Horticulture Labourer

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 Grower, Gardener, and/or Horticultural Labourer (PT), and reporting to the Horticulture Foreperson, the Horticulture Labourer (Student) position assists with the maintenance of all annual and perennial plants in the City of Barrie. Specifically, this position assists with planting, pruning, cultivating, watering and fertilizing flower beds, planters, shrubs, and hanging baskets located in the City's parks, downtown areas, reverse lot frontages and right-of-ways. Additionally, this position assists with greenhouse maintenance duties in accordance with seasonal requirements and supports various waterfront and community events. Overall, this position plays an integral role in maintaining an attractive and safe community that enhances the quality of life for City of Barrie citizens, visitors, and businesses.

Our Culture and Qualifications of the Job

Corporate Culture: 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)

• Currently enrolled in or is a student in Secondary School, College, or University*

• Minimum of 16 years of age or turning 16 by the end of the calendar year and must have attended one of the academic establishments listed above the year in which they are applying for employment and/or returning the following year

Experience

• Demonstrated experience performing duties related to the above mentioned major responsibilities
• Demonstrated experience weeding, cultivating, pruning, edging beds, dividing plant material, mulching floral beds and shrub beds
• Demonstrated experience utilizing basic power equipment, such as: hand mower, string trimmer, etc.

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

• General knowledge of horticultural practices
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • exert effort to lift, push, pull, or carry objects for short periods of time
  • work independently with minimal supervision
• Basic problem solving, teamwork, active listening, and attention to detail skills
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and/or holidays

Conditions of Employment

• Valid Ontario Class “G” Driver’s Licence in good standing
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*

• Please note that this is a requirement of the position 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

• Work Term: May to August 2025
• Location: Operations Center, 165 Ferndale Drive North, Barrie, Ontario
• Hours: The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week, with a varying schedule to support business demand
• Wage: $16.86 to $20.57 per hour

What We Offer: This position includes optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, 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.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

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.

Accommodation: 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.

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