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Established Florists in Canada for over 100 years | janet lye, tidy's flowers |
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Written by Canadian Florist Magazine
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one hundred plus
 Tidy’s Flowers (100 plus)
Stephen Tidy, a skilled gardener, came to Canada from England in 1873. He built a small suburban greenhouse at 477 Ontario Street where he operated as a grower until 1877, at which time he officially open the retail business of S. Tidy and Sons Limited. Growing and expanding, Tidy’s Flowers continued to be run by family members, passing down from father to sons to grandson. In 1913, Tidy’s Flowers moved to 79 King Street West and continued to operate from this central Toronto location until 1964. Elliott Lye purchased the company in 1947. Having been employed as a delivery boy with Tidy’s in 1910, he moved up the ranks and was appointed to the board of directors in 1933. Nick and Doug Lye took over the business from their father, and then the shop was passed down to Nick’s children – Janet Lye, President, and Jim Lye, Treasurer.
“The flower business gets into your blood pretty quickly. I think the fact that both Jim and I have come from careers outside the industry gives us a perspective and appreciation for its unique characteristics we wouldn’t have had if we had moved directly into the company,” says Janet. The brother and sister team have kept up with the ever-changing way the world does business. (Sarah Rowett)
Rosery Florist (100 plus)
Sheila Tschetter bought Rosery Florist in downtown Winnipeg three years ago not only because she loves the industry, but also because she appreciates the history behind a company that has been in business for 100 years. The downtown Winnipeg florist opened for business in 1905. It has been at its current location since the mid-’70s. Women have always owned the store, which was unusual at a time when business was a man’s world. The original owners was Frances Seamans. Other long time owners were Maude McCreery who had the business for 40 years and Anne Jackson who was the owner for 28 years. To celebrate the special anniversary, Tschetter reports that Rosery Florist is featuring weekly Saturday “old-fashioned market” sales with two-for-one sales. As well, all brides will be entered into a year end draw with the winner gets the flower arrangements for their wedding at 1905 prices.
“We have old order books going back to 1908,” Tschetter says. “Back then, all the floral arrangements for a wedding came to $35.” (Myron Love)
 Gammage Flowers (100 plus)
Established in the late 1800s in London, Ont. Gammage Flowers was initially a strawberry growing operation, which eventually evolved into a retail flower shop. The store was originally located on Gammage Street, hence the name of the shop, but it now resides across town. Sarah Geddes, who is the current owner of Gammage Flowers, bought the store nine years ago.
happenings: In 1955, Gammage Flowers in London, Ont. celebrated their centennial anniversary by offering customers a $25.00 reward for the oldest London newspaper carrying an advertisement of theirs. The oldest paper found with an advertisement from Gammage was dated October 30th, 1888.
 Goold’s Flowers (100 plus)
In 1878, William Nevens Goold built his first greenhouse and opened Goold’s Nurseries Ltd. in Sussex, N.B.
William’s only child, Herbert, was the second generation to work in flowers and plants, and Herbert’s only child, George, was the third generation to manage Goold’s Nurseries. In the 1950s George’s son, Arthur, joined Goold’s and delved deeply into the floriculture side of the business, working primarily with Flowers Canada and travelling across Canada as president.
In 1963, Goold’s opened the doors of a brand new store. It closed the nursery side of the business and concentrated on the flower shop and the greenhouses.
In January 1988, renovations were made on the flower shop, and a brand new store was opened in June of that year. Today Goold’s is still run and owned by family. (Karen Hall)
Cole’s Florist & Garden Centre (100 plus)
Cole’s Florist & Garden Centre was started with a small 1,000 square foot greenhouse in Grimsby, Ont. in 1891 by Albert Edward Cole.
Many changes have taken place since then, including the business being moved across the street where an old house was converted into a store with an additional 1,200 square feet, a small cottage next to the store was torn down in order to construct a 3,000 square foot greenhouse, and Cole’s Christmas Cottage, which houses its special Christmas items year-round, was opened. (K.H.)
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| Napoleon the horse in front of Martin’s Flowers in the mid 1950’s. |
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Bill Martin and his daughter Jane Martin from Martin's Flowers, decorating the Royal Winter Fair in 1982.
Photo courtesy of Martin's Flowers |
Martin’s Flowers (100 plus)
Martin’s Flowers, which is family-owned and operated, was founded in Toronto in 1898 by Alfred Martin. His son, Gordon, took over the business in the early 1900s, and when Gordon passed away in 1950, William (Bill) Martin succeeded his father. Bill spent many years working with Flowers Canada, building up membership and promoting its efforts, and served a term as president.
After 45 years, Bill retired from the flower shop and his daughter, Lynn Freeman, took over. Her son, Ryan, is now the fifth generation to work there.
Today Martin’s Flowers promotes floral artistry and unique designs with a European look. (K.H.)
Street’s Flower Shop (100 plus)
George Street, who founded Street’s Flowers in 1896 in Orillia, Ont., began his career as a groundskeeper at Windsor Castle, the main residence of the Royal Family.
The Street family then moved from England to Davenport, Iowa, where they lived for two years. The next move was to Barrie, Ont., where George was a gardener and a florist for several large estates.
Since the first flower shop was opened, the business has been handed down through the family, and today Robert Street is a fourth generation florist. He studied floral design at the American Floral Art School in Chicago Ill., and his unique design talents have taken him across North America. (K.H.)
Rosery Florist (100 plus)
In 1895, Mr. and Mrs. Walker opened E.Walker Florist in Hamilton, Ont. In 1910, they renamed the store Rosery Florist and moved it up the street. Miss Helen Douglas bought the store in 1930, and relocated in 1934. The store prospered through the depression into the war years and the post war era. In 1967, Miss Douglas (who by then had married Bill Hocken) decided to retire and Bill and Myrtle Schweitzer became the new owners; the third generation in nearly 100 years. The shop moved to its present location in 1971, and in 1995 the current owner Clare Ferguson bought the Rosery Florist.
Ormistons (100 plus)
Ormistons has been a family-owned and operated business since 1905 when it was originally called R.B. Ormiston Florists.
Robert Baptie Ormiston came to Canada some time prior to 1891 to become the first gardener at Government House, the Manitoba legislative buildings. Two of his sons, Manton (known as Matt) and David Ewart (known as Art), took over day-to-day operations in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Art’s son, Robert (Bob), moved into the family business full-time in the late 1940s, and another son, Dave, joined in the early 1960s. Dave and Bob continue to run the business today.
The name of the shop was changed to Ormistons in the late 1970s, and in 1976 the business moved to its current location in Winnipeg. (K.H)
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