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Canadian Institute of Floral Design “Flowerishes” Once Again

On Thursday, March 14, 2008, the Ontario Flower Growers (OFG) hosted a floral design competition for students who are new to the industry to come together and gain some experience for their chosen field. Canadian Institute of Floral Design (CIFD) was proud to be amongst the Professional College group.

This competition is designed for students from different schools, taking floral design to gain some experience, receive constructive criticism, and have fun doing so. Says Sheri Knowles, of OFG.

The day began with a light breakfast and greeting from Sheri, followed by the competition, which was two hours in length. The students were to design either a themed "flower power" centrepiece, or a bridal bouquet. Students were all supported by their peers, who watched eagerly as the competition took place.

Once the competition was over, the students had lunch, and watched various floral presentations, while waiting for the results.

The main event was judged by CAFA, as well as a peoples choice award, which was voted by all peers,family members and instructors from each school who came for the competition. Judging was based on the creativeness of each design, design techniques, colour scheme, mechanics and more.

Christine Simpson-Links, who just recently graduated at CIFD, won the peoples choice award, for her beautiful bridal bouquet, made with gerbera daisies, tulips and pink roses.

All of the students did an amazing job, says Monica Schut, of CIFD, Christine’s arrangement was an excellent composition, we are all happy she won the peoples choice award, we are all very proud of all who competed with CIFD, as well as all the other students from the other institutions.

OFG hosts this competition every year, providing all materials for students to use in the excersise.

 
CIFD recent graduates at OFG Floral Competetion

‘Floral Statesman’ joins Canadian Institute of Floral Design Board


Graduation day at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design [CIFD] is always an exciting day.  The most recent grad day was made extra special with a visit to the school by Tom Colin, former head of the Floral Design Program at Seneca College along with a special announcement.

 

Donald Waltho, Managing Director of CIFD was pleased to announce and welcome Tom Colin to the Board in the role of Senior Advisor.  Tom has been involved in the floral industry for over sixty years. His career began in Holland, and continued when he immigrated to Canada. Tom Colin was the former instructor at Toronto School of Floral Design – teaching Don’s father Bill Waltho in the early 1960’s. Tom is very well known and respected in the floral industry across Canada and on the international scene.  He was one of the founding instructors and architects of the Floral Training Program at Seneca College in Toronto.

‘I am very pleased to be associated with a reputable and aggressive organization like the Canadian Institute of Floral Design’, commented Tom.  ‘It is wonderful to see the level of passion and enthusiasm here from the instructors and students’.  In his closing remarks Tom encouraged each of the students to continue to learn and educate themselves.  Tom will be consulting and advising the institute with its plan for CIFD Alumni to travel to Amsterdam, Netherlands for the 2008 Horti-fair. 

 

Accompanying Tom to the school was his daughter Monique Theriault, also a well respected floral design instructor.  CIFD is currently planning an expansion of its programs as well as faculty. 
 

Special Thanks to Rene Van Rems & The Golden Rose Team and to all those who contributed in the Floral Expo 2006.

A Great Success for everyone who participated.

 

Annual Golf Tournament

Jim Lye, Tidy's Flowers -- Michelle Frankis, Canadian Florist Magazine -- Don Waltho, Canadian Institute of Floral Design
at the CIFD sponsored hole at Flowers Canada Golf Tournament.

 

President Don Waltho, Her Worship Hazel McCallion and Emily Mays

Participating in the Mayor’s
Hope for Charities

Voted the best Mayor in Canada - Mississauga’s Hazel McCallion with Don Waltho and Emily Mays from Canadian Institute of Floral Design, discuss the Floral Industry and the impact Mississauga has with the National Floral Business.

Carnations, Anna Jarvis, and Mother's Day - May 14th

Anna Jarvis, daughter of Anna Reeves Jarvis, who had moved from Grafton, West Virginia, to Philadelphia, in 1890, was the power behind the official establishment of Mother's Day

  • swore at her mother's grave site in 1905 to dedicate her life to her mother's project, and establish a Mother's Day to honor mothers, living and dead. Anna Jarvis used carnations at the first Mother's Day celebration, because carnations were her mother's favorite flower.
  • wearing a white carnation is to honor a deceased mother, wearing a pink carnation is to honor a living mother.
  • Anna Jarvis and the florist industry ended up disagreeing over the selling of flowers for Mother's Day.
  • as the industry publication, Florists' Review, put it, "This was a holiday that could be exploited."
  • in one press release criticizing the floral industry, Anna Jarvis wrote "What will you do to route charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and other termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations?"
  • when, in the 1930s, the U.S. Postal Service announced a Mother's Day stamp with the image of Whistler's Mother and a vase of white carnations, Anna Jarvis responded by campaigning against the stamp. She persuaded President Roosevelt to remove the words, Mother's Day, but not the white carnations
  • Jarvis disrupted a meeting of the American War Mothers in the 1930s, protesting their sale of white carnations for Mother's Day, and was removed by the police
  • in the words, again, of the Florists' Review, "Miss Jarvis was completely squelched." Mother's Day remains, in the United States, one of the best sales days for florists
  • Anna Jarvis was confined to a nursing home at the end of her life, penniless. Her nursing home bills were paid, unbeknownst to her, by the Florist's Exchange

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