Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association recognized the best in the business at its 36th annual Awards of Excellence ceremony, held Tuesday, January 6, in conjunction with Congress, Canada’s International Horticultural Lawn and Garden Show and Conference. The Awards program honours excellence in landscape construction, design and maintenance.
“The quality of Awards entries just keeps getting better every year,” notes Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of Landscape Ontario. “Somehow, our members continue to reach new levels of craftsmanship, paired with breathtaking designs.” The ceremony attracted over 500 industry professionals.
Teams of respected horticulture industry experts judged entries in more than 40 categories this year. Only those entries deemed truly excellent are honoured with Awards. If a category’s entries do not meet the judges’ criteria for excellence, no Award is given for that category.
The Dunington-Grubb Award for the top landscape construction entry went to DA Gracey & Associates of Vaughan, Ont. Environmental Design Landscaping Contractors Ltd. of Carlisle, Ont., won the Grounds Management Award for highest-scoring maintenance submission as well as the Casey van Maris Award for unique and innovative design in landscaping.
The Awards ceremony was hosted by Haig Seferian of LO’s Designers Group and HGTV’s Garden Architecture, and Breakfast Television’s Frank Ferragine interviewed guests on the red carpet. Special awards were also featured in the ceremony. The Trillium Award is reserved for candidates who through innovation introduced a product, service, program or activity that has made a considerable impact, and provided substantial benefits to our industry and to society. This year’s recipient was Donald Ziraldo for the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre — focused on accelerating and commercializing research and innovation that will enhance prosperity for the public and industry. Honorary Life Member is the highest and most prestigious award given out by the Association. It is reserved for a select few who have been life-long supporters and contributors to the Association and industry. This year the Award went to Hank Gelderman of Jan Gelderman Landscaping, Waterdown, Ont. Gelderman is a role model and mentor to hundreds. He has served on countless committees, boards, chapters, sector groups and task forces. He exemplifies professionalism and integrity, and his strong faith and caring nature are a blessing for those fortunate enough to know him.
For a complete list of winners, including photos, please visit the Awards of Excellence website at www.loawards.com.
To view a list of awards presented during the ceremony, click here.
