Horticulture Assistant

Job Type: Casual Full-time, Up to 8 Months (April - November), Union

Salary Range: $26.84 to $32.13 per hour

Application Deadline: Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm

The Opportunity

The Parks and Forestry Branch is part of the City of Barrie’s Operations Department. The Branch is responsible for the management, maintenance, and ongoing care of over 3,100 acres of waterfront, parkland and open space including 127 parks and 145 kilometers of trails. Services include horticulture displays and maintenance, turf management, shoreline maintenance, maintenance of parks amenities such as playgrounds, play courts, picnic shelters, and spray pads, waste collection, landscape construction, City's outdoor rink program, greenhouse operations, trails maintenance, and winter snow removal operations.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Horticulture Foreperson, the Horticulture Assistant is responsible for performing daily horticultural operational, maintenance, inspection, and repair activities for the horticultural displays and adjacent grounds, Arboretum, and green spaces located within the City's parks, waterfront, and open spaces. Additionally, this position assists in performing greenhouse horticultural activities, including the propagation of plants. Lastly, this position provides operational support to various community/recreational activities or special events. Overall, this position plays an integral role in the maintenance and upkeep of the City's parks, waterfront, and open spaces to provide an environment that is safe, clean, attractive and suitable for residents and visitors.

Our Culture and Qualifications of the Job

Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Equally important to what we do is how we do it - your actions reflect our core accountabilities of Personal Awareness, Teamwork and Collaboration, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Service Excellence, which define how we work together to succeed.

Education (degree/diploma/certifications)

- One (1) year of experience performing duties related to the major responsibilities of the position

- Demonstrated professional experience installing and maintaining annual spring, summer, and fall plant displays

- Demonstrated experience monitoring plants, soil conditions, and infestations to determine water and fertilizer needs

- Demonstrated experience performing greenhouse horticultural practices, including the propagation of plant material

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

- General knowledge of the following legislation, regulations, or requirements: Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act; Occupational Health and Safety Act; Ontario Electrical Safety Code

- Working knowledge of the following legislation, regulations, or requirements: Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR); Ontario Traffic Manual – Book 7 – Temporary Conditions

- General knowledge of greenhouse operations including propagation and growing techniques

- Working knowledge of horticulture techniques and irrigation operating systems

- Demonstrated ability to:

- exert effort to lift, push, pull, or carry objects for short and long periods of time

- generate ideas, conclusions, or solutions utilizing prescribed resources

- interact effectively and courteously with all levels of staff and contacts

- maintain a high standard of public relations at all times

- perform in a manner which is consistent with corporate goals, vision, mission, and values

- run, operate, maneuver, navigate, or drive vehicles or mechanized equipment

- work collaboratively in a group setting to achieve desired objectives, goals, and/or outcomes

- work independently with minimum supervision

- Basic skills include: Interpersonal; Organizational; Problem Solving; Teamwork; Time Management; Verbal Communication

- Basic computer literacy using Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, and Word)

- Availability to work evenings, weekends, or holidays

Conditions of Employment

- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check *

*Please note that this is a requirement for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Policy. Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.

Other Important Information

Location: Operations Center, 165 Ferndale Drive North, Barrie, Ontario

Hours: The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week in accordance with the Collective Agreement

Wage: This position is within the CUPE Local 2380 Bargaining Unit with the following pay level and 2025 pay range:

- Yearly Salary: $55,827.20 to $66,830.40

- Hourly Pay Rate: $26.84 to $32.13

- Pay Level: Level 3

- Yearly Salary: $55,827.20 to $66,830.40

- Hourly Pay Rate: $26.84 to $32.13

What We Offer

This position includes optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, prorated paid sick time based on the expected duration of employment and in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program, which provides exclusive access to discounts on a wide range of products and services available to all City employees.

How to Apply

Click the ‘Apply Now’ button at the top and/or bottom of the job posting to start the application process. Please note that emailed applications will not be considered.

Why Barrie?

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year‑round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests. We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers. Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great.

The City of Barrie is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing barrier‑free and accessible employment practices and we will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise if you require Code‑protected accommodation and we will work with you to meet your needs.

The job posting has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required of employees to do this job. For full position details, please request a copy of the job description by emailing HR.Recruitment@Barrie.ca.

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