to be held in Niagara Falls, ON in February 2013.

The winning entrant will receive economy airfare for two and two nights’ accommodation at the Hilton Fallsview Hotel. The winning entry will also be automati-cally submitted in the AIPH-sponsored International Grower of the Year Award pro-gram. The top five entries of the AIPH program will receive an invitation to attend the International Awards Gala. The invitation includes return airfare and accommodation.

The winner will be notified on or about December 31, 2012 to allow adequate time to make travel arrangements and attend the CNLA National Awards of Landscape Excellence ceremony.

Deadline for entries:November 30, 2012

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3. Market Orientation and Company Image - Reference your company’s approach to sales and marketing in highly

competitive markets. (i.e. local, out-of-province and international marketing strategies).

- Show the promotional activities undertaken by the company over the past 12 months, including catalogues, websites, advertisements, brochures, trade show participation, etc.

- Indicate if there is any involvement with collective promotional programs organized by the sector.

- Is value-added realized through packaging and/or concept marketing strategies?

- What is the philosophy of the nominee towards research and development and marketing (i.e crop production and customer demand)?

Your submission must include a brief written description of approximately 500 words. Optional supporting documentation may include your cata-logue (.PDF version preferred or a copy of the cover and general descrip-tion of the catalogue); brochures, copies of advertisements, links to the company website, and photos of trade show participation, etc.

4. Environmental Standards - Show the efforts being made by your company to achieve high and

sustainable environmentally-friendly best management practices in the production of nursery stock. Has your company achieved certificates or other designations as proof of environmental compliance?

- Is your company involved in other environmental initiatives, such as the production of low-energy or drought-tolerant crops, etc?

Your submission must include a brief written description of approximately 500 words. Optional supporting documentation could include verification of participation in environmental initiatives, such as the Environmental Farm Plan, etc. You are encouraged to submit photographs or video clips to demonstrate best management practices at work on your nursery farm.

5. Human Resource Policies - Indicate your company’s initiatives related to the management of personnel,

such as health and safety programs, employee training, social activities, etc. Provide details on career opportunities and policies for advancement. Has the company qualified for certifications related to social responsibility or other aspects of human resource management?

Your submission must include a brief written description of approximately 500 words. Optional supporting documentation could include a copy of your company’s employee manual, health and safety training manual, etc. If applicable, provide details of your company’s support of employees through provincial apprenticeship programs, etc.

CNLA RBC Grower of the Year Award Criteria and Procedures

1. Economic Performance and Marketplace Position - Show how your company plays a leading role as a wholesale nursery grower.

Include information about your company’s business strategy, marketing vision and future investment plans. Your written submission should include general information about your company’s financial status, including your liquidity and solvability position.

- Your submission should also show how your company takes a leadership role in your community and within the industry. Indicate involvement in your provincial and/or national trade association, as well as volunteer commitments to com-munity groups and other related local projects.

Your submission must include a brief written description of approximately 500 words to provide an overview of your company’s financial position. Supporting documentation is at the discretion of the entrant but should include common performance indicators such as debt/equity ratios, past three year’s sales’ growth, projected sales growth, reinvestment in the busi-ness, etc. It is permitted to present generic information such as ratios and percentages. Your company’s accountant must provide written verification of the statements made about your company’s financial position. A credit report as supplied by your financial institution can be included but is not mandatory.

Provide a history of association and community group involvement to show proof of your company’s leadership role. Where available, include certificates and other recognitions for volunteer work undertaken by the company or company personnel.

2. Innovation in Production and Growing Techniques - How innovative is your company in its crop selection and inventory planning

(i.e disease resistant varieties, new varieties and concepts, and/or out-of- season supplies)?

- How innovative is your company in the area of technology and production techniques (i.e. energy use, cultivation methods, mechanization and automation)?

Your submission must include a brief written description of approximately 500 words. Optional supporting documentation can include photographs, computer-generated inventory lists indicating new and innovative product lines. Photographs or videos of overall inventories, innovative varieties, pro-duction practices at work, new technologies at work, etc. can be included.

Growerof the YearEntry Form

Company name: ______________________________________________________________

Contact name: ________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________

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City: ____________________________ Province: _________ Postal Code: _____________

Telephone: ______________________________ Fax: _______________________________

E-mail: _________________________________________________________________________

Submission checklist: Please indicate the file names of all documents submitted for each of the five categories. Attach additional pages if necessary.

Mandatory criteria met:

1. Economic performance and marketplace position

Written submission (mandatory): __________________________________ (file name)

Other: __________________________________________________________________

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2. Innovation in production and growing techniques

Written submission (mandatory): __________________________________ (file name)

Other: __________________________________________________________________

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Deadline for entries:November 30, 2012

3. Market orientation and company image

Written submission (mandatory): __________________________________ (file name)

Other: __________________________________________________________________

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4. Environmental standards

Written submission (mandatory): __________________________________ (file name)

Other: __________________________________________________________________

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5. Human resource policies

Written submission (mandatory): __________________________________ (file name)

Other: __________________________________________________________________

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Additional elements for consideration: __________________________________________

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Email your submitted entry to info@canadanursery.com by November 30, 2012

Growerof the Year