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Speaker Bios

Between July and March, The Gardening Network organizes and hosts free gardening talks and events in the Etobicoke area.  We try to use speakers/experts from local businesses because we believe in supporting our local business. Our speakers do not get paid, they are volunteers.  This year we have missed some of our normal meetings, and instead we are going to have three events in October.  We hope that you can join us.

Speaker Biographical notes

Louise Peacock Featured speaker for October 2 and 16/04

Horticulturist - Graduated from Guelph University's ODH program in 1994. has been involved with and working in the industry since 1980. Specialty is perennials. Most recently worked at Boncheff Greenhouses in Etobicoke, where she helped out in a variety of ways, including running the greenhouse. Currently, she is pursuing her internet activities, including webdesign. Garden Consultant and designer. Using her extensive knowledge of plants and what will work in a given location, Louise helps clients plan their gardens. Artist - Louise paints and draws anything that crosses her field of vision. Author - Louise recently completed and published a guide on perennials and bulbs for zone 5b-6. Singer/Songwriter. Louise writes songs in the blues, jazz and country vein and markets them over the internet. Webmaster - Louise designed, and currently maintains this entire web site as a sideline to her other activities.

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Howard Stanley Featured speaker for October 9/04

Howard Stanley works at the Canada Food Protection Agency as an (Asian Long Horn Beetle)ALHB Project Officer. He has been closely involved with the Asian Long Horned Beetle issue from the start, and is extremely knowledgeable on this troubling subject. The son of a dairy farmer, Howard Stanley was raised in West Quebec. Graduating  from Kemptville College of Agricultural Technology in 1980,  his career began at  the   Royal Bank of Canada , then  moving on to Agriculture Canada as an Record of Performance Inspector. In 1986, Howard became an Agriculture Canada  Plant Protection Inspector in Hamilton. Key activities included  export certification, ship, mill, import, and  domestic inspection plus survey work during the summer months. He was involved with a major finding which lead to the ban of rooted plants material from an Asian country. Being involved with the initial discovery of Asian Long-Horned Beetle (ALHB) in Waterloo, he was sent to Chicago to learn more about ALHB survey.  Howard lead the initial ALHB survey team in Ontario. He was a Crew Leader in subsequent ALHB surveys and during the Plum Pox Survey in Niagara. Howard has been involved in a variety of audit functions such as the Food Safety Enhancement Program (aka: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) ) and has been trained as an ISO  Lead Auditor. Recently, he  became the Import Coordinator for Ontario. In this role, he is the  liaison between the CFIA and Canadian Border Services  Agency (CBSA) , Customs brokers, importers etc. Since the discovery of an ALHB infestation in Toronto/ Vaughan in September 2003, Howard has been the ALHB Project Officer.  Howard has used his background and expertise to train Survey Crews, to confirm positive finds, and to be the Project Spokesperson.

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