Garden Foreperson

A rare opportunity for a professional horticulturalist to work at one of Canada’s foremost tourism and hospitality venues. Join the garden staff at Casa Loma to help maintain one of the most diverse and beautiful gardens in Toronto. Drawing upon a combination of a formal education in horticulture and practical work experience, you will assist the Manager of Grounds in the direction of staff on a day to day basis. As a working supervisor you will train and work alongside garden staff ensuring they carry out their tasks to a high degree of horticultural excellence. This position requires someone with a wide range of horticultural knowledge and experience, the patience and self confidence to instruct others and give advice to other staff members on matters relating to the care of the gardens.

**Qualifications**

A certificate, diploma or degree in Horticulture or a Certified Landscape Technician designation is an asset. Experience in the field will also be considered.

A valid class G Ontario driver’s license

**Duties and Job Requirements**

Demonstrated ability to coordinate daily activities for garden maintenance and instruct junior staff in the proper gardening methods and supervise their performance. Experience and able to evaluate employee performance and coach and discipline employees when necessary.

A working knowledge and demonstrated experience in basic maintenance and preparation of garden flower and shrub beds and the planting and watering of outdoor planters.

Be able to operate and instruct others in the safe use of power equipment such as blowers, hedge trimmers, rototillers, lawn mowers and trimmers, and to drive and operate a small garden tractor.

Knowledge and experience in maintaining turf areas using mowers and trimmers.

Maintain cleanliness of hard surface areas such as parking lots and terraces and garden paths using hand and power equipment. Litter and refuse control of all outdoor locations.

Working knowledge of greenhouse procedures such as watering, ventilation, mixing soils, potting up and fertilizing.

Knowledge of and able to identify methods of treatment of pests and disease in the landscape.

Working knowledge of irrigation systems and their control mechanisms, and be able to perform simple repairs and troubleshoot problems.

A working knowledge of outdoor fountains with their pumps and filters, and control mechanisms.

Experienced and able to perform snow removal duties using tractor plows, and hand equipment.

Good working knowledge and experience of hard landscaping skills such as laying stone and repairing retaining walls.

Basic carpentry skills and knowledge of power tools

Ability to lift at least 20kg and work outside in all weather conditions.
- A huge asset is knowledge and experience in maintenance/repair of small engines and ensuring they are in good working order._

This is a full-time 12 months a year position.

Salary will be negotiated based on experience.