October 23, 2016
LO members win big at National Awards of Landscape Excellence
Charlie Wilson from Bruce Wilson Landscaping.
Landscape Ontario members took home four of five awards in the landscape categories at the 2016 National Awards of Landscape Excellence ceremony held in Kelowna, B.C. on Aug. 17.

The 13th annual ceremony was held in conjunction with the British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association Landscape Awards of Excellence, with the who’s who in landscape horticulture in attendance.

National judges received over 50 entries in the landscape categories alone, where only five could be named national champions.

Winners in the five landscape categories are:
  • Bruce Wilson Landscaping in Ontario, for the Caterpillar Award of Excellence in Commercial Landscape Construction/Installation
  • Pro­Land Landscape Construction in Ontario, for the Caterpillar Award of Excellence in Residential Landscape Construction/Installation
  • Joe Bidermann Landscaping Design in Nova Scotia, for the DynaSCAPE Award of Excellence in Landscape Design
  • OGS Grounds Maintenance Specialists in Ontario, for the National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Maintenance
  • Cedar Springs Landscape Group in Ontario, for the National Award of Landscape Excellence in Residential Maintenance.
Congratulations to all the winners for truly outstanding projects!

Harold Deenen was awarded the prestigious President’s Award for his years of service and dedication to the both the association and the industry as a whole. Donnie Burke accepted the Green for Life Community Award on behalf of Nova Scotia Lands and the other groups involved in the restoration of the Sydney Tar Ponds into the beautiful Open Hearth Park. Bradford Greenhouses Garden Gallery in Ontario was named Garden Centre of the Year. Van Belle Nursery took home Grower of the Year and will compete in the international competition next year.

MP Stephen Fuhr announced the contribution of $1.1 million to grow the domestic and international market for Canadian ornamental horticulture — a significant investment in Canada’s nursery and landscape sector. CNLA president Rene Thiebaud confirmed the funding will be used in a variety of projects dedicated to increasing market exposure of Canadian ornamental horticulture products.