Florists in the News:
• Patrick Vilmé of Cupidon Florist, and Professor of Floristry at the
Government Ecole de fleuristerie in St. Eustache, recently walked away
with Gold at the Landart competition in Fredericia, Denmark.
• Juliette Zromski, who headed up the second generation of florists at Fleuriste Frank, would be proud of her son Frank Jr., who left a career as a publicity photographer in 1970 to try his hand as a grower. After many trials and errors he finally found his niche market in geranium cuttings, though today this now represents only 20 per cent of his production. With 20 employees, he now oversees some eight million cuttings. Juliette would marvel at his operation, which is completely automated and computerized and even includes geothermic heating of his 200,000 square feet of greenhouses that reduces his energy costs by 17-30 per cent depending on the type of plants he grows. The Quebec market absorbs 80 per cent of his production; the other 20 per cent is exported. In 2003, Les Serres Frank Zromski was awarded the Gold Medal of “l’Ordre national du mérite agricole.” This was the first time in 100 years that this was given to a flower grower. In 2004 he was also given the Grand Prize of Entrepreneur of the year by Ernst & Young for Quebec’s agro-alimentary sector. Yes indeed, Juliette would be proud.
Passings:
• George Pickrell, founder of Westmount Florist, passed away on Sept. 4. He was always an active member of the Montreal florist community until his retirement. George started his florist career working for Pinkerton Flowers in Westmount, and then went on to Eunice Denby in Toronto. Several years later he returned to Montreal and worked at McKenna’s on Guy Street, then on to their Côte des Neiges operations. In 1962 he opened his shop on St. Catherine Street West and also represented Perma Fleur of Toronto for the Province of Quebec. In the early ’70s he moved his business to its present location on Victoria Street in Westmount. All of his children are involved in the flower business. Stephen manages the financial end; Christine and David oversee the Victoria Street store since George’s retirement and when the family opened the Pointe Claire Village store in l981 this venture was assigned to Peter. All this is now spawning a third generation of florists with Lauren, George’s granddaughter, who is also learning the business. George will always be remembered for his sense of humour and his dedication to his family.
Those in the industry, who knew George, were all touched by the sad news. To standing room only, a memorial service was held on Sept. 30 at St. Edmund of Canterbury Catholic Church in Beaconsfield. Peter and Christine each gave a eulogy of humorous family recollections of good times and appreciation that set the tone for this event as a celebration of George’s life. It truly was an honouring of a life well lived. And, yes that man could dance!
Where are they now?
• Bernard Bourbonnais, now retired, who for years owned Fleuriste Symphonie Florale in Montreal, was recently requested by Albert and Mathilde Goldberg, founders of “L’Association G.R.A.N.D. Chapitre de Montréal pour le Québec,” a division of “Familis World Organisation for Families,” to serve as a floral link to their events in Quebec. “Familis” is a worldwide organization for grandparents requesting natural access to grandchildren and provides emotional support as well. This organization is now picking up speed and meets regularly in the presence of a guest lawyer(s).
Grandparents Day:
• In 1996 the Parliament of Canada voted the second Sunday in September as National Grandparents Day and to this end the RDIF (Réseau de développement de l’industrie florale) has made this its 2006 marketing priority to imprint this Day in the minds of Quebec consumers in order to augment floral sales. Statistics Canada states that there are approximately 4.7 grandchildren per set of grandparents. One can surely see the floral potential in those numbers. The sunflower was chosen by RDIF as the flower of choice for the occasion. Why? This is due to its endurance and easy procurement in the fall. The sunflower is also symbolic of the generous open hearts of grandparents and their sunny disposition toward grandchildren.
Montreal Botanical Garden:
• “Chinese Celebrations” was the theme of this fall’s Magic of Lanterns event in the Montreal Botanical Gardens’ “Jardin de Chine.” Five magnificent scenes were depicted representing typical festive Chinese events: the Dragon Dance, Dragon-boat races, the Lion Dance, the Launching of the Kites, and Stilt Dancers – all of these scenes were made with colourful lanterns! In the Chinese Friendship Pavilion one was able to see a magnificent collection of that nation’s musical instruments. With the Gardens’ trees at their fall best and a small cup of hot tea and a Chinese pastry, it was truly a wonderful experience.
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