Kitchener - The Ontario Flower Growers Co-operative recently held its 19th annual student floral design competition at its Mississauga headquarters. As has been the case in recent years, the student team from Conestoga’s Retail Florist program did exceedingly well, earning three honours in the competition which also included teams from Algonquin College of Ottawa, Seneca College of Toronto and the Canadian Institute of Floral Design of Etobicoke.

Presentation of awards was in two categories - Wedding Bouquet and Theme Design (“Spring Bling”). Each team consisted of six competitors - three in each category. In each event, each competing student received the same assortment of flowers and materials, and each event was timed, with a maximum of two hours allowed to create and complete the product, to be judged by a panel of professional floral designers.

Conestoga students took three honours in the Theme Design event.

Conestoga’s three award winners are: Carri Snider of Elmira, who won first place; Pamela Mackay of Cambridge, who received honourable mention; and Hye Sun Min of Waterloo, who won the People’s Choice Award.

Since first entering competitions in 2002, Retail Florist students from Conestoga have never failed to bring home at least one award.

Also participating as members of Conestoga's delegation were students Thi Mai An of Guelph, Katrina Baklarz and Theresa Stangherlin, both of Rockwood, with Kaitlyn Weiss of Waterloo as team alternate.

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.

The Ontario Flower Growers Co-operative includes more than 150 greenhouses and field flower growers from throughout Ontario. It was established in 1972 by local growers in order to be able to market and sell their products more effectively, through daily auctions.

Dorina Idvorian, who coordinates the Retail Florist program, comments, “Events like this are very important. The students learn, improve and excel in their ability to perform in class and in the industry, because of the experience they gain through competitions such as OFG provides.”