Growing up on a farm in Southern Saskatchewan, I developed an early fascination with how plants survive and thrive in our extreme climate. That curiosity led me to the University of Saskatchewan, where I earned a degree in Horticultural Science with a minor in Applied Plant Ecology. I have always been passionate about Plant Science and happiest when working outdoors and surrounded by nature.

Outside of client projects, I stay actively involved in Saskatchewan’s horticultural community through the Saskatoon Horticultural Society and the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan. More recently, I’ve also begun volunteering as a judge with Communities in Bloom Saskatchewan and as a contributor to the Wildwood Playground Project. For me, this is more than just a business — it’s about helping our community’s landscapes thrive.

Before starting Gladiolus, I spent several years working in Parks Maintenance with the City of Saskatoon and more than a decade in the agricultural research industry. During that time, I worked with organizations including Bayer CropScience, BASF, the Global Institute for Food Security, and Limagrain Cereals Research Canada, helping develop and deliver improved varieties of Canola, Wheat, Peas, and Lentils.

That work was incredibly rewarding because it felt meaningful — contributing in a small way to helping feed the world. At the same time, plant breeding and genetic research can also be an extremely wasteful process. Because of the huge variability in genetic traits passed through each generation, thousands of plants are often discarded every day in pursuit of a single successful variety. Over time, that reality pushed me toward work where I could have a more direct and sustainable impact on the landscapes and communities around me.

Today, Gladiolus Lawn Care & Landscaping allows me to combine my background in Plant Science, Ecology, and Horticulture with hands-on work that improves the spaces people live in every day.