INDUSTRY PANEL
It is time to ask the tough questions and engage owners and operators who have contributed to the retail garden centre profession.
Ashleigh Munro - Industry Expert | You’re Here, Now What?
Join Ashleigh as she shares how to make the most of visiting other garden centers. Learn what to look for, how to borrow fresh ideas, and evaluate what works—and what doesn’t. She’ll challenge you to think critically: What would you change if you had only $10,000 to improve each stop? Gain insights on spotting trends, refining your business, and maximizing every visit. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to garden retail, this session will help you turn inspiration into action. Don’t just visit—analyze, adapt, and grow!
Ashleigh has worked in garden centers for 15 years and is passionate about business and horticulture. She has travelled the world with the International Garden Center Congress, visiting industry leaders in Italy, Prague, the UK, Quebec, and Amsterdam. In 2022, she won the Young Retailer of the Year award. This year, she is taking time off to travel across Canada and the U.S., exploring garden centers and gaining new insights. With a keen eye for innovation and strategy, Ashleigh is always looking for fresh ideas to bring back to the industry.
Jeff O’Brien & Jon Morrison - Brands in Bloom | The 5-Star Customer Experience: Winning the Hearts of the Next Generation
The secret to delivering a 5-star customer experience? It starts with a 5-star employee experience. In this transformative session, Jeff O’Brien and Jon Morrison will hand you the ultimate playbook to create an unmatched garden center experience that captivates Millennials and Gen Z, turns first-time visitors into loyal customers, and builds a thriving, experience-driven business. At this session's heart is storytelling's power—a proven framework to guide your customer journey, simplify your message, and create deeper connections. Jeff and Jon will show you how to break down the most significant barriers keeping the next generation from engaging with gardening: “no time, no space, and no knowledge.
You'll walk away with strategies to flip these challenges into opportunities that inspire confidence and long-term commitment. But great customer experiences don’t happen accidentally—they start with your team. You’ll learn how to cultivate a culture of excellence through training, leadership, and engagement, ensuring that every employee is equipped to deliver exceptional service. This isn’t just another session. It’s a game plan for winning the future of retail. If you’re ready to elevate your garden center, empower your team, and create lifelong gardeners, this is the must-attend talk of the year!
Jon Morrison helps garden centres engage younger audiences through marketing. As a StoryBrand Guide and TEDx Speaker, he has helped businesses across North America grow through storytelling. He is the author of Now Start With Who holds an MBA, and studied at Oxford University. Based in Vancouver, BC, Jon is the Co-Founder of Brands in Blooms and lives with his wife and three daughters.
Jeff O’Brien, President of Brands in Blooms, is revolutionizing garden centre marketing to connect with today’s consumers. As the founder of The Brand Bloom Community, he has built a network of 170+ garden centres and trained 300+ professionals through the Next-Gen Masterclass. A sought-after keynote speaker, Jeff will headline The Garden Center Show in Illinois and contribute regularly to Lawn & Garden Retailer. Formerly leading Bloomin’ Easy at Van Belle Nursery, he tripled unit sales and doubled revenue in five years. He holds an Executive MBA (2024) with a dissertation on consumer behaviour in garden centres. Through Brands in Blooms, Jeff empowers garden centres with innovative tools like the 5-Star Garden Center Experience Package to attract and retain the next generation of gardeners.
Alexander Godfrey - Rooted in Retail: My Work Experience in a UK Garden Centre
Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Alexander Godfrey is the Nursery Lead at Lakeland Plant World, part of his family’s business, The Godfrey Group of Companies, in Dartmouth. A graduate of Dalhousie University (2018) and Nova Scotia Community College (2022), Alexander brings academic and hands-on experience to his role. His recent professional journey includes an intensive two-year placement as a retail supervisor at the award-winning Barton Grange Garden Centre in Lancashire, England.
In his presentation, Alexander will share insights from his international experience, detailing how he secured the role abroad, the responsibilities he undertook, and the professional and personal growth he gained. He’ll also reflect on how these learnings shape his contributions to his family business back home.
Art Vanden Enden - Industry Expert | Secrets of Success
Join Art Vanden Emden, a Garden Centres Canada Committee member, at the upcoming Summit in Winnipeg this July. Art will dive into one of the most pressing topics for independent garden centres today: effective training programs for frontline staff. Drawing from firsthand experience, he’ll explore how targeted, timely training can fast-track employee readiness and drive real results for your business. This session is a must-attend for owners, operators, and managers looking to strengthen their teams and share insights with peers nationwide.
Jason Taylor | Let’s Think Differently: The Self-Aware Leader and How It Drives Growth in Our Company
In this 75 to 90-minute session, I take them on a journey that leaders are all built differently. Knowing who we are helps us drive our bottom line while increasing our teams' productivity, engagement, and culture.
- Understanding Data and Behavioral Needs: Exploring how data can inform our understanding of individual and team dynamics.
