A Public Statement

What Happened

My wife began working for ProGrade Landscapes in the winter, hired initially for snow removal. With her background in coordination and management, she was quickly promoted to an office position and given the responsibility of running a crew during Edmonton's heavy snow dumps. She took pride in the work and was grateful for the opportunity.

Justin Routley, the owner, appeared thrilled with her contributions. He invited us out for drinks to celebrate how well things were going. He seemed genuinely thankful to have someone with her skills and experience on his team. We were happy. After years of trade work, a stable position felt like a real step forward for our family.

As a web developer, I took it upon myself to rebuild the company's website from the ground up, replacing a barely functional site that did little to represent the business. The new site included not just a professional web presence but a full operational software component for managing the business. Work easily worth far more, but I was going to charge just $2,500 as a courtesy. That website, the one you would have seen here before today, was my work.

Then the Surgery Call Came

My wife had been suffering with this condition for over two years, waiting on an AHS list for a hysterectomy. This is not an elective procedure and not something you reschedule. When she finally got the call, Justin was supportive and seemed to genuinely care about her wellbeing throughout the process.

One week. That is how long it took for two years of waiting and a major surgery to become grounds for termination. There was no performance issue. No warning. No conversation. Just a dismissal while she was at her most vulnerable, still technically within a probationary window that made it administratively convenient to do so.

Why This Page Exists

This is not a business website anymore. The professional site I built for ProGrade Landscapes has been replaced with this statement, because the company and its owner do not deserve the benefit of work I donated in good faith.

Employers like Justin Routley want your loyalty, your extra effort, your personal investment in their success. And the moment it becomes convenient, they will discard you without a second thought.

We are exploring all available options, including a formal complaint with the Alberta Labour Board.