A full-circle GROW story
Aurelio Teixeira knows what it means to start over. He also knows what it means to come full circle.
In 2020, Teixeira joined the GROW program offered by Landscape Ontario as a newcomer to Canada, determined to rebuild a career he had already established
in Brazil. Today, he is an operations manager hiring graduates from the same program that helped him get his career started.
His journey reflects both personal determination and the long-term impact of industry training.
Starting out in Canada
Teixeira arrived in Toronto in 2017 with a background in agricultural research. In Brazil, he held a senior position working in horticulture. But like many newcomers to Canada, he faced the challenge of starting over.
Rather than holding out for a similar role, he chose a different approach.
That opportunity came with Strathmore Landscape Contractors, where he started as a crew member. At the time, he was part of a small team responsible for maintaining a single site. It was a step back professionally, but a deliberate one.
“I told them, you don’t know me,” Teixeira said. “Give me one year. Let me show you who I am.”
Teixeira saw it as a chance to prove himself in a new market while learning the expectations of the Canadian landscape industry.
Learning through GROW
Soon after joining the company, he was enrolled in the GROW program.
Delivered online during the pandemic, the program offered practical, industry-specific training. Teixeira focused on courses that would help him move beyond an entry-level role, particularly in leadership.
The training helped him build confidence and better understand the day-to-day realities of landscaping in Canada, from equipment use to client expectations.
It also had a direct impact on his work. After completing the program, Teixeira and his team began raising standards across their site. Their efforts led to winning a provincial award. The following year, they earned a national award for the same client.
“That showed we were on the right path,” he said.
Moving into management
Teixeira’s career progression followed steadily.
He moved from crew member to crew leader, then into site and field supervisor roles. Today, he serves as an operations manager for the company’s Toronto branch, while also handling account management and supporting sales.
With each step came new responsibilities.
That perspective shapes his approach to leadership. Teixeira focuses on coaching his team, building trust and helping employees develop the skills needed to advance.
He encourages staff to take on new challenges and sees growth as a shared responsibility between employee and employer.
“If they succeed, I succeed,” Teixeira said. “If they fail, I fail.” Hiring from the program Teixeira now regularly connects with GROW participants through job fairs and industry events.
In recent years, he has hired about six graduates, with more candidates currently in the hiring process.
For him, the difference between candidates who have completed the GROW training and those who haven’t is very noticeable.
“They come prepared,” he says. “They understand the basics. They know what the job is about.”
That foundation allows new hires to transition more quickly into their roles. It also signals a level of commitment to the industry.
Teixeira is not focused on finding candidates with extensive experience. Instead, he looks for individuals who are willing to learn and interested in building a
long-term career.
“I don’t want to see someone in the same position after two years,” he said. “I want to see progress.”
Staying connected
Throughout his various roles, Teixeira continues to stay connected with Landscape Ontario.
He attends seminars when his schedule allows and follows instructors and industry professionals online to keep learning. While time is more limited now, he still sees ongoing education as an important part of his development.
He also encourages others, especially newcomers, to consider the GROW program. “It shows you the reality of the job,” he said. “And it helps you decide if it’s the right fit.”
Full circle
For Teixeira, the GROW program marked a starting point. Today, it also serves as a hiring pipeline.
From participant to employer, his journey reflects the value of training, opportunity and a willingness to begin again. It also highlights how programs like GROW can support not only individuals, but the industry as a whole.
By investing in new talent, Teixeira is now helping others take the same first step he once did.
More information about LO’s GROW program can be found at growtraining.ca
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