- Effective Communication involves tailoring messages based on team members' unique needs and preferences to enhance understanding and engagement. More importantly, how do we have and become comfortable with direct conversations to move forward quicker and more easily?
- Team Dynamics: Identifying and leveraging team strengths while recognizing blind spots that can hinder cultural growth and performance.
- How can we build our team better so we become a stronger team? Who will add what??
- Enhancing Time Management: Learning how self-awareness can lead to better time management and adaptation to evolving team needs.
This session is VERY engaging and gets the owners and leaders thinking differently.
Jason is an entrepreneurial, results-driven, seasoned executive with a 22-year successful track record. With extensive experience in sales, marketing, operations, franchising, and business development, Jason consistently earned top performance recognition in sales leadership. Accomplished in turning mediocre business units into high-performing profit-generating centers.
Bill Hardy, CLHM - If Plants Could Talk—They Would Sell Themselves
Plants play a vital role in our world, yet many people overlook them—a phenomenon known as "plant blindness."
While governments are beginning to emphasize biodiversity, soil health, and water conservation, the essential role of plants in these areas is still underestimated.
The UN Biodiversity program affirms that “plants are life,” highlighting their fundamental role in sustaining ecosystems through photosynthesis. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink are all caused by plants.
As horticulturists and garden centre professionals, we are on the front lines of this awareness. Our responsibility is to educate, advocate, and be ambassadors for plants—if they could talk, they certainly would.
Bill is a CNLA Past President and a highly qualified management professional with over forty years of experience in retail and management environments.
TOUR DESTINATIONS
We have a great lineup of tour destinations and yummy places to eat!
Jeffries Nurseries Inc.
JEFFRIES NURSERIES LTD. specializes in hardy, northern-grown nursery stock for garden centres, growers and landscapers. The company was founded by Wilbert and Sharon Ronald in 1982, growing over the years from a small retail garden centre into one of Manitoba’s largest nurseries. Jeffries provides customers across Canada and the northern United States with quality plants through their Northern Garden Collection brand. The nursery is situated on over 200 acres of land in Portage la Prairie, MB, which includes over 65,000 square feet of greenhouse production space specializing in perennials, roses, hanging baskets, herbs and annual production. Jeffries’ tree and shrub seed program supplies nursery seed across North America. A primary Jeffries specialty is its research and development, which, over the years, has introduced more than 40 new plant varieties that are resistant to ever-evolving pest and disease issues and tolerant to the challenging hardiness zones in the prairies.
Find them @jeffriesnurseriesltd
Lacoste Garden Centre
LACOSTE GARDEN CENTRE is genuinely one of a kind. Established in 1942, this proud family-owned and operated business has been driven by a passion for horticulture and a commitment to helping customers. Every day, the team is ready with smiles, offering expert horticultural advice and assistance with all gardening needs. Lacoste Garden Centre is dedicated to delivering the highest level of service in the garden boutique. Its team of plant professionals brings passion, experience, and knowledge to every interaction. Their goal is simple: to ensure customers leave with a smile, as that’s the only way they feel satisfied.
We look forward to this stop, where we will enjoy an informative hands-on workshop with Brands In Bloom and a fantastic networking dinner.
Find them @lacoste_garden_centre
Oakridge Garden Centre
OAKRIDGE GARDEN CENTRE in Steinbach, MB, is a vibrant destination for plant lovers, shoppers, and food enthusiasts. Its greenhouse offers a diverse selection of plants, trees, and shrubs, with expert staff ready to assist. The boutique features Canadian-designed clothing and stylish home décor, while the Flower Bar provides beautiful hand-tied bouquets for any occasion. The on-site café is popular for its fresh, handcrafted meals, including soups, salads, and desserts, served in a cozy setting. Visitors praise Oakridge for its excellent customer service, quality products, and inviting atmosphere. Whether shopping for garden essentials, unique gifts, or enjoying a delicious meal, Oakridge Garden Centre offers a charming and welcoming experience.
Find them @oakridgegreenhouse
Sage Garden Centre
SAGE GARDEN CENTRE Sage Garden Greenhouses is a full-service garden center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, specializing in organic growing practices. They offer a wide selection of herbs, tropical plants, succulents, pollinator-friendly perennials, chemical-free annuals, and zone 3 hardy orchard plants. They are the only garden center in Winnipeg using 100% natural fertilizers and non-toxic pest management. Additionally, they provide over 450 varieties of organic seeds and host workshops. Recognized as one of the top garden centers in Manitoba, they are praised for their commitment to sustainability, diverse plant selection, and knowledgeable staff.
Find them @sagegardengreenhouses
Shelmerdine
SHELMERDINE, founded in 1937 by Walter Shelmerdine in Charleswood, began through the production and sales of fruit trees. In the winters, Walter offered landscape design services and plant catalogues. In the 1960s and 70s, the business expanded with new partners and relocated to a larger site in Headingley in 1974 to accommodate the expanding retail store and landscaping division. Known for its trusted landscaping services, Shelmerdine became a staple in Winnipeg’s gardening community. Today, Shelmerdine Garden Center is a destination for plants, design, and outdoor inspiration. In February 2025, a partnership with Geller’s Design | Build | Landscape brought a full-circle landscaping solution to the property. As the business grows, Shelmerdine continues to offer exceptional products and services while honouring its roots.
