The students in Conestoga's Retail Florist program continue to earn praise and prizes for their imagination, creativity and technical excellence.
Flowers Canada Toronto Chapter presented its annual design show on June 10 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Mississauga. This year’s event, titled "That was then, this is now . . . a celebration of wedding", featured the chapter’s annual Gold Cup Design Competition, in which students and professionals entered their unique floral decorations for judging by a panel of floristry professionals.
In the student competition to design an original bridal bouquet, Conestoga students took the first-place and third-place honours.
The Gold Cup went to Heather McNaughton of Kitchener, while the third-place award went to Frances Reinick of Wroxeter.
An honourable mention went to Conestoga student Kaitlyn Weiss of Waterloo. Also taking part were Retail Florist program students Karen Apperson and Hildy Steiner, both of Waterloo.
Competition rules stated that designs could not exceed a cost of $50 wholesale and had to include at least 75 per cent fresh product. Also, competitors had to adhere to specific measurement guidelines for their designs.
Retail Florist program coordinator Dorina Idvorian comments, "I am so very proud of all our students. They work very hard on their presentations for this and for other competitions. I encourage them to enter such events; this experience is challenging, but rewarding, and the best way for them to learn away from the classroom."
Retail Florist is a part-time program that combines floral knowledge with design and business skills. It features six required courses, one elective and two periods of workplace experience.
CONTACT: Joyce Irving, 519-748-5220, ext. 2200
