Groundskeeper Jobs in Canada 2025 | Duties, Salary, and How to Apply

Do you have the necessary skills and good communication skills to live and work? The groundskeeper job requires a person to be hardworking, with a considerable good attitude to live with people while consistently working to beautify environments and keep them clean at all times. This job also requires workers to ensure that the landscape of residential complexes, parks and recreational departments, golf courses, colleges and Universities, corporate campuses and others are maintained and kept clean. In general, a groundskeeper is tasked with mowing grass, planting flowers, trimming shrubs, removing snow, and keeping public and private outdoor spaces clean and aesthetically pleasing.

Key Responsibilities of a Groundskeeper

If you’re considering this career path, your responsibilities may include:

• Mowing lawns, trimming hedges, and edging walkways

• Planting and maintaining flowers, shrubs, and trees

• Removing snow and ice during winter

• Applying fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides

• Operating landscaping machinery and equipment

• Repairing fences, irrigation systems, and outdoor structures

• Maintaining golf courses, parks, school campuses, and corporate grounds

What Work Experience is Required by the Applicant?

An applicant seeking to work as a Groundskeeper is expected to have experience and have gained mastery of the following tools, as may be required in various sectors of work. The tools and their uses are;

1. Basic Gardening Tools

• Shovel: For digging, planting, and moving soil or mulch.
• Rake: For collecting leaves, debris, and levelling soil.
• Hoe: For loosening soil and removing weeds.
• Trowel: For planting small plants and digging in tight spaces.
• Pruning shears: For trimming small branches, shrubs, and plants.
• Loppers: For cutting larger branches and thicker plant stems.
• Wheelbarrow: For transporting soil, mulch, plants, or debris.

2. Lawn Care Equipment

• Lawnmower: For cutting grass to the desired height.
• String trimmer (Weed whacker): For trimming grass and weeds along edges, fences, and hard-to-reach areas.
• Edger: For creating clean lines along sidewalks, flower beds, and driveways.
• Leaf blower: For clearing leaves and debris from pathways and lawns.
• Aerator: For perforating the soil to allow better air, water, and nutrient penetration.

3. Soil and Plant Materials

• Mulch: For covering flower beds to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
• Topsoil: For planting new plants, levelling the ground, or filling in holes.
• Compost: To improve soil fertility and plant health.
• Fertilizer: For providing essential nutrients to grass, plants, and trees.
• Seeds: Grass seeds or flower seeds for planting and growing new areas.
• Sod: Pre-grown grass for laying new lawns.

4. Irrigation Supplies

• Hoses: For watering plants, gardens, and lawns.
• Sprinklers: For automatic or manual watering of large areas.
• Drip irrigation systems: For efficient watering of specific plants or garden areas.
• Watering cans: For smaller, more precise watering tasks.

5. Protective Gear

• Gloves: To protect hands from blisters, dirt, and cuts.
• Knee pads: To protect knees when working on the ground.
• Safety goggles: To protect eyes from flying debris when mowing or trimming.
• Ear protection: To protect ears from the loud noise of machines like lawnmowers or blowers.
• Sturdy work boots: To protect feet from sharp objects and provide support for long hours.

6. Chemical Supplies

• Pesticides: To control pests like insects and rodents.
• Herbicides: For killing weeds in lawns or garden beds.
• Fungicides: To control mould, mildew, and fungal diseases in plants.
• Weed and feed products: To simultaneously fertilize and control weed growth.

7. Maintenance and Repair Tools

• Wrenches and screwdrivers: For basic maintenance of equipment.
• Sharpening tools: To keep blades on lawnmowers, trimmers, and shears sharp.
• Lubricants (like WD-40): To keep equipment moving smoothly.

8. Snow and Ice Removal Equipment (Seasonal)

• Snow shovel: For clearing snow from sidewalks, driveways, and small areas.
• Snow blower: For larger areas and heavy snowfalls.
• Ice melt or rock salt: To melt ice on pathways and prevent slipping hazards.

9. Miscellaneous

• Trash bags: For collecting debris, leaves, and other waste.
• Tarps: For collecting and moving large amounts of leaves, soil, or mulch.
• Measuring tape: To measure garden beds, plant spacing, or lawn areas.

10. Optional (for Specialized Groundskeeping)

• Chainsaw: For cutting down trees or trimming large branches.
• Ladder: For reaching high branches or accessing tall trees.
• Pressure washer: For cleaning sidewalks, patios, or outdoor structures.

Groundskeeper Salary Expectations in Canada

The average salary range for a groundskeeper in Canada is:

• Entry-level: $17 – $21 per hour

• Mid-level: $22 – $26 per hour

• Experienced/Supervisor: $28 – $32+ per hour

Salaries vary depending on location, experience, job complexity, and the type of organization (private vs. public).

Company and Organization Recruiting Groundskeeper

Property Management Companies

1. CAPREIT (Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust)
2. Realstar Management
3. BentallGreenOak
4. QuadReal Property Group
5. Homestead Land Holdings Limited

Parks and Recreation Departments

1. City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
2. City of Vancouver Parks and Recreation
3. City of Calgary Parks
4. City of Ottawa Recreation and Parks
5. City of Edmonton Parks and Recreation

Golf Courses and Country Clubs

1. ClubLink (operates multiple golf courses across Canada)
2. GolfNorth Properties
3. St. George’s Golf and Country Club (Toronto)
4. Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club (Vancouver)
5. The National Golf Club of Canada (Woodbridge)

Schools and Universities

1. University of British Columbia (UBC) (Vancouver)
2. University of Toronto (Toronto)
3. McGill University (Montreal)
4. University of Alberta (Edmonton)
5. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) (Calgary)

Hotels and Resorts

1. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (multiple locations across Canada)
2. Four Seasons Resort Whistler
3. Banff Springs Hotel (Fairmont Banff Springs)
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
5. JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa

Sports Stadiums and Arenas

1. Rogers Centre (Toronto)
2. BC Place Stadium (Vancouver)
3. Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary)
4. BMO Field (Toronto)
5. Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)

Corporate Campuses

1. Google Canada (Toronto office campus)
2. Microsoft Canada (Mississauga campus)
3. Bell Canada (Montreal headquarters and campuses)
4. RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) (Toronto headquarters)
5. Telus (Vancouver headquarters)

Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

1. Toronto General Hospital (Toronto)
2. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto)
3. The Ottawa Hospital (Ottawa)
4. Vancouver General Hospital (Vancouver)
5. Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)

Retail and Commercial Centers

1. Cadillac Fairview (CF Eaton Centre in Toronto, CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver)
2. RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
3. Oxford Properties (owners of shopping centers like Yorkdale Shopping Centre)
4. Ivanhoé Cambridge (owns commercial properties across Canada)
5. West Edmonton Mall (Edmonton)

Cemeteries

1. Mount Pleasant Cemetery (Toronto)
2. Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa)
3. Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery (Montreal)
4. Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Burnaby, BC)
5. Highland Memory Gardens (Toronto)

Amusement Parks

1. Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario)
2. La Ronde (Montreal, Quebec)
3. Calaway Park (Calgary, Alberta)
4. Playland (Vancouver, BC)
5. Galaxyland (West Edmonton Mall) (Edmonton, Alberta)