Find them @shelmerdinestyle
Solomon's Garden Centre
Solomon's Home Garden Gift is a charming local gem in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Known for its warm atmosphere and friendly service, this family-run shop offers a delightful blend of home décor, garden essentials, and thoughtful gifts for every occasion. Whether you're looking to refresh your indoor space with stylish accents, find the perfect plant for your garden, or pick out a unique present, Solomon’s has something for everyone. The shop carries a wide selection of seasonal items, including handcrafted goods, candles, pottery, and garden ornaments that reflect the beauty of the prairies. With a passion for creativity and community, Solomon's Home Garden Gift is more than just a store—it’s where customers feel at home. Locals and visitors alike appreciate the personalized service and ever-changing inventory that make each visit a new experience. It's a must-stop destination in Portage for inspiration and heartwarming finds.
Find them at @solomons_gardencentre
St Mary's Nursery & Garden Centre
ST. MARY’S NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE is a family-owned business serving the community for 40 years. Dedicated to inspiring gardeners of all levels, and spanning 65,000 square feet, this independent garden center offers a vast selection of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, and tropical plants. The nursery specializes in landscape design, helping clients create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. Beyond its impressive plant collection, St. Mary’s features a charming gift store filled with home décor, gourmet foods, and trendy fashion accessories. The boutique-style shopping experience ensures visitors leave with fresh ideas for home and garden. St. Mary’s hosts various events and workshops annually, fostering learning and community among gardening enthusiasts.
Find them @stmarysnursery
Sunshine & Chinos Bistro
SUNSHINE GREENHOUSE & CHINOS BISTRO in Steinbach, Manitoba, is a charming blend of gardening and dining. Sunshine Greenhouse offers a garden center, flower bar, landscape services, fashion boutique, and home décor. Chinos Bistro uses locally sourced ingredients for its wood-fired pizzas, house-made gelato, and specialty coffees. Guests can enjoy their meals with a view of the greenhouse, creating a unique and cozy experience. Customers call this location their “happy place”. With surprises around every corner and something for everyone, we’re more than a pit stop– an experience.
This will be the yummy lunch location for Day 1!
Find them @sunshine_and_chinos
Van Der Meer Garden Centre
VAN DER MEER GARDEN CENTRE is a second-generation family-owned and operated business in Île-des-Chênes, Manitoba. Known for its exceptional quality and customer service, Van der Meer offers a wide selection of bedding plants, vegetables, perennials, trees, and shrubs—perfect for seasoned gardeners and those just starting to cultivate their green spaces. Beyond its impressive plant selection, the garden centre provides professional maintenance and installation services to help keep outdoor spaces looking pristine. Van der Meer fosters community through engaging workshops and events, such as their popular Spring Paint Night, where visitors can learn, create, and connect. Adding to its charm, the garden centre is also home to Little Leaf Coffee and Tea, a cozy coffee bar nestled within the space. Whether picking out new plants, attending an event, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee, Van der Meer Garden Centre is the place to be.
Find them @vandermeer_greenhouses
Vanstone Nurseries
VANSTONE NURSERIES, established in 1982 by David and Eunice Vanstone, has evolved from a small family-run operation into a leading wholesale supplier. Providing high-quality plants to more than 250 garden centers across Canada. Their reach extends from Northern Ontario to the Rocky Mountains, serving a diverse range of retailers with an extensive selection of hardy perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, small fruits, herbs, and annuals. With a commitment to quality, Vanstone Nurseries prides itself on fostering lasting relationships with customers through fair prices and exceptional service. The business has maintained its core values, ensuring every plant meets rigorous standards before leaving the nursery. Today, operated by sons Owen and Tim Vanstone, they work alongside their families and dedicated employees to continue building on the nursery’s well-earned reputation.
Find them @vanstonenurseries
ITINERARY
Stay tuned for more!
We have a fantastic schedule of engaging events with industry professionals sharing their knowledge and insight.
Hotel
The INN at the Forks
Guests can use the link to our website to make reservations online, provided they only need the nights on the contract. If they need to arrive and/or stay later, they must call the phone number (204-942-6555) to reserve or email info@innforks.com. Please ensure they request the group rate by name, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, or by group reservation number, #666147.
Air Canada Promotion Code: U43QV331
DEADLINE TO REGISTER
June 13, 2025 - 11:59 pm PST
No exceptions
"We can't wait to see you in Winnipeg this summer!"
Robin Godfrey - Garden Centres Canada Chair & CNLA Treasurer
Stay tuned for more!
Contact Anne Kadwell for any questions!
anne@cnla-acpp.ca
