Indigenous Eco-Landscaper

Sustainable landscaping, gardening, horticulture

Position: Indigenous Eco-Landscaper

Organization: RAINscapeTO

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Are you looking for impactful work redefining green spaces and creating a more equitable city? Would you like to be part of a diverse team working at the forefront of climate action and social justice? If yes, then we want to hear from you!

RAINscapeTO is an eco-landscaping social enterprise that designs, implements and maintains beautiful and earth friendly gardens. We offer the design and installation of sustainable gardens such as pollinator and edible gardens, rain gardens and bioswales. We also provide services to support local food production and the use of heritage seeds and native plants as vital additions to a sustainable and healthy urban landscape.

RAINscape

TO is a social enterprise being incubated by the Toronto Green Community. We value and respect the intrinsic connection of Indigenous peoples to their land as well as their rich ecological knowledge base. We aim to establish a social enterprise that provides meaningful, and culturally sensitive employment and training for emerging urban placed Indigenous peoples.

The RAINscape

TO Eco‑Landscaper will be part of a dynamic team of passionate landscapers in designing, installing and maintaining gardens on private and public properties across the City of Toronto.

This is a unique opportunity in a new and expanding niche of the landscape industry. Successful candidates will receive training and hands‑on experience in the proper installation of rain gardens, eco‑friendly landscaping, and green infrastructure, as well as opportunities to attend community events and meet like‑minded people. No previous experience is required.

The main responsibility of this position is to undertake all tasks associated with the installation and maintenance of gardens on private and public properties under the guidance of the Lead and in collaboration with the team members.

• Planting various heritage and native plant species (i.e. bulbs, flowers, shrubs, trees);
• Digging rain gardens, grading;
• Disconnecting downspouts and redirecting water to rain barrels or rain gardens;
• laying compost, mulch, soil, and installing other materials (i.e gravel, rocks, lining);
• garden maintenance, including removing and/or trimming trees and plants, weeding, dead‑heading, pruning, seed collection, watering;
• tool upkeep and maintenance;
• clean debris, litter from residential and commercial jobs;
• collect, separate litter and de‑weed BIA worksites;
• provide professional customer service;
• weekly reporting and team meetings with managers.

Training will be provided for successful candidates including First Aid/CPR. Each eco‑landscaper will receive orientation on the basics of rainscaping through hands‑on training and webinars. The successful candidates will create their own personal goals and professional development plan, keep a journal, and meet with the manager and the rest of the team regularly.

No previous experience is required, but the following qualifications are preferred:

• Interest in horticulture, plant identification, ecological gardening;
• withstand up to 7 hours of physically demanding labour;
• adapt to varying tasks, conditions and locations;
• willing to work outdoors in changing weather (heat, rain, cold);
• responsible, punctual, detail‑oriented, reliable and flexible;
• manual dexterity, hand‑eye coordination, attention to detail;
• good interpersonal skills with the ability to work well in a team setting with co‑workers and provide professional customer service for clients;
• some experience in residential, commercial or community organic/ecological gardening and landscaping would be helpful.

Only Indigenous
* applicants registered or eligible to be registered at Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training Services will be considered.
* Indigenous peoples, Status and non‑Status First Nations, Metis and Inuit of Turtle Island.

• Work in varying weather conditions and spend extended periods outdoors;
• repetitive tasks;
• safe handling of heavy loads;
• ph…