Florists in the News
Jessica Mailas, granddaughter of Dick Van Egmond, founder of Edgewood
Greenhouses in Côte St. Luc, was featured in an article which ran in
the May 12 issue of The Gazette entitled ‘Retail Detail.’ When asked
whether her store was a greenhouse or florist, Mailas said, “We started
off as a wholesale grower and turned into a retail flower shop.
We just never really renovated. I think the greenhouse look is part of our charm; it makes it a destination shop.” Jessica went on to explain that the business has been in the family for 51 years. She entered the flower business after working in the fashion industry. Jessica realized that the efforts she was investing for someone else could be best applied to her own family’s business. With this said, it is confirmed that Edgewood Greenhouses is now a third-generation flower shop.
Montrealers Voted
Mirror Magazine’s Readers’ Poll 2007 results for the Best Bang for your Buck – Best Florist:
1. Fleuriste Pourquoi Pas (3629 boul. St. Laurent)
2. Florateria (90 des Pins West)
3. Westmount Florist (360 Victoria)
4. Zen (1030 boul. Mont Royal East)
5. Bernard’s Flower Shoppe (1089 Bernard West)
Blooming Fun
Enter www.procreo.jp/labo/flowers_garden.swf and click on the site. You will see a completely black page. Click anywhere on the page and see what happens. Drag your cursor around. Write your name.
Flowers Are Big Business at “The Clock”
On May 26 Les Affaires carried an in-depth half-page article on the turnaround decisions made by François Caron, director general of Marché Floral Inter-Provincial alias “The Clock,” and his board of directors.
Reported were the meetings that occurred between growers and retailers in order to confront the heavy-duty competition and market changes. This was followed by short/long term goals in reorganizing their computerized data systems that includes a Virtual Auction where florists can purchase their flowers directly through the Internet. An added feature will be to offer delivery service to the florists anywhere in the province. Also covered were plans to import flowers not grown by the 12 Quebec and 14 Ontario, grower/ owners of the “Montreal Clock.” Around 8.4 million flowers and plants were sold for sales totalling $12.6 million. Best-sellers are roses, gerberas and tulips and 60 per cent of the stock is pre-sold. Marché Floral now employs 11 full-
time, and 15 part-time employees.
Le Bal des Jonquilles – 14th Edition
The Bal des Jonquilles (the Daffodil Ball), an annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, was held April 26, 2007 at the Windsor Station, in Montreal. Themed a “Starry Night,” the venue was turned into a magical room with 10,000 plus twinkling lights covering the vaulting ceiling like flashing fireflies.
Each table was draped in custom reflective gold lamé and at the centre breathtaking chandeliers incorporated some of the 40,000 daffodils throughout the scene. Dick Walsh, the New York floral designer extraordinaire, orchestrated the déor with the help from students of local floral designing schools. Le Bal des Jonquilles netted $2.2 million from corporate sponsors and the 680 prominent Canadians in attendance, collecting the largest sum in Canadian fundraising history for a one-evening event.
In Passing
Floral Industry Loses Longtime Florist
 Nick Lye, chairman of Tidy’s Flowers, Toronto, Ont., died at Sunnybrook Medical Centre in Toronto on July 2, 2007. Nick was a longtime member in the floral industry and a well-known face at Tidy’s Flowers, which the Lye family has operated since 1947. Nick joined the family business in 1951 and was named president at Tidy’s in 1974. He passed on the business to his children in
1983 and stayed on as a floral industry consultant.
“He was always interested in furthering the flower business for everyone, not just for his own interests,”says Nick’s daughter and Tidy’s president Janet Lye. Nick helped develop Flowers Canada and served a term as treasurer as well as president of the organization.
Nick will be greatly missed by everyone in the florist industry.
Ontario Floriculture Industry Loses Advocate
 Tony Thompson, an advocate of the Ontario floriculture industry, died on July 7, 2007, in his 75th year. He will be remembered for his persistent efforts to promote the industry in Ontario and across the border.
Tony became involved in the floriculture industry in 1975. He enjoyed a 16-year career with JVK through to 1992, and subsequently began working with the Niagara Economic Development Corporation. Here he served as a horticulture consultant and worked on a number of projects to help promote Ontario product on behalf of the entire industry. He was also involved with a number of Flowers Canada Ontario activities and other industry events. Tony and his dedication to the floriculture industry will be greatly missed.
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