Gardener

TOWN OF OAKVILLE; Oakville; On-site; CAD 48,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Oakville is seeking a Gardener for a temporary full-time position to plant, prune and maintain trees, shrubs, and flower beds on Town properties, following IPM practices and safety rules.

The role reports to the Horticulture Supervisor and requires a diploma in horticulture, 2–3 years of parks experience, a valid Ontario driver’s licence, and a MOE Landscape Exterminator License. Contract runs about two months with a 40-hour week.

Qualifications

• Diploma in horticulture or equivalent education and experience.
• 2–3 years’ practical parks horticultural work experience.
• Valid Ontario Driver’s Licence Class G and clean driving record.
• Knowledge of Highway Traffic Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• IPM knowledge and disease/insect control familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Design floral and shrub areas and schedule work.
• Operate tools safely and perform daily circle checks on equipment.
• Supervise part-time staff and train others in safe tool use.
• Maintain daily electronic records of work activities and logs.
• Apply safety procedures per OHSA and road-work policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Problem solving

Teamwork

Self-starting

Education

Diploma in horticulture

Ontario Driver’s Licence

Landscape Exterminator License (MOE)

Job description

Job Details
Temporary Full Time (CUPE 136T)

Posting Status
Open to all current Town of Oakville employees and external applicants

Duration
One contract for approximately 2 months

Internal secondment applications are welcome. Please note, however, that members of management will not be considered for secondments into bargaining unit positions.

Closing Date
Applications for this position must bereceived at oakville.ca by no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 9, 2026.

Temporary Rate: $34.99 per hour
Full-Time Rate: $35.59 per hour

This job posting is for an existing vacancy and therefore will be filled accordingly.

Reporting to the Horticulture Supervisor, the Gardener receives daily direction from the Leadhand, and performs horticultural activities, including planting, transplanting, cultivating, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying of trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials on Town properties, according to current policies and horticultural practices.

Job Responsibilities

• Design floral and shrub areas, schedule work, and organize resources such as supplies, tools, and equipment.
• Operate all related tools and equipment in a safe and efficient manner. Perform, and ensure designated staff perform, daily circle checks on all equipment.
• Supervise part-time staff and instruct all support staff in the safe and efficient use, care and maintenance of tools and equipment, and horticultural practices.
• Maintain daily electronic records of work-related activities, work orders, emails, CVOR Hours of Service, IPM spray logs and forecasted work.
• Apply, and ensure crew members apply, safety precautions and procedures in the performance of duties and in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ministry of Transportation Temporary Conditions for Road Work, and policies of the Corporation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Certificate or diploma in horticulture, or related discipline, from a recognized institution or acceptable equivalent in education and experience.
• Must have good knowledge of the symptoms and methods of control of common diseases and insects that attack horticultural displays with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM).
• 2-3 years' training and practical experience in parks horticultural work. A valid Ontario Ministry of Environment Landscape Exterminator License is required.
• Must be a self-starter and capable of prioritizing and scheduling horticultural work effectively.
• Must possess an understanding of the Highway Traffic Act and knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Demonstrated effective communication, both oral and written, customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and to work as part of a team.
• Must hold and provide a copy of a valid and unrestricted Ontario Driver's Licence Class G minimum (standard and automatic transmission) with a driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour. Note: Applicants with six or more points are ineligible for consideration. The successful applicant, who is a new hire, will be required to provide the Corporation with a current drivers abstract (no older than 30 days) and pass a Town administered road test as a condition of employment.
• Must be willing to work a 40-hour workweek in varying weather conditions and be available for shift work as required including rotating weekend shifts.

DATED: November 2, 2026

The Town's recruitment software includes elements of artificial intelligence to assist in the screening and short listing of qualified candidates.

This job profile reflects the general requirements necessary to perform the principal functions of the job. This does not include all the work requirements of the job. Applicants are required to demonstrate through their application and in the interview process that their qualifications match those specified. The minimum threshold score for each of the testing and interview components of the recruitment process is 70%.

We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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