Horticulture Assistant

Job Number: 2020-1

---

   

Horticulture Assistant

 

The Riverwood Conservancy (TRC) is a volunteer-based charity in Mississauga that provides programs to the community in nature and environmental education, natural areas stewardship / conservation and gardening. 

 

In this full-time, experience-rich, career-path position, the Horticulture Assistant (HA) assists to maintain the many public gardens at Riverwood, a public park.  The HA schedules, supervises and leads volunteer secondary students with all daily garden activities to keep the gardens looking beautiful.

 

Position responsibilities

• maintain the Chappell House gardens and assist to maintain the Enabling Garden and the greenhouse;
• install annual flower beds and apply best management practices to maintain the gardens, including watering, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, dead-heading, planting and transplanting perennials;
• support volunteer gardeners;
• organize, schedule, track hours, supervise and lead secondary students;
• work with community groups and volunteers of different ages and abilities;
• support the Conservation Program to plant native trees and perennials, as needed;
• support other summer staff to maintain turtles and frogs in teaching aquaria;
• assist municipal staff to maintain the MacEwan Terrace Garden;
• support public education programs and special events, as needed.

 

Skills and qualifications

• interest in gardening, landscaping, design, greenhouse, nursery, garden centre operations
• some hands-on garden experience and ability to identify plants is an asset,
• sense of humour, excellent communication, organization and multi-tasking skills;
• demonstrated leadership skills;
• ability to work safely as a team and independently with minimal supervision;
• ability to lead by example and work with volunteers of diverse backgrounds;
• appreciation of the environment, gardening and out-of-doors work;
• a valid Vulnerable Sector Check is required, or the ability to acquire one;
• basic computer skills; attention to details to track volunteer hours;
• training in emergency first aid and CPR is an asset, or training will be provided;
• A valid class “G” driver’s license is an asset;

 

 

 

 

Deliverable

• A professional written report summarizing your work experience with recommendations on ways to improve the gardens and approach to working with secondary school volunteers.

 

 

Start date is expected to be July 14 and will be confirmed pending approved access into Riverwood park by the City of Mississauga, and a grant from Service Canada / Canada Summer Jobs 2020. End date is November 7, 2020.  The hourly wage is $14.75 per hour; work-week is Tuesday to Saturday.  Interested candidates are required to submit a resume and cover letter which fully describes your gardening experience by mail or email (in Word or PDF only) by Monday June 15, 2020 to: 

 

Brian Packham

The Riverwood Conservancy

4300 Riverwood Park Lane  Mississauga, ON  L5C 2S7

Info@TheRiverwoodConservancy.org; www.TheRiverwoodConservancy.org;

 

TRC thanks everyone for applying but resources allow us to reply only to those candidates who are selected for an interview. 

 

                        

---

Job summary

---