February 4, 2020
Giving back aligns with Carl Hastings’ personality
Carl Hastings
How did you get involved in this profession?
I was hired right out of Humber College by Bob Tubby from Arbordale Landscaping about 30 years ago and started working on the construction side of the business. Bob started Moonstruck Landscape Lighting and after I had worked there for about five years, he asked me to help him out on one of the landscape lighting jobs. The rest is history.
Why did you get involved with the lighting sector group?
In 2007, the lighting group was started because the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), had taken landscape lighting under their umbrella because there had been some injuries.
What do enjoy most about volunteering?“I’m always surprised by the ingenuity of the contractors we work with. It’s constantly changing and the variety of people, jobs, and products is always changing, which makes it very exciting.”
— Carl Hastings
People. By being a volunteer, I get the opportunity to meet other people, talk to them and share common experiences, troubleshoot things together.
How do you, as an employer, support staff in volunteering?
I tell everybody I can to volunteer. Don’t hesitate. It’s part of my personality to give back and try to help others whenever I can. There’s nothing but positives to gain by taking the chance.
What are your thoughts on the Lighting Conference?
The secondary goal of the group after educating and working with the ESA, is to better the industry, better the image and the education as far as what’s out there for landscape lighting. There are a lot of manufacturers that do a good job, but the group allowed us to bring contractors in and share our experiences with others. The whole effort is to elevate landscape lighting to where most of us think it should be — a luxury item that should be treated that way.
What do you foresee for the sector over the next 10 years?
LEDs have been around for a long time, but they are far more mainstream and the offerings are getting better and better. They have continued to improve and the efficiency, colour and quality is so much better than what it was. It’s so exciting. The old adage, ‘you get what you pay for,’ still holds true, and with the high-end products, it’s definitely worth it.
What do you most enjoy about your career?
The opportunity to meet different people, and to create. I’m always surprised by the ingenuity of the contractors we work with. It’s constantly changing and the variety of people, jobs, and products is always changing, which makes it very exciting.
Do you have any hobbies or other interests?
My secret passion is actually karate. My dad was a boxer, so I started shortly after he passed away. I’m actually a third-degree black belt. Part of being a black belt is giving back, and I do teach at the school, helping new belts become black belts.